Who is a Siddha? What is the state of a Siddha? We find a Siddha commonly described as "A Perfected Master, A Liberated Soul, and One who has attained Spiritual Enlightenment".
From being the unseen and unknown God who is looked up to the heavens, to coming as an umbrella and our Father, and later a light and a Guru, and walking alongside holding our hands as a Companion, Agathiyar has now come as one in the Family. I wanted to repay him for his love, compassion, kindness, and generosity. Figuring how to repay him, as offering food, flowers, and libation is basically giving back to him what he has created and granted in the form of grains, plants, and other living things; thinking that serving him forever was the answer, he questioned me asking if that was what I wanted, indicating that it was not the thing to ask for; he tells us that spreading his teachings would be the best form of repayment to him. Even before I could settle my debt, he threw another gift surprising me again, by telling me that rather than make me a guru he would make me a Siddha. I understood that carrying his teachings to others will not make them nor us a Siddha. Each one has to live the many wonders that this body and the world around us have to offer, the many experiences that life has to offer, and also those thrown in. Using the given physical form and external means and tools as aid we are to attain the state of a Siddha.
Just as Saint Avvai's song could have three distinct dimensions that of a song of praise, a song that carried a remedy for an ailment, and finally a song of Gnanam or Divine Wisdom, a guru, and his ashram can present a wonderful source and center of learning to one or reversely open up a can of worm to another. The seeker shall carry the imprint of these images and experiences that shall either strengthen his existing faith and belief, change his outlook and perspective, or even kill his faith and belief. There is no standard curriculum that one shall attain and graduate from. The experiences, messages, and learnings are tailor-made for each soul. This is the Siddha path, one of experiencing rather than picking up after a tour of the masters and ashrams, and picking up from sacred texts and books. This is the reason we do not find Gurukulam or centers of learning initiated by the Siddhas. When many desired to open up centers here and had Tavayogi officiate them, he never spoke a word to me about starting one. Instead, he took me on a journey of exploration and gave me real and life-lasting experiences. Agathiyar too on Saturday, told me there was no need for a Peedham and to take up the position of a guru. It is a solo journey with the aid of a light that comes in the form of a physical guru. The path has to be followed and walked. In walking the distance we shed the baggage of Karma that we brought along. In walking the distance we drop the numerous desires, wants, likes, and dislikes that we harbor in us. In walking the distance we begin to see everything anew and in a new light. The earlier understanding is shed and replaced with one that is beyond human thought and logic. The world that we know of collapses that instant. The search stops. We begin to tap into the Prapanjam for all our answers. A Siddha milks the wealth of knowledge that Prapanjam keeps close to her bosom. She shall restock us with whatever little needs we have without asking. We partake in the ambrosia that oozes from within. We delight in the Gnanam or Divine Knowledge that arises from our reflection on our past wonderings and experiences. We attain a state of Paripuranam or completeness. We become a Jeevan Mukta, complete in every sense. We become a Siddha.
The disciples of Lord Dhakshanamurthy attained enlightenment only when the master chose to keep quiet. All the previous question and answer sessions did little good to clarify, bringing on more questions and doubts. It was only in those moments of silence that the Divine Knowledge dawned on them. Agathiyar lets out a secret telling us the reason for asking us to quieten down. He reveals that only then can he fill us in and do his magic in us. This is surrendering.
The trouble with seekers is that we bring along all the petty and trivial matters of the material and gross world and our approach to them too, when stepping into the spiritual world. This is where one has to shed all his previous learning and understanding and walk stalk naked into the arms of the guru. Only then, when we come empty, and when we walk in as an empty vessel, can the guru fill us up. We should learn to undress rather than wear the same shirt or dress before coming before a guru. But sadly we bring all our previous readings read and talks of other gurus and begin to debate about numerous subjects. I was witness to this common phenomenon among seekers who came before Tavayogi as I sat watching in the Peedhams and centers he visited. It was kind of a show-off on the part of the seeker trying to impress the guru with his extensive learning in numerous aspects of spiritualism. He is not willing to listen but rather vomits all that he has picked up along the way. If only he would zip up and learn to listen. This is the missing criteria that is very much needed in a seeker. The guru shall fill him up as and when he is ready to receive the message. The guru knows best.
Karma will not be dissolved unless we regret and atone for our actions says Agathiyar. No amount of remedy or bathing in holy waters will cleanse us unless we make a resolve not to repeat our past evil actions. No amount of remedies will balance the score if we are not prepared to turn a new leaf. Similarly, after giving us a reprieve or saving our lives once, Agathiyar expects us to turn a new leaf. There might not be a second chance. The only option left then would be another birth to make good the flaws.