The guru comes when we are ready to receive him. Tavayogi does not dish out or market his wares to everyone. He believes in giving to only those who are willing to listen, accept and adopt. He told us that it would take some 12 years for them to evaluate the student first. If he is patient enough to hang around his guru and serve him, the guru might consider teaching him a thing or two. When Tavayogi went around harping on the same piece of script speaking about the marvels of the Siddhas and asking the general public to come to the path of the Siddhas, be it in his talks in Malaysia or in Kallar, I got quite bored of listening to the same talk. I then asked him why was he repeating the same introductory speech on the Siddhas and their path. Was there nothing for us who are keen to move on or advance. As was his practice he answered my question with another, "Are you doing what was told?" he asked referring to the audience and listeners. "I can only progress further if you had put to practice what was said earlier", he continued.
The guru comes to give us some handy tools in our moments of need. It can be a mantra, a koan, a technique, a practice, a medicine, or even something from his possession. It is up to us to use it or store it. The choice is ours. But bear in mind Agathiyar's reminder that "The task designated when done during the period specified shall show positive results." If it is delayed, postponed for another day, the planets might not be in favor, neither will the people tasks to help or aid you be around.
After offering my homage to the Siddhas and their Nadi from which I learned about my present, past and future, that came in the form of worship to them which included recitation of these names, it sort of kick-started me to walk their path. I adopted the practice once back at home. That was my very first tool too. Coming to the Siddha path, almost everyone took up the recitation of the Siddha names as a tool to start the journey with.
When Agathiyar asked me to come to the worship of the Siddhas, he made sure that I shall receive the necessary guidance along the way. Besides speaking through the regular Nadi readings, he sent me three gurus or mummurthy or trimurthy in the physical form to guide me. Then there were upagurus too thrown in. As my only source of information on the Siddhas were the publications by Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar of Ongarakudil, I followed most of his writings and talks with eagerness. He brought us to follow his example of feeding the hungry. He calls on all of us to perform Virunthubasarippu, which is what the Nayanmars before us did too. He asks of us to usher our visitors into our homes and serve them with our hospitality. Following in the footsteps of Ramalinga Adigal, he himself began a movement to feed the poor in and around Ongarakudil, where the idea has caught like wildfire and spread across the globe. He is held in high regard by the Siddhas for his relentless contribution towards educating society on the importance of feeding the unfortunate. He also happens to be the pioneer saint to introduce Siddha worship and annadhanam in Malaysia. He taught us the simple and practical way to gain the grace of Erai through the worship of the Siddhas. I too learned from his numerous talks and books available. Reading them made me want to meet him. I made my way to his Ongarakudil in Turaiyur on my maiden journey to India in 2003. I had the privilege to meet him in person, one to one then.
Coming to Supramania Swami he initiated me on a Siva mantra. He started me on Nama Japam or chanting of the guru's name continuously. Coming to Tavayogi he gave me an initiation mantra of Agathiyar to be chanted. Similarly, he gave me several other mantras each time we got to see each other either in Malaysia or in India.
Both Rengarajar and Tavayogi asked that we worship the Siddhas and showed the way. They ask us to recite and call out the names of the Siddhas that would help remove suffering, quoting the line போற்றினால் உனது வினை அகலுமப்பா போற்றினால் பூரணமும் கூடப் பேசும் (Potrinaal Unathu Vinai Agalum Appa) from a Siddha song. I too took up their advice and made it part and parcel of my life. To find a balance, the gurus advocated that we do charity that goes a long way in offsetting our past karmas. Hence they armed us with two oars Tavam and Thanam, or austerity and charity to ride the rough sea of karma. Both these tools help burn the past and instills a brighter future. These were further tools given to work with on ourselves. These were all tools to aid in our journey, given only when the guru feels we are ready for the next step, provided of course we have been carrying out the previous instructions since the mantra only works if we put in the effort to recite or chant. Agathiyar on his part started me on idol worship, having a replica of his image at Agasthiyampalli, commissioned and made in Swamimalai and flown over. Tavayogi started me on conducting the ritual of fire sacrifice or Homam in my home too. It was an ideal package of chores, tasks, and duties given, a complete starter kit to start our journey.
