I took up the call to come to the path of the Siddhas, when Agathiyar in my very first Nadi reading, asks me to do so telling me that it would do me some good. After being shown the right path for the soul to travel in this birth, the Siddha path, my search for anything and everything on the Siddhas brought me to stand at the doorway of many establishments run under the name of Agathiyar. They could not quench the thirst for knowledge on the Siddhas that I had. I picked up whatever material I could lay my hands on and proceeded to walk alone. After three long years, Agathiyar came again in the Nadi only after seeing that I had taken heed of his advice and carried out the remedies or parikaram spelled out by him; and after I engaged in worship or puja to the Siddhas and the deities in my home; and after I engaged in small acts of doing charity, an offshoot and continuation from having performed the parikaram. After being faithful to him and his words, these three years, he came with a gift for me. He showed me to my guru, on the Siddha path, Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal.
Agathiyar had already presented me with a gift prior to the coming of Tavayogi - in the form of my very first guru in physical form Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai, immediately after my last leg of my pilgrimage to India to satisfy all the parikaram. Prior to coming to Tiruvannamalai, I had worshipped all the Gods and Goddesses in the Hindu pantheon as shown by my parents. Coming to Supramania Swami opened my heart to accept men too - the gurus - in my worship. He himself had five wonderful gurus, the last being Yogi Ramsuratkumar. He brought the Yogi from his samadhi to chant with him and me in the silence of dusk, in the private space of his kudil. This miracle reminded me of Saint Nakkirar's plea and yearning, for a quiet moment and a space with the Guru. Seeking Lord Ganapathy's grace and blessing to create the avenue for this special moment, sitting in silence with the Guru, merging in thought with him, even the thought of the guru as separate - drops, and he becomes identified with the Guru, one with the Guru. If just bringing this vision itself brings so much joy in us, imagine how it would be, in the actual presence of the Guru? Saint Nakkirar's prayer has become my prayer too.
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
Its transliteration,
mona gnana muluthum alitthu
sirparipoorana shivattai kaana
narshiva nitkala naattamum thanthu
guruvum seedanum koodi kalanthu
eruvarum oru tani edam thanil sernthu
thaananthamaagi tarpara veliyil
aanandha bhotha arivai kalanthu
esan enaiyadi erutthi manathay
neeye naanaai naane neeyaai
gaayaa puriyai kanavena unarnthu
yellaam un seyalendray unara
nallaa un arul naatham tharuvaai
kaarana guruve karpaga kalire
vaarana mugatthu vallale potri
Its translation, a product of the limited capacity of my understanding.
Conferring the Silent Jnana,
Coming face to face with the final revelation of the source,
Giving birth to divine desires,
Hence the Guru and Student merge,
in a lone space, the Para Veli,
locked in blissful knowledge,
placed at the Holy Feet of Siva,
"Oh Maname, understand that you are ME, I am you,
the body is but just a fortress in a dream,"
Bring me to the realization that all is your doing,
Bring forth the yearning for your Grace in me,
Oh my Guru, Lord Vinayaga.
Frank Alexander in his book "In the Hours of Meditation", Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta, 1993, describes this sacred moment beautifully.
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. Then is silenced all clamoring of desire; all sound of sense is stilled. Only God is.Frank says,
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. Purity, bliss, blessedness, peace. The spiritual consciousness dawns in these silent, sacred hours. The soul is close to its source. For this to take place, prayers are needed. Prayers lead one to this exalted state of silence.Prayers are the means Frank says.
The helpers, the messengers of the most High shall come and thou shalt be free. From out of the depths of prayer all things come - love for God, spiritual vision, and spiritual realization. However dark thy heart, prayer shall bring light therein, for prayer is meditation. Prayer is communion with the Almighty.
Ramalinga Adigal goes into an ecstasy singing aloud that his prayers had been answered through several songs. Adigal in his youth pleaded with the divine too to show him a way to move into meditation, the means to salvation. B. Kamalakkannan in his book "Footsteps of Saint Ramalingam", Vanathi Pathippakam, Chennai, 2014, describes Adigal's yearning and reason to move into meditation. There is a subtle body for every human being, looking very much like the physical body as seen in a mirror, writes, B.Kamalakkannan. It is located at Dhuriyam, within the narrow path in the center of the forehead. Within this narrow path slightly above the subtle body at Dhuriyatheetham lies the Holy Spirit that takes the form of a Sivalingam. The amalgamation of the subtle body with the Holy Spirit during meditation is attaining salvation or Mukti.
