The guru comes in many forms and in many areas. Besides the obvious spiritual gurus, every other person is a guru for us when he leads us or we follow a certain aspect of his life.
When Agathiyar asked me to come to his path he showed spiritual gurus to me and I took up their teachings. Supramania Swami and Tavayogi guided me well. When asked to come to do charity I was shown several gurus too. Sri Krishna and his wife Sri Dewy, Bala Chandran and his team at Thondu Seivom, Vinthamaray and Stan and many others at ATM were gurus to me too.
Browsing the net we come across many Samaritans whom we admire for their stand and commitment. Their stories motivate us to follow in their paths. They too become our gurus.
Johnson Khoo Chong Sheng writes about his involvement in street feeding and jots down his observation and thoughts as he serves the homeless.
You will be reminded of how fortunate you truly are, It suddenly makes all your troubles seem small and insignificant, You open your eyes to what's really happening in your city, You'll realize that there's a whole different world out there, It helps you stay grounded and contented, It reminds us that success is fleeting, It reminds us that true happiness comes from being content, You learn not to judge, You learn to be humble, It renews your hope and faith in humanity, and finally you shall meet some awesome people,
he says of his experience.
Can you even imagine having to wait until the shops close before you can “go home” because your “home” is actually a busy street by day? Sleep on nothing but cardboards and hard cold floors on sidewalks, exposed to the wind, noise & street lights and always be prepared to shift when it rains or take a trip on a truck in the middle of the night when the authorities come raiding? Once you start realizing that, that’s when you truly start to understand and be thankful for how lucky you are to at least have a proper roof over your heads.
But when you find out the troubles the poor and homeless face every single day, you’ll suddenly realize how trivial and insignificant our problems are compared to theirs.
I have always thought that what they really needed was food because that was more expensive and water should be quite easily available to them. But then I realized that I was wrong. I suddenly realized that they din’t have a home, and hence no tap to collect water from to drink, let alone find the utensils to boil it. They probably get the bulk of their water supply from the tap water in public toilets.
But the reality is that most of us are living in a protected bubble, one that is built by society’s natural class system and social dynamics. Your life probably revolves around your comfortable home, offices, malls, restaurants and the occasional vacation. The poor & homeless seem to be living in another universe altogether.
Because society has already labeled me as hopeless, I have no other alternative, no access to education, help, and no other way to survive. My life would probably be no different than theirs if I was born into their circumstances. It is easy to say what we would do today with the exposure and knowledge that we already possess, but if we were really to be born into their situation, our lives, choices and attitude would probably have been exactly like theirs or even much worse.
Johnson describes his feelings as he walks the streets handing out the food and drinks.
I don’t know how to describe this. But as you walk the streets and back alleys carrying boxes of food and distributing them to the poor & homeless, you’ll just feel happy, a sense of quiet joy that stirs in your heart, although you’re sweating from all the walking and carrying, you somehow just feel happy that you’re doing something meaningful and making a difference.
Finally, he has a sound piece of advice for us, "Learn to be grateful for what you have today and not take things for granted."
We attend school to learn. Many lessons are taught at school. The teachers' device the lessons to test our comprehension of these teachings. We are given tests to answer. We are accessed by the answers we provide for these questions. We are given report cards or scorecards that monitor our progress.
Similarly, we learn many lessons at home and in life too. The learning never ends.
The Siddha path too is a path of learning. Ma came and said the same too. Agathiyar creates numerous situations and steps aside to watch how we figure and act in these situations. One extreme test he had for me was when I was called up for a reading, just like we are called into the Headmaster's office. Agathiyar had my Nadi before him, the report card. My mother had me in her prayers and had asked that the divine do something about my anger. So who does she ask? She knows pretty well that I would listen to Agathiyar. Chitragupta had reported to him that I was losing my temper way too often. Agathiyar summoned me and lectured me on anger management that day.
Then to see whether I took heed of the hour-long advice he gave me, he put me to test immediately. As I stepped out of the Nadi reader's office to my car, I was agitated to see another car parked alongside mine when there was umpteen number of empty parking bays on that hot Sunday afternoon. My temperature rose in the heat of noon. After honking my car horn and seeing no one respond I tried to push the car. After several attempts, it budged a little. Finally having the whole family help me out we made our way out of the parking bay. As we parked in the other side of town and walked to have our lunch, a celebrity at a local radio station stopped me and my family and lectured how small my children had kept the bindi on their forehead compared to their mother. Now I did not need another lecture from someone who was dressed in pants and shirt and told him off, asking him to walk around in vesti first before talking about upholding the culture. I had failed miserably in both tests that day.
And so Agathiyar has been placing hurdles, obstacles and tests in the paths of his devotees to see how they respond to these catalysts and what we learn from these events. He is basically nurturing the good elements in us, bringing it forward from within us, forming good habits that later become our characteristics.
All the good virtues shall bring us to do good. Hence we tend to build on our merits that help us sail through life.
We are told that Erai governs us. We are asked to worship him. Yet when we go through tough times, we begin to ask if it was fair of him to make us suffer. This is when we begin to compare with others and become more miserable for we think the one who does not pray lives a better life than we who tend to pray often. We begin to think that Erai and life are not fair. Wanting answers to lives questions, we are shown a discreet room that stores these secrets of Erai. We come to know of the Akashic records. This excites us for we are told that the Siddhas shall address all our problems by looking into these records. We sit before them and they begin to relay the whole journey of our soul that has been taking birth again and again since time immemorial. We are either saddened or elated by these revelations. Now we know the reason why Erai was not fair to us. Erai is unbias. His common law applies to everyone. So when we mess up our lives, we need to correct the mistakes by coming back again and again till we get it corrected. We stop blaming Erai. We then begin to approach him, asking if there is a way to set things right. As we cannot possibly go back in time and set things right, he offers solutions in the present where if adopted can bring an enormous change in our lives. We begin to heed his advice. We begin to pay homage and gratitude to him for helping us out. A bond is forged. We come to serve him. We follow his dictates. He takes hold of our lives. He leads us. We are in safe hands. The cycle of birth and death breaks. We are freed. He becomes our saviour.
He teaches us through others too, telling us not to follow their ways. For instance, when we had handed over the month's grocery to a lady, she asked if we could help another three families. That was good on her part to show us to others. It so happened that I met one of the ladies she had mentioned and told us that we did not have extra this time as she was not accounted for, but we would bring her groceries on our next visit. Then comes along this lady pushing her groceries in a trolley she had borrowed. As we walked together I was watching if she would share her groceries with her friend whom she had recommended. Sadly she took her cart of groceries for herself. I realise that it takes time for people to actually want to give to another or share with another.
I realize finally that all this is a play staged by Erai to mould us into a better person.