Just as there are the mummurthi or trinity in most circles, Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar, Supramania Swami and Tavayogi were my mummurthi in Siddha worship. I am blessed to have met all three gurus. They showed me the way and means and stepped aside for me to travel my journey, to experience all that life had in store for me. I dread to think if I had been lead elsewhere or stumbled on something else and got caught in its web of false belief, codes, and doctrines for life. Here I was free to do as please. I was free to investigate and experiment. I was not shackled with dogmas and restrictions. I was free to venture and learn. My gurus never pampered us but instead only insisted we perform the tasks given. They did not make us into their clones. We each had an identity although we took to the same path. Deep within me, I knew that the Siddhas and my gurus had a big part in every instance of my life. They never claimed credit for it though. The beautiful thing about all these gurus is that they never claimed ownership over me. Neither did I hang on to them like a parasite. I took only their teachings and journeyed along knowing pretty well that they were always with me.
These gurus showed us the simplest way to gain the grace or arul of the entire pantheon of Gods and Goddesses just by showing devotion and love to Erai. A simple recitation of the names of the Siddhas could open a portal to the other world. Agathiyar brought all the Gods and Goddesses, the Siddhas, rishis, munis, devas and the whole kingdom of Erai down each time at prayer. Today even if Supramania Swami and Tavayogi are not in the physical form, I know that they are with us in spirit. Both these gurus have visited my home in subtle ways. The Siddhas have attested to their presence.
Coming to Supramania Swami he initiated me on a Siva mantra. He started me on Nama Japam or chanting of the guru's name continuously. Coming to Tavayogi he gave me an initiation mantra of Agathiyar to be chanted. Similarly, he gave me several other mantras each time we got to see each other either in Malaysia or in India.
Both Rengarajar and Tavayogi asked that we worship the Siddhas and showed the way. They ask us to recite and call out the names of the Siddhas that would help remove suffering, quoting the line போற்றினால் உனது வினை அகலுமப்பா போற்றினால் பூரணமும் கூடப் பேசும் (Potrinaal Unathu Vinai Agalum Appa) from a Siddha song. I too took up their advice and made it part and parcel of my life. To find a balance, the gurus advocated that we do charity that goes a long way in offsetting our past karmas. Hence they armed us with two oars Tavam and Thanam, or austerity and charity to ride the rough sea of karma. Both these tools help burn the past and instills a brighter future. These were further tools given to work with on ourselves. These were all tools to aid in our journey, given only when the guru feels we are ready for the next step, provided of course we have been carrying out the previous instructions since the mantra only works if we put in the effort to recite or chant. Agathiyar on his part started me on idol worship, having a replica of his image at Agasthiyampalli, commissioned and made in Swamimalai and flown over. Tavayogi started me on conducting the ritual of fire sacrifice or Homam in my home too. It was an ideal package of chores, tasks, and duties given, a complete starter kit to start our journey.
Just as there are the mummurthi or trinity in most circles, Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar, Supramania Swami and Tavayogi were my mummurthi in Siddha worship. I am blessed to have met all three gurus. They showed me the way and means and stepped aside for me to travel my journey, to experience all that life had in store for me. I dread to think if I had been lead elsewhere or stumbled on something else and got caught in its web of false belief, codes, and doctrines for life. Here I was free to do as please. I was free to investigate and experiment. I was not shackled with dogmas and restrictions. I was free to venture and learn. My gurus never pampered us but instead only insisted we perform the tasks given. They did not make us into their clones. We each had an identity although we took to the same path. Deep within me, I knew that the Siddhas and my gurus had a big part in every instance of my life. They never claimed credit for it though. The beautiful thing about all these gurus is that they never claimed ownership over me. Neither did I hang on to them like a parasite. I took only their teachings and journeyed along knowing pretty well that they were always with me.
These gurus showed us the simplest way to gain the grace or arul of the entire pantheon of Gods and Goddesses just by showing devotion and love to Erai. A simple recitation of the names of the Siddhas could open a portal to the other world. Agathiyar brought all the Gods and Goddesses, the Siddhas, rishis, munis, devas and the whole kingdom of Erai down each time at prayer. Today even if Supramania Swami and Tavayogi are not in the physical form, I know that they are with us in spirit. Both these gurus have visited my home in subtle ways. The Siddhas have attested to their presence.
