No amount of effort would bring down the grace of the divine, unless we make a concerted effort to bring change in ourselves. When we are prepared to change our lives in the manner expected of us, the divine then sends first his apostles, who shall work on us and together with us to bring the desired change in us.
Richard Schiffman in his "Sri Ramakrishna – A Prophet for the New Age", Paragon House, 1989, says Ramakrishna rejoiced at seeing his disciples grow in spirit with the Mother's (Kali) special grace on them. He had helped to fan it. "He prayed continually to Kali to grant his spiritual children ecstatic love for God." He knew too well that the best efforts towards attaining this ecstatic state, count very little, only as much as helping to clear the way for loves descent. What was required was the grace and love of the divine. "When divine love comes, it comes as a pure gift. It comes as a miracle."
Tavayogi too mentioned the same when my family and I were at his ashram in late 2013 and again in the midst of the AVM family gathering in Malaysia in mid 2016. He rejoiced at seeing us follow his teachings, and work our way slowly and meticulously, waiting patiently for the Divine to shower its grace on us.
Ramakrishna knew that Kali would heed his call to save his devotees just as she had saved him, writes Schiffman. The guru brings changes either knowingly or unknowingly to the disciple and whoever comes into contact. Schiffman summarizes the role of God and Guru beautifully: Ramakrsihna considered the guru as "a torch in the hands of god and a conduit for his grace." He also taught his disciples that god was the sole guru and the teacher in the physical form, his instrument.
He reminded them sternly, writes Schiffman, "Learn from me as much as I have told you. But if you want to know more, you must pray to God in solitude." Ramakrishna used to question, he says, "How can a mere mortal enlighten another? "The guru is only a pure and clear channel for Gods healing and guiding energy", Schiffman writes further, "and he does not take credit for any accomplishments."
Speaking about both divine love and the most exalted gurus, they come down on us like a bolt of lightning, Schiffman says. The guru who has been commissioned to bring to shore the lost souls, his children who had drifted far and apart, cannot be contented with mere teaching. Theirs is a forceful and direct approach, practically pulling us off the ground where we were rooted deep and anchored, for ages. Agathiyar came so forceful on a devotee telling him that he wanted him (to do his job). Amazing.
Lord Muruga asked me to sit in silence and go within. Schiffman writes about the significance and depth of silence. Silence is potent. In silence the walls that separate the guru and disciple seizes to exists, he adds. Both their hearts meet. In silence there is neither giving or receiving. Just being in each others presence. The most important works are accomplished in silence we are told. Nakkirar says it beautifully too in his Vinayagar Thiruagaval.
மோனா ஞான முழுதும் அளித்து
சிற்பரிப் பூரண சிவத்தைக் காண
நற்சிவ நிட்கள நாட்டமுந் தந்து
குருவுஞ் சீடனுங் கூடிக் கலந்து
இருவரும் ஒரு தனியிடந் தனிற் சேர்ந்து
தானந்தமாகித் தற்பர வெளியில்
ஆனந்த போத அறிவைக் கலந்து
ஈசனிைணயடியிருத்தி
மனத்தே நீயே நானாய்
நானே நீயாய்க்
காயா புரியைக் கனவெனவுணா்ந்து
எல்லாமுன் செயலென்ேற உணர
நல்லா உன்னருள் நாட்டந் தருவாய்
காரண குருவே கற்பகத் களிேற
வாரணமுகத்து வள்ளலே போற்றி
He created the space and the much needed silence for me to contemplate in the comfort of my home where the guru and disciple could sit in silence and merge in similar thoughts; focusing on the feet of Shiva, the one becoming the other and understanding that all is a dream and that it is all his play through the grace of Lord Ganapathy
The guru has the mystic touch to make even the toughest of hearts to turn supple and alive, Schiffman writes of these Godmen. The guru's heart is alive in God he says, making one feel the presence of the living God. Living in the world of God, the true disciple lives out the dream of God.
As we step into yet another year, I bring to mind the wonderful days I spent with my gurus Supramania Swami and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal who although have left their mortal frame are with us together with Agathiyar and the other Siddhas in light form. We would not be where we are today without their magical touch on us; without their magical glance on us; and without their silent initiation or mouna diksa. Thank you Masters.
What was once an interesting story has begun to be our experience now. Now I understand why Lord Siva in a dream asked me to drop all reading, doubts and questions in 1988 and move on. All the reading, discussions and talks on religion and spiritualism brought me nowhere but only confused me more then. I was questioning why Erai, who was mentioned in all the scriptures and texts I read and in all the talks that I attended and heard, as the most compassionate - was blind to his subjects hardships and sufferings?
Now I understand pretty well that he wanted me to gain the experience first so that I could then, and only then refer to the scriptures and books confirming my experience. Bhagawan Ramana never read much except for Periapuranam, his Bible lessons and bits of Tayumanavar or Tevaram. After attaining his divine state having gone through a tremendous transformation, he began reading and could associate with what was written. Bhagawan Ramana explains this transformation in BV Narasimha Swami's "Self Realization, The Life and Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi", Sri Ramanasramam, 1985.
Formerly I would go there (the temple of Meenakshi Sundareswara) rarely with friends, see the images put on sacred ashes and sacred vermilion on the forehead and return home without any perceptible emotion. After the awakening into the new life, I would go almost every evening to the temple. I would go alone and stand before Siva or Meenakshi or Nataraja or the sixty three saints for long periods. I would feel waves of emotion overcoming me. The former hold on the body had been given up by my spirit, since it ceased to cherish the idea 'I am the body'. The spirit therefore longed to have a fresh hold and hence the frequent visits to the temple and the overflow of the soul in profuse tears. This was God's play with the individual spirit. I would stand before Isvara, the controller of the universe and the destinies of all, the omniscient and omnipresent, and occasionally pray for the descent of his grace upon me so that my devotion might increase and become perpetual like that of the sixty three saints. Mostly I would not pray at all, but let the deep within flow on and into the deep without. Tears would mark this overflow of the soul and not betoken any particular feeling of pleasure or pain. I had no desire to avoid rebirth or seek release, to obtain dispassion or salvation... in the language of the books, I should describe my mental or spiritual condition after the awakening, as Suddha Manas or Vijnana, ie the intuition of the illumined.
