THE HOLY PILGRIMAGE "WITHIN" 4

அனைத்தும் எனக்கு மிகப் பழமையானவை. நான் அறிவேன். நீங்கள் அறிய மாடிர்கள். என்று அந்தத் திரை விலகுதோ அன்று அறிவீர்கள்.

Agathiyar says its a very old story. He knows. We don't. We are bound by ignorance and only when that veil is drawn aside shall we understand who we are and who he is.  We have known him and he knows us over the ages. He remembers. We have forgotten.

Tavayogi was an old soul having taken rebirth again. He told me just as he had lost his sight in his early thirties, he lost it in his past birth too when Agathiyar was around. He had misused a divine mantra given by Agathiyar that he opted to test out that brought on a disastrous result which ended in him going blind. That karma from the very past continued to the present.

Tavayogi says it is possible to learn about our past births through the Nadi readings or through deep meditation. He saw it through meditation. As Agathiyar says "We are bound by ignorance and only when that veil is drawn aside shall we understand who we are and who he is", in meditation, when the veil of Maya is drawn aside we might have a glimpse of who we are.

When a saint falls from disgrace; when a cool calm guy does something least anticipated; when we are lost for answers as to why we are hit again and again by troubles and problems, the answer might be in the past. The Siddhas through their Siddhi of knowing the present, past, and future have the answers, but at times they only reveal what we need to know. Of course, they are not so cruel to tell you in your face that you are going to die the next day. They have their ways of communicating the message. We need to be alert to it.

For one who has mastered the tattwas, has control of the prana, has engaged with the prapanjam, he defeats death and remains a Chiranjeevi. When Ramalinga Adigal asks me, "Are in the prana, or is the prana in you?" (உன் பிரணவத்தால் ஊடுகிறாயா? அல்லது பிரணவம் உன்னுள் ஊடுகிறதா?) it could only mean that I arose from the prana or life force and that the prana and life force is also in me, just as Agathiyar told me that he was in the prapanjam and that the prapanjam was in him.

We have been repeatedly told to understand the tattwas before attempting to go within. And the reference was Tavayogi's book. When I voiced out that I could not fully comprehend the subject Ramalinga Adigal asked that I read it again. If I still cannot understand fully he shall come. Agathiyar once told us to read the original texts or scriptures and not translations for obvious reasons. For instance, he told us if we could not comprehend the Tirumanthiram, the author himself Tirumular shall make us comprehend, bringing an understanding.

The manifestations of the five primordial elements that are identified as 96 tattvas or elementary or primary principles or fundamental elements that form the basis or primary essence for the rest of the developments or basic building blocks both in man and all of creation that is both ethereal and volatile in nature are classified further into 14 broad categories. See the list at https://arganesh3.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/human-body-96-basic-principles/

P.Karthigayan in his "History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu", explains that generally, these 96 principles tattvas animate us on life's stage, eventually ending their act, leaving and going their way at the end of the divine play. This brings us to an understanding that basically, everything about us is on loan. Nothing is ours. We do not have an identity. The name we carried is slashed and replaced with the word corpse. Our family cannot keep our corpse with them for more than a day. What happened to the person who moved, spoke, played in that body. Where was he now? 

Science has its theory about our origin and it says death is inevitable. (https://home.cern/science/physics/early-universe#:~:text=It%20took%20380%2C000%20years%20for,abundant%20elements%20in%20the%20universe)

But the Siddhas, instead of returning to dust, reincarnated their spirit with the soul within their own body attaining death without dying, or சாகாமல் சாகும் கலை, by eliminating the worldly substances in it. What is retained is the form of their profile. All else is replaced. Substances of perishable nature will get replaced by substances of cosmic nature by altering the natural physical fabric through the science that prevailed then known as Kaaya Siddhi. On completion of the transformation, their body is retained forever. So there seems to be a need for understanding how the house that sustains our life spirit and soul, was built so that the process could be reversed, replaced, and transformed. 

My earlier post at https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-final-transformation.html carries this interesting phenomenon take place in Ramalinga Adigal the night he decided to leave us as watched, seen and witnessed by Mother Mira Alfassa (aid of Sri Aurobindo of Pondicherry) during her meditation and narrated to her disciple Gangadharan.

"I had a continuous vision in my usual meditation in the night: the vision of de-materialization of the physical body of Swami Ramalinga into and as the truth-light of supreme grace... Though I have had occasions to ascend into and remain for some time in the truth-world of grace-light where from I could see the earth as part of the universe, the said vision came to me when my consciousness was on the earth itself."

"To begin with, I sensed an ineffable silence and peace prevailing everywhere and I heard continuously Para nada, the mysterious divine sound. Then the vision broke out."...

...."When he was thus absorbed in deep concentration, an effulgent truth-light of grace broke out from his heart and with its unique heat began to burn his radiant physical body very slowly, as at a snail's speed, and that in an upward direction, from the heart towards the head. The burning of the body may be somewhat likened to that of an incense-stick,  which however burns downwards by its inner heat of fire, forming ash covering but without the falling down of the ash-form. When the upper part of his radiant body was burnt completely from heart to head, there was left in its place a form of pure white substance, which also radiated its light of consciousness. The burnt part, however, showed all its features intact and clearly and even the burnt hair of his head was seen distinctly as luminous white hair. Then the heat of the pure light of grace descended to burn the lower part."

"After the whole body was thus burnt, Vallalar was seen as a bodily form of pure white substance from head to foot, radiating its light. The white form kept intact all the different kinds of cells of his body and all the distinctive features and formations of his interior and exterior body. His bodily form did not shrink in size after the burning. I saw no visible flame nor sensed its heat during the burning of his living body, nor smoke, nor any bad smell as of burnt tissues, nor heard any cracking noise as of burnt bones. Instead, there was a sweet fragrance since the time his body began to burn and it spread everywhere. I sensed in my heart an ineffable calmness and silence, which gave me in turn a state of bliss."

"Now a second stage of burning began. The unique heat of grace-light began to burn slowly Valalalar's luminous form of white substance from head to foot downwards. When his white substance-form full of its radiating light, was thus burnt completely, the white substance became very fine sub-atomic conscious particles, which permeated and pervaded the entire universe and the farther pure worlds of consciousness beyond. The fine, white and conscious particles with its radiating light also entered into and got distributed everywhere in the earth and even in matter. After the universal pervasive distribution of the particles, they could be seen no more and disappeared from my sight. Now there pervaded everywhere the sweet, soft and fine fragrance of camphor which gave my body a blissful sensation and enraptured my heart as well."

"Then I had the rare vision of Vallalar's universal luminous golden form. In fact, the immensity of his golden form contained in it the whole universe. This form too disappeared from my view and was replaced by another vision in which I saw the golden light of truth-knowledge and grace entering into all the directions more speedily than the lightning. It permeated and pervaded the whole universe and the farther pure worlds of consciousness. It entered into our earth and all its crores of the physical forms of beings and objects and in the apparently insensible matter and even in the very dark realm of the vast in conscience. All the forms that were permeated by the golden light of truth changed into golden forms of beings and objects. The golden light entered into my whole Adhara including the physical body. My body felt in all the cells vibrations of ease and pleasantness."

"Then I heard some words of grace. However, they were indistinctly heard and could not be deciphered, as I was absorbed in a rapture of bliss due to the sublime vision and experiences. Thus, the vision lasted an hour of time and ended."

Amazing. Truly no words to describe. I leave you to read it again and again and envision, digest, and imbibe this wonderful gradual transformation of Ramalinga Adigal into and as the truth-light of supreme grace. Arutperunjhoti, Arutperunjhoti, Taniperungkarunai Arutperunjhoti.

THE HOLY PILGRIMAGE "WITHIN" 3

When I thought the best way to repay him for all the kindness, compassion and blessings he had showered on me was to be born again and again and serve him as I do now, Agathiyar made me reconsider by asking me if that is what I wanted? I knew at that very moment that it was not the right thing to ask, as he went around asking what we wanted.

Contemplating on what to ask since he would come around asking again, I then remembered Tavayogi lamented that all those who came to meet him for advice and to seek Agathiyar's Jeeva Nadi, vomited their worries, troubles, problems, sufferings, and miseries, while yet many others wanted more money and riches, positions and posts, glamour and fame, even asking to forecast numbers, special draws and lottery. None asked for Gnanam he said. Speaking about this to another devotee over the phone, I told him that we should ask for Gnanam not knowing the least what it meant. I was surprised that the next time he came Agathiyar told me that I had asked for and wanted Gnana. He heard our conversation over the phone! I knew then that this was what one should ask of the Mahamuni, neither petty things as others did nor asking to serve him forever as I did earlier. Agathiyar went on to explain about Gnanam. Agathiyar told me that, "Gnanam is not gifted but has to be earned and experienced. When one goes within, as the journey brings upon these subtle experiences these shall translate into and become Gnanam. It defers for each person. As such I cannot possibly define it."

நீ என்னிடம் கேட்டது ஞானம். ஞானம் என்பது நான் தருவதல்ல. நீ கற்பது. ஒருவன் தனக்குள் உள்வாங்கி அவனுள் பயணம் துவங்கும் நேரம் அப்பயணம் தரும் பாதிப்பே ஞானம். அவை ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் மாற்றம் பெரும். ஆகையால் அவை நான் இதுதான் என்று சொல்ல இயலாது.

