TIME IS RUNNING OUT

Watching Tom Hanks in the movie "Otto" and as O t t o last night reminded me of myself. It was like looking into a mirror at a grumpy old man. But the Siddhas did not sideline me instead are trying their level best to get me to let go and enjoy what remains of the remainder of my life. 

Agathiyar lectured me for an hour on anger management back then in a Nadi reading after I believe my mother made a plea to him asking so that I tone down my anger. He also told me that anger will bring a downfall to our Tavam. It would stand as an obstacle to all our efforts in yogic practices drawing us away from seeing and reaping its benefits. Ramalinga Adigal has said that the very cells shall "boil" in the heat of anger and perish.

Just quite recently he took up arms and confronted me again asking if he needed to school me again after my wife voiced out to him about my anger. But he also added later that he cannot have a lifetime's work go down the drain. He cannot have his efforts in calling me to the path and have Tavayogi mold me just go to waste. He added that the dormant energy at the base chakra that he had drawn up to the crown chakra shall fall in disgrace returning back into the dark cold room to hibernate again. 

Here is where he stands out among the many gurus. His love, and compassion, know no bounds. He has placed his bet and faith in us. He still believes that we can achieve his state. 

Similarly working on Jnana Jothiamma he explained to her the difficulty and time needed in clearing her "house" as she had been consuming meat all lifelong. He explained the need to switch to a Satvic and vegetarian diet was not for the common man and not for any other reason but as a crucial factor if one wanted to merge in the Light. All the cells have to be purified for the transformation from Asudha or impure to Suddha or pure and further to the Pranava, Gnana, and Oli degam or bodies to take place.

When everyone is fighting over and arguing if Agathiyar was a six-footer or a dwarf, if there were more than one Agathiyar living over a period of time as many pundits have placed him according to Tavayogi, Agathiyar shows us that he is the very Prapanjam and had us give away his statue to another devotee bringing an end to us holding on to form and name at AVM today.

I am 64 this year. I cannot be holding on to life for long as the day shall come when I shall not wake up to see another day. Watching the movie "Interstellar" and "Otto" we realize that the family comes within our vision as we breathe our last. The past is played before our eyes. I guess the family makes the greatest impact on us during our lifetimes. So what do we do then? We take care of them well. Leave no stone unturned before we leave.

TRUE HAPPINESS

I was thinking of calling it a day last Thursday, 20 July 2023. I wrote "Although he has stopped all the activities, as of today he still wants me to blog though. If I had been writing about my travels with my gurus in physical form and whatever little I knew of Agathiyar from experience, he told me to stop writing about him and to share the experiences, that of the changes that were going on within me. There might come a day when he might ask me to call it off too, having me call it a day. The Siddhas are indeed mysterious."

But the messages just kept coming, getting me to keep on writing. Twelve posts have been written since then. You know what gives us the greatest joy. When we come to understand things that are not apparent. That is enlightenment. That is attaining Jothi. That is attaining Nirvana. When you rejoice in the veils drawn aside and everything is crystal clear. When ignorance leaves us and all knowledge is accessible at the touch of a button as they say. When the darkness leaves and is replaced by light. This light is the Jothi that is sought after. 

When I questioned Tavayogi's motive in building an ashram cum temple, as he used to "lecture" us on seeking the path of Gnana and not remaining in Bakthi, he replied that it was not for him but for others who are yet to step onto the path. Speaking to Mahindren who came over just moments ago, he too agreed to the need to continue writing.

It has been a wonderful journey indeed. Just days ago a devotee asked me how I spend my time as there is no puja as Agathiyar's statue has left AVM for another devotee's home. Agathiyar too cheekily asked me how it felt to be doing nothing and if I was enjoying it, சும்ம இருக்கும் சுகத்தை அனுபவிக்கிறாயா?  These days there is joy and bliss in doing nothing. 

When we have shed the layers of veils of ignorance, shed the layers of "clothing" that we had worn all this while that maketh us, and have severed our attachment to things, enjoying them while it is there and not being sad about losing them, we settle in our true nature. 

I suppose this state is that of Guru Dhakshanamurthy who sits in silence. There is no discourse, no Satsang, no activity of any kind. Just being in the moment. I believe this state of realization was what Bhagawan Ramana meant by "Your real nature is happiness."

FUN WITH THE KIDS

My grandchildren can spend hours assembling and building things using the toy blocks. Just the other day, when I was with my three-year-old granddaughter, she suddenly went behind the door telling me not to watch as she had to defecate. Children when they have to go are known to look for a spot hidden from others' sight to defacate. As she was playing with her toy blocks at that time she asked me to bring them over to where she was seated to continue her play. I did as requested and exited from the room giving her the privacy they needed. After some time I went back to check on her. But she told me that she wasn't done. After some moments I asked her if I should call her mother to wash up. She replied that she was not finished. I then asked her just like the donkey kept asking Shrek "Are we there yet?" if she had arrived at Semenyih where she stayed. She gave me an immediate answer without any expression, still minding her toys that made me laugh all the way downstairs to share with my wife and daughter. She had replied that she had only arrived at Balakong which was my place. It was just moments before that that we were going through the Body Book where we traced the path food took and spoke about digestion and elimination. 

This same kid once asked my wife what I was doing. My wife replied to her that I was on the blog. She immediately asked my wife to call me over and play block with her. Her elder sister who is six years of age complains that I am spending less time with them. So when I asked her if she was reading any of the stuff, she replies that she cannot read in Carl Sagan's words "the funny dark squiggles" on these pages. 

It is indeed fun to listen to them as they pick up words and begin to use them in their daily conversations with us and others. 

LEARNING TO TREASURE THE PRESENT FULLY

Lying in bed with my wife I realized how we age with gravity. What if we could beat gravity? Would we be young forever? Lord Murugan is supposed to be always young. The Siddhas are known to levitate though they do not put on a show. A devotee of a group that was promised a new life on Mars asked me to join them too. I asked myself should not they revive this lovely Mother Earth rather than desert her for the New World? If it was not enough that man has destroyed Earth, are they now going to turn another habitable planet inhabitable too? Watching the movie "Interstellar" last night, posed the same questions and addressed the subject. 

It made me wonder if the authors of books and filmmakers get first-hand information about life out there and the many new gadgets and technologies that are discovered that become the theme of their books and movies from some unknown source out there. While the movie mentions them as only "They", I remember reading somewhere that all discoveries have in fact originally been made in another plane or dimension by the Rishis and Siddhas. Some on earth tap into them either accidently or with their consent, and rediscover and present them to us earthlings. Could it be that the Rishis and Siddhas who are light years ahead of us, are communicating with certain quarters and giving them insights into new discoveries for the benefit of mankind and Prapanjam? Though it is amusing and mind-boggling to enter and try to understand the concepts presented in books and movies, much of what is written and seen is becoming a reality these days. 

Watching the movie, I came to realize that when  Joseph Cooper who had traveled to the future, tries desperately to engage and communicate with his daughter from a past timeline, but his voice is not heard, I could compare with the Siddhas coming to us and communicate verbally passing on messages. I went on to say that in the event their voice is not heard they shall then push or move things or leave some signs behind just as Cooper who finds himself in a five-dimensional tesseract, eventually figures out the means to reach out to his daughter by moving certain books from the bookshelf in her daughter's room. That is when my daughter quipped about the flowers falling at our altars. Call it superstition, but the Indians always believed in signs like a flower falling off from a picture frame or statue that they recognized as consent given for them to go ahead with their wishes that were placed before these deities. Maybe the divine beings do connect and communicate with us after all just like Agathiyar and God according to Neale Donald Walsch mentioned "I talk to everyone. All the time. The question is not to whom do I talk, but who listens?" that they were always speaking to us.

What our forefathers missed we are experiencing. What our children shall experience we shall miss. Sadly much of our existence is tainted by our past. So too much of our future is glazed in uncertainty and fear. The present is preoccupied with fulfilling our ambitions, wishes, and desires that often are pushed on us or which we tend to adopt and follow from others. It is only when we empty ourselves that the divine can set foot into our homes. Bharathi knew this and sang the following verses.

When the divine comes within we become know as Siddhas. Ramalinga Adigal proclaims that he became a Siddha, 

முத்தியைப் பெற்றேன் அம் முத்தியினால் ஞான
சித்தியை உற்றேன் என்று உந்தீபற
சித்தனும் ஆனேன் என்று உந்தீபற,

Bharathi too makes a similar claim. He sings that there were many Siddhas before him and that he too has joined their ranks. Manonmani then comes to reside in his heart and dictates to him.

எனக்கு முன்னே சித்தர் பல ரிருந்தாரப்பா!
யானும்வந்தே நொரு சித்தனிந்த நாட்டில்
மனத்தினிலே நின்றிதனை யெழுது கின்றாள்
மனோன்மணியென் மாசக்தி வையத் தேவி

Bharathi in continuing his song of gratitude to Manonmani, reveals that Manonmani was amongst us as nature and in nature. She is the water, fire, space, air or wind and breeze, and land or earth that sustains all live forms. He saw her as Prapanjam walking the face of the earth. 

தீராதகாலமெலாந் தானு நிற்பாள்
தெவிட்டாத இன்னமுதின் செவ்வி தழ்ச்சி
நீராகக் கனலாக வானாக் காற்றா
நிலமாக வடிவெடுத்தாள்நி லத்தின் மீது

And to know that we are indeed dependent on all these five elements to survive, makes us realize that we are surviving due to her grace.

Tavayogi too wrote in his book "Andamum Pindamum" that the Gnani and Siddhas realized the powers of nature and worshipped it giving many names.

நமது ஞானிகளும் சித்தர்களும் இயற்கையின் ஆற்றலை உணர்ந்து இயர்கையை தெய்வமாகப் போற்றி பல்வேறு பெயர் இட்து வணங்கினார்கள்.

