I always call up my school-going grandchildren and have them share their stories. So the eldest, who is nine, began with two kittens fighting over cheese. I stopped and paused her for a moment, asking if she was sure. I asked her, wasn't it supposed to be mice fighting over cheese. She replied, "Granpa its just a story. Fiction." I zipped up.
As we were on the Siddha path, it was only proper to know the story of Agathiyar, right? I had shared what I had read and come to know about Agathiyar from various sources earlier at https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2023/06/agathiyar.html
When many have set out to tell Agathiyar's story or that of other Siddhas, and those of other masters, either dead or living, and as we know, stories can be altered and manipulated over time, or intentionally, we asked Agathiyar himself in the Nadi, as we wanted to know from the horse's mouth. The story goes as follows.
Agathiyar, in his very first mortal birth, had the vision of Kailash at the very young age of 10. After having the vision, he took up extreme tapas (tavam), including breath control. With the holy feet of the Sadguru forever in his thoughts, he reached a state of Nirmala at Kailash. Upon receiving theecha from Lord Kailai Shiva, he was blessed to be born a Siddha. It was a mystical birth. Agathiyar adds that it was not necessary to delve into the source and the details (Rishimulam Nadhimulam).
Born as a Siddha and moving in the jungles, sustaining only on fruits, his thoughts were fixed on Erai. He soon had the vision and grace of Goddess Vana Kali. Continuing with his seeking and search for realization and further severe tavam, in Pothigai, Agathiyar came to know about the medicinal benefits of various herbs and plants. Lord Kailai Shiva showed himself in a vision and conferred on him the names Gurumuni, Kudamuni, and Kumbamuni. Though he had merged with Erai, Agathiyar stayed on at Pothigai upon Lord Kailai Shiva's directive. Time went by as Agathiyar went without food, remained in silence, stayed in the state of Vasi, adhered to the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga, and performed extreme tapas for the rest of the Yuga. He gained the Siddhi to travel through the air. Having achieved so much, yet Lord Kailai Shiva told Agathiyar that there was something that he had failed to accomplish. When Agathiyar asked for further clarification, Lord Kailai Shiva laughed, looked him in the eye, and said, "Although you are an embodiment of Jnana, and those who hold on to your feet shall never face any disappointments, Gurumuni, you do not have a companion as I do." Agathiyar was taken aback. He came to know that the Lord intended to get him engaged to the very representation of Mother Kaveri, and Kaberan's daughter, Lobamutrai. Hence, in this Kali Yuga, his energy that was of Shiv Sakthi came to reside at Kalyana Theertam with the intention of blessing all those who saw him and Lobha Ma as a personification of Shiv Sakthi.
Similarly, I desired that Tavayogi's story be documented too. Though I had written much about our travels together, as I did not know much about him prior to my meeting him and traveling with him, I sought others who knew him from the beginning to write his story; I never received a positive response. I left it at that.
Agathiyar, some time back, told me enough of writing about others and asked that I write about me. Similarly, a friend asked me why I spoke about other spiritual masters and instead asked that I write about myself. It never occurred to me what they were implying until a couple of days ago. They made me realize that I had a story to tell, and the world was waiting. I had previously told my story during the years before coming to the Siddhas, and that, after also after coming to worship, walk, and journey with them and the gurus they sent me to accompany me on this journey, who played a major role in shaping me. I had also written about the internal changes and transformation that were and are taking place within, as directed by Agathiyar. I guess Agathiyar has given me the privilege to write how I want the world to remember me after I leave.