THE LORD'S GRACE

A reader from Chennai responded to a recent post.

"Hello, ayya I read ur recent post on Vairagya Ayya... I have a doubt... Can't we attain it through the experience of our karma or love from appa ayya? All these days I was thinking it is attainable."

I replied "Yes v can ma. love for him can move even the mountains. he shall rewrite our fate. v shall have a new destiny written n in which he gifts us vairagya to place the efforts initially and gifts the rewards of vairagya later."

In Paramahansa Yogananda's book "The Bhagavad Gita, God Talks with Arjuna" we are told that "The astrological stars of a person are nothing but an environment he himself has chosen by the karmic pattern he has fashioned by his past-life actions. According to his karmic pattern he is attracted to be reborn on earth at a given time that is favorable to the fulfillment of that pattern." "One is actually 'born' at the moment of conception when the soul enters the first cell of its new body. One's karmic pattern has already begun to unfold in that instant." Astrology is a way of finding out what one's past karma is, says the saint. From "Autobiography of a Yogi' we learn that "There are certain mechanical features in the law of karma which can be skillfully adjusted by the fingers of wisdom." Yogananda says, "Seeds of past karma cannot germinate if they are roasted in the divine fires of wisdom"... This is what the Siddhas do. They have us conduct the Yagna or Homam externally giving a tweak to the sluggish system and having it run at a faster rate and without hitches, hence optimizing us. "The Hindu masters of ancient times knew the art of worshiping with special fire ceremonies and vibratory chants by which they could invoke the manifestations of the angels of God" 

One should not merely rely on these magic fingers nor the items adorned though but equal effort has to be placed as Yogananda writes further, "He should say: 'Lord, I trust in Thee and know Thou canst help me, but I too will do my best to undo any wrong I have done.'.... Of course, applying the advice of saints, correctly practiced yoga meditation, affirmations, sincere prayer, correctly guided willpower, Japa, pujas, suitable diet, and judicious fasting are also especially beneficial practices to destroy karma, but these procedures require effort.......By a number of means - by prayer, by willpower, by yoga meditation, by consultation with saints, by use of astrological bangles - the adverse effects of past wrongs can be minimized or nullified."

Yogananda says, "What is to be does not necessarily have to be." "For guidance and support, it is far better to appeal to God and His angelic agents.....The highest way to create the right influences in one's life, the yogi's way is to commune with God. All stars bow down before the presence of God." 

In "Talks by Swami Paramatmananda", Mata Amirtanandamayi is said to have said, "A horoscope can be altered by God's resolve." Indeed the divine is at will to do just that if it chooses. Lord Muruga told me through the Nadi reading in 2018 that he had changed my fate. Even before that the predictions in my horoscope never happened. But that was a case of bad karma and curses that stood in the way depriving me of attaining them as I was to find out later.

We had read and heard numerous stories of how the divine made miracles and changed people's lives. They then gave back to others and society rather than do the same old things. They came back alive to carry out the divine's mission and work.

What is the point in extending someone's life if he was to go about doing the same routine, caring for his selfish self and family? Agathiyar told Tavayogi's daughter that her father had a greater mission in life than that of merely being a father to her. I guess I can show my gratefulness to all that the divine providence provided by hosting and penning this blog. Just as I am grateful a reader wrote in as I penned this blog mentioning her gratefulness to Agathiyar.

"I started as appas devotee. Simultaneously I was reading, enquiring too.  In my nadi appa told that love or compassion for others will make changes in you. the change happened in such a situation. But the fire was maybe my love for appa. above all, the ground on which all these happened was my state of RELIEF. Relief from my major materialistic concern in life. All these three were happening simultaneously and the change happened. Well, my doubt is this aiyya _ there was no EFFORT from my side. I can't even boast about my previous birth. I was so egoistic in that birth and made a sadhu run away from his place. Still appa shower some blessings in this birth. So is previous births punya or tava  an essential?  Maybe it's the truth. But isn't that idea/concept itself a hindrance on our way? You know what the real  EFFORT is . Pls share it with us too. What effort does make appa shower his grace?"

I answered her, "making the effort when told to do so and dropping it the very moment when directed. this will earn his grace."

Love for god changes many things. One has to walk the path to realize these changes take place. I was blessed to have Lord Shiva come in a dream in 1988 and stopped me from further questioning the happenings that took place to people I knew until the time the subject of karma was revealed much later, after some 14 years. I am blessed that Sethu at the office came along and introduced me to Ramalinga Adigal passing me a couple of cassettes of his songs the Tiruarutpa that mesmerized me the moment I heard it and had me wanting to listen to more of it. I scouted for the entire collection of his songs in ink, analog, and digital later. I am blessed to have Sethu show me the late Dr Krishnan a medical astrologer and Siddha physician who spoke about curses, karma, the Siddhas, and their Nadi for the very first time. I am grateful to the Dr. for etching Agathiyar's yantra to be worshipped and passing me his mantra to be chanted. I am grateful to Agathiyar and his message that came through Gopal Pillai who reached me through his disciple and my nephew Thayalan a year earlier which set the stage for me to receive my gurus, clearing the blocks within me in a very subtle manner. I am grateful to Muralitharan from my office who made the appointment for me to read the Nadi the very first time some 6 years after the Dr spoke about it. I am grateful to Agathiyar for helping me clear the blocks and obstacles that stood in my way of receiving the best in life, getting me to do Parikaram or remedies and Nadikku Dhanam, or pay homage to the Nadi. With the blocks cleared both external means and internally it was a smooth drive or rather walk down the lane with my gurus who took me places I never imagined I would track. I am grateful to Agathiyar for showing me to Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram and continuing to guide me first through the Nadi and after 2019 coming through devotees. I am witness to the product of all this assistance in a timely manner that helped transform me. Will I make the mark? That is all in God's hands. As Tavayogi says we shall come back if we fail in the venture to know the light this time around and as Supramania Swami says we shall keep polishing till the light shines on us and no effort goes to waste, I can lay back and tell myself that at least I tried. 

Thanks to https://www.astrogems.com/yoga_masters.php for an informative article.

DETERMINATION & DISCIPLINE

My friend and reader from Kerala posed another question days ago.

"Aiyya one more thing. In the previous day's post, you wrote about the most important thing _ in what state of mind we should be always. We can enjoy anything .smell taste or any such sentient thing. But when the need arises we should be able to shed and leave all of it. This means we shouldn't be attached to those we SEEM to enjoy. But you didn't write about _ HOW can we be there. In such a state. People normally are involved. Then only they can do things. Even in a single breath their will, energy, and prana are involved. You wrote about breath. But if you like to, pls write about HOW to attain vairagya.  it will be so helpful to others. Even if you wrote it umpteen times, we learn from repetition the most. Bhakti, the mind science, reasoning ... everything and anything can help I think."

I replied to her that "to put it simply vairagya must be in the charts. I have a book on astrology where the author studies the charts of famous people. all the saints had vairagya in their charts." Paramahansa Yogananda had a good placement of Vairagya in his charts. Browsing through the net I came across a piece by Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh at https://www.dlshq.org/discourse/essence-of-vairagya/ that I shared with her. Swami Sivananda says "Viveka comes through selfless service done in several births and through Puja and Aradhana (worship and adoration of God), and through the Grace of the Lord. From Viveka is born Vairagya."

He gives the case history of a king and queen to clarify the means to upholding and being in the state of Vairagya amidst the turmoil of life and living. 

"Queen Chudalai ruled a kingdom, and yet she had absolute (Para) Vairagya. Even amidst the temptations of the world, she had mental Vairagya, through Vichara and wisdom. So she was not affected in the least by the attractive objects of the world, whereas her husband, Sikhidhwaja, went to the forest, renouncing his kingdom, and yet he was not established in Vairagya. He was attached to the body; he was attached to his Kamandalu (water-bowl). A man may get attached to any object."

He writes on the state of Sri Ramanuja.

"Sri Ramanuja does not belong to this extreme type of Vairagya–wearing only a rope loin cloth. He lived amidst luxurious things, but his mind was not polluted. He had that mental state of Vairagya, detachment, indifference, born of Viveka."

Swami Sivananda mentions Lord Krishna's sayings and Buddha's Middle Path.

"Lord Krishna says that He is not in favor of extreme asceticism. "They torture all the elements in the body and Me also who dwells in the body”. Lord Buddha also tortured his body in the beginning but later on, he found out that there was not much spiritual progress, and then he came to the golden medium, the middle path. So we should go by the middle path always. The body is an instrument for attaining Self-realisation. So you should not torture the body. Whatever is needed for the body, you should have."

The Swami quoting Patanjali, reminds us about getting engaged and attached even to spiritual rewards. 

"Patanjali says, “Everything is only pain for the wise.” Even Rasaswad (a blissful experience in Sadhana) is a hindrance. One gets false satisfaction and stops his Sadhana, thinking that he has attained Self-realisation. Only in Nirvikalpa Samadhi, there is the greatest happiness."

TRAVELING THE SIDDHA PATH

When I was in college back in the late seventies, I once stepped into a shop selling precious stones. Looking around I was shooed away by the old proprietor. He told me "You cannot afford them. Go away." That made me determined to wear a gem-studded gold ring later. Just as Sri Yukteswar Giri told Yogananda to wear an amulet, to protect himself from the malefic effect of the stars, when I stepped before my first guru Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai in 2003, he surprised me by asking that I wear one as it shall do good to me. He should know for he was an astrologer. But he surprised me further by neither asking for my birth details to chart my horoscope nor looking into my destiny by looking at my palms. He just sat there for close to 5 hours tapping into what I have come to know now as the Akashic records and the Prapanjam. I returned home to Malaysia and made myself one. But the famed jewelsmith who even spoke about the gems on a weekly slot on the radio had mistakenly placed a blue sapphire in the middle instead of the ruby. Luckily I had some knowledge of the placement of the stones in the Navaratna ring as I read a lot then. I went back and enquired. He did not apologize for the mistake but chose to remain silent. One of his staff though leaked out the secret. They were giving orders to Chinese goldsmiths hence a possibility that the latter was not aware of the order of placement of these precious stones in a ring. They rectified it. But I was to lose one of the stones, the yellow sapphire later in 2005 when I sat before Swami again at his village home again. Prior to that, I had visited Tavayogi at his Kallar ashram. He had enquired about the Navaratna ring on my finger and told me "We do not need it, my son." As though reflecting his "order", I lost it momentarily when I left it in his locker for safekeeping before going for a dip in the stream that ran by the ashram. Upon returning from the bath in the stream, and searching for it, we found it lodged in the angle iron frame of his steel cabinet. I removed the ring and never wore it again.