When man began to lose touch with his "original home", his soul, his breath, and nature and its resources, the Siddhas seemingly to save them from falling further into darkness, and in wanting to bring them back into the light, appropriately began to take the forms and the names. Agathiyar told me all the 18 Siddhas were indeed him. But for specific purposes, he had to reincarnate in these numerous forms and names. 

Over time, when man lost touch with Prapanjam and diverted away from mainstream worship, he began seeking favors from it and manipulating it for his purposes. Man who once worshipped these elements, had statues and paintings for Manonmani and stood before her asking to fulfill his individual and personal needs. Sadly we began to hold onto these forms and names, which began as a tool and medium to link and connect us back with the Prapanjam, thinking it was absolute.

I am glad that I had wonderful gurus who rather than taking the limelight and the stage, showed me to the source. I remember Tavayogi telling me he was a "nobody" and telling me to worship the source, Agathiyar instead. Agathiyar after years of worship to him, reveals the Prapanjam and points me to her, asking me to worship her henceforth. When Prapanjam was threatened by man's doing as Lord Shiva coming amidst a puja conducted by a devotee during the last pandemic, revealed to us, he had us perform a homam and chant mantras to heal her. He had the devotee pass the message to me so that I could post it on this blog. Just when we thought the danger was gone, Mother Prapanjam came to a devotee during her early morning meditation a year back and asked that we repeat what Lord Shiva had told us earlier. She had the devotee pass the message to me so that I could post it here again. I remember Agathiyar telling me that the reason he had me carry out Homam in my home, following an instruction that came through Tavayogi to do so in 2005, was not for individual gains, but for the good of the whole of Prapanjam. 

Just as every creation has a lifespan and an expiry date, after which what remains is a faint memory of our past and similarly we shall be mere memories to our children later, let us enrich the present and live life fully.

ACCEPTANCE

Today I fully realize what took place as I sat before Supramania Swami at his village home in Nachananthal, some eight kilometers from Tiruvanannamalai township in the late afternoon on that eventful day in 2003. Supramania Swami connected to the Prapanjam or "the network" that day during the five memorable hours I was in his presence, revealing my future without any external aid or science. It makes me recall the movie "Avatar", though the Na’vi and Pandora's wildlife tapped into the network via “Tsaheylu”.

"The network forms a collective consciousness the Na’vi and Pandora's wildlife can tap into via “Tsaheylu,” a process involving specialized appendages called neural queues, which all Pandora's lifeforms possess. The neural queues of Avatar's Na'vi are sheathed in a ponytail, a detail the forthcoming Avatar 2 will explore further. As well as the collective consciousness, the Na’vi can connect one-on-one with animals, letting them think, feel, and communicate with the animal. This includes mounts like the dire horse and mountain banshee which, under the direct control of their riders, become formidable hunting companions." (Source: https://screenrant.com/avatar-how-navi-bond-with-pandora-animals/)

I also now fully understand why Supramania Swami told me the following three actions have to be carried out in private: eating, having sex, and puja. People would not understand the bliss that one begets in these three moments when coming in contact with food, the flesh, and the soul especially when you begin to connect with the Prapanjam. Giving oneself totally to these moments brings us to a state of total bliss and ecstasy.

I cannot bring myself to share the table with others these days. I prefer to take my food in silence, savoring the taste and essence of the food and drinks that go beyond the tongue and its taste buds and seep into every cell in the body.

Similarly, I enjoy intimate moments with my wife. Neale shares God's words regarding sex.

"Because everything in life is a conversation with god - a never-ending prayer - even those things we do in the dead of night, in the moments of our lustiest passion, as well as our most tender sharing. God says, "You have repressed sex, even as you have repressed life, rather than fully self-expressing, with abandon and joy. You have shamed sex, even as you have shamed life, calling it evil and wicked, rather than the highest gift and the greatest pleasure." If you can imagine god in your bedroom and still be comfortable, then you can imagine god in almost any other context as well."

In puja, we tend to go into a state of bliss that many cannot comprehend. Hence they give a stare or choose to look away. Hence in these three states of extreme ecstasy, it is best that it is done in the confines of the home away from the eyes of the public. But as for the bliss that overcomes us in places of worship, I have had many moments where the divine sort of pulls up a screen all around us. None around us actually realize that something was happening.

I enjoy the silent moments too that god and I share, though a sudden and unknown fear crops up within me in these moments. As there are no external rituals now, in these moments I am on my own or so I thought. When Agathiyar asked me how it felt to be doing nothing and if I was enjoying it, சும்ம இருக்கும் சுகத்தை அனுபவிக்கிறாயா? I voiced the fear that sets in, in sitting in silence, all alone. That is when he corrected me that I was never alone. He surprised me by listing the reasons to drop my unknown fear.

He said that "You kept me by your side, என்னை அருகில் அமரவைத்தாய்" referring to that moment of loneliness that crept into me as I was watching some short films and listening to some of my favorite songs on my home theatre system - alone. I looked over my shoulders and saw him sitting majestically on his throne in my prayer room as the door was ajar. I invited him to share the settee and sofa and share the moment with me. I lifted his statue and placed him on the sofa and we both watched and listened. 

He asked, "Why worry when you speak my name the whole day long? நாள் தோறும் என் நாமம் சொல்லி கொண்டு இருக்கும் போது என்ன கவலை?"

He asked, "Why the loneliness when my daughter (my wife) is with you? என் மகள் உன்னோடு இருக்கும் போது என்ன தனிமை?" though she was away that weekend. 

He also asked, "Why the loneliness when the Prapanjam is with you? பிரபஞ்சமே உன்னோடு இருக்கும் போது என்ன தனிமை?"

Finally he asked, "Why do you fear loneliness? நீ ஏன் தனிமையை கண்டு பயப்படுகின்றாய்?"

To return the above gesture, Agathiyar surprised me the other day by calling me over to sit and meditate with him. He held my hands as we sat together in silence.

People seem to think that joy is in the company of others. They look forward eagerly to the weekends when they could visit others, talk over a drink, etc. They fail to understand that this joy can be matched in the company of nature and kids. Though nature can show its fury and kids can test your patience at times, the sheer presence in her being in the former and their intelligence in the latter is truly amazing. Above all these, the company of God gives us immense joy. 

Agathiyar told me something that has been shared by Neale Donald Walsch in his conversation with God: "Everything I experience I experience through You." When my spirit was down learning about karma, learning of my past sins, and recalling similar deeds that I did in this life, Agathiyar consoled me in the Nadi telling me that all those were his doings too as he wanted me to have those experiences too. I guess guiding and tasking me to carry out many things at AVM was also a process in having me learn lessons from the experiences gained. 

God also tells Neale and us in his book "The Wisdom of the Universe", to "Honor your body as the magnificent vehicle through which the cycle of your present life is being created and through which the extraordinary gift of life is being experienced."

HOW WE EVOLVED

How Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia or AVM evolved in name and form is an interesting story to tell and share. It is a rather short journey of some 21 years. Agathiyar stepped into my home the day I had a calling to read my Nadi for the very first time on 14 December 2002. For some, I come to know, he is waiting outside their homes waiting to be invited into their homes and lives.

Armed with a small booklet, a collection of songs of praise and the names of the Siddhas, and his painting, I began my home puja solo. It was only later in 2005 when I met Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in Kallar in Malaysia that he asked me to rope in the family too. Beginning 2013 Agathiyar sent many youths to my home after their Nadi readings to watch and participate in the Pournami Puja that we did. A name to identify and share our location was deemed necessary then. We came up with Agathiyar Vanam, the place where Agathiyar had pointed Tavayogi too in his meditation to set up his ashram after his wonderings and stay in temples and caves. 

Agathiyar who endorsed the name AVM often told us that he would come by to take a rest in his Vanam or Garden. Later he told us it was the Gnana Kottam when he mentioned the presence and gathering of deities, saints, sages, and Siddhas. Lord Murugan in 2018 chose to call it Agathiyar TapoVanam as we were ready to take the leap from doing to sitting still. Most recently Ramalinga Adigal in making an entry asking Agathiyar to lead us further, names the home Gnana Peedham.

In December 2019 in anticipation of the lockdowns and restrictions on our movements due to the pandemic, Agathiyar had us bring down the shutters on AVM too. The puja and charitable activities stopped too. Giving us some simple techniques, we were asked to go within and look within. 

Just as the place evolved in name and form, today Agathiyar who came as the Word in the Nadi, who came as a painting and later as a bronze statue, who sat with us during the rituals we carried out, who came as a guru in physical form, who made himself obvious in the breath as we carried out Vaasi or breathing exercises, has evolved from form to formless in our eyes, telling us that he is the very Prapanjam that we are in and that is in us too. How wonderful a journey it has been. We are truly grateful to the divine for showering its grace and showing the light for us to progress without any hitches or dangers. We are truly indebted to him for opening our hearts and our eyes and drawing the veil of ignorance and showing us the light. It is not light as per se but the clarity or telivu that dawns as the curtains are drawn aside. 

THE PRAPANJAM

When Agathiyar called me to the path through my first Nadi reading in 2002, he had the Nadi reader pass me a small booklet that carried songs of praises to the Siddhas and their names and had Sivabalan, who hosted the reader, pass me a painting of Agathiyar. Dr. Krisnan who told me about the existence of the Siddhas and their Nadi, passes me a Yantra, a geometrical diagram etched on a copper foil later. Tavayogi officially initiated me into the path by passing me Agathiyar's Teecha mantra after Agathiyar brings me to meet him in Malaysia. When Tavayogi told me that Agathiyar had come to him the day I arrived at his Kallar ashram for the first time in 2005 and asked him what he was going to give me, I asked him how he came. Tavayogi replied that he was in the form of light. Before I left for Malaysia he initiated me telling me that Agathiyar was now the Vaasi or breath in us.  When I visited his ashram again with my family in 2013, he had some boys bring us to the spot where Agathiyar had given him darshan, or vision in the form of light. Tavayogi had installed a granite statue of Agathiyar at the spot. He had also placed fiber statues of Agathiyar and Tava Murugan at his ashram. When Tavayogi brought us to the Nattadreswar temple in Erode, he turned to me as we came down the temple steps and told me that Agathiyar was Lord Siva and vice versa. 