Ramalinga Adigal comes to affirm the same telling me it needs effort. The effort placed in going within brings new experiences quite unlike that we have seen in our daily lives. He charts the journey beautifully:

• An understanding of the structure of the body that is a needed prerequisite to an understanding of the inner journey (உடல் கூறு தத்துவங்களைத் தெரிந்துகொண்டாயா?);
• the subtle experiences that result from bodily changes (தேக மாற்றம் உணருகிறாயா?);
• understanding the inner journey (உன் உள் பயணத்தை அறிந்துகொண்டாயா?);
• becoming aware of the breath and its movement (பிரணவத்தின் சக்தி உணருகிறாயா?);
• merging with the breath (உன் பிரணவத்தால் ஊடுகிறாயா? அல்லது பிரணவம் உன்னுள் ஊடுகிறதா?);
• remaining in this state of bliss (இன்பத்தில் ஆழ்ந்து கொண்டுவா),
• and finally ablaze in effulgence (உன்னுள் ஜோதி எரியும்).

In a post titled "Secrets of the Siddhas - Health, Longevity and Enlightenment" on Fb, R. Kuppusamy Aiya gives us a glimpse of this series of transformations as expounded by Ramalinga Adigal.

Vallalar knew what the Body of the Future Man would be like. He said this impure body with all its excretions through the nine apertures in the body would be transformed into a pure body (Sudha Deham) with no waste matter at all. Instead the pure body will be producing its own food called nectar. It will not rely upon external food or atmospheric air for its breath or on books for its knowledge. This pure body can last for hundreds of thousands of years in an uncorrupt manner. This pure body belongs to a Siddha.

But this is not the final body. This pure body has to be transformed into a lighter body. It is also called Space Body or Pranava Body or Omkara Body or a Mantric Body or a Sound Body. This body belongs to the Gods and Goddesses. It can be seen and heard but not touched, for it has no physical substance. It can be sensed and perceived only by the mind’s eye. It can last for millions of years but even this is not the final body. This too could meet with death.

The deathless body belongs to God alone. It is the purest of the Pure Body. It is made up of pure light - not a physical light but a light emanating from total compassion or grace towards all beings in creation. This body is indestructible.

The Siddhas reincarnated their spirit with the soul within their own body by eliminating the worldly substances in it. Attaining death without dying, or சாகாமல் சாகும் கலை, a status attained by the Siddhas is a loss of substances related to earth except for the form of their profile. Substances of perishable nature will get replaced by substances of cosmic nature and thus complete the transformation known as Kaaya Siddhi - retaining one's body forever. P.Kartigayan defines it as "possessing the blood of Gods in a lustrous body. This state is attained by altering the natural physical fabric through science that prevailed then." Hence the reason for both Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal to keep on asking if we have understood this science of உடற் கூற்று தத்துவம் as expounded by Tavayogi in his books.

The Siddhas held the view that "if one "ate" the cosmic substance for immortality, the body will slowly acquire similar cosmic qualities and their mere touch can turn on miracles." For this purpose, the Siddhas discovered Karpam that was of dual nature, strengthening both the spirit and the body. 

Upon achieving Kaaya Siddhi, or physical immortality or the deathless physical state, one needs to pursue to attain Atma Siddhi that of purification of the mind by meditating on the original abode of the mind, the center of the forehead, called Lalaadam. Concentrating on this spot soon one is led into a thoughtless mental state that of Mounam, says Karthigayan. Prolonging this state is Thavam. Probing the questions in Thavam is Gnanam. By experiencing and learning lessons from these experiences life would be complete or puranam. As Karthigayan says "Probing the questions in Thavam is Gnanam", Agathiyar too forbade us to ask further questions since he told us we shall receive the answers to all our queries as we take the journey within. Karthigayan says, "It is believed that such questions will be answered by our own conscience through our spirit's connection to the cosmic library." When one gets connected to the cosmic library or Akasha or Akashic Records he taps into it where information comes in streams. As I sat before Supramania Swami in his village home some 8 kilometers away from the holy mountain of Arunachala, yet visible from his home, he sat for 5 solid hours engaged with this dimension and downloaded loads and loads of messages about me and other related things. He revealed the messages in my Nadi reading that was the purview of only Agathiyar, the Nadi reader, and me! 

Which brings us to Sadhu Krishnaveni Amma's exposition of the age-old adage

திருவாரூரில் பிறக்க முக்தி

காசியில் இருக்க முக்தி

சிதம்பரம் தரிசிக்க முக்தி

திருவண்ணாமலை நினைக்க முக்தி

that was shared by a reader in a previous post.

• திருவாரூரில் பிறக்க முக்தி... another name for the place is Kamalaalayam... the temple of the lotus.... the aadhara chakra..In the muladharam... this essentially means that one must be born into the Siddha path.

• காசியில் இருக்க முக்தி... the Ajna chakra is also known as Kasi... One must remain constantly in the Ajna chakra.

• சிதம்பரம் தரிசிக்க முக்தி.... The place of the Lord is revealed when one remains absorbed in the Ajna chakra, and one Witnesses the Divine play of Shiva and Shakthi.

• திருவண்ணாமலை நினைக்க முக்தி... the Divine play results in an effulgence, which has no beginning or end, nor is it composed of the Pancha buthas.

If generally the names of the places mentioned in the adage are viewed as holy pilgrimage spots on the face of the earth, for the Gnani it is very much within him/her. Staying focussed in Kasi or the Ajna chakra gives rise to darshan of the divine play at Chidambaram. Remaining absorbed on the Ajna chakra results in an effulgence that is beyond the tattvas with neither beginning nor end. This is the sacred fire corresponding to the sacred mountain at Tiruvannamalai.

If initially, we thought that one comes to the path of the Siddhas as with other paths too, we are told that one is born into the Siddha path. If this is true then we must have taken many births before, not knowing the existence of such a path, must have got acquainted first in another and come to follow later, and finally privileged enough to take birth in the path of the Siddhas this birth.

அனைத்தும் எனக்கு மிகப் பழமையானவை. நான் அறிவேன். நீங்கள் அறிய மாடிர்கள். என்று அந்தத் திரை விலகுதோ அன்று அறிவீர்கள்.

Agathiyar says its a very old story. He knows. We don't. We are bound by ignorance and only when that veil is drawn aside shall we understand who we are and who he is. Agathiyar comes to show the way too. He tells us that for enlightenment to take place we need to strengthen our soul power (and the chakras) or Atma Balam. He reminds us not to engage in anything that disrupts or weakens the chakras. He asks us to maintain our composure and never give in to extreme emotions that are likely to disrupt the chakra's health and oscillation that we have painfully worked to strengthen. This monumental task that lies ahead of us is accomplished only by going within. As the layers are peeled and the curtains removed pure understanding dawns upon us on this internal journey. Maya that is also a product of creation leaves us for good, revealing the truth.

Ramalinga Adigal composed and sang the following verses to stress this point.

என் பெருமானே என்னுள் வந்து அருளிய ஜோதி அது....

என் பெருமான் அருளிய ஜோதி அது....

திரை எனும் திரை எனும் என் பெருமான் காட்டிய திரை அது....

என் அருள் அப்பன் அருள் ஜோதி அது...

சீர்ஜோதி அது பெருஞ் ஜோதி அது... ஏறும் பெரும் ஜோதி அது

என்னுள் அது ஏறும் போது திரை அது விலகியது...

என்னுள் அது ஏறும் நிலையில் ஜோதி அது ஜோதி அது...

திரை எனும் திரை அது அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி அது...

Tavayogi upon coming down the stairs at the famed Nattadreeswarar temple turned to me and said Agathiyar and (Lord) Siva are one. Agathiyar told me it is all Sivam. Ramalinga Adigal has on a couple of instances asked that we continue to hold on to the Holy Feet of "Appan Agathiyan" as he addresses Agathiyar. He went on to inform us that Agathiyar shall come within as the Jhothi to draw the veil aside. Agathiyar shall set aside the veil that hides Arutperunjhoti from us, he promises. Agathiyar shall lead us to Arutperunjhoti. Since we came to Agathiyar and his path, he will be the guiding light, he says. He asks that we continue on his path saying, "His holy feet shall be salvation for you. He is all. Go deeper. He shall take care. He shall bring you to the light."

அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி ஆண்டவர் உங்களை ஆசீர்வதித்தார். செல்லும் வழி சரி. நீ பற்றிய பாதை அகத்தியனின் பாதை. நீ பற்றிய பாதம் அகத்தியனின் பாதம். நீ பற்றிய பாதம் உன்னை கரை தேற்றியது. இனி காண்பவை அவனை மட்டும். ஆழ்ந்து போ. அகத்தியன் பார்த்துக்குவான். அகத்தியன் அருட்ஜோதியை நோக்கி அழைத்து செல்வான். திரை விலக உங்களில் இருக்கும் ஜோதி அதனை சுடர்விட செய்யுங்கள். என் அப்பன் அகத்தியன் உங்களுக்குள் வந்து அத்திரையை விலக்கிவிடுவார். அதுவே இப்பாடலின் பொருள். என் அப்பன் அகத்தியன் உங்களுக்குள் இருந்து வழி நடத்தி வருகிறார். அவன் வழியிலே நடந்து வாருங்கள். அத்திரை விலக்குவதற்க்கு அவன் அருள் புரிவான். அருட்ஜோதி உங்களை ஆசீர்வதித்தது. அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி ஆண்டவர் உங்களை ஆசீர்வதித்தார். செல்லும் வழி சரி. அகத்தியன் அருட்ஜோதியை நோக்கி அழைத்து செல்வான்.

Agathiyar remains a guiding light to us, then, now and forever. 

THE HOLY PILGRIMAGE "WITHIN" 2

We have been reminded time and again that we are here to live out the experiences that come about as a result of the fruition of our desires, vasanas, and karma. We need to go through it as it was our asking. The divine beings and gurus all come to tell us that all relationships with the world around us and its people are lessons for us and asks us to keep on learning.

உலக வாழ்க்கை குடும்ப வாழ்க்கை அனைத்தும் படிப்பினை. கற்றுக்கொள்ளுங்கள்.

