There was once the unmanifested state or Anaathi or அனாதி or ஆதியின்மை. We know from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in his "Science of Being and Art of Living", a Meridian book, 1995, there is one Being, the absolute existence of unmanifested nature. The cosmic intelligence or creative power which is the nature of Being, initiated the first sound or vibration that generated prana out of itself, hence starting the process of creation and evolution, with a purpose. And that purpose he says is "Expansion of happiness."
Tavayogi in his "Andamum Pindamum" and "Atma Thathuvam" explains that the first vibration created from the first sound was known as Akaaram. The vibratory waves that sustained this first sound came to be called Ukaaram. Maakaaram was the field that helped contain these vibratory sounds. The body resonates with these vibrations, functioning effectively. It is interesting to note that Akaaram is linked to the left eye and Ukaaram with the right. Tavayogi explains that the breath that flows through the left nostril is known as Akaaram and that running through the right nostril is Ukaaram, creating vibrations in Edakala and Pingala respectively. As we speak these Nadis vibrate creating further ripple-like vibrations, called Maakaaram, in the midst of the head. The spot where these three sounds and their related vibrations congregate is known as Suzhumunai. Through watching the breath, the Siddhas realized that the only apparent difference between the living and the dead was the function of respiration. Acharya Gurudasan says that this is the only function we had control over as in pranayama. This observation mooted the Siddhas to find ways to increase and retain the prana that attaches itself to air and energizes all of creation including both the world around us and us. Tavayogi too once told me "Breath is God." Agathiyar has mentioned in numerous incidences that he gave his breath to save his devotee. It is rather timely that Agathiyar too has brought us to watch the breath.
Mahesh Yogi equates the mind to the waves in the ocean and the prana to the force in the wind that blows across the ocean's surface or the unmanifested absolute Being. "Karma acts as the force of the wind to produce a wave of the mind in the ocean of unmanifested Being. This inert karma supplemented by the life force prana gives rise to the mind." Prana manifests as the mind. "Prana is the first expression of cosmic intelligence or cosmic mind", says the Yogi. "The instrument is karma; it is propelled by prana, and carried out by the mind."
Acharya Gurudasan in his brief introduction to Yoga for Siddha Heartbeat quotes Bhagawan Ramana,
Tavayogi in his "Andamum Pindamum" and "Atma Thathuvam" explains that the first vibration created from the first sound was known as Akaaram. The vibratory waves that sustained this first sound came to be called Ukaaram. Maakaaram was the field that helped contain these vibratory sounds. The body resonates with these vibrations, functioning effectively. It is interesting to note that Akaaram is linked to the left eye and Ukaaram with the right. Tavayogi explains that the breath that flows through the left nostril is known as Akaaram and that running through the right nostril is Ukaaram, creating vibrations in Edakala and Pingala respectively. As we speak these Nadis vibrate creating further ripple-like vibrations, called Maakaaram, in the midst of the head. The spot where these three sounds and their related vibrations congregate is known as Suzhumunai. Through watching the breath, the Siddhas realized that the only apparent difference between the living and the dead was the function of respiration. Acharya Gurudasan says that this is the only function we had control over as in pranayama. This observation mooted the Siddhas to find ways to increase and retain the prana that attaches itself to air and energizes all of creation including both the world around us and us. Tavayogi too once told me "Breath is God." Agathiyar has mentioned in numerous incidences that he gave his breath to save his devotee. It is rather timely that Agathiyar too has brought us to watch the breath.
Mahesh Yogi equates the mind to the waves in the ocean and the prana to the force in the wind that blows across the ocean's surface or the unmanifested absolute Being. "Karma acts as the force of the wind to produce a wave of the mind in the ocean of unmanifested Being. This inert karma supplemented by the life force prana gives rise to the mind." Prana manifests as the mind. "Prana is the first expression of cosmic intelligence or cosmic mind", says the Yogi. "The instrument is karma; it is propelled by prana, and carried out by the mind."
