I was confused when the terms spirit and soul were used interchangeably to refer to the same and one entity by many who chose to speak about them on social media some years back. Seeking to know from the horse's mouth, I sought to clarify from Agathiyar. He came as words that were dictated to Mahindren. Mahindren was mooted to write down the words that Agathiyar gave in his brief moment of meditation. Agathiyar cleared the air that day and later affirmed that we had understood it right.
Similarly, just as Agathiyar came as the memo to us earlier, I had thought this time in having me pick up paper and pen, the words that came to my mind days before Guru Purnima, were his dictation of a formula to live life the Siddha way and adopt practices that would bring us to know the Self. Mahindren who dropped by last night made me realize that what I was asked to be relayed through this memo was actually my experiences till this day. Only then could I connect and affirm that I too had seen through the phases, having adopted the formula. It reminded us of how Ramalinga Adigal and Manickavasagar and other saints and Siddhas came out with songs and poetry to document their experiences in coming to the state of realization.
From having us leave Sariyai which basically revolves around temple worship, Agathiyar in sending us a guru in physical form had us take up Kriyai and Yogam that go hand in hand. For most of us who take up Yogam without Kriyai or worship, we are lost when unusual changes and energy spikes take place within us after putting them into practice. Here is where if we engage in Kriyai too the Siddhas come to guide and lead us, explaining the mysterious happenings that begin to take place after the advent or arousal of these energies coming within or activated respectively. Many a soul suffers in silence not able to comprehend or seek relief without a personal teacher or the Siddhas. When we learn to accept and live with these energies surrendering to their course and action, there is no return to the former state without seeing things anew and in a different perspective. Now I understand why some masters and their followers keep to themselves creating a community amongst them often branded as a cult by many. They have found a way of living that is not possible in society. They cannot come back and live amongst people on a different wavelength and with a different vibration.
Now after we had moved away from Sariyai, traversed the phase of Kriyai, and taken up Yogam, the slabs that Agathiyar placed on our path to step on and walk and arise to higher stages were removed abruptly so that there was no way to return. Though it was sudden and abrupt, it meant that we could safely drop all previous practices for there is no reason to revisit them unless called for. Sadly when we begin to drop the earlier practices we are labeled as rebels to the cause. Indeed to the eyes of those across the bank, sitting on the fence, or have only walked a mile or two on the path, the Siddhas Dharma now might threaten their earlier hold, beliefs, and practices.
And so Agathiyar who pulled us away from Sariyai which was introduced to us as a kid in the 60s, with the coming of Tavayogi in 2005 started us into the other phases as in Kriyai and Yogam. He dropped the bombshell on 19 February this year, making it clear and known that all the previous means, ways, methods, and practices were only aids, tools, and crutches to walk the path and not the path itself, in a revelation or rather conversation with us. The conversation is listed private at https://youtu.be/zKiZSifCiDk. Get in touch with me if you are prepared to be stripped naked and molded anew. Listen to this revelation only if you have walked the path for some time now. This is a burst of Gnanam that tears down all our previous understanding and brings us to a state of vacuum and emptiness or Verumai. The gross does not hold water or ground anymore. We merge with the fire and the wind. We remain in the space of emptiness or Vethaveli. There is nothing further to do or achieve. We are existence itself. The Gnana Kanal or Fire of Divine Knowledge that follows and comes as a result of Tava Kanal or the Fire of Austerities burns down all our former acquired knowledge. The very home is burnt to the ground so that we can never reassemble it back to its previous state. No chance at all. He makes sure of it. We stand to watch the Self arise from these ashes. We are reborn. We take rebirth not in another life but in this very life.
When Agathiyar asked me to speak after the Siddha puja was over, at the home of a new kid on the block and a devotee who invited both Agathiyar and Lobama over to grace their new home, I had unintentionally spoke about vegetarianism. Agathiyar came later and told me that the topic was not appropriate to the venue as most were not aware of the Siddha's teachings nor were they regular worshippers of the Siddhas. The next time he asked that I speak which was at AVM on Guru Purnima he had me write out the text first so that I did not do any blunder. This reminds me of the years when I too was a new kid on the block having come to the worship just 5 years earlier. In a "prearranged" meeting by Dr.Krishnan at his Siddha clinic and office space, with a guru who ran an ashram for Agathiyar in a neighboring state, the guru came down hard on me condemning idol worship after hearing me reply to his question as to what I was doing. I was happily carrying out the fire and libation rituals to Agathiyar's statue that Agathiyar had ordained me to do then. Even after explaining that it was Agathiyar's directive and that I needed them most as I was a freshie, he kept harping on Sivavakiyar's song verses to support his hold and principle. I realized that he was barking up the wrong tree then. He should have sold his ware to all those organizations, groups, and movements that were in existence for scores of years and were still engaged in the same activities. That is when the Siddhas came and scared him away with their loud laughter. Upon coming to my senses, he was not there. The Dr was unaware of what had transpired in the reception area for he was still attending to his clients in his room.
I strongly believe that Ramalinga Adigal too came too soon as many were not prepared to accept and follow his ways and teachings. He left with sadness that his teachings did not take hold then, even among his close aids. He is very impatient in coming again to speak about the bounty and treasures on our hands that we are ignorant of. But Lord Shiva and Agathiyar have held him back. Agathiyar tells us that he has to market and package his teachings in another form to captivate the current generation.
If Tavayogi boldly took the stage and spoke of the need to come out of Bakti into Gnanam, and if a "stranger" dropped by Supramania Swami's kudil or cottage and asked him why he was taking a step back into Bakti wanting to build a temple for Lord Muruga when he was into Gnanam, taking these cues I too have tried slowly and carefully to inject the need to come out of years of doing the same activity and practice to those who I was opportune to speak in private. But though they shook their heads in agreement they never did nor could step out of it. Similarly, I shared my sadness with Mahindren that even AVM family members saw AVM as another place to congregate as with other Peedhams, movements, groups, and organizations. Both Agathiyar and Tavayogi's vision to see each home produce an Agathiyan and turn into Agathiyar Vanam respectively never materialized. Agathiyar tells me he is scouting for a candidate to bring these teachings to the masses after me.
It is understandable that even heads of missions whom I met in private, feared for the worst after addressing this matter with them. One told me that it was a 300-year-old tradition that he feared to break. The other held on to what was established by her guru. We need people like Ramalinga Adigal and Bharathi to take birth again to tear down the veils and bring down the curtains revealing the light. But Agathiyar tells us that Ramalinga Adigal will not take another human birth but come within each one of us instead and work subtly to bring the change from within and have us all take up the glorious road to attain the state of Arutperunjothi.