MY GURU - TAVAYOGI THANGARASAN ADIGAL

When Tavayogi was in Malaysia in June of last year, my wife and I spent some private moments with him at Sri & Srimathi Balachander Aiya's home where he was staying. That is when I asked him what was our next course of action, for me, us and AVM. As he was our guru I expected him to say something towards that but he surprised me by saying, "Naan yenna magane direction kaaturathu, athaan Agathiyar ungalai direct seiyuraare", meaning "What am I to give direction my son, Agathiyar is already directing you!" with a broad smile in his own style. I realised that he was detached even from the act of guiding his disciple. If I was in his shoes I would have said a thing or two to my student and taken credit for it, but he passed that responsibility to Agathiyar. That was Tavayogi.

I came to Tavayogi after seeing an advert in the papers. He was in Malaysia to officiate a local chapter of his Agathiyar Gnana Peedham. Meanwhile he was going places accepting invitations to homes of devotees of Agathiyar. When I invited him over to my home for the very first time and he accepted, I was on cloud nine. My nephew and I fetched him from Batu Caves at 10.4am on 31 July 2005. We had gathered family and friends at my home. Tavayogi spoke a few words and I invited him to conduct a short puja which he did. Lunch was served and Tavayogi had to leave. As I accompanied him back to Batu Caves with my nephew at the wheel, I began to thank him for coming over. I asked him if he was pleased with us. He nodded his head and smiled. I told him that that was the very first time I had a holy man in my home. I was deeply grateful to him for coming over. Immediately he turned to me and said that I was living in Maya (Illusion). "You think I have something hidden beneath this kavi (his saffron-coloured clothing). I have nothing on me. Pray to Agathiyar." That shut me up. I was taken by surprise. I did not expect that answer in response to my gratitude. We remained quiet the rest of the way.

Initially I felt hurt at his response but today I can proudly say that he had done me a great favour. If he had not blasted me that day, I would have returned home and placed a large portrait of him in my living room and garlanded and worshipped him. What he taught me was to worship the spirit within him that is also within all of us immaterial what we want to call it or by whatever name we address it. He chose to call it Agathiyan.

He led us on the worship of Agathiyar and the Siddhas. He preached the Siddha path. He officiated many Peedhams for Agathiyar in Malaysia on the requests of devotees. He spoke about his guru Chitramuthu Adigal and his Paramaguru Jagannatha Swamigal, whom we were unaware of until then. Both these gurus, having arrived from India, had lived in Malaya, practising their tavam.

I took after his heels to his Kallar Ashram on 18 September 2005 when he invited me over. I had my very first experience of an Ashram life. He only had a small dwelling. There was no water nor electricity. We went down to the river flowing nearby to wash our clothes and take a bath. Latrine was in the outdoors under the open sky. Mataji who was then a housewife traveled to the ashram from her hometown to serve and cook for us. Since Agathiyar had asked me to visit several temples in the Gnana Kandam, Tavayogi volunteered to take me. Besides Agasthiyampalli and Agathiyar's sannadhi; Palani and Bhogar's sannadhi; that came in the Nadi, Tavayogi brought me to Sivanmalai and Sivavakiyar's cave; Uthiyur and Konganar's cave; Chennimalai and Pinnakeesar's cave; Thanjavur and Karuvurar's sannadhi; Saraswathi Mahal Library; the hills and caves of Kalyana Theertam and Kutrallam; Pavanasam and Kutralanathar; Marudamalai and Pambatti Siddhar's sannadhi and other ashrams in and around Ooty.  It was a fulfilling journey getting to travel with the guru to all these spiritual places. I was blessed in a way because Tavayogi was fit and was able to travel the distance.

Each place he took me, a miracle happened. But he did not dwell into it ; neither did he allow me to dwell into it for more than a moment. He whisked me off saying that they will show (the miracles) only for a moment. These were out of the norm worldly experiences. He did not stay to explain these occurrences. If I did miss out something though, he would point it to me, asking me to observe. It was mystical in nature and beyond logic. Here was a city dweller who had no previous experience and knowledge about the Siddhas, taken on a magical walk through the kingdom of the Siddhas and shown amazing things and stuffs related to them. I learnt many things by just observing him. I am deeply grateful to Tavayogi for all these wonderful moments. I am deeply grateful to Agathiyar for making it all possible.

Tavayogi never approved adulation of him. He was down to earth and easily approachable. His only wish was to spread the word of the Siddhas. After extensive travels throughout India, upon leaving his family to become a turavi, he finally came to Kallar to go into samadhi. That was in 2002. He came to Malaysia in 2004 for the very first time on the direction of Agathiyar. After a short stay he returned in 2005 upon the invitation from devotees to officiate a branch of his Peedham in Batu Caves. He came again in 2007 as patron to the 1st World Conference of Siddha Philosophy held in Malaysia. He then came again several times with Mataji to spread the teachings of the Siddhas and officiate even more branches.

In 2002 after my very first Nadi reading, Nadi Nool Aasan Sentilkumar from Avinash passed me a leaflet announcing Thaaiveedu Thangarasan's intention to build a temple for Agathiyar in Kallar hills. Today his desire has been fulfilled. A beautiful ashram/ temple cum meditation hall and other facilities like lodging and dining stands on a 2 acre piece of land where Agathiyar had meditated many years ago. The beauty and ambience of the surrounding Nilgiri hills adds a picturistic flavor and a sense of tranquility bringing peace immediately upon arrival.

DO NOT BE DISILLUSIONED

Scene 1

A man minds his business in this world, caring for himself and his family. After years of working towards chasing his dreams soon he finds that he does not have peace or contentment in this material world. He is disillusioned. 

He turns to religion for answers as to why he was lacking peace and contentment even after fulfilling his dreams. In religion too he sees the diversity and competition as to whose religion is superior. He is disgusted and disillusioned. 

