ANNADHANAM

One has to truly salute Sri and Srimathi Krishna and family for their truly wonderful gesture in helping the unfortunate. Besides taking on an enormous task of cooking meals and feeding underprivileged school students six days a week for some 57 days, on Sundays when we tend to spend time with our family window shopping or outing, they continue to cook and feed the homeless on the streets. With Dr Jana, Shanga and Patrick, he took to the street today in conjunction with Adi Amavasai to feed the hungry.

Sri Krishna with Sri Balachander Aiya carry out libation to Agathiyar at the Eco City Agathiyar temple regularly too, including feeding the devotees at the temple.

Preparation of food to be served begins in Sri Krishna's home. 

Agathiyar at Eco City where prayers are conducted, and followed by serving of food to devotees by Sri Krishna and Sri Balachander Aiya.

Feeding the poor children at the schools, a noble act of charity indeed, with financial aid from AS, TS and other charitable persons.

Feeding the hungry on the streets, another noble act undertaken by Sri Krishna with financial aid from AS and other samaritans through his "Pothigai Meals on Wheels" program.

Watch videos at https://www.facebook.com/sri.krsna.73/videos/1938743449746308/
https://www.facebook.com/sri.krsna.73/videos/1938761589744494/
https://www.facebook.com/sri.krsna.73/videos/1938748679745785/

Guruve Sivam

Mt Kailash and the Walk around the Sacred Mountain

Tom Riddle narrates: "Here I am touching my head to the side of the mountain (Kailash). As I did suddenly and completely unexpectedly a river of tears poured out of my eyes. It may sound strange but clearly to me the mountain was touching me very deeply"

Journey to Mukthinath

KAILASH REVISITED

Seeing his parents go through hardship and sufferings to provide the basic needs of the family, he made a resolve to bring change to their lives and standard of living. Hence Balamurugan worked his way to complete his degree and landed a job as an accountant with a multinational company that had 17 branches all over the world and 28,000 employees. He moved up the corporate ladder fast and achieved his target. He became successful in no time.

But Erai for reasons only known to him had a different agenda in the workings. When the company shifted hands, he was laid off. All this came as a blessing, as he now had an opportunity to do some soul searching. In 2011, he signed up to follow some regulars to Mount Kailash. After training for three months at the local Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) during the weekends, walking through the jungles and hiking its mountains some 10kms daily and climbing the 272 steps at Batu Caves some 15 times every Wednesday, he was ready to make the journey to Lord Shiva's land. With 35 of his comrades and the sherpas guiding them they started their journey to meet Lord Shiva.

Balamurugan is an excellent storyteller. Coupled with his sifu, guru and guide, Kailai Bala's raw footages and coverage of the trip, they actually brought us to the place and time of the journey. Traveling by vehicle and later on foot, they finally reached Kailash the abode of Lord Shiva. Balamurugan was mesmerized and stupefied at what he saw. He had his mind blown away, realizing how small and young he was in comparison with the majestic mountains that were in existence for ages. 

He had started his journey without any assurance or surety that he would be back; that he would return alive. But after several near misses crossing the dangerous terrain, he made it back in one piece to tell his tale.

Returning from Kailash and taking on several jobs, today with Agathiyar's blessings, Balamurugan has ventured to produce Pure Virgin Coconut Oil and Siddha medicinal ointments, moving away from numbers and statistics.

A GIFT - THE MIRACLE OF LIFE

Pregnancy is a process that invites you to surrender to the unseen power behind all life.

My wife and I became grandparents when my daughter gave birth to a beautiful baby girl yesterday. Tavayogi called to inform me that he had prayed for us. Mataji called a day before to enquire and bless us. All AVM, TS and AS family called to say that they prayed. What else can a man ask when he has blessings of the family, the extended AVM family and gurus and their lineage behind him.

GIVING

When my wife was warded in the hospital some time back, there was a senile old lady from the old folks home admitted to the bed next to her after an operation on her ankle. My wife used to take care of her, covering her up when she removed her cloths and threw them away, giving her a drink when she would bring her empty hands to her mouth in the gesture of having a drink while there was none in her hand, and calling out to the nurses when she tried to force herself from her bed or went into a state of shortness of breath. One day she was carted way by the nurses after my wife tried to wake her up as she slowly slipped into a state of unconsciousness. We never saw her again.