As he mentions "in the language of the books", referring to having read these books later, Bhagawan Ramana found out certain resemblances of what he had gone through in the Ribhu Gita.
Bhagavan's first attendant, Palaniswami, brought a copy to Bhagavan's attention while he was residing at the mango grove near Gurumurtham in 1898. Later in life Bhagavan related how surprised he was at the time to hear an exact description of his own state recited in the Ribhu Gita and that it had been experienced by others and was the bliss of the Self sought after by all true seekers.
The blogger quotes Ramana's reaction to the numerous texts that was read to him, from B.V.Narasimha Swami's "Self-Realization. The Life and Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi", Sri Ramanasramam, 1985.
I had read no books other than Periapuranam, my Bible lessons and bits of Tayumanavar or Tevaram. My notion of God (or Isvara as I called the Infinite but Personal Diety) was similar to that found in the Puranas. I had not heard then of Brahman, samsara, etc. I had no idea that there was an Essence or Impersonal Real underlying everything, and that myself and Isvara were both identical with it. At Tiruvannamalai, as I listened to Ribhu Gita and other works, I picked up these facts and discovered that these books were analysing and naming what I had previously felt intuitively without analysis and name. In the language of the books, I could describe my mental or spiritual condition after awakening, as suddha manas or vijnana, i.e., the Intuition of the Illumined."
This is what Agathiyar and Tavayogi did with us at ATM. Agathiyar setting us on the path and Tavayogi bringing us on a practical journey rather then lecture us about the path in the comfort of a home or an ashram. They gave us the much needed experience. I had wronged many in the past and past lifes. Agathiyar tells me it was his doing so that I could gain the experience. When I asked if we had done mistakes while conducting rituals, "Ma" tells us that making mistakes is a learning process. One's mistakes will be wisdom for others, she adds. Finally she tells us that the Siddha path is itself one of learning lessons.
We are here to make mistakes and learn from it. We are here to learn to live life. We are here to experience life. We are here to appreciate life. We are here to learn to build relationships. We are here to take in the beauty of creation. We are here to to know Erai. Everything is a learning process. Once "schooling" is over we return home to our father. We are blessed to have Agathiyar bring us to the worship of Lord Vinayagar, then Lord Muruga, now Mother "Ma" who will show us Father just as Ramalinga Adigal traveled a similar journey. This is a process we have to go through, learning along the way, discovering hidden secrets and new truths. It has been an interesting journey never a moment of boredom. Each day is a revelation.
As Richard Schiffman writes in his "Sri Ramakrishna – A Prophet for the New Age", Paragon House, 1989, just as Saint Francis and Sri Ramakrishna "by their sheer authenticity and enthusiasm galvanized a band of dedicated followers to set their sights higher and broader and finer than they would ever have imagined possible", we too have at ATM a similar band of dedicated devotees of Agathiyar doing his asking. Agathiyar has banded together this fine and devoted group of youngsters to serve him and all of Prapanjam through the many feeding programs and through conducting rituals like the lighting of the sacrificial fire or homam and libation or abhisegam to the deities. As Schiffman wrote of the Ramakrishna Order of the Monks, "the revolution took place quietly and without fanfare, the revolutionized would hardly have been aware of the vast changes occurring within them until the work was done", so has it been with this band of wonderful souls. "To be present week after week at the foot of Ramakrishna", writes Schiffman, similar with Agathiyar, "weaned them from course pleasures of the senses towards the boundless rewards of the spirit" which Agathiyar embodied.
Schiffman describing Ramakrishna's state wonderfully,
To watch the little poor man of Kali in the barest surrounding radiate a holy good cheer like a monarch of happiness was to grasp what the scriptures of all the worlds sacred traditions mean when they proclaim with a single voice that the fountain head of joy exists within oneself, and that it is futile to seek it anywhere else.
Agathiyar asked me to come to his path and told me to worship Lord Ganesa, Lord Shiva and the Siddhas in 2002. Worship of Siddhas was new to me. But Agathiyar paved the way for me to learn the worship of Siddhas from Nadi Nool Aasan Sentilkumar. He taught me to chant the names of the Siddhas.
Later hungry for more information on the worship of Siddhas, I came to read and learnt from the many books that Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar had published on Siddha worship. The few books I could lay my hands on at the local book shops, helped me too. I began extracting some of the songs and prayers from these materials and compiled a book of hymns or praises to the Siddhas for my daily use during prayers.
After coming to know Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal, he asked me to start doing the Homam or the ritual of lighting the sacrificial fire at my home. He told me it was sufficient to just recite the names of the Siddhas during this ritual. I expanded my book to include more songs for this ritual.
Tavayogi who was conducting the annual Vizha for his Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham, moved on to include the ritual of conducting the Maha Prapanja Yagam beginning in 2010 to cool down Mother Nature, who had gone on a spate of wrecking. Soon the ritual evolved into the 108 Sarva Dosa Nivarana Yagam in 2012, that included removing the Dosas and bringing new hope to the devotees who chose to participate.
When Agathiyar came in the form of a bronze statue in time for his Jayanthi celebrations in January of 2010, he asked us to conduct libation for him with nine items on that day. We continued doing it every Thursday, and Pornami and Amavasai days. We performed the libation on days of celebration for the deities too, dressing Agathiyar accordingly.
When I asked Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar for an appropriate song to accompany the libation, she gave me a compilation of stanzas for 19 items. We selected 16 stanzas, hence began to perform libation using these 16 items from the original 9. We were happy to learn later from Velayudham Karthikayan Aiya's blog "Siththan Arul" that the Siddhas conducted libation to Lord Siva with 16 items too.
Over the years Agathiyar sent many lovely souls to join me in my worship and prayers. We have held the annual Guru Puja and Agathiyar Jayanthi following Kallar ashram and the rests of the Agathiyar's ashram all over in India. Since 2017, for unknown reasons, Lord Muruga switched the date of the annual celebrations to fall in the Tamil month of Thai.
After years of conducting the Homam and Abhisegam for the Siddhas, we were invited by Tavayogi's guru Chitramuthu Adigal to place the pictures of the 18 Siddhas and 7 Rishis and conduct a Yagam at the Thanneermalai Sri Thandayuthapani Alayam, in Taiping. It was a great honor for us to conduct the puja with Tavayogi leading us. Tavayogi led us on another Yagam that we performed at his Paramaguru Sri Jeganatha Swamy's Alayam in Tapah. It was another honor for us. This was in 2016.
