What is the difference between temple worship and Siddha worship you might ask?
Temple worship is where we go to the temple, and pay homage and respect to all the Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu pantheon who are given a form and are shaped in stone. We pray for good health, wealth, and trouble-free life. We might put forth other specific requests or Sankalpa too. We might wish to conduct a ritual as in a Yagam or the act of feeding the devotees too. We make a payment towards this cause and arrive on that day to witness it. We become passive bystanders.
Siddha worship is where we go to a Peedham or an organization that preaches the teachings of the Siddhas. We pay homage and respect to the Siddhas who are given a form and shaped in stone, bronze or fiber. We pray for good health, wealth, and trouble-free life. We might put forth other specific requests or Sankalpa too. We might wish to conduct a ritual as in a Yagam or the act of feeding the devotees too. We make a payment towards this cause and arrive on that day to participate in it. We become passive bystanders.
But there is no difference between the two you might say. We only substituted the forms and names of the object of worship. Exactly. This is what we see happen. We have only replaced the idols. The true path of Siddha dictates that we play an active role in all the four stages outline along the path namely Sariyai, Kriyai, Yogam, and Gnanam. Active participation in all these stages will slowly but surely enhance the body and the soul. The numerous experiences and the lessons derived from them and knowledge gained by active participation bring us towards making us a Siddha too eventually. The Siddha path is a way of life. One has to live it.
We see many temples and organizations mushrooming these days having caught the fever. Rather than building temples externally would not it be better first to make our home a temple for the divine to reside and later make or heart his abode too? If he begins to live in you, you do not need to seek him elsewhere. He will come to strengthen the body and soul. If he lives in you no harm can come your way, no diseases will inflict you. If at all you face dangers, suffer misery and illness it is because you are clearing your house (body) off its past and accumulated dust and grime (karma).
I too was asked to build a temple for Agathiyar in my very first Nadi reading. Initially excited and thinking that I was the chosen one to build a temple for God, my joy and excitement was dashed by the young Sivabalan who sat with me during my reading. Sivabalan brought in the Nadi reader from India. He told me to catch hold of my ego for I was not the only one whom Agathiyar had asks. There were 50 people before me. But he added that if I have the resources to do it. Later when Supramania Swami had a divine inspiration to build a temple for Lord Murugan, we worked on it. I agreed to help since I saw it as fulfilling Agathiyar's wish too besides fulfilling the 40-year desire that my guru carried with him. But a stranger whom we presume was a Siddha or Erai himself stopped him from pursuing the matter telling him not to go back to Bhakti while he was already a Gnani. When Tavayogi spoke about building a temple for Agathiyar, I asked him why he wanted to do so since he was always telling us to step out of Bhakti into Gnana. He replied that it was for the people. Recently Agathiyar told us that Tavayogi had acted on his directive. I suppose that was the purpose Tavayogi came for to preach the path and leave behind a temple for beginners to the Siddha path to know about the Siddhas, participate in the rituals like Yagam, practice Yoga and go within. When Lord Murugan brought up the subject again in 2018, something I thought was over and done with, with my participation in helping Tavayogi see his purpose and mission done, I kept my silence. He sends Agathiyar to coax me into agreeing. I kept my silence again. Finally, Agathiyar tells me recently that they had tested me if I shall fall for the bait. I had passed the test. If it is revealed in my inner travels going within that I should build one, so be it.
An interesting story is told in the journal "Mountain Path", at http://www.sriramana.org/ramanafiles/mountainpath/2017%20IV%20Oct.pdf
In the literature related to the life and teaching of Sri Ramana Maharshi, one can find many references to Sankara’s Śrī Dakṣiṇāmūrti Stotram. In "Talks" Bhagavan begins His explanation of it by setting the stage in His own words:
Brahma, the creator, created four sons from his mind. They were Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanathkumara and Sanatsujata. They asked their creator why they were brought into existence. Brahma said: “I must create the universe. But I want to go to do tapas for realizing the Self. You are brought forth in order that you may create the universe. That will be by multiplying yourselves.” They did not like the idea. They wondered why they should take the trouble on themselves. It is natural for one to seek the source. They therefore wanted to regain their source and be happy. So they did not obey the commands of Brahma but left him. They desired guidance for realization of the Self. They were the best equipped individuals for Self-Realization. Guidance should be only from the best of Masters. Who could it be but Siva – the yogiraja. Siva appeared before them sitting under the sacred banyan tree. Being yogiraja should He practice yoga? He went into samadhi as He sat; He was in Perfect Repose. Silence prevailed. They saw Him. The effect was immediate. They fell into samadhi and their doubts were at an end.
Although to be offered the role of the creator is a massive task and an honor the Sanatkumarars refused it for a bigger ideal, that of knowing the source. Similarly, it is not wrong to turn down an asking that brings us to remain or stagnate at any one level of spiritual evolution, in favor of a bigger task as in this story to know oneself. Ramana's teachings bypass all the rests of these stages outline by tradition. He brings us to Gnana directly. But since we cannot comprehend nor make out much of his direct teachings, we are brought to travel the simpler path. Yet we want everything served on the plate or worst still to be spoon-fed. We want others to do prayers, puja, remedies, etc for us or on behalf of us or be in-between or mediums. We never resolve to solve our needs and problems always hoping that someone will wipe them away magically. We then end up feeling cheated, conned, and disappointed. Agathiyar clearly says that there is no easy way to rid ourselves of our karma nor is there a shortcut in reaching him. We have to sail the rapids in the former and track the perilous path in the latter. And we can never appoint proxies for either.
Bring the deity of your choice into your home first. Place him/her as a picture at your altar in your prayer room. He/she will begin to move in with you. Worship him/her with all your heart. He/she then moves into your hearts too. That is all to it. He/she will do wonders while staying at your home and in your hearts.