Acharya Gurudasan in his brief introduction to Yoga for Siddha Heartbeat quotes Bhagawan Ramana,
“Control of mind by the control of breath is Yoga (Raja Yoga or Kriya yoga);Control of breath by the control of mind is Gnana” – Sri Ramana Maharshi
We learn from other sources that from a state of Anaathi it moved to the state of Aathi or ஆதி or The Beginning where the inherent darkness was dispelled. The plenitude and wisdom of the source or Aathi took the form of the soul. From the spirit came the soul, and then the body to house the soul. The first man was said to be Manu. Isan is a name for God. From Manu's race, man or manusan came forth. Hence the human being has the qualities of god or the buddha within or the light hence he is called manu isan. Our journey then is to get in touch with our original qualities, that of a manu isan.
But this journey is veiled by Maya or Maya Sakti or energies bent on derailing our efforts in reaching God. In order to reach him the curtain of illusion has to drop. If we are deceived by Maya and its many forms we come back, again and again, to continue the journey till one fine day we come to a realization that all else is illusionary. Then even if we have the yearning to reach him against all odds, the divine through its divine play or lila, places on our path various tests to evaluate us on how strong is our yearning and how determined are we to become something of his nature.
In the "Metaphysics of Saiva Siddhantam - Sivagnana Boodham" by Thiruvilankar Canagarayar, l96l, we are told that,
In order to purify the soul, the Primal One by His infinite Grace, applied Maya and Karma Malams, to the fettered soul, just as a washerman applies Fuller’s earth and cow-dung to remove the dirt in a piece of cloth. When Maya and Karma Malams counteract on Anavam, the ignorance of the soul, being the effect of the function of Anavam, is removed from the fettered soul and its intelligence illumines.
So it is not an easy task that is ahead of us. Besides our effort and determination, we need his grace to achieve him. As Manikavasagar sings அவன் அருளாலே அவன் தாள் வணங்கி, it is only possible with his grace. Ramalinga Adigal achieved it by incessantly calling out to him, begging and pleading for mercy and his grace. The purgative way saw him embark on the Journey, worshiping Lord Murugan in Chennai and Thirutani, Lord Siva and Vadivudai Ambigai in Otriyore, and Lord Nadarajah in Chidambaram; purging himself of all desires and attachments, and of all imperfections. Arriving at the illuminative way our efforts seize and we are totally dependent on Erai's grace to move further. The next part of the Journey, the unitive way is where we see results. The transformation takes place rapidly without our doing. Erai gifts us a body that can sustain his majestic presence. Erai personally sees through the necessary transformation to become him. Ramalinga Adigal said Agathiyar shall assist us in drawing aside the veil. Hence he asks that we stay faithful to him. We have surrendered to him completely. It is a known fact that with the coming of the Sadguru, the darkness dispels.
God appears as Satguru before the soul fettered by pasam or world of senses, and initiates it, on the ground of tapas performed by it in the past birth. On receipt of the Upadesa the soul realises its real spiritual nature as that of God and abandons the world and reaches the feet of God, as He is one with it. Now it is its duty to meditate on Him.
The Satguru's journey starts very much earlier, at the start of our lives, nay before this birth itself, in some cases, without our knowledge, and even before we come to know him. A growing fetus is in the care of its Satguru and upon taking birth moves according to the dictates of the Satguru until it becomes aware of its surroundings. His or her first awareness comes from the Satguru. Agathiyar said that Lord Muruga, Vallal (Ramalinga Adigal) and He had come years before even before I knew them and began to worship them. This explains the belief that each soul is assigned a Satguru or a guardian angel from the moment it takes its role in the divines play or lila. The Satguru who is with us in the divine kingdom keeps us company throughout our lifetime here on this earth, without we realizing their presence. The Satguru sustains us and gives us all the experiences needed to mold us into his form.
Similarly, the Satguru's Journey starts very much earlier, having trod the unchartered territories and discovered for him the path to Godhead. He has come to bring us holding our hands to walk the path too. That is the compassion and kindness of a Satguru, in wanting to see all of us rise as the Satguru has the tasks to elevate the spiritual station and bring his disciple to a state of perfection or Being or God.