From a vast number of paths to follow initially, on our short journey here on Mother Earth, when we come to take up the Siddha path, the choices are narrowed and options limited. But the objective becomes clearer. The destination is in sight. Soon there is only one path that opens up with each step we take. No obstacles. No distractions. What is needed is to pursue it.

Ramalinga Adigal says உனது முயற்சியே உனது படி that is "Your effort is your step." This is what we lack. Discipline and the necessary effort. Knowing this the masters come reminding us.

Agathiyar who asked me to worship him and the other Siddhas, besides continuing with worship to the other deities, told me to come to his path. From Sariyai as in temple worship, he brought us to Kriyai as in performing rituals.

உலக வாழ்க்கையை அனுபவித்து வாருங்கள். சிறு தொண்டு பெருவெள்ளம். அது வளர வேண்டும். அதுவே முதல் கடமை. அதுமூலம் சன்மார்க்கக் கருணை பூத்து விடும். அது பின்பு வளரும். வழி விடுங்கள்.

Agathiyar reminds us to engage in with society and in charity too. Start small he says. It is a start to bigger things. Compassion will set in later and lead to bigger ventures.

நீ செய்தவை யாவும் சரி. இது நாள்வரை நீ கடந்து வந்தது இவ்வுலக வாழ்க்கையின் பயணம். இனி நீ கடக்க போவது உமது உள்பயணம். நீ செய்யக்கூடிய வழிமுறைகளைக் கூறவிருக்கிறோம். நாம் சொல்லும் வழிமுறைகளைச் செய்து வா. இப்பயிற்சியினை முதலில் மேற்கொள். இவை உமக்கு வழி நடத்தும்.

Although he asked that I worship him in the beginning, he did not want me to continue worshipping him forever. He did not want me to remain forever as his obedient devotee and servant. If initially, Agathiyar brought all of us to engage in doing charity and rituals, soon he turned our sights to go within. While he brought many together and gave us numerous task to perform including carrying out rituals and charity that served society that we accomplished successfully, and later revealed that these were the 5 tenets for the purpose of us taking birth, soon he made us leave all these behind and board the boat on a solo journey within. After mentioning that all these while we have lived the worldly life, Agathiyar tells us that now we have to go within. And he went on to elaborate the ways. He taught us Yoga to prepare the vessel for another journey that of traveling within. These new experiences shall culminate in Gnanam. Their aim is to make us another Siddha, not to remain as a subject, a devotee or a servant. 

The Siddhas' main task is to get us to realize our Atma or soul. Agathiyar tells us that although the well being of the universe depends on the cumulative karma and the collective efforts in overcoming them, the individual needs to be focussed on what he came for. Only then shall he reach him.

கர்மவினைக்கு ஏற்ப அவர் அவர் முயற்சிக்கு ஏற்ப எல்லாம் சுபம்.

He adds that it is a solo journey.

அவர் அவர் கவனம் அவர் அவர் இலக்கில் இருந்தால் தனித்து என்னோடு இணைவார்கள்.

Once the vinai or karma that tagged along from all the past lives is shed, through the 5 tenets and other given tasks, a new Neri or path that brings extreme bliss is shown where the soul is permanently engaged in its bliss. When Tavayogi and I started to embark on a journey of visiting the abodes, caves, temples of the Siddhas, and as we left his Ashram, he turned to me and remarked, "Only now our true journey begins, my son."

PS Maniam in his "Siddhar Nerigalum Siddhi Muraigalum", published by Vijaya Pathipagam, Coimbatore, summarizes this path of extreme bliss beautifully.

ஆன்மா இறைவனை அடையவேண்டும் என்ற நீங்காத நினைப்பில் மெய்யடியார்களையும் இறை ஞானத்தையும் துணையாகக்கொண்டு பயிற்சியில் ஈடுப்பட்டுச் சாதனை செய்து வந்தால் ஒருநாள் சாத்தியமாகிவிடும். இறைவனின் பெருங்கருணையை நினைந்து நினைந்து இறை உணர்வில் அழுந்தி நிற்கவேண்டும். அப்படி இருக்க இறையுணர்வு ஆன்மாவில் அழுந்தி இறைக் காட்சியாகவே தோன்றும். இறை அன்பு ஆன்மாவில் பதியப் பதிய அன்பு முற்றி அருள்நிலை யெய்தி என்பும் கசிந்துருகும்.

The soul that yearns to merge with Erai pursues in continuous thought on the divine. Taking Erai Gnanam as a companion, placing effort in his practice, and achieving the desired results, one shall one day, attain the state. Thinking of the compassion of Erai, he is continuously engulfed in his divinity, his divine thoughts, and divine feelings. This divine feeling, in turn, reaches within the soul and engulfs it giving rise to his darshan. Erai comes as his soul and speaks to him. As he builds his love for Erai within his soul, the love shall then burst its banks and merges in Erai's.

Ramalinga Adigal shares this experience of extreme bliss in his Tiruarutpa.

நினைந்துநினைந் துணர்ந்துணர்ந்து நெகிழ்ந்துநெகிழ்ந் தன்பே

நிறைந்துநிறைந் தூற்றெழுங்கண்ணீரதனால் உடம்பு

நனைந்துநனைந் தருளமுதே நன்னிதியே ஞான

நடத்தரசே என்னுரிமை நாயகனே என்று

வனைந்துவனைந் தேத்துதும்நாம் வம்மின்உல கியலீர்

மரணமிலாப் பெருவாழ்வில் வாழ்ந்திடலாம் கண்டீர்

புனைந்துரையேன் பொய்புகலேன் சத்தியஞ்சொல் கின்றேன்

பொற்சபையில் சிற்சபையில் புகுந்தருணம் இதுவே.

And for that to take place he pleads with Erai first.

திருக்கதவம் திறவாயோ திரைகளெலாம் தவிர்த்தே

திருவருளாம் பெருஞ்சோதித் திருஉருக்காட் டாயோ

உருக்கிஅமு தூற்றெடுத்தே உடம்புயிரோ டுளமும்

ஒளிமயமே ஆக்குறமெய் உணர்ச்சிஅரு ளாயோ

கருக்கருதாத் தனிவடிவோய் நின்னைஎன்னுட் கலந்தே

கங்குல்பகல் இன்றிஎன்றும் களித்திடச்செய் யாயோ

செருக்கருதா தவர்க்கருளும் சித்திபுரத் தரசே

சித்தசிகா மணியேஎன் திருநடநா யகனே.

THE HOLY PILGRIMAGE "WITHIN" 1

When reporting to the Roman Senate on his extremely successful military campaign against Pharnaces II, king of Pontus in 47 BC, Julius Caesar summed up the campaign by stating veni, vidi, vici - which translates - I came, I saw, I conquered.

(Source: https://www.bookbrowse.com/expressions/detail/index.cfm/expression_number/152/i-came-i-saw-i-conquered)

The line took Caesar to become the Emperor of Rome. (Eric Dodd, M.A. from Historians (1983) 

We too came, we saw and we conquered. But our conquest too like that of Caesar was of land and treasures. But there were others who knew the futility of grabbing and owning possessions as it was impermanent in its stature. When even the very body was thought of as another possession that would eventually turn to dust, these mysterious Siddhas proved otherwise. Today they remain in the state of effulgence or light or jothi, still guiding humanity. We are blessed to get connected with these guiding masters.

Human birth is rare and sacred we are told. But most of us who have taken another birth to live out our desires would be ignorant of the gift of life and this birth. Unaware that the body is the greatest miracle, we do not have the slightest thought of taking care of it. Besides the ravages of time that the body goes through, we push it to its maximum limits, exhausting it, stressing it, exposing it to the dangers of pollution, illness, disease, and inviting premature death. 

பிறப்பு கேட்டு வருவது. இவ்வாழ்க்கை நீயே கேட்டுப் பெற்றது. நீ காண்பது உன் பிறவி பலன்.

Lord Muruga tells us that it is we who chose this life and asks for it, without being compelled by others or other forces. Whatever we are going through and receiving currently is a result of our past merits. Hence our unfulfilled desires or latent vasanas and past karma determine the subsequent births.

வந்ததின் நோக்கம் மருந்து போயின.

But we have forgotten its purpose.

The most compassionate Lord waits for his children to make a decision, to take the decision to come back to his path, and eventually return home. We must have had a desire that blossomed in our minds and thoughts that snowballed beyond our hold adding on layers upon layers of karma and more desires in each birth. Now its time to go into reverse gear and consult the Siddhas to reveal our mistakes and show us a way out of our pathetic state that is our own making.

Turning to the Siddha path we are told of the greatness of taking birth and that it is a gift. There is a need to stay strong and healthy for the soul to realize its purpose and accomplish its mission. Lord Muruga has warned me of the need to take care of the body to attain Gnanam. Any effort by the soul towards realizing its goal is only possible with the aid of the body that is both a tool and a vehicle. The sadhaka on the Siddha path begins to love his body. He loves life. He loves nature. He loves all of creation. He learns to see Erai in all of his creation. With further moderate yogic practices and austerities or tavam, his body and mind is prepared to become a receptacle for Erai to enter and reside. Once Erai comes within the physical body, he takes on the nature of Erai and all its impurities or malam clears just as darkness disappears the moment light is brought in. But this process of transforming the physical body into an apt vessel and container for the Divine to take up abode is a painful one. Ramalinga Adigal mentions the initial 12 years that he had to bear the anguish and pain.

The Siddhas are known to take measures and extreme care to upkeep their body. Through the secret science of immortality, they keep their body intact without having it go through the process of aging. They knew of anti-aging therapy, the ancient rejuvenation practice of Kaya Kalpa that kept death away. The Siddhas who took elixir or karpam and regained youthfulness, putting a full stop to future birth. They broke the cycle of death and birth by avoiding the causes of death, hence stopping dead in its track and thus preventing a recurrence of birth. They attained immortality with the physical body still intact. They live forever as Chiranjeevi. Many tales are told of such master and gurus who performed this magnificent feat.

