I came across a quote by Adhi Sankara. "Through the company of the wise Sage, there arises non-attachment. From non-attachment comes freedom from delusion. Where there is freedom from delusion, there is abidance in Self-knowledge, which leads to freedom while alive." How apt and true it is we realize as we journey the path of the Siddhas.
How do I see the Siddhas now? How did I see them back then? My perspective and experiences of them have changed over a period of time between 2002 and now, some 19 years being in the company of the Siddhas. When I was first told about them in 1996 by the late astrologer and Siddha physician Dr. Krishnan that they could tell us if we were cursed through a Nadi reading, I did not pay much attention to his words. It did not matter and was not important to me at that time. He was a profound astrologer who related his predictions based on medical grounds. But sadly nothing he mentioned about me took place. I figured why. Then I asked him a general question if there was a possibility that his predictions might not happen. Yes, he answered, "If you were cursed". I asked him to look into the charts if I was cursed. He told me that he could not do it and that I had to read my Nadi written by the Siddhas. I came to know about the Siddhas and their Nadi that day. But I left it at that as there was no urgency and it was not important if the predictions took place or not.
Moving to the year 2002, as I sat with my office colleague he related his experience in seeing his Nadi in 2000. It excited me to see my Nadi. He made arrangements for me to see it. Agathiyar in the Nadi reading endorsed what the dear Dr had told me. I carried curses from the elders in my priestly clan in a past birth and many others whom I had harmed. The Siddhas could have made known the reason for my present birth and let me go through the law of karma without interfering. But the most compassionate Siddhas lifted their fingers to help me come out of the chain of karma that entices and follows us birth after birth. Agathiyar shined like a beacon and showed me the light that day. Here was a way to come out of my self-made karma. I prepared immediately to carry out the remedies given locally beginning with the simple ritual of paying my respects and showing my gratitude to the Siddhas for looking into my past, present, and future and bringing it to my knowledge. I prepared to leave for India to carry out the rest.
Upon arriving in India I broke down and cried asking Agathiyar where he was as I had arrived but he was nowhere to be seen. He heard me for he assisted me all the way through sending his proxies making my maiden journey a bliss. As if answering my prayers, he showed his presence in an energetic way that completely shut my senses to the outside world but not before having me go into a daze looking for the exit door from the Kalahasteeswarer Temple.
FROM MY TRAVELS IN INDIA as appeared in the now-defunct website at http://www.indianheartbeat.20m.com/guru.htm
The next day, 2 September 2003, I visited the Kalahasteeswarer Temple again, this time alone. I was there from 6 am to 8 am. When I finally decided to return to the hotel, I came round the temple complex a couple of times looking for the exit only to find one exit which somehow I thought was not similar to the one I had entered. I asked the security guard but was told that that was the only way in and out of the temple complex. As I stepped out into the open through that exit, I realized I had entered through this entrance and that I was disorientated and could not find my bearings back there.
The wonder of wonders and my very first encounter with the divine energy took place at the Egambareswarar Temple.
Devendran and Mahendren dropped me at the Egambareswarar Temple.This was another of the Pancha Stalam that I was directed to visit. The main sanctum was packed with people witnessing a ‘private prayer’. As the atmosphere was extremely noisy, I decided to pray elsewhere. As I came around the temple complex, I came across a huge chamber on my left. As I stopped at the entrance to the chamber to have a look, I saw a huge and majestic statue of Lord Nadaraja within looking down on me. A young priest who stood at its entrance quickly ushered me into the chamber. He walked briskly ahead of me and lighted the camphor. As I stepped inside this magnificent chamber, I felt I had stepped into another world and plane; another space and time; an entirely different atmosphere, something I had never felt before overcame me. I could feel a strong vibration come over me. Was this the bliss that is often mentioned by the Yogis and Gurus I wondered later? Was I being shown a small sample of the bliss that is often mentioned by them? The young priest started chanting as he showed the sacred flame or arati. I stood in front of Lord Nadaraja, at close proximity, amazed, astonished, and emotionally shaken up, tears pouring down the cheeks, and eventually, I broke into a loud cry. I had my Lord all to myself at that moment. Everything else stood still! Eventually, I became composed, thanked the priest, and made my way out of that mesmerizing and eccentric chamber of Lord Nadaraja. Further down the corridor, I was invited by an elderly couple to sit and watch with them the bathing ritual or Abhisegam to Goddess Kaali. I took up the offer. I sat with them to witness a private prayer or puja to Maa Kaali. I stayed long enough to witness Abhisegam performed on Lord Egambareswarar too.