When a devotee asked Agathiyar, who since Tavayogi's demise came through devotees, what was his true form, he asked her how and what she felt in conducting puja and in doing charity. She replied that she had a pleasant and uplifting feeling. He replied that he was that. Later he tells us that he is the vibration in all of existence. 

I personally wanted to see Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal in the many forms depicted. When I mentioned my desire to Tavayogi he replied that it was not impossible, but quickly added asking me if that was what I wanted. I knew that there was something else that I should desire for. As I draw well I told Agathiyar once that I shall only draw him after he comes before me and shows me his form, for how was I to draw someone without seeing him. Even if I did it would be copying someone else's vision of him. He never appeared before me though many including Gnana Jothiamma have seen him at AVM. 

I had held the opinion that God and guru should accept all irrespective of race and religion, irrespective of their nationality, irrespective of their economic standing, etc. He has to be unbias and nonjudgemental. He has to shower his grace on all. He has to embrace all into his fold. He should not be exclusive to any one individual, a group, or following. What Agathiyar did surprised all of us. He had Ramalinga Adigal bring down the Prapanjam into our tiny home and wherever we gathered. He had him show us how to connect and stay connected with it. Whenever Ramalinga Adigal comes he gathers us around him and hugs us all, and by doing so passes on the divine energies to us that help purify us. I understand now why Mata Amritanandamayi hugs one and all wherever she is invited. She helps us connect with the Prapanjam. 

He had us move his statue to another devotee's home removing any identification to his form and name and today stands as the Prapanjam enveloping one and all in his warm compassionate and loving embrace. His room at AVM is now "empty." Agathiyar who instructed me to close the door of his room after his exit in the form of the bronze statue told me to only admit those who wished to meditate. Though the Prapanjam is all around us and we are in it, in sitting in his space one could now connect with the Prapanjam easily just as was the intention in building temples. 

Today Agathiyar has revealed his true form and made himself accessible to all in all places as he stands before, around, and in us as the Prapanjam just as we are in him.  The Prapanjam does not shut out anyone. It embraces all irrespective of color, race, faith, beliefs, religion, gender, status, etc. Similarly, nobody can lay claim to the Prapanjam. 

A devotee made me realize what Agathiyar had been telling me all this while that he was the Prapanjam, that he was in it, and also that it was in him. Shangadasan in coming over to AVM some time back on knowing that Agathiyar was moving, told me that when many establishments forbid others to enter their premises or join them in prayer or their events, on the grounds that they were not vegetarians, or had them submit to and adhere to their codes of practice, bylaws, rules, and regulations, prior to stepping in, it was only in AVM where Agathiyar embraced one and all and slowly worked on their weaknesses and ignorance. It was a very big revelation for me as I did not realize this till then. I guess this is the reason Lord Murugan in the Nadi said that we shall do it differently. 

A STAR IS BORN

Just as the book "An Autobiography of a Yogi" given as a gift to me by a parting friend and colleague at the office had opened up a whole new world for me, my website (now defunct) opened up a whole new world for Mrs. Molly Menon who was to become Jnana Jothiamma in later years. 

If the above-mentioned book by a master and guru, Paramahansa Yogananda, revealed the existence of the divine, whom we only knew as statues and paintings, as real people in the flesh, my website "Indian Heartbeat" had sort of triggered a series of events in the life of a married woman from Kerala, India who was then residing in the United States. 

On July 3, 2011, she writes to me for the very first time seeking to know about Agathiyar and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal’s ashram at Kallar.

Hello Mr. Shanmugam, I am Meena Menon form U.S.A. We had been communicating about Guruji Tavayogi. I am also known as Molly Menon/ Mrs.Menon.

I guess what she read on my website had made such a great impression that she left for Kallar. Upon reaching India, she e-mails me on Thursday, October 20, 2011. At Kallar, Agathiyar through Tavayogi magically and mysteriously initiated her. Jnana Jyothiamma had planned to spend six months at Tavayogi’s Ashram but Tavayogi sent her away after her initiation asking her to return to the U.S.A. She left reluctantly after a couple of weeks, missing the Annual Guru Puja and Jayanthi celebrations. 

Back in the USA now she writes to me,

"It started thus .... it started with a call ... instructions from the Divine ..... and I was in India before even I knew what was going on ... only to get back after two weeks to the United States ... and then again get back to India after five months. ..... as the highest power in the universe ‘wanted an audience with me at Kallar’. Will anybody believe what I'm saying? They think me stark mad .. totally screwed up ... beyond the point of no return". 

"Hmm .. dunno what to say ... choked up ... really .. all kinds of feelings sweeping through me ... too many memories ... two weeks ... an experience of a Yuga ... that's all I can say."

Indeed how else would you put it if you are told things that are beyond our knowledge? If Tavayogi in his meditation, came to know that he was an old soul having taken birth again to uplift us, Jnana Jothiamma was told the same too through a subsequent Jeeva Nadi reading at Kallar before she left. She sets upon to do the maths and emails me her discovery.

"If Valmiki Ramayan .. history of Rama was written 18,444 million years ago, then his father King Dasaratha would be well before that and Vashishta was his father's guru (also his) ..... that means according to Agathiyar I was there with all these Mahans long before 18,444 million years. No wonder Karuppetta (her favorite deity Karupanasamy) termed it as Jenmandram Connection and Agathiyar also mentioned likewise... I am glazed out totally ... After getting to know all this from the Source .... anybody would renounce the world."

"The Mysterious part is .... my Jeeva Nadi reading went missing, from my study table ...After I returned back to the United States after getting my Dhiksha, I placed it on my study table immediately upon reaching home. I used to gaze at it every day. It was more than a precious ornament to/for me ... something so very precious .. especially as Agathiyan had mentioned to me in that Nadi that there will not be any more Nadi Reading for me. It was right on the same spot I placed for two months ... Then disappeared suddenly ..."

"I could not understand at all, what happened to me at Kallar that day of my Initiation. I used to gaze at my Jeeva Nadi reading book and recollect all the incidents that happened at the Ashram right from the day, I entered it. The peacock that entered the Ashram mysteriously and also left mysteriously. Every night it used to knock at my door. I used to feed it too... I took a number of pics of that peacock. All of them disappeared too from my mobile...Neither did I go to the Ashram for getting Dhiksha nor for getting my Nadi read. Both the above-mentioned terms, I have not heard before and I did not know the meaning of either of the two."

"All I knew and was aware of was, that something ... some strong force was taking me there. Secondly, when for the first time in my life, I saw Agathiyan's pic in Sadhguru Venkatraman's site, I felt that I knew this Sage ... or can I say ... some sort of intense longing I suddenly had to see Him somewhere, and somehow. I did not know where ... but I had a deep yearning that I needed to see Agasthya Maharishi .... There was an enormous yearning within me. It was at this time, around July 2011, the Divine showed me a wonderful Athma ..... an Athma who was very dear to Agathiyan and I stumbled across his site .. INDIAN HEARTBEAT .... and what I read there, left me breathless. Here I find a person, who, along with an Enlightened Master seems to have gone to all the places the Noble Sage had trod. Thus started a beautiful relationship with you Shan... with Tavayogi and not to forget my dearest sister Mataji Sarojini. My heartful thanks to all her family members, including Mataji and Tavayogi, who took care of me while I was there, and my humble prostrations to my Swamiji Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal, for having shared with me some of his Divine experiences with Agathiyan and also some advice. At the holy feet of our Father Agathiyan, I submit myself for having accepted me, protected me, guided me, and is still protecting and guiding me. What can I give back to our Father for all that HE has given me? My utmost devotion to His holy paadham."

She stood by Agathiyar till her last breath. That is how she gave back to him for all that he gave her. Obedience and total surrender are the keys to salvation. She was a perfect example. 

TAKING ON A NEW RESPONSIBILITY

Neale Donald Walsch shares God's words in his book "The Wisdom of the Universe": "I talk to everyone. All the time. The question is not to whom do I talk, but who listens?" We are all receiving God's message directly, says Neale. Indeed, Agathiyar too in a Nadi reading in the past told me that he was talking to me always, but sadly I was not aware most of the time. Since he began to speak to us through his devotees, he has reminded us again of the same. On 12.3.2023 he told a devotee couple that he was speaking to them each second. "But alas, you are not aware. You are not listening. Believe. And it shall happen. Believe is that which keeps us going. Do not bury that belief you have in us in you. Bring that belief to the reach of others too. Others too should believe in the Siddhas, worship them, and follow and walk their path. They must place an effort to bring salvation to their soul. You should be of assistance to them. Never be contented that you have received his grace and forgo the others." It was very obvious that Agathiyar was making each disciple a guru having them show others to the path of Light.