Taking bhakti or devotion to the Guru and the Siddhas as a means to reach the ideal and equipped with the right tools at the right moment we saw instant results in all our ventures and endeavors. Singing the praise of the Siddhas came easy to us. We sang our way into the hearts of our gurus. Today walking the path and gaining valuable experiences and watching the many miracles or Siddhis performed by the Siddhas, we realize the many truths in these songs, what were mere words on paper back then. These songs are potent and have magical powers to transform matter and vice versa and have them materialized. We are beginning to realize that the lines and verses from the songs of praise that we gathered, compiled and recited during our course of puja, was given life and served to deliver its very essence or its intention. For instance, I had picked up Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar's prayer as mine and asked for a guru to take me along on this journey,
அகத்தீசா உனது சீடர்களாகிய ஒன்பது கோடி பேரும் என்னை சூழ்ந்திருந்து நான் விரும்பியதெல்லாம் முடித்து வைப்பதோடு மட்டுமல்லாது உன்னுடைய மலையாகிய பொதிகைக்கு என்னை அழைத்துவர என்னை சீடனாக நீ ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். நான் உய்வதற்கு அருள் புரிய வேண்டும். உனது அருள் பூரணமாக பெற்றல் வேண்டும்,
which later brought me to Tavayogi and had him volunteer to take me to all the sacred abodes of the Siddhas. When Tavayogi took me to Agathiyar’s abodes, he would point out to me that the Siddhas were ushering us, following us and showering us with flower petals. I would look back at him with bewildered eyes, yet choosing to believe and move on. Today we realize the truth in his words since experience has taught us much. The line "வந்தித்தேன் உந்தன் பாதம் வானமுந் திறந்தாய் போற்றி", from a song in praise of Agathiyar,
clearly extols the greatness of the worship and praises to the Siddhas, something we have come to realize for ourselves too. Today Agathiyar has opened the gates to heaven and the saintly ones are coming in droves.
Having taken and adopted the numerous songs of saints and Siddhas as our prayer and having seen its results, we came to write lyrics for "Agathiyar Geetham" an audio compilation in honor of Agathiyar, an idea mooted by Tavayogi and Gowri Arumugam. We took inspiration for the lyrics from the many scriptures, upadesam from our gurus and our experiences walking the path shown. The song Ariya Payanam beautifully translates our journey into words.
which later brought me to Tavayogi and had him volunteer to take me to all the sacred abodes of the Siddhas. When Tavayogi took me to Agathiyar’s abodes, he would point out to me that the Siddhas were ushering us, following us and showering us with flower petals. I would look back at him with bewildered eyes, yet choosing to believe and move on. Today we realize the truth in his words since experience has taught us much. The line "வந்தித்தேன் உந்தன் பாதம் வானமுந் திறந்தாய் போற்றி", from a song in praise of Agathiyar,
ஐயனே போற்றி போற்றி அருள்பெற்ற தேவே போற்றி
மெய்யனே போற்றி போற்றி மெய்சுடர் அணிந்தாய் போற்றி
கையனே போற்றி போற்றி காசினி முனிவா போற்றி
உய்யனே எனையாட் கொண்ட உந்தியில் உதிக்குந்தேவே
உந்தியிலுதிக்குந்தேவே ஒருபொருள் உகந்தாய் போற்றி
சிந்தையில் நினைந்த போதே திருநாட மிட்டாய் போற்றி
வந்தித்தேன் உந்தன் பாதம் வானமுந் திறந்தாய் போற்றி
அந்தித்தேன் குருவே ஐயா அடியினைப் போற்றி போற்றி,
clearly extols the greatness of the worship and praises to the Siddhas, something we have come to realize for ourselves too. Today Agathiyar has opened the gates to heaven and the saintly ones are coming in droves.