• Manikavasagar describes how Erai came with his entourage and brought him to his fold.

பொத்தை ஊன் சுவர் புழுப்பொதிந்து உளுத்து அசும்பு ஒழுகிய பொய்க்கூரை
இத்தை மெய்யெனக் கருதி நின்று இடர்க் கடல் சுழித்தலைப் படுவேனை
முத்து மாமணி மாணிக்க வயிரத்த பவளத்தின் முழுச் சோதி
அத்தன் ஆண்டு தன் அடியரில் கூட்டிய அதிசயம் கண்டோமே,,

Regarding the body as an impermanent shelter initially, "Residing in a dwelling made of meat walls and with numerous openings, and a false roof, with worms crawling within, when damaged, fluids begin to flow, whence I am tossed about in an endless whirlpool of suffering; when such a dwelling is regarded as real and turned towards the sparkle of the gem-studded Erai, he brings me into his fold and company of his servants", he saw the divine in it later.

The body that exhibited emotions and sufferings and took on pain now takes on bliss. Manikavasagar upon meeting Erai and attaining bliss could not live another moment separate from Erai. Not knowing the means to permanently unite with Erai, he laments, "I tried to severe this body that has sinned, by all possible means and failed. Neither does the soul free itself on its own. I cannot live another moment without you."

He then comes to a sudden realization that this body was not his to take. He begins to plead for Paramukthi, gaining Siddhi with the body intact. He prays that Erai takes him to his abode with the physical body intact. He brings Erai within so that the physical body does not perish and merges with Tillai Ambalar still retaining his body.

• The young Thirugnanasambandhar took the hands of his wife in marriage and led all those who came to witness his marriage into the Jhoti and merged with it at Nallur. 
• Similarly, the elder Thirunavukarasar held on to the feet of Erai and burst into combustion, and merged with Erai at Thirupugalur, just as the camphor burns and vanishes into thin air. 
• Sundarar mounted an elephant that was sent by Lord Shiva while his friend Cheraman Perumal followed closely behind on a horse at Thiruvanjai. Both reached Erai's kingdom in the physical form. 
• In recent times we know of Ramalinga Adigal who transformed his body to merge with Erai and all of creation. 
• Agathiyar in a Nadi reading for Tavayogi's daughter who was saddened that her father had adorned the kaavi and taken monkhood, pacifies her that Lord Shiva and Parvathi will come on a Puspa Vimanam to bring his soul back with him. 
• After the demise of Tavayogi, a devotee had a dream in which she saw Tavayogi seated in a boat with others while Lord Shiva was rowing them across the waters towards a hill that had many ascetics, mendicants, sadhu, Siddhas, Rishis going about their religious and spiritual chores. 
• Both Dhanvantri and Ramalinga Adigal told us that Tavayogi had attained the state of jothi and was guiding us even after leaving his mortal frame. 

For the seeker of immortality the server or soul is kept upgraded and expands in its capacity, taking on the data and spiritual experiences and sharing it with those who come seeking. He lives, breaths, preaches, and teaches the path. He becomes an apostle, a savior, and a torch and the light for others to follow. 

GAINING INSIGHT

Agathiyar had revealed about the state of the Siddhas in a Nadi reading carried in the previous post.

"Those who saw the subtle divine dance or Anandha Tandavam at Tiru Chittru Amballam or Tiruchitramballam within are Siddhas. Rishis and Devas are always immersed in the dance of the atoms. Watching this state of divine dance the Siddhas remain in a state of bliss and Mukti that is freedom from the endless cycle of transmigration."

If it necessitates they come out of this state for our sake.

I wrote, as the age-old adage to Tiruvannamalai from the Arunachala Mahatmyam goes, "By seeing Chidambaram, by being born in Tiruvarur, by dying in Kasi, or by merely thinking of Arunachala, one will surely attain Liberation."

To lay eyes on Chidambaram gives Mukti,

To be born in Tiruvarur gives Mukti,

To die in Kasi (Varanasi or Benaras) gives Mukti, and

just the thought of Tiruvannamalai gives Mukti.

திருவாரூரில் பிறந்தால்தான் முக்தி கிடைக்கும்,

காசியில் இறந்தால்தான்  முக்தி கிடைக்கும்,

சிதம்பரத்தில் தரிசித்தால்தான் முக்தி கிடைக்கும், ஆனால்

நினைத்தாலே முக்தி தரும் தலம் திருவண்ணாமலை ஆகும்,

I was made to realize that in actuality it is otherwise. An ardent reader and follower of the blog from India wrote me a mail that has enlightened me on this adage. He gave me permission to share with other readers too.

"Sir,

"By seeing Chidambaram, by being born in Tiruvarur, by dying in Kasi, or by merely thinking of Arunachala, one will surely attain Liberation." This quote is From your recent post. I used to take the meaning of this in a literal form. Some time back, when I was into my Morning dhyana, my Guru, Sadhu Krishnaveni Amma, came forth from the beyond. She explained the meaning of this, as follows:

திருவாரூரில் பிறக்க முக்தி...

another name for the place is Kamalaalayam... the temple of the lotus.... the aadhara chakra..In the muladharam... this essentially means that one must be born into the Siddha path.

காசியில் இருக்க முக்தி... the Ajna chakra is also known as Kasi... One must remain constantly in the Ajna chakra.

சிதம்பரம் தரிசிக்க முக்தி.... The place of the Lord is revealed when one remains absorbed in the Ajna chakra, and one Witnesses the Divine play of Shiva and Shakthi

திருவண்ணாமலை நினைக்க முக்தி... the Divine play results in an effulgence, which has no beginning or end, nor is it composed of the Pancha buthas..."

These are not my views... they are the teachings given me by my Guru. It is Her Will Grace and Bounty. Everything is Her... I am no one and nothing. Regards. 

Basically, then for one to be regarded as having attained Mukti he/she should qualify these 4 states rather than be in these places physically. What we thought as a calling to come to the path and our coming voluntarily to the path today is revealed as something that actualizes or takes place only if one is born in the Siddha path. I suppose it took many births for us to get acquainted first, come to follow later, and finally end up taking birth in the path of the Siddhas in this birth.  Staying focussed in Kasi or the Ajna chakra gives rise to darshan of the divine play at Chidambaram. Remaining absorbed on the Ajna chakra results in an effulgence that is beyond the tattvas with neither beginning nor end. This is the sacred fire corresponding to the sacred mountain at Tiruvannamalai.

The above inference given by Sadhu Krishnaveni Amma reminds me of Dr. Bhani's exposition at a gathering.  He mentioned a song by Avvai that had three different meanings to three different levels of people at three different periods in life. He mentioned how a song in praise of Lord Ganapathy that was an expression of love for the deity; was a song laced with names of components to make a herbal Siddha concoction when read and understood by a Siddha practitioner. When the Dr. stepped onto the path of Jnana it took on a new meaning. His guru Yogi Ramaiah told him that it was entirely dealing with Jnana. Similarly, S. Janarthanan in his book "Dhyana Yogam", published by Arulmigu Amman Pathipakkam, Chennai, 1990 mentions the Vinayagar Agaval composed by Auvaiyar as both a song of praise and a song on yoga. The Tamil Guardian posts at https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/introduction-auvaiyar%E2%80%99s-vinayagar-agaval, carried the following piece that runs parallel to Dr. Bhani's experience and Janarthanan's observation too.

Auvaiyar’s poem is a many-layered experience of philosophical concepts brought to life via devotional poetry. It begins with contemplation of the external form of the God ... The Vinayagar Agaval swiftly moves beyond the contemplation of the feet to the adoration of the face and body of God. Auvaiyar now moves away from the contemplation of external form and the material universe into her metaphysical journey. 

The poetess explains further her experience of the physical yoga tradition, which is first mentioned in the circa 3000-year-old Rig Veda texts. She refers to the energy centers of the body and energy rivers (“Nadis”) such as the Ida and Pingala. She talks of wakening the “Kundalini” energy source... achieved through meditation and physical yoga, signifying spiritual awakening....leading to immortality and miraculous powers.

We are introduced to these Siddhis,

The term Siddhanta is also connected to the term “Siddhi”, meaning miraculous gifts and so the Siddhanta is the discipline of awakening these gifts. Hence the eight modes are thought to be the eight Siddhis or miraculous powers gained through the awakening of the Kundalini as described in the Tirumantiram text dated circa 500 AD. We should note that Auvaiyar throughout uses the language of “gift” as opposed to that which is acquired or earned. Wisdom, clarity, bliss, eternal life: these are all gifts of the God.

Auvaiyar’s poem remains in essence devotional, born out of her experience of the divine. 

In https://www.alchemywebsite.com/vinayaga.html, Layne Little writes,

At first glance, the work seems conservative enough; as it begins with the traditional contemplation of the god from foot to crown. But it promptly veers off into the domain of the mystic as she invokes Ganesha as the embodiment of Turiya. Turiya, or "the Sleepless Sleep" is a state of deep yogic trance, where the aspirant sleeps to the illusionary and transient realm of gross sense phenomena and wakes to the infinitude of the inner realm. 

Avvai accredits her advancement to Lord Vinayar, having moved from Bhakti to Yogam and Gnanam.

In https://truthdiveblog.wordpress.com/category/culturereligion/

She (Avvai) proceeds to end the poem by coming back to Bakthi. This Bakthi is a total surrender since Avvaiyar dedicates each and every step she passes in yoga to Vinayagar. Avvaiyar assigns everything to the lord as if She has done nothing.

