WHO LIVES, WHO DIES, WHO TELLS YOUR STORY

My daughter today showed me a video of a stage musical titled "Hamilton: An American Musical." She had been watching the play recently and today told me that I should watch the song "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells  Your Story" that is sung on stage. The song goes as follows.

Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story

Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton

Let me tell you what I wish I'd known
When I was young and dreamed of glory
You have no control
Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?

President Jefferson
I'll give him this, his financial system is a work of genius
I couldn't undo it if I tried
And I've tried

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?

President Madison
He took our country from bankruptcy to prosperity
I hate to admit it
But he doesn't get enough credit for all the credit he gave us

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story

Every other founding fathers' story gets told
Every other founding father gets to grow old

And when you're gone, who remembers your name?
Who keeps your flame?
Who tells your story?
Who tells your story?
Who tells your story?

I put myself back in the narrative
(Eliza)
I stop wasting time on tears
I live another 50 years
It's not enough (Eliza)

I interview every soldier who fought by your side
(She tells our story)
I try to make sense of your thousands of pages of writings
You really do write like you're running out of time

I rely on Angelica
While she's alive, we tell your story
She is buried in Trinity Church near you
When I needed her most, she was right on time
And I'm still not through
I ask myself, what would you do if you had more time
The Lord, in his kindness
He gives me what you always wanted
He gives me more time

I raise funds in D.C. for the Washington Monument
(She tells my story)
I speak out against slavery
You could have done so much more if you only had time
And when my time is up, have I done enough?
Will they tell your story?

Oh, can I show you what I'm proudest of?
(The orphanage)
I established the first private orphanage in New York City
(The orphanage)
I help to raise hundreds of children
I get to see them growing up
(The orphanage)
In their eyes I see you, Alexander
I see you every time
And when my time is up
Have I done enough?
Will they tell your story?

Oh, I can't wait to see you again
It's only a matter of time
Will they tell your story? (Time)
Who lives, who dies, who tells your story? (Time)
Will they tell your story? (Time)
Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?

(Source: Musixmatch, Songwriters: Lin-manuel Miranda, Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story lyrics © 5000 Broadway Music)

I was brought to tears. Why? It spoke about having a Reason; it spoke about our Role here; it spoke about our Purpose; it spoke about Leaving something behind; it spoke about Lighting another candle, all that we held true to our hearts and had shared in this blog in the past. We could connect to the wonderful lyrics. Only some time back my daughter and I spoke about how our lives were a compilation of short stories. She then highlighted to me that Rudyard Kipling's "Jungle Book" too was a compilation of several short stories. Then she spoke about "Loki Agent of Asgard" too. I told her to share what she had read and watched. I open the floor to her.

WHO LIVES, WHO DIES, WHO TELLS YOUR STORY

Alexander Hamilton was one of the founding fathers of America. He is most known as the man on the US$10 note, as the 1st Secretary of Treasury and the creator of the US financial system.

Although he greatly contributed in fighting for America's freedom and building it up from the foundations, he was not one of the most remembered founding fathers until the 2015 stage musical Hamilton premiered.

The song "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story" talks about how we do not have control over who remembers us, how they remember us, and whether they choose to keep our story alive.

Hamilton had escaped death many times throughout his life, and believed he had survived that long for a reason. He worked non stop his entire life to better America in hopes of fulfilling whatever that purpose was.

He eventually was shot by Aaron Burr in a duel at around age 47- 49.

While every other founding fathers' story got told in museums and history classes, Hamilton's was mostly told by his wife Eliza with help from her sister Angelica.

After his death, Eliza who outlived him another 50 years tried her best to continue his work. She collected stories of the men who fought alongside Hamilton, compiled his many writings, collected funds for the Washington Monument, spoke up against slavery, and opened the first private orphanage in New York in her husband's memory, who was also an orphan.

Throughout the song, she keeps asking herself when her time runs out, has she done enough? Will we tell her story?

In the last lines of the song, we hear the company ask the question again: Who tells your story? And we hear the company reply: Time. Only time will tell.

While she spent her life keeping the stories and legacies of the people around her alive, the same was not done enough for her.

In the final moments of the musical, Eliza is shown entering heaven, where she does not meet her husband Hamilton, but Lin-Manuel Miranda, the writer and creator of the play and actor who plays Hamilton.

He takes her hand and guides her to the front of the stage, where she breaks the fourth wall, and upon seeing the audience, she gasps with joy.

The creators of the stage musical have told her story.

Beautiful, right? My daughter now moves on to the next story that of Loki.

Just before evil Loki dies, he makes a deal with the Queen of Death to be reborn with his powers intact so he may continue causing chaos.

However when he is reincarnated as Kid Loki without memories of his past life, almost everyone he meets is afraid of him or wants to fight him as they do not trust Loki and believe it is impossible for him to be good.

Seeing this, Kid Loki decides that he wants to change that and prove that he can be good. 

Now a young adult, he starts serving the All-Mother in the Agent of Asgard series.

He gets sent on missions on her behalf, and with each mission he completes, a page from his past life is removed or rewritten, slowly wiping away all the evil deeds commited in his past life.

He tries to change his identity and get people to like him, choosing the form of a handsome man and trying to get on everyone's good side.

Eventually, he gets attacked and kidnapped by a future version of himself called King Loki, who travels to the past to tell him that his efforts will go to waste.

Because King Loki had successfully rewritten his entire past, but people still saw him as Loki, the God of Mischief and Chaos, the Liesmith, the Silver-tongued, and would never fully trust him.

So he decided that he will stick with the role he was given, and traveled back in time to cut his missions short and turn his younger self evil sooner.

But the present Loki refuses. He realizes that even when people try hard to put him in a box labeled evil and nail it shut, he has control over his story and his life.

He forgoes his good looks and people pleasing, rebranding himself as the God of Stories, because there cannot be Order without Chaos. Heroes cannot be remembered for their good if Loki was not around to cause the mischief and chaos.

His role now is to protect the stories of the Asgardian Gods and the people of Earth. Even when he is offered a seat among the Gods after saving them, he walks away saying he is done picking sides.

As the world comes to an end, he traps the stories of the Asgardians and the Avengers in the final battle.

He also traps his bestfriend Verity as she is telling the story of her life, essentially trapping her soul and essence.

He explains to her that their existance is entirely dependant on the stories told about them, and how when the universe is reborn, he will release these stories into the new universe.

He tells of how people on Earth used to sit around fires during a storm to tell stories of how the thunder and lightning was created by Thor smashing his hammer on the ground of the sky, and the rain was the blood of his enemies falling to earth.

These stories not only gave hope and wonder in times of fear, but possibly created the Gods themselves who would not exist if stories of them were not told.

Whether the Gods created people or people created Gods, he does not know. But his job now is to ensure their existance by making sure their stories keep getting told.

We can relate to this story too. As Loki says with each mission he completes, a page from his past life is removed or rewritten, we are here to change what we had done previously through each task or mission too. Some of us have vivid memories of it, others none while still others could remember with some assistance. Just as Loki explains that our existence is entirely dependant on the stories told about us,  we exist only because there is a story behind us. 

My brother is a great storyteller too being a journalist himself. He wrote about our father on Father's Day in an online paper. He had a story to tell about our father (https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2021/06/20/my-father-my-son/) 

Many years back and again in January this year, he wrote about my mother too. (https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2021/01/13/when-little-valli-met-pandit-nehru-and-set-off-the-taiping-incident/)

Recently he wrote about my brother too. (https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2021/06/11/emergency-in-the-estate-ghani-to-the-rescue/)

And not forgetting our grandchildren too. (https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2021/06/12/little-prisoners-of-the-pandemic/)

This blog too is about stories. Just as Loki traps the stories of the Asgardians and the Avengers, in this blog we capture the lives of saints and Siddhas. We capture stories about common people like you and me. When we pick up Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography or Paramahansa Yogananda's autobiography we momentarily relive their life. As Carl Sagan wrote about books, "They allow people long dead to talk inside our heads", and as Loki trapped Verity's soul and essence, the lives, soul, and essence of the saints live in these pages too. 

People simply love listening to stories. My daughters grew up listening to some wonderful stories. One of our favorites was the 1964 edition of "Little Chick Chick." My elder daughter had heard the story told so many times that she had memorized it. She would repeat it by heart while gazing at the ceiling. Then it was told to my second daughter. Today I tell it to my granddaughter. 

We are indeed made up of stories. We too have heard of the stories, the myths and legends, fables and Puranas etc that are told of the Gods. As Loki suggests that "These stories possibly created the Gods themselves who would not exist if stories of them were not told," Agathiyar in his "Agathiyar Gnanam" surprises us saying someone clever made up some good old stories back then too.

மயங்குதற்கு ஞானம்பார் முன்னோர் கூடி
மாட்டினார் கதை காவ்யம் புராணம் என்றும்
இயலான ரசந்தனில் ஈப்புகுந்தாற் போலும்
இசைத்திட்டார் சாத்திரங்கள் ஆறென்றே தான்
வயலான பயன்பெறவே வியாசர் தாமும்
மாட்டினார் சிவனார் உத்தரவினாலே

உத்தாரம் இப்படியே புராணம் காட்டி
உலகத்தில் பாரதம் போல் கதை உண்டாக்கி
கர்த்தாவைத் தானென்று தோண ஒட்டாக்
கபட நாடகம் மாகம் ஏதம் சேர்த்துச்
சத்தாக வழியாகச் சேர்ந்தோர்க்கு எல்லாம்
சதியுடனே வெகு தர்க்கம் பொருள் போல் பாடிப்
பத்தாகச் சைவர்க்கு ஒப்பனையும் செய்து
பாடினார் சாத்திரத்தைப் பாடினாரே

பாடினதோர் வகையேது சொல்லக் கேளு
பாரத புராணம் என்ற சோதியப்பா

நீடியதோர் ராவணன் தான் பிறக்க என்றும்
நிலையான தசரதன்கை வெல்ல என்றும்
நீடியவோ ராசன் என்றும் முனிவர் என்றும்
நிறையருள் பெற்றவர் என்றும் தேவர் என்றும்
ஆடியதோர் அரக்கர் என்றும் மனிதர் என்றும்
பாடினார் நாள்தோறும் பகையாய்த் தானே

கழிந்திடுவார் பாவத்தால் என்று சொல்லும்
கட்டியதால் நல்வேதம் அறு சாத்திரங்கள்

அழிந்திடவே சொன்னது அல்லால் வேறொன்று இல்லை
அதர்மம் என்றும் தர்மம் என்றும் இரண்டு உண்டாக்கி
ஒழிந்திடுவார் என்று சொல்லிப் பிறப்பு உண்டு என்றும்
உத்தமனாய்ப் பிறப்பன் என்றும் உலகத்தோர்கள்
தெளிந்திடுவோர் குருக்கள் என்றும் சீடர் என்றும்
சீவனத்துக்கு அங்கல்லோ தெளிந்து தாணே

Bringing us to question if all we knew to be true was infact true, Agathiyar then leads us to the truth, pooranam or the breath. He says evolution is not much about taking higher forms but to extend the breath and eventually extending one's lifespan.