ஒவ்வொரு கணமும் சித்தன் உங்களோடு பேசிக்கொண்டு இருக்கின்றான். நீங்கள் அதை உணர்வதில்லை. செவி சாய்ப்பதில்லை. நம்புங்கள். நடக்கும். நம்பிக்கைதான் நம்மை வாழ வைத்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது. அந்த நம்பிக்கை உன்னோடு அடங்கிவிட கூடாது. உன் நம்பிக்கை மற்றவர்களிடம் கொண்டு செல். அந்த நம்பிக்கையை மற்றவர்களுக்கும் ஏற்படுமாறு நீ செய்தாக வேண்டும். சித்தன் மீது மற்றவர்கள் நம்பிக்கை ஏற்பட்டு, அவனைத் தொழுது, பின் பற்றி, அவன் நெறியில் நடந்து வந்து, அவன் ஆத்ம கரைசேர, அவன் முயற்சிக்கணும். அதற்கு உறுதுணையாக நீ இருக்கணும். எனக்குக் கிட்டியது எனக்குப் போதும் என்று இருந்துவிட கூடாது. 

On 22 September 2022 when Agathiyar disclosed that the chakras had opened up in me, I enquired of him what was I to do? He replied, "Do Nothing. Just be a witness to what takes place."

எழும்பிய சக்கரங்கள் தான்  இருந்து தன்காரியங்களைச் செய்யும். அவை அனுபவித்து வா.

God tells Neale "Your soul is me, and it knows it. What it is doing is trying to experience that. And what it is remembering is that the best way to have this experience is by not doing anything. There is nothing to do but to be, .."

When I was sitting ideal doing nothing, and welcoming my final days, asking him to bring it forward, Agathiyar told me to postpone the thought as he had much that I needed to do first. 

In another conversation we had with Agathiyar on 27. 6. 2023, he asked me if I was enjoying myself in doing nothing. சும்ம இருக்கும் சுகத்தை அனுபவிக்கிறாயா? Neale's book clarifies this matter. "Doing is the function of the body. Being is the function of the soul." Now I understand all of this pretty well. He had us venture into puja and charity and all the associated activities and brought a halt to them and had us go inside literally and within. In going within we came to know our Self or Atma or Soul. 

Recently he came and told me the time was right to take on the role of a guru as I had gained sufficient Soul Power or Atma Balam. Later in bringing over several newcomers, Agathiyar tells me to accept them as my students elevating me to the role of a guru. When I asked him out of doubt if he meant me he replied in the affirmative and said that I had desired it. I asked myself when did I desire it? He then quickly added that since I could never bring myself to sit quietly, he was giving me this new task to keep me occupied. 

I wonder if readers believe all the above, for I too am puzzled at times. How did I qualify to become a guru, I asked myself. What were the criteria? How was I judged? I know myself to be a horrendous person by nature. But yet in the eyes of my gurus, I stood out as a guru material whom they could shape and prepare for the job, patiently over the years. I am sure those who know me would be in a state of disbelief knowing my flaws and weaknesses. But the divine seemed to be not concerned with others and my opinion of myself. I guess they had faith in me to carry out the new task that they have given me. 

Agathiyar had hinted back then on 10.12.2021 that Tavayogi has conceded to promote me. Agathiyar said that as I had realized him, it was time to move on and realize the Prapanjam. 

உனது மூல குரு ஆகிய தவயோகி இங்கு வருவான். அவனது முயற்சிகளை ஈன்ற குருத் தன்மையை யாவையும் உனக்கு அளிப்பான். நீ என்னை உணர்ந்துவிட்டாய். இனி பிரபஞ்சத்தை உணர்வாய்.

Tavayogi, upon being summoned by Agathiyar blessed me with a gift. It reminded me of the day I was at Tavayogi's Kallar ashram for the very first time. After retiring for the day under the light of the sole hurricane lamp lit at the ashram and awakening to a fresh new day, as Tavayogi invited me on his routine morning walk, he turned to me and said that Agathiyar had come the night before and asked what was he giving me. When Tavayogi asked him back what was he to give, Agathiyar replied that he will make it known to him later. I believe this was the gift that Agathiyar had for me and that came through Tavayogi. As we have mentioned often in the blog a true guru would never be satisfied at having his students stand before him awaiting his instructions to serve him forever but instead drive to make each disciple a guru too, Tavayogi expressed his satisfaction that his effort and the seed he had sowed in Malaysian soils did not perish. He had come to gift us the fruit of our efforts, for our dedication, and complete surrender, and for our alliance with the force.

மகனே எனது முயற்சிகள், நாம் இட்ட விதைகள் அழியவில்லை. இன்று நீங்கள் என்னை நாடி வந்து பெற வேண்டியதில்லை. யாமே தருகிறோம். அருகினில் வா. 

He acknowledged that I had attained the state of a guru. He asked that I monitor those who frequent AVM. "Dignity and strictness are to be upheld. Preach to only those who care to listen. Teach only to those who are likely to follow. Agathiyar shall assist you."

மகனே நீ குரு நிலையை அடைந்து விட்டாய். இங்கு இருக்கும் சீடர்களைச் சரிவரக் கண்காணித்துவா. கண்ணியமும் தேவை கண்டிப்பும் தேவை. கேட்போருக்கு மட்டும், செய்வோருக்கும் நீ கற்றவை கற்றுக்கொண்டே வா. எமது பரிபூரண ஆசி. என் அப்பன் அகத்தீசன் உன்னொடு துணை இருப்பான். 

Tavayogi added that there was much that I needed to learn. "You have reached the state of mounam or silence. It will teach you further. He wanted me to experience what he had seen too. 

நீ இனி கற்க வேண்டியது அதிகம் இருக்கிறது. கற்றுக்கொள்வாய். மௌன நிலை நீ எட்டி விட்டாய். அதுவே உனக்குப் போதிக்கும். நான் கண்டவை யாவும் நீயும் காண வேண்டும்.

Tavayogi quipped and made us all laugh. Since he came within a devotee who was slim, Tavayogi commented that he had lost weight. 

சற்று மெலிந்து விட்டேன். 

When we fell at his feet he stopped us and pointed us to Agathiyar's statue. Again it reminded me of the day I met Tavayogi at a local peedham in Kuala Lumpur. Before leaving I fell at his feet. He stopped me and pointed me to Agathiyar's sandals by our side. After he had visited my home and as I was sending him back to the peedham, I shared my joy in having received him. He killed my joy then. Later I realized that he had done me a favor for I didn't get hooked to him but instead, he showed me to Agathiyar. Similarly, Agathiyar has passed me on to Prapanjam for all my needs.

LEARNING TO LIVE & NOT JUST EXIST

Looking at a snail glide along on the ground up close in my garden this morning I understood the lead actor's note to his children in the short film "Mumbai Varanasi Express." He writes, "I have not lived my life. I had only existed. Now I want to live it. Whatever time left I would like to devout to myself." He writes the note and leaves for Varanasi to await his death as his doctor had diagnosed him as having colon cancer and having the most only two months to live. Miraculously a year passes by. He regains his health and heads back to Mumbai to save his failing business left in charge of his children.

The snail just existed just as other animals do. Only man can choose to live a life. Of course, he could just opt to exist as do animals. I guess this is the reason that the elders often tell us that man has the Sixth Arivu to evaluate things and chart his destination. Man has the potential to reach for the highest goal set either by him or by God, in some people. 

God asks us to "recreate ourselves anew in every moment of now in the grandest version of the greatest vision you ever held about Who You Are", writes Neale Donald Walsch in his book "The Wisdom of the Universe", published by Penguin Random House LLC, 2017. This stand and vision are reflected in Ramalinga Adigal's "Arutperunjothi Agaval" beautifully. 

It is only after we have the Prapanjam or Universe as commonly translated, with us and by our side and on our side, that we can drop all the laws that govern time and space. For instance, what is right and wrong? We are told that there is no absolute right and wrong. The rights and wrongs change with time and space. When one transcends time and space, there is no right and wrong. What remains is the experience gained from the lessons in life. The Siddhas in having Prapanjam work for them could break the hold of nature's law and stand aloof and watch and manipulate things if the need arose. 

Hence even the perception and understanding change and keeps changing over time and with newer experiences that are gained. It is true that whatever I wrote, in the beginning, might have changed over time. When I read and reflect on these posts, I do see how we have grown together in our understanding of life here and its purpose. Rather than have the heavens gate open up and the heavens fall or come crashing on us, he had us climb the creeper monitoring each move and action till we arrive at the gate. This is the Gnanam that Agathiyar spoke about, which most of us mistakingly think is gifted in a silver platter. 

THE GAME

Watching a scene from the movie "Adhi Parasakthi" on YouTube that I remember watching in the theatres many years ago, Mother Goddess comes to the cottage of a fisherman, and in feasting her heart out on the popular dish Pongal, asks the couple what they wanted. They replied that they had all and were satisfied. She tells them that she could give anything and everything that one asks for except for the state of satisfaction. Though I had followed every word of Agathiyar, I had always refused to toe the line when it came to accepting gifts. Thus we had Ramalinga Adigal come and tell us that "Whenever you say it is enough you shall tend to gain more." போதும் என்ற மனமே பொன் செய்யும் மருந்து. நீ போதும் என்று சொல்லும் நிலை உன்னை அறியாமல் நீ பெற்றுக் கொண்டுதான் இருக்கிறாய். 

When Lord Shiva came in a dream in 1988 and told me to reserve my questions for a future date, I did just that. Not only did I stop questioning the injustice I saw in the lives of his believers, followers, and devotees, I kept myself away from further readings and discussions on religion and spiritualism. I stopped frequenting the temples, and I dropped my home puja too. 

When my nephew came along in 2001 and passed me a mantra that I came to learn two years later was from Agathiyar, by way of his Paramaguru Gopal Pillai, I began to recite it diligently without question. 

When Agathiyar called me to the worship of the Siddhas in my very first Nadi reading the following year in 2002, I began reciting the names of the Siddhas immediately. I scouted around for a place to place Agathiyar in existing temples after Agathiyar had asked me to build a temple for him in the Nadi. As I did not get the cooperation of existing temple committees I dropped that search. 

