Though no one wants to think about death, it must be addressed as we see this happening naturally around us each minute. What happens to this body that we had resided in, and pampered and taken care of, after minutes of being certified death?
We learn from https://www.aftermath.com/content/human-decomposition the following.
"Decomposition begins around four minutes after a person dies. As soon as blood circulation and respiration stop, the body cannot get oxygen or remove wastes. Excess carbon dioxide causes an acidic environment, causing cell membranes to rupture. The membranes release enzymes that begin eating the cells from the inside out (self-digestion)."
"Muscle stiffen. Small blisters filled with nutrient-rich fluid appear on internal organs and the skin’s surface. The body will appear to have a sheen due to ruptured blisters, and the skin’s top layer will begin to loosen."
As "Leaked enzymes from the first stage begin to produce many gases, the human body can double in size, giving it that bloated look. The sulfur-containing compounds that the bacteria release also cause skin discoloration. In addition, insect activity can be present."
"The microorganisms and bacteria produce extremely unpleasant odors called putrefaction. These odors often alert others that a person has died, and can linger long after a body has been removed."
"Fluids released through orifices indicate the beginning of active decay. Organs, muscles, and skin become liquefied. When all of the body’s soft tissue decomposes, hair, bones, cartilage, and other byproducts of decay remain. The cadaver loses the most mass during this stage. There is no set timeframe when skeletonization occurs."
This is how we or rather our residence end up eventually. Even before all these set in after death, just as a house shows signs of decay generally after 20 years and needs to be renovated, we too need to rejuvenate this body. But just as the house has to come down one day, our residence that is this body too falls to the ground one day.
But the Siddhas are said to have found "a magic formula" to prevent arriving at this awful state. How and what is the formula to reverse this tragedy? Though many researchers and writers on these Siddhas vouch for these possibilities, they too end up buried or burnt. Though many Siddha masters and gurus have spoken about these possibilities, they too end up buried or burnt, though these are given exotic and eye-catching names. Has anyone escaped this natural process in this age? Has anyone beat nature at its game? Even as I pen on many things regarding the Siddhas in these pages, could I achieve the state of Siddhas? Just as mere reading about Siddhas does not bring us anywhere, writing about them too does not make me a Siddha. One has to live and breathe, as a Siddha does. For that to take place, the Siddhas themselves have to come within and live and breathe, in us.
So we arrive at the formula to attain a Suddha degam. The Siddhas have us perform asanas and pranayama practices, besides having us consume sattvic or pure food, consume herbal preparations that eradicate the trash accumulated in us for years, and henceforth have us adopt a good comprehensive lifestyle. When this body is perfected we gain the state of a Suddha degam or a purified body. This transmutation and transformation goes to the level of atoms. The gross "matter and the atoms of unpurified elements are slowly transformed into energy or Pranava deham or body of Grace and Light and the body of Wisdom (i.e.) evolves into the body of the God Supreme or Immanence" we are told. Transformation on the subtle level takes place, "The transformation in the human frame first into Anburuvam, the body of love, then into Aruluruvam, the body of grace, and then finally into Inburuvam, the body of ecstasy, that is, the body of the God Supreme. All three states of the body are also referred to as the golden body", writes Dr.C.Srinivasan in his book "An Introduction to the Philosophy of Ramalinga Swami" published by Illakkia Nilayam, Tiruchi, 1968. Mortal man becomes Immortal.
Above and beyond our efforts is the grace of the divine that is obtained by "universal spiritual communion and devotion to God", says Dr.C.Srinivasan. Ramalinga Adigal transformed "the most impure body susceptible to the natural bonds and to putrefaction to become an everlasting and imperishable body," writes Dr.C.Srinivasan. He writes further, "The Swami says: “O God – the Eternal Love, just to bestow upon me the golden body, you, the Universal Love have merged with my heart. Allowing Yourself to be infused in me, O Supreme Love, You with the light of Grace have alchemized my body.”
So how does one connect with the Siddhas? Where do we look for them? The first mention of the Siddhas and their Nadi was made by the late Dr.Krishnan who charted my horoscope in 1996. But I only read the Nadi in 2002. Agathiyar explained the reason too. It was fated that I read it when I was 43 years of age. Agathiyar called me to the worship of the Siddhas and later in 2005 called me to the path sending Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of the Kallar Agathiyar Gnana Peedham. Tavayogi gave me the tools to pursue walking with them. Today Agathiyar has given me a reason and purpose to hang around further postponing my asking to leave. How will my end be is anyone's guess. And he is keeping it close to his heart. For one, I do not want to drop this body to the ground to go through the stages detailed earlier. Will he grant my wish?