It is truly beautiful how Agathiyar has chartered the path for us at ATM, leaving signboards, signposts, milestones, and markers for us on this treasure hunt that we have come to participate. All we did was take up the calling, leaving the rest to him. We never questioned him but he answered in good time. We were ignorant of the practices and techniques he mentioned but he either sent someone to teach or tutored us from within. Till today we do not know what treasure is in store for us, waiting to be found. But we are not concerned about it either. We are more intent on carrying out the tasks on hand in this Amazing Race. We at ATM are very excited about this whole expedition. We are amazed at the discoveries we make. We are continually stunned by the impact of these discoveries. We are seeing right before our eyes an evolution take place among us.
Once a long time ago I was initiated into a path, the Siddha path after having lived a life that revolved around the worship of the gods and goddesses, the family and career with moments of pleasure and entertainment thrown in to spice up an otherwise boring and routine life.
Upon being asked to come to their path, a new chapter began in my life. I began to search for what was the Siddha path and who were the Siddhas. I began to explore new territories. I began to explore new horizons. I came to know that even in this specific path there were numerous understandings and contradictions that arose as a result. I began to take heed of only that which was specifically told, meant and directed for me to prevent further confusion. Like a horse that has peripheral vision, which means they can end up running off course unless they are made to remain focused with the aid of blinders, Agathiyar kept me focused too on my task on hand.
Everywhere I turned to for information on the Siddhas, and every movement or society I went to, to learn the means to their worship, I came across a very important component that was also the starting point of their worship - the recitation of the names of the Siddhas. Similarly, I too took up my very first lesson in reciting the names of the Siddhas. The names of the Siddhas became our mantra.
Then I was blessed to meet gurus and upagurus who fine-tuned the process. After my very first guru in the physical form, Supramania Swami and Agathiyar lit the fire of devotion in me, Agathiyar sent Tavayogi to nurture the flame. Tavayogi set me to light the sacrificial fire or homa or yagna accompanied by a moola mantra of his that Agathiyar gave, as an act of dharma that sustains the world and all its creation. I saw it as an honor given to me.
Tavayogi and Agathiyar set me to spread their word. I started to write about them. I saw it as an honor given to me. Agathiyar came in the form of a bronze statue that replaced his earlier paintings. I was asked to do libation or abhisegam. I saw it as an honor given to me.
Soon he sent others to my home to witness and participate in the many rituals we conducted. Many stayed. Similarly many left for greener pastures. All those who stayed grouped together to become the ATM family, formerly AVM. We began to see the transition take place very rapidly as our energy and resources were focussed on the job at hand. Agathiyar and Tavayogi moved us to the next stage. We are told to do charity and feed the hungry as an act of dharma that is lauded as the highest service one could give of himself to man and beast. The ATM family engaged in this wholesome and noble activity. We were exposed to the many facets of human life and beasts. Our hearts cried. Compassion grew. We wanted to do more for them.
We were told that showing the way of the guru and standing by it supersedes all other dharma. We actively spread the teachings of the guru and the Siddhas. Agathiyar then brought us to the worship of the Light moving the flame that was lit in the agal lamp to center stage. Our focus now turned from the form to the formless (Rupam to Arupam). With it, he introduced us to watch the breath silently, finally touching the greatest dharma of all, the act of offering or sacrificing one's outgoing breath to Erai. Today we sit in silence, observing the breath, and mentally thank him for the breath that comes in of its own accord or rather due to his grace, and mentally sacrifice the same to his Holy feet as it leaves. This is our mantra today. Nandri and Samarpanam.
Just as Sivavakiyar, mentions the four paths or neri and its relative state of Moksha vis:
Upon entering Sariyai, Salokyam shall one receive,
Through Kriyai, Sameepam shall he reach,
In Yoga, Sarupam shall be attained,
Jnanam, these four, Sayujyam shall one attain, and
Sugabramar in the "Gnana Suthiram" mentions these four neri too and the time of its entry vis:
When the Parama Guru arrives,
The path of Sariyai shall arise,
Slowly when the path of Sariyai is trod,
Kriyai path shall arise shortly,
Upon walking the path of Kriyai,
Son, the Yogam path will clearly arise,
Walking the path of Yogam,
The Jnanam path shall appear,
Tavayogi who had the darshan of Agathiyar in the form of Light or Oli in the hills of Kallar, gave us a glimpse of how Erai would appear to us as we progress on this path. In the beginning, for starters, we were told that Agathiyar was God via a phrase that we were taught to recite: Arul Gnana Jothiye Agathin Jothi, Tani Perung Kadavule Agatheesar Aavaar, on my first day at Kallar.
Then as we progressed he told us Agathiyar was Siva and Siva was Agathiyar, upon stepping out of the Nattadreeswarar temple; further to that he told us that Nature was God as we traveled through the jungles, forest and camped in the caves. Later he told us the Light was God pointing us to the 7 tiered granite structure that had a lighted lamp on its summit, the Aru Aathaara Peedham he installed at his ashram. Finally, he brought us to the Final Summation - Breath is God after initiating me into a pranayama technique at Kallar.
Just as life started with the first breath, life's journey ends when one's breath leaves the body for good never to return. The gurus prepare themselves for death and sacrifice the very breath to God, each day. Eventually, they drop the body too, but willingly.