கசிந்துன்னைக் கூவுகின்றேன் அருள் செய்திடுவாய் ஹரி நாராயணா
நீடு கபம் கோழை ஈழை நெருக்கி – என்
நெஞ்சை அடைத்திடும் போது
நாவும் குழறியபோது – மனம்உன்னை
எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – நான்
அன்றுனைக் கூவிட இன்றழைத்தேன் எனை
ஆண்டருள்வாய் ஹரி நாராயணா
ஐம்பொறியும் கரணங்களும் வாயுவும்
ஆடி அடங்கிடும் போது – எந்தன்
ஆவி பிரிந்திடும்போது – மனம்
எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – இன்று
நம்பி உனைத் தொழுதே அழைத்தேன்
ஜகன் நாயகனே ஹரி நாராயணா
உற்றவர் பெற்றவர் மற்றவர் சுற்றமும்
ஒவென்று நின்றழும்போது – உயிர்
ஓசைகள் ஓய்ந்திடும்போது – மனம்
எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – இன்று
பற்றி உனைப் பணிந்தே அழைத்தேன் – ஆபத்
பாந்தவனே ஹரி நாராயணா
என்பொருள் என்மனை என்றதெல்லாம் இனி
இல்லை என்றாகிடும் போது – மனம்
எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – நீ
அன்று வரும் பொருட்டின்றழைத்தேன் அருள்
அச்சுதனே ஹரி நாராயணா
வந்தமெதூர் வளைத்து பிரித்தெனை
வாவென்றிழுத்திடும் போது – மனம்
எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – அந்த
அந்தியம் நீ வர இன்றழைத்தேன்
ஸச்சிதானந்தனே ஹரி நாராயணா
The above song is listed to have been written by Agathiyar. He places himself in our position and sees himself face old age and death. At that moment of inability, immobility, and gone senile, or with acute illness, he says he might not be able to utter the name of Lord Narayana, hence he reminds us to take the opportunity to sing the praise of the Lord right now at this very moment while we are hale and healthy, quite akin to saving for a raining day.
At that hour when death approaches me I am not sure if I will remember you, hence I am remembering you now Narayana, please take heed of my calling,
When kapam or phlegm arises and my tongue quivers, I am not sure if I will remember you, hence I am calling you now so that you would appear then to save me, Lord Narayana,
When vayu or the vital air comes to a halt, and all senses seize to function, and my soul begins to leave, I am not sure if I would be thinking of you, hence I call out to you now so that you come to my aid then,
When all that I thought was mine suddenly is of no significance and importance at the time of death, I am not sure if I will remember you my Lord, but nevertheless, I pray that you would come then Lord Narayana, hence I am calling you out now,
When Yama's servants appear to bind and take me away, I cannot promise that I would think of you, hence I call you now my Lord,
When my next of kin surround my death bed and wail and cry out, I don't know if your thought will arise in me, hence I cry out for you my Lord this very moment, so that you would appear to save me during my final moments! and so the song goes on.
This is what we should be doing daily for we might not be even able to say his name, let alone call out to him to save us in our hour of need. The Siddha songs we used to sing during our prayers are making some sense now as we travel this long journey that started some 17 years. It is truly amazing to realize that those words are coming true and that we are experiencing exactly what has been sung. The Siddhas who wrote these songs in praise of Agathiyar have shown us that Agathiyar is living with us and in us.
தான் என்ற கொடும்பாவம் தீர்க்கும் ஆசான்
தர்மத்தின் வழி சொல்லிக் கருணை வைப்பான்
ஊன் என்ற மந்திரமே உபதேசித்து
உண்மையுடன் சுழி முனையிலே இருக்கும் என்று
கோன் என்ற சிவ ரூபம் கண்ணில் காட்டி
கோபமென்ற முனைபோக்கி ஆசை போக்கி
தான் என்ற ஆணவங்கள் தன்னைப் போக்கி
நாடுவார் குரு நாதன் மோட்சந் தானே
நெஞ்சார நினைப்பவர்க்கு நிழல் ஆவானை
நீங்காதார் குலம் தழைக்க நிதியாவானைச்
செஞ்சாலி வயற் பொழில் சூழ் தில்லை மூதூர்ச்
சிலம்பொலிபோல் பாடுகின்ற சித்தன் தன்னை
வெஞ்சாபமுமில்லை ஒரு வினையுமில்லை
வேலுண்டு துணை வருங்கால் வெற்றியுண்டாம்
அஞ்சாதீர் என்று யுக யுகத்தும் தோன்றும்
அகத்தியனை அருட்குருவை அகத்துள் வைப்பாம்
காலனையும் கைக்குள்ளே அடக்கிக்கொண்டு
கருணை என்ற கடல் தனிலே ஆட்சி செய்து
ஞாலமதில் ஞானத்தை காத்து நின்று
ஞானிகளை ஆக்கி நின்ற ஞானத்தேவே
அறிந்தவர்க்கு அறக்கடலாய் விளங்குவாரே
அருள் என்றல் அகத்தியன் தான்
வணங்குவோர்க்கு குறிப்பறிந்து குறை நீக்கும் குருவே கும்பன்
குந்தகத்தை உடைத்தெறியும் அருளே கும்பன்
கும்பனருள் நிகர் சொல்ல எவருமில்லை
குகனும் சிவன் தனக்கு நிகர் அருளைத் தந்தார்
எம்மறையும் அவர் உரைத்தால் பின்தான் சொல்வோம்
ஏழு என்றால் நாங்கள் எல்லாம் கரத்தைத் கட்டி
கட்டி நின்று கால் பற்றி ஆசி கேட்போம்
கடாட்சமென்றால் அவர் ஈந்தால் உண்டு என்போம்
சட்டிசுட வேண்டுமென்றால் கும்பனைக் கேள்
சாகா வரம் வேண்டுமென்றால் கும்பனைக் கேள்
கும்பனைக் கேள் குடும்பமுடன் ஞானம் சொல்வார்
கோடிலக்கம் வேண்டுமா கும்பனைக்கேள்
எம்மானும் கும்பனே எல்லோர்க்கும் தான்
எங்களுக்கு வாசி தந்த வாசி கும்பன்
கும்பன் தான் ஒளடதமும் நவக்கோளும் தான்
கும்பன் தான் குவலயமே வேறு ஏது
கும்பன் என்றால் ஆயிரத்தெட்டு அண்டமெல்லாம்
குறுகி நின்று நடு நடுங்கும் பராக்கிரமங்கள்
பராக்கிரமம் இகபரமும் சொல்வார் கும்பன்
பாடிட்டால் மாற்றம் சொல்ல எவனும் இல்லை
பராக்கிரமும் வாளையைப் போல் அளிப்பார் கும்பன்
பட்டமரம் துளிர்க்குமடா கும்பன் சொன்னால்
கும்பன் சொன்னால் குளவிகூட குதிரையாகும்
குருமுனிக்கு கிரியாவும் கடுகாய் நிற்கும்
கும்பனையே வணங்கியோர்க்கு குறைகளண்டா
குறையில்லா காப்பாக இருப்பார் என்றும்.