When I was transferred back to my HQ in 1988, I befriended a chief clerk who used to frequent my cubicle later at my office. He was into classical music and astrology and a student of Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings having enrolled in the lessons of the movement through the mail. Once I sang the verses from Thiru Gnana Sambandar's "Kol Aaru Thirupathigam" trying to pacify him after listening to his dilemma. He shut me up saying that I was not Thiru Gnana Sambandar. Indeed I was not him. The saint could summon the Lord. I could not. I knew where I stood. But I have come to realize that the divine had already planted a seed in me that waited to be nourished with the coming of my gurus.  If we are told in the past of stories where the divine comes within the womb of the mother and blesses her with a divine child, Agathiyar says the same that I have had the blessings of Ramalinga Adigal and Lord Murugan in my mother's womb. 

மண்ணுலகில் வள்ளல் ஆசி குமரன் ஆசி ஆசியும் ஆண்டு பல முன்பே கிட்டி அவர்கள் அருள் கருணையும் நிறைந்து இருக்க ஆசியோடு அருள் கருணை சக்தியும் தான் அன்னையின் கருவில் பெற்றதனால் ......

I guess that is the reason I have been given an opportunity to merge in the light in this birth. When I met Tavayogi in 2005 when he came to officiate a local affiliate of his Kallar Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in Batu Caves, and he came subsequently in 2007 to officiate the Conference of Siddha Philosophy, I told him that I wanted to see him turn to light just like Ramalinga Adigal and Jeganatha Swamigal. But he told me that he had missed the boat as he was way past 60. He was reportedly said to be 69 then. When Jnana Jothiamma came along and was groomed by Agathiyar through the Nadi after she was initiated into the path by Agathiyar through Tavayogi at Kallar ashram in 2011, I thought there was a soul who would attain the state right before our eyes. But she too lost the fight as she was in her late sixties. Agathiyar tells us that it has to happen before 58. When Supramaniar wanted to repay a soul who would come to be known in history as Agathiyar in a later birth after the latter had provided shelter and food so that Supramaniar could continue his tavam or austerities, Agathiyar was way past his 60 years. Promising him that they shall meet in another birth, Supramaniar gifted him the state of Jothi in the next birth. 

I am 64 this year and am battling the odds as Agathiyar forewarned us. My whole body is currently in pain as if one were to wring a wet cloth. My body is numb at all times. All the joints hurt and are affecting movement and mobility. But all these were foretold by Lord Murugan earlier in 2018 when he came to heal my back pain and Agathiyar when he came to pacify me and remove my fear of death by giving me a brief moment and sample of lying as a corpse in 2022. At 4 a.m., on Sunday, the wind in my stomach forced me out of bed and brought on purging. My body became numb right to the toes. I lay on the toilet floor for moments till my wife came looking up on me. But as usual, it was blissful. It subsided shortly. I had to cancel attending an event of an AVM member the evening before too as maneuvering a manual car in the traffic jam on a late Saturday afternoon would aggravate my situation.

THE HUMAN BIRTH AND ITS POSSIBILITIES

Karma is the blueprint for birth. Burn away karma and there is no birth. The Siddha comes to help us cleanse it while our own efforts initially in pursuing yoga burn away the past karma and finally by divine grace the mystic energies wipe the slate clean and bring on an immense transformation within and without. Hence Karma is not to be brushed aside easily. Its effects are far-reaching and deep, as I came to know later. If Lord Shiva had to come in my dream in 1988 to have me stop all my readings and discussions as I had so many observations that needed to be explained and that were not available to me then neither by reading nor discussions, it was only to make me aware of the underlying factor or denominator known as karma that would shape others lives. I learned about it some 14 years later when I went for a Nadi reading. I understood why I saw family and friends kneel before its impact. 

Agathiyar had explained and bridged the nature of the Udal or physical body, Uyir or the breath, and the Atma or Soul earlier, with the common denominator or factor - karma - that runs across all three and that ascertains the outcome of each. Sanchita karma determines our fate, starting its journey with the planting of the seed the Kutastha, the seed that determines the gender, where, and to whom we are to be born, and the manifestation of all that cannot be changed or altered. These are decided by the individual Atma sitting in discussion with the Paramatma and the council of elders, much in advance even before taking birth charting the course either for the enhancement and betterment of an individual to evolve speedily or to enrich it with the relevant experiences and learning gained from the desires and pleasures that are in waiting. A portion of the Sanchita karma known as Prarabdha karma determines the course of action throughout one's life. This is free will.

The 5 elements that form the Pindam or solid matter in the womb upon conception are sourced from both parents in a unique proportion. If karma or the divine hand intervenes at this juncture it could either upset or enhance this division of growth particles respectively and influence the physical state of the growing embryo. The Atma, before coming into this body or Udal which is a composite of karma taking the desired form, accepts to work with the individual "I". The individual "I" comes with the baggage of karma, the size determined by his or her willingness to shoulder in this birth. The Atma stays with the individual until the "I" in him or her surfaces. Then the Atma steps aside and backs off behind the veil, watching the individual live out his or her desires and urges. He lives out his karma. The Atma though keeps watching over him without interfering. The Atma either reveals itself again when he has exhausted all his vasanas, desires, urges, and wants or "awakens" when the time-space is right or once he surrenders his "I". 

If we had thought that the Atma carries the baggage with it, Agathiyar corrected us telling us that the Atma does not carry our past karma but helps bring us out of it. For some, the Atma brings them to the Siddha path. The Siddhas might want to convince some to take the leap. But even the Atma and the Siddhas do not intervene and let fate deal with the individual if he or she does not give heed to their advice and warnings after several attempts, says Tavayogi of some individuals.

சில மனிதர்களின் பிறப்பு அவர் இச்சைகாக, ஆசைக்காக. அவன் ஆசைகாகப் பிறந்தான். ஆசையில் திளைத்து விட்டு மூடித்து விடுவான். அவன் போக்கில் விட்டு விடு. இல்லாவிட்டால் வினை தொடர்ந்து கொண்டே வரும். 

Souls arrive at an assembly of Rishis, after passing through a phase called death. They wait to be summoned by the Rishis. Upon discussion with the Rishis, they move on to take their next birth. The outcome of this meeting with the Rishis determines all the factors that come into play in taking a human birth. In his 5 tenets to mankind presented to this parliament of Rishis who guide the souls on the next course of action at the Tamil Sangam, Agathiyar mentions that with his purpose known, man is dutybound to thank the divine creator or energy that brought forth his birth through consultation with the lunar forefathers and their angelic hierarchies that co-exist with us here. Most of us are ignorant of these forces that assist us to evolve further. Betty J Eadie who came back from a near-death experience reveals the secrets of heaven in her book "The Awakening Heart - My Continuing Journey to Love", a Pocket Star Book, 1996. She says just as we have choices here, we are also given choices in our father's abode. While some souls respond to God's call, volunteering and choosing to listen and accept his will before coming to earth, others receive a calling after they arrive, when their hearts open to god, through intense sufferings or through miracles, and eventually they become vessels of god themselves. The divine tells us repeatedly that they have taken birth as our children and grandchildren and keeps reminding us to take special care of them. I guess a seed is planted in them while in the womb of their mother that germinates with the coming of the guru later in life who brings an awareness of life, reveals their purpose, or revives the past memories in them at the right moment.  If these souls come desired by the divine for a mission, many others come desired by the parents as in the many stories we have heard. The parents are granted the boon of a divine child after undertaking and carrying out rituals and austerities and having pleased the divine. The divine could intervene later in an individual's journey too. Before the coming of the guru, the field is thoroughly rid of weeds as in bad habits, negative practices, false beliefs, etc tilling the soil and plowing it, ready to receive a new seed. The guru plants the seed within them that carries the unmanifested energy of the divine. When the surrounding is conducive and compatible the seed sprouts, under the watchful eyes of the guru, reaching out for the skies. The earlier seed that germinated into our "I" dies a natural death.  This is "Dying while Alive". Breaking the ground and sprouting out of the soil, life and the next course of action in this new journey are detailed and undertaken under the watchful eyes of the divine and the guru. Die-hard habits are knocked off.  A new blueprint is drawn up for him. A new life form emerges and we take on a new birth. A new star is born. He then grows up to make a name for himself bringing salvation for himself and enlightenment for others.

Then there are those accidental tourists who come too and leave abruptly fulfilling a brief need. Karma determines if the breath shall remain or leave that instant. It is said that we come with a certain number of breaths that once exhausted or used up, will result in our death. The Siddhas are known to increase this store of prana within to extend their lifespan or dwell in the state of samadhi forever. For most, phlegm or kapam becomes the death factor. For instance, even if he is hale and healthy the phlegm or kapam appears during the last moments of his worldly life and blocks his nasal passages shutting him down permanently. 

Karma if seen in its totality causes fear in us and dashes all our hopes of coming out of it. So is there no way out? Yes, there is. We can work on the Agamaya Karma that is taking place right now in this life with our approval. The decisions we make and our actions will alter the future, hence determining it in such a way as to attain the desired birth later. We take one to repay bad debts or take another to enjoy the pleasures that come along as a result of the good done in this birth. 

The divine gives sufficient space and shows ways to make good, redo, correct, and come out of the rut we are in because of our past doings. One who despises the life he has to live now can either work against his karma to bring a change, which is often an uphill fight and a battle lost unless he gains the favor and grace of the divine, or accept it and live through this predetermined life with the hope that things shall change for the better in a later birth. Or he could exhaust it in its entirety without interfering. In the former, we are given a tool called free will to make a better future for us. In the latter, one takes karma in his or her stride as agreed and submits to it. Saints either bring on the change and free themselves from the hold of karma and its cycle of birth and death or choose not to alter the divine law and see through its working. 

Then there are the Avatars. Annie Besant in "Avataras", The Theosophical Publishing House, 2002, describes the meaning of an Avatar as follows: tr meaning passing over; ava meaning descent. What brings forth an Avatar? The un-manifest takes the manifested form when righteousness is at its lowest ebb and evil reigns in the world. The needs of the world or cosmic necessities and the needs of its inhabitants propels the divine to descend. If the Avatars come for a common purpose usually for the upliftment of souls collectively or to release these souls from the shackles of tyranny and cruelty, heavenly beings or angels accompany individual souls in their journey, caring, educating, and bringing greater awareness to them. Heavenly beings or angels accompany these souls to help awaken them, rejoicing on seeing progress in the soul, encouraging, motivating, and reminding them that they are not alone. These spiritual beings are prepared to do their part too in God's plan. They help reconnect us to our spiritual selves whose memories we have lost. They are akin to the Siddhas. Just as Agathiyar said he had orchestrated all my experiences, Betty says our guardian angels do the same. They come along with us creating opportunities for us to learn and progress spiritually.

