Both Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal had repeatedly reminded us to study the Tattwas asking us to refer to Tavayogi's books.
அகத்தியன் கூறிய உடல் கூறு தத்துவங்களைத் தெரிந்துகொண்டாயா? உன் குரு எழுதிய ஏட்டைப் படித்தாயா? இனி மரு முரை படி. தெளிவு பிறக்கும். பிறக்காவிடில் யாம் வருகிறோம்.
Though we read through we could not comprehend the complexity of the subject. It needed Agathiyar to come to simplify it. As it is only with reading it again and again that we shall gain more and deeper understanding of whatever subject we take up let us recap what Agathiyar told us.
உடல் என்பது ஐந்து உலோகங்களின் நுண்ணுயிர்களின் அளவுகளைத் தாங்கிக் கொண்டு பிண்டம் ஒன்றினை உருவ வடிவமாய் கர்ப்பகிரகத்தில் நிலை பெறுகிறது. பஞ்சபூதம் ஆகிய நீர், நிலம், ஆகாயம், காற்று, நெருப்பு அனைத்தும் தாய் தந்தையின் உடலிலிருந்தே எடுக்கப்பட்டு சிசுவின் உடலைப் பிறப்பிக்கின்றது. இவைகளின் அளவுகள் குறையும் தருவாயில் சிசு தன் உடலின் பாகங்களில் கோளாறு ஏற்படுகிறது.
We are a composite of the Pindam or Udal or body, Vaasi or Uyir or breath, and the Atma. The Pindam is made of Tattwas. So are the Uyir and Atma. The Pindam made of the elements derived from the Pancha Maha Bhutam in a specific proportion takes a form that begins to reside in the womb. The 5 elements are taken from each parent's body to shape the body of the fetus. In the event, the proportions are compromised complications appear in the fetus.
நிலத்தின் அளவு - 1/3One portion of earth from the female and three portions from the maleநீரின் அளவு – 4/3Four portions of water from the female and three from the maleநெருப்பின் அளவு – 5/6Five portions of fire from the female and six from the maleகாற்றின் அளவு – 8/2Eight portions of air from the female and two from the male and finallyஆகாயத்தின் அளவு – 1/8One portion of Ether from the female and eight from the male go towards making a healthy constitution.இவ்வாறு அதற்கென்று அளவுகள் பிரம்மதேவரால் கணக்கிட்டு உடலை உருவாக்கப்படுகிறது.
Since this proportion is regulated by Lord Brahma, hence we know him as the creator of lives. It is interesting to recall the belief that in the initial months of a child taking birth, the child would speak to Lord Brahma who is said to run through the chapters of our life here on this earth. Hence the reason for the child to cry or laugh. We suppose good things said would bring on joy and laughter and bad things that are to take place brings on a cry and sadness.
As Agathiyar had only briefly explained the process in his memo to us, we go back to Tavayogi and his books as referred for more details. From the first atom, the Paramanu, the Pancha Maha Bhutam came forth, writes Tavayogi. The world emerged with these Pancha Maha Bhutam coming together. The Pancha Maha Bhutam namely earth; water; fire; air; and ether, is in descending order of grossness. These principal forces of Nature are responsible for the creation and coming into being, development and continued sustenance, and completion of every creation of the divine that we have come to know. Ajai Kumar Chhawchharia compliments the above, "Brahm would be like the primary Atom which left to itself is neutral and inactive. It is only when certain changes take place in its core, such as the shift in the position of its electron, etc that the chain of reaction starts that would ultimately result in not only producing newer elements but releasing energy or absorbing matter from the surrounding atmosphere." Watching an unseen activity in the water-laden clouds that bring about the shift in the position of positive and negative charges causing a rainfall explained in the following video gives us an idea of how unseen changes elsewhere start a chain of reaction resulting in the release of energies.
We are only a product of something much bigger. We are said to be a combination of the same five basic primordial or primary elements or Pancha Maha Bhutam that form the building blocks of all of creation. Each Bhutam carried 96 Tattwas. These Tattwas that function in our bodies too form the basis for the growth, sustenance, and proper functioning of all the regulatory systems within us for the continued dwelling and inhabitance of the Uyir and Atma within. Our ancestors in wanting to get us connected with this divinity and not alienate from it gave form to these elements. Ajai Kumar Chhawchharia writes "Their personified forms are imagined to be in the form of their patron Gods who actually control these elements and their functions in creation."