Then this lady patient took up the bed that was occupied by the grandma earlier. She was there for another operation after having had one earlier. She was very friendly. She told my wife that she and her group of friends would collect plastic bottles, cardboard, paper, tin, and things made of iron and other things that could be recycled and sell them to a collector. She surprised us when she said that they had managed to collect RM 32,000 from the sales of these trash. She surprised us further when she told us that they had donated the amount collected to a local Chinese temple.

The Guru

Isaikkavi Ramanan on the Guru

http://isaikkaviramanan.com/
http://isaikkaviramanan.com/index.php/guruji/item/262-my-master-made-me
https://soundcloud.com/padmapriya-venkatadhri

THE GURU KNOWS BEST

You are blessed if you have a guru while traveling on the spiritual path. If he decides to take you under his arm, then you can forget all worries. Rest assured that your life is now in his hands and his entire lineage. You will then have divine souls looking after you and your family; taking care of your future and ensuring a better birth in the future. Surrender to your guru, let him work on all your fears, worries and misery.

Isaikkavi Ramanan brings us into the depths of the Guru's heart through his soul stirring renditions.

THE MAGICAL & MYSTICAL WORLD OF MANTRAS

History teaches us that things could be different says Historian Rutger Bregman. You can chose to bring change to yourself, your environment, the company you keep with, etc right now, this very moment. Break the shackles of the past, by seeing things in a different perspective, by choosing to see everything in a positive light, accepting it as it is without altering it, and being indifferent to misery and painful situations. It just needs a magic formula to help transform our lives: a little bit of understanding, belief and faith that it would work; some strength and effort to bring it into fruition and most importantly a determined resolve to keep working on it and the rests falls into place with the grace from Erai. 

Towards these venture, many mantras or magical chains of sacred syllables weaved together in mysterious combinations, have been downloaded and gifted to us from the Ether or Akasa or the realm of Gods by the wise before us. The guru gives his disciple a mantra to to initiate him into a path; help sail through the trying times; to protect him from adversities and danger; and for various other reasons. 

Agathiyar revealed his Moola Mantra in the Nadappu Aasi Nigandu Nadi reading on 19.4.2011 and told me to share it. I uploaded in on YouTube. 

ஓம் ஸ்ரீம் ஓம்

சற்குரு பதமே

சாப பாவ விமோசனம்

ரோக அகங்கார துர்விமோசனம்

சர்வ தேவ சகல சித்த

ஓளி ரூபம்

சற்குருவே ஓம் அகஸ்திய

கிரந்த கர்தாய நம

It literally means that the Holy Feet of the Guru is capable of bringing relief from curses, sins, illnesses and arrogance in us. All the Devas and Siddhas are in the form of Light; Sarguru Agastya, Guardian of the Grantha, my salutations to your Holy Feet.

Here is the translation of the portion of the Nadi related to this revelation.

For the purpose of gaining joy in the family and mankind on the whole,

I reveal a magnificent moola mantra of mine, to be chanted daily,

Mankind will gain if chanted, All shall gain good health and all other gains,

Victory without hurdles shall one meet, Miracles and Joy will come your way,

Thus I reveal,

Aum Srim Aum 

Sarguru Pathamay

Saaba Paaba Vimochanam

Rowga Ahungaara Thur Vimochanam

Sarva Deva Sagala Siddha 

Oli Rupam

Sarguruway Aum Agasthiya 

Kirantha Karthaaya Nama

By chanting thus and conducting prayers, All shall gain Bliss (Yegantha Nilai),

By chanting this mantra, Joy (Anandha Jyothi) shall rise in all and

Grace (Arul Jhothi) shall be seen and felt.

Adopt a mantra that attracts you or that finds you and sail on the yacht that would take you across the seas of sufferings to the banks of greener pastures.