As Agathiyar asked we know our purpose here which was discussed in the midst of the Rishis at the level of the soul back then but was veiled upon birth to be rediscovered later in life, there is a reason why we are here now this instant. We are here now for our individual spiritual development and also collectively contribute to the well-being and awakening of others. God's will shapes our purpose says Betty. It is not necessary for us to know our purpose in its entirety. Just working on the task given to us from moment to moment is sufficient in justifying and fulfilling God's wishes. Betty says that she could connect with the divine and naturally be in touch with her spirit through prayer and moments of stillness. The people we need are sent to us at the right time for the right purpose. The like-minded fellowship comes about, again strengthening the spirit.  The power of prayers is felt by all in the congregation or assembly. As God gives us only that much that we can handle, as the spirit becomes stronger he gives us greater challenges. The spirit becomes stronger as a result of these challenges gaining Atma Balam. Gratitude helps us appreciate the abundance that god has given and brings about love. Soon we move on from self-centeredness to enveloping all. 

Complimenting the Avatars and the guardian angels, the Avesa are perfected men through whom god permeates and manifests bringing greater good to society and the world. The difference between them is that while the ego is nil in the former two, a portion of the ego remains in an Avesa. Now I have begun to understand why some religious and spiritual personalities can be arrogant. 

I was a bystander till Agathiyar pushed me to the forefront to do his job. We have a choice either to be passive participants, just looking out for ourselves and leading a mundane self-contained life, or an active one, helping others in any way and form. Agathiyar brought many realizations to the fore, pushing aside the veil of ignorance. I have come to tell myself that this was a purposeful birth. AVM has received the continued patronage of Kallar Ashram where my journey began under the tutorship of the late Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal. With Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar heading the establishment now, we look forward to seeing her visit us on Saturday 4th October. Maybe Agathiyar has more good news for us.

THE SHOWERING Of GIFTS

Watching the movie "Bharathi" I tend to share the great poet's anger in many ways. But Agathiyar has asked that I refrain from anger as it would amount to the energies that had arisen in me returning to the lower chakras. It would be a wasted effort on his part to help me gain ground he added. He was stern about maintaining the energies in their rightful places. Mother Prapanjam too hushed me saying Shanti, Shanti, Shanti asking me to be at peace with myself and that she shall grant them in good time when I voiced my concern that all others reach the state of bliss that came to me by their grace. When I voiced my concern to Tavayogi who came through a devotee after his demise, that I found it difficult to bring others to this wonderful path of the Siddhas, he told me to let it be. He explained that not all were meant to track the path as many have come to live out and fulfill their desires carried from their past births and take up new desires in this birth. If otherwise I was angry at them for not recognizing a rare opportunity to gain freedom from the cycle of birth, I have since then backed off. Similarly, Agathiyar in bringing down the shutters on AVM, brought a halt to all forms of worship and charity and told me to move on and not wait for others to catch up for that would delay my journey. He added that henceforth the path was pretty narrow allowing only one to track at any one time. It made me wonder if that was true for no known saint is known to bring many with them on the final day of their emancipation. It was every man for himself. He had me go within. 

Just as it is only when you stand on high ground that you can see a larger picture, one has to arrive there to describe his joy in traveling the path. There is so much joy in me that words cannot describe and that I cannot put into writing. It has to be sensed and felt. I had told my wife at the very beginning of my solo worship to the Siddhas in 2002, that if only I could touch and pass on the joy I felt then, it has become a reality. These days the Siddhas come through devotees and hold our hands and pass on this joy. They ask us to immerse in the moment and connect with the Prapanjam that comes within breaking all boundaries. 

All these were possible with a simple chanting and recitation of their mantras and names. We have indeed traveled far on this path. Today they chose to be with us, guiding and looking after our affairs. Would you believe if I told you he sent people around to upgrade and beautify my home that became his garden or Agathiyar Vanam, and later took on the name Agathiyar Tapovanam and Gnana Kottam. Today he tells us that it is his temple, a Siddha temple. As I am penning this I hear someone call at the gate. It is a worker who wants to lay some premix and make good the entrance to my home. Amazing right? Ramalinga Adigal's words turned out to become true when he told us some time back that the more we shun all the gifts and handouts that they want to give us, the more the Prapanjam shall shower its grace and gifts on us. 

FINDING THY PURPOSE

In the opening scene of the documentary "Life on Our Planet," hosted by Morgan Freeman, he makes an observation "Two million years ago, and our planet is a very different place." In the opening scene of "Lucy", she questions, "Life was given to us a billion years ago, what have we done with it?" 

Looking back at history, events just keep repeating. The wars go on. Many battles and wars have been fought then and now for the same and other reasons. Poverty is here to stay. Misery and suffering are seen running parallel to pleasure and entertainment. 

Where many aimlessly live their lives out there are equally many who either come with a purpose or discover their purpose journeying in life and others are determined and come with a resolve to make the world a better place. Where many turn a deaf ear or turn to look the other way, there are equally many who seem to get to the ground and have brought on some change in the mindset of their fellow humans. In "Live to Lead", Nelson Mandela is quoted as saying, "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived, it is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the live we lead." Greta Thumberg is one who believes that "The mindset of many people is changing. Even if that is not enough, and even if it is not fast enough, it is at least something." She became depressed seeing that everything was so wrong. Starting on the way to becoming a climate and environmental activist she told herself that "I can do so much. One person can do so much." 

Agathiyar too in his five tenets to mankind states knowing one's purpose as the first priority. He says that man has to first and foremost understand his purpose in taking birth. The Nadi comes to a layman, seeker, or aspirant to reveal his purpose. The Guru comes to the disciple to reveal his purpose. The sadhaka in going within learns his true purpose in taking birth in the silent hours of meditation. These are the means by which man comes to realize the cause of his birth and his mission. To a layman, he is told he took birth because of past karma. To a disciple, he is told that he has come on a mission to undertake for the good of society and mankind. To a Gnani, he realizes that he has come to merge with the divine. 

With his purpose known then, he should come to thank the divine creator or energy that brought forth his birth (through consultation with the lunar forefathers and their angelic hierarchies that co-exist with us down here). The third is that we then thank all the caretakers both seen and unseen, in the present and the past followed by our part to "dutifully aid and help, the ongoing evolution of all co-existing human beings." The final task is to extend this aid and help, towards "the ongoing evolution of all co-existing beings and entities, existing upon the lower levels of the evolutionary ladder, dutifully supporting the manifested matrix or prapanjam." (Summarized from Vashisht Vaid's post on his blog https://holysageagathiyar.com/ )

He asked that we show appreciation to the divine that gave us an opportunity to take this birth again, come to terms with it, and sort out our lives. Living a purposeful, meaningful, and fruitful life, coupled with a sense of gratefulness will then bring forth the showering of his blessings. These blessings and the efforts in carrying out his dictates result in the soul gaining strength or Soul Power or Atma Balam. 

I guess my purpose is to have taken up the calling to come to the path of the Siddhas, putting into practice all things shown and told, seeing its results, learning lessons from the experiences gained, learning to eventually let go of my hold on things impermanent and yearn for that everlasting state of bliss and divine knowledge that dawns bringing on the divine light from beyond within the being that lights the Self or Atma to reach its state. I guess the 18 years I put in, in the worship of the Siddhas, opening up my home to fellow devotees and carrying out rituals, carrying out charity with them, before Agathiyar pulled the brake on all these, can be deemed as a sort of paying homage and gratitude to the divine forces and energies. We have assisted fellow men to evolve further showing them the path. I guess having fulfilled the 5 tenets of his he wants me to write about them and bring others to the fold too. In giving me transformative experiences he wants me to share them with my readers too. I guess this is my purpose here. 

THE MISSION

A reader from Kerala asked the following question that prompted me to write about it. 

"Aiyya it's always my doubt _ why should they say to include meditation _ the process of shutting down the external world maybe_ in our worship? Actually, does it do any good? What does Siddha path say about it?..... if you too wish to, please write about it sometime."

I replied to her "It has to happen on its own ma. Comes spontaneously. True meditation happens when everything shuts down on its own and not in trying to keep them out." It is futile trying to tame the mind. It is a struggle to beat the temptations in life. We are part and parcel of this world and all its happenings. We are connected to each other. There is no escape but to live in this illusion or Maya. But the secret is to try and stay aloft. Take in the pleasures of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell but be prepared to let go any time the need arises. Take in the pleasures that money and wealth can buy but be prepared to let go too. Enjoy the privileges that come with position and authority but be prepared to let go. Live life with a purpose and to the fullest but be prepared to let go when the time comes. Though I have failed miserably in getting myself to sit in meditation, there was an instance where I witnessed libation or abhisegam to the Sivalingam that went on for some moments some time back. When I came to my senses I began to ask myself if I had dozed off while trying to meditate and dreamt it. Or maybe I had slipped into that state, rather spontaneously without effort or realizing it. I was the watcher or observer then or rather there was that picture before me that did not necessitate any action from me. I guess this is what Agathiyar meant when he asked that I do nothing after the energies were awakened in me. He said that it shall do its work. All further and continued efforts in yoga were put to a halt once the result was seen. Similarly, he asked us to stop all our social and religious activities that included charity and rituals, as I presume we had brought a balance to our karma and he did not want to jeopardize it by increasing the merits that would require us to come back in another birth to reap the results of our good actions. He had us instead go within and abstain from all activities and worship, observe the breath to arrive at the moment of merely watching our thoughts subside on their own, and enter a realm of silence in all manner.

Rajiv Agarwal recounts his venture and journey in moving deeper into his goal of attaining enlightenment, where he began to have spiritual experiences. (https://innerspiritualawakening.com/rajiv-agarwal/my-journey/.)

"It was during this time I started having fantastic spiritual experiences. Sometimes I felt so ecstatic that every cell in my body would explode with bliss. I felt that I was floating in an infinite ocean of ecstasy. I was absorbed in these expanded rapturous states of being for hours. A sense of immense sacredness and divinity infused my entire consciousness. During these states, my body sometimes used to go into spontaneous states of yoga. Sometimes my body would become so flexible that I could bend spontaneously into difficult yoga postures. Many of these postures were completely unknown to me but the body automatically aligned itself to certain ancient forms."

Rajiv continues further,

"Another curious thing happened with my breathing; I experienced spontaneous Pranayama and kumbhaka (Ancient yogic breathing patterns and techniques). It is a cessation of breath, which leads to higher states of consciousness. I experienced both the outer and the inner cessation of breath. After I took a deep breath in, my breath used to stop for around a minute to a minute and a half. During this time the mind felt utterly still and pure. After the inner cession, I would exhale, wherein my breath used to again stop for approximately a minute."

He ends his piece with "Spontaneous states of bliss and ecstasy arise, carrying me to the infinite shore of immense joy."

