From having us see stones and metal statues as gods in the temples and homes, he has brought us to see him in emptiness. From seeing him amidst all the religious festivities and celebrations he has brought us to see him within us and in silence. Giving us external aids and tools, methods, and practices, as in Sariyai, Kriyai, and Yoga which were crucial to undertake the journey from external to internal, he had us drop them in an instant and arrive at doing nothing. The mountain is back to being a mountain but with a difference, from a rock to a fiery mountain as Mount Arunachala stands out to be.
Ma Devaki brings us a message from Yogi Ramsuratkumar in the introduction to her book ‘Yogi Ramsuratkumar, The Divine Beggar’ published by Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram, 2008,
“I am infinite and so are you and so is everyone, my friend. But there is a veil. You can see only an infinitesimal part of me. But have faith - no one is isolated. No one is separate. This sun, moon, stars, the tree, the stone, you and I all are related. When a blade of grass is trampled upon, a distant star trembles. It is all one life, my friend, one life! ”
So there is no harm in worshipping stone, metal, picture, or all other forms. But one should learn to drop them as he matures spiritually. We board a bus to a Godly destination. But we fail to get off and choose to remain and stay onboard forever, in conversation, and debate with the copassengers. We end up going in circles staying on the same bus and forgetting to alight. Having boarded the bus we must learn to alight at the next stop and take on another journey that shall bring us to gain more experiences in walking towards enlightenment or Gnanam. The enlightened souls had all gained Gnanam or divine knowledge that shed light and removed ignorance. It is not about seeing forms and images but about reaching that waveform and vibration of the divine AUM. From https://www.ananda.org/yogapedia/aum/ we learn that "AUM is the vibration by which the Supreme Spirit brings all things into manifestation." As it is the source of all creation, the physical body resonates with these vibrations. It is about connecting and becoming the Prapanjam. To connect with the Prapanjam one has to rise to its state of vibration. It is a journey back home to the source.
In bhakti or devotion, as in visiting temples and participating in Vizhas or religious festivities, we sense an overwhelming emotion of love towards our Ista devata or favorite deity. This brings on an intense gripping vibration within us. In bhakti or devotion towards one's guru, the same takes place. In the presence of the guru or sitting alone and contemplating on the God or Guru, we sense these vibrations within, though but much subtler now, becoming one with it.
The Prapanjam that resonates with a much greater intensity can move things if willed. The Siddhas use her for their purposes for the good of all creation. This gift of tapping into the Prapanjam is a treasure that eventually comes within those who have been faithful to the Siddhas and their course. Call them mediums, tools, soothsayers, medicine men, shamans, or anything, but the reality is they bring some relief to souls who are hurt and in pain. It is mentioned that a "divine person", “By concentrating his spirit, he can protect creatures from sickness and plague and make the harvest plentiful.” (Chapter 1, tr. Watson 1968:33 source http://en.wikipedia.org/)
If Velayudham Kartikeyan Aiya of Sitthan Arul had written back then that the Siddhas wished to be of assistance to man to bring relief to their sufferings and bring them back home, days ago Agathiyar said the same that he was prepared to see Lord Shiva or Brahma for the matter if our desires or wishes were reasonable. The Siddhas never kept the joy and bliss within them. They wanted every single soul to feel it and reach their state. Hence the reason he was reviving AVM so that if once upon a time we had shared the joy and bliss in coming together in prayer and carrying out rituals and charity, now we shall share the bliss in just sitting together and listening to Agathiyar aka Dhakshamurthy speak (silently) within us. Agathiyar who came over to AVM over two days recently to dispense Gnanam, came over the phone to continue further. After speaking and sharing Gnanam he said he was slipping into a state of bliss similarly to the moments he has had in sitting alone in Dhyanam. I could feel that intense vibration that had me go within too for a few moments enjoying and partaking in the said bliss. It was sublime and peaceful.
Agathiyar explains another facet of Dhyanam as follows in "Siththan Arul" at http://siththanarul.blogspot.com/2014/05/172.html)
அகத்தியர் இப்படி உரைத்தார்.
த்யானத்தில் உச்சநிலை ஆகும் பொழுது, அவரவர்கள், தன்னை மறந்து, முருகா என்றோ, அம்மா என்றோ, வேங்கடவா என்றோ அடி வயற்றிலிருந்து எழுப்புவது வழக்கம்.
In the height of Dhyanam, one forgets himself, and cries out the name of God.
உணர்ச்சிப் பெருக்கில், 7417 நரம்புகளும் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து, உணர்ச்சிகளும் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து, ரத்தமும், நரம்புகளும், எலும்புகளும் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து ஒடுங்கிப்போய், உச்சநிலையை அடைவதைத்தான் த்யானத்தின் உச்சகட்டம் என்று பெயர்.
Overcome by emotion, the 7417 nerves, his blood, and bones reaching a state of heightness, subdue eventually. This is indeed the height of Dhyanam.
I had experienced this many times in temples and at home and even as I began to pen this post, but could not comprehend it much less associate it with Dhyanam. Our perception and understanding of Dhyanam is to sit and close our eyes, focusing on something to gain concentration and eventually slip into a meditative state. But it looks like there are many facets to it.
ஒருவன் எப்பொழுது த்யானத்தின் உச்சகட்டத்தை அடைந்துவிட்டானோ, அப்பொழுதே. முற்றுமே இறைவனிடம் தன்னை ஒப்படைத்து விடுவான். இதை உடல் பொருள் ஆவி என்று அந்தக் காலத்திலேயே சொல்வார்கள்.
It is only when one reaches the height of Dhyanam that he truly has surrendered himself to the divine forces without reservation. His body, breath, and soul are one with the divine that instant.
All external rituals, methods, and practices, are to eventually bring on an internal transformation in us. But sadly we are not willing to get off the bus as we have merged with the merry-making and merry-going crowd onboard and lost sight of a merrier divinity in us that is waiting to be awakened as Tavayogi says we are caught in SitrInbam and are ignorant of the PerInbam waiting around the corner. Let us go for the latter while there is still time. Take any tool on hand, break the barriers, and enter the divine kingdom within you. It takes a thief to gain his right to divinity again. It takes courage to take what is rightfully ours. Steal the heart of the divinity and have her locked up in your hearts forever. Love and cherish her till your last breath. Become one with her. As Swami Muktananda says he found his other half in his guru. Become whole again. Become Shiva Sakthi.