"Starting from a single universal element that is known as the Param Tattwa, the Supreme Essence, these primary elements, the Pancha Maha Bhutam came forth. This is seen as the first layer of elements or Tattwas of creation. From these primary elements came forth the secondary elements that form the second layer of elements or Tattwas of creation. Finally came the tertiary elements that would form the third layer of elements or Tattwas of creation." (Source: The Varaha Upanishad, Canto 1)
Agathiyar continues to brief us on the Pindam or the form and moves on to reveal about the Uyir or the breath that enters this creation.
உனது உடலைப் பிரதானமாகக் கொண்டு இயங்குவது சுவாசம், அதுவே உயிர். உயிர் என்பது செயல் அற்று இருக்கக்கூடிய உறுப்பைச் செயல் பெறச் செய்வது.
The breath that is Uyir takes the body as its vehicle to move and execute its actions. It primarily drives our body moving the limbs that are otherwise motionless.
பிறக்கும் சிசு கருவுற மூலமாக இருப்பது பிராணவாயு. பிராணவாயு ஆணின் அணுக்களிலும் பெண்ணின் அணுக்களிலும் ஊடுருவி ஒன்றெனக் கலந்து பிரதான பொருள் வடிவம் அடையும் தன்மை உண்டானால் அங்கு உயிர் சக்தி உருவேற்ற படுகிறது.
The Pranavayu is the primary cause of the conception of an embryo and a fetus. The Pranavayu that flows in with the elements from both the parents move to take a shape that has a potential to become life. Life is hence given to the embryo. Air is breathed into the Pindam.
A new life begins. We learn the same from Genesis 2.7 that "Then God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."
Finally, Agathiyar comes to explain the nature of the Atma.
ஆன்மா உடலையும் உயிரையும் தனது கட்டுப்பாட்டுக்குள் வைத்துக் கொள்ளும் ஒரு சூச்சமம். இந்தச் சூச்சமத்தை பிறந்த குழந்தைகள் 1 முதல் 5 வராகை வரையிலும் உடன் இருந்து மறையும். மறைத்தலின் காரணம் இன்னதென்று இப்போது உனக்குச் சொல்ல இயலாது. ஆனபோதிலும் ஆன்ம ஒருவரின் செயலைப் பொறுத்தே மீண்டும் அவனை வந்து சேரும். ஆன்மா உன்னோடு இருந்து உன்னை ஒரு பாதைக்கு இழுத்து செல்லும் அப்போது நீ அதனை உணர்ந்தாள், உன்னில் அதிர்வாய் தோன்றி மறையும். அந்த அதிர்வினை நீ உனக்குள் நீடிக்கப் பழகினால் உன்னால் ஆன்மா என்னும் உனது அதிர்வுகளில் ஊடுருவி என்னுள் (இறை / அகத்தியன்) வந்து சேர ஒரு வழி.
The Atma keeps both the Udal and Uyir under its grip. But the Atma soon loses its grip and hold on us between 1 and 5 Varahai, a time period used in the ancient days that I have yet to find an equivalent terminology or reference to present times. Although Agathiyar said he could not reveal the reason for the Atma to be veiled, after several readings we figured out its reason.