When Lord Muruga asked us to conduct libation for him to cool him down and make him happy at his sannadhi at the same temple later, we were delighted. He had specifically mentioned 7 items to GK in his Nadi. GK was to lead the puja too.
When "Ma' came to conduct libation herself for Agathiyar, she asked for only 3 items. Taking these as cues we began to conduct the libation for Agathiyar accordingly: 16 items on Pournami; 3 on Amavasai and 7 on Thursdays. Learning from them, we began to reduce the time allocated for these rituals from two hours to only forty minutes.
After Lord Muruga forced me to "sit down" freezing my movements, giving me a back pain, I was contemplating on doing away with rituals and instead spend that time in meditation. But members from the AVM family told me that they needed it. Then just when we thought that we would slowly wean away from doing it, that it was sufficient to just give a water bath on Thursdays, 3 during Amavasai and retaining the full range of items for Pournami, "Ma" came, asking us to cool her down and make her happy. She asks us to carry on doing whatever we did ... now daily! And she asked us never to stop the rituals until they tell us to!
Fearing that we might have made mistakes in our worship along the way, I asked her for guidance. She told us that all our three Gurus: Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal, Supramania Swami and Agathiyar shall guide us. This made us very happy knowing that the former two gurus who have gone into samadhi were still with us guiding us closely with Agathiyar.
Then "Ma" assured us that when I make mistakes it is a lesson to be learnt from. My lessons will become other's wisdom, she tells me. She tells us that the Siddha path is in itself a learning (process), assuring us further and comforting us, and giving us the motivation to move on irrespective whether we make mistakes along the way. We began to realize how comforting and compassionate Erai is then.
When we are troubled, the astrologer tells us to please the planets for we are told that they have a strong hold on us. These could be in the way of temple visits and offerings, doing charity, or wearing gems and amulets etc.
Mukunda before he came to be known as Paramahansa Yogananda was told by his guru to wear a silver and lead astrological armlet at one time. When he replied that he did not believe in astrology, Sri Yukteswar explains the greatness of astrology and why Yogananda needed protection.
The stars are about to take an unfriendly interest in you, Mukunda. Fear not; you shall be protected. In about a month your liver will cause you much trouble. The illness is scheduled to last for six months, but your use of an astrological armlet will shorten the period to twenty-four days.
Sri Yukteswar asks us to take advantage of the many sciences available to find the shortest way to achieve the results of one's attempts towards reaching divinity.
It is only when a traveler has reached his goal that he is justified in discarding his maps. During the journey, he takes advantage of any convenient short cut. The ancient rishis discovered many ways to curtail the period of man’s exile in delusion. There are certain mechanical features in the law of karma which can be skillfully adjusted by the fingers of wisdom.
For those who have a guru, he helps alleviate the disciples pain. For instance many a times I have brought to Tavayogi's attention the need for surgery or treatment for illness of family members that arised unexpectedly. He prayed for us to alleviate the pain. We were then able to bear the suffering and pain. When my back pain recurred, Agathiyar told me the subtle reason behind the obvious physical pain and recommended some herbal medicine and ointments. The most compassionate father, acknowledging that I could not bear even the slightest pain, said that he gave me this alternative and safe means to fast recovery, without the need to endure further pain and worry.
My guru Supramania Swami, an astrologer too, told me to wear the nine gem studded ring or Navaratnam on my finger. Later when I met Tavayogi he enquired about the ring and told me "We do not need it, son." I was forced to remove it some days later as I realized a gem stone had fallen.
I put to practice a complete set of asanas and pranayama that Tavayogi showed and taught me in 2007. Later Agathiyar told me in the Nadi that what he gave me was a precious gift. In 2011 when I pulled my sciatic nerve when I forcefully coughed out sputum, Agathiyar asked me to immediately stop all my yogic practices.
This is the advantage in having a guru for he knows when we need to start something and when to end it and advises accordingly. A guru closely monitors his disciples progress.
The master at times takes on the pain of the disciple too, hence relieving the student of his pain and suffering, as did Babaji take on Yogi Ramaiah's. Yogi Ramaiah contracted bone tuberculosis which stopped him from traveling to the USA to continue his studies. He was immobilized for 6 years! His wife and servants cared for him at San Thome in Madras during that time. Bedridden, Ramaiah used his time effectively reading up on all the Indian spiritual literature. During these years, Prasanananda Guru aided him in meditation while Omkara Swami shared his knowledge of yoga. Ramaiah also published his first book based on Omkara Swami’s life, "A Blissful Saint". In 1952, he had a visit from Mauna Swami too, a disciple of Shirdi Sai Baba. Shortly afterwards, Ramaiah had a vision of Shirdi Sai Baba. He asked if Baba was his Guru. Baba replied, "No, but I will reveal to you who your guru is", and Ramaiah was shown his guru Babaji.
One day Ramaiah succumbed to the pain and misery that he was undergoing and decided to end his life by holding his breath. Suddenly he heard Babaji's voice telling him, "Do not take your life! Give it to me!" Surprised at the divine intervention Ramaiah surrendered to Babaji.
After surrendering to Babaji, Ramaiah felt that he was healed. Summoning the doctors, and to everyone's astonishment the doctor certified that Ramaiah was indeed healed completely. Soon Ramaiah regained the use of his legs. Later in a vision Ramaiah saw Babaji limping and questioned him. To his surprise, Babaji replied he was taking on Ramaiah's illness (bone tuberculosis)!
Tavayogi who suffered massive losses in his business, was forced to the streets with the family. He went blind for a year too. Giving up hope of recovery he too decided to take his life like Ramaiah. Contemplating to jump onto the railway tracks, he suddenly heard a voice telling him the same, "Do not take your life! Give it to me!" It was Agathiyar. He stopped in his tracks and gave his life to Agathiyar. He soon got back his vision. He started the business again. At 50 as promised to Agathiyar he voluntarily left his family and business to become a turavi.