ஆசியதும் கூறுகின்ற என் குருநாதா
அடிபணிந்து புலிப்பாணி உரைப்பேனிப்போ
பாசமுடன் அகத்தியனின் அருளை வேண்டி
பகலிரவாய் நாமத்தை செபித்துக் கொண்டு
செபித்து திரிகின்ற மக்கள் நீங்கள்
சிறப்புடன் இப்புவியில் வாழ்வீரப்பா
தப்பில்லா கலியுகத்தில் உயர்ந்து வாழ்வீர்
தவமுனி அகத்தியனை நினைத்துவிட்டால்
நினைத்தாலே ஈரேழு சென்ம பாவம்
நீங்கிடுமே என்றுமே போகர் சொன்னார்
நினைவுகொண்ட முனிவரெல்லாம் தவமிருந்து
நானிலத்தில் தவம் செய்து அகத்தியம் கண்டார்
அகத்தியத்தை கண்டதொரு முனிவரெல்லாம்
அகிலத்தில் ரிஷிகளாய் வாழ்வார் இன்று
ஜெகத்திலே மாந்தர்கள் அகத்தியத்தை
சிறப்புடன் பூசித்தால் தேவராவார்
தேவராவார் என்றுமே வள்ளுவர் சொன்னார்
தெரிந்திட்ட மாந்தர்கள் பூசை செய்து
பலவினைகள் நீங்கியே பல்லாண்டு வாழ்ந்தார்
பாருலகில் பலசிறப்பு அகத்திய நாமம்
அகத்திய நாமமதும் செபித்து நின்றால்
அகிலத்தில் வினையில்லா சேய் பிறக்கும்
புகழுடன் சிவவாக்கியர் கூறி நின்றார்
பல்லாயிரம் ஆண்டு காலம் வாழ்வதற்கு
வாழ்வதற்கு அகத்திய நாமம் பெருமருந்தாகும்
விளக்கமுடன் கூறினார் ஔவையார் தானும்
தாழ்வில்லா அகத்தியரை வணங்கி நின்றால்
தரணியிலே மரணமில்லா வாழ்வார் என்று
என்றுமே கூறி நின்றார் பாம்பாட்டி சித்தர்
இப்படியே சித்தர்கள் முனிவர்களெல்லாம்
நான்கு யுகங்களாய் அகத்தியர் மகிமை
நல்லதை கூறியே யுகம் போற்ற வாழ்ந்தார்
போற்றிடவே மும்மூர்த்தி தேவர்களும்
புனிதமுள்ள சித்தர்களும் ரிஷிகளெல்லாம்
குற்றமில்லா கணபதியும் முருகனோடு
கண்டதொரு தேவதைகள் கணங்களோடு
கணங்களுடன் பூதங்கள் நவக்கோள்கள்
குவலயத்தில் காண்பதொரு நிறங்களெல்லாம்
மணம் வீசும் நறுமணங்கள் திசைகள் பத்தும்
முழுமையும் இவ்வுலகம் அகத்தியம் என்று
என்றுமே கூறிட்டார் மச்சமுனி நூலும்
இவ்வளவு அற்புதங்கள் ஒன்றென்றால் அகத்திய நாமம்
என்றென்றும் நாமத்தை செபித்து விட்டால்
செபித்தோர் முதல் இலட்ச மக்கள் பலனடைவார்
அடைந்திடும் நாமத்தை உலகோர்கெழுதி
அறிய செய்வோர் அகத்தியருக்கும் சேயுமாவார்
எடுத்துரைக்க இதுகாலம் போராதப்பா
இதுக்கொரு விதியுண்டு சித்தர் கேட்க
சித்தர்கட்கு எடுத்துரைப்போம் அறிவீர்கள் நீங்கள்
சிவபெருமான் பார்வதியும் மகிழ்ந்துமிப்போ
ஒதிடவே புலிபாணி ஓடிவந்தேன்
உலகில் நீங்கள் உயர் செல்வ நிதிகளோடு
நிதிகளுடன் அதிர்ஷ்டங்கள் பெற்று வாழ
நிதி தெய்வம் இலக்குமியை வணங்கியாசி
ஒதிடவே உயர் ஞானம் கல்வி காண
உலகிலே சரஸ்வதியை வணங்கி ஆசி
ஆசியதுவுடன் பார்வதியை போற்றுகிறேன்
அருள் பொருள் இன்பமதும் நிறைவு காண
பாசமுடன் தினங்காத்து நல்வழி காட்ட
பரமசிவன் அருள் முனிவர் அகத்தியர் போற்றி
போற்றியே வணங்குகின்றேன் புலிப்பாணியிப்போ
புவிதனிலே அகத்தியத்தை வணங்கிவிட்டால்
நிறைவுபெற்ற மரணமில்லா வாழ்வடைவீர்
நினைத்தவண்ணம் நிதி செல்வம் குன்றா வாழ்வு
வாழ்வதனில் உலகமுள்ள காலம்மட்டும்
வாழ்ந்திடும் உங்கள் குடி செழித்து நன்றாய்
அழகுபட ஆனந்தமாய் வாழ்வீர் என்றும்
These songs are not mere recitations during our prayers but these very words have materialized into energy and have brought tremendous change in us. We can attest to the efficacy of prayers or puja, recitation of the names of the divine or Nama Japam and the chanting of specific mantras for the divine or Mantra Japam. Today his thoughts run through our minds 24/7. His breath runs through us 24/7. His name rings in our ears 24/7. We see him in others. We see him in us. We see him in nature.
Where do I begin to tell the story
Of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the love she brings to me
Where do I start
With her first hello
She gave new meaning to this empty world of mine
They'll never be another love another time
She came into my life and made the living fine
She fills my heart
She fills my heart with very special things
With angel songs and
With wild imaginings
She fills my soul with so much love
That anywhere I go I'm never lonely
With her around who could be lonely
I reach for her hand
It's always there
How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now
But this much I can say
I know I'll need her until the stars all burn away
And she'll be there
How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now
But this much I can say
I know I'll need her until the stars all burn away
And she'll be there
As Andy Williams sings "Where do I begin to tell the story of how grateful love can be", lyrics by Carl Sigman with music by Francis Lai sang for the movie Love Story, so do I ask myself where do I start to tell my tale of love for Agathiyar?
The lady of his dreams that Andy sings about can safely be replaced with Agathiyar for us. Meera expressed her love for Krishna. Radha and the Gopis were in love with Krishna too.
Krishna's youthful dalliances with the 'gopis' are interpreted as symbolic of the loving interplay between God and the human soul. Radha's utterly rapturous love for Krishna and their relationship is often interpreted as the quest for union with the divine. This kind of love is of the highest form of devotion in Vaishnavism and is symbolically represented as the bond between the wife and husband or beloved and lover.(Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/love-stories-from-hindu-literature-1770571)
Travelling the journey of worship to Agathiyar, we can comprehend Ramalinga Adigals love for Arutperunjhoti Andavar now when we sing his Arutpa.
He is eager for the mystic union which is the goal of bridal mysticism. This is the result of the affinity - a spiritual rapport between Raamalinga Swaamikal and the Godhead, which has grown stronger and stronger with the years, a rapport that has grown into the relationship of bride and bridegroom.
In this span of about fifteen years, what was unrelieved misery had become metamorphosed into joy. The emphasis has changed. It is no more on his foibles, failings and faults. The Swaamikal shifts the blame from himself to the Lord Whom he accuses of delaying the bestowal of grace.
We see a major change in the mode of worship of Ramalinga Adigal as we travel the pages of his Arutpa, experiencing what he went through.
With the 24th decad of the Sixth Book (with which ends our Swaamikal’s journey on the First Stage of the Unitive Way) cease all self-accusations, self-denigrations, weeping and wailing. Even petitions cease. The later decads are sheer paeans of praise of the Lord,
writes G.Vanmikanathan.
We can realize the extent of his love for Siva when we go through Manikavasagar's Thiruvasagam and Sivapuranam. We can immerse in the love for Erai in its many forms when we sing along the hymns of the deities.