The period where the Atma is veiled is where the process of karma takes its course. The Atma that originates in the realm of the divine that is known as Paramatma comes as the Jeevatma to care for the new life that is taking shape in the mother's womb, hovering and staying with the Pindam and Uyir for a period of time that Agathiyar says is between 1 and 5 Varahai and then veils itself once karma is set into motion and play. What is said to be the divine Lila is the play of karma on one's life. The late Dr.Krishnan told me that a child's karma initially affects the parents giving them for instance undue stress and worry if the child is sickly or joy if he was healthy. Karma only begins to affect the child when the child reaches puberty. By this time the child is able to figure out the right and wrong, distinguish between the good and bad, and begins to make his or her own decisions. His or her "I" comes to the forefront pushing the Atma behind the veil. It is an eye-opener to note that the "I" comes later to send the Atma behind the veil. But Agathiyar adds that the Atma makes its presence known depending on his or her actions. I believe when karma asserts itself and life takes its toll and he or she is lost for a solution and surrenders to the divine, the Atma appears to help him or her out. When life gives a trashing, he or she begins to question why his or her life was moving the way it did. He tries to ponder and figure it out. He is then told of karma. But how many realize or are aware of karma and acknowledge it as the reason for their lives to move in a particular direction? Those who had been in the proximity of the Siddhas or have had their blessings in the past lives might be referred to see the Nadi or pointed to the Nadi reader or come to know of its existence at the right moment. He or she then has a calling from the Atma that leads them to have a reading.
The Nadi reveals the past karma. Solutions are given too. It is now the moment of the great battle between one's "I" and the word of the Siddhas. While many take up the word of the Siddhas and follow some might tend to leave decrying that it is a hoax. Those who come to know the Nadi could brush it aside or venture to correct their karma. Here is where we come to understand Agathiyar's statement that the Atma draws aside the veil and appears before him to help navigate the rest of his life according to the direction and action that one takes. If the "I" that thought it was in charge all this while, now beaten and wounded subdues and surrenders to its savior, the Atma. It heals and cares for him or her. The Atma returns to save him or her bringing salvation. This applies to those who believe and take the necessary actions to correct their past that shadows, follow, and impacts the present moment. Once the present is taken care of, the future takes care of itself. There is no need to intercept. We need only correct the present and the future will present itself in its best attire. Everything falls into its place.
ஆன்மா உனது கர்ம வினை தாங்கி வருவது அல்ல, ஆனால் ஆன்மாவே உனது கர்ம வினையைச் சரிசெய்வதற்கு உதவி புரியும்.
Agathiyar reveals a misconception that many including I had and that I had carried in many of my earlier posts that the Atma carries the imprints of karma. It is not so. I remain corrected. Agathiyar reveals that contrary to this understanding, the Atma helps clear our karma by showing us the way.
கர்மவை சரி செய்த பின், ஆன்மாவின் தேடல் அதிகமாகி மனிதனின் அன்றாட தேடல் தீர்ந்து போகும். அவன் தேடல் முழுதாய் என்னையே தேடி வர முயற்சி செய்யும்.
Once karma has cleared the search to know the Atma intensifies. His search for his selfish gain loses its intensity. His seeking would be solely on knowing the Atma (Agathiyar) and reaching him.
All religions spoke about karma in the past originally but many manipulated and hid it away from their followers or devotees' knowledge.
இது இன்றைக்கு கொடுத்த பாடம் உனக்கு, மற்றவை உனக்கு மற்றொரு நாள் நான் வழங்குவேன்.
Agathiyar ends the sermon at that for the time being. Though it was only a short memo that he had dictated to his beloved devotee Mahindren having him sit with a paper and pen, the understanding he gave us was so clear that we could connect to everything that we had experienced walking the path and journeying with him and our gurus in physical form. Subsequent to that revelation I sat down with paper and pen to elaborate further on these findings and understand them in a new light. The outcome was a further seven posts on it. I was pleasantly surprised when Agathiyar came again and verified that our understanding of his brief memo about the Udal, Uyir, and Atma was correct. I am grateful to him for giving us the insight to look deeper into the subject and most importantly arrive at a correct understanding of something that is misinterpreted often.
எனது படிப்பின் மூலம் உங்களுக்கு உடல் உயிர் ஆத்மா சூட்சமத்தை தந்துள்ளேன். அதைக் கொண்டு உனது புரிந்தலை நான் மெச்சுகின்றேன்.Through my teaching on the Udal, Uyir, and Atma, I had revealed the subtlety of the matter. I praise your understanding based on whatever little I gave.
Telling us that we understood the matter, Agathiyar went on to add further.