I had never been able to meditate to this day. But once as I sat I almost immediately lost all sense. I saw a vision as if watching it on a screen. I saw libation or abhisegam performed on a Sivalinga. I could see a portion of the hand that performed the libation too. It went on for some time until I came to be aware of my senses and surroundings. I still do not understand what took place back then.
B. Kamalakkannan goes on to mention that the only way to merge the subtle body with the Holy Spirit is through meditation and that meditation is itself very much dependant on the breathing which then has an impact on the nervous system. For meditation to take place, we need a purified mind. For meditation to take place, we need to purify the body first, says Agathiyar. When he came to instruct, giving his very first instruction in Yoga through the Nadi, he asks that I do Nadi Suddhi. The tool is the breath that comes with us, stays with us 24/7, that is not easily misplaced or lost or needs an upgrade or to be purchased, hired or renewed. Swami Vivekananda speaking about this practice of Nadi Suddhi or purification of the nerves quotes from the Shvetashvatara Upanishad on Nadi Suddhi guides us on the method just as Agathiyar did.
I had never been able to meditate to this day. But once as I sat I almost immediately lost all sense. I saw a vision as if watching it on a screen. I saw libation or abhisegam performed on a Sivalinga. I could see a portion of the hand that performed the libation too. It went on for some time until I came to be aware of my senses and surroundings. I still do not understand what took place back then.
B. Kamalakkannan goes on to mention that the only way to merge the subtle body with the Holy Spirit is through meditation and that meditation is itself very much dependant on the breathing which then has an impact on the nervous system. For meditation to take place, we need a purified mind. For meditation to take place, we need to purify the body first, says Agathiyar. When he came to instruct, giving his very first instruction in Yoga through the Nadi, he asks that I do Nadi Suddhi. The tool is the breath that comes with us, stays with us 24/7, that is not easily misplaced or lost or needs an upgrade or to be purchased, hired or renewed. Swami Vivekananda speaking about this practice of Nadi Suddhi or purification of the nerves quotes from the Shvetashvatara Upanishad on Nadi Suddhi guides us on the method just as Agathiyar did.
First, the nerves are to be purified, then comes the power to practise pranayama. Stopping the right nostril with the thumb, through the left nostril fill in air, according to capacity; then, without any interval, throw the air out throught the right nostril, closing the left. Again inhaling through the right nostril eject through the left, according to capacity; practising this three or four times at four hours of the day, before dawn, during midday, in the evening, and at midnight, in 15 days or a month purity of the nerves is attained; then begins pranayama.The reason being,
Nerve currents will have to be displaced and given a new channel. New sorts of vibration will begin, the whole constitution will be remodeled, as it were.
Prior to engaging in the worship of the Siddhas, engaging in all these pranayama techniques and cleansing regimes, Agathiyar had mysteriously passed the Vasudeva mantra to me through my nephew. My nephew only revealed the source of the initiation that came from Agathiyar through his gurus a couple of years later. As I was told not to question the source, but to adopt and follow I did as told. But upon researching, I came across R Venu Gopalan's book, "The Hidden Mysteries of Kundalini", which enlightened me on this mantra. It was written that the Vishnu Granthi adds obstructions for the sadhaka keeping one under the wraps of attachment and bondage leading to the process of selfishness and supra ego. Hence the mantra is recited for balancing the Vishnu Granthi. The nadis of the heart chakra is cleansed and it balances the heart chakra. Continuous practice of meditation on this mantra helps purify the thinking process too. It also helps in dissolving all the past karmic deeds for a better future.
Yogi Professor Ramdas Prabhuji who is of the same opinion with R Venu Gopalan, writes at https://lahirimahasayakriyayoga.org/om-namo-bhagavate-vasudevaya/
The purpose of the Second and Third Kriya is to break the heart granthi in order to get the fourth state, Turiya, or Samadhi. The heart knot is the Vishnu-Granthi. Therefore, the supreme Vishnu mantra (mahamantra) – Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya – is used for this purpose. In the light of Kriya Yoga, the fourth state of Turiya, or Vasudeva, is a synonym for Kevala Kumbhaka. The Vasudeva-mantra of 12 syllables – Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya – is known as a Mukti Mantra because it grants release from Samsara for the one who recites it with devotion and faith.