I took Supramania Swami as my guru in 2003 meeting him on his home ground in Tiruvannamalai, after Agathiyar had spoken about my unprecedented meeting with my guru in the Nadi. 

I took Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal as my guru too in 2005 after Agathiyar told me that he had sent him to me. Since I was asked to help out with the building of temples and build one for him too, when both Supramania Swami and Tavayogi mooted the idea of building a temple, I jumped on the bandwagon. But the ever-mysterious Siddhas stopped Supramania Swami from continuing further on a temple for Lord Murugan at Tiruvannamalai while they saw through the completion of Tavayogi's ashram cum temple for Agathiyar at Kallar. 

Now after coming to his path, after Agathiyar began to guide me through regular Aasi Nadi readings, and after introducing me to two wonderful gurus and their lineages, I stopped listening to him. Yes, you read it right. When Agathiyar told me to visit several living gurus and go over to several sacred spots that he named in the Nadi over time, I told him I was not going anywhere. I had him and my gurus. If he was to give me anything or bless me let that happen in my home. He stopped asking me over. 

While a yoga master who accompanied Tavayogi to Malaysia during his visit in 2007 taught many Yoga Asanas and Pranayama, we cornered Tavayogi to teach us. He obliged us. We picked up the techniques directly from him. 

When Agathiyar asked that I commission his bronze statue in Swamimalai and place it at the Jegathguru Sri Raghavendra Swamigal Brindhavanam, Ipoh I placed an order in 2009. Agathiyar who arrived on 2 January 2010, told me he would be in transit at my home until the Brindhavanam was completed. Later he changed his mind and stayed put at my home. 

In 2013 Agathiyar sends several youths to my home after their respective Nadi readings to watch the puja I and my family did at my home that we then named as Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) for the purpose of ease in directing them over. Though Agathiyar named Agathiyar Vanam as Gnana Kottam and Lord Muruga called it Agathiyar Tapovanam I never was keen to start a centre and have people congregate. But the Siddhas and the deities kept coming for just the handful of faithful devotees. 

Lord Murugan rocks the cradle again asking me to build a temple for him in a 2018 Nadi reading. I refused to move this time. Seeing no response from me he sends Agathiyar to talk me into doing it. Since I stood my ground Agathiyar reveals in a Nadi reading some 18 months later that he had tested me. 

Over the years Agathiyar had offered to gift me a Nadi that I could read for myself and others. I was not keen. When Agathiyar brought strangers into my home and healed them I and my wife asked that it stop. These days he comes through his devotees only to a small group who kept patronizing and visiting him at AVM. 

Recently, Ramalinga Adigal in rebranding AVM as Gnana Peedham told us that he would address us. Agathiyar on his part in coming through a devotee has promoted me to the state of a guru having sent over some fresh faces. He repeated the same in a Nadi reading of one of these devotees later. When I questioned in disbelief, he replied that I had desired it. I wonder when I had asked for it. Then he added that since I could not possibly keep quiet and still, he had given me the role to take up and occupy my time. Learning from experience when many turned up at AVM sick and in a mess after having a fallout and breaking their ties with their gurus, I told these youngsters that I had no intent to mess up anyone's life and asked them to deal directly with Agathiyar just as Tavayogi had shown me to Agathiyar and Agathiyar had shown me to Mother Prapanjam. I wonder what game is Agathiyar playing this time around? We shall have to wait and see. Only time can tell.

TELL YOUR STORY

Life is an exploration where what seems true at the beginning of the journey could change as we travel the path and gain experience. We can relate much of what we learned from our own experiences and from those brief moments of conversation with Agathiyar coming through others, to Neale Donald Walsch's selections from his "Conversation With God" series of books, carried in "The Wisdom of the Universe", published by Penguin Random House LLC, 2017.

Just as Agathiyar told us that there is no right or wrong, God explains to Neale, "that your sense of right and wrong only defines you, as "Who You Have Become from the totality of your experiences." It is right or wrong in our eyes and that of the community, society, nation, and its man-made laws. Neale says that we are always painting over, creating a new painting each moment, creating an ever-evolving portrait of ourselves as we evolve together with our definition of things like what is right and wrong. Neale goes on to say that "everything you think, say, and do is an act of self-definition."

Just as we have posted about how, contrary to the common belief that we are at the mercy of both the guru and God, in reality, we need each other for our upliftment in the former and for God to exist in the latter, Neale writes, "For centuries our country, religions, and societies have needed us to believe their truth in order for them to survive." Ramalinga Adigal who initially followed the scriptures went on to explore their truth rather than settling for them lock, stock, and barrel. This experiment with truth and the many experiences he had, had given birth to the treasure house in the form of his Arutpa. So did Bharathi break all the rules to arrive at the truth. 

Most of the time we are at fault but blame the gods. When the lackadaisical attitude and lack of discipline in following up or keeping to a given regime do not bring the desired results we fault God. God does not interfere in our lives unless called for. The calling too can come from him asking us to surrender to him so that he can work on us to fulfill the purpose we came for. When the calling comes we begin to rewrite the stories. 

"How many stories are we willing to rewrite," asks Asha in the movie "Wedding Season" citing how we can change others lives as in giving out loans and thence giving a new life to them, and similarly others' lives change our lives too. She says, "Our lives are better when their lives are better." God tells Neale too "What you do for your Self you do for another. What you do for another you do for the Self. This is because you and the other are one. And this is because..there is naught but you."

When Asha's boyfriend reminds her that he has seen her going through boxes looking for a story to believe in, he tells her that "I don't think you will find that story in the box." He tells her that she is the story. 

When I entered my friend's auto workshop, he moved away from an elderly man who was engaged in vomiting his frustrations on the state of politics to attend to me. But the old man did not stop there. He continued his negative talk to me too tarnishing the blissful morning hours of that day. I told him to stop. I told him that he would have spoken the same to another earlier that morning over morning tea. He would have spoken the same the night before during dinner at a restaurant. He would have spoken the same over the past few days, or months. I told him to tell his story and speak something good about his family. Sadly he did not have anything to say.

God ask us to "recreate ourselves anew in every moment of now in the grandest version of the greatest vision you ever held about Who You Are" says Neale. How nicely put. God has a way with words I have come to realize as he brings the words to my mind too as I pen this blog. I go back reading them countless times, and sit back in awe at his mastery of words.

MAKING GURUS OF DISCIPLES

Continuing the "Conversations with God" trilogy with a reading of Neale Donald Walsch's "The Wisdom of the Universe" I was overjoyed to read the following, "Enlightenment is understanding that there is nowhere to go, nothing to do, and nobody you have to be except exactly who you're being right now." When I asked Agathiyar if there was any further practice to follow having sped the highway ferrying puja and charity, and hitting the wall beginning in 2019, Agathiyar told me the same too that there was nothing further to do. The energy that has come to take its rightful place within shall do what needs to be done he added. 

Neale shares God's astonishing statement that when one realizes "God's ever-present existence within him" he does not need God. Now I understand why Tavayogi stayed away from the temple puja conducted by the priests in the temples we visited, which many others waited and thronged to witness. He chose to head for the Siddhas samadhi or shrine on the premises of the famed temples we visited and meditate instead.

Amidst all the chaos in our daily lives, we are asked to "recognize the presence of god in every moment." Sharing our completeness with others is the best option in all relationships says Neale. We are here to serve the highest calling within ourselves adds Neale. We are here to work on our soul or as Agathiyar says to gain Atma Balam or soul power. 

When I erred and made blunders Agathiyar consoled me and asked that I forgive myself just as he has. He went further to say that it was he who wanted me to have those experiences too. I guess what he meant was what God tells Neale too, "If you have caught yourself in an ungodly act as a result of doing what is best for you, the confusion is not in having put yourself first, but rather in misunderstanding what is best for you." Neale too shares God's words, "You were given these problems as gifts, divine opportunities to choose and declare, express and experience, know and fulfill Who You Really Are, so that in knowing you could show others who do not know." True to what Neale writes, "For you are setting an example, showing the way: "I am the life and the way," you are saying, "Follow me." You have come as a savior", this was how Agathiyar made gurus of his disciples. Neale conveys God's words beautifully saying that "a true god is not one with the most servants, but one who serves the most, thereby making gods of all others." We too have held this opinion that a guru shall never want us to serve him till eternity but would thrive to make each one of us a guru too, at par with him or even excell him. 

COMING FOR THAT EXPERIENCE

I just bought Neale Donald Walsch's book "The Wisdom of the Universe" and am reading through it. I have made extensive reference to his earlier books in the series "Conversation with God (CWG)" including Book 4, "Awaken the Species"  and his children's parable titled "The Little Soul and the Sun", adapted from his book 1 in the series, in this blog because we could relate these conversations Neale had with those that we had with Agathiyar. "The Wisdom of the Universe" caught my eye for now we have begun to know the Pranajam too or what is commonly translated as the Universe. What a timely read I should say. 

The answer to the very first question itself "How do I know God is communicating with me?" reminds me of what Agathiyar told us too. "I talk to everyone. All the time. The question is not to whom do I talk, but who listens?" We are all receiving God's message directly says Neale. Indeed Agathiyar too told me that he was talking to me always but sadly I was not aware most of the time. 

Neale's two words, "Watch and Listen" have been mentioned numerous times and on numerous occasions to us too. Neale lists some of the ways to become aware of God's devices that connect us to him. Indeed this list has had an impact on me too these days. The words in a song, the info in an article, the story in a movie, and the chance utterance of a person all might be God's way of opening us up and opening us to him. We only need to invite him and not pour out our grievances but just listen to him talk. That is what a handful of us do each time Agathiyar comes before us through any devotee. 