Agathiyar came into my life one day in the guise of an astronomer, drew out my planetary chart, throwing out the conventional horoscope that I had held on for years. He reversed my horoscope that day. He showed me to my first guru, himself an astrologer too - Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai. Just as Agathiyar revealed my past, present and future during the Nadi reading session, Supramania Swami too revealed my past present and future without the need of drafting my charts and horoscope!
I was his sole disciple. We had more of a father and son relationship, I should say. I fulfilled his long-standing wish to build a temple for Lord Muruga by sourcing funds from well-wishers in Malaysia. But for reasons not known to us, a "stranger" stopped him even before the temple project could take off. What remains today is a kudil we built for him. I had a debt to settle with him I guess. But he gave something that no other guru would ever dream to give his disciple. He gave all his merits gained from his 40 years of tavam. He left his mortal frame on 7 February 2006.
Simultaneously Agathiyar shows me to Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram, a name I came to know right after my first nadi reading. The nadi reader passed me a leaflet mentioning Tavayogi and his intention to build a temple for Agathiyar. I got to meet him three years after receiving the leaflet. We travelled together on a journey troding the path of the Siddhas. We at AVM contributed towards the temple fund which stands today at Kallar. I guess again I had a debt to settle with Tavayogi.
Today both Lord Muruga and Agathiyar want me to build a temple. When I asked Lord Muruga why he needs another temple when there are so many all across the country, he tells me we would show him from a different perspective. Initially, I thought he meant that his form represented at this temple would differ from the many avatars of his depicted in the temples all over India and Malaysia. But I understand now it is neither the form nor a traditional temple that he is talking about. He is talking about bringing changes. Bringing changes in all areas of devotion. Then I realized that it is not something that we will do in the future but have already started doing. We have brought tremendous changes in the method of Siddha worship. We had brought change in the method of doing charity. We have brought change in our understanding of the Siddhas. This is what he meant by showing him in a different light.
Along the way, Agathiyar sent many good souls to AVM now renamed ATM. Together we shall sail to greater heights. There is no guru-disciple relationship here at ATM but that of comradeship. There is no one leader but anyone can lead at any time. This is the changes he was talking about.
When we are told that the relationship with Erai is to be kept secret by the orthodoxed masters and many others, Ramalinga Adigal exposed it and invited others to come forward to love Erai. When Ramanujar revealed to the masses the sacred mantra given by his guru, he showed his love for Erai in public. He wanted all to come to his fold. He wanted to share the cake with the rest.
Ramanuja knew he was disobeying his acharya, Tirukkottiyur Nambi, knew that the latter would find out, and for the sake of uplifting his fellow beings, was willing to pay the consequences.
Ramanuja’s chief contribution to philosophy was his insistence that discursive thought is necessary in humanity’s search for the ultimate verities, that the phenomenal world is real and provides real knowledge, and that the exigencies of daily life are not detrimental or even contrary to the life of the spirit. (Source: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ramanuja)
Following their footsteps, we shall share our journey with others too. Of what use is all the grace or Arul showered on an individual if he does not share it with others? That would only amount to selfishness on our part. As Agathiyar told us to walk tall and be proud that we are children of his, we are proud to walk the path of the Siddhas. We shall shout it out. We shall share all that comes our way. After all, it is all Agathiyar's doing. When his community and society came hard on Supramania Bharathi for having gone against traditional beliefs, Bharathi confronted Ma and tells her in strong terms that he could not have done wrong for the very thoughts and knowledge came directly from her. So how could he have erred?
Similarly, Agathiyar brought us to do his asking. He works through us. We are greatly honoured to be his tool in performing his wishes. We shall bring the change he wants, both in us and society.
Agathiyar has been with me all the while. When I performed the agamas as a Namburi priest in a Siva temple in Kerala he came as Lord Siva. When I served fruits at his sannadhi in Papanasam he blessed this fruit seller and his family with another birth in Malaysia. He was with me in Shringeri and Batu Caves. With me was Bala Chandran.
When I received the Vasudeva mantra he came to me as Lord Vishnu. When I received the painting of Lord Dhakshanamurthy he came as the Adhi guru. When I came to Supramania Swami to chart my daughter's horoscope he came as my guru in physical form. When I met Tavayogi he came to me as a guru on the path. When he came as a statue made in the image of him at Agasthiyampalli to then AVM, he gave his darshan as Lord Siva and Parvathy as how the divine gave darshan to him at Agasthiyampalli. He came as Ganapathy, Muruga, Siva, Vishnu, Rama, Narasimha, Sakthi, and as Dhanvanthri, Pamban, Ramalinga and Raghavendra. He came as the prapanjam. He came to teach, guide, mold, care, save, bless, and change and turn us into his image. As he told me many walked the face of the earth in his name, he works through all the good souls at ATM. We are his children. He is our Father.
If Bala Chandran was the reason we began feeding/ distributing groceries at the children and old folks homes and Sri Krishna was the reason we went to the streets to feed, Vinthamaray and Stan were the reason we started feeding/ distributing groceries to the homes of the poor at the PPR flats.
But she tells me that it was Agathiyar who showed her the way, giving her an alternative to doing charity or dharmam locally rather than in India as originally mentioned in the Nadi. The most compassionate father changed and rectified her remedy or parikaram to suit her request when she asked that he show her another option or alternative as she could not go to India then. Agathiyar gave his message through a dream. She shares the dream and the message.
In my dream someone gave me a piece of paper carrying a beautiful hand written message. It read '8 ammavaasaikku ettagam sendru...... seithiduvai en puthalvi neeyum' and showed me a vision of a hot steaming meal of rice with curry. When I asked who gave this message... a voice said 'Agatheesan'. That moment the piece of paper started burning into a small piece of metal (only now I realize that voice called it thurumbu). This dream gave comfort to my heart.
With ammavaasai just two days ahead, I asked my relative Mr and Mrs.Shankaralingam if they knew anyone who would accept the food we are going to give. They immediately scouted around, identified and arranged for the occupants of a few houses in PPR Kampung Muhibbah to receive the food. We started by giving food for the families in 8 houses and more. I believe Agathiyar gave the menu and supported us financially too. We continued to give food even after the 8th month. We never knew there were families who put their children to bed as early as 8pm just to make them ignore their hunger pangs. Today, all our needs are fulfilled and we feel our burden removed. The parigaram Agathiyar gave in my dream worked mysteriously.
The potluck annadhanam scheduled for tomorrow evening is something very special too for it is to be held at a place designated and shown to her, this PPR flats. Let us come together and serve the poor at these flats.
Suren makes a very good correspondent for he has that charisma to ask questions, ponder and deduce an answer too. He has been the lifeline of ATM maintaining the network with the numerous other organizations that carry out the dictates of Agathiyar. He is both a spokesman and the messenger. A couple of days back Suren and I were discussing many things and Suren went into a very engaging mode bringing his thoughts out. I then asked him to put his thoughts and what we exchanged into writing. I append below his writing.
Agathiyar guides everyone who seeks him, according to their needs and desires. There are some who just accept what is given to them while others want something better. Both options are fine as it is the choice and the individuals preference.
Whatever experiences humans are having are in accordance to their karma, both current and past. When one asks or desires something, he makes a pledge to God. For some, God assures him that it will be provided, provided it is fair and does not harm others. For some God gives them a timeline - a time frame for their wishes to take place - and for others he doesn't state.