பூரணமே தெய்வம் என உரைத்தார் ஐயா
பூரணத்தை இன்னது என்று புகல வேண்டும்
காரணத்தைச் சொல்லுகிறேன் நினைவாய்க் கேளு
கலையான பதினாறும் பூரணமே ஆகும்
மாரணமா மூலகத்தில் மதி மயங்கி மதிகெட்டுப்
பூரணத்தை இகழ்ந்தார் ஐயா
வாரணத்தை மனம் வைத்துப் பூரணத்தைக் காத்தால்
வாசி என்ற சிவயோக வாழ்க்கை ஆச்சே

ஆச்சப்பா இந்தமுறை பதினெண் பேரும்
அயன்மாலும் அரனோடும் தேவர் எல்லாம்

மூச்சப்பா தெய்வம் என்றே அறியச் சொன்னார்
முனிவோர்கள் இருடியர் இப்படியே சொன்னார்
பேச்சப்பா பேசாமல் நூலைப் பார்த்துப்
பேரான பூரணத்தை நினைவாக் காரு
வாச்சப்பா பூரணத்தைக் காக்கும் பேர்கள்
வாசி நடுமைத்துள் வாழ்வார் தானே

தானென்ற பெரியோர்கள் உலகத்து உள்ளே
தாயான பூரணத்தை அறிந்த பின்பு
தேனென்ற பானமதைப் பானம் செய்து
தெவிட்டாத மௌன சிவயோகம் செய்தார்
ஊனென்ற உடலை நம்பி இருந்த பேர்க்கே
ஒரு நான்கு வேதம் என்றும் நூல் ஆறென்றும்
நானென்றும் நீயென்றும் சாதி என்றும்
நாட்டினார் உலகத்தோர் பிழைக்கத் தானே

பிழைப்பதற்கு நால் பலவும் சொல்லா விட்டால்
பூரணத்தை அறியாமல் இறப்பார் என்றும்
உழைப்பதற்கு நூல் கட்டிப் போடா விட்டால்
உலகத்தில் புத்தி கெட்டே அலைவார் என்றும்
தழைப்பதற்குச் சாதி என்றும் விந்து என்றும்
தந்தை தாய் பிள்ளை என்றும் பாரி என்றும்
உழைப்பதற்குச் சொன்னது அல்லால் கதி வேறில்லை
உத்தமனே அறிந்தோர்கள் பாடினார்கள்

Agathiyar says we tend to become comfortable with these stories and forget our real purpose in coming here. We must find our true purpose, live it and leave a story behind, our story. We are here to leave a mark, we are here to leave behind our story that shall be remembered by our kith and kin. If it is a good one they shall cherish and carry it with them. If it was a bad one, they might prefer to bury it and move on with their lives. Those who have yet to discover their purpose could take a clue from the late poet Kannadhasan who lists out several states that man could rise to in the following song of his.

மனிதன் என்பவன் தெய்வமாகலாம்

மனிதன் என்பவன் தெய்வமாகலாம்

மனிதன் என்பவன் தெய்வமாகலாம்

வாரி வாரி வழங்கும் போது வள்ளல் ஆகலாம்

வாழை போல தன்னைத் தந்து தியாகி ஆகலாம்

உறுதியோடு மெழுகு போல ஒளியை வீசலாம்

மனிதன் என்பவன் தெய்வமாகலாம், தெய்வமாகலாம்

ஊருக்கு என்று வாழ்ந்த நெஞ்சம் சிலைகள் ஆகலாம்

உறவுக்கென்று விரிந்த உள்ளம் மலர்கள் ஆகலாம்

ஊருக்கு என்று வாழ்ந்த நெஞ்சம் சிலைகள் ஆகலாம்

உறவுக்கென்று விரிந்த உள்ளம் மலர்கள் ஆகலாம்

யாருக்கென்று அழுத போதும் தலைவனாகலாம்

மனம் மனம் அது கோவிலாகலாம்

மனிதன் என்பவன் தெய்வமாகலாம்

மனிதன் என்பவன் தெய்வமாகலாம்

மனிதன் என்பவன் தெய்வமாகலாம்

மனமிருந்தால் பறவைக்கூட்டில் மான்கள் வாழலாம்

வழியிருந்தால் கடுகுக்குள்ளே மலையைக் காணலாம்

மனமிருந்தால் பறவைக்கூட்டில் மான்கள் வாழலாம்

வழியிருந்தால் கடுகுக்குள்ளே மலையைக் காணலாம்

துணிந்து விட்டால் தலையில் எந்த சுமையும் தாங்கலாம்

குணம் குணம் அது கோவிலாகலாம்

மனிதன் என்பவன் தெய்வமாகலாம்

வாரி வாரி வழங்கும் போது வள்ளல் ஆகலாம்

வாழை போல தன்னைத் தந்து தியாகி ஆகலாம்

உறுதியோடு மெழுகு போல ஒளியை வீசலாம்

மனிதன் என்பவன் தெய்வமாகலாம், தெய்வமாகலாம்

(Source: Musixmatch, Manithan Enbavan lyrics © Saregama Music United States)

As the lyrics of the song "உள்ளம் என்பது ஆமை" goes "தெய்வம் என்றால் அது தெய்வம் அது சிலை என்றால் வெறும் சிலைதான் " we choose what is and what is not. 

உள்ளம் என்பது ஆமை

அதில் உண்மை என்பது ஊமை

சொல்லில் வருவது பாதி

நெஞ்சில் தூங்கி கிடப்பது மீதி

உள்ளம் என்பது ஆமை ...

தெய்வம் என்றால் அது தெய்வம்

அது சிலை என்றால் வெறும் சிலை தான்

உண்டென்றால் அது உண்டு

இல்லை என்றால் அது இல்லை

இல்லை என்றால் அது இல்லை

உள்ளம் என்பது ஆமை ...

தண்ணீர் தணல் போல் எரியும்

செந்தணலும் நீர் போல் குளிரும்

நண்பனும் பகை போல் தெரி்யும்

அது நாட்பட நாட்பட புரியும்

நாட்பட நாட்பட புரியும்

உள்ளம் என்பது ஆமை ....

(Source: http://tamilsong2015.blogspot.com/2014/09/ullam-enbathu-aamai-lyrics-paarthaal.html)

As Loki suggests that "These stories possibly created the Gods themselves who would not exist if stories of them were not told" we are keeping the stories and legacies of Agathiyar alive through this blog. Please stay with us.

THE RELIEF IN KNOWING THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE 2

After something gave way at the spot in the small of my back where I had to endure excruciating pain and brought instant relief and well being I went to work, run errands, shop for items, and sit long at my home puja joyfully. I traveled to Kallar again, my second visit, with my family then in 2013. En route we stopped over at several temples. I took a walk with Tavayogi on his regular morning walk, this time accompanied by my family. It brought back fond memories of our walk together around the ashram and having extended the walk to cover the jungles and caves too of Tamilnadu in 2005. We spend some time at Ooty too going boating. We climbed the small hillock behind Tavayogi's ashram where we paid our homage to Agathiyar in the form of a granite statue. 

We took a ride in the classic means of transport the parisal,  over the river Kaveri, to pray to Lord Shiva, Lord Muruga, and Agathiyar at the Nattadreeswar temple that stood upon a boulder in the middle of the river. Leaving Kallar for Trichy to return to Malaysia, we climbed the flight of stairs to Thayumanavar Temple and Uchipillaiyar Temple build on Rock Fort. I fear to imagine what if the pain had come back then? But Agathiyar saw to it that I completed my eagerly awaited trip to India. 

The years moved fast with the arrival of the team of youngsters at AVM the same year, as we saw puja and charity done regularly. Agathiyar kept me well throughout this time. Beginning from January 2016, I could continue my puja and participate in all the charitable programs laid out by the youths full-time now as I had retired that year. Just days before my daughter's wedding in June 2016, the pain crept back. But it was mild and manageable. I guess I must have moved the furniture, pots, and many other things at my in-law's house in enthusiasm and in preparation for my daughter's big day, way too far and far too much. Mentioning it to Tavayogi and Mataji who were in Malaysia to bless my daughter at her wedding, they passed me a herbal pill that they took too. But the pain lingered. Dhavantri gave us a pleasant surprise when he came through a devotee and relieved my pain by applying his prasatham, the sacred ash, that was brought over by another devotee from His temple precisely at the very same moment. As Bala Chandran and his wife had just returned from India, they came over with the temple prasad from the numerous temples they had visited. When he mentioned he had prasad from Dhanvantri's temple, I told him that I had an urgent need for it and told him about my back pain that had recurred. Bala applied the ash followed by Mahin. Dhanvantri then came and treated me. I was told it was a case of excessive Vata. Dhanvantri asked to warm some sesame oil and apply it to my back. It brought some relief. After some time the pain went away without my knowledge.

Agathiyar made sure that I was well enough to travel to India to participate in the inauguration of Tavayogi's new ashram with the rest of the AVM family members in December of the same year. He made sure I could keep up with the youths traveling to all the temples en route to Kallar ashram. Again we traveled in the parisal crossing the river Kaveri to the Nattadreeswar temple. He made sure I could sit for the duration reciting the songs of praise to the Siddha's at the Yagam that was lit on the ashram grounds. He made sure that I could climb the 2000 steps up Othimalai and pay my homage and respect to Othiappar. When my family kept reminding me that I was no longer young and had to behave according to my age, Agathiyar came in the Nadi reading on 18.11.2017 and threw in a punch line referring to my age and appreciating my vigor to participate with the youngsters in these trips and in doing service. 

பாருலகில் வயோதிகமும் வந்த போதும் வாலிப மாந்தர்கள் தன்னை சிந்தைக்கேற்ப வல்லமையாய் பணி தொண்டு செய்வாய் மகிழ்ந்தோம்.

Then one day the dreaded pain caught me by surprise as I sneezed while crossing the streets to my car after making some purchases. I froze right in the middle of the street in pain. I had to squat down but I was in the middle of the road then. I managed to pull myself to the car and drove back in pain. The most compassionate and loving father, Agathiyar knew my agony and the intensity of the pain and knowing pretty well that I could never withstand pain, mentioned it in the Nadi reading on 7.10.2018. In explaining to me the circumstances as to why it kept recurring, he told me it was a case of the Vasi or the breath that went awry. He gave me five herbal preparations to consume and ointments to apply externally. 

சிறு வழியும் பொறுக்காது தேகம் அப்பா. பிள்ளை உனக்கு வலி வருத்தம் இல்லாது சத்வீக வாகடங்கள் சொன்னோம். உனக்குத் தான் நித்திரை தவ வாசி காலம், வாசியும் சீர் பிசைக்கி முடங்கித் தான், சோர்ந்திடாது நீ திடங்கள் பெறுவதற்கு தீர்க்கமுடன் எங்களின் வாகடன்கள் சொல்வோம் தான். அதர்க்கு வெற்றியும் சடுதி காண்பாய். வாத நல் நாராயணன் சூரணமும் வாத கேசரி தைலமும் பிண்ட தைலம் மேல் அங்கம் பூசியும் வரவே சிறப்பு. தக்கதொரு பெருங்காய இளகமும் தவறாது முடக்கத்தான் இளகமும் ராஜா தான் ஓளடதங்கள் உனக்குச் சொன்னோம்.

I gained some clarification regarding what Agathiyar said from http://www.tknsiddha.com/medicine/vatham-pitham-kapham-tridosha/. Just as we are told what is out there is also within us, there is a distinct relationship with the external world and man.