The caretaker of the Samadhi Mandir of Bhagawan Nithyananda in Ganeshpuri told Srinath Raghavan, "From now on, you are His responsibility! He has called you here and He shall take you where ever He deems fit. Your job is to simply follow Him faithfully". Srinath faithfully held on to these words from the stranger, "I nodded my head in consent; and from then on, I am following where ever He leads me - Up the hills and down the valleys, without ever questioning his credibility.... that one spurt of despondent adventure, led me to my Master unknowingly, who still walks with me in blood, bones and spirit."
Removing the veil, the master then begins to work on the soul of his student. The master helps to remove the students karma or helps the student work on his karma. Agathiyar through the Nadi that carried his words, which to me appears as a divine song, revealed about my past karma, that was written in these age old palm leaves. He revealed remedies too, to offset or payback in other ways, or to replace with other acts that brought good merits, to lessen or remove entirely the baggage of karma I brought with me.
Besides the remedies that involves worship at specific temples, giving charity, feeding the poor, and feeding animals, that works towards removing the veil of karma that covers the soul, mantras are given too to recite and chant for specific periods of time, to bring into effect its potential. Some are given yantras to keep with them and amulets to wear on them. The mantra connects the spirit in us with its source, the spirit of Erai. There then appears a breakthrough, where we are connected to the spirit.
As Sam Cook list out the reasons for a slow internet connectivity: "Having too many devices on your network, using old hardware, or have interference from other wireless signals, are a number of reasons why your internet may be far slower than it should be", similarly with a large debt and baggage of karma hoarded in the Akashic records, that takes us down, slowing our otherwise rapid progress to reach divinity; old thoughts that hold back or delays progress; not being focused on the dream, seeking and being diverted by others opinions and advice, all can contribute in delaying the connectivity with the Divine.
If we have had the grace of a guru from a past live, be assured that his grace continues in the present. The guru shall help speed up and boost the connectivity with Erai. He brings us to the Divine through the fast lane or green lane speedily. The Divine through the guru touches us, awakening the dormant buddha nature to do wonders. Our soul becomes divine. The spirit is energized further. The physical body takes on a glow.
Richard Schiffman in his "Ramakrishna - A Prophet for the New Age", wrote that a song, a word, or a touch from Ramakrishna could awaken the dormant spiritual consciousness of his devotees. In those who were poised to receive it even a casual glance from the master during one of his ecstasies might release a veritable flood tide of bliss."
How beautiful. Arousal of the divine consciousness with a touch or look. These elevated masters were live wires to the consciousness, establishing instantaneous ties with the divine. These live wires work on the aspiring candidates, sowing the seed, nurturing it and being a pole for the vine to climb to brighter regions and greater heights.
Schiffman writes,
Ramakrishna stimulated the aspiring souls that had gathered around him to growth. Ramakrishna exerted a tremendous sway on those who came within his orbit.
How wonderful. Just being in the master's presence charges the thoughts and minds of seekers to emulate him. The master's presence moves the very inner core of the soul, silencing it, and opens it up to a new wave of thoughts, perception and a new dawn.
Schiffman writes that to see Ramakrishna was to be drawn to him; drawn to him the seekers wanted to emulate him. His divinity had such a strong hold on others. "Just to be in Ramakrishna's presence was to find one's whole being turning toward the ideal of God dedication which Ramakrishna so radiantly personified", a classic example of a Mouna guru who speaks without speaking, and teaches without teaching. He writes that it was this impact that brought rise to 16 young aspirants holding on to Ramakrishna's feet and later "wandered the length and breadth of India as the first renunciates of the Ramakrishna Order of Monks."
He says Ramakrishna was different from other masters because he taught by example. He did not regard himself as either a teacher or a role model. He was the teaching itself. He was proof that higher states were real and attainable to all, writes Schiffman.
How inspiring! The master is willing to give. Is the student willing to receive? Tavayogi told me that one has to wait for 12 long years to be tested before the master would share the nectar of bliss. The guru disciple relationship is a very unique bond. The disciple has to have a clear understanding of his standing. What is told for him might not apply for another. Similarly he should not expect the guru to adhere to whatever rule laid or given to him.
The guru although does wonders, would at times watch the disciple grow without interfering. If and when the guru desires to step in and take hold of his life, the planets then switch their roles to become guru to the disciple too as revealed by Lord Muruga, working in his favour. Lord Murugan says that if he wills the planets will switch their roles, becoming Gurus and more benign to us.
The young Sambandar gently rebukes and consoles his older contemporary Navukkarasar through singing the "Kolaru Thirupathigam", when the senior saint had doubts and feared if the time was not right for them to begin a journey together to meet the queen who had summoned them to combat the influence of another faith on the Pandya King and his subjects. The Nayanmars were then in Thirumaraikkadu (Vedaranyam) when Navukkarasar had certain apprehensions about the day and time of starting the journey to the king's kingdom, when the young Sambandar sang the Pathigam, which speaks of the ineffectiveness of ill effects of planets, evil mantras, wild animals and everything else that was harmful, the moment one holds tight to the feet of Lord Shiva. The stars and planets then do no harm.
How far can love and devotion towards the master in physical form go? The disciple might wait on the master and look to his daily needs serving him. Others might write or preach about their masters. This the disciple seeks to carry out as a show of gratefulness to his guru.
How far can love and devotion towards the master in the light or subtle form go then? Besides worshiping the guru and holding on to his thoughts and memories forever, reminiscing the wonderful moments shared together, speaking constantly of his grace and divinity is the greatest Dharma says Agathiyar.
For those who have yet to arrive at the doorstep of a master's abode, there is always the Divine waiting to grant his grace and darshan through a stone or bronze, or a picture or photo. Tradition teaches us to seek the divine at these places of worship.
How far can love and devotion towards the master go? We have a devotee in our midst who like many others in the AVM family has started to talk to Agathiyar, sitting at his altar in his presence, daily opening up to him on all issues of life and seeking guidance and most of all a miracle. Then she did the thing that many of us would not have imagined or even figured to do. She started a Whatsapp group to speak to Agathiyar privately!
To start a group you need to add someone first. So she added her fiance. Once the group was created she removed her fiance. Now it was she alone. She began messaging to Agathiyar! She showed me her messages. I told her that one day Agathiyar is going to reply to her through this media and she us going to faint in seeing his reply.