His gaze then falls on the spiritual world. He now becomes a seeker. He looks for peace and contentment in the spiritual world. He seeks out a guru who has answers to his query. He arrives at an ashram. He confesses to the guru that he was not at peace and not contented with his achievements this far. The guru invites him to stay with the hope that he would gain peace and contentment while there. The seeker is given chores to do. He listens to the discourses given by the guru to those who gather at the ashram. Slowly he is given several responsibilities. Along the way he understands that there is indeed a place where he could find peace and contentment. The guru points it to him. The seeker sets a new goal now. He wants to reach that destination. He works towards it with guidance from the guru. Along the way he discovers certain discrepancies in the running of the ashram. His attention now turns towards finding faults with the guru. He makes an enemy of the guru and leaves the ashram. He tarnishes the guru and the ashram. He is disillusioned. He loses sight of his destination and goal. 

Scene 2

He now arrives at another ashram. He declares that this is the place for him and that that guru was the true guru. He ridicules and bad mouths the earlier guru and his ashram.

Scene 3

In the face of an internal crises he leaves this ashram too. He seeks another ashram and another and another. This goes on like a rolling stone that gathers no moss.

It is indeed sad to see seekers deviate from their goal, falling for the numerous traps on their path to realization. Seekers start off on their spiritual journey to achieve a state of peace and contentment with a genuine yearning. But along the way they get embroiled and caught up and entangled with the internal politics at the ashram. They become disillusioned and lose sight of their goal. 

An ideal seeker would set out to achieve what he wanted in the spiritual world using the guru, the ashram, and all other help that comes along, to facilitate his yearning and seeking and move on. Immaterial of whatever happens around him, he does not lose sight of his destination. Then there comes a stage where there is no need for a middleman or guru in the physical form but the transmission is direct. He has reached his destination. Erai works on him directly. The curtain of illusion is removed for good. He merges with Erai.

Reading Yogananda Paramahansa's "An Autobiography of a Yogi" I became mesmerized with the stories of the saints described by Yogananda. It was like reading a fairy tale. Then in 2001 my nephew passes me a mantra of Lord Vishnu. Later he passes me a picture of Lord Dakshinamurthy and tells me that I should pray to him in preparation of meeting my guru. In 2002, Agathiyar tells me that I shall meet my guru. In 2003 I meet my very first guru Supramania Swami in Thiruvannamalai. In 2005 I meet my present guru Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram in Malaysia. I was blessed to have two wonderful gurus. I did not anticipate that I will meet a guru. Supramania Swami ignited the fire in me and Tavayogi nurtured it.

I stopped my seeking and my search after coming to Agathiyar. He has led me on a beautiful journey since then. He asked me to come to his path and he showed me his prayers through the Nadi reader. He showed me the ideal guru-disciple relationship through Supramania Swami. He brought me to perform rituals something alien to me till then, through Tavayogi. When Tavayogi was in Malaysia last June, I asked him for guidance and direction and he passed the buck to Agathiyar saying that he shall direct me. I have since then surrendered to Agathiyar for guidance and direction.

GIVE ACCORDING TO THE VESSEL

Once when my wife and I were with Dr Krishnan sitting at his office seeing him regarding an astrological reading, he mentioned to me about a Swami who was staying in his office space. I was told that the Swami was running an ashram for Agathiyar in the neighbouring state. He was currently in India and would be back soon. Dr Krishnan knowing that I worshipped Agathiyar wanted me to meet him. He told me he would inform me once the Swami was back from India.

I had given up seeing religious man and going to religious events after I returned from my second pilgrimage to India in 2005. In fact Agathiyar in the Nadi had wanted me to come to Yercaud Hills; Kollimalai; Chidambaram; meet a Swami who ran an establishment in Turaiyur; meet another in Kollimalai; and another religious head at Kundrakudi. I told Agathiyar that I had him, hence I am not going anywhere henceforth. If he was to give me anything over there at these places, he could always give it to me in the confines of my home too. I told him not to ask me to go any place any more. I stated my decision then. I guess Agathiyar respected my stand, since he did not speak about these issues and stopped calling me over after that.

The only other time he called me over to India was to go visit my guru Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal at Kallar Ashram. That instruction in the Nadi came as a surprise to me after all the years. A fear crept into me. That was the time when devotees returning from Kallar mentioned to me that Tavayogi looked sick and pale and was ill. When Agathiyar sort of reminded me to go see him, I feared for the worst. I packed my bags and my family and left for Kallar Ashram immediately. It was in October of 2013.

On arrival at the ashram Tavayogi greeted us and he looked hale and healthy. Not that we wanted him to be sick, but all the stories about him turned out to be untrue. We were glad that he was well. During our 5 day stay there, he followed us to Ooty 52 km away, and brought us to the Nattadreswarar Temple too some 97kms away.

When Dr Krishnan told me that he would inform me when the Swami was back from India, although I did not want to see the Swami, I was reluctant to say anything because I was indebted to Dr Krishnan in many ways. So I nodded a yes hoping that he would forget about it.

The following Sunday he did call me to remind that I could see the Swami at 5 in the evening. I had no grounds to turn down the invitation as it was a Sunday and I was at home. 

I turned up at his office apartment exactly at 5 to find them entering their office premises at the some time too. Dr Krishnan introduced me to the Swami mentioning that I was in the Siddha path too and that I wanted to see him. As the Swami and I took our seat in the visitors lobby, Dr Krishnan led a couple who had been waiting outside his office into his room and closed the door. A Vastu consultant and his wife who were occupying another office space went into their room too, leaving the door ajar. I was left alone with the Swami. 

To break the ice I asked about his Ashram since Dr Krishnan had only briefly mentioned about him. He told me he had 30 students under him. He was on this path some 35 years. He was now looking for a house/ room where he could continue his tavam or tapas. In fact they had just returned after scouting for a room elsewhere. Meanwhile he was occupying an office space with the Dr. Immediately I asked myself if his ashram was not conducive? 

Then he turned to me and asked me what I was doing (my mode of worship)? I replied that I had a statue of Agathiyar in bronze at my home and was conducting libation besides conducting homam. Immediately he took me to task condemning idol worship. He began to quote Siddhar Sivavakkiyar's songs. This went on for some time although I mentioned to him that Agathiyar had instructed me to have his statue made and to worship him. But he continued dishing out more songs from Sivavakkiyar.