The external air corresponds to the internal vata; the external heat corresponds to the internal pitta and the external water corresponds to the internal kapha or phlegm. Man is thus linked with the external world and any change in the elementary condition of the external world has its corresponding change in the human organism. And it is upon this inter change of influences that the tridosha theory and the doctrines of humoral pathology are based.

These three humors, vata, pitta, and kapha through their combined actions and the normal ratio of 4:2:1 help maintain the upkeep of the human body.

Any change in these proportions is sure to bring about disease to death, but the maintenance of their normal proportion gives vitality to the organisms and assures the preservation of health and longevity.

According to the Siddha medicine system, the three humors, (Muppini or Mukkuttram in Tamil Siddha medicine system and Tridosha in Ayurveda system) normally occupy the lower, middle and upper parts of the body - vata in the regions of the pelvis, the pitham in the region of the stomach and the internal viscera and kapha or phelgm in the regions of the breath throat and head.

While this reading was recorded and forwarded to me by Nadi Nool Aasan Ramesh Aiya, without the need for my presence in his place, the following day the equally compassionate Lord Muruga brought veteran Nadi Nool reader Taranibalan Aiya over to my home where He addressed us in the Nadi and came to treat me through a devotee simultaneously! It was a marvel and something I think has never happened before in the history of Nadi reading or in the history of God speaking through others as Arul Vaakku. 

8.10.2018

தேகத்திற்கு முதுமை அது வந்துவிட்டாலும் என் சீடர் அகத்தீசர் இங்கு இருக்க அரூபமாய் சொரூபமாய் சித்தர்களும் முத்தர்களும் வந்து அருள் பாலிக்க இந்தத் தேசத்தில் சப்தமின்றி அகத்தியரை பலருக்கு காட்டினாய் அப்பா. உன் தொண்டை மெச்சு கின்றேன். வலுத்த பலரை வசியம்போல் கட்டி நின்றாய். நின் தேகம் தளருது அப்பா. இந்தக் காலம் உன்னுடைய முதுகு எலும்பும் இடுப்பும் சேரும் எலும்பு சந்திப்பெல்லாம் தானே ஒருவித இறுக்கமாய் இருக்குது அப்பா. அங்கே இருந்திட்ட தைலம் அது உலர்ந்து போனது அப்பா. இதுதான் உண்மை. ஆச்சப்பா மின்னல் போன்று வலி தோன்றும் அங்கே. அப்போது தான் துடிதுடித்து நிற்பாய் அப்பா. உனக்கு மருத்துவம் சில செய்ததாலே மாற்றங்கள் கால் பங்கு குணமாகக் கண்டேன். சாற்றனல் இது எதற்கென்று கேள். அகத்தில் நீ அமர்ந்து தவம் தியானம் செய்யச் செப்புகிறேன். அலைச்சலை தவிர்த்துக் கொள்ளு. சில காலம் பனி வேண்டும் என்ன செய்ய. அதற்குத்தான் வர்மா தைலம் வாங்கி அப்பா உன் முதுகு எலும்பில் தடவி தானே வெந்நீரில் ஒத்தடம் தருவாய். சிறப்பாக நரம்புதனை எலும்பு தனை வலுவாகும் லேகியம் இதுவே. இது உன் மேனி திடம் ஆக்குதற்கு சொல்லும் வாக்கு. 

வாக்குப் படி உன்னுடைய இல்லம் தன்னை நாங்களும் எடுத்துக் கொண்டோம். மைந்தனே நீ செய்த தொண்டிற்காக, நீ செய்த புண்ணியத்திற்காக,  நீ அளித்த அன்னத்திற்கு, மைந்தனே அகத்தியரை புசித்தற்காக, ஆகவே நான் வந்து உன் இடத்தில அருள் நூலைச் சொன்னேன் அறிந்து கோல். தெளிவாக்க அகத்தியரும் புறப்பட்டு விட்டார். திறம்படவே நீ நடமாட வேண்டும் அப்பா. தீர்க்கமாய் அதற்குத் தான் நூல் உரைக்க வந்தேன். வந்ததும் சுப்ரமணியன் கட்டளையாக. மேலான அகத்தியர் வனம் தபோவனம் ஆகும். தவம் செய்யும் வனமாகும் அப்பா. ஆறுமுகன் கூறுகின்றேன் உன்னால் எழுந்து நடமாட முடியும். குமரனும் இன்று இரவே அற்புதம் செய்வேன். அதற்க்கு ஒரு குவளை நீர் வேண்டும். சிறப்பாக அருட்ஜோதி மந்திரத்தை யாவரும் சொல்ல வேண்டும். உன் வலியை ஜோதி மந்திரத்தால் நீக்கிவிட்டேன். உணர்வாக உயிராக  மகேந்திரனிடம் வந்து உள்ளேன். வந்து விட்டேன் அவனுடனே இரங்கி விட்டேன். வேலவன் விளையாடப் போகிறேன். 

எங்களின் தபோவனத்தில் அற்புதம் செய்தோம். பெரும் கருணை கொண்டுதான். ஆசி மாற்றங்கள் தருவதர்கே நூல்மூலம் வந்தேன்.

It was sheer amazement to see two age-old mystical traditions, the written word in the oracle or Nadi and the spoken word through a person, come together that evening to address my pain. It was concurrent, with the Lord in the devotee attending to my pain, healing, and bringing relief while the Lord came through the Nadi too and ran us through the process of healing read by the Nadi reader. Lord Muruga decided to end it once and for all, by performing a miracle that day. He treated my causal body that carried the source of the pain by stroking my back with peacock feathers. To add to this amazement, we had the Rajah-Malathy family bring a big "bouquet" of peacock feathers for Agathiyar several days before as if they knew the need for it would arise. All who were gathered that day were asked to chant the Arutperunjhoti mantra where its vibration and waves were "collected" in a glass of water that was given to me to drink. The pain subsided in the days to come. 

I remember vividly how in my young days before my 13th birthday, I used to sought relief for all my illness by going next door and standing in front of the altar of our neighbor that carried all the statues and paintings of Chinese Gods. My neighbor was a huge old man. He would begin chanting verses in Chinese and hit his bare back with the blunt edge of a sword. He would then write certain Chinese characters in red ink onto a yellow strip of rice paper and burn it. The ash would be collected in a glass of water. I was given the water to drink. I would be cured. Similarly, as we moved out of the place I remember many instances where I sat before Muslim masters who would go about the same regime chanting the holy verses into a bottle of water and pass it to us to drink. We would be cured. It is interesting to note that God cuts through the crap telling us that he shall come to people of all faith and religion. To the Gods, we are all one. They only see our souls, not our practice nor our hold on any particular faith. If God was to be partial he was not the all-encompassing God. He is the father to both an atheist and a believer too. If there was only one God then he is father to people of all faiths too.

Now, what is it with water and chants? We learn the answer from https://alessandrayoga.com/2013/03/12/water-vibration-and-consciousness-the-effects-of-mantra-and-visualisation-in-your-sadhana/, 

What has water to do with vibration, consciousness and sound? Resonance is the answer. If we think about sound as vibration, we know from the modern branch of physics (Quantum Physics) that everything vibrates and that solid matter is only an illusion. If we could see at the level of molecules, atoms and particles we would see no boundaries and only continuous movement. 

..... we are mainly constituted of water (from a staggering 99% when we float in our mother’s womb to 70% when we reach adulthood). We all know about the ripple effect of a pebble thrown in a still pond. We can see waves propagating in all directions from the centre to the peryphery. 

How water propagates information is a more subtle phenomenon. Water is informed by vibration. It resonates and therefore re-organizes itself at a structural level to reflect this information. ... water has also the capability to copy, memorize and carry information. Water responds to sound, words, music, pictures and to the state of mind of the people that come in contact with her.

The following day 9.10.2018, Lord Murugan described what took place at my place and in me to another devotee in his Nadi reading. 

அவுடைய அப்பனை ஜானாவுடன் சென்று பார்த்தாய். பாங்காக ஜானாவும் மருத்துவம் செய்தான். அவன் தனக்குமே அன்பர்களை அனுப்பி அவனைக் காத்தோம். செய்தித்தேன் நான் கூட அவனுக்கு. அவன் வலியைப் போக்கியுள்ளேன். அவன் தேகம் வலிமை குன்றியது அப்பா. அதனால் குருதி பங்கு குறைந்தது அப்பா. உடலில் தைல பசை குறைந்தது அப்பா. ஆனதனால் அவன் தேகம் இறுக கண்டேன்.  அதனால் எலும்புகளும் தேய கண்டேன். அதனால் மின்னல் போல் வலி அவனும் கண்டான். அவன் அமர்ந்து எழுந்திரிக்க முடியாது வலி அவனை வேதனை செய்ததது. அவனுக்கு ஒரு மருந்து செப்புகின்றேன். வர்ம தைலம் நரம்பு புஷ்டி லேகியம் இரண்டையும் ஏற்க பூரணமாய் வலி மறையும்.  தைலமும் உள்ளுக்குள் சென்று ஒருவித ஈரத்தை ஆக்கும். எலும்புகளும் தேயாது நிற்கும். 

ஒருமுறை நூல் அங்குச் சென்று அவன் மகிழ நூல் உரைத்தோம். நேற்று மால் மருகன் சுப்ரமணியன் ஜீவ நூலாய் ஜீவனாய் மகிந்திரனிடம் இறங்கி அவன் உடலைச் சார்ந்திருந்தது ஆவுடைய அப்பனுக்கு சிகிச்சை செய்து வந்தேன். நேற்று ஆறுமுகன் பேசினேன் இறங்கினேன் ஒருகணத்தில். நன்றாய் மயில் இறகு கொண்டு சண்முகத்தின் தேகத்தை தடவி அவன் வலியைப் போக்கினேன். 

அவன் ஆக்கையை காக்க வேண்டும். ஓய்வு மிக வேண்டும். அகம் அடக்கித் தியான வழி சிந்தை கொள்ள வேண்டும். 

Lord Muruga took note of Shanga and Dr. Jana coming over to my home to treat me. He describes my agony to Shanga.  Similarly, he had sent others to help bring relief to me. He too had rid my pain. He described my state of health. He tells Shanga that I was overjoyed to have His Nadi bring over to my home. He brings live the previous day's happenings before Shanga's eyes telling him how he came simultaneously through Mahindren and the Nadi. He recommended another ointment and herbal medicine. He prescribes Varma Tailam and Bushti Legiyam. We learn from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myelin a detailed explanation regarding what Lord Muruga said.

De-myelination is the loss of the myelin sheath insulating the nerves. Your brain, peripheral nerves, and spinal cord are covered by a layer of fat that is called myelin. This fat has a role in providing insulation to the nervous system and if you are lacking proper myelin or eroded, you may have to experience some symptoms of nerve dysfunction. They can be mentioned as muscle weakness, diminished vision, and inexplicable chronic pain.

To supply optical nutritional support to your nervous system, you have to ensure an adequate amount of healthy fats, and vitamin D, and vitamin B12. They are all essential to keeping optimal myelin so that strengthen your nervous system health.

He had a piece of advice for me too, to reduce my activities and go within. Srinatha Raghavan's writing on Fb surprisingly had a familiar ring to Lord Muruga's reason in bringing on this agony to slow me down to go within. 

Relax the Body,

Energise the Nerves (Nadis),

Then the Mind too will retire, That's Meditation.

