Sunday, 5 March 2017

HELPING OUT THE NEEDY


AVM, Amudhasurabhi and Thondu Seivom came together to chip in and ease the running of a children's home by providing provisions and groceries. An aluminium sink that was in dire need of replacement was replaced with a stainless steel sink.





Meanwhile Sri Krishna will be feeding the poor and homeless in Kuala Lumpur on 9 March 2017, a monthly program carried out to coincide with the Pusam star. Volunteers can team up with Sri Krishna to give him a hand in distributing the food packets.







 

Friday, 3 March 2017

TAKING THE HANDS OF ERAI PART 2

Paramahansa Yogananda in his AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI, Self-Realization Fellowship, 1990, says, 
“Knowledge of the law of Karma encourages the earnest seeker to find the way of final escape from its bonds.” 
In the face of calamities, one seeks out the Siddhas and their Nadi, for an explanation. Given one, he now faces the consequences of his past actions that paint a rather bleak and gloomy future. Is he doomed forever to remain in the pit of fire? Fear not, the most compassionate Siddhas come to our rescue, by providing a solution, tailored for him.

Knowing our past karma and the simple acts of dharma that we perform will certainly go a long way in helping "cleanse" our karma. "Nothing is wasted", says Supramania Swami referring to our efforts.

Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal says “The life we are living now is a result of our past karma and the life we live now will determine our next birth”. 

“What you are is what you have been, what you will be is what you do now” goes the saying of the Buddha.

By dealing with the present moment in the most positive and appropriate way, based on good virtues, we can certainly chart our future destiny and fate to our liking and desire. There is yet some hope then. There is a silver lining among the clouds.

Karma is split into three kinds according to the period of germination.

Samcita karma determines our character; strength and weaknesses; and capabilities. It can be modified to a certain extent by working on these traits. With a strong determination to change, one can bring the desired change in him.

Annie Besant and Bhagawan Das in SANATANA DHARMA by the Theosophical Publishing House, 2000, explain the next portion of karma,
Prarabdha is that which is ripe for reaping and which cannot be avoided; it is only exhausted by being experienced. From the midst of the samcita is selected a portion, and, at the time of the beginning of the body, time energizes this. That, which has begun, is actually bearing fruit.
Although it is said that Prarabdha karma that is ripe and waiting to take place this moment, cannot be changed and one has to endure it, after coming to the Siddha path I realize that with collective prayers; the efforts of the subject or those close to him; the willpower of the subject; the Siddhas compassionate efforts and help; and finally with Erai's approval, it does change. The intensity of the resulting karma is changed with the Siddhas blessings. But it needs a miracle to happen.

Finally Vartamana karma, that which is solely in our hands, right now and right here. We might not be able to work on Samcita and Prarabdha, we might not be able to work on the past; but we can surely work on the present to make a better future.
Vartamana is that which is now being created. That Karma which is being done. The actual, that which is now being made for the future, or the coming Karma - Annie Besant and Bhagawan Das.
Knowing that karma is our doing, we can then definitely take hold of it, by taking control of every moment. This is what the elders said, "Vidhiyai Madhiyaal Vellalaam". With proper understanding or arivu, we can take initiatives to counter our destiny or fate, turning the table around on destiny and fate, change and modify our future to our dictates.
“Knowledge of the law of Karma encourages the earnest seeker to find the way of final escape from its bonds.” - Paramahansa Yogananda
Sogyal Rinpoche is right when he mentions in his book THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING AND DYING, HarperSanFrancisco, 1993, 
“Karma, then, is not fatalistic or predetermined. Karma means our ability to create and to change. It is creative because we can determine how and why we act. We can change. The future is in our hands, and in the hands of our heart. As everything is impermanent, fluid, and interdependent, how we act and think inevitably change the future.”
“We must realize that every moment in our life, every joy and every sorrow, can be traced to some source within us. There is no one “out there” making it all happen. We make it happen or not happen according to the actions we perform, the attitudes we hold and the thoughts we think. Therefore, by gaining conscious control of our thoughts and attitudes by right action, we can control the flow of Karma. Karma, then, is our best spiritual teacher. We spiritually learn and grow as our actions return to us to be resolved and dissolved.”
Satguru Shivaya Subramuniya Swami tells us that,
"Each next step will become quite obvious to you as you begin to find that you are the writer of your own destiny, the master of your ship through life, and the freedom of your soul is but yours to claim through your accomplishments of your Yoga.”
As for the Jnani, Satguru Shivaya Subramuniya Swami says,
"Having pinpointed the un-manifested karmic seed (in meditation) the jnani can either dissolve it in intense light or inwardly live through the reaction of his past action.”
Lama Surya Das in AWAKENING THE BUDDHA WITHIN - TIBETAN WISDOM FOR THE WESTERN WORLD, Bantam Books, 1997, too mentions the same,
“Every moment we are presented with the possibility of changing the future. By thorough understanding of karmic causation and skillful means, we can become free. We change, and our future changes too. This is the truth. This is Karma. We are responsible; the lever of our destiny remains in our hands.”
William Hart in the ART OF LIVING – VIPASSANA MEDITATION, Vipassana Research Institute, 2005 assures us that there is an escape route, there is indeed an option for us. 
“We can each become master of our fate by becoming master of our actions. Each of us has the means to end the suffering in our actions.”
Efforts taken in the present moment, to correct the situation, pays off in modifying the future as Paramahansa writes,
“The effort is part of the Karma, as much as the goodness or badness: Karma is not a finished thing awaiting us, but a constant becoming, in which the future is not only shaped by the past but is modified by the present.”
So how do we tackle karma?

