P. Karthigayan in his "History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu, Notion Press, 2016 writes,
The Siddha cult is initiated on one by fate, encouraged by his nature, kindled by god's will, endured by his aspiration and accomplished by his spontaneous knowledge.
One could never come closer than this in describing the core elements that are needed if one were to come to the Siddha path.
The virtues of the past births to a certain extent determine if one would tread this path. As Manikavasagar sings that one would need to have His grace to even come to worship him, we now understand why many go by a temple never even having the thought that he should at least enter out of curiosity to see for himself what is going on behind the high walls of the temple court. Supramania Swami told me that the efforts in seeing Erai does not go to waste. The accumulation of all the years of yearning and efforts towards realizing Erai in the many births prepares the soul for the final countdown in one birth where he achieves his desire to merge with his Erai.
The virtues of the past births to a certain extent determine if one would tread this path. As Manikavasagar sings that one would need to have His grace to even come to worship him, we now understand why many go by a temple never even having the thought that he should at least enter out of curiosity to see for himself what is going on behind the high walls of the temple court. Supramania Swami told me that the efforts in seeing Erai does not go to waste. The accumulation of all the years of yearning and efforts towards realizing Erai in the many births prepares the soul for the final countdown in one birth where he achieves his desire to merge with his Erai.
Tavayogi in every talk mentions a metaphor regarding the sowing of the seed that would later generate into a Siddha. He expresses the need to work on the ground, ploughing the fields, sowing only good seeds, irrigating the land, driving away the birds, locust and other pests, and finally reaping the rewards of harvest of a life times work.
In most cases the ground is prepared over several births. The Siddhas closely monitor the soul over these births, waiting for the ground to be ready to sow their seed. Then in one birth, they come to sow the seed through their missionaries. Under the watchful eyes of the Siddhas, the seed germinates. With close monitoring by the guru and the Siddhas, their teachings irrigate the land making it fertile to sustain the growth of the soul. Soon the soul himself qualifies to be a teacher. The tree has bore fruits. It now sheds its knowledge onto new seekers on the path. The cycle goes on.
Tavayogi came to Malaysia in the footsteps of his Paramaguru Jeganatha Swamigal, now in samadhi at Tapah (1959); and his guru Chitramuthu Adigal, also laid in samadhi at the Samadhi Mandapam at Atma Shanti Nilayam or Thaaiveedu in Alagan Kulam (Sunday May 5, 1995). Tavayogi came the first time in 2004, then again the next year, then in 2007, 2008 and 2010 and finally in 2016 before he too was laid in samadhi at his ashram in Kallar (3 June 2018).
Each time he came he would sow the seeds and preach about the greatness of the Siddhas and their path. He would take the stage during many occasions in India too to spread the word and teachings of the Siddhas. When my family and I were at his ashram in 2013, after giving way to us to conduct the morning prayers, he revealed to all that his wish to see the seed germinate in the soil of Malaysia was fulfilled. That is the greatest thing a guru could say of his disciple in acknowledging the efforts and growth of his student. This gave us a renewed vigor to do more.
The journey started way back in many previous births where we toiled and worked hard to reach the feet of Erai but failed. Nevertheless the efforts paid off where we could come back to the path, and have wonderful gurus initiate us again, removing the veil that covered our sights and thoughts, bringing us back on the fold and redeeming the past merits and learning, moving ahead to higher spiritual ground with renewed aspirations. Agathiyar in my Nadi told me all this was possible due to the bond established between us in past lives. But why did I fail to make it then? Will I fail again? What is it that is required to establish a permanent bond with him that will last for years to come, without the need to take a break again in the form of death? I have died enough. I do not want to die no more. If I died I would have to be reborn as I have done for countless ages. Agathiyar did mention some of my past births. I was a Namboothiri priest in Kerala; I was with Bala Chandran in Sringeri in Karnataka; was with both my wife and child in Papanasam in an earlier birth; and again with Bala Chandran in Batu Caves in yet another past birth. Amazing! Yes, but why did I not make it then? Can I achieve it now in this birth? Or would I need to come back again and again? This soul is tired of taking births. When will this cycle of birth and death end? Tavayogi takes up Ramalinga Adigal's song, shedding tears each time he pleads for a place in His space.
இன்று வருமோ நாளைக்கே வருமோ
அல்லது மற்றென்று வருமோ
அறியேன் எங்கோவே
துன்று மல வெம்மாயை அற்று
வெளிக்குள் வெளி கடந்து
சும்மா இருக்கும் சுகம்
Traveling the Siddha path, a fear sets in as all the teachings of the Siddhas are in the Tamil language. How are we to comprehend them without a strong mastery of the language? But Agathiyar brings solace to us who are not competent in the language and non Tamils. Agathiyar tells us to take up the study of the scriptures of the Siddhas and assures us that knowledge of the language is not a prerequisite to learning their teachings. He tells us that the Siddha himself will come within to make us understand the subject matter. He says go for the original text and not those that carry translations.
We have read and heard about how some great souls have been ordained to read their Nadi, where they were mysteriously led to secret places, caves and snake dens and retrieved these oracles, and tutored to decipher, read, understand and narrate to others the messages of the Siddhas.
If the Siddha takes a liking for you all things are possible. They turn your world upside down and topsy-turvy overnight. The Siddhas make you do their wishes and carry our their mission in both educating and changing the lives of those considered having potential to lead others. As P. Karthigayan wrote they scan through our past, and look through our hearts to identify and verify if we fit the role. If the potential was instilled into one by fate; and he has all the qualities needed; and has the support of divine will; and if his spirit has traveled far in its quest for knowledge; in all his past lives, they would consider him a right candidate.
As their main goal was to achieve in attaining an immortal body, they seem to have broken away from the earlier schools of thought, that of striving for spiritual immortality. Rather they worked towards attaining physical immortality. If those seeking spiritual immortality, dumped their body focusing in elevating the soul and spirit, the Siddhas gave due preference in maintaining and elevating all three elements. This was possible by taking extreme care of the physical body, and avoiding the causes of death - never falling ill and never giving in to disease. They worked on their body to reinstate it through inner transformation hence beating death. All these is done while living with the society and serving it.