Srinath Raghavan posted the following on fb some time back.
"When with the touch of the Master from outside, the bubble breaks, That's when we will finally realize, how foolish and limited we were, To have accepted the truth that's known to us, as the Final Truth...Freedom is breaking the bubble and seeing and feeling the reality beyond your own."
The guru comes to set us free from our own limitations, from the opinion we have formed of him, or that we took on from others. But experience tells us otherwise. We are then freed. Agathiyar himself came to turn the tables on us for believing the most ridiculous stories about his existence.
"Agathiyan means he is trapped in statues (to many). What is this? I am like the wind. How can I be trapped (in a space)? I am in you. In her. In that flame. In all. This is Agathiyan. I am a stone to some. I am a child to some. I am a friend to some. I am God to some. I am a guru to some. I am deaf to some. Turn your home into an ashram. We will walk into your home then to bring the soul to attain Gnanam. You shall see an Agathiyan in each home then for when one reaches God, he shall realize that he is God himself."
Agathiyar comes to spill the beans and demystify the mysteries.
"Vallal (Ramalinga Adigal) saw Shivam back then. How? Chidambaram Ragasiyam. There is nothing to the mystery or secret at Chidambaram. (Chidambaram Ragasiyam). When you feel it within you, that is Chidambaram Ragasiyam. When you see it in all, that is Chidambaram Ragasiyam. When you are in all (of creation), that is Chidambaram Ragasiyam. When you live in all, that is Chidambaram Ragasiyam. Nothing more."
Sitting at his feet, Agathiyar showered us with Gnanam over two days and continued over the phone intercepting my call to a devotee. He shed light on many matters and removed our ignorance. He brought down the building that the ignorance in us built, and replaced it with one that Gnanam brought forth. He tore down ignorance and replaced it with Gnanam.
Ramana Maharishi says, "... the spiritual energy of a master transforms the consciousness of men."
Agathiyar ran through briefly the inherent and dormant energies within us and what they could do if initiated some time back. We are ignorant of these inherent energies he says. When these energies are released the body shall go through many transformations. The body should be able to withstand its onslaught though, he cautioned us. Only the Siddha knows if we are ready and if the body is prepared. The Siddha shall reveal them to us according to our readiness to receive, preparedness, the age factor, and our existing stock of karma. As it would not be the same for all he asked us not to compare with others for each shall have his own journey to travel. This is not a race to compete in and win, he adds.
பல சக்திகள் நம்மில் உறைந்து கொண்டு இருக்கிறது. அதை உணராமல் இருக்கின்றோம். இச்சக்திகள் வெளிப்படுவதால் உடலில் பெரும் மாற்றங்கள் ஏற்படும். அது உங்கள் உடம்பு தாங்கிக் கொள்ளுனும். சித்தன் அதைப் படி படியாக உணர்த்துவான். உங்கள் பக்குவத்திற்கு ஏற்ப வயதிற்கு ஏற்ப பாவ புண்ணியத்திற்கு ஏற்ப சித்தன் கைபிடித்து அழைத்துச் செல்வான். அது அனைவருக்கும் ஒரே மாதிரி ஆக அமையாது. அது வெவ்வேறு பயணமாக அமையும். அந்தக் கணக்கு சித்தனுக்கு மட்டும் தான் தெரியும். யாரையும் ஒப்பிடாதீர்கள். இது போட்டி அல்ல முந்தி அடித்துக் கொண்டு செல்வதற்கு.
Paul Zweig in the introduction to Swami Muktananda’s ‘The Perfect Relationship", SYDA Foundation, 1985, writes about the moment the master came into Muktananda's life.
"After almost twenty-five years he met Bhagawan Nithyananda who became his guru. In a flash of self-understanding, he knew that he had found his other half; that now he was whole again."
Swami Muktananda writes further on this in his book ‘Secret of the Siddhas’, Siddha Yoga Publication, 1980. His master gave him one word that completely transformed him. He also mentions he had to spend such a long time with Bhagawan Nithyananda to receive it.
Margaret Simpson in ‘A Perfect Life’, Siddha Yoga Publication, 1996, shares this.
"That word (Guru Om), which I (Swami Muktananda) received after so many years, spread through my body from head to toe like wildfire carried by the wind. It produced in me both inner heat and the coolness of joy. Before meeting my guru I had practiced many different kinds of yoga, but it was I who had practiced them. However, that word activated a spontaneous yoga within me. I was filled with amazement. After the awakening of the Shakti, this process of yogic movements began to take place within my entire body. The pulsation of his ecstasy pervades my entire body like the movement of the wind. The Kriyas were his, the yoga was his, and meditation took place because of him. The final message that I received was from him. The power of his word permeates each of my blood cells; the fluids of my entire body are his. That is why I am joyful. Gurudev entered me and replaced all my bodily fluids with his. He evicted me and took up residence in me. He annihilated my ego. By making my individuality his, he became me. This is the guru’s compassion. Only when I lost myself in the ecstasy of Bhagawan Nithyananda did I realize who he was. Only the guru can know that delight and taste the elixir that arises in every pore of the body.