Having taken and adopted the numerous songs of saints and Siddhas as our prayer and having seen its results, we came to write lyrics for "Agathiyar Geetham" an audio compilation in honor of Agathiyar, an idea mooted by Tavayogi and Gowri Arumugam. We took inspiration for the lyrics from the many scriptures, upadesam from our gurus and our experiences walking the path shown. The song Ariya Payanam beautifully translates our journey into words.
பாராட்டு பாடல் (அறியா பயணம்)
அனு பல்லவி
அறியா பயணம் தொடர்ந்தோமே
நாம் இங்கே
அழியா நிலை பெற்றோமே
மௌன ஞானம் நீயும் அளிக்க
கருணை விழி நீ திறக்க
என்ன தவமோ என்ன வரமோ
உனது பதம் சரண் அடைய
ஈசா அகத்தீசா தரிசனம் நீ தந்தாய்
பல்லவி
போற்றிட போற்றிட துன்பங்கள் விழகிட
போற்றிட போற்றிட நோய் விலக
போற்றிட போற்றிட துயர் மறைய
அருள் பொழிவாய் குருவே
தந்தன தந்தன கவசமாய் நின்றிட
தந்தன தந்தன திரைவிலக
தந்தன தந்தன ஞானத்தை பெற
ஒளியாய் மாறினோம்
அறியா பயணம் தொடர்ந்தோமே
நாம் இங்கே
அழியா நிலை பெற்றோமே
அறியா பயணம் தொடர்ந்தோமே
நாம் இங்கே
அழியா நிலை பெற்றோமே
சரணம் 1
குரு நான் என்று அறிமுகம் செய்தவர்
ஊழ்வினையை அறிய செய்தாய்
யாகம் அதில் சுடர் ஒளியாய்
வினையாவும் நீயே ஏற்றாய்
ஞானம் அது வழங்கிட வந்தவர்
ஞான கோட்டம் வந்தமர்ந்தாய்
அன்னம் இட அமுத சுரபியாய்
பசியாவும் தீர்த்தாய்
இவ் வாழ்வின் பயன் கண்டோம்
இனி ஏது துயரம் அப்பா
உந்தன் நாமம் இங்கு சொல்ல சொல்ல
மனம் சாந்தம் நிரம்பி இங்கு வழியுதே
அட உன்மேலே ஆசை அப்பா
என் மெய் எல்லாம் குளிர்ந்ததப்பா
மதி நிறைந்து ஒளிர்ந்ததப்பா
நீயே பரமானந்தம்
போற்றிட போற்றிட துன்பங்கள் விழகிட
போற்றிட போற்றிட நோய் விலக
போற்றிட போற்றிட துயர் மறைய
அருள் பொழிவாய் குருவே
தந்தன தந்தன கவசமாய் நின்றிட
தந்தன தந்தன திரைவிலக
தந்தன தந்தன ஞானத்தை பெற
ஒளியாய் மாறினோம்
சரணம் 2
ஓர் மகனாய் உன்னிடம் வந்தேன்
சாலோக்கிய நிலை அறிந்தேன்
சரியை பின் கிரியை உணர்ந்தேன்
சாமீப்பியமாக நின்றாய்
யோகத்தால் அமுதம் பரவிட
சாரூப்பிய படி அடைந்தேன்
ஞானத்தின் கதவு திறந்திட இனி
சாயுச்சியம் எந்நாளோ
இந்நிலையை நான் அடைய
சற்குருவாய் வந்தாய் அப்பா
உன்தன் அழகை இங்கு ரசிக்க ரசிக்க
மனம் பரவசமாகி மகிழுதே
அட உன்மேலே ஆசை அப்பா
என் மெய் எல்லாம் குளிர்ந்ததப்பா
மதி நிறைந்து ஒளிர்ந்ததப்பா
நீயே பரமானந்தம்
போற்றிட போற்றிட துன்பங்கள் விழகிட
போற்றிட போற்றிட நோய் விலக
போற்றிட போற்றிட துயர் மறைய
அருள் பொழிவாய் குருவே
தந்தன தந்தன கவசமாய் நின்றிட
தந்தன தந்தன திரைவிலக
தந்தன தந்தன ஞானத்தை பெற
ஒளியாய் மாறினோம்
அறியா பயணம் தொடர்ந்தோமே
நாம் இங்கே
அழியா நிலை பெற்றோமே
மௌன ஞானம் நீயும் அளிக்க
கருணை விழி நீ திறக்க
என்ன தவமோ என்ன வரமோ
உனது பதம் சரண் அடைய
ஈசா அகத்தீசா தரிசனம் நீ தந்தாய்
போற்றிட போற்றிட துன்பங்கள் விழகிட
போற்றிட போற்றிட நோய் விலக
போற்றிட போற்றிட துயர் மறைய
அருள் பொழிவாய் குருவே
தந்தன தந்தன கவசமாய் நின்றிட
தந்தன தந்தன திரைவிலக
தந்தன தந்தன ஞானத்தை பெற
ஒளியாய் மாறினோம்
This song describes the four stages we need to travel to arrive at our destination. We had been guided well by some great masters and their lineage. We had had the grace of the divine throughout our journey. We have our ancestors watch in joy seeing our achievements. As Agathiyar slowly weans us out of Sariyai and Kriyai and brings us to Yogam and Jnana, together with Ramalinga Adigal and Tavayogi, they are working to ensure we adhere to and follow the Yogic practices prescribed. They are slowly enlightening us step by step on the mystical knowledge and experience that one gains as he goes within. All the simple instructions they gave us since the start of this journey some 18 years ago is making sense today. We see the reason behind them.