I then told him he might not need idol worship but I was only 5 years into the path and that I needed it. But he would not listen. He continued rattling. Finally I shut my eyes and let him rattle. I do not know how long I stayed silent and withdrawn for once I opened my eyes he was nowhere to be seen. I looked around. The Vastu consultant and his wife were still in their office going about with their business. I doubt if they knew what happened outside as they looked unperturbed. The door to Dr Krishnan's room was still closed although I could hear their murmurs very faintly outside. 

I left the premises with disbelief wondering what had taken place, why it had to take place, what was the lesson for me and what was the lesson for the Swami? As for me there was some good in the showdown with him at Dr Krishnan's office although initially I returned home sad and unhappy at the turn of events. That evening I looked through my library of books searching for Sivavakiyar's songs and read all 524 verses in one sitting.

The following week I attended the 8th Sri Agathiyar Guru Puja at the Sri Sakthi Karpaga Vinayagar Temple. Although I had made a resolution not to attend any religious functions, Tavayogi called me from Kallar Ashram and informed me that he had received an invitation for this function and asked that I attend on his behalf. I had to oblige my Guru. Both me and my wife attended the event. As we arrived at the temple, Kunangkudi Masthaan's Agathiyar Sadagam was being recited by those present. We joined in the singing. A little while later who should I see walk into the temple accompanied by Dr Krishnan but the Swami who condemned idol worship! Dr Krishnan nodded at me as he walked by and found himself a spot to sit. I was surprised to see the Swami there, after the shelling he gave me for praying to statues. During tea break I exchanged some words with the Dr, but the Swami and I did not meet again. I came back home trying to figure what could have happened? 

Sivavakiyar was a radical Siddha. One needs to understand at what stage of his life he had come out with this songs of revelation. Tavayogi too during his visit to Malaysia in last June, ask us to understand at what stage did Sivavakiyar come out with these revelations through these songs and to whom it was directed? What was the tatwa behind it? It is pretty apparent that his songs and also those of the other Siddhas are only for those who have matured spiritually. It is not for the beginners. Similarly many doctrines and teachings are for the spiritually advanced souls.

A good speaker is one who studies the target group or audience and is willing to change the contents of his speech accordingly. Tavayogi says, "Paathiram Paarthu Alanthu Podu", which I took for to mean give accordingly to the size of the vessel (as in giving alms). But he corrected me saying it is not the size of the vessel that is meant here but the ability of one to receive what was given (the knowledge). Dr Jana was told the same by Tavayogi: Paar- observe; Thiram- worth/value; Arinthu- understand/learn; alanthu podu - sums up to observe and understand a person's needs and to give. Tavayogi also mentions that one has to wait at least 12 years to receive the Gurus' teachings. During this time the student would have progressed well on the spiritual path and would be ready to accept the radical views of the Siddhas.

Tavayogi and Mataji who advocated the Jnana Marga during their speeches in 2010 asked devotees to come out of temple worship and into the Jnana Margam, had to tone down their speeches as many in Malaysia were still into temple and idol worship. Today Tavayogi too runs a temple cum ashram.

H.H. Swami Guhabhaktananda Saraswathy Maharaj of the Divine Life Society Malaysia, had at one time advocated that we build more temples in Malaysia.

The Siddhas did not leave the poor souls who were on the lower rungs of the ladder, who were lost and were finding their way groping in the dark to find their own way or desert them. They had a very fine system in place. Just as in the academic institutions we have the three grades, elementary, intermediate and advanced stages in teaching subjects and several standards in acquiring a formal education, appropriate for each age group and the ability of the students to absorb what is being taught, the Siddhas too had laid out four divisions on the spiritual path namely: Sariyai, Kriyai, Yogam and Jnanam appropriate for each state and stage of the devotee. Hence the Siddhas had created a wonderful process for spiritual development where we are free to choose where and at which point we want to enter the stream or path according to our ability to comprehend and understand. 

This division applies in the life of an ashramite too where he is required to go through each stage. The student who has just arrived at the ashram is first given chores to do; then he helps out with the rituals; slowly he learns the techniques of Yoga and Pranayama; and finally he receives Jnana from his Guru.

An average man has to go through life and its various asramas: Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (retired) and Sannyasa (renunciation). He needs to carry out his responsibilities and exhaust his karma. Slowly he moves on to the final state of renunciation. My father left the family to serve a guru at his ashram in India. After some time the guru asked him to return home mentioning that he had many responsibilities towards the family. Only after fulfilling our duties could we then sit and watch the world of illusion or Maya go by, watching God's play.

Adopting the sastras is a necessary means to achieve one's wishes. Just as the sastras and rituals vary for each objective targeted, the spiritual path too is varied. In this podcast Aasan TR addresses certain issues in devotion and spirituality. Just as Siddhar Sivavakiyar was a radical Bharathi too was considered a radical in his circles for being blunt and honest. Both of these Siddhas have exposed the many practises held dear and close to our hearts. Their teachings is not for the faint hearted.

THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD

The English words "The pen is mightier than the sword" were first written by novelist and playwright Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839, in his historical play Cardinal Richelieu.

Richelieu, chief minister to King Louis XIII, discovers a plot to kill him, but as a priest he is unable to take up arms against his enemies. His page, Francois, points out:

But now, at your command are other weapons, my good Lord. 

Richelieu agrees:

The pen is mightier than the sword... Take away the sword; States can be saved without it!

The saying quickly gained currency, says Susan Ratcliffe, associate editor of the Oxford Quotations Dictionaries. "By the 1840s it was a commonplace." Today it is used in many languages, mostly translated from the English.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30729480

Carl Sagan wrote about the impact of the written word,

“What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic."

[Cosmos, Part 11: The Persistence of Memory (1980)]”

And so too the book "An Autobiography of a Yogi" has changed many a life on first reading including me.

