I had wondered why there is a Ganesha Murthi at Agathiyar's Sannadhi at the Kumbeswar temple? When I had mistakenly seen the Hindu Almanac and carried out Ganesha's Chaturthy a day late, Agathiyar in the Nadi praised me for seeing him and Ganesha as one and worshipping him as Ganesha, although a day late. Moments ago, I came across something I had posted earlier on Thursday, 15 February 2024.
Writing on Agathiyar's origin at https://holysageagathiyar.com/, Vashisht Vaid says that he was the very "Vital Radiant Consciousness of Adi Ganesha in a Human Form" that Adi Param Shiva desired. There you have it.
Just as Tavayogi autographed my copy of his book "Andamum Pindamum," which, when translated, meant, "God lives in your heart, from where the journey starts and ends too," as Ganesha sits in on the start of a journey, or at the entrance of a temple, or is worshipped first before any ritual or undertaking is taken, I think it is sufficient to begin and end the worship with him. But instead, we briefly pay our respect to him and move on hurriedly to the other shrines and return home.
In talking to Mahin when he dropped by on Friday, we agreed among ourselves that it was sufficient to pray at Ganesha's shrine and return. We feel it is all within Ganesha. Saint Avvai and Saint Nakkiran, too, have sought Ganesha to reach that place or state of Gnanam. We are told in the Purana that while Lord Muruga shot off on his peacock seeking Gnanam, Ganesha opted to stay at the feet of their parents, Lord Siva and Parvathi. Muruga went to war later and brought Surapatman to his knees. To redeem his sins, he had to renounce it all and adorn the robe of a mendicant Supramaniar later, to seek Gnanam and Enlightenment and become Light or Jothi. Just as Muruga initially searched out there but Ganesha looked within we too search it out there failing to realize that it is all enclosed within us. But it all has to take place for a certain divine play to take place.
Just as Dr. Bhani mentioned to us at a talk that a single song of saint Avvai carried three meanings at different stages of his life, first as a song of praise to Ganesha, then when he took up Siddha medicine, it was wholly about about medicine, and finally siiting at the feet of his guru Yogi Ramaiah he came to know that it was a song on Yogam, "The Tamil Guardian" posts at https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/introduction-auvaiyar%E2%80%99s-vinayagar-agaval, carried the following,
"Auvaiyar’s poem is a many-layered experience of philosophical concepts brought to life via devotional poetry. It begins with contemplation of the external form of God ... The Vinayagar Agaval swiftly moves beyond the contemplation of the feet to the adoration of the face and body of God. Auvaiyar now moves away from the contemplation of external form and the material universe into her metaphysical journey. The poetess explains further her experience of the physical yoga tradition, which is first mentioned in the circa 3000-year-old Rig Veda texts. She refers to the energy centers of the body and energy rivers (“Nadis”) such as the Ida and Pingala. She talks of awakening the “Kundalini” energy source... achieved through meditation and physical yoga, signifying spiritual awakening....leading to immortality and miraculous powers."
"The term Siddhanta is also connected to the term “Siddhi”, meaning miraculous gifts and so Siddhanta is the discipline of awakening these gifts. Hence the eight modes are thought to be the eight Siddhis or miraculous powers gained through the awakening of the Kundalini as described in the Tirumantiram text dated circa 500 AD. Auvaiyar’s poem remains in essence devotional, born out of her experience of the divine."
Layne Little too equates the song as above at https://www.alchemywebsite.com/vinayaga.html,
"At first glance, the work seems conservative enough; as it begins with the traditional contemplation of the god from foot to crown. But it promptly veers off into the domain of the mystic as she invokes Ganesha as the embodiment of Turiya. Turiya, or "the Sleepless Sleep" is a state of deep yogic trance, where the aspirant sleeps to the illusionary and transient realm of gross sense phenomena and wakes to the infinitude of the inner realm."
