For the first time, after 149 years, the Chandra Grahan (lunar eclipse) will coincide with Guru Purnima on 16 July. It is a festival celebrated by Hindus and Buddhist where they pay respect and show their gratitude to their spiritual and academic teachers. (Source: https://www.firstpost.com)
This day is of spiritual significance to both Hindus and Buddhist.
According to Hinduism, Guru Purnima celebrates the birth of Veda Vyasa, the famous sage who is said to have edited the Vedas dividing them into four; he also wrote the Puranas which is considered the 'fifth Veda' and the Mahabharata. It is believed that on this day, prayers reach the Mahaguru directly and his blessings evade darkness and ignorance from a disciple's life.
According to Buddhism, on this day, Gautam Budhha delivered his first sermon or teaching to his first five disciples after he migrated from Bodhgaya to Sarnath. Thereafter, the 'Sangha' or the community of His disciples was formed.
When Supramania Swami passed away in 2006, Agathiyar told me to bring him to mind each Thursday during Puja. Thursdays are auspicious to the Gurus too. Agathiyar has asked to reflect on the guru and his words or teachings. That was sufficient he said. Tavayogi too told me to pray that his soul is placed with the divine. That was sufficient he said.
Tavayogi, knowing pretty well that I would hold on to his physical form and offer obeisance and worship his image, stopped me in my track the day I showed outright joy and happiness in having him visit my family home back in 2005. I am glad he did that although it hurt so much then. He showed me instead to Agathiyar and asked me to hold on to him tight. All the saints come to dispel the darkness, ignorance and the veil that prevents us from knowing our true self. They work to bring us back on track to return to the source, starting us with external worship of the divine and slowly bringing us within. Sadly we chose to worship the guru in physical form instead of forgetting his message to go beyond form and reach out to the source that is within the Guru and all of us. Tavayogi too had to take a physical form to carry out his mission here, representing what Agathiyar stood for and preaching the Siddha ways. Now that it is done he has merged with Agathiyar. We need not start the worship of him in the form he took in this birth. Now that he has merged with Agathiyar, today even as Tavayogi is with us in the subtle form guiding us on, we do not worship his form. We see him in the bronze statue of Agathiyar at ATM.