உடல் என்பது பஞ்ச பூதங்களில் உரு பெற்று மீண்டும் பஞ்ச பூதங்களிடம் சென்று விட்டால் உனது உயிராகியது ஆன்மா வோடு கலந்து ஜோதிநிலையில் எம்மை வந்து அடையும்.When it is time for the Udal that takes its constitution from the Pancha Maha Bhutam, to return to its source, back to its elements, the Uyir henceforth merges with the Atma to become the Jothi. It shall reach me then.
The Atma is one. Period. But when it becomes the reason for life to spring into being it becomes denoted as the Jeevatma with a form and in a form. It takes charge of the body and the breath in the initial years of a child and is driven back behind the veil by the "I" that arises shortly after. When we lose the "I" and surrender to the divine, the Atma reappears and helps us rid our karma, and shows us a path to salvation. When the Udal is ready to return to its source, the Uyir that teamed up with the Udal and had a pact with the Atma to become known as the Jeevatma now leaves the Udal to team up with the Atma to help it return to its source the Paramatma. The body, now purified and energized by the Yogic practices, the purging of the impurities, and by the grace or Arul of the divine, instead of being shed, returns back to the Prapanjam from whence the elements came forth. The Uyir that thrived to bring about the changes mentioned above in the Udal now fires up the Atma engulfing it and becoming the effulgence or Jothi that is the nature of the Paramatma. Ramalinga Adigal had previously helped us realize the need to enhance the Jothi in us.
ஜோதி அதனைச் சுடர்விட செய்யுங்கள். உன்னுள் ஜோதி எரியும்வரை நான் உன்னோடு வருவேன். உமது பிரணவத்தை கொண்டு செல்லு. முயற்சி செய். ஜோதியோடு கலப்பாய். ஆழ்ந்து இருப்போருடன் நான் சேர்ந்து இருக்கிறேன்.
Let the Jothi burn brightly within you. Put in the effort. That is the only thing that they expect from us. It will bring us to merge in the Jothi. To those who are aware, shall I come within.Agathiyar too had mentioned that one needs to be aware of the vibration that comes within in these moments. He adds that he is this vibration. Agathiyar too mentions the need to place a concerted effort towards gaining this awareness and with it realization and enlightenment.
பிரணவத்தை கொண்டு ஜோதியை சுடர் விடச்செய். சுஷும்னா வழி சென்று ஆக்கினை தொடும். பின்னர் ஜோதி தெரியும். நாடி சுத்தி செய்து பிரணவத்தை உயர்த்தவும். இப்போது இரு நாசியில் செல்லவில்லை. இரு நாசியில் செல்லும் கால் பிரணவம் இடைகலை பிங்கலையில் சீராகச் செல்லும் தருணம் சுத்த பரிபூரணத்தில் நீ ஆழ்ந்து விடுவாய். தியானம் என்பது உனது பரிபூரணம் ஆகும். உனது பிராணவத்தில் கலந்திருக்கிறாய். பிரணவத்தில் கவனம் செலுத்து.
Agathiyar continues on the need to move to the next phase of learning now or rather experiencing the Atma and gaining Gnanam.
உடல் கூறு தத்துவமும் இதையே உமக்கு உணர்த்தும். எஞ்சி இருக்கும் அச்சத்தை நிறுத்தி விடு. உன்னில் யாமே இருக்கிறோம். உடலையும் உயிரையும் கற்பதை தாண்டி ஆன்மஞானமே உனக்குப் போதிக்கப்படும்.
Agathiyar says the Tattwas regarding the Udal and Uyir had to be understood before we embark on the knowledge or rather experience and know the Atma. The next phase of the journey is to know the Atma. He explains further about the Atma.
ஆன்மாவாகியது 5 கூறு தத்துவங்களைக் கொண்டது. 5 கூறு தத்துவங்களை நீ உணர்ந்தபடியாக உன்னுள் ஆன்மா ...... நிறைந்து விட்டது. ஆனபோதிலும் அந்த 5 கூறுகளை யாதென்று நீ கற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். எமது சீடன் தவயோகி ஆன்மஞானத்தில் குறிப்பித்திருக்கிறான். நீ அதைக் கற்கும்போது உள்ளிருந்து உனக்கு உணர்தலை யாம் அளிப்போம்.