I had a similar experience where my body began to twist and turn after I dropped to the floor as I came out of the toilet many years back. Though writhing in pain and agony it was true bliss. Agathiyar came to confirm that that was the sign of the sleeping energy in each one of us awakening up. He too added that that was truly blissful. I followed rigidly the many practices given by Agathiyar in the Nadi from 2002 onwards and Tavayogi showed us the techniques from 2007. These practices and efforts are till the second chakra the Svadhistana, says Tavayogi. After that, the Siddha has to come to lead us by the hand. Indeed all our efforts came to an abrupt stop in late 2019. The next two and a half years that coincided with the pandemic saw the dormant energy that was awakened in 2007 stagnate at the chakra associated with the water element that is the Svadhistana. In 2022, the most compassionate guru broke the banks of the pond and released the flood waters to move upstream. This was a turn in moving within as opposed to our external travels previously. When the lake's bank burst, was released spontaneously in a rather dramatic manner. It led to several fainting spells and the body becoming numb and stiffening like a log. But fear not he says it is all a part of the process and has to be experienced and endured when the chakras are activated late in life.

In Ramalinga Adigal's verses from his Arutpa are his experiences in the form of outpourings of songs, he mentions some 12 years of suffering, a result of spontaneous transformation within, where he says only the divine would know the nature and extent of the misery. He finally lets go of all his efforts letting the divine work its way through him. "We will not worry no more, neither will we attempt to slog or work towards it no further. He sings, "We shall withdraw within and wait for the guru's grace to work its beauty in us" 

இனித்துயர் படமாட்டேன் விட்டே னே

என்குரு மேல்ஆணை இட்டே னே.

இனிப்பாடு படமாட்டேன் விட்டே னே

என்னப்பன் மேல்ஆணை இட்டே னே.

These days as the Prapanjam is called upon, it does self-healing taking control of the body. Currently, I am going through a spate of body aches and pains that are at times blissful too. I just watch leaving it to do what it desires. Breathing comes spontaneously whenever a surge of energy comes within us. Every cell begins to vibrate. It is this surge of energy that speaks, heals, and blesses those around. As Tavayogi said once, call it whatever you want but as far as he was concerned it was Agathiyar, I too have come to accept it following the way of my guru. 

The Vishnu Granthi was addressed back then on 6 October 2001 by means of my nephew passing me the Vasudeva mantra that is said to pierce and balance the Vishnu Granthi in a mysterious way and manner. R Venu Gopalan in his book, "The Hidden Mysteries of Kundalini", writes that the Vishnu Granthi adds obstructions for the sadhaka keeping one under the wraps of attachment and bondage. It helps dissolve all the past karmic deeds for a better future. From Awakening State at http://www.awakeningstate.com/spiritual-awakening/om-namo-bhagavate-vasudevaya/, we learn that "This Sanskrit mantra can be practiced to attain freedom (moksha) from Samsara – the “Karmic Wheel” that keeps us bound to cycle after cycle of incarnations. This liberation mantra is a karmic eraser." Agathiyar told me that my past karma stood in the way of deriving the benefits of all my spiritual practices becoming a stumbling block. He gave me the right tool to help me clear my karma. Indeed when I carried out the breathing exercises as shown by Tavayogi in 2007, the prana began to build up within my body to the extent that I feared it would explode. This was the Arambha Avastha. I learned later that there are another two knots Brahma granti and Rudra granthi. I learned further that further practice of pranayama would pierce these too and the six chakras. It was only after 18 years of practice that Agathiyar permitted me to withhold my breath in retention or Kumbhaka bringing me into the second stage of pranayama called Ghata Avastha. Next, we arrive at Parichaya Avastha where the piercing of the Rudra Granthi happens. 

Nishpati avastha would follow subsequently where Kevala kumbhaka or sahaja kumbhaka which is "the holding of the breath with no particular state of respiration in consideration" happens. From asking us to forcefully take control of our breath and later just noticing it, Agathiyar asked us not to place any effort in breathing and told us that it shall go one on its own. We shall arrive at the fourth and final stage called Nishpati avastha, after which there is no longer a need for any yogic practice. This is said to be the state of Samadhi while still alive. 

But to arrive at the state of Samadhi which is a return to the state of contentment one has to cleanse the physical body of the impurities that we have gathered over time. So is it with the many thoughts that we have come to attract? Then when the energy inherent in us is released it does its own clearing. Eventually, the physical home too is cleansed of the rubbish that we have gathered over the years thinking it would do some good in the future. This is what I have seen happening in the short time after Agathiyar had us go within in late 2019 till now. The home now reflects his home he tells us, having brought the Prapanjam down. The Prapanjam does its work just as Agathiyar told me that the energy that was awakened would do its work in us. If Agathiyar came by several years ago and spruced up my home then Bhoganathar came to brighten it further giving it a fresh coat of paint. He had me give away or throw away all that I thought would be useful one day. I guess this is the reason our elders had us clean our homes at least once a year on the pretext of ushering in the Pongal festival. 

First, we are made aware of our past karma by the Siddhas. We are shown ways to cleanse it including performing rituals and charity. They have us drop all previous learnings, cleansing and ridding the wealth of knowledge that we have accumulated over the years from our encounters with others, devotees and holy men, books and all the readings and Satsang and all the listening and following. Standing naked and empty, they begin to fill us up. Bringing us to the next phase, they work on cleaning our body, mind, and thoughts having us observe the eight limbs of yoga. With the energies activated and clearing the path and cleansing the Nadis and Chakras, they open up wonders within the body, without our effort. The body becomes the abode of the divine energies. As it is said that a following evolves around a saint and that a saint's abode becomes a temple now they cleanse the home too turning it into a fitting temple. 

In the movie "Pearl Harbor", the captain tells Cook Miller "The ship is proud of you, son" moments before they are surprised by a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Later when the captain lies dying and dispenses orders to Miller to convey to the crew, Miller tells him "Everyone is where they need to be, Captain. You trained us well." Similarly, if a guru has trained us well we can take charge in any circumstances. The student shall continue his legacy. He does not go seeking another guru. He is complete, filled with his guru's teachings to the brim that he upholds and follows.

Devotion too has to come spontaneously. Bhagawan Ramana speaks about his visits to temples in BV Narasimha Swami's book "Self Realization, The Life and Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi", Sri Ramanasramam, 1985. He describes his earlier experiences and that upon his awakening. 

"After the awakening into the new life, I would go almost every evening to the temple. I would go alone and stand before Siva or Meenakshi or Nataraja or the sixty-three saints for long periods. I would feel waves of emotion overcoming me. The former hold on the body had been given up by my spirit since it ceased to cherish the idea 'I am the body'. The spirit therefore longed to have a fresh hold and hence the frequent visits to the temple and the overflow of the soul in profuse tears. This was God's play with the individual spirit. I would stand before Isvara, the controller of the universe and the destinies of all, the omniscient and omnipresent, and occasionally pray for the descent of his grace upon me so that my devotion might increase and become perpetual like that of the sixty-three saints. Mostly I would not pray at all, but let the deep within flow on and into the deep without. Tears would mark this overflow of the soul and not betoken any particular feeling of pleasure or pain."

I began to understand the reasons for the spontaneous flow of tears before the Gods at the temples I visited. The keyword here is spontaneity. 

P. Karthigayan in his "History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu, Notion Press, 2016 beautifully summarizes the Siddha path. He writes, "The Siddha cult is initiated on one by fate, encouraged by his nature, kindled by god's will, endured by his aspiration and accomplished by his spontaneous knowledge." One could never come closer than this in describing the core elements that are needed if one were to come to the Siddha path. Even the handful of us who are relatively new to this path can advocate the truth in this. For instance, I was initiated into the path by fate too; encouraged by my nature to thoroughly learn everything that I laid my hands on; every act of mine was kindled by God's will, sustained by his grace, and halted at times out of his compassion and love; indeed I endured it all seeing his aspiration for me to see through his will, and finally I shall accomplish that by the gift of his spontaneous knowledge. 

ATTAINING YOGA

When astrologers instill fear regarding the entry of the planet Saturn into one's horoscope chart, the late Siddha physician and astrologer Dr.Krishnan was the only one who asked that we invite him into our lives. Let us get it done and over with says the doctor. Divine law has placed it such that one's karma shall be paid in full during these periods and we can then move on to better things. Such is the compassion of the divine that it wishes to see us break the shackles of karma. He sends the Siddhas to help us with it. Tavayogi often listens to the problems of people who come up to him. He will tell them the reason stating that it was because of karma after they pour their heart out to him. He will then show them to the Siddhas asking them to worship and recite their names. With sincerity and devotion, they shall see obstacles and hurdles cleared. Above and beyond that one shall gain the strength to face his problems. The Siddhas shall stand by him. Swami Vishnu-Devananda in his "Meditation and Mantras", Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt Ltd, Delhi, Om Lotus Publications, 1978, wrote, "Those who experience what seems to be undeserved suffering are only working out previously incurred karma. The law of karma is absolute, and the effect of a desire or tendency must definitely be reaped, although it may be in a different lifetime and under different circumstances. This gives an idea of how long man has been going through birth and rebirth. He has been reincarnating as long as there has been desire. It is the desire that binds him to the physical plane."

The Siddhas are Godsend souls who work hard to bring man out of the dark pit Maya or illusion that lures man into its belly. They become beacons lighting the path so that we see clearly where we step and tread avoiding the pitfalls. Bringing man to rise above his sufferings they prepare him to become pure in all ways. As purity is equated to light, man becomes divine. He then sheds his light on others who come by. When the Siddhas come by know that the dawn of Satya Yuga has begun for him for he has to change his old ways and speak only the truth upholding Satyam or honesty. This is the lifeline that is thrown to him. The moment he speaks a lie one of the many strands of this line snaps and he lowers himself and moves closer into the dark pit. Upholding truth and justice and many other noble thoughts and ways were always expounded by the Siddhas as a means to purify man, cleansing and dropping the veil, and the sheet of ignorance. All the sacred texts speak about good values. All masters speak about them too. Man who upholds these values moves to become divine in the eyes of other men. Worship of the Siddhas brings them further up in the chain of evolution where they step into working to become a Siddha too.

A pure heart is the abode of the divine. A contented soul is a rare commodity these days in this age. Swami Vishnu-Devananda in his "Meditation and Mantras", Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt Ltd, Delhi, Om Lotus Publications, 1978, translates a sutra of Patanjali that says, "Liberation (or mukti) takes place when the mind has the same purity as Purusha itself." Patanjali shows the way to Samadhi or absorption, that of knowing and realizing the seed of consciousness. "God resides within you in your heart. This is both the starting and ending point of the journey", wrote Tavayogi in autographing my copy of his book "Andamum Pindamum" 

ஆண்டவன் உரைகின்ற இடம் தங்கள் உள்ளம். அதுவே பயணத்தின் தொடக்கமும் முடிவும்.