It was 1994 and I had just moved back to the headquarters after serving at a unit. I had just moved into my new house and was traveling quite a distance to and fro for work. That was the time my boss asked if I would volunteer to return back to headquarters to clear a large backlog of work. I agreed as it would now be relatively a shorter distance from my new home to my headquarters. 

And so I met Sekaran at the office. 

Sekaran was about to leave the government service to become a monk as I arrived at my new workplace. He had visited the Ranchi branch of Yogananda Paramahansa's centre in India, the Yogoda Satsanga Sakha Math, five times prior to making this decision.

Just before he left, he passed me a beautiful painting of Lord Siva, a copy of "An Autobiography of a Yogi" and a few words of advice. He advised me that at times we would receive work totally unrelated to our job scope but if I had the time, and the knowledge or knowhow do take it up.

I did just that and I soon was doing something that was not related to my post and job. I was in the engineering field but began to involve in preparing presentations for the department. I became an asset to the department. The new knowledge that I acquired then has helped me to start a website, make videos, and audio recordings; all important components to catch the attention and eye of a reader. I am grateful to "Monk" Sekaran for his words of advice. I am grateful to him for the book. And I am grateful to him for Siva's lovely picture.

"The Autobiography of a Yogi" really amazed me. It suddenly opened up a whole new world out there that I did not know existed until then. It showed me the hidden world of the mystics and saints. The tales of the Saint with Two Bodies, The Perfume Saint, The Tiger Swami, The Levitating Saint, The Sleepless Saint, and of course Master Mahasaya, Sri Yukteswar, and Mahavatar Babaji, kept me glued to the book. I read and cherished the book. Slowly I added more books by Yogananda to my prized collection of spiritual books including "Whispers from Eternity", "The Science of Religion", "Wine of the Mystic", and of course "God Talks With Arjuna - The Bhagavad Gita". I picked up "The Holy Science" too, a book by Yogananda's master Sri Sri Swami Yukteswar Giri and another "Light on the Spiritual Path" by his student Roy Eugene Davis.

Along the way I remembered passing my copy of "The Autobiography of a Yogi" to an auty of my wife only to be told that she wasn't having it. I had lost my prized collection.

When a colleague at the office was transferred, I helped him pack his personal things and sent them to his car. One day as I passed by his workstation, I thought I saw a book on the table. To my surprise there was a copy of "The Autobiography of a Yogi" lying on the table. How did it come there? I was pretty sure we had moved every single personal belonging of my colleague to his car. The book could not be his as he was not the reading type and definitely not a spiritual book. As the rest of the officemates were Muslims, I kept the book for myself. I was miraculously given a replacement copy for the book that I had lost.

I have read and re-read this book just like what Rajni mentions in the last post, till literally speaking I tore the the book into two.

It is true what Rajni said of Yogananda Paramahansa as a guru who came back for our sake, to bring us from the dark into the light. Yogananda Paramahansa prefered to share his spiritual experiences with the hope of bringing others too into the fold of divinity. So did Ramalinga Adigal and many other saints. The Divine sends these highly evolved souls when there is a necessity to bring back mankind to his fold, the path of truth and satyam.

A WONDERFUL MESSAGE

Rajni during the launch of the book "Deiviga Kaathal", a Tamil version of Yogananda Paramahansa's "Divine Romance - Collected Talks and Essays on Realizing God in Daily Life", delivered a wonderful speech and several great messages for us besides sharing his life experiences. 

He begins his speech with a line from Saint Purandaradasar's song. The saint sings that human birth is to be treasured for it is rare. One has to take several thousand births before reaching the present human birth. We have come a long way from being a bacteria to a human. But alas we only delve in the everyday routine of life, seeking new relationships and material comforts. 

Rare is this birth.

Rare it is to come to a stage where we question our own existence, from whence we came and where we are heading and ponder over questions about the creator and the soul.

Rare it is for us to come by a guru who has the answers to all these questions and clears the doubts in us.

Finally having a guru as company, it is rare for the guru to dispense his grace and teachings on us.

Rajni reminds us that if we already have all these four, not to waste this life and rare opportunity.

He goes on to narrate a story about a minister who opted to leave all the comforts of the court and his job as adviser to the king wanting to become a hermit. As the king could not convince him to stay, he let him go. After some time the king received news of his minister having returned as a sadhu. The king visited him and questioned his ex-minister about what he had achieved during that time he was out of the palace. The sadhu answered that if he the minister used to stand in front of the king awaiting his orders before, now he was seated and having an audience with the king who stood before him.

There is a network that establishes who shall be a disciple and to whom. The relationship between a guru and shishya or disciple is determined and written beforehand. Hence the guru only appears when a student is ready. 

Rajni list several gurus he had and explains how each saint has molded him along the spiritual path. His first guru was his brother Satyanarayana Gaekwad, who used to bring him along as a kid to all the spiritual discourses, lectures, bhajans and devotional programs.

His brother then enrolled him at the Ramakrishna Math where he learnt moral, history, tradition, custom, learnt about the Rishis and the Vedas.

Then it was devotion to Saint Raghavendra from where he learnt rituals and bhakti or devotion.

With Ramana Maharshi the search went within. 

With Swami Dayananda Saraswati he learnt to address social problems and polished his understanding of the Vedas and Upanishads.

He received mantra upadesam through Swami Satchidananda Saraswati of Lotus, USA.

In 1978, when he was already in the film industry, he saw the book "An Autobiography of a Yogi" at the airport bookstore. He bought it but could not understand it completely as it was in English. After making the movie Padaiyappa he wanted to end his cinema career. The book was with him all these years, unread until he took it with him and left India to be with Swami Satchidananda Saraswati for 25 days in 2008. He began to read it once there and could not bring himself to lay it down. The chapters on Mahavatar Babaji affected him a lot. While with Swami Satchidananda Saraswathi, the Swami encouraged him to continue making movies for it was an excellent medium to bring devotion to the masses. Rajni was back in Bangalore, pondering over this thought when he read and re-read the book again and again.

