People on the path of Siddhas have the wrong notion that coming to worship the Siddhas, their troubles will go away; that their misery will end; that all illness will heal; that their debts will be settled, etc. Many come to the worship seeking these remedies. Although Agathiyar addresses these questions by them, his main concern is to raise our soul to a higher level of consciousness and help it to gain strength or Atma Balam through his 5 tenets. Agathiyar and the Siddhas are concerned with the soul only. Their business is realization. All the past saints' business is realization too. But we fail to realize this truth, but rather go again and again either seeking their Nadi or advice for material gains or for other menial and trivial matters that in the words of Tavayogi can be thought out and settled by the individual with either concerted effort or discerned thoughts.
The Siddhas await earnestly our arrival, to take us by the hand to their kingdom of no return, reversing all of nature's law and the way it rules on us. Rather than be at their mercy, man than overrules and masters them. The Siddhas have the key to it, but it is only given to us once we are ready to know the true reason for taking birth.
Ramalinga Adigal, the most recent Siddha, in his many compositions, that are documented experiences of his journey, tells us that by taking the hand of his guru, the nameless one, he strived for 12 long years and with the grace of the divine, he attained the much-acclaimed state of deathlessness. Agathiyar is said to have meditated under the sea for 12 long years too. Arunagiri is said to have been told to go within and stayed in that deep state of meditation for 12 long years too. When Jnana Jhotiamma was told to go within, Agathiyar shut her up completely inside a room and asked her to stay away from all social media that he said would affect her meditation in solitude or tavam. I too have reminded to go within.
What happens when we go within?
Frank J.Alexander in his "In the Hours of Meditation", Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta, gives a wonderful account of his silent moments sitting in meditation. We read from the Preface to the book that, Frank,
Seized with a great spiritual unrest, which knew no quietude, till he came across by chance some writings of the Swami Vivekananda, which opened the vista of a new world before him, the call of his master was so strong that he afterwards sailed for India, to consecrate himself to the service of the order founded by him. Here he threw himself heart and soul into work and rendered invaluable help in bringing out a life of Swami Vivekananda by which his name will be immortalised.
Frank describes these blessed moments.
There are hours when one forgets the world. There are hours when one approaches that region of blessedness in which the soul is self-contained and in the presence of the highest. There is no holier sanctuary than a purified mind, a mind concentrated upon god. There is no more sacred place than the region of peace into which the mind enters when it becomes fixed in the lord.
The spiritual consciousness dawns in these silent, sacred hours. The soul is close to its source. Then comes the voice of god, audible within the silence.
The Silent or Mouna Guru who resides within begins to speak. "I am thy Soul. Verily thy Soul is I."
Purity, bliss, blessedness, and peace prevail in this moment of silence. Frank says these "make up the atmosphere of the state of meditation."
Frank equates all mortal things to shadows. Our very form itself is a dream. Similarly, the soul is stationed in the formlessness of divinity he says. Knowing pretty well that life is a play, he asks us to play our part well. Although we must engage in it as that is the law and that there is no escape, but we are asked to escape from all these just for some hours, at the least, to contemplate and just to sit in silence all by the self, with the self and god. "Give at least some short time unto the Lord. He asketh little, only this, that thou shalt know thy self; for verily, knowing thy self, thou comest to know him. for god and the soul is one" and God shall say "Beyond the universe, beyond all dreams, I rest self-contained within immensity. And so do you. I shall carry thee across the ocean of darkness and ignorance unto Light and Life everlasting." Ramalinga Adigal too said the same, to take hold of the Light in the moments of darkness and to bring the Light where there is darkness.
Why are we told to take the opportunity to go within at certain times of the day?
"These hours are when nature is at peace and when nature is at peace more peacefully does the soul retire into the inner chamber of the heart", explains Frank. Tavayogi identified the residence of god as being within this inner chamber of the heart, writing it out as he autographed his book "Andamum Pindamum" for me. The journey begins and ends there, he wrote.
"These hours are when nature is at peace and when nature is at peace more peacefully does the soul retire into the inner chamber of the heart", explains Frank. Tavayogi identified the residence of god as being within this inner chamber of the heart, writing it out as he autographed his book "Andamum Pindamum" for me. The journey begins and ends there, he wrote.