Paramahansa says,
“Seeds of past Karma cannot germinate if they are roasted in the fires of divine wisdom.”
"By a number of means - by prayer, by will power, by Yoga meditation, by consultation with Saints, by use of astrological bangles - the adverse effects of past wrongs can be minimized or nullified.” 
The Siddhas give assurance that the very fire of meditation, prayers and devotion shall burn Karma away. Siddha Avvai says man needs to perform tapas or tavam (penances), prayers and charity, to end this circle of birth. 

Satguru Shivaya Subramuniya Swami writes, "These karmic packets become more refined, life after life, through Sadhana".

Ram Das in PATH TO GOD - LIVING THE BHAGAVADGITA, Harmony Books, 2004, shows a way. 
“If we want to get done with it all, it’s clear that the first step in the process is to stop creating new waves. We are never going to be finished if we keep making new waves for ourselves every day".
So how do we end this cycle of birth and rebirth?
"Once we are acting purely out of dharma and not out of any desire, we are no longer making waves. When you’ve totally surrendered to your dharma, when you’re no longer trying for anything, that’s your way through.”
Dr Hiroshi Motoyama in KARMA AND REINCARNATION, Piatkus, 1992 suggests that action without hoping for its results saves us from taking on even the positive karma,
“Dissolving Karma through learning detachment – non-action within action i.e. acting out the unfolding of one’s day to day life continuously but without attachment to the results of the action.”
There is always an option given in all situations. One can give back on his own will to creation out of gratitude for all that he has received. But it seldom happens. On the contrary we go all the way out to "give" only when we are in trouble, desiring and hoping that the karma and trouble will clear. But we have to start somewhere. Having pointed out our karma and having started us on performing the parikaram, soon we realize that there is joy in giving and bliss in prayers. We then stop expecting something in return but continue to give willingly. It takes time though to arrive at this realization that there is joy in giving without any expectation and desire. Giving without any expectations in return and giving without any desire relieves us of taking on new positive karma too that would necessitate another birth to reap its well earned benefits.

Eknath Easwaran in DIALOGUE WITH DEATH - A JOURNEY THROUGH CONSCIOUSNESS, Jaico Publishing House, 2002, opens up another dimension, 
"Whatever we are today is the result of what we have thought, spoken, and done in all the present moments before now - just as what we shall be tomorrow is the result of what we think, say, and do today.”
Easwaran too drives the point that the responsibility for both present and future is squarely in man’s own hands. 

There is only the present. There was a present moment in the past. There will be a present moment in the future too. Living in the present moment with total awareness and full participation will fulfill the need of the moment and accomplish the task at hand without a need to come back and redo them. Paying attention to the needs of the moment will help take care of the future in a positive way.

The only moment and place we can bring a complete change then is in the present. Kriyamana or Vartamana, the karma we are presently creating will determine our future. Vartamana is in our hands. We can redesign our future. Let us place both Samcita and Prarabdha at the feet of the Divine to work on it, and let us take Kriyamana solely into our hands and mould the future for ourselves with the guidance of the Siddhas.

Lets take charge of the present moment and define our future. Taking charge of our lives will modify our destiny and fate. A strong determination or vairagya is required to fight off the latent samskaras. With a strong determination, the grace of the Siddhas, and the approval of Erai; taking the hand of Erai we burn the seeds of past karma and we are set free from the bondage of birth and rebirth.

TAKING THE HANDS OF ERAI PART 1

When life is a smooth ride, man must learn to do all the good he can. When he is making a good income, he should start giving to the less unfortunate too. When he is having a good feast he should start sharing some of it with the hungry too. When he is having a good life, he should start bringing cheer to the lives of others too. When he is successful in life, he should start grooming others to be successful too. These are some of the acts of giving back and showing one's gratitude and thankfulness. Life is short. Do not postpone doing some good daily. Do not wait until you have lost everything to do some good.