Patanjali has laid the means and methods of climbing the stairs or ladder and eventually reaching the kingdom of God that lies within our hearts. BKS Iyengar in revealing Patanjali's "Yoga Sutras", says that sage Patanjali listed ways to attain Yoga or union, beginning with the control and mastery of external issues and finally bringing one within.  The eight aspects or limbs of Yoga of which the first five namely, 

• Yama or restraints and ethics of behavior; 
• Niyama or observances; 
• Asana or physical postures; 
• Praṇayama or control of the prana (breath); and 
• Pratyahara or withdrawal of the senses, 

are known as a forward journey, says Iyengar. Then Patanjali takes us on a reverse path, or a return journey now moving inwards, from the body towards the soul, that is termed as the true renunciation. Contrary to the common belief and understanding of renouncing the world as in leaving the home and all material comforts, BKS Iyengar terms true renunciation as where thoughts, perspectives, and understanding undergo a total transformation as we journey within. We still live in this world but see things differently. We are not perturbed by all that takes place knowing the world to be a stage and we as actors playing a role in it. We sit back and watch the movie that goes by on the widescreen of life. 

Knowing the seed of consciousness and having realized it Patanjali shows the way to Dharaṇa or concentration; Dhyana or meditation; and Samadhi or absorption.

BKS Iyengar in his "Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali", HarperCollins Publishers India, 1993, says Patanjali lists four padas namely:

• Samadi pada, that "deals with the science of disciplining the fluctuations of consciousness. For this reason, it begins with the code of conduct",
• Sadhana pada "gives detailed information regarding the practices",
• Vibhuti pada "explains the hidden wealth which comes through these practices", and
• Kaivalya pada "speaks about cultivating actions that cannot produce reactions so that consciousness may dissolve in the light of the soul for the very being." 

If our parents started us off with Samadhi pada which was devotion to the deities, the guru comes to bring us to carry out sadhanas in the Sadhana pada. We then step into the Vibhuti pada moving towards the inner quest (Antaranga sadhana). By having us go within on an internal journey, it gives insight into the very purpose we came for. Finally, "In Kaivalya pada we lose our identities and merge in the soul (emancipation)" says Iyengar. Patanjali shows the way to how one can reach the abode of the soul forever so that all the actions he performs in the world, will not reflect any reaction, hence severing the fine thread of birth and rebirth.

Patanjali authored the "Yoga Sutras", a comprehensive study of the human psyche, some 2,000 years ago. If Patanjali is the father of Yoga, BKS Iyengar is considered the world's greatest teacher of yoga. BKS Iyengar had reversed his fate with sheer determination and effort. Today he stands as a godly and fatherly figure to all who pursue Yoga. I guess Patanjali "incarnated" in him carrying his words and desires to see man become divine. The Siddhas mold us into another Siddha, taking their image, form, and soul. But for all this to happen man has to take the first step. He has to tread the path with dedication and discipline. He has to stay on the path and not go astray. 

Swami Vishnu-Devananda enlightens us, "What is perceived or cognized by an individual is entirely dependant upon the orientation and tendencies of that mind and not on the object itself, for the object is one." Indeed, when I attended a course on Neuro-Linguistic Programming at the office back then during my working days, the tutor held up an ATM card and asked us to describe it. We all answered that it was an ATM card. After hearing us out, he brought us thinking out of the box. To the one seated directly before him, he only saw a line. The one to the side saw the front of the card and the other saw the back of the card. But the card was one. This is how we see life too. 

Swami Vishnu-Devananda enlightens us further. "The object remains the same, but when it is perceived by more than one mind there immediately arise varying views of that object. It is the individual attitudes or karmic situations that determine how a person sees something." He adds that an object is either known or unknown to the mind because of the coloring of the mind. Could this be the various veils of varying colors that Ramalinga Adigal reveals as hiding the truth from our eyes, that deceive us, and create an illusion? For a yogi, there is no positive or negative about karma. For a yogi, karma is neither white nor black, for others it is threefold - black, white, and gray meaning there are subjective reactions to the work that must be carried out, and this, in turn, creates new karma.

Patanjali says that we are not of the body; neither are we the mind. We are the witness, Purusha, the self. Sitting alone in silence, only the Purusha remains. The Purusha witnesses the thought go by and over time loses its attention on it too. What dawns on us during these moments is self-knowledge.

Patanjali concludes, "For a person who has transcended Prakriti, the qualities of nature come to an end for they, the three Gunas, have fulfilled their purpose - which is to push him through growth and to create the field for transformations on the path to self-realization." How wonderful. Reaching the finale. Kaivalya is that state in which the Gunas attain equilibrium and merge in their cause, having no longer a purpose in relation to Purusha. The soul is established in its true nature, which is pure consciousness. End.

WHEN THE MASTER COMES BY

When we are told that the "individual human minds are merely brief reflections within a cosmic one" at https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/25/movies-embraced-hinduism, it reminds me of the Rishis who supposedly have discovered many things in their realm that are projected to men - the spiritual and the scientist - who are receptive to it on earth. 

Agathiyar leaves us to learn from the experiences we gather in our practices, ideals, faith, beliefs, and relationships, coming to correct the wrong perspectives we carry and confirm the right. There is no hearsay or blind faith here. Rather the Siddhas want us to see and realize for ourselves. I have yet to draw the image or picture of Agathiyar for I had told him unless he gives me a darshan I shall only be reproducing the many previous images of his that have come down to us. As he has not come before me I have not attempted to draw him. Rather than come before me in flesh and blood and add to the numerous existing paintings and statues of his, he comes within me instead and has me realize him in my flesh and blood, bringing on an intense vibration within from without till it shakes the very cells. What else would one want?

If he were to appear before me and I were to draw him I would end up worshipping that image too. I believe he would rather have me see him within and worship the Self or Atma in me that is him. Housing him in me I shall have to always remind myself that he was living in me. Hence my previous ways and qualities have to be dropped to reflect that of Agathiyar's ways and qualities. I guess this is what he meant when he asked that I walk tall back then. Tavayogi always carried himself well often having us wonder if Agathiyar was walking the face of the earth through him. 

But sadly we remain "we" and look at the divine as "them". The only moment we communicate is when we visit the temples and pray before them at our home altars. Sadly there is a large divide between the creator and his creation as a result of the work of Maya veiling the Atma. Going by the many written and spoken words of seekers who made it to the state of gurus hailing their gurus, we realize that indeed a genuine guru has to come to draw the curtain and reinstate our relationship with the divine. Blessed are those who have had a guru. I am blessed to have had Supramania Swami and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal and their lineage come to my aid, not forgetting the entire company of the Siddhas led by Lord Murugan and Agathiyar and the entire pantheon of Gods and Goddesses led by Shiva and Parvathy and Narayana and Laksmi. 

Srinath Raghavan posted the following on fb.

We all live in a personal bubble of our own,
A bubble which is highly colorful but opaque,
So nothing outside it's purview is ever seen by us,
We live and die our life, inside this fantastic bubble,
Thinking and believing whatever in it is the only truth,
Nothing outside can ever exist and it should not too,
We can very well break it's brittle wall from inside,
But we choose not to, for the fear of being exposed to uncertainty,
When with the touch of the Master from outside, the bubble breaks,
That's when we will finally realize, how foolish and limited we were,
To have accepted the truth that's known to us, as the Final Truth...
~ Freedom is breaking the bubble and seeing and feeling the reality beyond your own.

Indeed, the guru comes to break the bubble that we have created around us. With the touch of the Master from outside, or rather the Atma within, the bubble breaks, and reality dawns. If Bhagawan Ramana says, "... the spiritual energy of a master transforms the consciousness of men", Swami Muktananda mentions in his book ‘SECRET OF THE SIDDHAS’, Siddha Yoga Publication, 1980, that his master gave him one word that completely transformed him. Swami Muktananda says his joy arises from the one word - Guru Om; from the churning of the love between the guru and the disciple. He echoes Ramalinga Adigal's words adding that, "Only the guru can know that delight and taste the elixir that arises in every pore of the body."

ஆணிப்பொன் னம்பலத் தேகண்ட காட்சிகள்

          அற்புதக் காட்சிய டி - அம்மா

          அற்புதக் காட்சிய டி.

சந்நிதி யில்சென்று நான்பெற்ற பேறது

          சாமி அறிவார டி - அம்மா

          சாமி அறிவார டி.

(Source: https://www.tamilvu.org/)

Bhagawan Nithyananda, who always traveled barefoot, to everyone’s surprise, once wore sandals only to pass them on to Swami Muktananda, telling him, “Take these sandals, put them on.” At that very moment, Muktananda saw a ray of light coming from Bhagawan Nithyananda’s eyes and it went straight into him. He could feel it too. Margaret Simpson writes, "It was searing red hot and so bright that it dazzled his eyes. Every hair on Baba’s (Muktananda) body rose in awe. He kept repeating, “Guru Om, Guru Om, ” He lost all sense of himself. He only came out of it when Nithyananda made a sound. As he set off for home that day carrying Bhagawan’s sandals on his head Muktananda was filled with wonder and gratitude. Muktananda says, "That word (Guru Om), which I received after so many years, spread through my body from head to toe like wildfire carried by the wind. It produced in me both inner heat and the coolness of joy. Before meeting my guru I had practiced many different kinds of yoga, but it was I who had practiced them. However, that word activated a spontaneous yoga within me. I was filled with amazement." He says everything - postures, Mudras, and breathing processes - all happened on its own. He became ecstatic.

Just as Swami Muktananda saw a ray of light coming from Bhagawan Nithyananda’s eyes and it went straight into him, I too had a similar moment with a stranger Sadhu who was at the prayer/meditation hall of a local Swamiji in the north, going around the Navagrahas as I entered the hall with my nephew and brother-in-law. He walked up to us and my nephew who knew him from an earlier encounter began a conversation with him. I was stunned by his penetrating look that went through me and beyond. 

Muktananda continues, "After the awakening of the Shakti, this process of yogic movements began to take place within my entire body. The pulsation of his ecstasy pervades my entire body like the movement of the wind. The Kriyas were his, the yoga was his, and meditation took place because of him. The final message that I received was from him. The power of his word permeates each of my blood cells; the fluids of my entire body are his. That is why I am joyful. Gurudev entered me and replaced all my bodily fluids with his. He evicted me and took up residence in me. He annihilated my ego. By making my individuality his, he became me. This is the guru’s compassion. Only when I lost myself in the ecstasy of Bhagawan Nithyananda did I realize who he was."

