I was a movie buff during my schooling days and used to escort my sisters to the movies way before then. Watching them, I used to wonder if the Lord does come to the aid of his devotees instantaneously as depicted in these Tamil movies?
When I was schooling I picked up some Thevaram songs from a teacher who home tutored me and my pals. I attended the class partly because my friends' parents had arranged for it and I joined them wanting to spend more time together. We had more fun than paying attention to the master then.
When a colleague whom I met at the office upon my new appointment into my very first job, was required to perform certain rituals guided by the temple priests, I was asked if I could recite the Kollaru Thirupathigam. What I learnt in Thevaram class came in handy. I did recite the song to the best of my ability. I realized then the importance in taking up the study and recitation of these songs.
When I started my home puja as a bachelor in the eighties, I used to sing the songs of the saints at my altar, my favorite being the Vinayagar Agaval by Avvai, Sivapuranam by Manikavasagar, Kandar Sasti Kavasam by Devaraya Swamigal and Sakalakala Valli Maalai by Kumaragurupara Swamigal, having memorized the verses by heart.
Then came a period of hibernation which came about as a result of an advise from Lord Siva in a dream telling me to refrain from asking further questions. I took it a step further and completely stopped all forms of prayers, rituals and devotion. This was in 1988.
In the late nineties, Dr Krishnan whom I frequented for advise on astrology and Siddha medicine, asked me to pray, in general.
Then with the beginning of the new millennium, a mantra was mysteriously relayed to me and a picture together with a message delivered through my nephew, asking me to chant Lord Narayana's name and pray to Lord Dhakshanamurthy's picture respectively. I started back prayers and puja immediately and did the assigned task diligently.
When I saw the Nadi the very first time in 2002 I was asked to pray to Lord Ganapathy, Lord Shiva, Agathiyar and the Siddhas. I was introduced to Siddha worship then. Agathiyar spelt out the benefits of puja in a later Nadi reading.
Tavathiru Rengaraja Desigar's books came in handy then. I began reciting the names of the Siddhas in my puja. Siva Sri Muthukumara Sivachariyar's books "Illa Vazhipaadu" and "Alaya Vazhipaadu" came in handy too. Detailed "SOP" or Standard Operating Procedure on how to go about with home puja and prayers at temples were respectively given in these books. In "Illa Vazhipaadu" we are taught the ways to invite the deity of our choice to grace our homes. These were simple rituals and their appropriate mantras at each instance of the puja beginning with calling out or inviting, welcoming and ushering the deity, giving a seat, giving a bath where applicable, providing a new dress, serving food followed by singing their praises etc.
Both Sivachariyar and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal were students of Chitramuthu Adigal. As I drove Tavayogi to meet Sivachariyar at the later's temple in Bukit Rotan, I played Ramalinga Adigal's songs in my car. Tavayogi listened intently and after a while told me that by just listening to these songs one could attain Gnanam. Ramalinga Adigal has attributed the grace of Erai to prayers having sung some 6,000 plus songs.
Both Sivachariyar and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal were students of Chitramuthu Adigal. As I drove Tavayogi to meet Sivachariyar at the later's temple in Bukit Rotan, I played Ramalinga Adigal's songs in my car. Tavayogi listened intently and after a while told me that by just listening to these songs one could attain Gnanam. Ramalinga Adigal has attributed the grace of Erai to prayers having sung some 6,000 plus songs.
As I stepped down from the stage after Gowri Arumugam's launch of Raagawave Production's "Agathiyar Geetham", I was introduced to Nadi Nool Aasan Taranibalan. The first thing he did was he gave me a lengthy recitation, a review of the songs that we had penned for the audio CD. He told me there were two kinds of music. One was for the ears or Sevikku Esai that was pleasant to the ears, while the other Gnanathirkku Esai was for the soul. "Agathiyar Geetham" was of the second kind. "Each song will touch the soul and do wonders in the listener", he added.
The efficacy of prayers and songs has been mentioned since time immemorial. The baby is put to sleep with a lullaby. The soldier is sent off to war with a patriotic song. A group of loggers haul their logs in a timely fashion or manner singing a song. The military parades with the accompaniment of music. The othuvar dishes out songs upon songs in the temples.
The saints too are known to sing songs at the height of their devotion. When Thirunavukkarasar sang multiple stanzas before the doors at a temple at Vedaranyam that was closed for years opened magically and when Thiru Gnana Sambandar closed the same doors with a single stanza; when Arunagiri rendered several songs before Lord Muruga appeared at Tiruvanamalai, defeating the evil intention of one Sambandhan who wanted to shame Arunagiri in front of the king and his subjects; when Tansen through his music and devotion healed people and lighted the lamps, these episodes in the lives of these divine souls brought much amazement and joy in me.
Does the divine still come these days then?
When Agathiyar promised to open his eyes in the granite statue as both Tavayogi and I stood at his temple at Agasthyampalli near Vedaranyam; when Agathiyar opened his eyes to my surprise again at the Kutraleshwar temple in Papanasam; when Yogi Ramsuratkumar joined Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai and me, after going into samadhi, in our chant of the Yogi's name; when Supramania Swami gave a miss call on two different occasions to me, after going into samadhi, indicating his presence at AVM; when Agathiyar opened his eyes the day Jnana Jothiamma was with us at AVM, it all added an air of mystery and joy in witnessing these miracles.
We being firm believers of miracles, believe that Tavayogi too is with us in spirit or suksma form guiding us further although having gone into samadhi recently. We believe when someone calls out to the divine with sincere devotion the divine not only appears but showers his grace and grants us boons.
When Agathiyar promised to open his eyes in the granite statue as both Tavayogi and I stood at his temple at Agasthyampalli near Vedaranyam; when Agathiyar opened his eyes to my surprise again at the Kutraleshwar temple in Papanasam; when Yogi Ramsuratkumar joined Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai and me, after going into samadhi, in our chant of the Yogi's name; when Supramania Swami gave a miss call on two different occasions to me, after going into samadhi, indicating his presence at AVM; when Agathiyar opened his eyes the day Jnana Jothiamma was with us at AVM, it all added an air of mystery and joy in witnessing these miracles.
We being firm believers of miracles, believe that Tavayogi too is with us in spirit or suksma form guiding us further although having gone into samadhi recently. We believe when someone calls out to the divine with sincere devotion the divine not only appears but showers his grace and grants us boons.
When Jamie goes in search of his girlfriend Sophie after a breakup, whose last known address was an ashram in India, he was never a spiritual believer nor accepted miracles. Soon a turn of events at the ashram brings him to believe in miracles.
Jamie: Tumour's gone.
Sophie: What?
Jamie: I'm in the clear.
Sophie: Completely? Jamie... that's amazing! You hear that? Daddy's gonna be okay.
Jamie: It's a miracle.
Sophie:What?
Jamie: It's a miracle.Watch the movie "The Ashram".