THAVATHIRU KUMAR SWAMIGAL

Thavathiru Kumar Swamigal used to exchange photos taken during Puja at his Ashram, the Sri Agathiyar Ashram at Periya Thadagam, Coimbatore on Messenger. When he came to Malaysia recently on the invitation of the Temple of Fine Arts, Sri Krishna brought him over to AVM. During the few minutes we spoke before we started the weekly Guru Naal Puja as it was a Thursday, I realized that we shared certain common principles.  

Swamiji told us that at his Ashram, devotees are encouraged to perform the rituals themselves. When I invited him to take the stand and conduct the Homam and Abhisegam he most humbly told us to go ahead with whatever we used to do. He only participated when we requested him to join us sing a hymn or two. During the interview before the camera I requested him to speak about himself, his experiences and achievements. He most humbly refused saying that his Guru was around. 

These answers made me sit back and acknowledge what a humble soul he was and I began to admire him for I too shared these principles: Create opportunities for devotees to actively participate in the rituals rather than be passive; Never budge into or disrupt another's Puja routine by bringing changes or our ideas into it; When the Guru is around, a disciple should learn to silence himself and become "invisible".

But off the camera he very briefly ran down his life story since I had asked to know.

Swamiji conducted a Homam and Puja in Sri Krishna's home before performing the Yagam and Abhisegam for Agathiyar at the Bangsar Temple with 108 herbs. Agathiyar from AVM too was drenched in the 108 herbs as we brought him over on the request of Sri and Srimathi Krishna.

At the invitation of Dr Thiagarajah from the Sri Mayuranathar Temple/ Pamban Swamigal Alayam in Dengkil, Swamiji performed the Yagam and Puja.

Swamiji with Dr Thiaga (far left), Pamban Maniam Aiya (second from left) and Sri Krishna (far right)