The Atma too is made of 5 parts. In experiencing these portions one will come to know the Atma completely. Agathiyar asked to read Tavayogi's "Atma Gnanam". Agathiyar has given me another task that of bringing my yearning to know about the Atma to others too. Indeed all this was not anticipated. Not knowing the differences between the soul and spirit, Udal, Porul and Aaavi, the Jeeva, the Jeevatma, and Paramatma even as I stepped into my 62nd year of existence, I felt it pointless in me taking a birth if these were not resolved immediately. I message all those from the AVM family for an answer hoping that someone would have had experience. No one could clarify the differences or similarities. The texts, the internet, and social media confused me further rather than clarify the subject. I could not comprehend Tavayogi's book either. I finally decided to take the bull by the horn and wrote a post based on my current state of confusion hoping Agathiyar would correct me and reveal the truth. He did come immediately to Mahindren who subscribes to my blog and is always one of the first few to read all the posts. Agathiyar told him to pick up a piece of paper and a pen and sit with him at his altar in his home. Agathiyar dictated the memo while Mahindren wrote it. This memo came to clarify all the questions. With further reflection on the messages given by the Siddha and our gurus in physical form in the past and the experiences we came across and the learning that we gained, it all fell into place. This understanding was confirmed as true by Agathiyar too. We are blessed to have Agathiyar teach us personally bringing clarity to all our thoughts and answers to our questions. But the learning does not end there. We are to know the power of the Prapanjam too. Previously we were told to reach out to the Prapanjam with Ramalinga Adigal leading the way and showing us.
பிரபஞ்சத்தை உள்ளுக்குள் செலுத்துங்கள். பிரபஞ்சம் உங்களுக்குக் கட்டு படும். துணை வரும். சரியை கிரியை கடந்து வந்து விட்டீர். இனி யோகத்தில் அமருங்கள். மனம் அடங்கும். மனம் அடங்கினால் ஞானம் சித்திக்கும். ஞானம் அவ்வளவு எளிதல்ல. அது நீண்ட பயணம். எல்லோருக்கும் கிட்டாது.
Let the Prapanjam come within. It shall listen to you. It shall come under your control. It will come to your assistance.
You have traversed Sariyai and Kriyai. Now come to settle in Yogam. Once your thoughts settle you shall attain Gnanam. But it is not an easy task. It is a long journey. Not all attain it.
The two years in solitude enforced by Agathiyar and the coming of the pandemic, and a timely dissolution of the Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) and Amudha Surabhi (AS) WhatsApp group, that brought an end to all rituals and acts of Aram or charity carried by this two groups, has made me an introvert. I told my 4-year-old granddaughter that I was going to zip up and not talk anymore. She immediately showed her sad face, as tears welled up in her eyes. She told me "Why Tata. I have so many questions to ask you." It looks like Agathiyar too is not willing to let me bring the shutters down on AVM for good. I am entrusted to speak about the Atma, gathering those who are keen to know the Atma.
இனி இங்கு ஆத்ம ஞானம் மட்டுமே நடக்கும். பின்னிருப்போர் உந்தி தள்ளிக் கொண்டுவா. மாதத்திற்கு ஒரு முறை எமது பக்தர்களுக்கு அழைப்பிடு. ஆன்மஞானத்தை அறிய விரும்புவோருக்கு கற்பித்து வா. எனது முலு ஆசியினை பெற்ற சீடனப்பா நீ. இல்வாழ்க்கையில் இருப்பதினாலே உன்னை யாம் தனித்து குருவாக்க விரும்பவில்லை. உன்னில் இருக்கும் ஆன்மாவின் தேடலை மற்றவர்களுக்கும் வரச்செய். அவர் அவர் எண்ணம்போல் உமது போதனை அவர்களை அடையும். போதிப்பது மட்டுமே உனது கடமை. பலன் அவர்களுடையது. இந்தப் பிரபஞ்ச சக்தி என்னில் அடங்காதவை. அவைகளை நீ உணரும் தருவாயில் இருக்கிறாய். முழுதாய் உணர்ந்தபின் எண்னோடு இணைவாய்.