In another book on Saint Dhruva, it is mentioned that this mantra was given to Dhruva by Saint Narada. The saint initiated Dhruva into the mysteries of yoga and meditation leading to samadhi. Narada taught Dhruva the practice of pranayama by inhaling, exhaling, and holding the breath. He taught Dhruva to overcome thought fluctuations with the help of breath control. Narada also taught Dhruva to meditate on Vishnu in the sanctuary of his heart repeating the Lord’s name mentally and offer prayers and worship.
The Vasudeva mantra was mentioned in an extract from the English translation of the book "Kriya Yoga Vijnan - The Science of Kriya Yoga", the original by Saint Lahari Mahasaya. Lahari Mahasaya has named this sadhana, Omkar kriya. This is essentially a pranayama and the basis is the Vasudeva mantra. The Sastras have propounded that the Vasudeva mantra is an omniscient mantra. When a sadhaka starts comprehending his awareness as one with the mantra then he becomes omniscient himself. Then his attainment shall be - "I am this omniscient Vasudeva." In the Gita it is stated: "In the very last of all births, the man of wisdom worships me, realizing that all is Vasudeva. Rare indeed is the soul. Then do namaskar to thyself."
From Awakening State at http://www.awakeningstate.com/spiritual-awakening/om-namo-bhagavate-vasudevaya/ we learn that,
This Sanskrit mantra can be practiced to attain freedom (moksha) from Samsara – the “Karmic Wheel” that keeps us bound to cycle after cycle of incarnations. This liberation mantra is a karmic eraser. Chanting this mantra with a sincere heart frees your mind and spirit from negative patterns in this life and helps us realize ourselves as a manifestation of transcendent divinity.
Wikipedia mentions the following,
‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’ is a mantra of Vishnu and Krishna both. It has two traditions - Tantric and Puranic. In Tantric Tradition, the Rishi of the Mantra is Prajapati; in Puranic Tradition the Rishi is Narada. Both, however, say it is the Supreme Vishnu Mantra. Sharada Tilak Tantram (Sarada-Tilaka Tantram) for example, says "Dvadasharno mahamantrah pradhano Vaishnavagame" - the twelve lettered mantra is the chief among Vaishnava mantras. Similarly, this is the ultimate mantra in Shrimad Bhagavatam, whose 12 Chapters are taken as extensions of the 12 Letters of this Mantra. This twelve syllable mantra is known as a Mukti (liberation) mantra and a spiritual formula for attaining freedom. This is the principal mantra of the Vedic scripture Srimad Bhagavatam.
B. Kamalakkannan writes that Ramalinga Adigal in desperation to know about and go into meditation asks for divine guidance into the art of meditation. The divine is said to have sent him two saints, Thirugnansambandhar and Manikavasagar to guide and assist him. I remember Agathiyar while guiding me on certain vaasi techniques mention that the adepts in vaasi were Lord Ganapathy and Gautama Buddha. Agathiyar in the Nadi and Tavayogi taught us to use the breath to tame the thoughts. They parted with initiation into several mantras and techniques to help quieten the mind and subdue the breath. I was told to focus on the spot between the eyebrows initially, creating awareness and concentration on a single thought and a particular spot. On later initiations, I was told to pay attention to the breath. I was given a mantra too to recite silently while watching the breath. After both my gurus in physical form departed, they and their lineage of gurus before them continue to come to our aid. From time to time, Agathiyar introduces a new technique or an advance practice helping to shed monotonous regimes or boredom. We are blessed that Agathiyar has come personally, with Ramalinga Adigal too, to guide and assists us in many techniques too. Recently Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal too came to guide us personally on this practice, this time introducing Kumbhaka or withholding of the breath for some time, the period of time equivalent to the recitation of the very first Diksa mantra given by one's Guru. Acharya Gurudasan or whom we lovingly address as Master Gowri has shared tips on Pranayama and its techniques helping us better understand and fine-tune the practice.
Agathiyar comes on to check on us if we are following his dictates. So when Agathiyar came to asks if I was following the vaasi or breathing techniques he had told to carry out recently, I lamented that the mind would not settle. He then asks if I was taking the concoction that he had asks me to prepare and take daily. I then told him it was too bitter a pill to swallow to which he commanded me to take it. He added that the impurities or kalivu in the body need to be rid of for the mind to settle in contemplation and meditation. Prior to giving me this magic formula to prepare and take the concoction daily, he had Siddha practitioner Thiru Arivan prepare and had me take his Agathiyar Kuzhambu. That purgative brought out all the trash and garbage I had carried in my system the past sixty years. He told me after I had consumed it that it helped bring balance to the three dosas but there were still impurities that had to be cleared. I am placed under house arrests. I am asked to go out only if very very necessary. Agathiyar has me take the magic portion daily which has a tenth of the effect of his Agathiyar Kuzhambu, but effective enough in daily cleansing. He warned me not to share it as it was for me only.