Our ancestors have given us all the sacred texts needed for our spiritual and material advancement. One such text is the Kural. Valluvar has spoken about all aspects of life and how to live it and also how not to live it. It is an amazing scripture.

http://www.tamilvu.org/library/nationalized/pdf/59-puliyurkesigan/013.thirukuralputhiyaurai.pdf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1XWS61nCeNPYzY4YmJjODQtOWYxZi00MWFmLTlkODEtNGRkYWIxNGJiZmNj/view

By adapting these teachings into our daily lives we would progress to the next stage that the Siddhas have mentioned, the state of a Mamanithan or a great man.

But alas, it is only when life takes a dip for the worst that man starts to seek answers. He then turns to Erai. The most compassionate Erai does not turn them away in their hour of need. To the common man searching for answers as to why he is going through so much problems, obstacles, illness and sufferings, Erai through the Siddhas has a wonderful tool or medium, the sacred oracle, through which clarification and assurance is given to those who come seeking, hence the reason it is called Nadi or 'to seek'.

Explaining the reasons for one's troubles, the Siddhas would give an appropriate solution too. For a start the Siddhas would request us to do parikaram or atonement, to get us started on prayer and doing an act of charity. I too paid my due respect to the Siddhas and their Nadi by way of performing a thanksgiving ritual called Nadikku Dhanam where offerings are made and the songs of praise to Siddhas are sang. The parikaram is not a one time remedy for our past karma as the parikaram is based on the karma of one particular birth or jenma, and since we continually create karma throughout our daily actions, hence we need to "cleanse" these karma continuously. Agathiyar asked me to perform the homam/yagam on a regular basis for he says this ritual will remove one's karma. Another simple act of "cleansing" one's karma is by the noble act of feeding. Once Agathiyar asked me to feed the birds before coming for a subsequent reading. He even sent the birds over to my home. I took to feed the birds since then. Besides this, Agathiyar has asked to continue the annadhanam programs undertaken by AVM family.

These are the simple acts of dharma that Agathiyar has us do to "cleanse" our karma. In thick or thin, the only one that holds our hands is Erai. He is both inside and outside of us. He is in our very cells. And he is in the stone too. He is in the Prapancham and the prapancham is in him. He is in us. We are in him too. Let us get connected to Erai.

Thursday, 2 March 2017

A DEVOTEE'S STORY PART 1

I met Srimathi Rakhi Chaturvedi and her family at Kallar Ashram last December. She has written a beautiful piece on how she came to the Siddhas.

I shall give way to her now.
It was in the year 2007, I came across one of the most revered book of Bhagwan Shri Ramana Maharshi “Who am I”. The book rekindles the fire of spiritual seeking in the hearts of spiritual seekers - it did in mine too… but apart from that it created in my heart an intense desire to visit the holy land of Arunachala. The desire was intense. The more I read about the holy place the more the craving. It was much later did I realized that craving was created by the lord and the time is also chosen by lord for us to step in his sacred aura.