Agathiyar came the following year to shut down all our activities and together with Ramalinga Adigal brought us within by passing us several breathing and meditation techniques. What happened to another senior devotee recently is surprisingly similar to what Lord Muruga did. Agathiyar took the blame when he fell at home and injured his shoulder. Agathiyar wanted him to slow down, leaving all the rituals and to go within too. Who can fathom the Lila of the God's?

They gave me an extension in life not to continue to do the same old things and stuff in life but to do theirs. What did I do to deserve such kindness and compassion from the Gods?

After those years of agony and relief, I would feel some momentary discomfort whenever I jump around with my granddaughter when we burst soap bubbles or play in the rain. My wife and daughters keep a watchful eye not our the child but me, reminding me constantly of my back and telling me when it was enough and when to stop. I just cannot resist the urge to join my granddaughter in jumping around in the rain. Have you seen children spinning around? My first granddaughter used to do that a lot. Now my second does too. Then I discovered that it was one of five yoga moves in the Tibetan Yoga rites. It was said to bring balance and energize the chakras. 

The Sufi dancers in Turkey are known to spin, turn or whirl too. It is considered an active meditation. https://www.euronews.com/travel/2021/05/15/sufi-whirling-meet-the-dancers-who-learn-to-spin-before-they-can-talk

Now, who taught these children these? Watch these children at play without adult supervision and we shall learn a thing or two. Sadly we are pushing our ideas and habits on them rather than giving them space and avenues to explore. Tavayogi said that we should be free to explore telling me that the Siddhas cannot be caged up either physically or through doctrines. 

I guess I have fully recovered since then, thanks to all the great souls who came to my aid and most importantly the Gods who came to my call. As I was practically "crippled" in 2011 and 2018, the divine made sure all these aids and assistance came to me in good time. All these wonderful souls contributed their ever vast knowledge and years of training in bringing relief to me. T.Ramesh Aiya who read my Nadi some fifty-odd times, and looked into the Nadi for a relief for my back pain without the need to go over; Taranibalan Aiya who brought the Nadi to my home on hearing that I was in pain; Sri Krishna and his wife who drove him down in the pouring rain that eventful day; both Masters Arunan and Master Uvaraj, exponents of Varma Kalai and yoga, who rushed to treat me using Varma theraphy and energy healing respectively; Balamurugan, a former regional manager and accountant turned Siddha physician who came over to my home with his ointments and massaged me besides treating me through the art of Varma Kalai; Saravanan Palanisamy who brought me the ointments and herbal preparations, mentioned by Agathiyar in the Nadi and that Siddha physician Arivananthan Aiya of the Arulguru Aghathiyar Arulsiddar Peedam prepared willingly; Shanga, a former trainer at a gym, who came over to guide me on simple exercises that brought much relief; Dr. Janar who came over and gave me an injection right at the spot of the pain that brought instantaneous joy and relief and Mahindren who brought me the divine messages and in whom the divine worked to treat me. 

The Gods too showered their grace, compassion, and kindness on this insignificant soul. Of course, I am indebted to my gurus Supramania Swami and Tavayogi, who keep constant watch over me, my health, and my progress; Agathiyar who consoled and gave me prescriptions in the Nadi; Dhanvantri who came for my sake too; and of course Lord Muruga who came to complete the treatment. What have I done to deserve these blessings? How do I repay their kindness? I am indebted to all these good souls and the divine.

As usual, as there is always a lesson behind every happening. 

THE RELIEF IN KNOWING WE ARE NOT ALONE 1

I was in the traditional form of worship to Gods and Goddesses both at home and at the temples until an officer at my office passed me Yogananda Paramahansa's "Autobiography of a Yogi" and a painting of Lord Shiva as a parting gift. Mr. Sekaran was leaving for Yogananda's Ranchi Ashram to become a monk. He was in his early thirties then and had contemplated on it each time he returned home from a visit to the ashram. After his fifth visit, he decided to leave for good and never return. He submitted his resignation and left his job and family to start a new life. If Yogananda Paramahansa's autobiography pulled me to learn more about gurus and masters, Pandit Gopi Krishna's book on "Kundalini - Path to Higher Consciousness" intrigued me. It is of no surprise if the masters and gurus who had observed celibacy and adopted rigid practices and austerities in seclusion away from society perform this feat and raise this energy. But here was a book written on the accidental and sudden arousal of the much spoken and feared energy in a family man. The book captivated me. Fear crept in me too. I kept away from indulging in anything that would arise this energy. Anyway, I told myself of what use was this energy to a family man like me who still had many responsibilities to see through. 

It is only when we come to that particular spot that the saints stood on that we understand better their teachings, practice, and behaviors. When Tavayogi began writing he sought a quiet place. He chose to go to Sargurunathar's ashram some distance away. I thought why should he go elsewhere when he had the ashram where he could lock himself up all day long. When I was at his ashram with my family he brought us to Sargurunathar's ashram. We realized why he chose to write both his books there. It is said that Yogananda Paramahansa would sit by the open window and gaze at the skies and pen his work "God Talks with Arjuna - The Bhagavad Gita". The words would come gushing down in torrents. The serene and quiet atmosphere was absent at Kallar Ashram as devotees made their way there. Today as I pen these pages I too am in need of silence as the thought takes shape and as the words and sentences start rushing in. As Yogi Ramsuratkumar says it is difficult for us to meditate these days as there is too much interference in the airways so too we realize that it is difficult to put our thoughts on paper in a noisy neighborhood. When new tenants stepped into the houses both to the right and left of mine, I had to face a lot of din and noise. Bringing it to them occasionally worked fine for a couple of days but they were back to it later. Bringing it to the divine in my prayers, Ramalinga Adigal tells me that these irritations were there doing too. To test me further Agathiyar asked me to sleep in my prayer room. That is where all those neighborhood noises were heard clearly at night. The rattling air conditioners from the neighboring homes, the neighbor's children who would stay awake all night long fighting, shouting, and arguing till dawn, their parents who sleep in the day and work and move around at night, etc gave me sleepless nights and kept me awake. I was expected to overcome it. Mataji used to tell us that we should learn to become tolerant. Supramania Swami told my colleague that he hears nothing when my colleague questioned the din that came from a newly erected workshop right beside the kudil we built for him. Acharya Gurudasan tells us that the noise of the trains that traverse along the railway tracks beside his father's office where he started to meditate did not affect him. I  realize that I have a long way to go. Then I asked myself if that was why Agathiyar and Lord Murugan wanted me to move. But the reason Agathiyar gave was that the existing space in my home could not accommodate the large crowds that he planned and intended to bring over for our puja and his Vizha. Lord Murugan on the other hand wanted a proper temple. Hence the reason they came, again and again, to suggest I move. If they had told me of the impending troubles I would have to endure I would have moved away seeking somewhere quiet. But my place was quiet in the beginning as the access road to my housing was a dead-end then in 1994. Only residents used to ply the road. With the local council giving approvals to open up the road it now links us to numerous other housings over the hill that was bulldozed through. With Waze and Google Maps guiding motorists through these residential areas to avoid the pile-up of cars on the highway that runs by my housing estate, there is none stop traffic even in the dead of the night. Then there is dust that settles as a result of this heavy traffic, not forgetting the occasional odor that comes from the neighboring industrial estate. I cannot stomach the smell of eggs, fish, white meat, red meat, etc either raw or cooked on the frying pan these days. These smells make their way into our homes too. Then there is the stench of neighbor's cat's poo too. God help me. This might not be a problem to others but as a beginner like me asked to meditate it surely is a challenge. Bringing it to them again, Lord Shiva came and told me that he was aware of my dilemma. I shall move he said. But all is silent out there, for now, not the din but I mean with the Siddhas. The din still goes on till the early morning hours. 

I have come to realize that others either are not disturbed by it or scorn within and are not telling out. But I realized I am going through a phase where my hearing is amplified, my taste buds enhanced, my sight improved, and my nostrils identifies the slightest smell or aroma or odor these days. My skin pores have started breathing in the air apart from the nostrils. As I pick flowers in my garden, mild "electricity" passes from the tree into me. The breeze and winds that blow invigorate and energizes. The vision is clear now bringing pleasantness and joy. What was a - 4.5 diopter correction in my right eye and - 4 in my left in 2008, took a dive and became - 3.75 in both my eyes in 2014. Then it took a further dive again in 2020 becoming - 1.75 and 1.5 respectively. I can hear all the minute sounds and noises. All the motors that run the household appliances and equipment, the humming from the electricity that flows in the wires, the chirping of the birds and insects are all amplified. Some pleasant but others maddening. Hence everything either is a joy or is an irritation. Above all this, I can feel the pain of others bringing tears to my eyes. 

Wondering what was happening I looked through my small library of books. Swami Muktananda sheds some light in his book "Kundalini - The Secret of Life" published by Siddha Yoga Publication, 1994.

He writes that "On her journey to the Sahasrara, kundalini passes through all the sense organs, purifying them and investing them with new powers." He adds that when the chakras of the sense organs are purified the physical senses become sharpened and refined. "As kundalini rises to the ocular center, she purifies the eyes." I have yet to experience what was written. "As the kundalini purifies the sense of touch, one begins to feel thrilled of love through every pore and hair of the body. One becomes immersed in the joy of touch." I have seen brief moments of this joy. "When kundalini reaches the center of smell it purifies that and one comes into direct contact with the essence of smell." Indeed I can smell the essence of things these days. I have yet to smell the subtle smells that the Swami talks about. "When the Shakti moves to the auditory center, she purifies this too." I have yet to hear the celestial harmonies as described by him. "When a shower of nectar is released and begins to fall dropping onto the root of the tongue, the taste buds become extremely refined. Even the simplest food is relished", he says. This is indeed true. There are moments when there is an absence of hunger. At other times one can eat like horse.

All this is a reminder that Ramalinga Adigal came to give us recently, "போதும் என்ற மனமே பொன் செய்யும் மருந்து" and goes on to explain its meaning, "நீ போதும் என்று சொல்லும் நிலை உன்னை அறியாமல் நீ பெற்றுக்கொண்டுதான் இருக்கிறாய்."

The more we move away from the desire for more wants, it shall come onto you, gifted each time.

But all these could be my imagination as some might suggests. I turn to Agathiyar for confirmation. I look back into my past Nadi readings for Agathiyar and the other Siddhas had outlined the process and the transformation on this journey very briefly back then. 

17.2.2007

சொல் மாற்றம் வாக்கு மாற்றம் நடை உடை மாற்றம் கண்டேன். 

Changes in speech, walk, and dressing is seen. 

4.3.2007

குரல் வளமும் இளமையும் வசீகர தெளிவும் என் பூசையில் மாற்றம் காண்பாய். 

Changes in the voice, youth, aura, and clarity shall result from performing the Siddha puja.

 

10.3.2007 பிருகு

ஒப்பில்லா ஞான கனல் தேகம் தன்னில் உருவாகும் தவ ஞான பயிற்சி தன்னால்.

Bhrigu comes to reveal that the internal heat shall build-up due to these tapas and practices.

18.5.2008 பதஞ்சலி 

பயிற்சிகளும் முறையே செய்ய வர்ணமும் ஆதாரம் சித்தி ஓங்கும். வண்ணமதாய் பயிற்சிகளும் முறையே செய்ய வளம் பெருக்கும் வர்ணமும் ஆதாரம் சித்தி. கொண்டதோர் குண்டலினி ஓங்கும் பாரு.