Ramalinga Adigal sings the same.
"சந்நிதி யில்சென்று நான்பெற்ற பேறது, சாமி அறிவார டி - அம்மா, சாமி அறிவார டி."
Sadhu Natanananda quotes Sri Ramana Maharishi from ‘Sri Ramana Darsanam’,
“I have seen God! I have seen him face to face! I am seeing God just as clearly as you are seeing me. Those who have seen the truth can also show it to others. There is no room for doubt in these revelations.”
Ramakrishna too voices the same experience. Richard Schiffman quotes Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa in his ‘Ramakrishna - A Prophet for the New Age’.
“God can be seen and spoken to just as surely as I am seeing you and speaking to you. If anyone really wants to see God and if he calls upon Him - God will reveal himself. That’s for certain.”
Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal in replying to my wish to see God and his Messengers, answered, “It is possible to see Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal," but continued with a question, "But is that what you want?”
Agathiyar too says God can be seen. But he adds asking, "Have you worked hard enough to be eligible to see me?" He goes on to ask us "Have you put in the hours of austerities (or Tavam)?" He says "I can come as Light before you. I can come as a flame. Can your eyes withstand this intensity? Do you have the strength to see me in this form? Are you ready for it?" In asking us to learn to enjoy everything and learn to cherish each moment he points out God as "In the skies. In a beautiful atmosphere. When breathing in the air. This is Godliness. It is all with us and in us. Where are you searching? Step out from the darkness into the light. You need to see its brilliance."
Swami Muktananda explains why one needs a master in 'Kundalini - The Secret of Life', Siddha Yoga Publication, 1994,
“If he tries to discover a path by himself, he will simply go around in circles, walking for a long time but never reaching his goal. The Guru has found everything you are seeking; that which you want has become the Guru’s wealth. The difference between you and the Guru is that you are the seed and the Guru is the full-grown tree; you are the beginning, and he is the end.”
Swami Muktananda proclaims that the Masters themselves were the secret! Paul Zweig in the introduction to Swami Muktananda’s "The Perfect Relationship', Syda Foundation, 1985, writes,
“He (Swami Muktananda) felt that God's ‘secret’ was not contained in any Sanskrit formula, ancient ritual, or technique of meditation; that severe austerities and physical deprivation would not reveal it. He felt that the ‘secret’ resided with great beings, with saints; they were themselves the ‘secret’ and he could learn what they were by loving them and sitting at their feet."
Bhagawan Nithyananda too spoke of the importance of a Guru. He told Muktananda, “Meditation on the Guru gives you life. All knowledge is in meditation on the Guru.” These words were like a Mantra to Muktananda.
Just as Swami Muktananda writes, “Meeting the Siddha Guru, we receive the blessings of all the perfected ones,” Siddha Konganar in a prayer to Agathiyar mentions that the mere mention of Agathiyar’s name, one has the entire Siddhas attention and glance on him.
"Chant Agathiyar’s name, For he shall gift to you all the eight Siddhis, He shall present you the mendicant’s attire, Then all Siddhas will converge and salute, No one will be deprived of witnessing the Jothi or light, Agathiyar was a yogi born of fire, This truth shall prevail throughout the 1008 worlds."
அகத்திய மாரிஷி நமா என்றென்றோது,அஷ்ட சித்து தனை ஈவார் குளிகை ஈவார்,அகத்தியரே காஷாய வேடமீவார்,அப்போது சித்தரெல்லாம் கைக் கொள்வார்கள்,அகத்தியரைத் தெண்டனிட்டு மேரு செல்ல,யாருக்குந தடையில்லை அரசே யென்பார்,அகத்தியர் தாம் எக்கியத்தில் பிறந்த யோகி,ஆயிரத் தெட்டு அண்டமெல்லாம் ஆணையாச்சே.
Gordon Matthews in his translation of Meykanda Devar’s 'Shivagnana Botham' writes,
“When the soul in association with the senses and intellectual faculties is immersed in earthly experience, it knows the non-real through the non-real, but it does not know itself or God. However, when God comes as a Guru and teaches the soul, the soul is made to see that the world of experience, evolved from Maya, is non-real. It ceases then to identify itself with the non-real and to depend upon it; and in so doing it discovers its oneness with God. By reason of the soul’s virtue in previous births, God, who has been immanent in the soul, making it know, now vouchsafing to take the form of a Guru, initiates the soul in the Saiva mysteries, saying, “O thou son of a king, fallen among savages, the senses, and brought up by them, thou hast been ignorant of thy true greatness and hast wandered in ignorance." The primal one himself teaches these souls as a Guru: for in the form of consciousness, he is in union (with him). When because of the soul’s meritorious practices the primal one enlightens the soul as a Guru…”
Agathiyar says that the Atma that has firm control over the Udal and Uyir stays with the child for some 1 to 5 varahai, that is a count of time in ancient days before it is veiled for reasons that only the divine knows (and is not revealing at this present moment in time). When the time is ripe the Atma reappears in our lives, knocking on our door, jolting our memory, driving us to pick a path, finally rekindling the flame. Once karma has cleared the search to know the Atma intensifies. His search for his selfish gain loses its intensity. His seeking would be solely on knowing the Atma (Agathiyar) and reaching him. If we are aware of this sudden nudge from within, we become aware of a vibration that is felt momentarily during these moments. If we could prolong that feeling of vibration we merge in it and arrive at Erai and Agathiyan.