Whenever we go for a nadi reading, we get excited and are happy that God is going to grant our wishes. When time goes by, and things don't change much, we then start to question and doubt soon arises in us. Our confusion grows when we hear that another has had his wish granted quickly. That's when we question whether the world is being unfair. Some might even go to the extreme state of becoming a non believer.
Whatever we are experincing in our life is a result of our good and bad deeds that we did in the past and present. The fruits of the action is only given to humans at the right time for them to experience it. The karma deserved is implemented through the planets which influences our mind and body.
Why does the wishes of some take place quickly and for others it takes time? The person who got it quickly, might have a good amount of good merits in him, that made him to achieve it earlier and easier. But God never leaves anyone behind just because they have lesser merits. God in a way helps us to collect more merits and lessen the bad karma by asking us to do anathanam and parigaram, respectively. Somehow this rituals and practices benefits all those around us and their blessings reduces our bad karma indirectly. Once parigaram is done things will be much easier to achieve. But for some, the changes are not so progressive even after doing parigaram. It may be due to some remaining karma. Then again we might have cleared all that karma but maybe the time isn't suitable yet for it to take place.
Does that mean whatever good deeds that we have done doesn't have any good effect on us? Obviously it gives us some good changes in our life which might not be visible to our eyes but maybe just not enough yet to reach our goal. The only thing we can do in these moments is to double our efforts, put in more effort and have more faith on him. When we are more focussed on our goal, we have more reason and justification to make it happen. According to Supramania Swami, whatever good things we do, it won't go to waste.
First we have to put all of our effort. Gods job will be more visible when we have worked up to our capacity. We need to put in more effort compared to the other person who gets it easier and faster then us. Everyone is different. Everyone has a different amount of good and bad karma and the amount of effort that should be placed by each and everyone will be different. We do not need to worry because God cares for everyone and he willingly guides us to our goal if we we are willing to put in our effort. He is always there behind us motivating us to place more effort and keeping up our faith. There might be obstacles when we are trying to change the blueprint that karma has created for us. Karma will help settle the debts by providing obstacles but we have to keep on putting effort and faith on God. There will be a time when karma is loses its strength and hold hence will not block us from achieving it.
Every desire has a price that we need to pay for. The price can be either money, time or energy. We should pay the price if we really want it. For some they don't need to "earn" much to pay since they already have nearly that amount and for others they need to start from scratch to "earn" and pay up the price (The earning here refers to our good merits which were accumulated from previous births till now) When we put in our efforts to bring changes to what is written for us, that is destiny.
When our desires are more customized, the price is higher. When the price is higher, either we need to have more merits and if not, we need to put more efforts and try to earn more merits to achieve it.
Some desires involves many others and not only the person concerned. Karma of all these people also influences the time taken for something desired to happen. It is because when the desire takes place, it will be experienced by the others involved in it too.
Faith brings hope. Hope bring motivation to put effort. Effort brings results. Blessings make this transition smoother. If still there is no change, due to our devotion Erai himself will take charge on our behalf to make things happen.
Man intrigued by the huge volumes of Siddha songs and its accompanying literature that they have heard and read about takes the pursuit of these goals and comes to the path of the Siddhas wanting to know and learn about the eight siddhis, kundalini, deathlessness etc. Almost all the websites and blogs on Siddhas promote these as a fare and suggest that it is easily and readily available for all, and it comes with a price tag. Many years ago someone from India messaged me that he was willing to make me a Siddha. Another local was eager to teach me meditation. Another told me that even if I had Agathiyar and Erai as my guru, I needed a guru in the physical form and suggested that he would initiate me further. I stayed away from all of them.
A stranger who dropped by my home several years ago told me he was initiated and his chakras activated in a public park by a guru from India just minutes after introducing himself. There are far too many gurus going around giving initiations like passing goodies to children. An initiation is a sacred affair that takes place in a sacred space between the guru and the disciple. Then again the disciple should carry out what is stipulated during the initiation. Everybody wants to be a guru today trashing out mantras and techniques not knowing that he is taking on a huge responsibility towards the recipient. The recipient too in ignorance seeks out every guru who comes his way failing to understand that in the event something happens along the way of practice, would the guru be reachable? and can he untie the knot or misery and suffering? I received a mail from someone in New Delhi asking if Tavayogi could heal him. He had put into practice various techniques taught by many gurus from numerous paths and landed himself with energy blockages. Sadly after eight years, he was still in pain. Another local was suffering as a result of his practice and could not seek relief from his master as the master had turned cuckoo himself.
On the contrary, Tavayogi did not promise me the promised land. Neither did he teach yoga techniques to all. My nephew and I had to trick him into parting with his knowledge asking him to show us these asanas and pranayama. The day I met him for the first time he told me that he was doing charity back home at his Kallar Ashram and invited me over. He lighted the spark of giving in me that day. Later that evening he initiated me and my wife together with six others into a simple basic mantra of Agathiyar asking us to chant it. Nothing mystical nor did it create any immediate change in me then. Since we were asked to chant the mantra, I figured that we still needed to place some effort to attain Erai's grace and that the guru does not do wonders in us by his mere glance or touch as we have read elsewhere. The problem with us is that we read so much and come with an expectation that we too would feel those mystical experiences felt by others, thinking that it is a standard outcome upon initiations by the gurus.
But it was not to be the way with Tavayogi. He reminded me of the orthodox ways of the masters that the student would have to wait twelve years to actually receive any true teaching. Meanwhile, he did pass on a couple of mantras and techniques over the years I knew him, asking to again put them into practice. He performed the Homam and I picked it up from there. He showed us the asanas and pranayama and I picked it from there. He taught me to feed others which I continued to carry out. He showed me the way and stepped aside letting me work on my efforts in my own time and work towards earning the fruits of my efforts. There was no blueprint shown to me of the path and what to expect. Neither did he stipulate a time frame to achieve the spiritual goals as there was none. He gave me the tools and expected me to figure out how to use them wisely. He gave me total freedom to experiment neither dictating the path nor worst still breathing down my neck.
He planted a seed within me and stepped aside and watched the seed grow freely without interfering often only nurturing it with his presence or thought. Only after committing myself to the path fully did he reveal certain aspects of Agathiyar, and cleared the air about wrong conceptions and opinions regarding the Siddhas and the path. He let Agathiyar and his mantra work in us to bring changes within. He reached out for my hand, lifted me only to hand it to Agathiyar. Agathiyar held fast to my hand never to let go of it.
Tavayogi did the right thing. If he had not handed me to Agathiyar I would have been devastated when he passed away. He made sure I was not attached to him but the path and Agathiyar. When he was in pain in the final months of his departure from the mortal frame, I was prepared and could let him go. I did not shed a tear. I was not lost after his departure My spiritual practice and rituals continued. I kept doing what was taught by Tavayogi and Agathiyar. I did not seek another guru in the physical form to continue my spiritual journey or to replace him.
And so it was that when people came up to him and enquired about the eight siddhis and about raising the kundalini in their very first meeting, he would refrain from answering these queries telling them not to play with fire. Understandably, Pandit Gopi Krishna went through a tough time trying to first identify what was going on in him initially and trying to adept and bring these energies under his control later. Those who allow the divine energies to used their body to communicate with devotees are also told to take control of the circumstances.