I have noticed that most of the time Agathiyar too is silent unless there is a need to say something important. He does not dwell on the daily issues that shout out for our attention. He only addresses them if there is an immediate need. At times he comes around asking us if all was well. When we voice out the issue that was bothering us he gives us a solution or some words of courage and solace. 

Neale tells us that God speaks to us through thoughts, feelings, experiences, and words and he comes as the voice within which is exactly what Agathiyar told us too. Again we see his words reflected in the book that there is no right and no wrong.

Describing the process Neale says that the mind provides the space for thought to appear and creation to happen which subsequently becomes the word and becomes an action and a deed. Hence he asks us to know and create from our Highest Thoughts. Bharathi amplifies this statement beautifully in his song "Ninnai Charan Adainthen Kannama". He wrote, "தன்செய லெண்ணித் தவிப்பது தீர்ந்திங்கு நின்செயல் செய்து நிறைவு பெறும்வண்ணம்", that translates as in doing his hearts desire, he only met frustration and became agitated that his endeavors kept failing. But when he surrendered to the Almighty and did his asking instead, he regained peace and utmost satisfaction.

The problem with us is that we keep speaking and vomiting out all that we have consumed with the aid of the senses. If only we could stop these and give him a chance to speak in the silence of the moment. It is when I sit to attempt to meditate that he gives me the subject and starts me off with some words. How can I remain sitting then? I head for my laptop and start typing whatever comes within lest I forget them. He gives me the words and the sentences too that make me sit up and wonder in amazement. I have read these posts numerous times too for they are news to me too. 

Neale says it wonderfully that in the Absolute only knowing exists but no experience. Hence we understand why we are told often that the purpose we, and to our surprise the Gods too, take birth as humans is to have the experience. The Little Soul in Neale's parable "The Little Soul and the Sun" too knows that he is light but wants to experience it. As in the world of the absolute only knowing is but there is no experience, the soul comes down to earth to experience itself as Light. "The Little Soul knew itself to be the Light but it wanted to experience itself as Light." 

God tells Neale that life is "the gift, the unspeakable treasure, the holy of holies." And Neale writes that "God is that life, and all the stuff that life is." That is what all the saints have told us too. We are told that the gods too came to earth to experience and learn from these experiences just as what we are here for too. It is said that Ramalinga Adigal built the Satya Gnana Sabai so that the heavenly beings could come to learn as ordained by God, but though the building was up the intent did not materialize. 

We learn from "The Wisdom of the Universe" that for us to experience something, the exact opposite is created. Thus we find ourselves living with a spouse who is the exact opposite or forced to live in a condition that we despise. Though we cannot change much of what is already there and inherent in another, rejoice that you are different or rather in Neale's words "that which we Really Are".

In telling Agathiyar that I would want to "make him famous" he questions me how can one bring fame to the very vibration inherent in all. Agathiyar tells us that he is the very vibration prevailing in all things and everywhere. When he came around to me after asking those gathered what they wanted, after several moments of silence and contemplation as he was waiting for me to answer, I told him that I wanted to be of service to him in all the births I took henceforth. He questioned me if that was what I wanted signaling to me that that was not what was to be sought. Fame and service to him are not what he seeks. When Neale shared a wonderful piece where God sends out the signal, "If God did need anything, he tells us, that would make us Children of a Lesser God", I remember Agathiyar telling us to walk tall and with pride that we are his children. 

When Neale says that God has desires but not needs, I fully understand why Agathiyar, Lord Murugan, Subramania Swami, and Tavayogi all had desires too. They desired just as God told Neale that others come "to know and experience Who You Really Are, through the power I have given you to create and experience yourself in whatever way you choose." 

When God tells Neale "Hear me, everywhere" that is the voice of the Prapanjam.

CALLING IT A DAY

It has taken some 21 years to fully understand Agathiyar and his ways. Now we understand pretty well why Agathiyar who initiates or has us start on a practice or a method, has us also bring a halt to it. In bringing me to do charity at Tavayogi's Kallar Ashram in 2005, Agathiyar had me carry on doing it solo till he brought a group of youngsters to AVM in 2013. They brought the act of doing charity to a much larger circle of volunteers. As a result, we could reach out to a larger number of recipients. Agathiyar wanted to open our eyes and hearts to the sad and pathetic state of affairs around us. He had us engage in feeding those in the Old Folks' homes and Children's homes. Later we were introduced to street feeding by another devotee spearheading their charity drive called Pothihai Tharma Chakkram. Soon we took over from a devotee who was given the task of feeding the poor by Agathiyar and had initiated feeding those poor and underprivileged who though had a roof above them found it tough to survive. At the peak of our charities, in late 2019, he has us drop the charity telling us that others would continue from where we left. He asked us to focus on our individual journey telling us that the path now could only accommodate one at a time. It was the right moment to let go, we understood later. If he had not put a stop to it we would have stagnated as in a pond. The praises heaped on us would have got into our heads.

Agathiyar told us to withdraw and go within. He had initiated the move by having us feed all, irrespective of the rich or poor, devotee or none devotee, passerby, and tourist alike. Once we got the hang of it only then did he tell us to shortlist the deserving ones as in telling us to spend wisely. Only after compassion whelmed in our hearts and tears welled in our eyes did he ask us to stop doing charity and move within. 

Similarly in calling us to the path Agathiyar had us go on pilgrimages to carry out remedies for our past deeds. These included carrying out specified prayers at designated temples, giving alms to the priests, to the poor, selected people from society, and feeding the animals. He had us start home puja and conduct rituals. At the peak of it all, he had us shut the shutters to AVM and had us go inside. We were asked to carry out yogic practices. We had gained sufficient merits to counter the past karma and now had to purify the physical body to withstand and take on the challenges and changes in the internal transformation that the body and the transmutation of the very cells in itself that was in the pipeline. 

Agathiyar who came as a painting and later as a statue to AVM chose to show himself now as the Prapanjam. He had me send away his statue to another devotee's home for it would not make sense to have his statue around and have us continue worship to him as a form and with a name after he has revealed himself as the very Prapanjam. As the Prapanjam he is formless and without a name for the Prapanjam is all-inclusive. He wants us to see him in all things now.

Alhough he has stopped all the activities, as of today he still wants me to blog though. If I had been writing about my travels with my gurus in physical form and whatever little I knew of Agathiyar from experience, he told me to stop writing about him and to share the experiences, that of the changes that were going on within me. There might come a day when he might ask me to call it off too, having me call it a day. The Siddhas are indeed mysterious. 

MERGING WITH THE PRAPANJAM

I have been watching several Hindi Short Films on LionsgatePlay. There were some wonderful stories told that brought laughs and tears too to my eyes. Life is all about telling stories, right. Children wait eagerly for their parents to return from work to tell their stories. They wait eagerly to tell their stories to their Grandma and Grandpa. They start their story from the moment we arrive at their door or they arrive at ours. Their stories follow us to the bathroom and they continue the story while waiting for us to come out. Similarly, we adults can't wait to share the days happening with a loved one. Collegemates share their stories. Officemates too have stories to share with their colleagues. Then there are the books we read and the movies we watch that add to the story bank. By the end of our lives, we would have gathered a substantial amount of stories to pass on to the next generation. 

This has been going on since time immemorial. We have the Puranas and Itihasas that gave us the great Epics. We have stories carved into stone and walls of caves. Now we have good stories and also trash on the net too. If those days, before we ventured to do something we were asked to get some advice from the elders, since they have lived longer and have seen much by way of experiences, I believe these days their advice would not suit current times. They lived in a different era. Technology and information have changed tremendously over the past several years where history is rewritten based on new archeological findings, the programming language has evolved, space travel is possible, and we might in the future inhabit another planet. Just following the methods of illumination shows how we have evolved through the ages.

https://uslhs.org/lighthouse-lamps-through-time

When man discovered means and ways to illuminate his world, the saints speak of ways to illuminate the Self. They speak of the eternal Light or Arul Oli. If the former is a step forward and a major leap for science in the discovery of new means to illuminate their lives, the latter is a rediscovery of ancient sciences that illuminate the Self. The Avir Oli that Nakkirar spoke about which K. Kothandapani Pillai in his Foreword to "An Introduction to the Philosophy of Ramalinga Swami" by Dr.C.Srinivasan, says may mean the light that unfolded in all distant ages was most probably rediscovered and named Arutperunjothi by Ramalinga Adigal. Both were worshipped as eternal light or Arul Oli. The saints in going within went back to discovering and came face to face and merged in what was inherent in us all the time. It is just that it has been veiled. The splendor of this light shines when the veils are drawn aside. 

I used to ask myself why are we asked to light an oil lamp and worship that which was never lasting or eternal. The burning of and sustaining the flame depends on so many factors. The flame and its lifespan depend on the vessel, the wick, the ghee or oil in it, and of course the match that ignites it. If one of these is missing we cannot light the lamp to illuminate the room nor worship it. Today I understand that what we were told is to light the eternal fire within us. But sadly we keep lighting the external flame rather than the eternal. Another question that came to mind was if the light was the fire? We worship the fire from the Yagams and Homams looking out for signs of deities in it. If so we could also worship the fire that keeps us warm at night and in winter, the fire that keeps wild animals in the woods away and that cooks our food while sitting around campfires. We could also worship the fire from the stove, the fire that engulfs homes, and the forest fires. We could also worship the fire at pyres and garbage dumps. But the fire is just one taatva among several others that sustains creation. Tavayogi took me into my prayer room and closed the door behind us. As the curtain was drawn shut what was visible was the burning lamp and the ambient lighting that was evenly distributed and illuminated the entire room. He pointed to the ambient lighting all around us and said that this was the Jothi that was much spoken about and that was worshipped and not the fire or flame of the lamp per se. That explained my query. If initially, we kept carrying out rituals at home including the above-mentioned lighting of oil lamps and lighting the homam and abhisheka or libation too, Tavayogi, the Siddhas, and the deities came to fine-tune and enhance the methods later. They asked us to kindle the oil lamp to burn big and bright as in the Aganda Deepam. Later in preparing us to go within, they told us to fan the Jothi or flame within each of us teaching us Vaasi or breathing practice that brought tremendous Prana within, and showed us the means to reach out to the Prapanjam and helped us with it. 