We have been promoted to a higher institution of learning, beginning with Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) that evolved to Agathiyar Tapovanam Malaysia (ATM) and today we move into Gnanakottam with delight and joy. These names were conferred on us in appreciation by Agathiyar and Lord Muruga. Let us begin a new journey, a journey of total mystery, one that is taken not with a following, but individually. If in Sariyai and Kriyai one can stand as a bystander and still take in its benefits, or appoint proxies to carry them out, in Yogam and Jnanam we need to bend our back and sweat it out and decipher the mystery respectively. Nobody can feed you or help you on this. The ride gets tough now. If we had been sightseeing and behaved like a tourist, now we need to live the life of a Siddha.
We have come a long way. The Siddhas have toiled and worked hard on us, molding us into who we are today. Let us not disappoint them. Let us continue to take heed of their precious advice. Let us show our greatest gratitude by listening and following them. If Agathiyar Vanam brought together seekers in joint prayer, and Amudha Surabhi brought them to do service to mankind, Gnanakottam is open to those who would like to begin to work the body back into its natural state and enter the deepest cavities of the mind, through Yoga and meditation respectively. Before we knew it, we were already aboard the boat and heading towards the light. The mystical world and realm of the Siddhas await us. We are in no hurry to reach the destination. We are in safe hands. Pranam to our gurus for teaching us, taking care of us, and feeding us. May the Siddhas guide us to the Light.
We have been promoted to a higher institution of learning, beginning with Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) that evolved to Agathiyar Tapovanam Malaysia (ATM) and today we move into Gnanakottam with delight and joy. These names were conferred on us in appreciation by Agathiyar and Lord Muruga. Let us begin a new journey, a journey of total mystery, one that is taken not with a following, but individually. If in Sariyai and Kriyai one can stand as a bystander and still take in its benefits, or appoint proxies to carry them out, in Yogam and Jnanam we need to bend our back and sweat it out and decipher the mystery respectively. Nobody can feed you or help you on this. The ride gets tough now. If we had been sightseeing and behaved like a tourist, now we need to live the life of a Siddha.
We have come a long way. The Siddhas have toiled and worked hard on us, molding us into who we are today. Let us not disappoint them. Let us continue to take heed of their precious advice. Let us show our greatest gratitude by listening and following them. If Agathiyar Vanam brought together seekers in joint prayer, and Amudha Surabhi brought them to do service to mankind, Gnanakottam is open to those who would like to begin to work the body back into its natural state and enter the deepest cavities of the mind, through Yoga and meditation respectively. Before we knew it, we were already aboard the boat and heading towards the light. The mystical world and realm of the Siddhas await us. We are in no hurry to reach the destination. We are in safe hands. Pranam to our gurus for teaching us, taking care of us, and feeding us. May the Siddhas guide us to the Light.