Jnana Jhotiamma who used to Skype with me for hours on end from the USA once stopped talking suddenly on the other end, without excusing herself or putting me on hold. Neither was the call terminated nor had it ended. After a few minutes she came back telling me that Agathiyar had come in between us while we were online and stole the conversation, speaking to her using this media. Amazing.
Supramania Swami who had gone into Samadhi, used the telephone as a media to convince me of his presence in my home via the aroma of fresh tobacco in the air.
The masters lila's are many and amazing. These miracles are a tonic that keeps us going faithfully on the path even after the demise of our physical gurus.
In conjunction with Agathiyar's Jayanthi and Guru Puja today and tomorrow, Persatuan Teman Setia (PTS) and its members prepared a variety of cooked food individually at their homes and gathered together in Kuala Lumpur city centre and Klang to distribute the food to the homeless.
We had the PTS members cook and package the food in their homes and gather at a common place before we began distributing the food. By doing so their family members too began to involve in this process hence contributing their share of time and energy towards this good cause. Rather then just join in distribution here they are involved from a to z.
Has the food was prepared in many homes and brought together Perarulalan coined a term for it. He named it Potluck Annadhanam.
On this auspicious day of Agathiyar's Jayanthi and Guru Puja that is celebrated by his devotees everywhere, we take a moment to remember our gurus in physical form who led us to Agathiyar and Erai.
Isaikavi Ramana brings to memory his guru in all his speeches and songs too.
It is nice to have a guru. You know he is there for you 24/7. When we earn his respect he gives us responsibilities. His task is all for the good of the masses. He involves us in contributing towards humanity and giving back to nature. He teaches us in subtle ways to give always. Then he begins to provide for us. I was blessed to have three gurus, "Mother" tells me. She mentioned them too, beginning with Tavayogi (Kallar Ashram), Supramaniar (of Tiruvannamalai) and Agathiyar. She assured me that they are here to guide us further. I felt blessed. I was happy for the AVM family too. When Dhanvantri came he told us that Tavayogi would continue to guide us in the jhoti form. Supramani Swami asked me to continuously keep the flame (light from a lamp) alive as he did, as he would watch over me through the flame. The flame has a significance in our lives.
The soul of our dear ones and gurus linger around us ever protecting us from harm's way. They communicate with their lineage if necessary. Yogi Ramsuratkumar came knocking on Supramania Swami's door one night, handing him a physical copy of his picture after his Samadhi in 2001. The Yogi came again to chant with Supramania Swami and me in 2005. Supramania Swami came to our home after his Samadhi too. We had the aroma of tobacco in the air followed by a miss call from his number. There was another call from his number a few days later. What surprised us was that the number was surrendered back to the Telco upon his passing away.
Tavayogi who went into samadhi has made contact with us too, is with us and continues to guide us.
Both Bhagawan Nithyananda of Ganeshpuri and Yogi Ramsuratkumar of Thiruvannamalai consoled their followers moments before they went into Samadhi that they could do a better job in the subtle form compared to the limitations of the physical form. They promised to continue to guide them too. Although Bhagawan Nithyananda and Yogi Ramsuratkumar at their deathbed have mentioned to their followers not to mourn their death as they would continue their work in the subtle form and plane, and in fact attests that they can do more in that plane, the followers still could not bring themselves to accept the departure of their beloved Guru.
When Srinath Raghavan found himself boarding a state transport bus aimlessly after having fared badly in answering the Grade X examination papers, he alighted and found himself having arrived mysteriously at the Samadhi Mandir of Bhagawan Nithyananda for the very first time.
Out of the hall quite early, I decided to catch a State transport bus and go where it takes me to and come back in the next bus heading home. I caught a cranky old bus, fully battered by the hands of time and man, and after a couple of hours of back breaking journey, I finally landed in a far off sleepy village of Vasai, named Ganeshpuri. That was my very first time and it was to change my entire life thereon.
I still remember, the bus then dropped me right in front of a beautiful temple, which had a small pond nearby, exuding fumes of hot Sulphur. I got down, washed my feet and hands in the pond and went into the Samadhi Mandir of a great Saint, I knew nothing about. The temple was relatively empty, as it was noon and a working day too, with the Board Exams still going on somewhere else.
A huge beautiful golden statue of a smiling Saint welcomed me to come in, as I sat on the carpeted floor, tired from the travel. The temple was a simple and unassuming one, resting within it, the mortal remains of a Saint and Seer by the name of Baba Nithyananda. I watched at the golden replica of the Saint and without my knowledge, tears began streaming my eyes. Maybe it was due to the guilt and disappointment of not performing at the Exams or it was an overwhelming feeling of something stirring down deep within, unknown to me.
Someone from the temple, came and offered me the holy Prasada of stirred and sweetened semolina, which I gladly partook, as I was hungry and did not have much cash on me, to afford a full meal. I remember getting up and going to the person who offered the prasada, entreating him to give me some more of it. He, apparently the caretaker of the Temple, smiled and gave me another handful, which I consumed immediately in gratitude. He came and sat near me and asked me where do I come from and was this my first time there. I replied in the affirmative and he took a small photo of Baba and gave it to me as a gift.
He said, "From now on, you are His responsibility! He has called you here and He shall take you where ever He deems fit. Your job is to simply follow Him faithfully."
I nodded my head in consent; and from then on, I am following where ever He leads me - Up the hills and down the valleys, without ever questioning his credibility.
Finally I reached home safely (pun intended) and also flunked my Grade X exams royally. But that one spurt of despondent adventure, led me to my Master unknowingly, who still walks with me in blood, bones and spirit.
As the stranger told him that from then on he was the masters responsibility, "From now on, you are His responsibility! He has called you here and He shall take you where ever He deems fit. Your job is to simply follow Him faithfully", that is total surrender to one's guru. Our life transforms the moment the guru comes in, the light comes in. Darkness vanishes. We gain physical and mental strength. The spirit is elevated. The soul rejoices. There is total transformation. We become the image of the guru. The guru if departed lives in us. All the prayers, tavam, tapas or austerities done by us contributes towards the evolvement of the guru too. Supramania Swami constantly reminded me to do tavam for only then can he reach higher states he said. Velayudham Karthikeyan Aiya shared a beautiful message when he told me that when the late Sri Hanumathdasan Aiya passed away, his soul was placed in the Pothigai hills and that he was engaged in Tavam. It was amazing to know that the soul that is used to performing Tavam, upon leaving the mortal body, continues with the Tavam.