Similarly, the Satguru's Journey starts very much earlier, having trod the unchartered territories and discovered for him the path to Godhead. He has come to bring us holding our hands to walk the path too. That is the compassion and kindness of a Satguru, in wanting to see all of us rise as the Satguru has the tasks to elevate the spiritual station and bring his disciple to a state of perfection or Being or God.
It is said that Agathiyar arose from the kumbam. People take it literally to mean an earthen or copper pot filled with water. In rituals the kumbam, a representation of a body, is tied decoratively with colored string to represent the nerves; a coconut is placed atop it that represents the head; mango leaves, and silk cloth adorn the neck of the vessel, and scented water that represents the water/blood in us; is placed inside the vessel completing the Purnakumbam. Once completed it represents the bimbum or deity that is invoked to come within, reside, witness, and bless the puja. Once sanctified through the ritual and prayer the contents of the Purnakumbam are emptied on the statue of the deity, as in libation or abhisegam, consecrating the idol and transmitting the powers from the homa, rituals, and prayers to it.
Although we have brought Agathiyar to reside in this vessel and take up its form, in actuality, Agathiyar arises from within kumbam which is the innermost heart. Tavayogi autographed his book "Andamum Pindamum" - ஆண்டவன் உரைகின்ற இடம் தங்கள் உள்ளம். அதுவே பயணத்தின் தொடக்கமும் முடிவும்", "Aandavan Uraigindra Edam Thangal Ullam, Athuve Payanathin Thodakkamum, Mudivum" when translated means, "Erai lives in your heart, from where the journey starts and ends too" - pointing to the disciple’s Heart as the Beginning and End of the Path shown by Him. Lord Muruga too came to ask us to open our hearts.
Walking initially in the shadows of the Satguru, a child upon reaching adolescence coming to know and differentiate the right from wrong; his or her ego inflated, and he/she knows that he/she has a choice and a say in his/her life, the Satguru moves into the shadow. Worldly knowledge takes precedence then. Wisdom comes later from the accumulation of worldly experiences. Finally, if he or she seeks divine knowledge, the Satguru comes forth to make Gnanam available provided he or she is willing to travel within.
The Satguru sees the urgency in dealing with his disciples at times. Although he is beyond the grasp of time and space since we are all tied down to all things relative and are governed by the stars and the planets, they come at the appropriate time and place to kindle our interest or memory of a past life with them and bring us on their path. I remember how literally I had to run to keep up with Tavayogi in the jungles of India. Never for a moment did he turn back to look at me or check on me if I was following. Agathiyar tells us that we cannot wait for another to catch up with us for then our Journey shall be delayed. Hence the reason for him to use me as a tool to break the group Agathiyar Vanam that we built up since 2013 and Amudha Surabhi in 2015, recently. As the Journey toughens only the disciplined, dedicated, committed, and courageous can possibly keep up.
The Satguru keeps an eye on us although staying in the shadows. I was diligently practicing the Asana and Pranayama techniques as taught by Tavayogi in 2008, together with cleansing practices. He says its a treasure that I and several others received from him. He monitored my practice closely suggesting an alternative diet to counter the internal changes that had begun to take place with the practice. He dictated what to take and what to avoid. He extolled the benefits of controlling the breath or pranayama. This was the way the Siddhas attain deathlessness, he said. He names Lord Ganapathy and Buddha as an exponent of the control of the breath. He says he shares the truth that came to be known to the Siddhas, in the hope that I continue to work on myself further, hence asking me to stay with them.
