People ask me how I spend my time since I am retired now. I divide my time between watching Agathiyar grow in strength and watching my granddaughter grow up too. She entertains us with her laughter and brings joy in play. Her gibberish talks livens up our lives. Her entry and presence livens up the home and functions. Every gesture she makes, makes me ponder and think about childhood and its innocence. Her inquisitive nature is quite testing though. There is a saying that the child and God are one, “Kuzhandaiyum deivamum gunathal ondru” that translated would mean “Children by virtue of their character are equivalent to God.” I see that in her.
Henry Wei surprised me by mentioning the same in his book “The Guiding Light of Lao Tzu”, Synergy Books International. He writes that both Lao Tzu and Jesus consider reversion to the state of a child as necessary for salvation for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. In the eyes of Lao Tzu, “the infant with its pristine purity and innocence is the perfect symbol of Tao itself.”
He goes on to say that one needs to bring tenderness in him or in other words the need to relax. This reminded me of Lord Muruga’s recent directive, telling me to relax, layback and watch the world go by, only to move if required. This message was coincidently posted by Srinatha Raghavan on fb too.
Relax the Body, Energise the Nerves (Nadis), Then the Mind too will retire, That's Meditation.
Old age brings us to live in the moment, literally take one step at a time. Hence the reason why all systems begin to slow down naturally. But the Siddhas never did give in to old age, working on ways and means to retain the physical body in top form. They also discovered that the soul that took up the body needed to be retained in the vessel and together with the spirit of Erai, could live forever, defeating death and ending the cycle of death and rebirth. Understanding this, the search was on for the Elixir or Amirdham that prolonged longevity. They found a way to remain immortal. The physical body that is made of perishable matter was replaced by cosmic matter through a transformation known as Kaya Siddhi. If living an ascetic life with practice of Ashtaanga Yoga that we saw in the former post could bring spiritual immortality, the Siddhas strived to go a step further in retaining the physical body with the soul and the spirit within it intact, hence achieving physical immortality too; bringing us from Vedantam to Siddhantam.
Immortality is when the soul is retained in the body forever with the spirit. The Siddhas regarded the body and world as real, investigating and researching into many sectors, bringing their findings to the forum of Siddhas and documenting it for the benefit of mankind. Immortality was one of it.
The Siddhas who knew of an anti-aging therapy, the ancient rejuvenation practice of Kaya Kalpa, took the elixir or karpam and regained youthfulness. Through the secret science of immortality, they keep their body intact without having it go through the process of aging. They attain immortality with the physical body still intact. They live forever as Siranjeevi, defeating death; hence putting a full stop to future birth. As P.Karthigayan wrote, they broke the cycle of death and birth by avoiding the causes of death, hence stopping death in its track and thus preventing a recurrence of birth.
Recent saints too merged with Erai in their physical form or transformed it for the purpose of this merger. Manikavasagar describes how Erai came with his entourage and brought him to his fold upon hearing him plead for Paramukthi, gaining Siddhi with the body intact. He prayed that Erai take him to his abode with the physical body intact. He brought Erai within so that the physical body need not perish and merged with Tillai Ambalar still retaining his body.
The young Thirugnanasambandhar took the hands of his wife in marriage and led all those who came to witness his marriage into the Jhoti and merged with it at Nallur. Similarly the elder Thirunavukarasar held on to the feet of Erai and burst into combustion, and merged with Erai at Thirupugalur, just as the camphor burns and vanishes into thin air.
Sundarar mounted an elephant that was sent by Lord Shiva while his friend Cheraman Perumal followed closely behind on a horse at Thiruvanjai. Both reached Erai's kingdom in the physical form.
Ramalinga Adigal transformed his body to merge with Erai and all of creation.
Crossing over to the other side of the continent into China, we have similar tales of great men who left for the other world with their physical body still intact.
In “The Guiding Light of Lao Tzu”, Henry Wei, speaks about the philosopher Huai Nan Tzu who discovered the elixir of immortality and after taking it ascended to heaven in broad daylight. In the course of his accent he dropped the vessel containing the elixir. His dogs and chicken lapping the elixir joined him in heaven.
Henry Wei writes that a recluse Wei Po-Yang believed that "man could attain immortality by reforming his personality and sublimating his vital force" and "he set forth the method by which the ancient saints and sages attained the status of Hsien or immortals or spiritual beings.
"The method he set forth involves repose in quiescence and desireless-ness, withdrawal of the light inward, stopping up the openings of the senses, and preservation of the vital force – all for the purpose of developing an inner pearl, symbol for some spiritual entity. If this method is diligently followed for three years accompanied by the practice of breath control the inner pearl will emerge.. Eventually the spiritual entity will ascend to heaven and take its place among the divine beings."Henry writes about another saint,
"Lu Tungpin or Lu Tzu practiced yoga and meditation in a cave and eventually was ferried over by his guru Chung-li Chuan to the transcendental sphere."
In "Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition", Kriya Yoga Publications, Quebec, Canada, 1991, M.Govindan writes that Kalanginathar left for China to teach. Later, Bhogar who was initiated by him, was summoned to China to take over his mission. Bhogar was taught the preparation and use of the Kaya Kalpa to promote longevity. Taking three of his best disciples along with his dog, to a mountain top, he gave the Kaya Kalpa to his dog first. It dropped dead. He offered it to Yu, one of his disciples, who dropped death too. He offered it to the other two who hid it. Bhogar took the remaining portion and fell unconscious. The other two took flight. Later they found a note written by Bhogar: "The Kaya Kalpa worked. I restored the dog and Yu. You have missed your chance for immortality."
