When in the past we have heard of Mother Goddess bringing forth a full moon on an otherwise dark night for her devotee, Abhirami Pattar, who was about to be lowered into a burning pit by the then king; when Pattinathar accused of stealing temple jewelry by the then king was placed on a stake and the lit fire died down mysteriously; these and other similar miracles do still take place in present times. When a magistrate dismissed a case of a devotee who saved cows from being slaughtered without calling for his defense; when an embassy extended the visa to a devotee who had overstayed as she went through extreme bodily and internal transformation which was closely monitored by Agathiyar; when a man was saved from being implicated with his friends when he unknowingly loaned his car to them who were caught with drugs, Agathiyar kept his word that he would take care of things.
How do we explain these?
Why was I born? Agathiyar tells me that I had sinned in a past birth and earned the wrath and curses of others, and hence took birth again. It was my Vasana that got attached to me and invoked this birth.
Why was I born? Agathiyar tells my daughter that she had asked that I and my wife, who were her parents in a past birth, be born again. It was her Vasana that got attached to us.
A couple have been husband and wife for the past seven births. Their Vasanas brought them together each time.
Why was I born? Agathiyar tells me that we had been walking together for crores of years. Hence, he has called me to his path again. This Vasana got attached to us. Now he tells me that I have to even let that go so that I can return to him, or rather, we become one.
Tavayogi, an old soul who lived in the times of Agathiyar, chose to come back for us in the present times.
If we are told that it was our past Vasanas or Karma working out in the present birth, how do we explain the birth of saints and the trials and tribulations these saints go through?
Likewise, Agathiyar reveals in a post of Siththan Arul by Velayudham Karthikeyan that what was considered unfinished business during Sri Rama's Avatharam gets done during his next incarnation as Sri Krishna. The story goes as follows.
During the Treta Yuga, when Sri Rama was wandering as a hermit, many Rishis who were engaged in severe austerities or tapas and hence could not leave their dwellings to meet Sri Rama, yearned for Sri Rama to grace their ashrams. Sri Rama too could not grace the ashrams of hundreds of Rishis. He could only meet Agathiyar, Bharatvajar, and Sabari as he had to move on to Kishkinta, Sundara, and Yutta Kaandams. Although during the Yutta Kaandam, Agathiyar managed to bring along some Rishis with him to have the Darshan of Sri Rama and to serve him, there were many more yearning for his Darshan but could not make it as they were engaged in austerities at Thandakaranyam. They were disappointed. Sri Rama was saddened that he was the cause of disappointment to these Rishis. These wishes of the Rishis became Vasanas and got attached to Sri Rama. Sri Rama realized that he could not meet them and sought advice from Agathiyar. Agathiyar reveals to Sri Rama, "In your next incarnation as Sri Krishna in Dwabara Yuga, these Rishis who had cherished to have your Darshan and serve you, will take rebirth as Gopikas and through play and devotion and service to you, attain bliss and fulfillment." Hence, Sri Rama had to exhaust these Vasanas by granting their wishes in his next incarnation as Sri Krishna.
"This is the secret (mystery) behind incarnations and rebirth", reveals Agathiyar.
அப்போது, அகத்தியர், "ஸ்ரீ ராமா! நீ சாட்சாத் நாராயணனின் திரு அவதாரம் என்பதை அவர்கள் அறிவார்கள். உனது அடுத்த அவதாரத்தில், துவாபர யுகத்தில் நீ ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணனாக அவதரிக்கும் பொழுது, ராமாவதாரத்தில் உன்னை கண்டு சேவை செய்ய ஏங்கிய மகரிஷிகள், உன் ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணாவதாரத்தில் கோபிகா ஸ்த்ரீகளாய் பிறந்து உன்னுடன் தவழ்ந்து விளையாடி, அற்புதமான பக்தி பரவச நிலையை அடைவார்கள். இது அவதார இரகசியமாகும்" என்று அருளினார். (Source: Siththan Arul)
So it looks like there is no one particular reason but a combination of causes that bring on a birth. It sure does look like there is more to taking a birth.
We have been used to doing something all along. So, it is in coming to Sariyai, Kriyai, and Yogam too. As we are assigned tasks and practice in the previous three phases so we tend to perceive the next phase or stage, which is Gnanam, thinking, we have to do something too. Attaining the state of Gnanam is not about putting effort, but in watching the results of the earlier three states take their course, activating the Chakras within and bringing bodily changes and internal transformation. It is about gaining the wisdom to see through the veil that we humans have brought onto ourselves, hence covering and enveloping creation that is pure in nature and essence. It is all about remaining still and quiet. Agathiyar has currently put me through this phase and wants me to share it with readers.
The body aches, the numbness in the limbs, and extreme heat within are still there. I now understand why Sadhus go stark naked or in loincloths. There are brief moments when insatiable hunger comes on. At other times, I can go on without food. Once awakened, it takes time to go back to sleep. While there are moments when I prefer to be alone with myself, at other times, this solitude and silence bring on an extreme and unknown fear. Sexual urges peak. I now understand why established masters and monks fall into disgrace. On the other hand, not all is a torture. We become connected with the world. Prapanjam begins to provide for all our needs. Songs trigger tears, outbursts, and cries for no reason. Stories of others' sufferings and pain bring us to tears. Love and compassion well in us. Taking food has become a sacred act, and it feels as if we are eating and appeasing others hunger, too, when we take food.
The blog at https://blog.good-will.ch/WordPress/2010/10/23/rishi-agastya-a-little-miracle-and-some-stories/ carried a post.
Last week I came across a transcription of a seminar given by Sri Kumar in the Nilagiri Hills in 1996 about Agastya, Master Jupiter. He said that Agastya ... is often traveling with his disciples and loves to cook and to serve. Through serving food he likes to spread himself into the people and thus to adjust any imbalances in the mental, emotional, and physical bodies. In the scriptures there is the story that once a group of disciples in the Himalaya had the questions who is the one fasting most, and Maitreya told them, “It is Agastya, he never eats.” They wanted to see Agastya and went to him. Agastya said: "Observe me for three days.” They were very surprised to see him cooking, eating and serving. He was not missing any meal, and every meal was from our standpoint very excessive in its quantity. After three days the group asked: "We have not understood your way of fasting.” He answered: "In so far as you don’t feel that you are eating, it is fasting.” He does not think he is eating. He lives in tune with the universal consciousness and in such a tune-up the food is given to all the elementals around him with himself as the channel.
From https://www.good-will.ch/pdf/e_lunar10_8.pdf, we gather a similar episode.
Lord Krishna once sent three disciples, who were fasting irresponsibly, to Agastya in the Blue Mountains to learn right fasting. Agastya said, “Observe me for three days. Then you will know it.” They observed him. He did not miss any meals. He ate mountains of food but he had a flat belly. After three days they told him, “We cannot understand you kind of fasting.” He replied, “I have been fasting eternally. I do not need food because I do not eat for myself. It is fasting if you feel that you don’t eat.” We think that we are eating. Agastya does not think that it is he who eats. He lives in accordance with the universal consciousness, and thus the food is distributed to all the elements around him, with himself as a channel.