When Supramania Swami who built his cottage or kudil on the piece of land some distance away from his guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar's samadhi temple initially left an opening in the wall of his living area that was the window to watch the holy mountain of Arunachala from his bed, I could not help but notice on my next visit that he had covered the window with a gunny sack. When I enquired the reason he replied that the mountain was too fiery or நெருப்பு மலை and that he could no longer bring himself to see or watch it. Hence the reason for closing it up. He also told me he saw Siddhas and Rishis going about their tapas or tavam on that holy mountain. I only saw a mountain. But then he was a Gnani and I was a commoner. Could he have meant in another but subtle way that he was watching the effulgence in his Ajna chakra that was externally exhibited as Arunachala for the masses?

With the passage of time, many things including sayings get corrupted and lose their true meaning, getting distorted or lost in its inner meaning. Staying focussed in Kasi or the Ajna chakra has over time come to be referred to as dying in Kasi brings Mukti. Or the other possibility is that it is seen as true in the eyes of the common folk like us. As Agathiyar says "Let it be", these days he has asked us not to question but assures us that our experiences will bring us the answers, as Tavayogi says when our mind is set in solving a problem, we eventually will come around finding an answer.

TAKING A STAND 2

Going to the Nadi guru and learning about karma is only to fill us with the knowledge of the reason we are born, that always is credited to past karma, and to take appropriate measures stipulated by them in clearing it. Knowing the reason we would definitely not want to walk through that path again. We would seek to move away or steer away from living a life that brings on more misery and suffering. But there are exceptions to the rule. Just as the stars are not visible in the night skies if we look up from a brightly lit world, for those engulfed in the lights and glamour of the dazzling world of man, they can never seem to see the light across the shores. For some who had dwelled in actions that gained them severe karma the truth is that they have to see it through before even the divine can come to their aid. For those who came for solutions to their problems never actually wanting to take on and explore further the teachings of the Siddhas, they continue to live a mundane life that comes with its momentary joy and sufferings. 

Venturing to experience, we shall want to go back to a particular activity as long as we are not satisfied. By bringing satisfaction to all activities, we shall see ourselves drop each activity and move on to another speedily. The problem is that we are hooked to the activity and remain in it for life as it brings on pleasure to us. Curious as to what others gain from smoking, I lit 7 cigarettes at one go and left the habit immediately. Pressured by peers and friends in the industry I took to drinking but never liked the hangovers that came with it the next morning. I stopped drinking. Many ask me why I opted to become a vegetarian? I do not have an answer. It just happened overnight. Satisfaction or dislike brings a stop to an act and it is replaced by many others. A habit if left unchecked becomes a character. The character if left unchecked announces us even before our arrival. So it is of utmost importance that we keep in check our habits for what comes immediately to the mind of others after our name is mentioned is our character, that is, most of the time is either made fun of or dreaded or feared.

Tavayogi tells us that to achieve a thing we need to focus, concentrate, visualize, and practice our ideals until we see its results. But sadly, we are easily distracted. "Humans are an easily distracted species" affirms the opening paragraph at  https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/mind-over-matter-2. We attempt to do too many things at one moment hence exhausting ourselves. We never let our minds nor our body take a break these days. Nature has meant it such that the physical body takes a break, through sleep or a nap at least. The mind is made to take a break from mundane thinking by going into a meditative state. Mindfulness of the moment and becoming aware of the breath immediately brings us off the streets into the calm and peace of the interiors of the self. Both thought about the future and the past stops in remaining in the present. Tension and the stress chemicals are flushed out of the system. The airways open. More air is inhaled. More prana comes within, refreshing the system. We become alive to our surroundings contrary to the earlier state where our hunger for man-made pleasures or the might of our man-made problems took precedence and our attention, hence missing out on the true pleasures of nature around us.

Agathiyar and my gurus brought us to mindfulness through the rituals that they made us do. For instance a day before the routine puja we are already thinking about it, listing what needs to be purchased, having the items laid out on the actual day, sitting in on the ritual reciting the names of the Siddhas, and paying attention to the tasks on hand. For those few hours we engage in this ritual there are no thoughts about the external. Once the draw bridge is lowered we enter the world of the Siddhas in thought. Similarly, the Siddhas walk the drawbridge to come to sit with us in puja. Having a Siddha sit beside us itself removes the last remaining fragments of karma in us. Having a Siddha sit with us immediately ignites and sets aflame or kindles the dwindling light in us. But once the bridge had been built to stay forever, Agathiyar brought us to end the rituals and charity at the right time so that we do not get hooked to the external practice. The physical connection had ended; it was now the soul connecting instantaneously. 

If a solo attempt at something could cause a significant ripple across the ocean of life, imagine what a group attempt could do. So that is how Agathiyar brought my solo venture into the open by bringing aspirants of like mind together where we moved the world. We brought cheer and happiness to many. We filled their tummies knocking on their doors at mealtime. We listened to them. We heard their stories. All these were ways to interact with the forgotten individuals in society bringing a glimpse of hope and a ray of light into their lives. But there is always an end to everything be it good or bad. We had to cross over to the other side. We had to venture indoors and within. Being alone gives us time to spend on ourselves. Being alone brings us to sit and reflect and analyze all that we had done over the years. Agathiyar put an end to all our external activities. With minimal interaction, he brought us to listen only to our thoughts reminiscing on those from the past. Soon that too shall drop. Fear of the future was gone. What was real was the present.  What was real was the present experience that was taking place both in body and mind. Choices drop; options drop. Decision making comes to a halt. We just exist in the present. We do not act bringing on fresh karma. We do not act on the present thoughts. We just watch it come and go. The choice is fully ours to continue this train of having no specific thoughts or break it. Go deeper and deeper say both Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal. What then is in store for us? Lord Muruga throws some light. But the results or the journey ahead is not important. What is important is the journey itself. What is important is the present effort; the very moment the feet touch the ground; the very breath that makes its way into us; the very thought that comes to the mind only to flow away if we do not interact with it.

People generally do not feel complete, lacking in a certain area or feel insecure. At other times others make us feel as though we are incomplete, as though we are lacking or missing something. Even for those who have all, yet they perceive that they are lacking something within. We think we are disconnected and fragmented from the whole. On the contrary, we have all the wealth in us. It is just that it is not explored. Not knowing this truth, hence a search begins to fill that void. Here is where spiritualism often does the thing - fill that void. The Siddha comes to show us the way to reach this richness within. The Siddha makes us realize otherwise, that we are all connected. We do not become whole anew or attain puranam or satisfaction but come to a realization that all this while we were that, whole in all ways.  It is not a matter of attaining a state but rather dropping all the veils that are before us to begin to see the truly pure and wholesome self. This is the reason the saints before they take the final step are told to sit and be alone. Here the veils begin to drop one by one and the consciousness reveals itself. All the search, seeking, and activities of Tavam and Dharma that one undertook earlier are essential in bringing him to a realization that the true self is discovered in sitting alone by himself. It is the right time now to drop the veils both Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal tells us. Ramalinga Adigal tells us that Agathiyar shall help us shed it. All that he asks of us is to put in the effort. This is the path of Gnana. This is the path of Ramana, Arunagiri, and many others. The final chapter in a person who has the potential to become God.

Linda and Charlie Bloom tell us the how-to of it at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/stronger-the-broken-places/201504/mind-over-matter.

Sitting quietly or taking walks together, practicing discernment in regard to speaking only that which is true, useful, and respectful to each other, rather than indulging in judgments and unsolicited advice and criticism, designating uninterrupted time to get caught up on essential, rather than practical concerns and feelings, deliberately choosing to share a meal slowly rather than rushing though it without savoring or even tasting the food, or simply sitting mindfully, watching the unfolding flow of one’s own experience.

Fortunately, mindfulness can be practiced in the context of everyday life as we are doing what needs to be done at work or home simply by slowing down and reminding ourselves to pay attention to our experience whenever we notice our mind spinning out. Simply interrupting mind-chatter with a reminder to slow down, check in, and take a couple of conscious breaths can provide quick and effective relief from anxious, disturbing, or obsessive thoughts.

They remind us that trying to stay mindful is not running away from responsibilities.

Mindfulness is not an escape from responsibilities and concerns that require actions or attention from us,...When something is important enough, to us, we manage to find time for it.

We come to a realization that we already are full to the brim.

Living mindfully doesn’t require us to sit in meditation or add any thing to our already full lives. It’s just a matter of practicing presence with that which that we are already doing. For that, we may need to slow down a bit. 

When we realize that we are fully equipped to only do the tasks given to us, provided we stop comparing with the person next to us, we immediately know that we are wholesome. The guru either from outside or within comes to bring faith in us. It is a matter of listening and taking up the challenge. The Guardian carried this obituary on Stephen Hawking at https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/mar/14/stephen-hawking-obituary

Hawking had been diagnosed shortly after his 21st birthday as suffering from an unspecified incurable disease, which was then identified as the fatal degenerative motor neurone disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Soon afterwards, rather than succumbing to depression, as others might have done, he began to set his sights on some of the most fundamental questions concerning the physical nature of the universe. In due course, he would achieve extraordinary successes against the severest physical disabilities. Defying established medical opinion, he managed to live another 55 years.

Yogi Ramaiah on the eve of his journey to the USA to continue his further studies is diagnosed with a serious ailment that saw him lay in bed for the next six years. During this time the son of the rich and famous S.A. Annamalai Chettiar, had spiritual men visit him. Soon he had visions of the divine saints. But his agony was too much and he tried to hold his breathing long enough to make his body lifeless hoping to end his life. Babaji came at the nick of time to stop his attempt asking him to surrender himself to his cause. Tavayogi had gone blind in his early thirties and sought grace from the Goddess known to make the blind see again at a temple near Methupalaiyam. A year passed with no results seen. Giving up the thought and thinking it was futile and foolish of him to expect to recover his lost sight, he was contemplating to jump onto the tracks, onto the path of an oncoming train. But Agathiyar in a thunderous voice forbade him to take his life and stopped him in the nick of time, saving him. He asked him to surrender to him and his cause instead.