ERADICATING POVERTY

When Agathiyar told Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia, and its brother-in-arms Thondu Seivom to bring aid to the poor and suffering through Amudha Surabhi, we ventured to do as told without question. Although it brought us together in service to the less fortunate, and brought joy in getting an opportunity to extend help, but in reality we were saddened to see numerous homeless people on the streets and many abandoned people in the charity homes. Those on the streets need to be taken off the streets and given a proper home while those in the homes need to go back to their family and next of kin. Those on the streets need to be placed in new homes. New homes need to be built. The facilities in existing homes need to be increased multi-fold. But this is not possible by an individual effort or an organisation. These needs a strong will power at the level of policy-making and extensive funds. The only machinery capable of carrying out something of this nature is the ruling government of the day. But we do not see that happening, instead these people on the streets still rely on handouts from charitable individuals and organisations. We have seen these conditions exists in third world countries and are surprised to see it in the modern metropolitan cities too.

In "Journey Through the Heartland", photographer Matt Black travels across America from coast to coast, visiting more than 70 cities and towns, documenting the struggles and triumphs of  America’s impoverished communities in a project called The Geography of Poverty at http://www.msnbc.com/interactives/geography-of-poverty/index.html

We read the grim stories of common people who not able to provide their family the basics, have no where to go and finally out of desperation hit the pavements, five foot ways, and stay under the bridges etc, placing and leaving their children and babies unsupervised and in extreme danger.

But then again placing those on the streets in new homes would cleanse the streets of the homeless, solving the issue temporarily, till others turn up on the streets. This will keep going on and on. Programs to help them has not brought the expected results too. 

Historian Rutger Bregman proposes that we go 500 years back to adopt an idea to eradicate poverty.

SAVING FOR A RAINY DAY

When I went out for lunch with one of my bosses many years ago, the topic of religion and spiritualism cropped up. He told me that he would wait till he was 50 years of age and then become spiritual. I asked myself then if there was a switch that we could flick and become spiritual overnight. Then the next question popped up in me. How sure are we that we would be around till 50?

Then many years forward, Jegan Shanmugam renders a song during the AVM bhajan session after our Thursday prayers. The song moved both my wife and me, for more than a reason. Jegan sings well. His songs bring the divine down. It melts even the hardest of hearts. Then again this song has such a wonderful lyric. The lyricists sees himself face old age and death. At that moment of inability, immobility, and gone senile, or with acute illness, he says he might not be able to utter the name of Lord Narayana, hence he takes the opportunity to sing the praise of the Lord right now at this very moment while he is hale and healthy, quite akin to saving for a raining day.

This is what we should be doing daily for we might not be even able to say his name, let alone call out to him to save us in our hour of need. 

"At that hour when death approaches me I am not sure if I will remember you, hence I am remembering you now Narayana, please take heed of my calling, 

When kapam or phlegm arises and my tongue quivers, I am not sure if I will remember you, hence I am calling you now so that you would appear then to save me Lord Narayana, 

When vayu or the vital air comes to a halt, and all senses seize to function, and my soul begins to leave, I am not sure if I would be thinking of you, hence I call out to you now so that you come to my aid then, 

When all that I thought was mine suddenly is of no significance and importance at the time of death, I am not sure if I will remember you my Lord, but nevertheless I pray that you would come then Lord Narayana, hence I am calling you out now, 

When Yama's servants appear to bind and take me away, I cannot promise that I would think of you, hence I call you now my Lord, 

When my next of kin surround my death bed and wail and cry out, I don't know if your thought will arise in me, hence I cry out for you my Lord this very moment, so that you would appear to save me during my final moments!", and so the song goes on.

In the next number that Jegan sang on Lord Nadeson, the lyricist prays that the Lord steps into his humble home, and fulfills his desires, protects him from danger, and brings him into the company of the good. He goes on to mention to the Lord that he has brought offerings for Him, that was made available by Him, so that He would bless him, and he goes on to sing the praises of Lord Nadeson further.

AVM IN THE EYES OF AGATHIYAR

A first time visitor to AVM who was invited to join the prayers at AVM held specifically in conjunction with Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal and Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar's visit to AVM in June of last year asked my wife what was different now since my wife came to the worship of the Siddhas? 