That's when one day at 9.45am he felt a spark from the picture of Mahavatar Babaji in the book, work within him, in him. Thinking he could be hallucinating, or seeing things, he brushed it aside and laid the book down. But he became restless and picked up the book. Again the spark in the picture from the book was felt in him. The spark was not visually seen or visible but felt within. Rajni felt as if someone was instructing him to lie down. He could not resist and began to follow the instructions that came from within. He laid down for about 40 seconds. He was perspiring. He got up to look at the picture. There was no more the feeling of seeing the spark. That evening he received the full script for his next movie from within and was asked to title it as Baba. Scene by scene it was shown to him. Scene by scene it came to him. He canceled all prior appointments in Bangalore and headed for Chennai where he completed the movie. After this movie was released he came into Kriya Yoga.

Rajni says that there are many divine secrets hidden in the Himalayas waiting to be discovered. The Siddhas' Yoga teachings and meditation techniques are being brought out into the open to the common man through great spiritual personalities like Lahiri Mahasaya.

Rajni reminds us that just as we find such complexities in the appliances and gadgets, the body too is a great mechanism and a very complex one. To plant a seed one has to prepare the land and soil to receive the seed so that it can germinate in a conducive environment.  Just as we dust, sweep and clean the home in event a visitor comes over to our home, imagine how clean your heart should be if God is coming into it to reside. When Krishna was asked to give upadesa to Duryodhana and Arjuna, Krishna went to Duryodhana first. But Duryodhana said that he already knew what was right and what was wrong and anyway would not want to listen. Instead he pointed Krishna to Arjuna saying that Arjuna would not know the difference between right and wrong. "Go preach to him, teach him your upadesam", saying thus Duryodhana sent Krishna to Arjuna. Since Arjuna had surrendered and his heart and head was clear, Krishna could easily relate the Gita to him. Rajni only wishes that we be like Arjuna too, empty to receive God's word.

Similarly we need to prepare this body to receive the cosmos and consciousness. For this the chakras, occult power centres in the spinal cord with their respective elements of nature, need to be cleared and activated. Kriya Yoga brings this cosmic power into the body. It is a great art that brings peace within us. 

Rajni also narrates one of Ramakrishna Paramahansa's interesting story. A huge wall stood in the way of several gurus and students. Many tried to climb the wall. Some reached the top and seeing over the wall exclaimed in excitement and amazement and jumped over the other side. Others who reached the top exclaimed in wonder and began to describe what they saw over on the other side. Some came back to lead the remaining over the wall.

This beautiful story categories the gurus into three divisions; those who don't utter a word upon reaching the destination and merge with the other side; those who begin to preach and explain what and how it was over there from their standpoint; and the third category who come back for us, train and lead us back over the wall. Rajni equates Paramahansa with the third category.

MY GURU - SUPRAMANIA SWAMI

The year was 2003. The day Wednesday 10 September. I had just completed my last leg of my maiden pilgrimage to India. I had began circumambulating Annamalaiyar, who sits and gives darshan in the form of a hill at Thiruvannamalai, the night before beginning at the temple grounds at 9.45pm. I had walked the girivalam path throughout the night with a beautiful full moon illuminating the girivalam path. After 9 hours I arrived at the Eastern Gopuram at 6.30am, ending the girivalam that was to be my last parikaram as stated in my Nadi.

After lunch at 12 noon, I sat at Ramana's feet again. Moving on to Yogi Ramsuratkumar's ashram I was disappointed to find the gates closed for the afternoon. Since I had much time on my hands before I leave for Chennai the next day to board my plane back to Malaysia, Deventhiran and I set off to Nachanandhal, a village some 8 kilometres away to meet Deventhiran's uncle for an astrology reading and prediction of the future for my second daughter, a request made by my wife just as I left Malaysia.

The very first time I set my eyes on him, was when he got up from his seat in his courtyard and approached us as we alighted from the white ambassador. Deva introduced me as a tourist from Malaysia. Supramania Swami did not say a word nor acknowledge my greetings but instead turned around and headed back into his home. Puzzled Deva and I followed him. He led us to his altar, lit the camphor and prayed for a few moments in silence and turned around and held out the flame to me. As he led us out, he called out to his son Ramajayam to bring out his deer skin and all the past years almanac or panchang.

The skin was laid on the ground outside the home, next to the front entrance. Supramania Swami sat on the deerskin. The stack of almanacs was placed beside him. He looked up at me and through his thick lenses looked into my eyes. The first thing he said to me was, "Since you have arrived here, all is finished". Although I did not understand his statement, I remained quiet. He began to speak further. 

I remained silent for the next 5 hours! I had gone for an astrological reading for my daughter but instead he was talking about me and my future. I was amazed listening to his revelations. Neither did he ask to see my hand and palms, nor ask for my date of birth and time. What was incredible was that he was mentioning the things that Agathiyar had revealed in my Nadi. I was astonished. All I could do was cry!

After 5 hours of bliss and wonder he gave me a mantra upadesam and sent me off, wishing me well, saying that I shall come back.

I had found my guru. In my Nadi reading Agathiyar did say that I shall meet my guru. Our relationship grew the next 5 years and I met him again in 2005. Initially the correspondence was through mail. Later he would wait at the STD booth at the appointed time for my call from Malaysia. Then I gifted him with a mobile and we used to talk often and longer hours. I would send all my family and friends who were traveling to Thiruvannamalai to meet him. He would relay messages through them too. That is how he mentioned his life long desire to build a temple for Lord Muruga to my nephew and asked us to help him build it. Just as he had indicated to us his desire to build a temple, Agathiyar too had mentioned that I should contribute towards building temples in my Nadi. It would be built in his village. Later he tells me that it would be near his guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar's samadhi temple. A plot was sourced and work on the temple began only to be stopped by a sudden change of events. A strange man arrived at the crossroads to Swami's kudil, demanding to know why Supramania Swami who was already in the path of Jnana was stepping back into Bakthi. The project was called off.