Govindan writes, to facilitate teaching the Chinese, Bhogar transmigrated into the body of a deceased Chinese man, and went by the name Bo Yang. He adds "This Kaya Kalpa enabled Bhogar to transformed his body, that of a Chinese, to a lustrous golden color, surviving 12,000 years."
Govindan quotes Yogi SAA Ramaiah’s translation of Bhogar Jnana Sutra 8, verse 4, where Bhogar says after taking the Kaya Kalpa he lived in the land of the parangis or foreigners for 12,000 years surviving on the vital ojas vindhu that turned the body gold in color.
A similar story is told of Wei Boyang at http://hidden-elements.com/articles/2018/2/8/great-alchemists-wei-boyang
The most famous episode from his life involves himself, two disciples, and a dog. It goes that Boyang had finally refined an elixir-pill so powerful that whoever consumed it would achieve the Tao in their body, rather than just in their minds, and thus become a perfected celestial immortal instantly...
Bhogar alias Bo Yang came to be known as Lao-Tzu states Govindan. It is mentioned that Bhogar met Confucius too. On his return to India with Yu who was now known as Pulipani, he was stopped by the gate keeper at the Han Ku pass. Lao-Tzu conveyed his teachings to him upon his requests.
Just as Govindan observes that, "Taoist yoga traditions continue to seek physical immortality using techniques remarkably similar to those taught in Indian Yoga Siddhantha", it is interesting to note that both Indian and Chinese adepts worked on the “air” to better benefit and attain immortality.
The method of spiritual cultivation taught in these Chinese works is based on a main feature that of special techniques of breath circulation and control. The process is not only intricate and delicate but also has to be carried out for several years. Moreover it needs smooth and correct operation from beginning to end. A little mistake even at an advanced stage can prove disastrous. No mortal therefore could reasonably be expected to achieve success in it entirely by his efforts. So just as Christians recognize there is a limit to human effort and rely on Holy grace for their ultimate salvation, the Taoists rely on some spiritual being or Hsien to ferry them over to the other shore. Every Taoist master acknowledged that he had been guided and helped by a Hsien and after he had become a Hsien himself he in turn offered help and guidance to the qualified aspirants.Similarly, Tavayogi told us that our effort was only till two stages Muladhara and Swadistana. After that the Siddhas would lift us up. Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar says that the Siddhas will move our breath.
P.Karthigayan in his book "History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu", Notion Press, 2016, summarizes the works of the Siddhas.
Siddhas like Siva, Nandhi, Subramaniyar, Thirumoolar, and Kaalaangi showed special interest in health, longevity and immortality. Agathiyar had shown special interest in body concepts: his explanation of body functions, ailment symptoms, and surgical details were quite amazing. Bogar had showed special interest in physics and exploiting natural resources for the benefit of mankind. Chattaimuni had shown special interest in alchemy and succeeded in turning base metal into highest touch gold. Konganar had shown special interst in making the fabulous multi-functional magic beads, probably the smallest air carrier that can baffle scientists of aviation. Karuvorar had shown special interest in metal castings added to alchemy and presented the unique idol of Nataraja sculpture. Jothimuni researched and perfected precious stones. Idaikadar researched the cosmos and predicted their effects during each year. Sivavakiyar shunned irrational and superstitious beliefs and attacked the society with his rational questions and helped in the formation of an intellectually elite society.
Elsewhere in an article "Siddha Agasthya – Foremost of the Siddhas", Dr. Mandayam shares more information from a Tamil manuscript written on Nadi or palm leaves about 3,000 years ago, titled "Prapancha Kaandam". I have given a summary of it.
Lord Dhakshinamurthi revived the knowledge of the Vedas and instructed the Siddhas to propagate this knowledge at the appropriate manner and time for the benefit of humanity.
The Siddhas recorded their knowledge on palm leaves after extensive discussions held in Alagan Kulam and presented them to Lord Dhakshinamurthi for his perusal. This included the 64 kinds of learning, 18 Puranas, 96 tatvas, and 48 branches of scientific knowledge. The entire literature in Tamil came to be called “Siddhavedam”. It was then translated into the four existing languages of that period which was Sanskrit, Greek, Hebrew, and Chinese.
A conference of Siddhas called Siddhar Sabai was held at Courtalam. An institution known as Siddhar Gnana Koodam was inaugurated by Lord Murugan and was headed by Agathiyar. Bhogar from China (Agathiyar in the Jeeva Nadi revelation to Hanumathdasan of Chennai says Bhogar was from Mongolia), Thaeraiyar from Malaya, Yugimuni from Kerala, Pulipani from Kantha Malai, Pulastyar, and Kapiyar all served Agathiyar. Pulastyar and Kapiyar headed the literary section while Pulipani in research. Thaeraiyar who was into surgery headed a medical research centre established at Thorana Malai. Yugimuni who was into herbal medicines headed an ayurvedic hospital at Paradesi Kundai. Bhogar who was in charge of all scientific researches established an alchemy research centre at Tiruparankundram. Pambatti was heading a team researching venom at Marudamalai. After having established these institutions Agathiyar again started on an extensive mission of propagating the wealth of knowledge gained by these Siddhas in Tibet, Manchuria, Egypt, Palestine, Rome, America, Africa, Malaya and the Arab world.
After satisfactorily completing their mission of propagating the said teachings the Siddhas went into samadhi merging themselves into the cosmos. Supramaniar went into samadhi in Thorana Malai, Bhogar in Palani, Thaeraiyar, Pulipani and Yugimuni in Kantha Malai and Agathiyar himself choose to come back to Courtalam. He chose a spot called Dhashina Meru in the Pothigai hills. This spot is also the abode of Dhakshinamurthi.