If we have heard that many sought after Mukti and Siddhi, Samadhi and merging with God, K. Kothandapani Pillai points out that both Nakkirar and Ramalinga Adigal had sought to merge with the world instead. He wrote, "The concluding portion of this ancient poem of Nakirar mentions the greatest blessing, which God can bestow on the aspirant and the state of his soul. The poem does not state that the greatest blessing God could bestow on the devotee is to make him one with himself i.e., to unite with the Lord in an inseparable union which almost every system of Indian Philosophy except atheistic ones aspire for. 

இருள் நிற முந் நீர் வளை இய உலகத்து ஒரு நீயாகி தோன்ற விழுமிய பெறல் அரும் பரிசில் நல் குமதி

It is strange that this poem asserts the greatest and unattainable reward, which the Lord can bestow, is to make the devotee one with the whole world. The last utterance of the Ramalinga Swami, before he vanished, "I am now in this body? Hereafter we will be in all the bodies (of the world)" was more or less to the same effect."

In the verse, உயிரெலாம் ஒரு நீதி திருநடம் புரியும் ஒரு திரு பொது என அறிந்தேன் we suddenly recall the conversation between God and Atom in an earlier post.

God: You see Atom, every act of hatred and violence you committed against another, you were committing against yourself and every act of love and hand of kindness, you also extended unto yourself

Atom: God, why do all this?

God: Someday, long from now, you will become like me. You will mature to become what I am

Atom: I’m a god?

God: No, not yet. You see, I was once where you stand right now. It is not until you have lived every human life inside of your universe that I may take you from this place. Once you have walked in the shoes of every race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and loving and hateful person, it is only then that you will understand how precious life truly is"

(Awessum Frankie's transcript)

"To walk in the shoes of every race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and loving and hateful person," would take numerous births. The saints found a way to fast-track the walk. By merging and in unison with the whole of creation or Prapanjam they were in all the bodies.

I just finished watching the movie "The Finest Hours". The Coast Guard sends out a small boat that goes out to the sea in bad weather to save the crew of a tanker split into two by the bashing of the rough seas. In the end scene the townfolks on the lights of their cars to help bring in the boat that lost its compass back to the pier. 

Makes me wonder how light comes to us in many forms and in many situations as a savior. Survivors who had close call with death, are said to see a light at the end of the tunnel. We are asked to light candles and oil lamps in our worship of the divine. The divine too is often said to be in the form of Light. Even if we have perfect vision we are only blind as a bat if there is no light. If sight and vision are dependent on light waves, hearing is dependent on sound waves. We are told that first there was a sound followed by the light and all of Prapanjam later. We are told also that all sounds come from things that vibrate. Can we then safely deduce that vibration is the cause of all existence? 

Tavayogi quotes Supramaniar Gnanam 32, in his book "Andamum Pindamum" where it is revealed that in the beginning there was a sound that triggered a vibration and was felt in the Paraparam. This first vibration created from the first sound was known as Akaaram. The vibratory waves that prolonged and sustained this first sound came to be called Ukaaram. Maakaaram was the resulting vibration that contained these vibratory sounds. The three came together as "that", which was to become the source of all creation, known as AUM. 

From https://www.ananda.org/yogapedia/aum/ we learn the same that "AUM is the vibration by which the Supreme Spirit brings all things into manifestation." Agathiyar says he is the vibration. Tavayogi says Agathiyar came to him as light. He also says that the Siddhas are in the form of light. Dhanvanthri told us that Tavayogi too has become light and shall guide us further. Then Agathiyar tells us that he is the Prapanjam. Ramalinga Adigal comes to help us connect with the Prapanjam. We are glad Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal have led us on the right track. Everything moves me these days. Movies, songs, stories, sights, sounds, touch, taste. I could go on. I feel connected to them. What is going on here I wonder? 

EFFORT + GRACE = THE TRANSFORMATION

Man living a mundane life accepts death as a process or incident that happens to all lives. But the Siddhas seem to have cheated death. How do they do it? If many these days seem to go into the state of samadhi and have their disciples and followers attend to their physical body in a specific way, Ramalinga Adigal seems to have even got rid of the gross body for when the authorities entered his room Siddhi Valagam in Methukuppam, what they saw was an empty room latched on the outside. Where did he go? What happened to his physical body? To understand his end we have to visit the events leading to his transformation. It did not happen overnight but was a process or a reversal of some kind. The climax scene in the movie "Lucy" sort of gives us an idea of what could have taken place. 

The ordinary mortal human body which is subjected to aging, disease, illnesses, seizures, failing organs, etc that lead to death, can also perish in an accident, by drowning, or due to natural calamity or in war, or in willingly welcoming it as in suicide, has to be cared for in the very first place as a prized possession. Human birth is rare we are reminded by the saints who had used the physical body to attain the state of sainthood, Siddhood, and God. The miracle that takes place in the womb of a mother warrants us to take extra care of it. From the moment of fertilization of the egg creating a zygote that rapidly divides into many cells turning into a blastocyst and developing into the embryo and later fetus, a divine hand is seen shaping us. And the care of the mother upon coming to know of her pregnancy definitely warrants us to take care of this body later in life. It functions even when asleep and in a coma or under sedation. How can we then waste this miracle body given to us?

Hence the Siddhas have us perform asanas and pranayama practices, besides having us consume sattvic or pure food, consume herbal preparations that eradicate the trash accumulated in us for years, and henceforth have us adopt a good comprehensive lifestyle. When this body is perfected we gain the state of a Suddha degam or a purified body. Above and beyond our efforts is the grace of the divine that is obtained by "universal spiritual communion and devotion to God", says Dr.C.Srinivasan in his book "An Introduction to the Philosophy of Ramalinga Swami", Published by Illakkia Nilayam, Tiruchi, 1968.

So with our efforts and his grace, we arrive at the formula to attain a Suddha degam. This transmutation and transformation goes to the level of atoms. The gross "matter and the atoms of unpurified elements are slowly transformed into energy or Pranava deham or body of Grace and Light and the body of Wisdom (i.e.) evolves into the body of the God Supreme or Immanence" we are told. Transformation on the subtle level takes place, "The transformation in the human frame first into Anburuvam, the body of love, then into Aruluruvam, the body of grace, and then finally into Inburuvam, the body of ecstasy, that is, the body of the God Supreme. All three states of the body are also referred to as the golden body", writes Dr.C.Srinivasan. Man who is mortal becomes Immortal. 

Ramalinga Adigal transformed "the most impure body susceptible to the natural bonds and to putrefaction to become an everlasting and imperishable body," writes Dr.C.Srinivasan. He writes further that, "The Swami says: “O God – the Eternal Love, just to bestow upon me the golden body, you, the Universal Love have merged with my heart. Allowing Yourself to be infused in me, O Supreme Love, You with the light of Grace have alchemized my body.”

"The Swami proclaims in ecstatic delight," writes Dr. C. Srinivasan, "Blaze with the drum that I have become one with the Supreme Blaze of Grace; Blaze that I have acquired the kingdom of Grace Supreme".

அருட்சோதி ஆனேன் என்று அறையப்பா முரசு
அருளாட்சி பெற்றேன் என்று அறையப்பா முரசு
மருட்சார்பு தீர்ந்தேன் என்று அறையப்பா முரசு
மரணந்த விர்ந்தேன் என்று அறையப்பா முரசு.

In the same tone when he came recently through a devotee he asked me to shout out to the world that he has arrived. 

Dr. C. Srinivasan wrote of Ramalinga Adigal's journey of personal experience "He was picked up by God, he was tried, he stood the test, the Light of Grace was infused in him and finally he became blazed with the Supreme Grace  Light." Reading all these processes involved and the time taken for the transmutation and transformation to take place, we realize that there is so much effort and time that we have to put towards achieving it. Besides this, all this is only possible by the grace of the divine. Now, I wonder how modern-day gurus can promise the moon and instant results?

THE LOVE OF A GURU 2

A friend dropped by last evening. He was sharing about his friend who began to have sudden vertigo attacks. He shared what he had told his friend. He told him that above and beyond he being grateful to God, God should be grateful for having him as a good student who obeys the guru's words. I agreed with him. I have mentioned too in my earlier post that the guru-disciple relationship was two-way where both tend to benefit from each other's company. While many gurus do not reveal this fact, Supramania Swami in asking me if I was doing tavam pretty well knowing that I didn't, reminded me to do it for he said in doing it his stature would rise. It surprised me then. But later when Dhanvanthri came he confirmed this telling us that our tavam had elevated Tavayogi to the state of Jothi. 

Knowing this should not make a student arrogant though. Neither should the guru be arrogant. We depend on each other for our spiritual evolvement. The whole lineage of gurus before our guru is literally behind us and shall come to assist us to progress further. They are elated to see a student succeed. Like in the game of sports where we collect points for the respective houses we are in, the whole lineage of gurus rejoices when a new student passes the test and is accepted into their folds. 

I feel so small and ashamed before the all-knowing Agathiyar. Looking back on my life and the mistakes, blunders, and atrocities that I had done I am ashamed to stand before him. We know that he knows all and can never hide anything from him. Coming to read the Nadi, he spoke even about my past lives and the future that was waiting for me in these Nadi readings. Coming to my first guru Supramania Swami he tapped into the Prapanjam and spoke for five solid hours about me and my future. Coming to Tavayogi though he did not dwell into these I know that he knew many a thing about me too, as Agathiyar always confides with him. Yet they all forgave me for these blunders. Agathiyar went to the extent to console me telling me that it was all his doing, removing the guilt from me. He said that he wanted me to have these experiences too. He loved me for what I am. Both Supramania Swami and Tavayogi too loved me for what I was. 