I arrived at Supramania Swami's kudil in Thiruvannamalai again, on 16 September 2005, sometime after 5pm, having visited Yogi Ramsuratkumar's samadhi temple while waiting for Ramajayam to meet us. Ramajayam led Prem and me into the courtyard where I saw for the very first time, the kudil, that we had helped to build financially. Swami's wife ushered us in as Swami stepped out of his puja room to greet us. I passed him my fruit and garland offerings as I fell at his feet in salutation. I could not hold back my tears. He lifted me up and led me into his puja room, presenting me with a kaavi. We sat to talk. As night fell, and Swami's wife and son left for town to buy some milk and groceries, Swami invited me to prayer. He took up his rosary beads and began chanting his guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar's name as he rolled the beads. I too followed chanting the name as it was rather simple, "Yogi Ramsuratkumara, Yogi Ramsuratkumara, Yogi Ramsuratkumara, Jaya Guru Raya". Hardly a few minutes into it, I heard a third voice! I did not open my eyes but was wondering who it was that was singing with Swami and me. I wanted very much to know and thought that I shall ask Swami once he stopped chanting. Upon ending the chant Swami got up and left the room and I followed him forgetting entirely the whole incident that had taken place just some moments ago!

We spoke late into the night while his wife and granddaughter slept. It was 2.40am and I called it a day, asking permission to lay my head on the pillow. As I turned around in my sleep I saw him still seated on his jute bed, rolling his rudraksha beads.

As the next day was the first Puradasi Sani, Swami had requested that we go to the nearby Sri Ranganathar temple in Thiruveragam, and so I was awake at 5am. But Swami decided to leave at 10.30am after Rahu Kalam. As his family prepared a feast for me, and while waiting to leave for the temple, I decided to share my experiences reading the Nadi with Swami. He listened intently as a child would. He became excited and asked if he could have a reading too?

I took the opportunity to confess to him that I had a selfish motive in helping him want to build a temple. I shared Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar's narration of how Agathiyar had provided Supramaniar (Lord Muruga) with a place, shelter, food and clothing when Supramaniar came seeking a place to perform his tapas. By providing Supramaniar with these basic necessities and serving him, and taking care of all his needs, Agathiyar gained Supramaniar's blessings. Supramaniar on attaining deathlessness; attaining the Jhothi or the state of light and attaining the state of Erai, raised his Moolakanal and passed it on to Agathiyar. 

Citing this episode, I told Supramania Swami I had helped hoping and expecting to get some merits if not at par with what Agathiyar had received from Supramaniar. Without a second thought or a pause Supramania Swami replied with a laugh, "All my tavam is for you, Raja!" I was taken aback, not expecting this. I suddenly realized the extent of his words and what he had given me. I remained silent, thinking in this age of Kali, when people think twice about giving away their possessions, here was one man who gave away his entire life's savings - his tapas, his tavam, all the merits attained through his meditation and spiritual practices - spontaneously without a second thought! Then it dawn on me that he had just given away without any reservation his 40 years of tapas and 17 years of tavam in the arms of Annamalaiyar!

During this a few minutes of silence during which time I began to slowly digest his words, Supramania Swami continued. "You must leave behind everything, even your tavam and tapas!"

Swami then narrated an incident that took place as I slept soundly throughout the early morning hours. After I had dozed off and as Swami sat chanting, a mother and child had stepped into the kudil! She was dressed in a rainbow colored saree. The child and mother spoke between themselves and walked into Swami's prayer room, as Swami sat and watched the happening. As after some time they did not step out of the prayer room, Swami got off his bed to look. There was no one in the prayer room!

As I recall this miracle that was mentioned to me, I am brought to the present where AVM family and I had been on a pilgrimage to India last December. There were two instances where we came across a woman clad in a rainbow colored saree then. At the Agathiyar sannadhi at the outer praharam of the Adhi Kumbeswarar temple in Kumbakonam, a man arrives to open the padlock and latch of the grilled door to Agathiyar's sannadhi as we were settling to chant the names of the Siddhas. Shortly after a lady covered from head to toe and dressed in a rainbow saree enters into Agathiyar's sannadhi and lighted several oil lamps and left as swiftly as she had come without showing us her face to any of us! 

The next incident was when Sugumaran awoke abruptly on hearing someone walk by in the middle of the night. As Dyalen, Shanga and I sleep through at Korakar's Samadhi temple in Vadakku Poigainallur, Sugumaran, awakened by the sensation of someone walking by him, to his surprise saw a lady clad from head to toe in a rainbow colored saree past us as we lay on the cold floor of the temple. Sugu seeing her head for the mulasthanam and pray, tucked his head into the covers in apprehension.

I had wanted very much to bring along Supramania Swami on my pilgrimage to several abodes that Agathiyar had indicated that I should go in my Jnana Kaandam. I would bring him and Tavayogi along too, I thought. I mentioned my desire to him and he agreed. But as we travelled to the Sri Ranganathar temple nearby I realized that he was not in a state to travel the short distance much less travel on a 2,000 kilometers trail. I was worried about the consequences and outcome of such a long trip on his already frail health. Consulting with Ramajayam, his son too agreed that his father's frail physique would not be able to take the toll, citing Swami's earlier trip to Palani where he was immediately bedridden upon arrival back at his home. I found courage and told Swami that it would be in the best of his interest that he did not follow us as I cared for his health. Swami amazed me by being understanding and agreed that he would not want to in anyway disrupt my journey.

After a grand feast, with Swami's blessing I started on my second girivalam of Annamalaiyar at 6.40pm with Ramajayam accompanying me. We started at Yogi Ramsuratkumar's samadhi temple as requested by Swami. It took me 6 hours to cover the 14 kilometers this time as compared to 9 hours in 2003.

Getting back to the kudil at 2 in the morning, I was awake at 5am getting myself reading to leave for the Kallar ashram. Agathiyar had asked that I spent a couple of days with Tavayogi at his ashram. Tavayogi agreed to take me to several places that Agathiyar had pointed out in my Jnana kaandam.