For those who find no way out of their problems having sought, heard, and executed all the advice given by family, friends, foe, professionals, and others, and having placed all the efforts to overcome them, take a break from your troubles by surrendering fully to the holy feet of God or guru. Tell yourself that you are not going to seek a way out of your troubles but are going to face them boldly. Ask for assistance from God and guru to give you the strength to battle the issue. Cry to him. Hug him. Scold him if it brings relief to you. He is there for you. God not only accepts praises he accepts insults too. He is unbias and impartial to people and things. The most compassionate shall then find solutions and show us the way out. Be alert and take up the offers and solutions that come your way once you have surrendered. Do not wait for God to show up in the forms he is depicted. He can come in many ways. Your effort is in climbing to the topmost floor and wait patiently for the rising waters to reside. In the event it doesn't and if it kept rising pray for assistance. If the assistance comes in the form of rescuers on a boat, board it. If they come in helicopters hold on to the rope ladder that is let down. Do not be foolish and insist and be adamant that God should come in person foregoing all the assistance extended to you. God comes in mysterious ways.

Rather than being caught off guard and have the screen rollout before us, and the show of all our past doings screened to our regret then, which is a bit too late to bring changes, slowly dying again seeing all these horrid things we did, we could bring a will to rectify them in this very birth, sitting in deep meditation. Burning and roasting them in the fire of tavam, we can leave this world in peace. But we must have the courage to make the decision to take up the challenge. Nobody can do it for us. The guru, master, or proxy can only bring us to the pond, stream, or river but can never make us drink. Our lives are in our hands. Although there are many factors said to have a firm grip on us, eventually, it is we who determine how and where it leads. The Siddhas make us realize this. They too had taken their lives into their hands, breaking all the odds to achieve the standing of a Siddha. I guess it took a long time and many births to come to their path now. I should be grateful to have Agathiyar open the door for me to enter his path. I should be grateful to him for bringing Tavayogi to our shores and accompany me to all the places he listed out and beyond those mentioned in the Nadi too. I should be grateful for Agathiyar to come into my home first as the bronze statue and now in spirit. I should be grateful to him for continuously staying by my side. Only my efforts could repay the gratitude as told by Ramalinga Adigal. Let us place more effort in all our endeavors. 

TAKING A STAND 1

When Tavayogi came to Malaysia in 2005, watching us go on with our temple worship, he told us not to remain in Bhakti or the path of devotion but come to that of Gnana. When the Siddhas came and asked us to worship them, that was only the first step to get acquainted with them. We should not stagnate and remain there, worshipping them forever. Neither would they want us to stagnate in that stage. That would be the equivalent of temple worship too, only replacing the common deities with the Siddhas. What do they desire for us? They want us to take up the challenge and become a Siddha too. 

Who then is a Siddha? Browsing the net we are astonished at the amount of focus given to the wonders that Siddhas could perform. Every other article is written about the Siddhis that they performed. Videos too portray the present day Siddhas performing Siddhis. Do the Siddha's lives begin and end with performing Siddhis? Is that all there is to it?

From https://sensitiveplanet.com/blogs/news/who-are-the-siddhas, we learn that there is more to it.

Siddhar Sages are the liberated mystical yogis who journey beyond ‘enlightenment’. In most cases the enlightened beings went on to evolve into the final objective of yoga and that was to merge into God in the physical form itself. These sages were called Siddhars. Many of these Siddhars maintained spiritual diaries and writings in the form of poetry from the time they actualized into discovering the divine with deeper meaning and the beginning of their journey into yoga while attaining enlightenment, and to the final state of transforming into light, merging with the Supreme. Yoga of Siddha tradition in South India meant the accomplishment of merging the body into the supreme light of the absolute as attainments of eight different dimensions of perfection. Each dimension of perfection is called a ‘siddhi’ and ‘siddhi’ is the miraculous powers that were acquired while practicing this path of yoga. Siddhars consider attainment of various siddhis as grace which naturally flow into them through their yogic practices and it was held sacred as the mark of the divine presence within themselves. 

Let us hear from the horse's mouth now. Agathiyar answers in simple terms through a Nadi revelation when Jnana Jhotiamma sat before him. The Siddhas are a manifestation of Adhi Sivan, who is in all of us as light. He is a father figure to us. There are no differences between these energies that came forth from Adhi Sivan and the 18 Siddhas who came forth from Adhi Sivan too. The Siddhas having merged with Adhi Sivan hold this energy too. The intensity might vary but it is all one. The manifestations of the divine energy that takes various forms for its purposes is from the one source and finally merges into it once it serves its purpose. That source is light or jothi or Sivan.

This explains why we have a pantheon of myriad Gods and Goddesses with so many sub-regional and clan-related variations in the lesser deities. Just as a particular medicine on administering heals a person by itself or in combination with other medicines, the Siddhas and the deities execute their powers either singlehandedly or in association with others. The energies are the same, only the intensity varies. It is the same story for electricity too. Electricity is generated or produced from varied sources of the one primary energy. Transforming other forms of energy to electricity by means of electromechanical generators; or solar photovoltaics that converts sunlight or solar radiation into direct current electricity by use of semiconductors; geothermal power including dry steam power stations, flash steam power stations and binary cycle power; or by other means such as the kinetic energy of flowing water and wind, it is made available for industrial and domestic use. However, its initial power has to be stepped down by using Step Down Transformer that reduces the voltage to comply with its usage in all the household electrical appliances or as in Step-up transformers used in transmission lines before it is finally made available for specified purposes, tools and machinery.

Ramalinga Adigal who is synonymous with the word compassion cannot possibly bring himself to do something else besides and apart from showing kindness and compassion. As the saying goes that "You have to remove a thorn with a thorn", we have read in our Puranas of how the Gods and Goddesses have taken on new forms and weapons to rid the world of danger from souls bent on destroying others. Beings who gained boons after performing vigorous tapas, and saw themselves as equals to the Gods, eventually saw themselves battle with the divine. As a boon given cannot possibly be taken back, there was a need for a battle to take place to subdue the ego or ahangkaram that raises its hood in these once devoted subjects.

Those who saw the subtle divine dance or Anandha Tandavam at Tiru Chittru Amballam or Tiruchitramballam within are Siddhas, says Agathiyar. Rishis and Devas are always immersed in the dance of the atoms. Watching this state of divine dance the Siddhas remain in a state of bliss and Mukti that is freedom from the endless cycle of transmigration. If it necessitates they come out of this state for our sake. As the age-old adage to Tiruvannamalai from the Arunachala Mahatmyam goes, "By seeing Chidambaram, by being born in Tiruvarur, by dying in Kasi, or by merely thinking of Arunachala, one will surely attain Liberation."

To lay eyes on Chidambaram gives Mukti,
To be born in Tiruvarur gives Mukti,
To die in Kasi (Varanasi or Benaras) gives Mukti, and
just the thought of Tiruvannamalai gives Mukti.

திருவாரூரில் பிறந்தால்தான் முக்தி கிடைக்கும்,
காசியில் இறந்தால்தான்  முக்தி கிடைக்கும்,
சிதம்பரத்தில் தரிசித்தால்தான் முக்தி கிடைக்கும், ஆனால்
நினைத்தாலே முக்தி தரும் தலம் திருவண்ணாமலை ஆகும்,

we understand today that the verse in the above adage that mentions that the very thought of Tiruvannamalaiyaar gives Mukti, stands ground since the thought is the finest of all forms of prana or life force. Being the finest, the mere thought gets us connected to the Stalam and its deity, even as we sit miles away in solitude. But this is only true of those who have had both bodies and minds highly purified and refined.

For Bhagawan Ramana, named Venkataraman Iyer upon taking birth on 30 December 1879 in Madurai, the mere mention of the word Arunachala kindled his mind and inflamed his soul that it drove him to leave his home and board the train for Tiruvannamalai in 1895, where he remained as an ascetic for the rest of his life. What had driven this teen of age 16 to take that drastic decision and make that long unknown journey? It is said that he had a sudden fear of death then. He was struck by "a flash of excitement" or "heat", like some avesam, a "current" or "force" that seemed to possess him, while his body became rigid. He initiated a process of self-inquiry, asking himself, "What it is that dies?" He concluded the body dies, but this "current" or "force" remains alive. Ramana Maharshi wrote, "Inquiring within Who is the seer? I saw the seer disappear leaving "That" alone which stands forever. No thought arose to say I saw. How then could the thought arise to say I did not see." He called his death experience Akrama Mukti, "sudden liberation", as opposed to the Krama Mukti, "gradual liberation." (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramana_Maharshi)

As for us who are lagging far behind in terms of practice and having a diminished soul power or Atma Balam, the Siddhas devised a simple but slow and gradual evolution of the soul. On the onset, the Siddhas bring us to a Nadi reading to make us understand the reason for taking birth. With this knowledge and understanding, that explains the relationship of birth with karma or cause and its effects, we can now determine our lives as to where we want to head thenceforth, and manage it better, knowing the right from the wrong not from the sacred texts or scriptures or through others but through our own experiences, avoiding those acts, deeds, and doings that would bring us further away from our goal in achieving or reaching the one state of Adhi Sivam. We can then take a course that keeps us aloft and avoid falling into the dungeons of the dragons that await to swallow us up, foiling our bid to attain the highest stature of God himself. Towards this, the Siddhas begin to show us the way to salvation - their way, tested and proven to bring the desired results. They want us to engage in home and temple worship and acts of Dharma as in Sariyai. They want us to engage directly in performing and conducting rituals as in Kriyai. They want us to take up asanas and pranayama as in Yogam. Finally, they shall lead us to Gnana a state highly revered by the Siddhas.