I used to think “Oh lord! Will I ever be able to visit you? As firstly I was not married that time, second have never been to South India moreover being North Indians none in my family had even heard about the name of the holy place till then….. Were some thoughts which were popping up in my mind. But I was sure of his darshan realizing little that date is decided by lord himself. 
I have been blessed with wonderful parents. Both my parents have never questioned my spiritual seeking. The level of trust my father had on me was incredible. My father was a wonderful person extremely generous and ever smiling. He had never disallowed me to attend any spiritual camps or workshops in my city or in other cities too. His faith on my decisions was indeed incredible.  Sometimes I wonder whether I will be able to have same level of trust on my daughter the way my father had on me...only time will tell… 
My father who was a heart patient suddenly started facing lots of health challenges more so in the year 2008-09. I made sure not to go out of town for official or personal reasons at any cost…we have gone through very tough times ….in hospitals and at home too… I was alone with my mother and we have to take all the required decisions needed to be taken as per doctor’s advice. The decisions all the time involved life and death….sometimes it broke me… 
Avdhoot Baba Shivanand has told us to pray to the holy siddhas, call them with your pure heart and they will help (he has not told the names of siddhas or potri). I was doing all the sadhanas asked by him with total sincerity and most of them includes healing prayers for father's health. Sometimes we have seen magical improvements and sometime not at all. In the meantime my father wanted me to get married (I was already working in a firm for quite some years). I could not even think of getting married, leaving my parents when they were facing so many challenges regarding health. I prayed to the siddhas may my horoscope not match with anybody. And the siddhas looked into my request.
From 2007 my father's hospitalizations become frequent. His heart’s pumping rate was reducing and that used to cause him pain in back or sometimes shoulders. Though all of us could sense the grace of siddhas but sometimes the pain was so much that we could not sleep for nights. With the grace of siddhas he was in the hands of the best doctors in town, best hospital, a car and a driver was almost always available at my disposal in office which I could always use in case of emergencies. We have been blessed with extraordinary neighbors and friends to take care but the mental stress and pain was intense. I was feeling the pain my father was going through and I was helpless. Enough … I questioned the siddhas, "Are you really there?"
By that time I have only heard the word “siddhas” and certain information which got registered in the mind while reading about Arunachala.    I do not know all the names of siddhas nor ever had heard about the nadi. I was sitting in my office cabin all alone and seeking help from the siddhas in my mind if they really exist ….. And the seeking was from every cell of my body… suddenly when I opened my mailbox a video of Shivanand ji popped up and it explained about the existence of nadi. And how our past present and future is recorded. It was the first time heard about such sacred science and about the compassion of siddhas for humanity.
Though Shivanand ji in his various courses which I had attended had never mentioned about the nadi ….. he had always explained about past life karma and its strong hold on us many times before. But now I wanted to know the reason for the challenges we were going through…. I immediately searched the net… assuming that I may have to go in to some other town for the nadi….but luckily I got one reader in the town (vadodara) and that too not very far from my office. I called and got the appointment for the very next day.
The first thing I asked Mr. M.R.Kausikan the reader,  that such a sacred treasure you are having and you have not advertised in the papers at all and there are no billboards or signs as well …
"But today you are here madam because you are suppose to be here today by Agasthya's grace … we do not need any advertisement", was his reply and I was amazed. It was June 27th 2009.
After going through the nadi readings I realized we are responsible for all we go through in life… and we all learn and grow from those experiences. Second and when guru or siddhas enter our lives our troubles and challenges do not go away. We have to bear life challenges relative to our karma… but our sufferings reduce drastically …. we face challenges in the shadow of compassionate siddhas who take care of us like we do to our infants and toddlers.
Something happened after the reading the challenges were there but no more suffering. Instead of feeling victim of the situation, I was in control or rather Mahamuni had taken me in his lap.
My father passed away in September 2009 and first thing he did from heaven was to arrange my trip to “ARUNACHALA”. We can go there only with the blessings of our parents and forefathers.
I was asked to visit certain temples down south for atonements of past deeds by Agasthya Rishi through the nadi. The trip was planned for March 2010 with my mother, sister and her kids.
THE HOLY GIRIVILAM - March 2010. Finally the magnetic lord has called us to shower his grace on us. I was thrilled to the core and felt a deep bliss. We (myself and sister) decided to do the girivalam in the early morning instead of night as we were new to the place and do not know anything about the route. We first went in front of the temple prayed from outside as the temple was closed by lighting some camphor and began our journey. As soon as we started, one “Bhairav” in the form of dog accompanied us .. as we were walking for the first time and a bit nervous. But we were feeling amused at the beautiful “Bhairav” who walked almost half the path with us. And then disappeared maybe into the inner path of the hill. Later I came to know that Bhairavs protect first time walkers and many have shared similar experiences. He enjoyed some biscuits and milk we served him on the way.
We visited all the lingams and all the important places known to us then… on the route (which requires a separate article of its own). We completed the girivalam, walking barefoot, in almost 4 hours. Went to the temple and thanked the lord for calling us.
Shivanand ji in one course told our group of girls to focus on getting married as it is essential for spiritual growth. I prayed to Arunachala that if getting married is essential than bless me with a partner who understands my desire to visit you many times in life. For I knew that once the calling comes….you cannot wait. My wish was granted I got married within less than a year to a wonderful soul who like my father had put an immense faith and trust in my seeking and is equally enjoying the callings which we now receive collectively from beautiful abodes of lord.

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

Reminiscence on Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi by Devotees






AGATHIYAR IS FOR REAL

I posted my first post in Siddha Heartbeat on 28 July 2013. Later, on 4 November 2014, I added a reminder to those who wish to post a comment.
This blog postings are those of beginners who have taken the first step exploring the mysterious & mystical world of Siddhas. It is purely about devotion (Bakthi) and miracles. For those who think or feel that they have advanced spiritually and passed these initial, preliminary and primary stages, please reserve your comment.
The reason I had to add that note of caution was I received comments that ridiculed idol worship and belittled miracles, sadly, from people of the same faith. Agathiyar himself says of men that they would only belief if something happens, but on the contrary Agathiyar says belief and it shall happen!


When my wife wanted to know why she came into the Siddha path, she put this question to Agathiyar. Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal looked into the holy oracle or Nadi for an answer from Agathiyar. If earlier, in a Nadi reading for my daughter with Nadi Nool Aasan Ramesh, Agathiyar had told me that my daughter was the reason I came to his marga, in Tavayogi's Jeeva Nadi he says it again, that she was the reason we came together again in this birth. This was in July of last year.