"From now on, you are His responsibility! He has called you here and He shall take you where ever He deems fit. Your job is to simply follow Him faithfully" This statement made to Sri holds a lot of truth. Agathiyar says this relationship between a Siddha guru and the disciple does not come about all of a sudden but is carried on from the past. When a devotee of Agathiyar who had some medical issues saw the Jeeva Nadi read by Tavayogi in Malaysia in June of 2016, Agathiyar mentioned that her guru of past birth was pleading with Agathiyar to help his child (the devotee). How compassionate of him to still worry about his disciple, even after his demise.
Then there is another story shared by Velayudham Karthikeyan Aiya about Muniandy Swamy who had to take birth again after a long lapse of 2,000 years to serve his guru again. In his past birth 2,000 back he had failed to listen to his guru. He also failed to carry out his obligations to his guru. But the most compassionate guru waited patiently for his disciple to take rebirth. Muniandy Swamy had to finish his obligations towards his guru and the guru too had an obligation towards his disciple. He had to save his disciple from this cycle of birth. Since both their karmas were interconnected the guru waited patiently for his disciple to join him.
Similarly we are told about how Ramalinga Adigal after having merged with Arutperunjyothi Aandavar in 1874, came back to redeem his disciple Kalpattu Aiya 28 years later in 1902. Ramalinga Adigal appeared in a physical form to Kalpattu Aiya who after seeing his guru appear again, passed away in bliss. Ramalinga Adigal did the last rites for Kalpattu Aiya before leaving. This astonishing revelation was made by Gnanabharati in his book "Tamil Mannin Thanthai."
That is the magnitude of the guru and his hold on the disciple, crossing over several births. The compassion of the Guru is boundless. As Sankara says of the human birth: first among the three rarest gifts obtained through God's grace are the human birth; followed by the longing for liberation; and finally discipleship to an illumined teacher, the guru is a gift to us. Treasure him.
If Agathiyar walked this earth some time back in the past and is said to have gone into samadhi, his presence is still seen and felt till this day. It is said that Lord Shiva summoned him and sent him to the south to reestablish and bring an equilibrium and balance to the earth that had tilted as all the Gods and Goddesses and Divine beings and masters had gathered at Kailash to witness Shiva's marriage to Parvathi. Along the way Agathiyar reestablished good values and virtues in people and brought a balance in their lives.
When I was with Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal at Agasthiyampalli in 2005, the "temple priest" pointed us to the very spot where Agathiyar had placed his thumb on the ground to set the earth right.
Logic would tell us that to create a balance both sides need to be equally weighted. So one can deduce the magnanimity and greatness of Agathiyar through this simple episode. I choose to see Agathiyar as equivalent to all who had gathered there at the wedding reception.
In a Nadi reading Agathiyar says that he sits at AVM representing Lord Shiva and Parvathi in their moment of matrimony. Blessed are we to hear this revelation.
Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar in his book, "Potrinaal Unathu Vinai Agalum Appa", explains, the process through which Agathiyar attained the highest state, that of becoming one with Erai. This state was granted to Agathiyar by his Guru Supramaniar (Lord Muruga). I shall run through a translation of his writing, originally in Tamil, briefly.
All the knowledge to attain the state was made available to Agathiyar by Supramaniar because Agathiyar had provided the space, shelter and all comforts for Supramaniar to carry on with his penances (tapas) and austerities (tavam) in a past birth. Agathiyar was 60 years of age then when Supramaniar attained the body of Light through his tapas, thanks to Agathiyar looking after all of Supramaniar's needs. Supramaniar promised Agathiyar that they shall meet in a subsequent birth and that he shall return the favor.
In the succeeding birth Agathiyar traveled in vain in search of his ideal guru. He eventually met Supramaniar at Kodaikanal, where Supramaniar made him recall the past and as promised in return for all his services in the past birth, blessed Agathiyar and taught him secrets of attaining the state of Erai.
This reminds us of how Babaji brought back memories of the past to Lahiri Mahasaya with his magnetic touch on his forehead.
My first meeting with Babaji took place in my thirty-third year. In the autumn of 1861 I was stationed in Danapur as a government accountant in the Military Engineering Department.
One morning the office manager summoned me. "Lahiri," he said, "a telegram has just come from our main office. You are to be transferred to Ranikhet, where an army post is now being established."
With one servant, I set out on the 500-mile trip. Traveling by horse and buggy, we arrived in thirty days at the Himalayan site of Ranikhet. My office duties were not onerous; I was able to spend many hours roaming in the magnificent hills. A rumor reached me that great saints blessed the region with their presence; I felt a strong desire to see them.
During a ramble one early afternoon, I was astounded to hear a distant voice calling my name. I continued my vigorous upward climb on Drongiri Mountain. A slight uneasiness beset me at the thought that I might not be able to retrace my steps before darkness had descended over the jungle. I finally reached a small clearing whose sides were dotted with caves. On one of the rocky ledges stood a smiling young man, extending his hand in welcome. I noticed with astonishment that, except for his copper-colored hair, he bore a remarkable resemblance to myself.
"Lahiri, you have come!", the saint addressed me affectionately in Hindi. "Rest here in this cave. It was I who called you." I entered a neat little grotto which contained several woolen blankets and a few kamandulus (begging bowls).
"Lahiri, do you remember that seat?" The yogi pointed to a folded blanket in one corner.
"No, sir." Somewhat dazed at the strangeness of my adventure, I added, "I must leave now, before nightfall. I have business in the morning at my office."
The mysterious saint replied in English, "The office was brought for you, and not you for the office." I was dumbfounded that this forest ascetic should not only speak English but also paraphrase the words of Christ.
"I see my telegram took effect." The yogi’s remark was incomprehensible to me; I inquired his meaning.
"I refer to the telegram that summoned you to these isolated parts. It was I who silently suggested to the mind of your superior officer that you be transferred to Ranikhet. When one feels his unity with mankind, all minds become transmitting stations through which he can work at will." He added gently, "Lahiri, surely this cave seems familiar to you?"