Just as Agathiyar wanted me to have these experiences, we shall listen on to a conversation between God and Atom.

God: You see Atom, every act of hatred and violence you committed against another, you were committing against yourself and every act of love and hand of kindness, you also extended unto yourself

Atom: God, why do all this?

God: Someday, long from now, you will become like me. You will mature to become what I am

Atom: I’m a god?

God: No, not yet. You see, I was once where you stand right now. It is not until you have lived every human life inside of your universe that I may take you from this place. Once you have walked in the shoes of every race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and loving and hateful person, it is only then that you will understand how precious life truly is

(Awessum Frankie's transcript)

How do you then thank God for his kindness, and compassion and for sending over such magnificent gurus of high standing to tutor us? Do you write a letter to him? What is his address then? Where is his residence? Who shall deliver this letter? Or do you fold the letter into an origami airplane and let the wind bring it to him? Do you tie a note to the leg of a homing pigeon and let it deliver it to God? Or do you write out a piece of appreciation and post it on social media hoping that it would go viral and he shall pick it up? Do you pen him a thank you note and stick it on your refrigerator expecting him to see it as he comes snooping in the middle of the night looking for something to eat? Do you leave behind fruits as offerings in the places designated for his worship by man as a sign of gratitude? Do you buy him new clothes and dress his statue and garland him as a gesture of appreciation? Or do you chant his name that is passed on to us by others and pray that it shall reach his ears? How do you thank God then? 

I did have my fair share of doubts and questions back then. Would a true God only do justice and good to his followers and devotees and ignore or dump the others? Does he only help bring on riches to the rich and make the poor poorer by the day? Does he only bring on suffering to his believers while the atheists live a good life? Lord Shiva had to come in my dreams to stop me from questioning further back then in 1988. All these questions and more had been asked by me and others whom I spoke to, on a major part of my life's journey of some 64 years walking the earth in the flesh. How would you answer these questions? 

If we are to question these, it only shows that we have placed a barrier between him and us. This is Dvaita. If society alienated us from God instilling fear and apprehension, the guru comes to relieve us of these. The guru brings us closer to God. Prior to the guru's arrival, we saw God as existing outside of us. With the coming of the guru, we begin to question the practices, rituals, traditions and customs, faith and beliefs.  Does God belong to a particular race or faith? Why limit him to the statue that resides in the temple and places of worship and our home altars? Why limit him to the pictures and paintings of him? Does God need to be depicted as a statue or a painting to be able to worship him? Does he need to be given a form and a name? Why has God been caged and held captive in these images and sounds? Can he be chained and shackled? Do we need to wait in line to have access to see him? Does he only see us at particular hours of the day? Do we need middlemen to reach out to God? 

The objective here is to merge in Advaita. If we close ranks with God we can leave the world he created (Salokyam), and take on the task he does as proxies (Saameepam), and take on his form (Saarupam) and eventually merge in Saayutchyam. Indeed this is what Agathiyar did at AVM. He dropped his form and name for us. Today he stays as Prapanjam in that space that once was a prayer room where stood the statue of Agathiyar.

LOVE OF A GURU 1

The love of a guru knows no bounds. Much is said about the gurus in books and other mediums. It is only when you "touch" them that you realize that this is not a mere powerhouse. But the genuine gurus do not exhibit these powers unless there was an absolute need. I frequented the peedham where Tavayogi was putting up during his course of stay in Malaysia in 2005. Once I was told that he was out with a devotee. I waited for his return. When he appeared at the door his face was red with anger. He walked towards me, flung his shawl and sling bag beside him, and sat down. He turned to me saying, "What is this, my son! They asked me to drive away the spirits!" Apparently, someone had brought him to a place to drive away an evil spirit. I understood his anger for he had come to bring people to the worship of Siddhas, and preach the path to emancipation, and attain Gnanam. He never was a GhostBuster. Neither did he heal others. I had never seen Tavayogi perform Siddhis nor heal another. But he did make some exceptions for me and my family. He healed my wife's mother. 

When we invited Tavayogi for the very first time to my humble home in 2005, he accepted and came over. Seeing my mother come down the stairs he got up and walked towards the landing. He fell at her feet telling us that he saw "Mother". She was 78 then. Later when he saw her again during my daughter's wedding in 2016, he was visibly saddened upon seeing her health having deteriorated. My mother who was of a fair complexion was visibly darker as she was having kidney failure then. She was 90 years of age then. Though her kidneys functioned at 20%, she regained her complexion and health, and appetite. She was mobile and not dependent on others till her last days. My mother managed to live till 96. When she complained of stomach pain and was warded, Agathiyar asked my brother to expedite the paperwork and hospital procedures to get her discharged and sent home to my sister's house where she was staying and cared for. He told us that he had to take her as another birth was waiting for her. When she passed away Agathiyar came with Lord Shiva as revealed by Agathiyar himself. He said exactly what Tavayogi had said the first time he met my mother. He told us that she was his Mother too. 

My father too was a blessed soul for when he knew his time had come he retired to a corner of the living room and sat in Siddhasana and passed away peacefully. He was 76 then in 1991.

When Agathiyar told my second daughter her past karma and gave us a long list of remedies, I referred this to Tavayogi as I had come to know him then. He told me there was no need to do it. I was stunned and remained silent thinking. Here was Agathiyar giving me the list and there was Tavayogi who asked not to follow. Who was I to follow I asked myself. Seeing my prolonged silence he spoke, telling me to do it if it would please me. I followed his word and never did it. Agathiyar never spoke about these remedies again. We have heard about Siddha's ability to move the planets around, change one fate and bring on a new destiny. I believe Tavayogi had a word with Agathiyar just like Agathiyar confronts Lord Brahma and changes our fate. 

I had done my remedies keeping to his word back then in 2002 and 2003 as I never knew Tavayogi then. My wife and my eldest daughters came with a clean slate as there was no mention of karma and remedies given. If all of us gave an impression of our thumb to help locate our Nadi, my wife did not have too. She was not even summoned before the Nadi reader. Agathiyar during one of my weekly readings spoke about her in the entire Nadi. Who are these souls I used to wonder? 

INSIGHT INTO THE LAWS OF NATURE

There is order in nature writes Annie Besant in her book "The Laws of the Higher Life" published by The Theosophical Publishing House, 1903. What is seen as a natural disaster had its making going back in time before it actually shows itself openly. For instance, she writes, ".. there is nothing more disorderly in the outburst of a volcano than there is in the slow growth of the sea-bottom, until at last, after tens of thousands of years, that bottom becomes a range of mountains.... The one was thought orderly, the other cataclysmic."

There is an underlying law in all things. These are programmed to happen in a timely manner. Hence astrology came about to predict these times of either being barraged with goodies or a storm brewing. But sadly the planets take the blame. Many for instance dread the coming of Sani or Saturn into one's life. Fear and apprehension set in not knowing what was in store. But the late Dr.Krishnan told me to welcome him for he comes to hasten the process of unloading, sorting, and disposal of the baggage of karma that we carry. Hence the Siddhas in speaking about the Law of Karma, console us that our sufferings are our makings, all the deeds, both good and bad, put together that transform our present and future lives. To know our karma is to take steps to bring a change in us and chart a new destiny devoid of karma. Hence the reason the very first chapter of any Nadi reading always touches on our past births and their present results and concludes with a long list of remedies to counter our past actions that bring on a brighter future. 

Man in evolving spiritually moves up the ladder of evolution. Annie Besant writes of this state, "loftier and sublimer region where the inner law takes the place of of the law of outer obligation, where instead of duty, which means the payment of debt, there is sacrifice, which is the outpouring of life, where everything is done gladly, everything is done willingly, in perfect self surrender, .. where he works because the divine outwelling finds its channel in his life, and needs no outer compulsion because of the perfection of the inner law." She says that after this stage he grows further, becoming a channel of the divine outpouring. 

She says that the law of nature unlike the laws of man that keeps changing and varies from country and state to state, is a statement: "If such and such conditions are present, such and such results will happen. If the conditions change the results will change with them." This is the law of Prapanjam. 

Knowing this truth she says that "You can work with absolute certainty of results." These laws apply if and when we are ignorant of them. But "those same laws become our servants, our helpers, and our uplifters when knowledge has replaced ignorance." Just as the Siddhas have gained this divine knowledge or Gnanam, and rather than take control or imprison, rape or plunder nature, worked in tandem with them, Annie writes the same, "Know the law, obey it, work with it, and it lifts you up with its infinite strength and carries you to the goal that you desired to reach. ... the Law becomes a savior when known and understood... be ignorant of them, and your efforts will be frustrated and all your endeavors will be as though they had not been." True to the word Agathiyar revealed that as a result of the karma that stood in my way, all my noble endeavors did not bear fruit. 

Just as Lao Tzu asked to go with the flow, Annie asks us to work with them and not against them in another book of hers titled "Karma". She says "All forces in nature can be used in proportion as they are understood." She adds that, "All accident is the result of ignorance, and is due to the working of laws whose presence was unknown or overlooked... Nature can never betray us. We are betrayed by our own blindness."

If we think out of ignorance that this physical body was ours to use as we wish to fulfill our wishes and desires and to enjoy the pleasures of life, contrary to this common belief,  Annie reminds us that "the gross body serves the consciousness for its work on the physical plane." Bharathi too realized that when he did God's work things fell into place as opposed to frustration that resulted in chasing his dreams.