Swami Muktananda mentions in his book SECRET OF THE SIDDHAS, Siddha Yoga Publication, 1980,

“Forgetfulness of one’s true nature is the moss of ignorance that muddies the experience of the self. The Guru is the means of removing it. Just as the wind disperses the clouds but does not create another blazing sun, so the grace of a Siddha simply removes the veil of ignorance so that one realizes that one is already perfect. For this reason, all scriptures and Sadhana are simply means of washing away the filth of ignorance. They have no ability of their own to reveal the wisdom of the self because that principle is self-existent, perfect, and always manifest.” 

Paul Zweig in the introduction to Swami Muktananda’s ‘THE PERFECT RELATIONSHIP’, SYDA Foundation, 1985, writes that "in a flash of self-understanding Muktananda knew that he had found his other half; that now he was whole again."

Tavayogi who came for me lives in me as there is never a moment he is not in my thoughts and never a day where we do not talk about him. So why would I hang a photo of him and pray to him? Agathiyar surprised us by saying that just as we are forever talking about them, they too are constantly talking about us. Imagine Agathiyar who can summon all the Siddhas by a clap of his hands as the Rajahs and kings did in days bygone, comes to us amidst us and listens to all our nonsensical talk. He even went to the extent of asking me to pick certain garden herbs and kitchen spices and went on grinding them with a granite pestal in a granite mortar and placed a poultice on a devotee's injured knee. He even arrives from Pothigai to sit in on the Annual General Meeting of our charity organization Persatuan Teman Setia (PTS) and runs the meet. 

Agathiyar ran through briefly the inherent and dormant energies within us and what they could do if initiated. We are ignorant of these inherent energies he says. When these energies are released the body shall go through many transformations. The body should be able to withstand its onslaught though, he cautioned us. Only the Siddha knows if we are ready and if the body is prepared. The Siddha shall reveal them to us according to our readiness to receive, preparedness, the age factor, and our existing stock of karma. As it would not be the same for all do not compare with others for each shall have his own journey to travel. This is not a race to compete in and win, he adds. 

பல சக்திகள் நம்மில் உறைந்து கொண்டு இருக்கிறது. அதை உணராமல் இருக்கின்றோம். இச்சக்திகள் வெளிப்படுவதால் உடலில் பெரும் மாற்றங்கள் ஏற்படும். அது உங்கள் உடம்பு தாங்கிக் கொள்ளுனும். சித்தன் அதைப் படி படியாக உணர்த்துவான். உங்கள் பக்குவத்திற்கு ஏற்ப வயதிற்கு ஏற்ப  பாவ புண்ணியத்திற்கு ஏற்ப சித்தன் கைபிடித்து அழைத்துச் செல்வான். அது அனைவருக்கும் ஒரே மாதிரி ஆக அமையாது. அது வெவ்வேறு பயணமாக அமையும். அந்தக் கணக்கு சித்தனுக்கு மட்டும் தான் தெரியும். யாரையும் ஒப்பிடாதீர்கள். இது போட்டி அல்ல முந்தி அடித்துக் கொண்டு செல்வதற்கு. 

For Swami Vishnudevananda, meeting his guru entirely changed his perspective of things and his outlook on life, as he narrates in his book ‘MY YEARS WITH THE MASTER’ available at http://www.sivanandaonline.org.

"As if by chance, I had found a piece of paper that intrigued me. One night when I was working late and was searching for a misplaced paper, I found a small pamphlet in the trash basket. It was called ‘SADHANA TATTVA’ and was by Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. As soon as I read it, my body began to shake."

"It began with ‘An ounce of practice is worth tons of theory.’ 

"Here was a teacher who was down-to-earth and practical. There was nothing mysterious about his teachings; I felt that I had to meet him for myself. I got a few days leave from the army. I was an arrogant boy on leave from the army. It meant that I had to travel a day and a night from my army base in Jullunder. I would have only a few hours at the Ashram - just to see the Master and then go right back."

"The first time I saw Swami Sivananda he was sitting with about 30 or 40 people around him. He looked like an ordinary man among them. The look on his face and manner of speech were simple and straightforward. Each word came from his heart. There was no kind of religious hypocrisy, no sitting on a tiger skin with ashes smeared all over his body. He had an extraordinary spiritual glow."

"The second time, I saw him Swami Sivananda was coming up the stairs in my direction. I didn't want to bow my head to him. I was young and arrogant and never wanted to bow my head to anybody - Swami, God - realized soul or whoever, I didn't care. But it is the tradition in India that you should bow your head to a holy man. To avoid the situation I just moved out of his path."

"The Master saw me and headed in my direction. He asked me who I was and where I was coming from. Then he bowed down and touched my feet!! My whole body began to shake violently. With all my heart, with all my life and love, I learned to bow without any type of reservation. He touched my heart not with miracles or shows of holiness, but with his perfect ego-less nature. He didn't consider that I was just a stupid boy standing there, though I was just that. He touched my heart and broke my ego."

"That was my first lesson, and if I could attain one-millionth of the state of egolessness of the Master, it is His Grace."

"Before leaving, I went down the Ganga where it was the custom of the Ashram to do Aarati (waving of lights) every evening. All the devotees and inmates of the Ashram assembled by the banks of the Ganga to watch Master perform this evening worship. I was skeptical. I was of a scientific temperament and knew that a river is only water, H2O - imagine worshiping H20!! But as I stood there and watched Master waving the lights, I saw the river become a mass of flowing lights. At that instant, the river assumed a divine flow, a manifestation of the Grace of the Lord. Master turned and looked at me and in my mind, I heard his message, “God pervades everything; this too is His Special Form.”

"This entirely changed my outlook on life."

THE JOURNEY

If we saw the ongoing transformation within the body by the grace of the divine in the last post, we need to look back at what brought us to gain his grace. Calling me to his path in the Nadi in 2002 and besides regularly guiding me in the Nadi, Agathiyar sent Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal over to guide us beginning in 2005. This was akin to an online course as Tavayogi and I used to communicate through snail mail first and email later and through telephone calls. Tavayogi would come regularly to Malaysia and refine the practices that he had us start. When the day of graduation came in 2013, my family and I arrived at Tavayogi's Kallar ashram and carried out the Siddha puja. This was a big acknowledgment for us that boosted our spirits further. Then in December of 2016, traveling with the AVM family we were given the privilege to sing during the Yagam which was the highlight of the two-day annual event carried out on the grounds of the Kallar Ashram. Prior to this in June Tavayogi and Mataji had accompanied us on our rounds of conducting Siddhar puja in the homes of some ten devotees. We also carried out Yagam under the supervision of Tavayogi at the Eco City temple in Kuala Lumpur, the Jeganathar temple in Tapah, and the Waterfalls temple in Taiping. We knew that we had graduated cum laude when Tavayogi passed on a laurel of appreciation, gratitude, and praises at a small gathering of the AVM family at the devotee's home where he and Mataji pitched during their stay. These and the rest are best seen through videos as pictures are worth a thousand words.

In listening and following and practicing all that was said, shown, and given we arrived at the place where we then began to look within. BKS Iyengar in revealing Patanjali's "Yoga Sutras", says that sage Patanjali listed ways to attain Yoga or union, beginning with the control and mastery of external issues and finally bringing one within.  

The eight aspects or limbs of Yoga of which the first five namely, Yama or restraints and ethics of behavior; Niyama or observances; Asana or physical postures; Praṇayama or control of the prana (breath); and Pratyahara or withdrawal of the senses, are known as a forward journey, says Iyengar. Then Patanjali takes us on a reverse path, or a return journey now moving inwards, from the body towards the soul, that is termed as the true renunciation, contrary to the common belief and understanding of renouncing the world, says Iyengar. Knowing the seed of consciousness and having realized it Patanjali shows the way to Dharaṇa or concentration; Dhyana or meditation; and Samadhi or absorption.

Similarly is it with temple worship. We lay our sights on the beauty of the deities before us. We take in the sounds of the temple bells ringing and the chanting of the mantras. We take in the myriad of aromas and scents prevailing on the temple grounds. Those who are receptive to subtle energies might sense the pull and power of these deities. Of course not forgetting the delicious yet simple prasad and dishes served here. These feed our senses and we return home delighted and happy. In coming to carry out home puja we engage in singing songs, reciting names of the Siddhas, and chanting mantras. If in the former we were witness to rituals carried out at temples, now we bring the rituals within the four walls of our homes and sit in prayer engaging the whole family. With the coming of the guru, we pick up Yoga and engage the body in a systematic manner that brings renewed energy. Eventually, we withdraw from all things external and go within, on a return journey moving inwards, from the body towards the soul, as Iyengar puts it. We become renunciates. 

THE ONGOING TRANSFORMATION

During one of the many visits Tavayogi made to Malaysia beginning in 2004, I asked him to see him turn to Jothi or Light as many including Ramalinga Adigal and Jeganathar are said to have achieved. The Siddhas are all said to be in this state too. But Tavayogi told me that he had missed the boat as he was reported to be 69 when I met him for the first time in 2005. Three things are deemed to be necessary before one can attain this state. One has to do it before he reaches 60 according to Tavayogi and 58 according to Agathiyar. Next is that one has to start being a vegetarian early as the longer we wait the more trash, toxins and impurities we have to discard from our bodies. This can be rather painful and intolerable. One finally needs the grace of Arutperunjothi to come within and enter him and bring on the transformations required turning the gross body into finer and subtle bodies namely from the Asudha Degam or impure to the pure Suddha Degam and later filling it with Prana and the Prapanjam lifting it to that of the Pranava Degam and with the arrival of the divine within lifting one from the crowd that needs to experience life, to attain the Gnana Degam that simply knows without the need to experience as before, and finally acquiring the Jothi Degam, attaining and returning to the state of light or Jothi from whence we all came from. 

So when Jnana Jothiamma had a calling to go to Tavayogi's Kallar ashram in 2011, where Agathiyar initiated her through Tavayogi, and Agathiyar himself guided her through numerous Nadi readings that were to follow till her last days, I was overjoyed that here was someone whom I could look up to as a role model in attaining the state of Jothi. Agathiyar had her go on pilgrimages to acquaint herself with nature and the abodes of the Siddhas. They showed her numerous miracles and used her to propagate the faith and belief in all those whom she came in contact with. Soon he had her stay indoors having her stay away from people and social media. Only the Nadi reader, her driver, maid, house owner, and I were privileged to remain in contact back then. She shared her transformation and changes taking place within and in her body with me until the last few days before she passed away. She had to go through much pain. For instance, she would vomit some 32 times, purging her body of all the years of meat intake that she took so that her very cells could be purified and transformed to light. Her skin would have to shed some seven layers too. Siddhas would appear as common folk and knock on her door handing our herbal preparations and Siddha medicines to hasten the process, strengthen, and rejuvenate. But unfortunately for us, she requested that Agathiyar take her away with him and Agathiyar had to comply with the soul's wish. She passed away at a government hospital in Chennai on 4 April 2017. We missed seeing the action and she turn into Jothi.