I came to worship the Siddhas without any idea who they were. The very first time I heard the name mentioned was by Dr Krishnan. He asked me to see the Nadi, that could tell about us. Six years later I read the Nadi in Malaysia. Agathiyar asked me to come to the path of the Siddhas. He asked me to worship the Siddhas, besides Lord Ganapathy, Lord Shiva and him. That is how my journey started.

When I came to search for centers linked to the worship of Siddhas, some 15 years back, I did find several places scattered all over, run exclusively by a select few for a select few. When I researched about the Siddha path in Malaysia, I did not receive good reviews nor positive news from the public, on the contrary it was discouraging. I made a resolve to clear the air about the tarnished image of Siddhas created in the minds of the public, due to restrictions, conditions and practices of my forerunners.

Agathiyar then brought me to two wonderful gurus, Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram. Tavayogi asked me to bring my family into the path too. Hence my family too came into the worship of the Siddhas.

After 15 years on his path, Agathiyar blesses us with a Nadi reading in 27 November of 2016, just weeks before AVM family left for India to participate in the Annual Agathiyar Jayanthi and Guru Puja at Tavayogi's Kallar Ashram. That year was special because the festival was held at the new premises of the Kallar Ashram.

Agathiyar summarizes the 15 years beautifully in that reading, the last Nadi reading to date, for me. Since then he has shared about AVM in the Nadi readings of other AVM family members.

This reading explains what we have gained through the worship of the Siddhas, and where it has led us. Agathiyar says he has come to stay at AVM, because of the continuous prayers and asked us not to move him anymore. People shall visit him at AVM instead, in future, he added.

My wife, children and the AVM family have his blessings, he says, for their unselfish deeds and service to Agathiyar. Lord Muruga too blesses all at AVM. He builds confidence in us to continue our prayers, rituals and service through his blessings. He says doing service is sufficient to gain Siddhi and Mukthi.

He is happy to be in Malaysia and assures its people that all good shall come to them.

He extols the greatness of the Siddha path. Agathiyar has asked to continue with his annual festival or vizha at AVM.

PUJA @ AVM

Acharya Gurudasan from Bangalore visited AVM last night and participated in the Guru Naal or Thursday prayers. Acharya who had served in Malaysia some time back is in town to initiate aspirants on the Kriya Yoga path beginning this evening till Sunday.

Once again Acharya Gurudasan or more popularly addressed as Master Gowri in AVM circles will conduct a three day seminar covering Kriya Kundalini Pranayama, Asana and Hatha Yoga, Meditation and Dhyana techniques, Mantra and Initiation Puja, and addressing Lifestyle. He held a similar seminar for the public in Malaysia in the past. Please get in touch with Balachander Aiya for more details if you are keen to meet Acharya Gurudasan and enrol in this 3 day seminar.

Acharya a qualified and very knowledgeable master, was a favorite at AVM. We liked him for his humbleness and willingness to share his knowledge. Acharya amidst his rigid work routine while serving in Malaysia back then, volunteered and found time to conduct Kriya Hatha Yoga classes for AVM family.

Last night he took time from his busy schedule to join us in prayers shortly after arriving in Malaysia.

VISITORS TO AVM

Kru Pedro Solana from Spain, currently residing in Chiang Mai, Thailand visited AVM again yesterday afternoon to offer his prayers to AVM Agathiyar. Master Uva accompanied him. Both masters shared their immense knowledge on various subjects. Pedro shared his experiences traveling around the globe.

All photos courtesy of Kru Pedro.

https://www.facebook.com/PedroSolV/videos/1843029819287167/

During his last visit he shared many amazing things too.

Nathan from Pulai in Johor too drove down to AVM last weekend to pay his respects to Agathiyar at AVM and dropped by again before returning back home the following day.

We also had a small cute friend taking a siesta, in the shade of our garden at AVM. He is a regular here.

AGATHIYAR VANAM MALAYSIA

At AVM we do not lay rules but everybody understands and confirms to these unwritten rules. As Tavayogi once told me that the spirit cannot be curtailed. It has to be free. Free to investigate and learn. No amount of doctrine can satisfy the spirit. All the philosophical thoughts and discussions will give one an idea of what Erai isn't but would not show him. He has to be experienced. That is Anubhuthi. J. Krishnamurthy too said that the moment one organizes spiritualism it becomes religion. He has a story for it.