Coming to a guru on this path, he gives us an upadesa or deeksa mantra that then connects us to the relevant Siddha. Hence a connection is made 24/7 between the student and the Siddha. The Siddha then comes to take the reins and lead our lives. All we need to do is surrender. If before taking hold of the Siddha we were inundated by options and choices that were thrown towards us at every turn and corner, and as we figured out what was the right course to take and if we would accumulate more karma by doing it, now the Siddhas pave a smooth path for us to travel, reducing the options, thus narrowing the path. There are no more dragons and dangers lurking in the dungeons and dark looking to prey on us for we are alert and aware of the dangers that await. Through wise direction and decision, we avoid the pits. We are in save hands. If at all a danger or obstacle comes along, it is only because of some past action of ours that we had to exhaust and burn. Facing the danger with the strength given by the Siddhas, we eventually come out of it. As for an obstacle, we could wait and start the venture later or find ways to move around or overcome them. The Siddha shall give sound advice in these critical moments. For those weak in mind, they need assurances and encouragement to bring them to take the first step to fly. Here the Siddhas do come as mentors and give us good motivation to live. Our lives change the moment we come to a Siddha guru, if not entirely, at least a teeny-weeny bit in some. No one goes unscathed in a nice and good way by coming to them.

For those who heed his words and follow him, he turns them into another Siddha. The Siddhas scan through the past merits and determines if one is ripe to be picked to be groomed into a Siddha. Although the common saying, "The Guru comes when we are ready", goes well with times, they at times and for certain reasons come with a force to lift the potential student off his feet, and into their arms, even if the child cries and tries to free itself. Of course, for many of us who do not have a strong mind and are easily lured by peer groups, friends, and the pleasures of life, they come to ask, request, and remind politely for they know pretty well that we can never bring ourselves to sever or separate ourselves from the lure of the pleasures in this world.  For others, they are caught not in pleasures but the sufferings that they had brought onto themselves by the decisions they made which were in turn driven by the strong influence and impact of karma. Karma drives us to make decisions either favorable or to the contrary. As for those who are in deep trouble clarity of mind and making the right decisions is far from reality. The only option is to surrender to the Holy feet of the Guru to take hold of their fears and bring solace and peace. Having the Siddhas by our side, we will tend to make wise decisions and engage in favorable actions. They come to protect us from stepping overboard, engaging in actions that could be detrimental to our future both in this life and the others to come.

Mind over matter, that is, the use of will power to overcome physical power, works for those who are strong in mind. For others, the use of soul power works. Taking the guidance of the Guru, he works on his soul, slowly gaining sufficient soul power to stay aloft from his troubles, going through them without attachment. He gains the strength to withstand the sufferings; understanding that it is the body and not the soul that is put through the suffering and hard tasks. Taking control of the mind brings positive results. We soon come out of the predicament.

STORY TIME 3

After taking up the call by Agathiyar, I visited all the organizations linked to Agathiyar's name but none attracted me to stay on. I let it be. I continued with my home puja to the Siddhas reciting their names as shown by the Nadi Guru Senthilkumar. When Agathiyar told me to build a temple for him in the first Nadi reading and Sivabalan coaxed me to build one if I had the means, I began to look towards existing temples to see if they could provide a space for Agathiyar to be installed. None of the temple committees I approached wanted to accommodate my request, turning me down giving various reasons. I let it be. 

The years rolled by. 2002, 2003, and in 2004, Supramania Swami whom I met in Tiruvannamalai passed on his wish through my nephew and later spoke to me about his life long wish to build a temple for Lord Muruga. I thought it would be the right thing to see through my guru's vision. It was not important for whom I built a temple but my very participation in it that counts. We went ahead to help him purchase a piece of land nearby his guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar's ashram. But in the midst of beginning the construction, a stranger mysteriously drops by at his kudil and questions his motif in building a temple reminding him that he was already on the path of Gnana. Swami dropped the idea and intention. I let it be.

When I made an appointment to meet Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal in Malaysia the following year, I brought along a leaflet that Senthilkumar had passed me during my first reading. Tavayogi confirmed that it was his and the intended temple for Agathiyar was yet to be built. I mentioned to him that Agathiyar had asked me to come to his Siddha path, and Tavayogi pointed me to the local affiliate of his Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in Batu Caves. I frequented the place. But I guess my journey had to be a solo one for Agathiyar who came in the Nadi reading and pointed to this place too, later erased the reading and rewrote it, the moment I took up another initiation from Tavayogi as directed by him the same night. There was no mention of the earlier Peedham. Rather I saw myself journey to Kallar Ashram a month after Tavayogi left for India. Tavayogi took me on a mystical journey to the abodes of the Siddhas in the jungles and caves. 

After returning I carried on with the recitation of the names of the Siddhas. Soon Tavayogi told me to carry out the Homam in my home. Agathiyar came in the form of a bronze statue initially meant to be placed at the Sri Raghavendra Mritiga Brindavanam in Ipoh. But he opted to stay put in my house permanently later. I began to carry out libation or abhisegam to his statue. Tavayogi came again to Malaysia and taught us some asanas and pranayama techniques. I learned fast. I was disciplined enough to put into practice whatever I learned. I never sought the results but gave my best in all the tasks given, directed, or instructed. I was pleased to fulfill the wishes of my gurus that became my priority. I did what they said. I guess since I listened and followed that is the reason they kept giving me more tasks, and instructions. 

Tavayogi went on to build a temple for Agathiyar in the years ahead and carried out its Kumbabhisegam in 2016, where several members from the AVM family and I attended. I thought that I had played my little part in fulfilling the need to build a temple for Agathiyar through Tavayogi. But the story never ended there. In 2018 Lord Muruga brings up the subject again asking me to build a temple for him through a Nadi reading. As I questioned the need for yet another temple he replied reading my mind that, "Yes I am aware of numerous temples built for me. But what you shall build will be different." I let it be. 

From the very start I was not keen on starting a following. I could have put in the word to Tavayogi and he would have been pleased to officiate a branch of his Peedham at my home as many did. Neither did he initiate me to start one. All he told me during the period where many branches of his Peedham were springing up was to preach the teachings of the Siddhas. Period.

I am still learning. Just as you think you understand something, something else crops up and trashes your earlier understanding. I never saw myself as a leader or guru for others. Neither was I a follower of others. I was a lone ranger. It did work well for me. I thought my home puja satisfied my soul and pleased the Siddhas too. Hence when Lord Muruga asked to move I questioned the need as all was well. This small home accommodated the occasional large gathering of his devotees and the occasional traveler too. I who usually scrambled to undertake to carry out the wishes, dictates and commands of the divine never moved to place any effort towards accomplishing it. The reason was I had seen by this time the amount of hardship undergone and the effort needed to bring this idea to reality, watching my brother-in-law build the Sri Raghavendra Mritiga Brindavanam, and seeing Tavayogi and Mataji go through similar hardship in realizing their vision come true. I had lost the steam in seeing through another temple complex built. It doesn't end with building one. It needs to be sustained. For that money and contribution has to be sought, which was not my cup of tea. The best solution would be if it could be self-sustaining - having produce that could be used for the rituals and bring in income for the maintenance, paying off utility bills, etc.

But Lord Muruga wasn't going to let me off so easily. Knowing that I would listen to Agathiyar he sent him to brainwash me into agreeing to take up the task. Agathiyar came within somebody and asked if I would not do it. I remained silent. He told me the reason to move was that my home was too small for the events they had in mind. He then told me that he would do it. I maintained my silence. Later when my wife went up to him, he said the same giving us a time period of 18 months for the venture to complete. But as we moved into the last month of the duration given, I was wondering what happened to this divine proposal? Agathiyar came and told me in September of last year, that I need not move. They had tested me to see if I had desired for it. If I had desired, I would have moved to put in the effort and the divine would have come to my aid in seeing the project launched, and completed. As I had no desire it did not take off.

After this episode, all things changed around us drastically. The AVM and AS group was dismantled bringing worship and charity to minimal. Instead we were all asked to go within. Lord Murugan, Amma, Dhanvantri, Agathiyar, Ramalinga Adigal, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Supramania Swami, and Tavayogi came to bless and asked us to go within. A new journey has begun. As we begin to explore this new frontier after traveling through Sariyai and Kriyai, we look forward to a more subtle and refine journey of exploration that is deep within the recesses of the body and mine.

I have no regrets in standing my ground. It has resulted in a much blissful journey, one that is beyond words. Having me let go of all the previous tasks and responsibilities shouldered, he has just one remaining task that he wants me to carry on that is writing this blog. Whenever I intend to call it a day and roll down the shutters as I did for the groups on Whatsapp, I either receive a call, mail, or message telling me how someone benefited from these pages. When I made this blog private for I thought I was sharing too much for a public domain, Agathiyar came and directed a devotee to read the blog to understand further. I made it public so that she and others referred by him could follow the posts. When again a couple of days ago I made it private, I myself could not view my blog. It looks like he has his hand in all things concerned with him, driving the reality in us that we are mere tools in his hand, doing his work. It looks like the blog is here to stay. Happy reading.

OTHER OLDER SITES

Before I began blogging, I was having and maintaining several websites. As I found blogging much simpler most of those sites have been left idle and un-updated. Many host domains have become defunct since then too. I was going through them and thought I should share the links here.

Click the play button on the player below to listen to songs.

Read some of my books below.

Listen to speeches by Tavayogi and Mataji below.

Read more books below.

Download and listen to songs below.

See photos below.

Listen to songs below.

Listen to speeches and Nadi readings below.