Avvai too seems to bring us one cycle just like Tavayogi, for Avvai, having moved from Bakti to Yogam, ended the poem by coming back to Bakti, accrediting her advancement to Ganesha. Auvaiyar, throughout her Agaval, considered the wisdom, clarity, bliss, and eternal life she came to attain as gifts of Ganesha rather than admitting that she acquired or earned them. "This Bakti is a total surrender since Avvaiyar dedicates each and every step she passes in Yoga to Ganesha."
In https://truthdiveblog.wordpress.com/category/culturereligion/, we learn that, "Avvaiyar assigned everything to the Lord as if she had done nothing."
When Kumarsamy Aiya of Anuvavi Ashram asked me if I was going places, I told him my search had ended. He applauded me and told me something that struck me as a statement of wisdom, which, when translated, meant, "Hold on to One, Hold on Tight, and Hold till the End."
Previously, we would jokingly ask, since we prayed to all the deities, which God would come to our aid in times of danger?
I guess this is where each as a Ista Devata or a favorite deity to whom they turn for all their needs. So stick with it.
Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar, in his book, "POTRINAL UNATHU VINAI AGALUM APPA", speaks about Agathiyar and his relationship with his guru Supramaniar (Lord Muruga)
Agathiyar met Supramaniar at Kodaikanal, where Supramaniar made him recall the past just as Mahavatar Babaji, coming to redeem Lahiri Mahasaya, showed him his past belongings, triggering a memory of his forgotten past. As promised in return for all his services in the earlier birth, Supramaniar taught Agathiyar the secrets of attaining the state of God or Erai. Agathiyar began by performing puja to Supramaniar. By way of devotion to Supramaniar, he began to realize that he had had the greatest gift, which was the human birth, which comes by very rarely. Through Supramaniar, he came to know himself and the divinity that resided in the physical body. He understood the very Nature that brought him forth and resided within him. With Supramaniar's guidance and blessings, Agathiyar relished the ambrosia or nectar that came about through his Tapas. This removed the seven veils to reveal the Light or Jhothi in him, hence attaining the body of Light. With this came Bliss, Siddhis, and the state of Deathless-ness. Agathiyar attained the five characteristics or Tanmai of Erai, namely Creation, Sustenance, Destruction, Veiling, and Showering Grace. Ramalinga Adigal, too, in his Arutpa, sings of a similar state that he had arrived at by the grace of his Lord.
I had written on Thursday, 2 April 2020, asking, "What would be Agathiyar's aspirations for us? Would I be wrong to say that he wants us to become a Siddha too? I believe this would be his wish for after calling us to his path, he led us through Sariyai, Kriyai, and in coming to Yogam, dissipated the knowledge and techniques, through gurus and upagurus, besides he and Ramalinga Adigal coming to lead us further on into Pranayama and meditation, refining the technique we had picked up, showing us the means to overcome difficulties and obstacles faced along the way. Ramalinga Adigal brings us hope and assurance, asking us to stick with Agathiyar, who he promises shall remove the curtain or veil that comes between God and us." Bhogar, in coming and seeing my allegiance to Agathiyar, told him that he wished he too had someone like me. Agathiyar, as he summoned Bhogar and Tirumoolar, I took a step backward, seeing these Siddhas converge at AVM. Agathiyar called me to step forward and back into the circle, bringing tears to my eyes, seeing their compassion and love. I am truly grateful to the Siddhas for accepting me into their fold.
Indeed, he has come by asking me recently, "When are you coming into my fold? When are you to become a Siddha too?" After initially saying that he would make me a guru and immediately pulling back that offer, he told me that he would make me a Siddha instead. He asked further, "When are we to become One?" asking me to even drop my hold on him and let go of him too.
After becoming a Siddha, Agathiyar spread the teachings. So did Agathiyar send Tavayogi to preach the path. I guess that is my purpose too, through these writings. This is how I can give back to them for all the grace and blessings showered on my family and me, and my friends.