As I was preparing the magic portion one day, my granddaughter questioned me as to what I was doing. I explained to her in detail what I was asked to do and briefed her on the whole process and also that Agathiyar had specifically told me to take it. She then asks "What about for me?", as we are always sharing food and drinks. I reiterated that Agathiyar had specifically told me not to share it with others. After asking the same question several times she rushed into the house and stood before Agathiyar. She called out to me from my prayer room. She asks me loudly, "Tata, is he the one?" (who asks to prepare and not share it), pointing to Agathiyar's murthy. I was taken aback and figured that the next thing she was going to do was to ask him why he had refused to give it to her too. But she came away after gaining confirmation that it was indeed Agathiyar who gave the instruction. Maybe she must have thought how could a nice looking doll (the statue) of Agathiyar speak and give instructions?
Supramania Swami's hand in introducing me to gurus in physical form, made it easy for me to accept and worship the Siddhas, men who worked their way up the spiritual ladder transforming their Asuddha Deham, to Suddha Deham by means of performing worship and rituals, taking purgatives that cleansed the insides of their body, doing pranayama and asanas, later transforming the Suddha Deham into the Pranava Deham, rich in prana Sakti, arriving at attaining Siddhis that were used wisely. Finally, these men due to the intense tapas carried out, fed the fire within or Tava Kanal that consumed all impurities and joined the ranks of those who merged with Erai, themselves becoming Jhoti or Light or attaining the Oli Deham. Frank writes about the glory of the Guru and the moments of merger.
Through his mercy, through his illumination thy most inmost soul has been resurrected. He has sought thee out and through him thou hast been made whole. The realization of the Guru descends in torrents upon the disciple. It is ceaseless; and nothing can resist it. His love for thee knows no bounds. To all lengths he shall go for thee. Never shall he desert thee. Even his curse is blessing in disguise.
All he wants of us is to realize our divinity and he is on hand to help us realize it. Frank explains the Guru - discipline principle lovely.
More and more does the personality of the disciple merge in the Guru nature while all the time the Guru's personality is seen to merge more and more into that of which even his body had been a manifestation. Then the sublimest oneness is attained. The waters of the dual personalities of Guru and disciple become the ocean of the infinite Brahman.
As Ramalinga Adigal brought the divine into each and every cell in his body making it divine, Frank writes, "The nervous system must assimilate ideas. Then the very body itself becomes full of chaitanya. The very body is made spirit."
Frank asks us to bring Him into each moment of our lives, spiritualizing maya, spiritualizing the moment, making even the menial acts divine. Karma then never lifts its hood; never associating with the act. Let's learn to spiritualize all that comes into contact with us.
As Frank asks, "Bring divinity into commonplace daily life" and see the difference. Frank asks us "to see the invisible divinity in the visible universe about us."
As Agathiyar says nature shall reveal its secrets, Frank too states, "Nature herself shall reveal her true beauty to thee. Thus to thee, everything shall become spiritual. Even a blade of grass shall speak to thee of the spirit."
Frank asks us to bring Him into each moment of our lives, spiritualizing maya, spiritualizing the moment, making even the menial acts divine. Karma then never lifts its hood; never associating with the act. Let's learn to spiritualize all that comes into contact with us.
As Frank asks, "Bring divinity into commonplace daily life" and see the difference. Frank asks us "to see the invisible divinity in the visible universe about us."
As Agathiyar says nature shall reveal its secrets, Frank too states, "Nature herself shall reveal her true beauty to thee. Thus to thee, everything shall become spiritual. Even a blade of grass shall speak to thee of the spirit."
Make the body a tabernacle for the soul; and let the soul be more and more revealed day by day. Then shalt that darkness which is ignorance be gradually dispersed; and that light which is the divine wisdom shall gradually be revealed.
Finally, he asks us to, "Make thy own self thy Guru. Each is his own savior and his own Lord. Let the human in thee die so that the divine shall be revealed."