As I maintained a bewildered silence, the saint approached and struck me gently on the forehead. At his magnetic touch, a wondrous current swept through my brain, releasing the sweet seed-memories of my previous life.
"I remember!" My voice was half-choked with joyous sobs. "You are my guru Babaji, who has belonged to me always! Scenes of the past arise vividly in my mind; here in this cave I spent many years of my last incarnation!" As ineffable recollections overwhelmed me, I tearfully embraced my master’s feet.
Continuing our story of Agathiyar meeting Supramaniar, Agathiyar mentions that he learnt the Siddha way from Supramaniar. Supramaniar granted Agathiyar the body of Light or Jhothi Nilai in the following birth as appreciation of Agathiyar's service rendered to him and helping Supramaniar himself achieve his desire in attaining the Jhothi Nilai.
Agathiyar began with performing puja to Supramaniar. By way of devotion to Supramaniar he began to realize that he had had the greatest gift that was the human birth, which comes by very rarely. Through Supramaniar he came to know himself and the divinity that resided in the physical body. He understood the very Nature that brought him forth and resided within him. With Supramaniar's guidance and blessings, Agathiyar relished the ambrosia or nectar that came about through his tapas. This removed the seven veils to reveal the Jhothi in him, hence attaining the body of Light. With this came Bliss, Siddhis, and the state of Deathless-ness. Agathiyar attained the five tanmai of Erai namely Creation, Sustenance, Destruction, Veiling and Showering Grace.
Supramaniar granted Agathiyar the title Gurumuni and Kumbamuni and sent him off to spread the Siddha way extensively all over the globe, bringing many into his fold. All the Siddhas soon looked upon Agathiyar as their Guru.
Dr. Mandayam Kumar from the Siddha Medical Research Institute in Bangalore, gives us a short narrative of Agathiyar and the Pralaya or big flood, which took place about 1600 years before the start of the Kali era at midnight of 18th February, 3102 B.C. at http://www.tknsiddha.com/medicine/origin/
As it is believed that Agathiyar stepped on our soil too during his journey to the south bringing peace, harmony and Siddha knowledge to its people, in another article of his, "Siddha Agasthya – Foremost of the Siddhas", passed on to me by Nadi Nool Aasan T.Ramesh many years back, Dr. Mandayam confirms this belief. I have given a summary of it as follows.
The Dr mentions that it was possible to find out details about Agathiyar during the course of literary research on the Siddha medical sciences in a Tamil manuscript written on palm leaves about 3,000 years ago. The text attributed to Lord Muruga is titled "Prapancha Kaandam" and according to the Dr runs into several volumes. Agathiyar narrated the contents while Pulastyar recorded it.
The Dr. reveals for the first time the parental heritage of Agathiyar. Agathiyar was said to have been born about 4573 years prior to the commencement of Kali Yuga at a place in Gujarat, in the early hours of Tuesday, 14 February 7673 BC. Belonging to the early Aryan race, his father Bhargava was well learned while his mother Indumathi was from Punjab. They were both devotees of the Pasupatha order of Rishabha Muni. Agathiyar had his early education in Gujarat.
As his thirst for knowledge in particular on philosophy, Yoga, medicine, and astronomy was immense, he traveled all over Kashmir, Tibet, China, Nepal, and Kailas in Manchuria. (Mount Kailas was deemed to be in Manchuria those days). He became a disciple of Nandi and Dhanvantri.
He then traveled towards the south to Cambodia and Malaya (present day Malaysia). In Cambodia, he established the very first of his many educational institutions for the propagation of philosophy and science. After establishing a similar institution and hospital in Malaya, he crossed the sea to the continent of Kumari Kandam (during Agathiyar’s time, Kumari Kandam occupied a vast area extending from the present day Sri Lanka to the Antarctic. Ravana, a great devotee of Lord Shiva, ruled this continent).
King Ravana gave away a portion of his kingdom to Agathiyar to establish more institutions. The foremost of these institutions in this region was known as Arunodaya Giri or Meozone. Here Agathiyar practiced Yoga and taught it to his large following of disciples.
Agathiyar then went back north to Malaya where he was betrothed to the king’s daughter. He then ruled the kingdom of Vijayapuri. He returned to Kumari Kandam where he met Lord Murugan in the form of Supramaniar at Trikona Malai (present day Trincomali). At the hill station called Kadari Kama or Kadhirgama, Lord Murugan imparted spiritual knowledge to Agathiyar.
Dr. Mandayam Kumar says Agathiyar could see impending calamities take place in the future during his meditation. As a result, he moved to the North Pole considering it to be a save place. This period of his move to the arctic was said to coincide with the end of the Dwapara Yuga placed at about 6580 BC. Just as he had seen of an impending calamity and had decided to move north, a tremendous explosion in the planet mars sends a piece of debris towards earth. This impact caused a great deluge on the earth. Significant portions of Kumari Kandam submerged into the Indian Ocean. Continental drift then resulted in the present day arrangement of this region. After the great flood Kailas was no more but instead the Himalayan mountain range had emerged in north India.
Amidst all this geographical changes, says the Dr, Agathiyar went seeking for a place that would not be affected by future calamities. He located a mountain range in south India. This is the present day Courtalam. This spot is said to be the safest place and free from any future catastrophes. Here Agathiyar met Lord Shiva and Uma in the form of Dhakshinamurthi and Shenbaga Devi. The spot where the meeting took place between Dhakshinamurthi, Shenbaga Devi, Lord Murugan, and Agathiyar was Mahadeva Giri. This meeting also signified the commencement of Kali Yuga. Other Siddhas then started coming to Mahadeva Giri. Lord Dhakshinamurthi revived the knowledge of the Vedas and instructed these Siddhas to propagate this knowledge at the appropriate manner and time for the benefit of humanity. The imparting of this knowledge was said to have taken place on the 21st day of the Tamil month of Kartigai, during the eleventh year, Eswara Samvatsara, of Kali Yuga. Agathiyar gave much importance to this day. All his dating was reckoned from this day.
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 SIDDHAVEDA. It was then translated into the four existing languages of that period which was Sanskrit, Greek, Hebrew, and Chinese. Agathiyar on the instruction of Lord Murugan originated the Tamil language.