More speeches and Nadi readings below.

Yet more speeches and Nadi readings below.

One of the early websites below.

Read books below.

Watch videos on my YouTube channel below.

STORY TIME 2

I was shown the worship of deities both at my home altar and the temple by my parents. This continued when I moved out of my childhood home to spend my college days staying with my sister. This continued further when I landed a job and was posted to the coastal town of Lumut. I use to patronize the numerous temples in the vicinity besides doing home puja both at dawn and dusk. A.P.Muthukumara Shivachariya Swamigal's book on home worship together with all the numerous books of devotional prayers that I could lay my hands on at the bookstores was my guide then. I read a lot and engaged in rigorous discussions with fellow colleagues of mine and senior consultants in the project team back then. My journey on Sariyai then came to an abrupt stop when I had a dream and was transferred back to Kuala Lumpur at the same time. In the dream Lord Shiva told me to take a break and leave the questions and doubts I had then to a later date. Hence all forms of worship, reading, and the questioning stopped. That "later date" came some 14 years later in 2001, when I resumed worship to Lord Narayana in the form of a mantra and worshipped Lord Dhakshanamurty's painting, both of which came mysteriously through my nephew. 

With reading the Nadi the following year, I was called to the worship of the Siddhas by Agathiyar, which I took up without hesitation or reservation. The following year in 2003 I was brought to meet my very first guru Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai in a mysterious way too. Supramania Swami introduced me to his gurus. He taught me the meaning of dedication to one's guru by example. Three years on I meet my second guru Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal in Malaysia also rather in a mysterious way too. Tavayogi introduced me officially to Siddha worship. He introduced me to the ritual of Homa or lighting the sacrificial sacred fire. Agathiyar who by this time had arrived at my home as a bronze statue introduced me to the ritual of libation or abhisegam. Agathiyar and Tavayogi introduced me to the act of doing charity too. Armed with these tools and with these forces behind me I walked the path of the Siddhas performing the Homa, Abhisegam, and reciting the names and singing the praises of the Siddhas.

In 2013 Agathiyar starts to bring others to witness and participate in the rituals at my home. Our home puja opened to accommodate these newcomers. For ease of identifying my home, I named it Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) taking after the name of the place where Tavayogi had built his very first dwelling cum temple for Agathiyar at the foot of the Kallar Hills. G.Balachandran with his group of schoolmates Thondu Seivom aligned with AVM to serve and do charity. We extended our wings to perform rituals at temple grounds too. Armed with both tools Tavam or puja and Aram or charity, we carried out all the dictates of Agathiyar and the Siddhas and our gurus. We held the annual celebrations and Agathiyar Jayanthi at AVM to coincide with the celebrations at Kallar Ashram. Tavayogi who frequented Malaysia beginning from 2004 to 2016, came with Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar later to guide us from time to time. Members from the AVM family too visited his ashram frequently. Soon we were to find out for ourselves that what we had been asked to do all this while constituted the 5 tenets that Agathiyar had expounded at the Tamil Sangam back in time. We had fulfilled these 5 tenets that were laid out as the true purpose of man taking birth.

When I was a seeker on the path of the Siddhas I searched for organizations related to Agathiyar and the Siddhas locally. I frequented these places. I noticed that many turned up once a week on Thursdays to come together in prayer to the Siddhas and left to come again the following week. Their prayers were based on the centres schedules and aligned to the centre, never reaching beyond into their individual homes and families. Tavayogi had told me it was not sufficient that I came but that I had to bring my family into the worship of the Siddhas. I too did not find it convenient nor conducive to travel the distance to the nearest centre to join in on these weekly pujas. Hence I began to perform the prayers at home each day. My family joined in, both in the preparation and executing the prayers. With the coming of Thondu Seivom members and other individuals the group grew in size as my home began to shrink in size, struggling to accommodate Agathiyar's devotees and the casual visitors to the puja. Lord Muruga took the opportunity to remind me that there was a need to build a temple for him at this juncture.

When I read the Nadi the very first time in 2002, Agathiyar had asks that I build one for him. Sivabalan who brought in the Nadi reader from India coaxed me to build one if I have the means to do it for Agathiyar had placed the same requests to 50 others before me. Since the doors were shut on my face as I approached local temple committees to have Agathiyar installed on their premises, I opted to help Supramania Swami see his dream temple come through in Tiruvannamalai instead. Mysteriously in the early stages of construction, a stranger turns up at the door to his kudil or home and questions him about the need to build one reminding him that he was already in the path of Gnana. Swami dropped the idea. I thought the divine had dropped the need for me to build a temple for them then too. But it was not to be.

Agathiyar asked me to have his bronze statue made in Swamimalai and place it at the Jegathguru Sri Raghavendra Mritiga Brindavanam that was to be constructed back then in 2009. His statue arrived on time but the Brindavanam saw some delay in completion. As if knowing that there would be a delay Agathiyar asked that he be placed in my home while awaiting completion of the temple complex. When the Brindavan was completed and the time came for him to move, he did not utter a word about moving. When I was pressured for an answer whether he was coming over, I told them he was not. When I was doubting my action in stopping him from going over, Agathiyar tells me that he had chosen to remain in my home.

When Tavayogi moved to his new temple/ashram complexes closer to Methupalaiyam in 2016, I thought my contribution in building a temple for the divine had come to a close with the completion of my guru's wishes. But in 2018 Lord Muruga comes to remind me that there was still a need to build a temple for him. As he spoke in the Jeeva Nadi I was asking him in my thoughts, "Oh Lord, why another temple when you have numerous temples already in existence?" As if to answer my subtle thoughts, he replied that "Yes I know of the existence of all these temples. But I want you to build one for it shall be different." As I had kept my silence, not promising anything at that juncture, and seeing that I had not initiated the move towards fulfilling his wishes, he sends Agathiyar during a temple celebration that we held at Carey Island to come within a devotee to remind me again. As I stood silent before him not wanting to commit to this humongous task, Agathiyar told me that my home was no more conducive for he had big plans for me and my place. As I remained silent Agathiyar replied that he would do it. When my wife came up to him later, he spoke to her too that we needed to move as the premises had shrunk in size and were no longer able to cope with the crowd that he would bring along. But at the end of the duration in October of last year, after an 18 month grace period that he had given to see the fulfillment of their desires, he told me that it was not necessary for me to move. He revealed that he had tested me if I had harbored and carried the desire to engage in the massive task. I had passed his test.

This was mysteriously followed by a sudden change in direction for us at AVM. All the religious events and acts of charity were brought to a stop abruptly. One fine day last year as I sat alone and removed each member from our AVM Whatsapp group and its charity arm Amudha Surabhi (AS) and as the members watched in horror and stood mystified as to why I destroyed the very medium that we worked hard to build, I too was doubting my action, whether it was right or wrong. Agathiyar came to tell me that it was his doing. The reason: knowledge had been dispelled to others. It was time they took up the knowledge and performed individual prayers at home, chanting the names of the Siddhas, lighting the Homa, perform charity with their families etc. As for us, we had to move on now. We cannot wait for others to catch up on us any longer. We had to go within. This was the right moment for us to engage in Yoga and move into Gnana. Agathiyar asked us to revisit Tavayogi's teachings on the Asanas and Pranayama. He came with Ramalinga Adigal to guide us further on the intricacies of these practices. A handful of us have taken to this practice.

Today I understand why he broke the congregation that came together as AVM. It was slowly becoming a temple. Except for a few who actively engaged themselves in the preparation and execution of its events both religious and charitable, others turned up to watch, pray, and leave. They did not engage directly and actively in Sariyai, Kriyai, and Yogam as the Siddhas wanted. We were at times asked to light a lamp on behalf of others. We stood in as proxies and middleman defeating the very purpose of coming to the path of the Siddhas. Many came as devotees and left as devotees, as it would be in any temple worship. Agathiyar tore it all down. His intention was to get them to come, see, and conquer; watch, learn and put into practice and bring it back into their homes. Only a handful practiced the teachings of the Siddhas, personally reciting their names, lighting the homa, and watching their breath. The majority began to worship Agathiyar and the Siddhas but did not walk their path. They replaced worship of the deities at the temples with the worship of the Siddhas. Otherwise, all else was the same. What is the difference between temple worship and Siddha worship if we only bring our hands together and ask for favours as in the temples? The Siddhas want us to become Siddhas too, not merely worship them all life long, longing for favours.

Worship at temples does not bond us to the divinity residing within its walls. Only by getting on the ground and taking up personal worship can we build a personal relationship with the deity of our choice. Only when we take to performing rituals and worship personally, a bond and connection are formed.

The Siddha path is not similar to the Bhakti path, says Agathiyar finally. It has to be lived and experienced. Hence I understand fully well why Tavayogi took me into the forests and caves on the very onset of my journey rather than talk about it. He set me to do Homa while Agathiyar set me to do abhisegam. He taught us Yoga techniques that today Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal have come to expand on. Each time they came they asked us if we are doing it? So did Supramania Swami asks me if I was doing tavam? He kept reminding me to continue my tavam. Supramania Swami told me that no effort goes to waste. Ramalinga Adigal tells us that the only way of showing our appreciation and gratitude towards them was by putting in the effort.

In complying with my wishes in not wanting to be caught in beginning a venture of a physical nature and being tied to it till the end, being shackled to it, be it the most divine and noble a deed, the divine who understood my stand obliged me; although they did test my hold on my stand. Seeing that I could not be lured by the gifts of the Nadi, a Peedham, a high standing in the eyes of the public, etc, that they had mentioned that would come my way, finally, they gave their very selves to this beggar. Today I rejoice in the breath that moves within me; that brings coolness and bliss within. I rejoice in reading these posts just like you do, ingesting, understanding and imbibing the words that flow from him. What else can a man ask for?