After calling me to his path through a Nadi reading in 2002, Agathiyar brought Tavayogi to our shores in 2005 and had me initiated into the path officially. After 10 years of home worship with my family, Agathiyar led many youths to our private home puja hence opening the doors of my home that became Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) to the public. He introduced us to doing charity besides the regular puja. He then came to us speaking through devotees instead of the Nadi revelations all those years. He had us observe the breath and reach for the Prapanjam. He gave us short samples and instances of bliss that came with his arrival as vibrations in all our activities. After another 10 years, he closed the door to AVM and had me go within. He has now asked that I observe a day of Mounam or silence, once a week on Thursdays, for a start. Seeing him at his abodes and temples as granite statues and paintings and later in the bronze statue that he commissioned and placed at my home that became his home Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM), seeing him in the rituals and later in the hungry and poor whom we fed, today leaving for another home of a devotee, he stands as the Prapanjam that is felt as a strong vibration in his room. But it was a long journey before we arrived to savor or feel or become aware of these energies and vibrations. 

I had no inkling that it had arisen in me as early as 2007 after putting into practice the Vaasi and Asana practices given by Tavayogi earlier that year. Agathiyar casually mentioned that they were amazed to see it rise in me in my Nadi reading on 13.10.2007.

உண்டாகும் குண்டலினி சக்தி உனக்கு உயர்வதைக் கண்டு நாங்கள் வியந்தோம் அப்பா. 

After picking up Yoga from Tavayogi officially, Patanjali came on 18.5.2008 in the Nadi reading. He said: "The many practices taught and shown and put into practice shall bring on excessive heat within he said. ஒப்பிலா உடல் சூடும் தியானத்தால் உனக்குச் சோர்வு வந்திடும் இக்கணம் தன்னில். 

Hence there was the need to take sattvic food that cools the body." தான் நீயும் குளிர்ச்சி தரும் பண்டம் தவறாது ஏற்றிட வேண்டும் அப்பா. 

He lists what to do. நிலைத்துத் தான் அங்கத் திடம் ஓங்கச் சிறப்பாக வாரம் ஓர் நாள் மட்டும் செயற்கை உணவு மட்டும் ஏற்கா. மட்டிலா செய், கரி, குரு நாள் தன்னில் மகத்தான மருத்துவத்தின் உணவும் ஏற்பாய் கட்டளைதான் உப்பு, புலி, காரம், இனிப்பும் கண்டிப்பாய் ஆகாது ஏற்க வேண்டாம். 

This is the second instance the Kundalini is mentioned. He says that the colors of the aura will accentuate further as a result of the awakening. பதஞ்சலியின் யோக சூட்சம இதுதான் மைந்தா. வளமிருக்கும் வர்ணமும், ஆதாரமும் சித்தி கொண்டதோர் குண்டலினி ஓங்கும் பாரு. 

But I never saw any internal changes or differences in myself. Neither did others around me notice or point it out.

30.9.2008 Agathiyar surprised me by saying that the light from the third eye had emerged in me. நேர்மையான தவத்தாலே நெற்றிக் கண் ஒளியும், ஒளி அதுவும் உனக்குமே வெளிப்பட்டது இப்போ. 

I did not notice anything extraordinary or any difference in me though.

8.12.2008 Agathiyar throws in another surprise saying that due to my Vaasi practice or Pranayama, the Suzhimunai and the crown at the top of my head had opened. வாசி பயிற்சியாலே சுழி திறந்து உச்சியும் திறக்கக் கண்டாய். 

He assures me that he shall draw all the seven veils aside and have me see the Jothi. ஏழுதிரை தன்னை நீக்கி வழுவாது சோதிதனை கான வைப்போம். 

He said that he shall pave the way to reach the state of fulfillment and completeness that comes with the state of Soruba Nilai. வையகத்தில் பூர்த்தி நிலை அடையச் செய்வோம். சொரூப நிலை யாவும் பெற வழியும் செய்வோம். 

No, I did not sense any sensation on the top of my head. 

27.8.2009 he gives further practice known as Tava Sukmam. வெற்றி நிலை மிகுந்து காணத் தவ சூச்சமம் தான் விவரிப்பேன். He spelled out the practice. இரு மண்டலம் செய்வாய் நன்றாய். பக்குவமாய் பயிற்சியும் செய்து  வரப் பலப்படும் ஞான நிலை பலவாறாக. பலவாறு தெளிவு திடம், சிந்தை கீர்த்தி, பிரபஞ்சம் வசிய நிலை திண்ணம். 

Agathiyar mentions that they were sharing the practices that the Siddhas did. உலகினிலே நாங்கள் செய்த பயிற்சிதான் உவந்து சொன்னோம் உனக்குமே சூச்சம். 

26.12.2009 Agathiyar tells me that Gnanam has dawned on me. Again he says that the crown of my head has opened. He says that the third eye shall shine. ஞானத்தின் திறவுகோல் திறந்த பிள்ளை. உச்சியும்  திறந்த பிள்ளை. முக்கண்ணும் பிரகாசிக்கும். 

He says that he wanted to gift me treasures and adds that Tavayogi shall grant me the rest. தர வேண்டும் போக்கிடங்கள் என்று நினைத்தோம். தவறாது யோகி வழி உனக்குக் கிட்டும். 

I could not comprehend what he was implying. 

12.7.2010 he says I saw Sadashiva. தரணியிலே சதா சிவதை கண்டவன் நீ. 

Believe me, I sincerely did not know, sense, or understand what was been said or taking place. Searching the net I came to know that it was the highest manifestation of Shiva. 

The changes became obvious though only much later as I pursued on the road. Agathiyar in the Nadi reading on 9.8.2010 says the heat of my tapas was at its height. உண்டான ஞான கனல் மிகுந்த காலம் உயர்வான காலம் அப்பா இது. 

I saw it affect my mobility practically crippling me. An excruciating pain struck my lower back and crippled me momentarily while taking the morning shower. After the doctors gave me a clean bill of health I consulted the Nadi. Agathiyar on 17.10.2010 gives me the good news and consoles me on the bad too. What is generally achieved through Hatha yoga is now possible through Tapas and Puja he said. But he pointed out that my health was declining. He asked to see a physician who could bring it back to its former state. With His grace, I shall recover well he added. 

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

On 16.1.2011 Agathiyar who continued to monitor my situation assured me that all shall be fine. He asked me to continue taking the prescription for another half a mandalam. 

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

On 9.8.2011 he acknowledged the blissful state I was in. The graceful light of Arutjothi had increased in its immensity he said. 

ஆனந்த நிலை இப்போ அடைந்திருக்கிறாய். அருள் ஜோதி நிலை பெருகி உள்ளத்தப்பா. 

By taking the Siddha path, that reaches Siddhantam one gains higher states, he added. விளம்பலாம் சித்தாந்தம் மார்க்கம் தொட்டு சுத்தமுடன் சித்தர் வழி சமயம்பற்றி வின்னமில்லா நிலை பலதும் அடைந்துவிட்டாய். 

On 26.11. 2011. Agathiyar revealed that the Muladhara chakra had gained intense heat hence shutting my systems down. To add to it my three dosas were off balance or rather not in the ratio that sustains good health. He classified my agony as Paareesa Peedai or உடலின் ஒரு பக்கம் that was external and "superficial, existing or occurring at or on the surface and  appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely." தரணிதன்னில் எங்கள் வழி மார்க்கத்தில் தப்பாது பூசையும் தவமும் செய்து தான் உயர்வு அடைந்திட்ட பாலகன் உனக்குத் தரணியே உயிர் பிணி ஏது சொல்வோம் உடல் பிணி ஏதுதான் அச்சம்கொள்ள. பாரிச பீடைகளும் வந்து நிற்கும். உற்றதொரு மூலாதார சக்கரமும் உயர் விதமாய் உட்டனங்கள் அடைந்ததனாலே உரைக்க வரும் சோர்வும் தேகம் தன்னில். 

He gave me the solution in the form of several Siddha herbs and prayers. He asked that I stop all forms of tapas and yoga practices for the time being and that I carry out the Sun salutation and worship Lord Murugan to bring relief. உரைக்கலாம் முக்கூற்று திருப்பும் இப்போ முறையாகச் சம நிலையில் இல்லாதிருக்க சோதனைகள் வந்து நிற்க்கும் அச்சம் மிதந்து. சிறப்பு தரும் வாகடமும் செப்பலாம். செப்பலாம் தவம் தன்னை நிறுத்திவைக்க.  சிறப்பு இருக்கு வழிபாடும் முறையே மாறாது சூரிய வழிபாடும் செய்ய வழிபாடும் வேலவர்க்கும் முறையே செய்யப் பங்கம் ஏதும் வந்திடாது கலக்கம் கொள்ளா. 

On 15. 2. 2013 Agathiyar reiterated that my crown was open and I had gained Mukthi. He asks to stop the search. He shall come for me, he said. உச்சி திறந்த மைந்தன் நீ அறிவாய் இன்றோ. சுழி திறந்து முக்தி கண்டாய். தேடிய நாடிய காலமெல்லாம் போதும். தேடி வந்து அருள் செய்வோம் இனித்தான் உனக்கு. 

21.9.2014 Agathiyar speaks about the chakras functioning perfectly. The Suzhimunai was opened he repeated again. ஆதாரம் முறையாய் விளங்கி நிற்கும். முனை திறந்து இருக்கிறாய் இப்போ. 

He asked that I write about the Siddha Marga. He shall induce me to write he said. தக்கதொரு எழுதிடுவாய் சித்த மார்க்கம் பற்றி. எழுத வைப்போம் சிந்தையிலே கலந்து நாங்கள். 

28.3.2015 Agathiyar tells me I had gained his Jothi and had opened the crown chakra. நீ உலகில் என் ஜோதியைப் பெற்று விட்டாய். திறந்தோமே உட்சியும் உனக்கும் மைந்தா. 

He thanks me for bringing others into the path through my writings. உண்மையான மார்க்கத்தை உலகிற்கு ஓதி உயர் நிலையைப் பலர் அடைய வைத்தவன். 

He says my home that was his Vanam has transited into Gnanakottam. Those arriving at my home shall attain the state of Gnanam he adds. He shall grant his grace here. They shall receive his Arul, Tavam and Aasi. He says again that he has opened the crown in me. இல்லமதும் ஞான கோட்டமாகி இறை ஞான நிலை அடைவார் வருவோர் எல்லாம். அருள் புரிந்தோம் ஞான கோட்டம் தன்னில். அருள் தவம் ஆசி பெற வழிவகுத்தோம். 