Many questioned Tavayogi about the Siddha path and deathlessness hearing the masses talk about it and means to achieve it. But sadly all those who speak about it too fall a victim to Lord Yama, dropping their mortal frame on the ground eventually, to have maggots feed on them. Tavayogi used to tell us that these accomplishments rarely come by and warn the commoner never to mess around with it. Hence the reason he did not have a large following around him for he chose not to reveal the secrets of the Siddhas as any orthodox master would before trying the faith and sincerity of the disciple. Many came to him and left quietly seeing that they could not milk this cow.
Contrary to all these hypes surrounding the Siddhas that has become promotional gimmicks to attract the commoner, the Siddhas themselves do not bring us to indulge in these mysteries on the onset. They actually begin working on us, our habits that make our character, bringing our thoughts to include the person next to us and the society around us, teaching us to be a better person first. One has to have high virtues and morals in life before he can even dream of becoming a guru or reach the state of the divine. Rather than talk about the bodily transformation that the saints underwent in pursuing the path leading to the kingdom of Erai, the Siddhas worked to mould us into a better person, carrying high virtues and morals. They fixed our attitude, charisma, habits and characteristics first. Honesty or Satyam was of prime importance to them. Hence the reason our ancestors laid down the numerous texts that helped polish and shine this soul of ours. Here is where the saints have laid down texts for the common man to follow like the Tirukural, and Athichudi and Kondrai Venthan etc. These texts teach us to live a truthful and honest life, to do good always and constantly remind us to shun from harming another. These are the basic foundation of religious and spiritual life. Without building and working on these values, all the spiritual knowledge accumulated would go to waste if we were to ere or harm another later in life.
Carrying these virtues with us, we then can venture further. That is how Agathiyar reorders our priorities in life. That is how Agathiyar brings about and performs the transformation in us from a common man to a divine man, a master (guru), a Rishi, a Siddha, a Gandharva, a Deva and finally brings us back home to the kingdom of Erai. To assist us further the Siddhas advocate the four stages namely Sariyai, Kriyai, Yogam and Jnanam.
We come here empty but begin to fill our hearts (and stomach too) with all sorts of desires. We ape others and want what others have too. We put in the effort towards achieving it. Along the way, we drag Erai into the picture asking that he grant our desires and wishes. If things are slow to materialize or do not happen we are quick to blame Erai for not conferring us our wishes, without realizing that he is not in any way obliged to carry out our askings nor dance to our whims and fancies. It would be desirous to actually learn what he wants us to do and carry them out. Then he would be supportive of our ventures or rather his ventures.
We need to connect with Erai and find out our purpose in taking this birth and then work towards achieving it. This would suffice rather than seek to fulfil the never-ending desires that crop up every minute in us. Peace would only prevail when we begin to do his work rather than work for our individual gain.
As Ramalinga Adigal prays before Erai that Erai should instruct him what to do, let us come to the sacred temple of Erai with folded arms and bow and beg of him to tell us what to do next, rather than cherishing those wishes and desires of ours and praying that he closes the deals for us. This attitude and prayer is total surrender then.
Dr Henry Cloud shares a simple yet wonderful story of giving in his book "The Law of Happiness", Howard Books, 2011. As he walked his three-year daughter to school one day, he simply suggested that she find someone to share something with, in school that day. On picking her up from school his daughter told him she had shared some cookies she made at school with another kid. Then she told him that something had happened to her.
"Daddy, something happened. I do not know what it is," and went on to explain. "Well, when I gave Brandon the cookies, I felt something in here. Right here", saying it she began to point at her chest. "It felt really warm in here. What was that?" she asked her dad. "It feels really good. I want to do that some more. I like it." she continued. And so the Dr explains to her, the feeling that she felt when she gave was that of love for another. It made her feel nice and warm inside.
The key to happiness is in giving. You feel good when you give. Dr Henry asks "Could there be a better barometer of happiness than one's own heart?" Giving is sacrificing something we have for another. Then these act of giving has to become a way of life and not on occasions or remain an isolated gesture.
I was not a charitable person before I came to read the Nadi. Agathiyar had to nudge me into parting with my money by asking me to carry out remedies, giving gifts of money and food to others, etc. He then, through subsequent Nadi readings, spoke of the merits of giving. I listened and found ways of giving. It felt good. I needed him to give me a nudge. Tavayogi too upon me meeting him for the very first time showed me photos of the charitable activities he was doing at his ashram. He invited me over to his ashram in India. He lighted the spark of giving in me that day. My very first annadhanam was at the grounds of his Kallar ashram. It felt good. Later when Supramania Swami wanted to feed a thousand souls at Thiruvannamalai, I took up his request. Although he had left his mortal frame by the time we had the opportunity to carry out his last wish, Jnana Jhotiamma and I shared the joy of giving on his behalf.
Many who turned up at AVM's doorstep, stood at the doorway, took a peek, inquired a bit, wanted to know what we were doing, asked what was in it for them, what was there to gain from it, and left, never to come back. But the few who dared to step inside and observe and follow gave a hand and learnt a thing or two, soon saw enormous benefits and joy in staying engaged with our activities.
We have a string of events lined up for the coming month.
Upcoming Programs
*30 March PPR feeding - the regular feeding sessions in conjunction with the Jayanthi of Siddhas.
*13 April Natchathira Maalai - a show put together to showcase the talents of the ATM family members.
*19 April Siddhar Vizha - we join in the worldwide celebrations for the Siddhas.
*21 April Outing at Eco Hill - a recreational program to move all those muscles led by our Yoga masters at ATM.
For someone who is not keen on the rituals, we showed them another door that of doing charity. You have to taste to know that sugar is sweet. No amount of discussion or talk or explanation can bring you the feeling that one goes through in doing Erai's task.
One has to give out of faith first says Dr Henry. Even if it does not give a warm feeling in the heart, as the Dr says, we do it for the sake of complying with Erai's wishes for a start. On the onset one follows the word of Erai, blindly. It might hurt to give too, having to part with a day's earning and our hard earned money. Soon one starts to give out of empathy the Dr says. What was fear and respect for Erai's word slowly leads to compassion building up from within. Then he goes beyond just giving money to charitable organizations but rather goes to the ground and helps the unfortunate, giving his time, energy and resources and doing it with his heart and soul. Then one begins to look for opportunities to give by seeking out the poor and giving.
Dr Henry guides us further in giving. Make a commitment to give a certain amount regularly and allocate some time for doing charity on a regular basis. Those who are reluctant to give initially, who feel pressured to give, or give under compulsion, will come forward to give freely eventually. That is the magic of giving. But we are not to burn ourselves out in giving. The Dr reminds us that having limits does not mean we are selfish. Do not wear yourself out. Remember we need to stay on our feet to help another. Erai gave us good health so that we shall help another. Erai gave us wealth so that we assist another. Erai gave us a good education so that we share our knowledge with another.
Then if you can afford to give a bigger piece of cake, do so. Joining up forces with others to work towards giving is an effective way to help a wider range of people. It helps bring the volunteers together and bonds them, mutually motivating each other too.
Finally giving charity is giving without asking anything in return, no favours nor help in return.
Dr Janartana was first introduced to me by Mr and Mrs Balachander when they happened to cross paths at the airport. Since then the dear doctor has dropped in at AVM often. He has given much of his time in the devotion and service to Agathiyar. He has adviced us well each time we consult him for further clarifications regarding our ailments and medications.