Agathiyar reveals a moment from the past birth. He says that we left our daughter (of this birth too) on her own as a two year old, while my wife and I attended to our fruit stall in the vicinity of the Sri Kuttralanathar temple. She fed the statue of Agathiyar, the fruits that we offered at Agathiyar's sannadhi before we began our sales. Agathiyar was so impressed and overjoyed by her love and devotion and in receiving the fruit that he granted her another birth in Malaysia, the land of "bhogam" as he calls it. Agathiyar ate the fruit she gave him!


When Tavayogi passed me his shawl to lay on the cold granite floor at Agathiyar's sannadhi at Agasthiyampalli, Agathiyar opened his left eye in his granite statue! This was in 2005.


Continuing to Kuttralanathar temple, again Agathiyar opened his eye, this time both his eyes in the granite statue!


Many years later in 2013, Agathiyar opens his eyes in the bronze statue of his at AVM in the presence of Jnana Jothiamma. 


How do we reckon this? Can a granite statue partake an offering?  Can a granite statue open its eyes?Or a bronze statue for that matter? Well it did happen!

The morning after I spent my first night at the old Kallar Ashram, as we took a morning walk, Tavayogi tells me that Agathiyar came asking him what he was giving me? During the many walks together through the jungle tracks on the way to the caves of the Siddhas, Tavayogi tells me the Siddhas have come to bless us. How is that possible? Why am I not seeing them? Well it did happen as they left behind signs to indicate they were there. The sacred ash that appeared at Konganar's cave, again the lime that rolled down to my nephew's feet. How do we explain this?

The many stories carried in Sri Velayudham Karthikeyan's blog Siththan Arul only go to show and reinforce Agathiyar's words: Belief and it shall happen!

Readers of Siddha Heartbeat who would like to share their experiences could do so. Mail me at gnanakottam@gmail.com. Would love to hear from you too.

Tuesday, 28 February 2017

MEETING GREAT SOULS

When I met Aasan TR at Aasan Ramesh's office in Kuala Lumpur, TR read the Nadi while Ramesh explained. I was blessed to have both of them read the Nadi for me. On my way out TR asked me to search for Siddhar Rajiyam on the net where I could get useful information regarding the Siddhas. Back home while searching for this blog, I also came across Siththan Arul that exposed me to the miracles that the Siddhas performed in the lives of common folks to the extent of changing people's fate and destiny. I could not resist but to begin translating these real life episodes for Siddha Heartbeat.

http://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.my/2013/08/tales-from-jeeva-nadi-this-series-of.html
http://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.my/2013/08/further-revelations-from-siththan-arul.html
http://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.my/2013/08/further-revelations-from-siththan-arul_11.html
http://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.my/2013/08/more-revelations-from-siththan-arul.html

I was blessed to connect with the admin of Siththan Arul Thiru Velayudham Karthikeyan who shared many interesting facts not published or made known to the public. These conversations and his blog were eye openers for me, a freshie beginning to walk the path of the Siddhas. I cherished every conversation I had with him. Unfortunately lately he has been off all social medias.

AVM was blessed to have both Nadi Nool Aasan Ramesh and TR grace our home during the Agathiyar Jayanthi and Guru Puja. I am grateful to Navarani for fetching them over in the heavy thunderstorm that came all of a sudden. Nevertheless it was a blissful evening. 





Siddha Heartbeat is proud to post many of Aasan TR's explanations and Nadi readings by the Siddhas made available to him. Siddha Heartbeat thanks TR for sharing these valuable knowledge with us. 









Monday, 27 February 2017

PRAPANCHA SADHGURU

Photo Courtesy of Bala Chandran Gunasekaran

Photo Courtesy of Bala Chandran Gunasekaran

Photo Courtesy of Bala Chandran Gunasekaran

Photo Courtesy of Bala Chandran Gunasekaran

Photo Courtesy of Praba

Photo Courtesy of Sivakavin, Agathiyar Arul Aalayam, based in Chennai

Photo Courtesy of Bala Chandran Gunasekaran

Photo Courtesy of Sri Krishna

When I used to travel with Tavayogi to the Siddha spots, he would mention that the Siddhas came, were around and had given their blessings. And I used to look up at the skies hoping to see something. But I saw nothing.

At Agasthiyampalli, Tavayogi motioned me to the spot he stood at, in the open ground, and directed me to look at Agathiyar in his sannadhi. Agathiyar was opening and closing his eyes he said. But I saw nothing. Later Tavayogi throws his shawl asking me to place it on the stained floor at Agathiyar's sannadhi. Agathiyar opens his left eye in his granite form!

I had an appointment to see the Nadi one day. After looking around for a parking spot, I found one beside the Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple in Brickfields. Although it was some distance away from Nadi Nool Aasan T.Ramesh's office block, but it was fine. Since I was already at the temple, I thought I should garland Agathiyar at this temple. When I sat in front of Agathiyar for the reading, he mentions that I had just garlanded him!