Pathanjali came to mention the inherent changes taking place. In carrying out the yoga practices the aura and chakras shall be enhanced. Kundalini shall rise.

The continued practice of Yoga Asanas and Pranayama that Tavayogi taught us on his visit to Malaysia and the Siddhas revealed in the Nadi led to many changes that took place within. The volume of prana inhaled expanded to the brim of the lungs and the body bursting. But the feeling was of joy, not the least hurtful. But what did hurt was my back later towards 2011. I was continuing the practices. Agathiyar came in the Nadi to drive me to do too.

3.4.2010

சாதகனே என் யோகா பயற்சி தன்னை சாற்ற நீ தினம் காலை மாலையும்  தான் சரி சிறப்பாய் செய்து வர யோகம் அப்பா. 

Agathiyar encouraged me to carry on all the practices given. 

9.8.2010

உண்டான ஞான கனல் மிகுந்த காலம் உயர்வான காலம் இது இந்தக் காலம்.

He points out that the tapas has generated extreme heat within what he calls Gnana Kanal.

17.10.2010

அடையோகம் தன்னில் கிட்டும் சித்தி எல்லாம் அவையனைத்தும் தவமொடு வழிபாட்டில் பெறுவாய். ஆனதொரு ஆரோக்கியம் மட்டும் சோடை. ஒளடதமும் பிடகனை அறிந்து ஏற்க்கவே மாற்றங்கள் ஏற்றம் கிட்டும். என் அருளால் பூரணமாய் பரிசுத்தம் காண்பாய்.

What is generally achieved through Hathayoga is now possible through Tapas and Puja. But he points out to my health that was declining. He asked to see a Siddha physician who can bring it back to its former state. With his grace, I shall recover well.

19.4.2011

In a timely manner, I received his Moola Mantra too through the Nadi. This was a panacea for all curses, sins, diseases, and arrogance. I began to chant it.

ஓம் ஸ்ரீம் ஓம் சற்குரு பதமே 

சாப பாவ விமோசனம் 

ரோக அகங்கார தூர் விமோசனம்

சர்வதேவ சகலசித்த  ஒளி ரூபம் 

சற்குருவே ஓம் அகத்திய கிரந்த கர்த்தாய நம  

Then my back hurt very much. I thought initially I have pulled a nerve as I cleared my throat during my morning bath as always. As I threw out the sputum, I felt an excruciating pain in my left buttocks, that went down right up to my toes. It made me squat in pain. I had to crawl out of the bathroom after some time. The pain aggravated by each day. Initially, I could not walk for a long distance and a long time and had to look for a place to rests my feet and aching back. Then I could not sit for long too. Sitting was itself painful. Then the pain woke me up in my sleep. I had to crawl out of bed. What was to be a restful sleep turned into a nightmare as I would wake up with bodily pains. That is how I shuttled between work and home. Driving was painful too as I had to engage the clutch. Seeking the late Dr. Krishnan, a Siddha physician, and friend, for advice, he checked three aspects of my health and struck them off as potential causes or reasons. I did not have pain while urinating. Neither did I have blood in my urine. So I had no stone in me. My feet were not swollen so my kidneys were fine. Lastly, he asked me to take an X-ray to determine if I had slip disc. I headed for the nearest government clinic. The X-ray showed nothing wrong with my back and backbone. But they referred me to the Orthopedic Specialist at the general hospital for a second opinion. She gave me a clean slate too. I returned to the clinic to begin my session of physiotherapy that began on 12.5.2011. 

Meanwhile, I called up to see Ramesh and read Agathiyar's Nadi. 

9.8.2011

ஆக்கையிலும் அகத்தியன் அருளும் பார்வையும் அருள்படிய மிகுந்திருக்க குழப்பம் கொள்ள. தக்கதொரு அகத்தீசன் நாமம் ஓதி ஓதியே உருவும் ஏறி ஓதாத காலத்திலும் ஓதி கொண்டிருக்கு. உருவேற்றி உருவேற்றி உயர்வடைய செய்தாய். உன்னை காத்து வாழவைப்பேன் நானும். 

Then Agathiyar specifically addressed my issue in his நடைமுறை பிரசன்ன ஆசி நூல். Agathiyar addressed the issue clearly. 

26.11. 2011

தரணிதன்னில் எங்கள் வழி மார்க்கத்தில் தப்பாது பூசையும் தவமும் செய்து தான் உயர்வு அடைந்திட்ட பாலகன் உனக்குத் தரணியே உயிர் பிணி ஏது சொல்வோம் உடல் பிணி ஏதுதான் அச்சம்கொள்ள. பாரிச பீடைகளும் வந்து நிற்கும். உற்றதொரு மூலாதார சக்கரமும் உயர் விதமாய் உட்டனங்கள் அடைந்ததனாலே உரைக்க வரும் சோர்வும் தேகம் தன்னில். உரைக்கலாம் முக்கூற்று திருப்பும் இப்போ முறையாகச் சம நிலையில் இல்லாதிருக்க சோதனைகள் வந்து நிற்க்கும் அச்சம் மிதந்து. சிறப்பு தரும் வாகடமும் செப்பலாம். அமலாகி வாகடனத்தை சுத்தமுடன் மண்டலங்கள் எடுக்க நன்று. சிறப்பு தரும் யோகம் மாறாத் தனக்கு இப்போ த்ரிபலாகி லேகியம். செப்பலாம் தவம் தன்னை நிறுத்திவைக்க.  சிறப்பு இருக்கு வழிபாடும் முறையே மாறாது சூரிய வழிபாடும் செய்ய வழிபாடும் வேலவர்க்கும் முறையே செய்யப் பங்கம் ஏதும் வந்திடாது கலக்கம் கொள்ள.

Agathiyar spelled out the reasons and the solution in the form of several Siddha herbs and prayers. He classifies my agony as Paareesa Peedai or உடலின் ஒரு பக்கம் that was external and "superficial, existing or occurring at or on the surface and  appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely." He says the Muladhara chakra had attained intense heat resulting in my condition leading to immobility. The three dosas too have gone haywire. He asked to consume Amalaki and Triphala. He asked that I stop all forms of tapas for the time being. He asked that I pray to the Sun God and Lord Murugan to bring relief. 

16.1.2011

வாகடன்கள் தேகத்திற்கு மட்டும் வளத்துடனே அரை மண்டலாம் எடுத்துக் கொள்ள தேகமத்தில் குறை வாரா. 

Agathiyar continued to monitor my situation and called me in for further readings where he assured me that all shall be fine. Agathiyar asked me to continue taking the prescription for another half a mandalam.

On 15.2.2012 the physiotherapist asked me to show before her the exercises, she had taught me and that I had put into practice the past seven months. As I moved into position to began to raise my right leg behind me and stretch my back, there was something like a latch released, a dam burst, a knot that was untied or loosened, as if something gave way, and it brought instantaneous relief and joy to the extent I shouted out and cried in joy. The excruciating pain left magically and mysteriously just as it had come on upon me.

All was well until ......

THE PLAIN AND PAINFUL TRUTH

In a multiracial society like Malaysia, we have to be careful how we portray religion to others. Once when I looked for books on the Siddhas at a bookshop that sold other religious insignia too, I told the store attendant to remove the huge granite statues of deities lined up on the floor and place them where we won't bump into them, where our feet and shoes won't knock or kick them accidentally as we reached out for the books lined on the shelves. To make matters worst, sandals although new, were stacked above smaller sculptures of deities, although decorative, and paintings and pictures of deities that occupied a lower row. Surprisingly the good gentlemen listened for on my next visit he had moved all the religious insignia into a newly renovated room where we leave our sandals outside. I never knew people listened to me till then. 

A former head of a divine institution that nurtured meditation and the higher sciences in a message said that we needed temples, especially in Malaysia. It was surprising that the statement came from a man who was into Gnanam. How very true. Wipe out the language and the temples and we lose our identities. 

This is a far cry from the head of the ashram carrying the name of Agathiyar who confronted me on my idol worship, condemning my practice. It is understandable that he who had put in some 30 to 40 years into the worship of Agathiyar might not need to go back and worship Agathiyar's Murthy or idol. But he should understand that a young aspirant and seeker like me who had just taken baby steps should be encouraged to walk rather than break my legs. He should not have apprehended me and ridiculed the practice. 

We need to build and care for the temples as well. We cannot possibly continue the practice of placing them along roadsides and at road intersections or under specific trees anymore. It is acceptable in the country of its origin, where we have our roots, but as we move abroad we need to adapt to the country, its people and take heed of the law and local restrictions. 

My sadness and worry is how do I explain to a non-Hindu who walks into the above store and finds the statues of deities whom we hold with high regard and pray to in our homes and temples, on the ground where our feet grazes and kicks them? How do we explain to another that our version of God sits in the open or a makeshift shed battering the weather, where animals and rodents scurry along? After Agathiyar told me to walk with pride since we have come to his fold, how can I accept someone as holy sitting among the trash? 

The late actor Vivek tried to knock some sense into our religious practices through the movies. The scene that stands out is where he takes a dig at our practice of worshipping stones, where even the milestone shall become God. Another mind-provoking scene is when he takes a dig again at our practice of hanging lime on a newly purchased vehicle. He asked how can a simple ritual of hanging a lime help keep a vehicle with so many parts on the road? 

Yes, we know that the granite statue currently in these stores has not been consecrated hence is not worshiped as God yet. Yes, we understand that our ancestors saw God in everything. Hence we see temples mushrooming everywhere. Yes, we realize that for the saintly he is indifferent to cleanliness or trash as he has gone beyond duality. But a non-Hindu does not know nor does he understand these. The practice and the religion shall be scorned upon by people of other faiths.

Yes, the divine has come down to our level and nature to save us but we should not retain them in the form and space that we are comfortable with. Instead, we should be ready to drop our attachments to even all these religious insignia and prepare ourselves to evolve further and finally leave for the higher realms. This is what every saintly person has been telling us. But many manipulate the message and hold us back, having us rely on forms, names, and establishments. 

Agathiyar in revealing my past karma in my very first Nadi reading, explains the reason for another birth. 

சாதகனுக்கு முன் உருவில் கேரளா தேசத்தில் முதல் வர்க்க தனவான் செய்யாக. தான் இவனும் ஆலய சேவை செய்ய. செய்யவே வேதம் அதை முறையும் மாற்றிச் சாதகனோ உரைத்திடவே சாபம் பெற்றான். தான் இவனோ இது பிறவி அதனால் தோற்றம். 

There you have it. The reason I had to come back was I had changed the prescribed methods as defined in the Vedas while living as a priest in a temple in Kerala in my last birth. By going against tradition I had incurred the wrath and curses of the elders. Coming to the path of the Siddhas, I for a moment asked myself if I was doing the same now, bringing changes to the practices and rituals in the worship of the Siddhas. But Agathiyar never saw these dynamic changes that we introduced as such. Lord Muruga came and said that I shall do it differently when I asked why he persisted in asking me to build a temple for him. I asked myself could what was perceived as wrong and outlawed in the Vedas be accepted in the Siddha tradition? 