I believe the divine came as a husband-wife team on the grounds of the Suryanar Temple in Mayil Aduthurai.
We arrived at the Suryanar Temple in Mayil Aduthurai in the scorching heat of the afternoon, at exactly 12 noon. I had been advised against giving alms to the poor on this pilgrimage by my brother who had the bitter experience of having to ward off large groups of these beggars who turned up once they see a foreigner or visitor giving donations when he was in India earlier. Shivabalan had particularly mentioned to me to be wary of beggars in the guise of sadhu’s especially at this temple. True enough there were many kavi clad men sitting at the entrance to the temple asking for alms. I made my way hastily into the temple grounds. After offering my prayers, taking heed of their advice, I left the grounds of the temple hurriedly when a woman came after me asking for alms followed by a disfigured man. This couple, as if they could read my mind, called out after me, “There are only two of us - please donate”. True enough no one was around on the immediate grounds of the temple. I dipped my hands into my pockets and handed whatever cash I had then to the woman who happily went away with her partner.
Agathiyar continued to assist me with my parikarams or remedies.
I was off to Trichi at 9.15 am to perform the parikaram at Utamar Temple. We reached the temple at 12.50 pm. Devendran went in to enquire if there were any priests who could be of assistance in advising me on how to go about doing the atonement or parikaram at this temple as Agathiyar in the Nadi only mentioned that I donate to three Brahmin priests at this temple. Then as if God sent, Devendran appears with a priest willing to guide us at this temple and also to take us to the Tiru Anaikaval Shiva Temple too. The priest advised that we get to Tiru Aanaikaval Temple first, and fast too before, they closed for lunch, and to come back to Utamar Temple in the evening for the atonement here. At Tiru Anaikaval Temple, the priest from Utamar Temple advised me on what to purchase. It was 12 noon. To my surprise, he used his contacts at the temple to open doors that were closed. Lord Vinayagar’s chamber was closed. He had it opened for me.
Moving on to the main sannadhi,
He called out to an elderly priest who was squatted at a corner of the temple amongst others. He told the old man that he was the one to do the prayers! I had the privilege to enter the main sanctum and be shown the Shivalingam which was partially submerged in water. After the elderly priest conducted the prayers, I fell at the feet of the elderly priest for his blessing. As I picked myself up, I realized the priests from Utamar Temple, the temple caretaker and Devendran too, had fallen at the priest’s feet following my gesture and were now picking themselves up.
The priests whom we "imported" from Utamar temple insisted that the old priest perform the arathi at Lord Dhakshanamurthy's sannadhi too. I do not know exactly what came over me but I was crying and weeping aloud as if asking for forgiveness from the Lord. The priest from Utamar temple forbade the caretaker from stopping me and let me cry my heart out as if understanding what was happening.
The priest from Utamar Temple insisted the elderly priest should conduct the prayers at the Lord Dhaksanamurthi sanctum too. After the elderly priest left, I broke down at Lord Dhakshanamurthi’s sanctum. I cried for all the blessings that I had been shown until then. I suppose I must have cried aloud to the amazement of my newfound friends, for the caretaker of the temple tried to console me. I heard the priest from Utamar Temple say, “Let Him Be, Let Him Cry.” After a while, I picked myself up and we adjourned to feed the poor, a cow, and an elephant on the advice of the priest from Utamar Temple. I was literally pushed or shoved from one shrine to another, by this wonderful group of people, the elderly priest, the priests from Utamar Temple, the temple caretaker, and Devendran, performing each prayer to the utmost satisfaction. The priest whom we picked up at Utamar Temple insisted that I dropped him off at a location that he chose. He did not want me to send him back to the Utamar Temple saying he had errands to run. After handing him the first of three offerings I had to give away at Utamar Temple at his chosen spot, we drove off. I chanced to look back to realize that we had dropped him off at a Hanuman temple! I did not see him again at Utamar Temple that evening when I was there performing the atonement! Why did he get down at the Hanuman temple? Who did come in the guise of the priest and showed me around? Was it Siddha Hanuman who accompanied me at Tiru Aanaikaval and with that much speed and velocity practically shoving me from one shrine to another? Who else but the son of Vayu could perform such a feat!
I believe Agathiyar came as himself dressed in white cloth that covered him, spotting a long white beard and hair that was tied up at the Sri Rangam Temple.Later on 19 August 2005, Agathiyar reveals what took place at Palani in the Nadi!