While waiting for Nadi Nool Aasan Ramesh in his office space on another day, I was prayerful, thinking about all the blessings that my family and I had received from Agathiyar. Agathiyar in the reading tells me that I was thinking about him!

After giving me an hour long lecture on anger management in the Nadi, and as I left Nadi Nool Aasan Ramesh's premises, I find myself faced with a dilemma. It was one in the afternoon. The heat was unbearable. And what do I find? Someone had double-parked and I could not get my car out of the parking spot. To add fuel to my anger it was a Sunday and there was ample empty parking bays on both sides and all along the road. Why did he choose to block my vehicle? After honking for some time I finally had to force push the car out of my way sufficient enough for me to slip through. I had failed in the test of patience that Agathiyar placed before me. My family was having a field day at my expense, looking up at the skies, saying that Agathiyar must be monitoring my moves through the CCTV.

Once a friend of mine while waiting for his turn to see the Nadi at Nadi Nool Aasan Ramesh's office started small talk with a girl who was waiting too. The conversation between the reader and the client was audible outside. Midway in their chat, the girl mentions that Agathiyar was mentioning about her to her male friend who was having the reading. Shortly her friend came out and she went in for her reading. Now the guy tells my friend that Agathiyar was talking about him to her female friend. Eventually at the end of both their readings they were matched made by Agathiyar!

Recently when Balachander Aiya and me were at Ramesh's office, while waiting to see the reading, I started to question if at all Agathiyar spoke about politics. Thinking that the Siddhas were spiritually enlightened and above all materialistic things, I wondered if they would come down to address our transient concerns. When Ramesh finished his reading with an earlier client, having sent him off, engaged in a conversation with us, I asked him if Agathiyar spoke politics. He replied that "Yes Agathiyar has spoken about politics". That surprised us. To our further surprise after speaking about numerous matters, Agathiyar in the Nadi talks about politics to us!

Agathiyar had mentioned specific devotional songs to be sung during the recent Shivarathri. These were songs from the Thiruarutpa by Ramalinga Adigalar namely Mahadeva Maalai, Parasiva Vilakam, and Thiruvadi Pugalchi; and Manikavasagar's Sivapuranam. He knows every saint and his work!

Yesterday, immediately after feeding the kids at the home, Bala Chandran is called in for a reading. Agathiyar speaks about the feeding session! He knows every child and his work!

Agathiyar says he is in the prapancham and the prapancham is in him. Indeed he is all encompassing!

AGATHIYAR BLESSES THE ACT OF GIVING ANNADHANAM PART 2


Bala Chandran Gunasekaran set out to perform charity by feeding the inmates of two homes simultaneously since it was the Sathayam star, a day auspicious to carry out acts to reduce one's karma. Agathiyar immediately calls him over for a Nadi reading where he praises Bala for his act of charity. The translation goes:

Gnana Aasi Kandam for Bala Chandran Gunasekaran

After the formal greetings to Lord Muruga, Agathiyar begins the reading
You are a pure soul doing service without any vested interest. I (Agathiyar) am truly happy. So are you, happy and satisfied. You shall gain merits. I shall send help to you to continue your dharma. You, your family and friends are doing a great service to me and my marga. I shall introduce good souls who shall do service without any expectations, to help you with your ongoing service. This act of charity will start from your home and progress to a larger and bigger scale. I shall bring you to another level. You have just come to me (for a reading) after completing annadhanam. Although tired and exhausted but you are satisfied and happy. This joy and satisfaction will be yours forever. Monetary aid will come your way to help sustain your charity and service. You will expand your service in providing annadhanam. The food itself will become medicine for those who receive it since this act of serving food has the blessings of the Siddhas. The blessings of the Siddhas are there for all who come forward to help you.
One of the homes, the Pusat Jagaan Sayang Sejati, where children from 2 years to 11 years of age are cared for, is in need of sponsors to pay the monthly rental. AVM and Thondu Seivom through Amudhasurabhi does not take on long term commitments like paying rent and bills but provides provisions and other essentials. Good samaritans can get in touch with the operators of the home at:


Meanwhile Suren sponsored the meal that was prepared by Mr and Mrs Sri Krishna and served to the homeless in and around Kuala Lumpur city last Friday. Suren who frequents Ongarakudil in Thuraiyur, has participated in their feeding program several times. 









Sri Krishna has a regular feeding program called Pothigai Meals on Wheels on Pusam Star days where he hits the streets of Kuala Lumpur distributing the food parcels to the hungry and homeless. 

Agathiyar has started many souls on a wonderful journey of sharing and giving that gives immense pleasure to both the donor and the receiver.