He then took to serving fellow mankind by joining up with fellow doctors in conducting medical camps. He has pioneered several medical camps bringing us along too. Finally, he took upon himself to go down to the ground and feed the desolate and homeless too. He reminds us of Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh who served as a medical doctor in then Malaya before becoming a monk.
Besides being a medical doctor who attends to his patients, he is a multi-talented person. He has composed several musical pieces for my YouTube videos too as in the opening sequence of his interview below.
He has lent his voice to our in-house album in collaboration with Raagawave Production, Agathiyar Geetham.
Siddha Heartbeat is proud to bring his travels to India and the accompanying mystical happenings that surrounded his travels, penned in his own words.
I shall give way to him now.
I had been to South India since 2008. This trip is the 7th time I set foot in Chola Mandala Desam (Tamil Nadu) but this is my first trip to Tiruvannamalai. A trip and mystical experience that has redefined me.
I
Thana Anna had attonements to be done at Tiruvannamalai. Performing Girivalam was one of the main ones. We arrived one day earlier to the receiving of Janagiraman Sadhu from Vallalar Mission, Tiruvannamalai. He was very hospitable preparing a comfortable place to stay and warm food to eat after our long exhausting drive. Thana Anna decided to start Girivalam 4.30am the following dawn. I joined him as well.
We stayed at a homestay 100 meters away from Varuna Lingam. We planned to start Girivalam at Annamalayar Temple. At 4.30am, the roads were brightly lit and clean. The cold wind blowing at our direction, indeed a blessing from Vayu Bhagawan. The feeling of fresh air on my face, fresh smell of the trees and plants completely got myself immersed into the roots of God’s creation. Instantly I felt very far away from the cosmopolitan existence back home. I felt a strong sense of belonging here.
We couldn’t get an Auto to Annamalayar temple, hence decided to start Girivalam from Varuna Lingam shrine. We started walking, enjoying the ambience. Tea stall owners were boiling milk to start their business. Slowly one by one sadhus in slumberland by the streets started waking up to reality. Most were still attaining moksha in deep sleep on the street pavement.
We arrived at Annamalayar temple about ½ hour later. This was Thana Anna’s first trip to Tiruvannamalai in this life as well, though he was born here in his previous one. Peddlers and beggars were freshening up to start the day. They were cleaning their slate. The view of the huge Gopuram from outside left us amazed. We entered the East Gopuram (Raja Gopuram). The day was getting bright, the temple was less crowded. We first prostrated Muruga, the exact place he appeared to Arunagirinathar before walking further to visit Shiva and Amma.
We decided to follow the free darshan row since there weren’t many around. As we walked towards the row, a well dressed gentleman called upon us. He gestured to follow him instead. He was decently dressed and appeared to look like an educated man from a middle class family. I asked him where was he taking us, to which he didn’t reply. He kept gesturing us to follow him without saying a word throughout. We followed him in curiosity. He took us into the Shiva’s sannidhi. The energy was tremendous. It was peaceful. Sadhus clad in Kaavi Veshti (Saffron Dhoti) with stripes of Vibuthi over their forehead, thick malas around their neck were there seated lost in deep meditation. I wondered, could Khailash in the presence of Shiva emulate the same ambience? The image of Dakshinamurthy seated below a tree with 4 saints at his foot came to my mind. I don’t know why that image appeared, but I could certainly relate to the divine energy present there. One of the 4 saints at the foot of Dakshinamurthy is Janathanar. I don’t know if it is connected to my soul in any way.
As we walked further following the gentleman, he surprisingly brought us to the main platform before Shiva. This was way beyond the free darshan platform. Thana Anna and I were shocked. We looked at each other in awe. We both understood what we wanted to say even though no words could come out.
II
Annamalayane…!! Annamalayane….!! He was brimming with love and compassion. My heart began to melt receiving his love. My chest was getting heavy. The energy was very intense. Tears were welling up. Shiva in the form of Lingam with jothis all around was so magnetic and powerful. I wish I could just take him back home with me. I was lost. No matter how hard I try, no words could best describe the feeling standing before him. The priest was kind enough to let us both stand there and further melt our hearts with Shiva’s love and compassion. In relieve to our heavy hearts, tears kept flowing unconditionally.
We got down from the platform, I asked Thana Anna, ‘Yenna Anna nadakethe? Yeneke unnume puriyale’. ( What’s happening Anna? I cant comprehend what just happened). He answered my question with a child-like smile, less did we realise another big wave was coming in shortly.
As we walked out from Shivan’s sanidhi heading to Amma’s sannidhi, I bumped into a very saintly looking elderly gentleman. He was wearing a white jippa and white veshti. He had a deep curved spine which resulted being a hunchback. He was sitting at the corridor of Shivan’s sannidhi before the exit. There was something about him. His appearance was very compelling. I looked at him. He looked at me back. His eyes were divinely magnetic. It was sharp and penetrating. I smiled at him and he returned a very delightful smile and nod. I gestured Thana Anna to look at him. We approached him and fell at his feet. He compassionately blessed us. There is something unusual about him and his presence. My heartbeat was getting faster.
He slowly stood up and picked his cute little walking stick. It appeared to be tailor made for him. The height of the walking stick covered the short distance between his palm and the floor. ‘Yenkude vange’ (Come with me), he gently ushered us to follow him. We followed him slowly. Small baby steps. I was getting more curious about this person. So many questions started building up in my mind. Who is he? Where does he live? How could he have came into this huge temple complex without any assistance? How is he going to go back? Should we call an Auto for him? So many question started piling up in my monkey mind.
As we were walking out, we bumped into a passer by who greeted this gentleman. I looked at the passer by as he walked pass and asked him softly. 'Aiya, intha periyavar yaaru?' He said, 'Ivaru periya Sivan Adiyar. Rombe kaalama intha kovilke varuvaru.' (The elder gentleman was a staunch devotee of Shiva and he visited the temple quite often) 'Ah, appadiya. Seri aiya. Rombe nandri.' I replied. Thana Anna was looking at me restless understood my curiosity.
The gentleman paused for a moment, and said ‘Ambal sannidhike pogum munne, kovil pragaratha suthi varanum. Vange.’ (Before going to Amma’s Shrine we should circumambulate along the temple courtyard first). Lucky thing, presence of mind struck in. I wanted to capture him. I reached my pocket to grab my phone. I didn’t want to miss taking a photo of him or with him. I took few brisk steps ahead to take a snap of him. He immediately stopped walking. He said, ‘Kovil-le methuva nadakanum. Ippadi oda kudathe. Unga vegathiku naan vara mudiyathe. Neenge muthal Ambal Sannathiku ponge. Na methuva varen.’ (You shouldn’t run in temples. Walk slowly. I cant keep up to your speed.) His tone was soft, yet words were straight and sharp. Thana Anna replied, ‘llai Aiya. Naanga unga kude varom. Manichirunge.’
I kept quiet. I was getting even anxious. I wanted to know who he was so badly. His divine appearance were very compelling. I was not prepared to leave without an answer. I tried starting little conversation with him. I asked where he stayed. How does he come to the temple everyday, to which he replied silence. Not a single word or gesture from him. I didn’t push any further. We just followed him leaving him to take us where he pleased.