There was a time when the authorities were contemplating barring single-occupancy vehicles that were entering the city. This was to reduce the emissions from vehicles and the number of vehicles entering the city. They encouraged carpooling. Today the same authorities have turned the table on us. We are limited to a single person, double or at times full capacity according to the SOP in effect. This change was brought about by the pandemic. Those who were found to have gone against the SOP's and fined during the first movement control order might scorn on seeing that these weren't considered offenses in subsequently amended restrictions. Similarly what was considered taboo might be accepted in the present. What is considered a norm now might become taboo in the future. For instance, the horrific practice of suttee that was prevalent before the arrival of the English in India was banned by them later. This is what Tavayogi describes as Vignanam that is apt to change. That which doesn't change is Meignanam. 

In coming to Agathiyar, he broke our hold all many things. Those who understand his play and the message he was driving through his play, shall understand and see the evolution that is taking place in them. Many others who came to the Siddha path seeing it as another alternative to temple worship shall remain in it all live long, rooted to it, and battling and championing the challenges and changes, holding dear to what they professed and followed. Today we understand what Tavayogi meant when he said "Do not remain in Bakhti, you need to progress to Gnanam" the moment he landed and saw our existing religious practices. He asked us to move up the ladder and not stagnate. But when he himself eventually built a temple for Agathiyar, and I questioned him as to the need to build a temple, he answered that it was not for him but for others. Today I understand that those "others" are our grandchildren who need a place to turn to and learn the path too. We shall not be around to groom and guide them on the rituals that we carried out at AVM. By stopping him from going into Samadhi and redirecting him to Malaysia for our sake, we saw the birth of his ashram cum temple. By leaving behind these establishments our children and grandchildren shall someday come across our writings, photos, and videos and recall a faint memory of their granddad doing a homam or abhisegam or chanting the names of the Siddhas or visiting his ashram, might seek to know further about the path from these establishments. Having built his temple, we only saw a few trickling in. Agathiyar tells us that only those who seek Gnanam shall make their way to Kallar ashram hence clearing our worries as to why it wasn't a crowd puller from day one. 

Tavayogi had a purpose and a mission. On the other hand, a stranger stood in front of Supramania Swami's kudil and questioned him as to the need to build a temple. He confronted Swami telling him not to step back into bhakti or devotion as he was already a Gnani. I understood that although it was a 40-year-old desire of his, the divine did not sanction it as it wasn't his purpose in life nor neither his mission. So it all boils down to what our divine purpose is. Most of us live without a purpose till our last breath. Many establish a purpose that is usually drawn towards materialistic life. Very few listen to the true purpose that is revealed from within them or the divine. 

When Tavayogi at each juncture told me "We do not need that, son" for instance brushing away the need to wear a rudraksham or a gemstone, etc it wasn't a dogma or teaching or regime to be followed by others. He was addressing only my soul. It was meant only for me. It did not apply to others since Suresh who asked if he could wear a piece of Rudraksha that he held in his hand, was given the green light to do so. It was not wrong for another to adorn a rudraksha or a gemstone. As for me, I needed to take my next step and evolve further. I needed to drop my hold on everything external in order to move on. Just as the baggage of karma we brought with us and carried on our shoulders was relieved, we have to lay down all the unnecessary tools, practices, and understanding and move into newer frontiers. There we shall pick up new things that we shall have to put down later too. This is the evolution of the soul. When Agathiyar tells me to worship his Murthy and bring others to worship him, he is teaching us to move a step further in worship and devotion. If we frequented temples thinking that God resides behind its walls Agathiyar broke that notion and brought the kingdom of Gods within our living room. He showed us that the divine that is present in temples can come into our homes too. He brought us from Sariyai into Kriyai. With the coming of Tavayogi we picked up the rituals and conducted them just as it was done in temples. Our homes became temples too with the attendance of the deities 24/7. These religious insignias were not only tools to bhakti or devotion but enhanced us. With faith and belief, practice and discipline, and with their grace and compassion, it helped transform us from a servant of God to become his son. Later in having us pick up from where we left the practice of Yoga he came as a companion. 

We learn that everything has a purpose in life as we are told in the National Geographic's episode on "Cosmos: Possible Worlds." We are each a strand in a large fabric. Just as when we are hurt the cells rush to repair the torn tissue, when there is a tear in this fabric that is family and community, family members and fellow men rush to amend it respectively. Similarly, society and nations come to the aid of others in servicing and helping those in places of devastation. But eventually, when the cloth is beyond repair and has to be thrown away and replaced with another we shall see that day a new world shown to us for us to inhabit and reside on. Similarly, the physical body that has been scared beyond repair has to drop for the soul to be released and move into another birth and another body. But the reluctant soul holds on to its false pride, false understanding, and false notion. It holds on to what it sees as princely possessions be it property, cash, or position, and struggles to let go of these. It is then a long battle before he passes away. That which is truly valuable in the eyes of the saints is the very body that is needed to carry on living. The human birth is rare we are often told. Hence we are told to cherish it. It is the means to enlightenment. 

THE GIST OF ALL SIDDHA TEACHINGS

The reason I am sharing all these readings that some might consider to be personal and not to be revealed is that nobody else does. When I came to this path in 2002 it was so difficult to come by upon any valuable information either from established establishments linked to Agathiyar or other means. Some establishments had their own agenda to gather followers and promote themselves as heads, which brings with it respect, power, and authority. Then the other means was through books published on the Siddhas. But having bought every book that I could lay my hands on in my country, I discovered what was said in one was repeated in another. I was hungry for new information. When these establishments and writers began to take advantage of the internet to promote their activities and their works respectively, again I found that it was basically cut from a site and paste on another. The sad thing is that they never carried a note of acknowledgment or referred to the source. I was angry. I decided to take the bull by its horns. Rather than expecting others to do it, I decided to write. But I did not have much to go with. I was a new kid on the block, having to face the "Jambavans" or mighty powers who had been following Agathiyar for many long years. Nevertheless, I decided to use the internet and its resources to my advantage and begin my chosen tasks. What do you know? Later, Agathiyar tells me that he was the driving force behind my new venture. Going by the Nadi readings that I shared in the past five posts readers would have noticed that the Siddhas were using me to bring others to the fold. The Siddhas used the medium of the Nadi to help us identify our purpose in life. But sadly, many only went for a reading to find solutions to their immediate biting problem. Once the solution was given and the remedies done they moved on with their lives, becoming comfortable again with what they had done all their lives. When another problem crops up only then they asked around if a Nadi reader was in town. Then there were others who took it up as their purpose in life and a task to ridicule the Nadi and went to extends to expose the frauds, and in doing so damaging the dignity of the Siddhas. Similarly, there we many who "threw stones and pelted us" for worshiping idols, suggesting that we were stupid.

Life was peaceful once in the distant past, with people only living and gathering among themselves. Then man was eager to know what was beyond the plains, the hills and the mountains, and beyond the horizon. He began to venture first by walking the distance, then taming the mule and horses and riding them. Not satisfied at the pace of progress, he builds boats, yachts, and ships to cross the wide seas. Soon he looked towards the skies to travel too. Man became intelligent. His Arivu drove him to explore the further reaches. With these explorations, he came to know the existence of others too. He studied their cultures and traditions. He either assimilated them into his own or forbade or destroyed and erased them. 

Man today is an accumulation of his past memories, experiences, thoughts, likes, and dislikes, etc. I had taken many births before bringing along all that was learned from these past births. Though they are not recalled but our internals knows and carry these memories and behave accordingly. 

In National Geographic's episode on "Cosmos: Possible Worlds," many questions are asked and put forward for viewers to ponder in the documentary, too. For instance, do insects have a soul? Or consciousness? Are they aware of their existence? Is there anything that is exclusively ours? Ours alone? What is distinctly human? What is it to be human? How do we define a human? Finally, we are asked the question of the Millenium "Is DNA our Destiny? 

We are asked if "kin" selection exists among animals? We are shown through a graphic narrative and taken through the life of King Ashoka who went through a drastic transformation, from a brutal king to a compassionate soul. "Kin" to him expanded to include all of mankind. This was the final transformation in man. Ramalinga Adigal showed compassion to all beings. Swami Ramdass of Kerala ran to hug the first man and tree he came across after coming out of his long meditative state atop the sacred hill at Tiruvannamalai.

"Why do you call somebody as ‘yourself’ or call something as ‘itself’ when that ‘itself’ is also a ‘myself’ from its own point of view?", questions Swami Krishnananda of the Divine Life Society at https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/disc/disc_216.html 

Indeed, it makes sense. Each has an individuality of its own. This then expands to take in kith and kin. When this expands further it encompasses mankind and all. Moving further it embraces animals and even plants. Ramalinga Adigal's heart ached to see the grass wilt. How many of us see another as a fellow human? How many see an animal as a living thing? How many actually talk to plants? This is the expansion we are asked to work on. 

We are told in the documentary that man was always fascinated by fire. "Every Zoroastrian temple was consecrated to fire. It played a central role in their worship, symbolizing both the purity of their God and the light of the illuminated mind." Why are we shown a bulb over our head that is lighted up when we get an idea? The Holy saints of the past have always been depicted and shown in their paintings of having a circle of light or halo around their heads too. We find similarities in other cultures too. 

The fire had a significant role in our daily life and in our worship. What was lit to keep ourselves warm and keep the animals at bay also cooked the food place over it. The steam from burning coal fired the steam engines later. Every temple and household had an altar where a flame was lit. Supramania Swami, in asking me to light a lamp, surprised me by telling me that he shall watch me through the flame lit in my house. A lesser deity from the past, who was lost in the midst of the city, asked to be taken to his rightful place at a particular temple and merged into the flame of the camphor once it was lit. How do we explain all these, in the light of science and technology? How do we explain all these in these times when science and technology have got a tight hold of our lives and thoughts?

What is the significance of fire, flame, and light? The fire cooks our food and keeps us warm. The flame raises the heat within or Tava Kanal that when expanded brings a transformation within. The light expanse is effulgence or merging and returning to the source. Each time the Siddhas come, they tell us to kindle the flame in the oil lamp to burn brighter. In doing so, they are telling us similarly to kindle the dying flame in many. With the rituals and the external lighting of the fire as in Homam and Yagam pits, the tiny flame in us is further strengthened. And finally, using the breath as in Pranayama that expands within and austerity or tavam that build up more heat, the air moves the heat to consume all the Kalivu or impurities. It either purges them out of the body or disintegrates them in its burning heat. The Asudha degam or body of impurities becomes cleanse and a Sudha degam. The Pranayama techniques fan the fire further to burn brightly. As a fire lit by a stranded survivor on an island attracts a passing ship, as a fire lit on the tall minarets in the past tells others that it is time for the call to prayer, so too the flame that burns brightly within us brings the divine that is also in the nature of effulgence down, amplifying, and merging with us eventually. Just as we learn from https://byjus.com/biology/osmosis/, science defines the process of osmosis as "a passive process and happens without any expenditure of energy. It involves the movement of molecules from a region of higher concentration to lower concentration until the concentrations become equal on either side of the membrane", finally after all the hectic activities in Sariyai, Kriyai and Asanas and Pranayama subside, and in sitting quietly and giving ourselves fully in surrender to the divine the magic begins. The passive process, without our efforts and thoughts, without the need to lift even a finger, happens. If in all the previous stages we expanded energy, now sitting still in silence or in Summa Eru, the effulgence from a higher region of concentration moves downwards as a column of light and expands within into the level of the molecules, atoms, and ions. This is our target. This is our goal. This is the gist of all saintly teachings. 

