Srinatha Raghavan posted a beautiful piece on fb 10 minutes ago.
For many years now, I know this old lady entrepreneur, who sells reasonably priced Ayurveda products from a small Tempo Traveller. Be it rain or sunshine this graceful old lady will be there in the designated spot come what may. In the evening, when school children return home, she will make it a point to distribute Tulsi Candy, to one and all, who cared to stop by.
I prefer to buy many home products from Her, skipping the queue of big stores, because it helps me connect with the ground reality of a woman who is striving to be independent and self reliant, even where most of her contemporaries would be home bound, stricken by some wasting disease or waiting intently for redemption.
She must be 80 plus for sure, but she has a visible glow on her face, a glow of contentment and peace, of having lived and loved well. I once inquired with her, why she is working so hard, when she must be having a few other options to choose from. The reply she gave, hit me hard and touched my heart instantly, making it as my life's lessons. She said with a smile, "I don't work for a living, I work to serve, so others can live well?"
Ah! What a beautiful clarity of purpose the Woman had for herself, that it gave so much meaning to her existence. Maybe this is what Nishkama Seva or Selfless Service is, something that we all need to learn and implement. The Yoga of Karma is less talk and more work, without getting attached to the efforts or the results thereon.
Trust me, you don't need no Gurus or Mystics, who charge you a bomb just to share their "priceless" words, instead look out for ordinary folks who live extraordinary lives, silently imparting their living wisdom not through mere words, but through their very lives.
"The Yoga of Karma is less talk and more work, without getting attached to the efforts or the results thereon." - that is what we at AVM, AUM and TUT are striving for.
Agathiyar who came into the life of Sri Krishna as a student, had deeply influenced his thoughts and actions. His uncle had Nadi readers stay and read the Nadi in his home. Sri Krishna who grew up with his uncle obviously took up the worship of the Siddhas. He used to assist in translating the Nadi reading for non-Tamil speaking clients. When Agathiyar told him to assist all those who had to fulfill their parikaram, Sri Krishna arranged the visits for them to conduct the rituals, puja and all other forms of atonement. He started a tour agency to coordinate and bring the clients to India to perform the temple rituals.
Sri Krishna has a vast knowledge of the Nadi, the Siddhas and Karma. We used to engage in talks related to these subjects where I learnt a lot: about the mysterious Siddhas and their ways; the mysterious medium of communication through the Nadi; and the mysterious subject of Karma and its appeasement. He has a very good networking of friends and Gurus in the Siddha path.
Sri Krishna has a vast knowledge of the Nadi, the Siddhas and Karma. We used to engage in talks related to these subjects where I learnt a lot: about the mysterious Siddhas and their ways; the mysterious medium of communication through the Nadi; and the mysterious subject of Karma and its appeasement. He has a very good networking of friends and Gurus in the Siddha path.
Sri Krishna and his wife took up Siddha medicine and all things related to it and both he and his wife graduated in it. They have come out with several herbal preparations too. Soon he began to teach Yoga too putting his skills and knowledge to test.
Along the way he was tasked to carry out performing rituals to Agathiyar at a temple in Eco City. Roping in Balachander Aiya, they perform the prayers and annadhanam without fail at this temple.
Eventually he embarked on a noble task of feeding the poor and homeless on the streets. He started his programme "Pothigai Meals on Wheels" officiated by Sadhu Janagiraman of Tiruvannamalai.
Extending his feeding programme to schools, soon Sri Krishna fed the minds of the students with essential knowledge on life and how to live it correctly through several talks.
AVM and SH salutes this soul who has taken to perform service to humanity, placing his family and career as secondary. Moved by the dictates of Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal he keeps moving with vigor and determination to serve, every single sector of the community.
If Sri Krishna is the right eye, Bala Chandran Gunasekaran is the left eye for us at AVM. Coming to Agathiyar after having a Nadi reading, and coming to AVM after Agathiyar instructed him, Bala Chandran has not looked back even a single moment. He brought his young friends into his fold and began a group called Thondu Seivom (TS), that kept churning out service and dishing out aids to the less fortunate and those in need in the community. He soon picked up the cue from Sri Krishna and extended his services through TS and his family to bring food to those on the streets and in the schools too.
Rakesh from abroad in Chennai, India took up the idea of cleansing the many age old temples in his vicinity through a group of office-mates who called themselves Thedal Ulla Thenikal. Soon they hit the streets bringing food for the poor and hungry too.
Many from AVM began doing service and charity in their own time and pace and at their locality too.
Agathiyar has guided many at AVM in their careers too. Balamurugan an accountant by profession took a long walk after he was laid off in 2011. His walk brought him to Kailash. After Kailash his perception and understanding of live changed. He studied Varma healing and Siddha medicine. Today he produces Siddha medicines for the local market.
Master Uva, a martial artist and Varma exponent together with his master, Master Arunan serve the public holding classes and giving healing therapies.
AVM today is proud to associate with these wonderful souls, and as the Tamil saying goes, Poovodu sernthe naarum manakkum, AVM too has begun to emit a fragrance, thanks to them.
As Srinatha Raghavan says "Trust me, you don't need no Gurus or Mystics, who charge you a bomb just to share their "priceless" words, instead look out for ordinary folks who live extraordinary lives, silently imparting their living wisdom not through mere words, but through their very lives.", we are looking at them, right now, right here, learning from them day by day.