There is a big Mandabam (open hall) at the temple courtyard between Shiva’s sannidhi and Amma’s Sannidhi. It was a large platform with a small shrine below. We arrived there. Aiya, pointed at the mandabam and instructed us both to fall and pray. As we got on the ground, The small shrine at the base of he platform was more visible with the sign, Arunagirinathar Mandabam.
Ah, here we are… Arunagirinathaaa… You were blessed here by the ever merciful and compassionate Murugaa. You were given Nyanam (Wisdom) by HIM. Yengelayum Nyana paathaiyil kutikitte po Arunagirinathaa… Nee petra inbam, naangalum peranum. We stood up, and the gentleman was right in front pointing his walking stick to us. He started walking and we followed. He took a few steps forward and stopped. He started saying something softly. ‘Neenge Ambal Sannadhiku ponge. Na onnuke poitu varen.’ (Start walking to Amma’s shrine. I need to take a leak and will join u later). ‘Seri Aiya.’ We replied.
He started walking towards a huge tree behind the mandabam. We headed to Amma’s shrine. I took about 5 steps and suddenly I felt something wasn’t right. I wondered, how is this aiya going to manage alone. Shouldn’t we help him out, at least follow him to the nearest toilet. I immediately turned around to ask him if we can assist him.
III
I felt a strong jolt at my chest. I was speechless. I couldn’t utter anything. I was literally paralysed. My heart was racing. I looked at Thana Anna and he was stunned as I was. Aiya was missing. He was not there or anywhere visible at the open courtyard. He walked with a walking stick and coudn’t have gone faster than us. We just took 5 steps forward and turned. How could he have disappeared?
Arunagirinathaa….Arunagirinatha….It was you.. I know…. I broke down! I couldn’t take the mixed emotion of pain and pleasure any longer. Arunagirinathar appeared. I finally got my answer of who the Aiya was. Why couldn’t have you taken me along with you, Arunagirinatha!!!! You were compassionate enough to appear, what stopped you from taking me along with you?
I stood there long enough to reconfirm what happened. I couldn’t believe it. I kept thinking of other possibilities logically. Humans are constantly battling with the left logical brain and right emotional brain. Divine incidents like this are always probed by the left logical brain, literally creating more doubts rather than beautifully accepting what happen as a blessing. I was almost caught in the tug-of-war between the left and right brain, that I immediately dismissed. Compassion and love is something that we feel from inside.
We walked towards Amma, prayed to her and continued Girivalam in a state of shock. Even at this moment, penning out this incident, I re-live each and everything that happened that day. The same feeling, the tears and the yearnings..
Agathiyar has asked us to feed in all possible ways. You can feed a visitor to your home. You can feed the birds that perch on the branches in your garden. You can feed the labourers who come by your house clearing the drains or sweeping the roads. You can feed the garbage collectors. You can buy someone food while you are at an eatery. You can feed those begging on the streets. You can feed the homeless. You can feed the orphans and old folks in the care of homes. It is limitless. If you have the will then you shall have the means too.
Last week I came across a transcription of a seminar given by Sri Kumar in the Nilagiri Hills in 1996 about Agastya, Master Jupiter. ..... He is often traveling with his disciples and loves to cook and to serve. Through serving food he likes to spread himself into the people and thus to adjust any imbalances in the mental, emotional, and physical bodies.
In his spiritual activities he never treads any trodden paths, but gives new trends and directions, being full of freshness. His live is always accompanied by will, spreading be-ness and presence. He is very humorous and his teachings are very powerful, but nevertheless humorous, thus uplifting the people.
In the scriptures there is the story that once a group of disciples in the Himalaya had the questions who is the one fasting most, and Maitreya told them, “It is Agastya, he never eats.” They wanted to see Agastya and went to him. Agastya said: "Observe me for three days.”
They were very surprised to see him cooking, eating and serving. He was not missing any meal, and every meal was from our standpoint very excessive in its quantity.
After three days the group asked: "We have not understood your way of fasting.” He answered: "Insofar as you don’t feel that you are eating, it is fasting.”
He does not think he is eating. He lives in tune with the universal consciousness and in such a tune-up the food is given to all the elementals around him with himself as the channel.
And so he has set us on his footsteps, to feed the poor and hungry. Ram Dass (Love Serve Remember Foundation) was asked by his guru to feed too. "When I asked my guru to raise my kundalini, he said, "feed people." My guru Supramania Swami's last wish before his samadhi was to feed 1,000 people in Thiruvannamalai. In the revelation of the origin of the very first temple for Agathiyar in this Kali Yuga by Agathiyar to Dr. V.M.Jayapalan of Bangalore, Agathiyar who comes as a leper to cure the Asuric King Kuberan propagates the act of feeding the people. Ramalinga Adigal built the Satya Dharma Salai at Vadalur back then in 1867 where food was cooked and served to the hungry, which is being done till the present day.
"Give food, Give food. Give food", this is what Lord Krishna advises Yudhishthira in the Bhavishya Purana in his discourse on 'daanam' or the discipline of sharing.
"Yudhishthira asks Lord Krishna to enlighten him about the essence of Bhishma Pitamaha's erudite discourse on dharma in the 'santi parva' of the Mahabharata.
Lord Krishna says: "The World, both animate and inanimate, is sustained by food. The giver of food is the giver of life and indeed of everything else. Therefore, one who is desirous of well-being in this world and beyond should make special endeavors to give food. Also, food should be offered with venerable hospitality to the old, the child, and the tired traveler".
"Annadanam is performed for the redemption of sins, to attain piety, to get speedy recovery from illness and also to attain moksha. There is a Hindu belief that sins committed in previous birth follow a person in successive births – Annadanam is performed to put an end to this."
Besides seeking redemption from sins that we had done, Agathiyar tells us that by feeding another his karma is relieved too. Hence we help each other in the process of feeding another.
A child is the greatest gift one could have. Watching the child grow is the most joyous of moments in life. Watching him/her utter the first words almost drives you crazy. Watching him/her take the first step brings you to a frenzied state of extreme joy. Yes, the child brings many moments of joy to the family.
If in the past we had midwives who delivered the child, today we turn to the hospitals. Sadly we tend to complain about inconveniences, making a fuss over small discomforts at these hospitals. Watching some of the stories from across the globe brings us to a state of utter shame for complaining so much.
To be born into a family that has a roof over its head and food on the table is a gift too. Watching the stories of poverty and famine brings us to treasure the grain and appreciate the food we take. My prayer today is to thank the plant and grain for ending up on my dinner table as food and those who toiled to bring it to us.
Having an education in life is a gift too. Many around the world are deprived of this prized gift that can bring a total change to a person, his family, community and his society. Watching the children in many countries deprived of the opportunity to be educated due to poverty and war, and lose the means of bringing the much-awaited change, moves us to make good use of the given opportunity.
Landing a job that pays handsomely is a gift too. Watching the many stories of unemployment all around the globe brings us to be thankful that we shall receive a paycheck at the end of each month.
We are blessed. Be grateful. Thank you to all those in the medical profession. Thank you to all those who put up these buildings to house this equipment and patients. Thank you to all inventors and scientist. Thank you to those who toil the lands and bring us food. Thank you to all those who manufacture food and drinks and clothes that keep us warm. Finally, thank you, Lord for looking over our shoulders constantly.
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