ஆன்மா உடலையும் உயிரையும் தனது கட்டுப்பாட்டுக்குள் வைத்துக் கொள்ளும் ஒரு சூச்சமம். இந்தச் சூச்சமத்தை பிறந்த குழந்தைகள் 1 முதல் 5 வராகை வரையிலும் உடன் இருந்து மறையும். மறைத்தலின் காரணம் இன்னதென்று இப்போது உனக்குச் சொல்ல இயலாது. ஆனபோதிலும் ஆன்ம ஒருவரின் செயலைப் பொறுத்தே மீண்டும் அவனை வந்து சேரும். ஆன்மா உனது கர்ம வினையைச் சரிசெய்வதற்கு உதவி புரியும். கர்மவை சரி செய்த பின், ஆன்மாவின் தேடல் அதிகமாகி மனிதனின் அன்றாட தேடல் தீர்ந்து போகும். அவன் தேடல் முழுதாய் என்னையே தேடி வர முயற்சி செய்யும். ஆன்மா உன்னோடு இருந்து உன்னை ஒரு பாதைக்கு இழுத்து செல்லும். அப்போது நீ அதனை உணர்ந்தாள், உன்னில் அதிர்வாய் தோன்றி மறையும். அந்த அதிர்வினை நீ உனக்குள் நீடிக்கப் பழகினால் உன்னால் ஆன்மா என்னும் உனது அதிர்வுகளில் ஊடுருவி என்னுள் (இறை/ அகத்தியன்) வந்து சேர ஒரு வழி.
Swami Chidvilasananda talks about the grace of the master in the 'Darshan' a Siddha Yoga Publication, May 1992, (Chidvilasananda, Darshan, 1992),
“Grace has the power to cleanse us completely. Allow grace to function through your mind, your intellect, your body, your dreams, and your speech, and you continually live in grace rather than in the creations of the mind. Grace comes from a master. When you have grace you have everything. Whatever brings you to the Guru, if you are really open to what the Guru has to give, unfailingly you do find relief and an experience of inner transformation."
The Guru will go to any length for the disciple, she says,
“A true Guru wishes only the best for his disciple’s upliftment. The Guru totally sacrifices himself to redeem his beloved disciple. The Guru bears every pain to purify the disciple and have him experience the vision of God.”
Swami Chidvilasananda in 'Inner Treasures', a Siddha Yoga Publication, 1995, writes,
"In the tradition of the Siddhas, the Guru is recognized as the embodiment of the grace of God, and therefore it is the Guru who oversees the Sadhaka’s transformation, infusing it with divine grace. In Sidhayoga, the Guru’s grace intensifies your longing for the vision of God. The Guru’s grace continually nudges you forward on the path towards oneness. The Guru’s grace draws you within the realm of divine peace. In that ultimate state, the only attachment you have left is to the Guru’s feet."
In an article on Guhai Nama Shivaya in 'The Mountain Path', 1990,
“Taking into my heart as my Guru the red mountain Lord (Arunachala), who now stands formless before me, I have put to flight the unutterable arrogance of my good and evil deeds, my soul's indissoluble threefold impurity and my unparalleled accumulation of Karma.” - Guhai Nama Shivaya’s 'Venba Tirathu.
“In Virasaivism it is the Guru’s job to cleanse the devotee of the threefold impurity that clings to the three bodies. This process would have been initiated by Guhai Nama Shivaya’s human Guru, but as the above verse clearly states, it was Arunachala-Shiva who completed the job.”
Swami Muktananda in 'The Perfect Relationship', published by Syda Foundation, 1985, quotes poet Saint Kabir,
"Kabir wrote, “As long as I was looking for you, I did not see you. I went from door to door knocking, yet none of the doors was yours. I looked for you on so many paths, yet none of them led to your court. However, when I received Ramananda’s grace, when Guru Ramananda erased me and I became completely pure, I saw that you were behind me like my shadow. Wherever I went, you were there before me.”’
Ram Dass in 'Paths to God – Living the Bhagavadgita', Harmony Books, 2004, writes,
“… the relationship with the Guru is totally an internal matter. The essence of a relationship with a Guru is love, the Guru is a being who awakens incredible love in us and then uses our love to awaken us out of the illusion of duality. Once the awakening begins, you can’t help but feel a profound love for all beings that have helped you along the way.”
The Guru or the Master shows man God - his creator. That is the gift of a Guru to his disciples. Swami Shivananda says, “He alone can show you the path to attain God, who is the Guru of Gurus, and obviate the snares and pitfalls on your path.” Agathiyar is one such Guru.