As I bid farewell to Supramania Swami at 7.40am, he brought out his blanket and asked me to take it along mentioning that Ooty and its surroundings would be cold. I had already told Swami on arrival of my travel plans. While sharing my Nadi reading I mentioned that Agathiyar had indicated that Tavayogi was my guru in the reading. As he sent me off, Supramania Swami told me to send my regards to Tavayogi. I was amazed and humbled by the nature of this man who was himself a Gnani of high standing (As revealed by the stranger who stopped the temple project and as revealed by Agathiyar later) but yet set me off to meet another guru in physical form without any reservations or obstructions. 

After a wonderful stay at Kallar ashram and completing my pilgrimage with Tavayogi, I made it a point to come back to Thiruvannamalai to get Supramania Swami's blessing before returning to Malaysia. Upon arrival at his kudil, with my elder brother this time having picked him at Trichy earlier, Supramania Swami meet us at the car as we alighted. He immediately asked me if Tavayogi was fine? I was again amazed and humbled by the words and concern of Swami for another guru of mine.

The next question he asked reminded me of the third person who had accompanied our chant the evening of my arrival and before I left for Kallar Ashram. His question triggered my memory and I remembered clearly the incident. I asked him immediately with excitement whose voice it was. Supramania Swami gave a loud laugh and replied it was his guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar! My mind raced back to that moment and I stood frozen in joy and bliss on realising the gift and ability of Supramania Swami in bringing his guru to chant together with us even after he had gone into samadhi! 

My mind set out to analyze him. In this age of Kali where even the spiritual circles is tainted with jealousy, envy, covet, folly, schemers, deceivers, repugnance, niggardliness, unscrupulous people, and possessiveness - all the values that one should avoid as mentioned by Valluvar in his Kural - here was a guru who stood apart from others, and gained my respect and devotion.

It is no wonder that Agathiyar made me understand the stature of my guru in his Nadi when Supramania Swami passed away on 7 February 2007. Agathiyar on 10 February told me Supramania Swami was a true guru and had indeed gone into samadhi and his samadhi would one day gain fame. I understood then that you are your thoughts. Raise your thoughts to the state of a Siddha and you shall become one, which Supramania Swami did.

It has been 10 years now since Supramania Swami left his mortal frame. Time has passed and memories have faded, nevertheless he lives in our hearts.

JOY IN GIVING

There is joy in giving.

Walking us through Valluvar's Kural, Aasan TR brings to light the necessity to perform acts of aram or dharma as spoken by Valluvar. With his extensive knowledge on the Tamil literature and his vast experience in reading the Nadi, comprehending and understanding the principles upheld by the Siddhas, Aasan puts it all in plain language for our understanding and comprehension, citing the need to give back to society. There is joy in giving.

Speaking to Balachander Aiya, one who we at AVM turn to for advice, has never failed us with his practical and logical thinking based on his vast travels and experience as an accountant, banker, administrator and hotelier. Taking up Kriya Hatha Yoga he later volunteered to organised programs for Babaji's Kriya Yoga Trust in Malaysia. He also undertook to distribute their publications in Malaysia. These books can be purchased on line at http://www.babajiskriyayoga.net/, http://www.babajiskriyayoga.net/english/publications-malaysia.htm, http://www.babajiskriyayoga.net/english/product-order-form-malaysia.php. There is joy in giving.

Acharya Gurudasan from this organization brought the Kriya Hatha Yoga teachings to members of AVM during his stay in Malaysia before returning to Bangalore. There is joy in giving.

Speaking to Surendaran Selvaratnam a moment ago, he too put it in a simple language on the necessity to do aram and that too today, rather than postpone for another day. The mystery of Siddha samadhis; the auspiciousness of certain Siddha spots and temples; the dos and don'ts at these places; and many other questions have been answered through Suren through the Nadi readings. He then shares it at AVM. There is joy in giving. 

Speaking to Bala Chandran Gunasekaran, he is obsessed in serving the society, looking for ways to contribute further. Gathering his friends, he started Thondu Seivom to serve the community and later started a feeding program among his family members. There  is joy in giving.

Sri Krishna started the Pothigai Meals on Wheels feeding program bringing food to the homeless on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. He is assisted by Shanga Manikam, Balamurugan and several others. There is joy in giving.

Many good souls at AVM have come together to contribute to Amudhasurabhi which caters for the needs of several homes and their inmates. Dr Jana volunteers to looks into the health aspects of the inmates at these homes. There is joy in giving.

Master Uva with his guru, Master Arunan have extended their offer to heal through Varma Point Therapy and Varma Energy Therapy on a monthly basis and even to include a session on group energy therapy. There is joy in giving.

It brings joy in speaking about these wonderful souls and many others who have gathered at AVM to pray, serve and share the joy in giving. 

Dr VM Jayapalan from Agathiyar Mei Gnana Sabai, Ulsoor, Bangalore received a wonderful revelation on the disastrous effects of being egoist, and the merits in performing annadhanam among many other stories which he had released as an audio CD Agathiyar Thiruvilaiyadal. He was gracious to allow us to use his material.

VARMA POINT THERAPY & VARMA ENERGY THERAPY

AVM took another step forward yesterday in providing service to the public when two masters, Master Arunan Veerappan and Master Uva each an adept in their own fields of treatment, treated several devotees of Agathiyar using Varma Point Therapy and Varma Energy Therapy respectively. I personally was treated back in June of last year for my middle back pain by both these masters.