Sunday, 26 February 2017

AGATHIYAR BLESSES THE ACT OF GIVING ANNADHANAM PART 1

Bala Chandran Gunasekaran with his family prepared food and served the elderly and the handicapped and mentally challenged inmates of Pusat Jagaan Insan Istimewa in Semenyih again today. As today was Sathayam star, an auspicious day for dealing with one's karma, Bala decided to serve the unfortunate this day.






After distributing the food at this home, he went over to another home in the neighbourhood that was run by the Pertubuhan Kebajikan Kasih Keluargaku, where children from 2 years to 11 years of age are cared for. Thondu Seivom and AVM joined him.










After the annadhanam for today, Bala was surprised with an Aasi Kandam reading by Agathiyar. Agathiyar mentions today's annadhanam! He mentions the merits in feeding people. Agathiyar also mentions our recent trip to India too.



Agathiyar's revelation that food given out during annadhanam shall turn into medicine for all illnesses reminds me of Dr VM Jayapalan's audio on the origin of Agathiyar's temple at Agasthiyampalli. Food dispensed with Agathiyar's name and nama japam by an old man in the outskirts of the king's kingdom during a famine, cured and fed the people including the king.



Friday, 24 February 2017

A TRUE GURU

I was spared the time and money and the hassle of seeking a guru and learning from him. The most compassionate Agathiyar took me into his folds and his arms the moment I surrendered to him. When he told me to come to his path in a Nadi reading, I had no idea who the Siddhas were. I began my worship of Agathiyar and the Siddhas with a thanksgiving ritual to the Siddhas, Nadiku Dhanam, for revealing about us through their Nadi. The need to know about the Siddhas arised after that. I went to several establishments that we connected with Agathiyar in Malaysia. They did not satisfy my search, my hunger for information and my needs. I decided to embark on my own. Getting my hands on whatever little literature that was available then, I continued my prayers to Agathiyar and the Siddhas at home. Agathiyar brought me to my first guru Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai the following year in 2003 and my present Guru Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar ashram in 2005. Supramania Swami took me as his disciple the very first day we met when he passed me a teecha mantra at the end of a wonderful and enlightening 5 hour mystical revelation. Tavayogi too the very same day we met, decided to give me and my wife a mantra teecha when I told him Agathiyar wanted me to come to his path in the Nadi, and when my wife mentioned to him about the numerous dreams she had.

Both these masters made miracles happen. Supramania Swami had brought his guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar to join me and him in chanting his name (the Yogi) in the confines of his prayer room even after his guru had gone into samadhi on 20 February 2001; and showed his presence in our living room in Malaysia after he too had gone into samadhi at Tiruvannamalai on 7 February 2007. 

Tavayogi brought the Siddhas down to earth wherever we went: at Agasthiyampalli and Agathiyar's sannadhi, Agathiyar opens his eye in his granite statue; at Palani and Bhogar's sannadhi, he takes me to a state of bliss; at Uthiyur and Konganar's cave, he brings to materialize the sacred ash; and at Pavanasam and Kutralanathar, Agathiyar opens his eyes again in his granite statue, both eyes this time.

When I was in his old ashram the very first time, Tavayogi brought out all the Nadis that he had and placed them in front of me. He took several of them and showed them to me. He also showed me the Nadi transcripts from several notebooks. He told me that people he knew and strangers likewise gave him these Nadis saying his name appeared in them or after instructed to do so. But he never divulged the contents of it. When Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar who was a housewife then, read a few lines from them to me, Tavayogi immediately stopped her. Later when I asked her to continue about Tavayogi, he stopped her again. 

Over the years Agathiyar revealed to me who Supramania Swami and Tavayogi were in his Nadi. Agathiyar mentions that Supramania Swami was a true guru and that he had attained Samadhi; Agathiyar mentions Tavayogi as Kallar Siddhan and a true guru. Lord Muruga in his Nadi mentions Tavayogi as Kallar Munivan. In the face of all the praise and honor placed on him, Tavayogi just brushes them aside and moves on with his daily chores never for a moment becoming a slave to fame.

Supramania Swami a householder, did not have a following. I can safely say I was the only student of his. Tavayogi a turavi or ascetic or recluse, was not keen on having disciples and followers as he arrived at Kallar with the desire and intention of going into samadhi. Agathiyar instead had him go all around including Malaysia and Singapore to preach the Siddha path. Although he had officiated many peedhams in the name of Agathiyar in these places he never was keen or encouraged a following. Instead he directed one and all to Agathiyar.

It was only in 2013 that Tavayogi acknowledged after a prayer at his ashram that the seed of faith and devotion on the Siddhas that he planted in Malaysia had germinated. Last June when he was in Malaysia, he announced that the fruits of his labour in bringing the Siddha teachings to our shores has seen the light of the day. He endorsed the contribution of Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) in bringing the Siddha path to the attention of many. AVM is a small congregation of devotees of Agathiyar who share the same outlook, thoughts and aspirations. Agathiyar tells us of our congregation that the Siddhas are not interested in the quantity but the quality of their devotees. Agathiyar has directed and guided each and every one in AVM through the Nadi readings instructing them and giving them tasks and mission that are varied but that complement each other. Recently through a Nadi reading Agathiyar brought all of us at AVM a step further into the worship of Valaithaai. The beautiful thing is that he has lifted all of us at the same time to the next stage. 