Frank tells us "that death and destruction are the lot of all forms." But we are reminded that we are the soul. The highest form of worship is that of the self, the soul that is of god. Hence we are brought within from all things external to worship the soul.
"Understand that which is the highest within thee. and the most perfect form of worship is the knowledge that thou and the highest are one. Having understood, perceive. Having perceived know. Having known realize. Having realized then thou art that!"
We are all fellow travelers. God comes along to travel with us too. We need only be on the lookout and be aware and identify him. "Retreat from the world. It is the embodiment of dreams. It (the world) together with the body, verily, these are the nests of dreams."
Seeking out his will, dropping our desires and taking up his vision, we enter a bond with him where he is bounded and bonded to see through this new venture that we have taken upon.
"Harder than adamant are the bonds of relationship between guru and disciple. Stronger than death are they. For they are tied by immeasurable love and the divine and omnipotent will" describes Frank on this sacred bond.
We have come to realize the truth that Frank shares too, "No matter where thou goest, I am already there." Yes, Agathiyar goes ahead of us and awaits us to turn up at the destination these days. He sits waiting for our arrival, knowing pretty much that we are delayed by the many distractions that take the shape as sights, smell and pleasures of the world, that catch our attention while traveling towards him. We are reminded to "Beware of all mirages. The goal is not there. Be thou not deceived by the attraction of externals. " Agathiyar besides keeping us from harm's way, he clears the obstacles. Most importantly he is ever willing to gift us with, in Franks's words, "the fruit of my realization I bequeath unto thee."
From aligning with an association as is necessary initially he diverted me to Tavayogi upon seeing my willingness to listen and heed his instructions. He has brought me on a lone journey. "Follow thou not the many caught within the net of manifoldness. Go thou along the paths whereby saints journey singly and separately to the goal of oneness." Blind faith would not do but faith with a vision is required.
"Through experience after experience I sent thee, but always doth my eye follow thee in thy wandering. Through all manners of experience and of thought, I fasten the bonds that are between us. My salvation is naught to me unless thou dost take part in it.""Thou art the self of me in another form." True to what Frank wrote, Agathiyar and the Siddhas have a responsibility towards us that is to bring us to a state of realization that we are one with him. Similarly, Agathiyar says, "Many lived in my name."
Seeking out his will, dropping our desires and taking up his vision, we enter a bond with him where he is bounded and bonded to see through this new venture that we have taken upon.
"The more thou dost absorb the vision which is mine, lo! the more and more do we grow into that spiritual oneness which is the divine life. The veil of separate personality falls off. So close are the bonds. Death and separation have no hold in my relationship to thee."Frank spells out clearly Agathiyar's message, that "discipleship does not consist in having seen my form, but in having understood my will. For though thou mayest not have even seen the physical form I wore, still none the less art thou my very own. Thou canst never escape the net I have cast out."
"Harder than adamant are the bonds of relationship between guru and disciple. Stronger than death are they. For they are tied by immeasurable love and the divine and omnipotent will" describes Frank on this sacred bond.
We have come to realize the truth that Frank shares too, "No matter where thou goest, I am already there." Yes, Agathiyar goes ahead of us and awaits us to turn up at the destination these days. He sits waiting for our arrival, knowing pretty much that we are delayed by the many distractions that take the shape as sights, smell and pleasures of the world, that catch our attention while traveling towards him. We are reminded to "Beware of all mirages. The goal is not there. Be thou not deceived by the attraction of externals. " Agathiyar besides keeping us from harm's way, he clears the obstacles. Most importantly he is ever willing to gift us with, in Franks's words, "the fruit of my realization I bequeath unto thee."
"He will make me struggle with them (doubt and temptation) in order to reveal my true strength and my own powers to myself. And how shall a man know his true self and his powers until he has tested himself?"We are then brought to see the world through the eyes of the guru. This is the final agenda of his. Once we qualify we become him, he becomes us.
From aligning with an association as is necessary initially he diverted me to Tavayogi upon seeing my willingness to listen and heed his instructions. He has brought me on a lone journey. "Follow thou not the many caught within the net of manifoldness. Go thou along the paths whereby saints journey singly and separately to the goal of oneness." Blind faith would not do but faith with a vision is required.