சிறப்பெல்லாம் வாசியிலே அடங்கிருக்கு
சித்தர் எல்லாம் வாசி வழி தேர்ச்சி கண்டார்
சிறப்புமிக்க மூத்தோனும் புத்தனும் தான்
சிறப்பான வாசிக்கே அதிபதி ஆவார்
ஆனதொரு வாசியை அடக்கினாலே
ஆயுளோடு மரணமில்லா பெரு வாழ்வு உண்டு
தவசி எல்லாம் வாசியாலே தவமும் பெற்றார்
தான் அடைந்த உண்மையெல்லாம் உனக்கு உரைத்தோம்
அடைய வேண்டும் பக்குவங்கள் இன்னும் பல்வார்
அதனாலே எங்களோடு தொடர்ந்து இருப்பாய்
Patanjali came through the Nadi a month later in May of 2008 and gave some tips too. Later Agathiyar comes to say that all is going well. In August of 2009 he gives another pranayama technique to follow. He adds on more practices to help bring concentration. These were practices that the Siddhas did too, he said. Meantime Agathiyar came to my home as a bronze statue in 2010.
Sometime before 2011, I pulled a string, a nerve to be exact. One day, as usual, I was in the shower carrying out the daily morning routine of rubbing a pinch of the powdered Karisaalai herb against the uvula that helps remove the phlegm from my throat. As I coughed up the phlegm and spat it out, I felt a tug followed by a shape pain arising in my right buttocks that ran down my right leg till my toes. I froze in pain. When I referred the pain to others, they thought that it was sciatica.
பாரிச (உடலின் ஒரு பக்கம்) பீடைகளும் வந்து நிற்கும்
உற்றதொரு மூலாதார சக்கரமும்
உயர் விதமாய் உஷ்ணம் அடைந்ததால்
உரைக்க வரும் சோர்வுகளும் தேகம் தன்னில்
உரைக்கலாம் முக்கூற்று திரிப்பும் இப்போ
முறையாகச் சமநிலையில் இல்லாதிருக்கச்
சோதனைகள் வந்து நிற்கும் அச்சம் மிகுந்து
செப்பலாம் தவம் தன்னை நிறுத்திவைக்கப்
பங்கம் ஏதும் வந்திடாது கலக்கம் கொள்ளா
If the bhakti path is one of frequenting the temples and worshipping god externally, seeing him in the temple statues and paintings, putting forth our wishes, and having the priest bring our desires to God asking them to be fulfilled; the Siddha path is one that brings us to engage actively rather then be passive spectators, making its teachings a way of life. We learn to perform rituals, do charity, read the scriptures, praise the Siddhas, and share the joy and blessings we gain from their worship with others. We are taught Yoga to keep our body and mind fit. For those keen on going within, the Siddhas guide them further. In the Siddha path, we are able to see various stages of transition in the sadhaka. He who had dwelled in Sariyai takes up Kriyai and comes to Yogam. Gnanam is the big prize awaiting him then. Throughout this Journey the Satguru accompanies us. He rejoices in seeing us reach their state too. Agathiyar who came as a visiting consultant has come to stay put as the resident consultant, our Satguru. This was possible with the might of puja. Sariyai and Kriyai were the stepping stones to Yogam and hopefully Gnanam too.
The Satguru sees the urgency in dealing with his disciples at times. Although he is beyond the grasp of time and space since we are all tied down to all things relative and are governed by the stars and the planets, they come at the appropriate time and place to kindle our interest or memory of a past life with them and bring us on their path. I remember how literally I had to run to keep up with Tavayogi in the jungles of India. Never for a moment did he turn back to look at me or check on me if I was following. Agathiyar tells us that we cannot wait for another to catch up with us for then our Journey shall be delayed. Hence the reason for him to use me as a tool to break the group Agathiyar Vanam that we built up since 2013 and Amudha Surabhi in 2015, recently. As the Journey toughens only the disciplined, dedicated, committed, and courageous can possibly keep up.
The Satguru keeps an eye on us although staying in the shadows. I was diligently practicing the Asana and Pranayama techniques as taught by Tavayogi in 2008, together with cleansing practices. He says its a treasure that I and several others received from him. He monitored my practice closely suggesting an alternative diet to counter the internal changes that had begun to take place with the practice. He dictated what to take and what to avoid. He extolled the benefits of controlling the breath or pranayama. This was the way the Siddhas attain deathlessness, he said. He names Lord Ganapathy and Buddha as an exponent of the control of the breath. He says he shares the truth that came to be known to the Siddhas, in the hope that I continue to work on myself further, hence asking me to stay with them.