Agathiyar has led many faithful souls in AVM to his abode; trained them in the many techniques to keep the body fit; enlightened them on the mysteries of birth; and prapanjam or the universe and mind; and fed their soul; quenching each person's thirst and search.

If all these years we at AVM have been staying awake, performing homam and conducting libation for Lord Shiva during Shivarathri, just days ago Agathiyar delivered a message through the Nadi asking us to drop the rituals, but instead to sit upright and meditate on Siva and recite hymns from the Thevaram, the Sivapuranam, Ramalinga Adigalar's Mahadeva Maalai, Parasiva Vilakam, and Thiruvadi Pugalchi. I guess he is taking us to the next level, from rituals to meditation.

http://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.my/2017/02/sivarathri.html

Aasan TR wrote in his Whatsapp group just moments ago,

குà®°ு மலை கழுகை ஒத்த குணமாக இருக்கவேண்டுà®®். எல்லா வித்தைகளையுà®®் கற்குà®®்வரை பாதுகாத்து கற்றதுபின் உலகஞானத்திà®°்க்காக தன்சீடனை குà®°ுநிலையை எட்ட தனித்து நிà®±்க செய்யவேண்டுà®®். 

Just like an eagle protects its chick only to let it fly when ready, soaring in the skies akin to him, the guru should be like an eagle protecting his student while under his tutelage only to let him go so that he too can take on the role of a guru for the good of other seekers.

கடைசிவரை à®’à®°ுவனை சீடனாகவே வைத்திà®°ுப்பது குà®°ுவிà®°்க்கு தோல்வி.
தெள்ளற வித்தைகற்à®±ான் சீடனுà®®் குà®°ுவை தேடான்......à®®ூதுà®°ை. 

A guru should make another guru out of his disciple. It is seen as a failure on the part of the guru if he keeps his disciples remaining a disciple till the end. 

It is said that Guhai Namasivayar sent away his disciple Guru Namasivayamurthi to Chidambaram once he exhibited the ability to see the curtain at Chidambaram Temple burn. Guru Namasivayamurthi was serving his guru Guhai Namashivayar in Tiruvannamalai. Guru Namasivayamurthi had strangely began to brush his attire with his hands as if dozing a flame. Guhai Namashivayar asked what he was doing? The disciple answered that a rat had taken away a burning wick from a lamp that accidently ignited a fire in a curtain. He had smothered the fire dozing it off.

At another moment, Guru Namasivayamurthi suddenly laughed aloud. The senior Namasivayar enquired why he had laughed. Guru Namasivayamurthi narrated that he had seen a lady stumble and fall while dancing at a procession for the lord at Thiruvarur.

Happy to see his disciple gain siddhis, but as gaining siddhis is not an indication of one attaining jnana, the master tested his student further. Guhai Namasivayar tested the devotion of Guru Namasivayamurthi by asking him to dispose his (Guhai Namasivayar) vomit in a place where no one would step on it. The student drank his guru's vomit. My guru Supramania Swami had mentioned this incident to me. 

David Godman writes in his blog, http://davidgodman.org/asaints/gurunam1.shtml
Seeing the powers his disciple was developing, and noting the extent of his devotion, Guhai Namasivaya thought to himself, 'Day by day my disciple's knowledge is increasing. He should not be kept here any more. Let me test him one more time, and then I can send him to a place that will be appropriate for him.' 
Giving him the first two verses of a poem or venba Guhai Namasivayar asked his disciple to complete it.
Guhai Namasivaya was delighted with the way that his disciple handled the test.
Guhai Namasivaya, feeling that delay would serve no useful purpose, responded to the song by saying, 'You can start right now'.
Guhai Namasivayar decided to send him away to Chidambaram where he too would be of use to other seekers. 

This is the true guru. A true guru would never want his followers to remain a follower forever. His achievement is in seeing his student rise to the level of a guru at par or even better then them. They rejoice in seeing their students rise up the ladder of spiritual advancement. 

Agathiyar tells me to walk tall so that he too could walk tall. The pride of the Siddhas lay in the hands of their followers. It is not easy to come to the path of the Siddhas we are told. Many do so because of their previous involvement with the Siddhas in past lives. The Siddhas are said to be on the lookout for potential candidates whom they could bring to their fold and groom them to become their students and finally make them a Siddha too. They are never satisfied with their students remaining a student forever. They do their utmost best to raise their students to the level of a guru at par with them. All we need to do is pay heed to their instructions.