Master Arunan, a very low profile Varma guru tutored his student Master Uva, who took up his teachings and the teachings of many other gurus Tokoh Guru Kannan Varma Kalai & Silambam Grandmaster of Malaysia; Veera Kalai & Siddhar Yogam Master Jothi Ramalingam of Natagiri Malai, India; Varmam & Veera Kalai Aasan Rajendren Krisnaraj of Coimbatore, India; Varma Kalai & Varma Yogam Master Marutha Paandhi of Sankarankoil, India; Veera Kalai & Siddhar Yogam Master Kumar of Papanasam, India; Yoga & Energy Healing Master Veera of White Lotus Yoga in Malaysia; Hatha Yoga and Pranayamam Yogi Master Joe from Malaysia; Siddha Medicine & Healing master Vellingiri Swamy Krisna Moorthy of Natagiri Malai, India; Spiritual Wisdom & Essence master Dr Kadeer Ibrahim of Malaysia; and Super Qi Gong & Inner Power master Dr Amir Farid Ishak also from Malaysia. With these vast and diversified knowledge obtained through these great masters, Master Uva teaming up with his master, Master Arunan, have brought all these invaluable teachings together and molded them into a comprehensive package that is presented during the Varmam classes held by them. Students keen in learning these techniques can contact these Masters.

Wanting to give back to society both these masters with the blessings of Agathiyar began their very first public healing session at AVM yesterday. Seven devotees of Agathiyar were treated for various ailments and discomfort and also received the therapy for general good health. 

KARMA PART 2

Sitting through a Nadi reading for the very first time can be nerve wrecking for some, as we are told that our past actions would be revealed by the Siddhas. True enough we soon are face to face with a listing of all the karma that was supposedly to have been done by us in a past life. Life is not fair; it is not right to punish us now for bad deeds we did in the past life; are we doomed to live a dreadful life?; these are some of the questions that arise during/after a Nadi reading.

The late C.Rajagopalachari in his translation of the Kural, a Bhavan's Book University publication, 1999, wrote on Karma, that answers the above questions.

Oozh is the Tamil word for the Law of Karma, by which the sum of man's thoughts, desires and actions in one birth becomes his start in the next birth or re-embodiment of his soul. Men reap the just and natural reward of every act and build their nature and tendencies as a result thereof. The law is unfailing in its rigour. The account is not closed by death, but carried forward from one birth to another. Causes not traceable to oneself now must be traced to oneself in past births. That we do not remember the past is irrelevant. 

Since the present birth is a result of the past karma, there is a valid reason to reveal the past to us. Knowing why we took birth will help us evaluate life through a different perspective. We accept karma and while we work towards eradicating it, we are now more careful in all our new and fresh dealings, and day to day living. With the renewed understanding that karma is the determining factor in taking birth again and again, and with the knowledge and understanding about karma and the extent of its repercussions, we can now carefully tread the ground, rather than bulldoze through life otherwise and creating a mess of it.

"Vithiyai Mathiyaal Vellalaam", say the elders. Indeed, with the Siddhas aid we can turn the tables on fate and destiny. Yes we then make our own destiny. From thereon forth the Siddhas would guide us to rebuild our life, leading us to a better future. Towards this, the Siddhas have laid out many texts that help elevate man to the next level, imbibing good values and morals, bringing him to be more compassionate and loving. The Siddhas have laid out several ways to arise from one's miseries and strengthen his Atma Balam. Upon reading the Nadi we are asked to visit temples, perform many rituals, provide food and clothings, gift cows; and thank the authors of the Nadi through a simple ceremony Olaikku Dhanam. Performing the Homam or Yagam; building temples and other places of worship and many more acts of performing charities or egai or dhanam are advocated by the Siddhas. The idea here is to get us to start doing prayers or sadhana and performing acts of charity or dharma. Continued prayers would eventually bring the person to a state of bakthi or devotion, mellow his heart and prepare his body, mind and soul to receive Erai; while acts of charity would build compassion or dayavu in him and bring him to a state of extreme lovingness.

C.Rajagopalachari wrote about compassion,

Diverse are the teachings of the religions of the world, but in all will be found that compassion is that which gives man spiritual deliverance. Hold on to it!

Besides changing a person both internally and externally; sadhana and dharma will surely lift him from being grounded in karma.

The kings and rulers of past centuries, on the advice of their wise and learned ministers, conducted extensive and massive and equally expensive yagams to garner boons and fulfill their wishes and also appease their karma. Understanding that it would not be possible for people to engage in severe tapas and conduct costly rituals, Divine masters chose to come down to show us ways to lead a devoted life appropriate for each yuga or according to the yuga dharma. Ramalinga Adigal a century back, took up annadhanam as the thiravakol or key to open the gates of heaven, and established the Satya Dharma Salai in Vadalur. While the other parikaram or atonement might be costly to perform or involve considerable cost, Adigal advocated the simplest but yet the greatest form of dhanam that is annadhanam, feeding others or sharing our food. Annadhanam can be done by all. Even the poorest can opt to feed the animals and birds instead.

Performing a virtuous act of aram or dharma and egai or charity is akin to planting a seed. Just as a seed can become a forest, the merits gained in taking up these values are manifold. "Dharmam Talai Kaakum" goes another saying. Aram is the way to bring to a stop the cycle of birth and rebirth. Furthermore the merits of conducting dharma cannot be snatched away by another, unlike property and fortune. Only the merits derived from these good deeds come along with us on the last leg of our worldly journey. These deeds are transferred as good karma and decide our next birth.

These acts of charity should not be done one off or only when directed but has to become part and parcel of our lifestyle. Look for opportunities to perform them daily. By treading live anew, adopting these values in life, that promise good merits, one sets out to rebuild, and modify his life, change his fate and destiny or even better draw up a new destiny. Accumulating these good merits will surely provide for a better future and after life and a better birth the next time around. Hence eventually he learns to becomes master of his own destiny.

Join Aasan TR explain these and many other facts about performing aram in the following podcast. He quotes from Valluvar's Kural and Ramalinga Adigal's life extensively.

VALMIKI'S SUTRA GNANAM

Aasan TR shares his understanding of Valmiki's Sutra Gnanam. Here the Siddhas guide us in differentiating and identifying the true Siddhas from the false. Agathiyar too has lashed out at false gurus in his Agathiyar Gnanam. 

Aasan also speaks about the greatness of the written word that has the potential to bring a clear understanding of the text from within. Just as the idols invoke devotion from within, the written word too has the tendency and ability to invoke an understanding of the subject. Carl Sagan says it beautifully of the written word (book).