Agathiyar draws me to be brave in breaking the norms and initiating new trends and ideas, all given by him, working through us as tools. He tells us that "thine is no chance destiny" but all have been accounted for and have a purpose. This purpose he revealed through his 5 tenets for us to adapt and follow.
We are reminded to continue our prayers for Frank says, "and pray steadfastly for constant vigilance of soul is required in the spiritual struggle. Constant vigilance be thy motto and constant prayer and they who are the helpers, the messengers of the Highest shall come and thou shalt be free." We are told that even one who has attained the much-desired state of a Jeevan Mukthan will need to be very cautious lest his old ways and vasanas crop up or the ways of the world tugs on him, or pulls him down and destroys him. "In that time call upon the Lord and he heeding thy prayer shall give thee grace." Ramalinga Adigal asks us to call upon the Light to clear the Darkness in times of need and to bring the Light within to dispel the Darkness. Frank too says prayer shall bring light therein. "It lends wings to thy soul." God never lets down the call for help. For those who are weak in upholding good virtues and are easily tempted to do otherwise, there is a need to build a fortress around him or her to save oneself from the continuous barrage of temptations all around us. Prayer comes in handy here, "by prayer thou shalt build a fortress about thy nature and it shall be impregnable."
A song is a magnification of prayer. Very true. We saw how the divine comes down upon hearing us sing with love for him. Recite the Sivapuranam in the hours of life, not in the hour of death. Agathiyar fills our shoes and pens a song telling Lord Narayana that he might not be in a conscious state at his deathbed and hence reinforces himself this day itself seeking his grace and calling out his name. "Before death stalks or pain arises I shall behold thee" sings Agathiyar, asking us to do the same. We are told not to neglect the life given and to seek his grace now itself. We are told never to postpone the moment. There is nothing more important than him. Take care of him and he shall take care of us and our needs.
We are reminded to continue our prayers for Frank says, "and pray steadfastly for constant vigilance of soul is required in the spiritual struggle. Constant vigilance be thy motto and constant prayer and they who are the helpers, the messengers of the Highest shall come and thou shalt be free." We are told that even one who has attained the much-desired state of a Jeevan Mukthan will need to be very cautious lest his old ways and vasanas crop up or the ways of the world tugs on him, or pulls him down and destroys him. "In that time call upon the Lord and he heeding thy prayer shall give thee grace." Ramalinga Adigal asks us to call upon the Light to clear the Darkness in times of need and to bring the Light within to dispel the Darkness. Frank too says prayer shall bring light therein. "It lends wings to thy soul." God never lets down the call for help. For those who are weak in upholding good virtues and are easily tempted to do otherwise, there is a need to build a fortress around him or her to save oneself from the continuous barrage of temptations all around us. Prayer comes in handy here, "by prayer thou shalt build a fortress about thy nature and it shall be impregnable."
A song is a magnification of prayer. Very true. We saw how the divine comes down upon hearing us sing with love for him. Recite the Sivapuranam in the hours of life, not in the hour of death. Agathiyar fills our shoes and pens a song telling Lord Narayana that he might not be in a conscious state at his deathbed and hence reinforces himself this day itself seeking his grace and calling out his name. "Before death stalks or pain arises I shall behold thee" sings Agathiyar, asking us to do the same. We are told not to neglect the life given and to seek his grace now itself. We are told never to postpone the moment. There is nothing more important than him. Take care of him and he shall take care of us and our needs.
When life is seen as a fraud; when death is present; when the heart is wrung with agony; and human woe attains its climax, remember to make thou the effort to remember that these things are of the body and that thou art the soul.Agathiyar too brushed aside the pain and agony I endured for several years telling me it was superficial and not real.
Make japa of it every moment of thy life. See the wisdom of his will. And then even in the mouth of a tiger, even in the presence of death, even on the threshold of hell, thou shalt find god. If this be thy life's labor to remember god, then great joy and a serene peace shall abide with thee and that which seems gruesome shall become beautiful and that which seems terrible shall become all-loving. This is the strength of the soul.