What are we here for? We are told that we are here to learn a thing or two. We are told that we come to live out our karma that we created in the past. Now why create karma and come back to live it out? If this life that I am living is a result of my past births' karma then what was the very first karma that was a catalyst or initiated my very first birth, and in which plane did it happen? If you need to have done karma to justify taking a birth, then what was the first karma I did and how far back did this take place? I am puzzled. So were we all divine at some time in the past till something took place where we fell from grace?
Isaignani Ilaiyaraja penned a song suggesting that we were in the abode of Shiva and due to our desires took birth here and are now finding our way back home.
Then again it is rather unfair to roll out a series of unfortunate events in this life just to fulfill the law of karma. I am puzzled.
We are captivated by the sacred texts and the teachings of saints and follow suite in prayer that the cycle of birth and death be broken or ends. Holding on to various principle and teachings we work towards achieving the state of deathless-ness. Fine. Then on the other hand we are told that this human birth is rare and that there all countless souls waiting to take birth as humans. I am puzzled.
Isaignani Ilaiyaraja penned a song suggesting that we were in the abode of Shiva and due to our desires took birth here and are now finding our way back home.
Then again it is rather unfair to roll out a series of unfortunate events in this life just to fulfill the law of karma. I am puzzled.
We are captivated by the sacred texts and the teachings of saints and follow suite in prayer that the cycle of birth and death be broken or ends. Holding on to various principle and teachings we work towards achieving the state of deathless-ness. Fine. Then on the other hand we are told that this human birth is rare and that there all countless souls waiting to take birth as humans. I am puzzled.
Now that I am born AGAIN what is it that needs to be achieved? Would not it be nice if we came with specific instructions to perform in this life? Would not it be rather nice if we come with an operating manual too just as some machinery does? But then again that would be a very mechanical and robotic life. Life would not be adventurous. Life will be stale. It is because we have ups and downs in life that it is interesting, otherwise it would be the same routine day in and out and we end up bored.
Only Agathiyar holds the answers to these queries.
Only Agathiyar holds the answers to these queries.
For now we have to settle with the understanding that while animals and other living things are here to create balance and harmony in the ecosystem, we have the choice of adding or subtracting things on the face of the earth. We have a choice in contributing towards the welfare of fellow beings and also towards the well being of nature. We are given an opportunity to evolve from an ordinary man to become divine in nature.
Amidst conflicting opinions on whether feeding the homeless is a wise thing to do, where some think that it encourages laziness amidst those receiving the handouts, Ramalinga Adigal established the Satya Dharma Salai in Vadalur and Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar at Ongkarakudil to feed the unfortunate that goes on till this day. I saw people running to us for food today as I joined Thondu Seivom to hand out buns and drinks purchased with contribution from Amudha Surabhi. I was saddened to look into their faces and tell them that we had run out of buns and drinks. I saw them turn back in disappointment. Thondu Seivom then purchased more buns and went back looking for them only to realize that there we even many more out there waiting for food. We agreed to continue feeding.
Another opinion that was put forward was the question of photographing these moments of giving handouts and posting on blogs and other social medias, that touched on the dignity of those who already have taken a beating in life and ended up on the streets. It was felt that it was unfair and degrading to those on the receiving end to have them photographed receiving aid and have their photos displayed in public. But we needed to document these activities because the money to carry on these activities came from the public.
Besides that we realized that others are mooted and motivated to engage in feeding, watching us do, just as we were motivated by others. Rakesh from Chennai was inspired by charity programs conducted by AVM and AUM's "Pothigai Meals on Wheels", to carry out similar programs in India. He wrote to me, "I do with my office friends and inspired from wheels on meals and AVM". He shares with us how he came to carry out these programs.
"I was sailing through life as usual when a couple of years back I came to know Agathiyar Vanam. I was introduced to many who were engaged in doing service. I thought of doing Anna Dharma too after seeing Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia doing Annadhanam. Last February, with Jeeva Amirtham, Rightmantra Sundar and my office colleagues help (namely Tamilmani, Aravinth, Manikanden, and Mano) we distributed 10 food parcels in and around Guduvancheri. Beginning from March last year, as more friends joined us, we began to do service at Anbu Thondu Illam, Guduvancheri Vallalar Kovil, and Thiruporur Murugan Kovil on a monthly basis. This included cleaning the temples and helping the ashrams. This monthly event finally brought us to plant trees too. This group has now 50 volunteers and we call ourselves Thedal Ulla Thenikal. Looking back we cannot understand how we started. But after a year of involvement, we have come to understood how to live a joyful life through giving to ours. We welcome the public to help us expand our services by extending their contributions and joining us on the ground."
Today, Rakesh and his team at TUT stand humbled serving the community and society exactly in the way that Agathiyar would have wanted. We at AVM are proud of his achievements and are equally proud to associate with TUT in its feeding programmes.
Mrs Kogie dropped in a wish and the following account of her family's humble move to feed the hungry in their home town Johannesburg in South Africa.
Wouldn’t it be great, if regardless of where in the world we resided, we could come together in thought and consciousness to help others. If each of us undertook to do something small in our corner of the world. It could make a huge difference in someone’s life and ultimately have a bigger impact in the world. The size of the initiative is not important. As devotees of Agathiyar we should step forward to do this. Thank you Shan aiya, Bala, Sri Krishna and the many AVM pioneers who have been giving and serving others selflessly. All of you have given me the courage and light to begin the small things in my corner.
Amidst this conflicting opinion, we realized that the homeless were not shy about their fate; neither did they shy away from the camera nor did they snatch away our cameras in disapproval at having their photos taken. We agreed to continue documenting the programme.
Going down to the field with Thondu Seivom and Pothigai Meals on Wheels, I understood why Agathiyar had asked us to continue feeding amidst all the conflicting opinions that prevailed.
Tonight's feeding was in conjunction with Sri Vaanmigar Sitthar's Jayanthi.
Some days earlier Sri Krishna prepared food parcels to be distributed in memory of Dr Jana's late grandfather.
Rekha celebrated her birthday by dishing out food to those on the streets too.
Balachandran too carried out his monthly family contribution of feeding those at a home.