“You may remember the story of how the devil and a friend of his were walking down the street, when they saw ahead of them a man stoop down and pick up something from the ground, look at it, and put it away in his pocket. The friend said to the devil, “What did that man pick up?” “He picked up a piece of Truth,” said the devil. “That is a very bad business for you, then,” said his friend. “Oh, not at all,” the devil replied, “I am going to let him organize it." - Source: http://www.jkrishnamurti.org/about-krishnamurti/dissolution-speech.php

Being vegetarian is not a criteria here, instead being compassionate is a value we strive for. The term vegetarian was coined to identify an alternative set and choice in food intake. What was in existence since early times was the classification of food into three major groups: Sattvic food, Tamasic food, and Rajasic food. Along the way we have lost our focus on the need to be compassionate but instead wage a war on the choice of food. 

What we should work on is compassion rather then squabbling on the choice of food. When compassion for all living beings sets in, the killing automatically stops, consuming meat stops, harming others stops, and all the negative traits drops on its own without compulsion from others or from outside. I decided to refrain from consuming meat, seafood and egg all of a sudden. There was no compulsion; the change in my choice of food intake was not because I took up a certain practice or doctrine. The desire just dropped on its own one fine day.

At AVM we do not debate on the necessity of being a vegetarian to be spiritual or religious; neither do we see consumption of mock meat, an option to meat, as a weakness in us, being a slave to our taste buds or consider it as cheating oneself. 

We believe everyone is divine in nature, as Buddha says all living beings have Buddha nature in it. In our search for the kingdom of Erai, we are told to prepare ourselves, physically and mentally, through a strict regime of exercises and tapas, for the divine to enter this body, but a Sufi master says otherwise, "Let the light in and the darkness will vanish on its own." How true and logical. When the divine enters us all else will leave or subside on its own. The grace or arul of the divine will work from within and bring changes to our perspective, our outlook and choices. That is when we begin to take control of our destiny and fate. Our choices will be the divines choice too. Each act of us will be a divine act then. 

To come to AVM itself means that you already possess the values of right living. An atheist would not step into AVM; neither will one with ill intent. What we need to work on collectively is to bring out the compassion in us through the divine act of giving, doing charity and caring. We believe we need to hit the streets and save the others from delusion, hunger and sorrow rather than sit in the confines and comfort of the ashram or the temple and listen to speeches about being good and doing good. As NS Shan once said, he respected AVM for walking the walk and talking the talk. We shall take the lead and show others the many possibilities available in serving Erai through serving others.

We understand that it is time we gave back to nature and society. When I questioned Tavayogi what was the necessity to build a temple complex at Kallar, he replied that it was not for him but for progeny and the society. Tavayogi too told me that he was carrying out the annual Sarva Dosa Nivarana Maha Yagam at Kallar ashram to alleviate the sufferings of society and to subdue the ferocity of nature and heal her. When I dragged my feet in carrying out the fire ritual or homam as directed by Tavayogi, Agathiyar in the Nadi tells me that I was doing it for the well being of all of creation, hence elevating the task given to me to a higher level and a wider circle.

Agathiyar comforts and wipes the tears of Tavayogi's daughter when she was saddened to hear that her father was to become a wandering mendicant or turavi. Agathiyar in a Nadi reading for her explains in simple terms to this small child that if her father was to be with her, he would only serve her family. But if he was to become a turavi, he would serve all of humanity.

People from all walks of life gather at AVM. The bond that links us is the master to whom we chose to pay allegiance, the most compassionate father Agathiyar. The talk at AVM is only on Agathiyan; no politics, no current affairs, and no condemnation of others, hence managing to build a conducive environment for positive energy to prevail.

AVM is not an organization or society. It is a loose group of devotees and aspirants carrying out the dictates of Agathiyar. There is no physical guru to head AVM but we all acknowledge the presence of Agathiyar and see him work through us.

Acharya Gurudasan mentioned his observation in our group, "AVM is not just a group. It's fascinating to see how we have become a silent movement. Kudos to everyone. Very proud being a part here."

We at Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia offer ourselves in service to Agathiyar. We wait for his word and command.