THE STORY OF A MURTHY REVEALED FINALLY

8.1.2009

அப்பனுக்கு பீடம் அமைப்பதற்கு அனுமாரா சிந்தை நீயும் கொண்டு உள்ளாய். தப்பாது திருமறைக்காட்டில் அமர்ந்த தான் ரூபம் போலத்தான் உருவாக்குவாய் நன்றாய். நன்றான அறுபடை கோட்டம் ஒன்றாம் நலமான ஈசனுக்கு உபதேசித்த தடத்தில் சொன்னவாறு அமர்ந்த ரூபம் அடி ஒன்றுள்ளே சுத்தமுடன் செதிக்கியதோர் வடிவம் கூட்ட ஆனதொரு தையின் பின்னே மாசி காலம் அப்பனுக்கு ரூபம் கூட்ட உகந்த காலம். காலமதில் உரு அழகு கூட்டி பின்னே கணக்காகப் பூசையும் கும்பேஸ்வரன் கோட்டம்   நல்விதமாய் வழிபாடும் செய்தபின்னே நாடுதாண்ட உத்தரவுக் கட்டளை என்பேன். அருள் கொண்ட என் மைந்தன் உன் இல்லம் புகுந்து அமறுவேன் அதன் பின்னே பீடம் தன்னில். நல்  நவவகை அபிடேகம் செய்து குறித்தபடி லட்ச உரு என் நாமம் செப்ப ஆட்சியை உரு கொடுத்து உயிரும் தந்து அனுமார அதன் பின்னே பீடம் அமரத் தான் வழி நீயும் செய்வாய் மைந்தா. வேண்டியவர் என் மார்க்கம் உள்ளவர்களோடு விரும்பத் தனம் நீ பெற்று கொள்ள ஆசி. வண்ணமுற தீபம் ஓர் ஏற்றுவோர்க்கு வேண்டிய வரம் எல்லாம் அளிப்பேன் அங்கு. காட்சி பல மாந்தர் பலருக்கும் உண்டு. பீடமதும் என்னாலே பிரபலம் அடையும்.

Agathiyar gave precise directives in the Nadi for his statue to be commissioned and made. It has to be a replica of his statue at Agasthiyampalli in Thirumaraikaadu or present-day Vedharanyam. It was to be made in Swamimalai. Why Swamimalai? In a later Nadi reading for another devotee, Agathiyar mentions that it was Lobama's wish and that of Lord Murugan in Swamimalai that his statue be made on the banks of the river Kaveri.   

உண்டான காவேரி நதி தீரம் தொட்டு உத்தமமாய் லோபாமுத்ரா தேவி விருப்பப்படி கொண்ட தக்ஷணாயான காலமதில் குரு ஞான வாக்கெல்லாம் தெளிவு காட்டும். தெளிவான எங்களது ரூபம் வார்ப்புகள் தக்ஷணத்தில் இருந்தே தான் உலகமெல்லாம் ஆகவே ஏரகத்தான் கந்தன் ஆசி படி அற்புதங்கள் செய்விக்க இட்டார் வாக்கு வாக்குப்படி அற்புதங்கள் பலதும் செய்தோம் விளம்பிய ஞானமதை உணர்த்த வேண்டி 

This was to be followed by an abhisegam or libation for his statue at Adhi Kumbeshwar temple and only then is he to come to our shores. Once here another abhisegam with nine items is to be carried out. We are to chant Agathiyar's name 100,000 times. With only a handful of devotees around we only managed 45,000 chants. But the most compassionate father accepted our puja as he revealed later. 

26.12.2009

நிலையான சந்தோசம் உலக மாந்தர் காண நான் உந்தன் இல்லம் தேடி அமர்ந்தேன் அப்பா. மாந்தர் புவியில் யோகம் காண்பதற்கு பார்க்க ஓர் ஒளி ஏற்றி வழிபட்டால் போதும் பாவங்கள் சாபங்கள் போய்விடும் தானே. என் ஜெயந்தி அன்று தன்னில் வழிபடும் மாந்தர் ஞானத்தின் திறவுகோலும் திறக்கும் அன்றே. அனந்த நிலை பலரும் பெறுவார் அன்று. உலக மாந்தர் நலம் பெறவே பூசையும் செய்வாய். தான் அந்த நாளிலே தன் குடி தன்னில் சித்தர் எல்லாம் வந்து அருள் பொழிவோம்.

அமர்ந்திட்ட இடம் ஆனந்தம் தானே. அது உண்மை நீ அறிந்து கொள்வாய் இப்போ. அன்று நாளில் நான் எழுந்து உந்தன் இல்லில் அருள் பலதும் வழங்குவேன் யாவருக்கும். ஓர் பக்தனின் ஆன்ம எந்தநின் ரூபத்திற்குள் இருக்கும். உரைக்க வரும் ஓர் நாளும் அவன் உள்ளே உலாவி வருவேன் அகத்தியன் தானே. 

சிறப்பான பிரம்மா காலம் தன்னில் எழுந்து தவத்திலே முறையாய் அமர்ந்து வேண்டுதல்கள் தான் முறையே செய்தபின் கதிர் உதித்த பின்னே  பின் அழகாய் பூசையைத் துவங்குவாயே. 

Agathiyar proclaims that he has arrived to bring good to all. Devotees are given a simple ritual that of lighting an oil lamp and putting forth their wishes. Here he lets us in on a secret as to how he shall make his presence known and keep us company for the duration of the puja. He shall enter the body of a devotee while that of the devotee shall reside in His statue. He made sure I rehearsed the puja during the early hours of the day prior to the actual puja later in the day. 

2.1.2010

ஆனதொரு உலக மாந்தர் நலமே காண அகத்தியன் யான் உன் இல்லம் தேடி வந்தேன். பொறுப்புதனே எந்தனுக்கு ஒரு தீபம் ஏற்றப் பூவுலகில் மாற்றங்கள் பால்வார் கிட்டும். வாழ்வாங்கு வையக மாந்தர் காண வந்து அமர்ந்தேன் என் பிள்ளை இல்லம் தன்னில். ஆனதொரு அவன் இல்லில் வந்து அமர்ந்தேன் அகம் மகிழ என் நாமம் சொல்வோர் குடிலில். தவமுனி வந்ததனால் யாவும் நலம். 

A day before his Jayanthi and Guru Puja he came in the Nadi to assure me that he would be there for his fest. As soon as I returned from the reading, an email was waiting for me with the delivery order attached. I needed those documents for customs clearance at the airport. We received him as we would our kin who has returned from abroad. The next day a handful of family and friends gathered to welcome him and sing his praise. 

31.1.2010

மார்கமுடன் முறை இருந்து எனக்குப் பூசை மகத்துவமாய் செய்தாய் அப்பா. அனுமாரா உரு தனக்கும் ஏறியது அப்பா. ஆட்சியை இருந்து தான் அருள் பல தருவேன்.

Agathiyar after his arrival, in his speech of acceptance of the puja we had for him, tells us that he shall shower his grace on all. 

That is the story of how Agathiyar came to our home as a statue. If he had not prescribed how he was to be, and where he was to be made,  I would have bought him off the shelf. But that would be quite a search for it is rare to find his Murthy in shops too. There would not be any excitement as we had gone through if we had purchased him locally in the shops provided they carried him. Until the eve of his arrival, we were not sure that he would arrive in time for his Vizha scheduled to be held on Sunday, 3 January 2010. But he gave us the assurance that he shall be there in the Nadi. 

வாட்டங்கள் கண்டு நீ வருந்திடாதே. தடை எல்லாம் நிக்க வைத்துத் தான்  நானும் தவழ்ந்து உந்தன் இல்லம் தேடி வருவேன். 

And upon his arrival, 

தவழ்ந்து வந்து அமர்ந்தேன் இப்போ. தடுத்தார்கள் என்னைப் பலர் உன் இல்லம் தேடி வர. தடை உடைத்து தான் தவழ்ந்து வந்தேன் நானும்.

When I referred the Nadi reading and Agathiyar's intention to move over to the Brindavanam on completion, Tavayogi who always coaxed us to leave bakthi or devotion and seek gnana surprised me telling me that if in the event Agathiyar's Murthy was moved, he would personally replace him with another statue. 

And so we took Agathiyar to other's homes upon their request to have Agathiyar grace their homes too. Tavayogi came the same year later in April and performed abhisegam and homam helping us fine turn both these rituals that we had started earlier on Agathiyar's and Tavayogi's directive respectively. In 2013 Agathiyar sent some youths to my home to join in the puja. Soon Agathiyar brought the Siddhas and the deities too to our home that took on a new name Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia with the arrival of Agathiyar.

Imagine my state of shock when just into my eighth year of worship to the Siddhas a head of a Peedham that carried Agathiyar's name confronted me and ridiculed idol worship supporting his case by throwing in the songs of another Siddha Sivavakiyar. I tried to explain to him that I was only following a directive from Agathiyar but he would not listen and went on adding on the songs until they had to come and hush him up. I did not expect that to come from someone in the path. Later I saw him attend Agathiyar's Vizha that saw rituals take place to his idol at a temple. Today in his absence I understand his disciples are into these same rituals too. I guess they shall never understand the reason Agathiyar wanted us to worship him in this form. But I stood firm on what I was told to do till this day. In 2013, Agathiyar opened both his eyes in this very statue of his for all to see just as he had done at Agasthiyampalli and Papanasam in 2005. 

These adverse talks remind me of a Tamil movie "Manithanum Deivamaagalam" I saw many years back where a devotee who engages in talks daily with his favorite deity Lord Murugan is ridiculed by none other than his own brother who was an atheist. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is said to talk to Mother Kali. Mahin too in his piece that  I posted yesterday shares the fact that he speaks to her. Krishnaveni Amma of Kalyana Theertham too is said to have chased around with a stick little Lord Murugan as he was playful and did mischief by pulling down the sarees that she laid out to dry. The only way others shall get to understand this complex relationship is to get into the rituals themselves just as we did. 

So this blog is for those who choose to believe. Others can opt-out. 

THE STORY OF A MURTHY REVEALED 4

We shall see how Agathiyar moved the chess pieces and withheld his stronghold at AVM instead of moving on as planned to the Jegathguru Sri Raghavendra Mritiga Brindavanam Ipoh. But before that, we have to trend a year's reading that shall give a hint as to why he came in the form he chose.

29.1.2008

வாக்கு உரைக்கும் நாளிலே மகிழ வைத்து அழகு பார்த்து வந்துலாய்.

Here is an episode that shows that the Siddhas are among us. As Ramesh called me in for a reading, I only got a parking space right beside the Sri Sakthi Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, Brickfields. As I alighted from my car I thought I might as well get a garland and garland Agathiyar who was in this temple in the form of a bronze statue. When I appeared before Agathiyar in the Nadi, he told me on the onset that I had garlanded him before coming over!

8.3.2008

புவனத்தில் நீ பெற்ற புண்ணியங்கள் பூர்வத்தில் பந்தம் அப்பா.