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. A conference of Siddhas called Siddhar Sabai was held during the 53rd year, Siddharti Samvatsara, of Kali Yuga at Courtalam. An institution known as Siddhar Gnana Koodam was inaugurated by Lord Murugan and was headed by 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.
P. Karthigayan in his "History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu", quotes Bhogar as having mentioned that Agathiyar was from a family of farmers. This little known fact was mentioned by Agathiyar in the Nadi reading for AVM recently too.
P. Karthigayan writes that Agathiyar "gave rise to 48 generations." Agathiyar in his search for knowledge approached many people from various communities, finally picked up the yogic way and excelled in it. On achieving the inner glow he took on the name Agathiyar. P. Karthigayan says as Siddhas specialized in a particular field that suited them, Agathiyar had many mentors including (Lord) Siva and (Lord) Kumaran and an equal number of disciples.
P. Karthigayan lists out an extensive list of Agathiyar's contribution towards the community and humanity, hence receiving the famed title Guru Muni or great mentor. P. Karthigayan dates Agathiyar's achievements accordingly as pre- and post Sanga period, whence the establishment of the Sangam or literary academia too place. If during his pre-Sanga days he was into yogic practices, after the establishment of the Sanga: he established more Sangams and monasteries, pioneered and promoted the Tamil script and Tamil grammar, collected and compiled the works of the Siddhas and published them, streamlined the Siva faith, and spread the Siddha Marga, and exposed the false teachings, in total bringing a Renaissance. In his post Sanga years he concentrated on medicine and science. His greatest achievement was his ability to live for 4 aeons, at the time of mention in writing by Bhogar, and still lives among us in present times.
M. Govindan in "Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriyayoga Tradition", Kriya Yoga Publications, Quebec, Canada, 1991, details Agathiyar's journey as starting at Agastya Ashram near Nasik (Pancavati in ancient times), marriage to Lobhamudra, king Vidarbha’s daughter (mentioned in the Mahabharata), and meeting up with Rama.
Then his pilgrimage takes him south where he has a residence at Malakuta near Badami (ancient Vatapi Puram or Dakshina Kasi). Then he comes to Pothigai hills. He moves on to the Indonesian islands, Borneo, and takes up residence in Maha Malaya hill in Malaya Dvipa. He enters Siam (present day Thailand) and Cambodia where he marries Yasomadhi. They beget a young prince named Yasovarma. He is reported to be living until the present day at Courtalam.
Pon. Govindaswamy in his book, "Sirsabaiyum Porsabaiyum", Bharath Book Bureau, 1985, mentions that Agathiyar took birth as Valluvar and gave us the "Tirukkural" besides other texts. He mentions that Agathiyar took birth as Ramalinga Adigal in the 19th century and gave us the "Tiruarutpa" too.
When the south had rise after the Gods and Goddesses, Devas and Devis, Siddhas, Rishis, Munis, and many more deities and divinities had gathered at Kailash to witness Lord Shiva's marriage to Goddess Parvathi, Agathiyar was sent away to the south to bring about a balance. Pon. Govindaswamy in his book, "Vallalarum Bramagnana Sangamum", Bharath Book Bureau, calls this event where the earth tilted as a Mystical Occult Event. This event is mentioned by Tirumular in his Tirumanthiram.
As they say let us hear from the horse's mouth, Surendaran Selvaratnam in a Nadi reading session asked the Siddha himself for answers to his origin. Agathiyar gracefully answered his query.
Agathiyar in his very first mortal birth, had the vision of Kailash at a very young age of 10. After the vision he took up extreme tapas (tavam) including breath control. With the holy feet of the Sadguru forever in his thought, he reached a state of Nirmala at Kailash. Upon receiving initiation or theecha from Lord Kailai Shiva, he was blessed to be born a Siddha. It was a mystical birth. Agathiyar adds that it was not necessary to dwell into the source and the details (Rishimulam Nadhimulam Ariya Vendam).
Born as a Siddha now and moving in the jungles, sustaining only on fruits, his thoughts fixed on Erai, having no attachment to the good or bad, he soon had the vision and grace of Goddess Vana Kali. Continuing with his seeking and search for realization, and upon accomplishment through further severe tavam, Lord Kailai Shiva shows him his vision in Pothigai. Merging with Erai, Agathiyar stayed on at Pothigai upon Lord Kailai Shiva's directive. While here he came to know about the medicinal benefits of various herbs and plants. Agathiyar received the names of Kudamuni, Kumbamuni and other names from Lord Kailai Shiva.
After years of going without food and remaining in silence, staying in the state of Vasi, adhering to the eight limbs of Asthanga Yoga and performing extreme tapas, for the rest of the Yuga, gaining the Siddhi to travel through air, yet Lord Kailai Shiva told Agathiyar that there was something that he had failed to accomplish and do. This surprised Agathiyar. What had he failed to do more?
When Agathiyar asked for further clarification, Lord Kailai Shiva laughed and looked him straight into his eyes, "Although you are an embodiment of Jnana, and those who hold on to your feet shall never face any disappointments, Gurumuni you do not have a companion as I do."
Agathiyar was taken aback. He came to know that the Lord intended to get him engaged to the very representation of Mother Kaveri, and Kaberan's daughter, Lobamutrai. Hence in this Kali Yuga, his energy that was of Shiv Sakthi came to stay at Kalyana Theertam with the intention of blessing all those who chose to come, seeking him and stood before him and Lobha Ma, and chose to see them as a personification of Shiv Sakthi.
Agathiyar in another Nadi reading told me that he was born 27 1/2 naaligai after the start of the star Ayilyam during the month of Margazhi. Ayilyam starts at 6.26 pm Malaysian Standard time, today 25 December 2018. It ends at 4.10 pm tomorrow. His actual time of birth would be at 5.24 am on 26th.
Kallar Ashram will host a two day celebration beginning today evening. The highlight of the two day event will be the lighting of a Yagna or Yagam, the Sarva Dosa Nivaarana Muligai Mahaa Yagam.
We at AVM have been following in the footsteps of our parent ashram Kallar Ashram celebrating Agathiyar's Jayanthi all these years. Since 2017, Lord Muruga has switched the date of Agathiyar's celebration for us to be carried out during the star Ahilyam in the Tamil month of Thaai. AVM will celebrate his Vizha on 21 January 2019.