சிறப்பெல்லாம் வாசியிலே அடங்கிருக்கு
சித்தர் எல்லாம் வாசி வழி தேர்ச்சி கண்டார்
சிறப்புமிக்க மூத்தோனும் புத்தனும் தான்
சிறப்பான வாசிக்கே அதிபதி ஆவார்
ஆனதொரு வாசியை அடக்கினாலே
ஆயுளோடு மரணமில்லா பெரு வாழ்வு உண்டு
தவசி எல்லாம் வாசியாலே தவமும் பெற்றார்
தான் அடைந்த உண்மையெல்லாம் உனக்கு உரைத்தோம்
அடைய வேண்டும் பக்குவங்கள் இன்னும் பல்வார்
அதனாலே எங்களோடு தொடர்ந்து இருப்பாய்
Patanjali came through the Nadi a month later in May of 2008 and gave some tips too. Later Agathiyar comes to say that all is going well. In August of 2009 he gives another pranayama technique to follow. He adds on more practices to help bring concentration. These were practices that the Siddhas did too, he said. Meantime Agathiyar came to my home as a bronze statue in 2010.
Sometime before 2011, I pulled a string, a nerve to be exact. One day, as usual, I was in the shower carrying out the daily morning routine of rubbing a pinch of the powdered Karisaalai herb against the uvula that helps remove the phlegm from my throat. As I coughed up the phlegm and spat it out, I felt a tug followed by a shape pain arising in my right buttocks that ran down my right leg till my toes. I froze in pain. When I referred the pain to others, they thought that it was sciatica.
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body. (Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sciatica/symptoms-causes/syc-20377435)I saw the doctors. They gave me a clean slate but put me on physiotherapy. I attended the sessions twice a week. I bore the pain for 2 1/2 years. Agathiyar watched silently. Finally, in November of 2011, when I decided to ask Agathiyar in the Nadi, he revealed the reason for the injury, that was subtle in nature. He tells me what was going on and why I succumbed to the back pain. He said I faced discomfort and pain in the body due to the heat generated in the Muladhara from these practices. The 3 dosas too have run out of proportion. Hence he asks to stop all forms of practice. He suggested several Siddha herbs to consume.
பாரிச (உடலின் ஒரு பக்கம்) பீடைகளும் வந்து நிற்கும்
உற்றதொரு மூலாதார சக்கரமும்
உயர் விதமாய் உஷ்ணம் அடைந்ததால்
உரைக்க வரும் சோர்வுகளும் தேகம் தன்னில்
உரைக்கலாம் முக்கூற்று திரிப்பும் இப்போ
முறையாகச் சமநிலையில் இல்லாதிருக்கச்
சோதனைகள் வந்து நிற்கும் அச்சம் மிகுந்து
செப்பலாம் தவம் தன்னை நிறுத்திவைக்கப்
பங்கம் ஏதும் வந்திடாது கலக்கம் கொள்ளா
If the bhakti path is one of frequenting the temples and worshipping god externally, seeing him in the temple statues and paintings, putting forth our wishes, and having the priest bring our desires to God asking them to be fulfilled; the Siddha path is one that brings us to engage actively rather then be passive spectators, making its teachings a way of life. We learn to perform rituals, do charity, read the scriptures, praise the Siddhas, and share the joy and blessings we gain from their worship with others. We are taught Yoga to keep our body and mind fit. For those keen on going within, the Siddhas guide them further. In the Siddha path, we are able to see various stages of transition in the sadhaka. He who had dwelled in Sariyai takes up Kriyai and comes to Yogam. Gnanam is the big prize awaiting him then. Throughout this Journey the Satguru accompanies us. He rejoices in seeing us reach their state too. Agathiyar who came as a visiting consultant has come to stay put as the resident consultant, our Satguru. This was possible with the might of puja. Sariyai and Kriyai were the stepping stones to Yogam and hopefully Gnanam too.