Agathiyar answered my question as to why he keeps showering his blessings on a sinner like me. He tells me it was because of a bond from the past lives. If he did not speak about this bond in my Nadi, Agathiyar mentioned the bond when he came through the Jeeva Nadi read by Tavayogi while he was in Malaysia in 2016. He told us that we were a family back then in another birth. As we were fruit sellers on the grounds of the Papanasam temple, my daughter used to feed the statue of his with these fruits. We would offer the fruits before beginning the day's sales. He also told us that my wife had called out to him as she was in labor pain in a past birth. He tells us further that we were here because our children wanted us to be their parents in this life too. Agathiyar tells me the reason I came to the Siddha Marga was because of my daughters too. 

அழியாத மார்க்கம் வழி உனக்குத் தந்தேன், அருளோடு பெற்று கொண்டாய் நீயும் மைந்தா

Agathiyar says the Siddha Marga will live on and shall never perish nor be wiped out. He offered it and I accepted it.

25.4.2008

மாசில்லா குருவையும் கண்டு வணங்கி மனமகிழ்ச்சி மனம் குளிர்ந்து உள்ளாய் இப்போ.

Agathiyar speaks about Tavayogi's arrival in Malaysia and that I was happy to see him again.

தர வேண்டும் போக்கிடங்கள் என நினைத்தோம். தவறாது யோகி வழி உனக்குக் கிட்டும்.

Agathiyar wanted to give me some treasures. It shall come by way of Tavayogi. Tavayogi taught us the Yoga Asanas and Pranayama techniques that till this day is relevant and Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal come again and again to remind us to do it.

சும்மா இருக்க சுகமே காண்பாய்.

Agathiyar gave a mantra, not the kind we chant or recite. It was the key to the end of births. Keep quiet, and you shall be at peace.

18.5.2008
பதஞ்சலி

வினைதன்னை தவத்தாலே யோகத்தாலே அறுக்க தவம் தன்னை பாதுகாக்கும்.

Patanjali says that karma is severed by the sword of tapas and yoga. Tapas comes to shield us.

சித்தர் மார்க்கம் முழுமையாய் பற்றிக் கடுகளவும் மாறிடாது பூசை நெறிகள் ஒழுகிடுவாய். சித்தர் புகழ் பரப்புவாயே. குவலயமே விழங்கிடும் உன் பூசையாலே. பூசையாலும் சேவையாலும் சித்த மார்க்கம் பரவி

பூவுலகில் நல் சேவை செய்வாய் அப்பா.

Patanjali has observed my commitment to the Siddha path. Hence he asked that I spread the fame of the Siddhas.

உடல் சூடு தியானத்தால் சோர்வு வந்திடும். குளிர்ச்சி தரும் உணவுப் பண்டம் ஏற்றிட வேண்டும். நிலைத்து தான் அங்க திடம் பெறவே, சிறப்பாக வாரம் ஒரு நாள் மட்டும் சேர்க்கை உணவுகளை மட்டும் ஏற்கா. மட்டில்லா செய் கரி குருநாள் தன்னில் மகத்தான மருத்துவத்தின் உணவு ஏற்பாய். கட்டளை தான் உப்புப் புலி காரம் இனிப்பு கண்டிப்பாக ஆகாது ஏற்க வேண்டாம். சித்திக்கும் பயற்சி யோகம் ஞானம். பதஞ்சலியின் யோகா சூட்சமம் இதுதான் மைந்தா. பயிற்சிகளும் முறையே செய்ய வர்ணமும் ஆதாரம் சித்தி ஓங்கும்

He gives me some tips on the diet to take during these intense periods of tapas. Lethargy shall set in as a result of the heat generated through these practices. Hence he has set a few guidelines on dos and don'ts in adopting and observing the diet. To consume cooling kinds of stuff daily. To avoid processed food once a week. Besides that to take food that has medicinal properties on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. He asked to refrain and abstain from taking sweet, salty, sour, and spicy food entirely during this period. I was blessed to have my wife cater to all my needs. In carrying out the yoga practices the aura and chakras shall be enhanced.

12.7.2008

அஞ்சாது உன் செயலைக் காரியத்தைப் பாரு. அதற்கு எங்கள் துணை காப்பும் உண்டு

Agathiyar gives my morale a big boost by telling me to continue my given tasks without fear or favor.

19.8.2008

காலை நீ சித்தர் வாழ் தடங்கள் சென்று கணக்காக வழிபட யோகம் தான். பயணமதில் அரங்கனையும் நீயும் கண்டு வர வேண்டும். தடை முன்னே தனக்குமே வந்திருக்கு தான். தடை அதுவும் செய்ததும் நாங்கள் அப்பா. அதையும் பொருட்படுத்தா நீயும் சென்று பார். அரங்கனுள் அகிலம் உண்டே. அரங்கனின் உள்ளே நங்கள் எல்லாம் புதைந்து உள்ளோம். அரங்கனை நீ கண்டால் ஆண்டவனை காண்பாய். அன்னவனே ஞானிமார்கள் பலரையும் தான், அன்னவனும் தொழுது தொழுது தான், அரங்கனும் பல நிலையைக் கடந்துள்ளான். அதனாலே அவனையும் தரிசித்தால் ஆண்டவனை தரிசித்தற்கு சமம் என்றோம். அன்னவன் இன்ப சுற்றலா அற்று அகில சுகம் அவனுக்கு அற்று போயும் மகா சக்தியை அடைந்தவன் அரங்கன். சுத்த உணவுகளில் தவ உணவு, பேரின்பத்தை அடைந்து, சுகம் அறுத்துச் சுகத்தை கண்டவன் அரங்கன். அவன் ஆசி பெற்றுவிட்டால் அகிலமதில் பெரும் யோகம் பெறுவாய் அப்பா. அரங்கனின் ஆசியும் பெற்று விட்டால் அகிலமே உனக்குப் புரிந்து விடும்.

Agathiyar speaks about Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar and asks me to see him. He tells me that I did not get his blessing on my visit to see him at his Ongarakudil in India back then in 2003 because the Siddhas had placed an obstacle. Agathiyar says I shall receive his blessings now. 

After Agathiyar told me to worship the Siddhas in my first Nadi revelation, the first place I went to seek further information, guidance, and practices was Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar's affiliate branch in Dengkil. Anbarasan, Jayanthi, and Manivannan were on hand to assist and fed us too. But their main purpose was solely on collecting funds to carry out charity and feeding at Ongarakudil and to a lesser extent serve the locals. That is how I came to know of the existence of this body as I saw them in public, sourcing for funds some years back. Listening to them speak about their mentor and patron, I decided to include a visit to see him at Ongarakudil when I planned out my itinerary. I arrived to be ushered and showed around by the late Nadarajah Aiya. He arranged for me to see the Swami one to one. I asked him to bless me. He did not respond. I asked several times each time raising my voice as Nadarajah gestured to me that he was hard of hearing. Finally, he told me that coming there itself was a blessing. But I knew from his disciples back in Malaysia that he gives blessings to all. So was I not fit to receive his blessings? Did I accidentally step into the grounds without prior permission from the Siddhas? So many questions kept bugging me until Agathiyar reveals in this Nadi the reason. I did not know his full potential or magnanimity then. Agathiyar explains to me who the Swami was and asks that I visit him now. I shall get his blessings now. 

I never went again. 

30.9.2008

தவம் அதுவும் முறையாகச் செய்வாய் இப்போ. தான் அதிலே பிழை ஏது குறை ஏது. தன் தவத்தால் தன் குடியும் மிகுந்து இருக்கும். கண்ணியமாய் வாசிதன்னை வசப்படுத்தி, கணக்காகப் புசிக்கச் சிறப்பு தான். சிறப்பெல்லாம் வாசியிலே அடங்கி இருக்கு. சித்தர் எல்லாம் வாசி வழி தேர்ச்சி கண்டார். சிறப்பு மிக்க மூத்தோனும் புத்தனும் தான் சிறப்பான வாசிக்கே அதிபதி ஆவார். ஆனதொரு வாசியை அடக்கினாலே ஆயுளோடு மரணம் இல்லா பெருவாழ்வு உண்டு. தவசி எல்லாம் வாசியாலே தவமும் பெற்றார். தான் அடைந்த உண்மையெல்லாம் உனக்கு உரைத்தோம்.

Agathiyar says tapas bring much merit to the individual, his family, and his household. He reveals the merits of Vaasi Yoga. He says Lord Vinayagar and Buddha were exponents of these techniques. It brings on the state of deathlessness. Agathiyar says he shares what the Siddhas have practiced for ages.

சித்தனாம் அரங்கனை ஒருமுறை காண சித்தர்நிலை நீ அடைவாய் திண்ணம் திண்ணம். உண்டான அரங்கனின் பார்வை பெற உலக சூட்சமம் உண்மையெல்லாம் அறிவாய்.

Again Agathiyar tells me to visit Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar and get his blessings. I never went. 

8.12.2008

நெறிதவரா சன்மார்க்கம் தன்னை பற்றி நிதானமாய் தவம் செய்வாய் கண்டு களித்தோம். சொல்லத்தான் உன் வாசி பயற்சியாலே .....

அருள் வழியே காத்திடுவோம் கலங்கிடாதே. அடைந்த இந்தப் புண்ணியத்தால்

அனந்த நீறு அன்றாடம் நீ விடுவாய் களித்து தானே. அழகு பார்ப்பாய் எங்களையும் தான் நாள் நாளும் நீ தான். அடைய வேண்டும் பக்குவங்கள் இன்னும் பல்வார். அதனாலே எங்களோடு தொடர்ந்து இருப்பாய். தேடிய காலம் போய் மாறி மாந்தர் தேடி வரவே செய்வோம்.

Agathiyar is glad that we have held on to his SanMargam. He speaks about the results of the Vaasi Yoga practice. His grace shall protect us. He explains why there is a sudden outburst of cry and tears. He tells me that there is much to attain. He asked that I stay with them. My days of search have come to an end he adds.

சித்தன் யான் கும்பமுனி என்னக்கு பீடம் சுத்தமுடன் அமைக்கத் தான் எண்ணம் கொண்டாய். குறித்தபடி வழி திறந்து வைத்து விட்டோம். கண்டு மாந்தர் புண்ணியங்கள் பெற வழி செய்தாய். காலங் காலம் உன் நாமம் விளங்கி நிற்கும். ஆனதொரு பீடமதில் பிரகாசமாய் நான் அமர்ந்து, குடில் வரும் மாந்தரை பிரகாசிக்கச் செய்வேன். அப்பனுக்கு ஒரு இடம் வேண்டு என்றே ஆருமுகத்திற்கும் கட்டளையிட்டேன். ஒப்பில்லா மறுகணமே ஒற்று கொண்டான். அறிந்து தன் நிலை மாறிக் காட்சி மாறி அளிப்பேனே அங்கு வரும் மாந்தர்க்கு.

Now Agathiyar comes to the subject of building a temple for him, one that he hinted on in my very first Nadi reading in 2002. Agathiyar tells me that he shall fulfill my wish and see it through. This did surprise me though for I never harbored any wish of that sort. Most probably he was implying on my failed attempts to search for a spot to place him in existing temples back then after reading the Nadi in 2002. He says that he had sought permission from Sundara Arumugam and he had consented to his directive. Arumugam Aiya was at the tail end of his venture in receiving a plot of land from the state government to build a Brindavanam for his guru Sri Raghavendra in Ipoh. He agreed to allocate space for Agathiyar once the Brindavanam was up. And so our story starts in the next posts of how Agathiyar steered the proceedings for his appearance in the form of his choice and supposedly making the move together with Sri Raghavendra to his Brindavanam.