On 28.8.2015 he says my writings have reached many. கருணையுடன் கருத்துகளை உலகிற்குப் பரப்பிக் கருணையான நிலை தன்னை பலர் அடையச் செய்தாய். 

He sees the changes that have taken place within me. His jothi has expanded in me he adds. Hence the reason for the changes in my body including the opening of Suzhimunai. தேகத்தில் மாற்றங்கள் பெற்று இருக்காய். அகத்துக்குள் அகத்தின் ஜோதி பெருகி தேகத்தில் பல மாற்றம் பல சக்தி கிட்டி முனை திரண்டு இருப்பாயே. 

On 18.11. 2017 Agathiyar in the Nadi says I was instrumental in some way towards the change others went through. He wants me to maintain a low profile and remain out of the limelight. அருள் நிலைகள் பெற்றிருக்கின்றார் பல மாந்தரும். மாற்றங்கள் பலர் அடையக் காரணமாய் இருந்தாய். குவலயத்தில் ஒன்றுமே தெரியாதவன் போல் அமர்ந்திருப்பாய். 

The pain came back in the same intensity as originally when I sneezed as I was crossing a street. On 7.10.2018 Agathiyar in the Nadi said that my breath was "twisted" and "crippled". It happened in my sleep, he added. உனக்குத்தான் நித்திரை தவ வாசி காலம் வாசியும் சீர் பிசகி முடங்கித் தான் இருக்கு. 

On 8.10.2018 Lord Murugan in the Nadi praises me for keeping a low profile yet spreading the wisdom of Agathiyar. இந்தத் தேசத்தில் சத்தமின்றி அகத்தியரைப் பலருக்கு நீ காட்டினாய் அப்பா. உன் தொண்டை மெச்சுகின்றேன். 

He brings me the bad news though. He tells me my body is crumbling. My spine and hips are currently tense. The gel at these joints has dried up. This is the reason for the acute pain I was having. With some treatment done earlier, a quarter of the issue was overcome. நின் தேகம் தளருகிறது அப்பா. தேகத்திற்கு முதுமை அது வந்துவிட்டாலும் தெளிந்த ஒரு ஆத்மவுள் இருப்பது யானே. இந்தக் காலம் உன்னுடைய முதுகு எலும்பும் இடுப்பும் தானே ஒரு வித இறுக்கமாய் இருக்குதப்பா. அப்பா அங்கே இருக்கின்ற தைலம் தானே தைலமது உலர்ந்து  போச்சு. இதுதான் உண்மை ஆதலால் சேரும் எலும்பு சந்திப்பெல்லாம் அறிவித்தால் ஒருவித இறுக்கம் அச்சு. ஆச்சப்பா மின்னல் போன்ற வலி தோன்றும். அங்கே அப்போது துடி துடித்து நிற்பான் மைந்தன். மைந்தனுக்கு மருத்துவம் சில செய்ததாலே மாற்றங்கள் கால் பங்கு குணமாகக் கண்டேன். 

He tells me why I had to go through the suffering. It was to have me sit in one place and do tapas. But neither he nor Agathiyar abandoned me. They have come to heal me through a devotee and a Nadi reading simultaneously. சாற்றநல்  இது எதற்கென்று கேள். அகத்தில் நீ அமர்ந்து தவம் தியானம் செய்ய. தெளிவிக்க அகத்தியரும் புறப்பட்டு விட்டார். திறம்படவே நீ நடமாட வேண்டும் அப்பா. தீர்க்கமாய் அதற்குத் தான் நூல் உரைக்க வந்தேன். ஆறுமுகன் சொல்லுகின்றேன் ஷண்முகத்திற்குக் கூறுகின்றேன் உன்னால் எழுந்து நடமாட முடியும். குமரனும் இன்று இரவே அற்புதம் செய்வேன். 

On a different note, he says that Agathiyar Vanam can take on a new name Agathiyar Tapovanam. மெள்ள அகத்தியர் வனம் அகத்தியர் தபோவனம் ஆகும். தவம் செய்யும் வனம் அப்பா தபோவனம் ஆகும். 

9.10.2018 The next day Lord Murugan comes in a Nadi reading for another devotee and explains how he healed me the night before. "I did treat him yesterday. I have removed his pain. I came as his Jeeva and as the Jeeva Nool or Nadi and treated him. I spoke (through the Nadi) and came (through the devotee) at the same time. I removed his pain by stroking his body with the peacock feathers. He shall gain by sitting in meditation." செய்தித்தேன் மருத்துவம் யான் கூட நேற்று. மெய்யாக அவன் வலியைப் போக்கினேன். ஜீவ நூலாய் ஜீவனாய் இறங்கி பங்காக அவன் உடலைச் சார்ந்திருந்தது அவனுக்குச் சிகிச்சை செய்தோம். ஆறுமுகன் பேசினேன் இறங்கினேன் ஒரு கணத்தில். நன்றாய் மயில் இராகு கொண்டு சண்முகத்தின் தேகத்தை தடவிய அவன் வலியைப் போக்கினேன். மைந்தனவன் தியான வழி சிந்தைகொள்ள அவன் தனக்கு சக்தி பெருகும். 

Agathiyar had me stop all external activities and go within in September of 2019. He brought an end to the puja held at my home Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) and the charity programs we carried out under our charity arm Amudha Surabhi (AS). This was followed by the pandemic that forced us indoors in 2020. 

The changes turned out to be pretty obvious in the days to come. Having me sleep in his puja room, I got up to go to the loo in the middle of the night. I fell down on the fall upon getting up. I picked myself up and walked into the living room where I collapsed again. I picked myself up and walked the flight of stairs and collapsed on the landing just outside the bathroom. While I was slithering in pain, I was laughing away too as it was blissful as Agathiyar pointed out. On 5.9. 2019 Agathiyar came to reveal the reason I fell and lay in front of my bathroom door, crawling or slithering in pain like a snake. 

The three Malas or impurities were rid he said. He mentioned further that the third eye and the crown had opened, and I was partaking in the ambrosia within. மும்மலங்கள் அற்றதொரு தேகம் என்பதாலே, முக்கணும் முறை திறந்து உட்சியும் திறந்து, குண்டலினி உயர்ந்து தான் கனல் எழும்பி, அமிர்தத்தை இடை விடாது உண்டு கொண்டு இருக்கிறாய். 

Describing the slithering as a sign of Kundalini moving, Agathiyar said the Kundalini had arisen and had churned up the heat and fire within. He acknowledged that it was the bliss of bliss. குண்டலினி சக்தி எல்லாம் எழும்புவது எல்லாம் குவளையத்தில் பாம்பின் போன்று நெளிய நேரும். ஆனால் ஆனந்தம் ஆனந்தம் அதுதான் என்போம்.

All these were beyond my comprehension and understanding. 

Ramalinga Adigal came on 29.11.2019 and hugged those gathered, inviting us to invite the light within. "Arutperunjothi has taken possession of you. Open up your Atma. Open up your heart to receive him. The Jothi shall come within and embed in you. We are slaves to this Jothi. I am a slave too." அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி ... வாரும் ஐயா …  அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி ஆட்கொண்டானப்ப ... மற்றவர்களும் வாரும் ... உங்களையும் ஆட்கொண்டானப்ப … உங்கள் ஆத்மவை திறந்து வையுங்கள் ... உங்கள் இதயத்தைத் திறந்து வையுங்கள்... ஜோதியினை உன்னுள் பதிந்தது. ஜோதியினை நீ இணைந்து விடு.  ஜோதியினை பிரகாசிக்கச்செய். ஆழ்ந்து போ. அனைவரும் ஜோதிக்கு அடிமை. அடியேனும் அடிமை. 

On 24.12.2019 Agathiyar in this final Nadi reading for me reveals what Gnanam is. The art of transforming the Asudha Degam into a Sudha Degam and later into the Pranava Degam and finally into the Oli Degam is indeed Gnanam. Gnanam then is in knowing this art and making the transformation happen. அசுத்த தேகம் சுத்த தேகமாகி பிரணவ தேகமாகி ஒளி தேகமாகும் வித்தையே ஞானம். 

For this to take place observe the breath he says. I needed to know the Tattvas too he adds.அதற்குத் தியானத்தில் வாசியைக் கவனி. உடல் குறு தத்துவங்களை அறிய வேண்டும். 

On 30.1. 2020 Agathiyar said I had stagnated in worldly affairs. He continued, "You cannot possibly break the shackle alone. Hence follow the practices that I am to give you." He told me that I shall come to know what is right and what went wrong. Both shall be lessons I learn. Whatever is initiated immediately and promptly shall bring on success. He says, "All this while you saw to your needs in this world. Now you shall undertake an internal journey. This will reveal your purpose in taking birth. I shall relate what needs to be done to realize your purpose in coming here." நீ உலக வாழ்க்கையில் நீர்தேங்கிறாய். இவ்கடிவாளத்தால் உம்மால் மீண்டு வர இயலாது. ஆகையால் யாம் சொல்லும் வழிமுறைகளைச் செய்து வா. நீ செய்தவையில் எது சரி தவறு என்று நீ கண்டறிவாய். அனைத்தும் உனக்குப் பாடம். குறித்த காலத்தில் நீ செய்த அனைத்தும் உமக்கு நன்மை தந்தது. இது நாள்வரை நீ கடந்து வந்தது இவ்வுலக வாழ்க்கையின் பயணம். இனி நீ கடக்க போவது உமது உள்பயணம். அதாவது நீ பிறந்ததின் நோக்கம் அறிவதற்கு நீ செய்யக்கூடிய வழிமுறைகள் யாம் கூற இருக்கிறோம். இதன் மூலம் உமது பிறவி பலனை அதன் நோக்கம் நீ அறிவாய். 

He surprised me by asking me to restart the Vaasi practice learned from Tavayogi that he had asked to discontinue at the peak of my back pain in 2010, telling me that it was the right time to begin as the breath was in Manipuraka, which I mistook and misunderstood that the energy had stagnated and ponded at the Svadhishthana as it was the nature of the water element. Manipuraka shall open completely. இத்தருணம் மான் மூச்சு குளத்தில் இருக்கிறது. அவை திறக்கும் தருணம் வந்தது. இப்பொழுதுதான் நீ உமது பயிற்சியினை தொடங்க வேண்டும். இந்நிலையில் அச்சக்கரம் முற்றும் திறந்து விடும். 

He said further, "Reduce your involvement in outside activities. Sit before me and meditate. During this moment carry out the cleansing breath as taught by your guru. Just the important ones. You shall sense a coolness within. Remain silent in these moments. Focus on your breath. Your breath shall touch the Suzhimunai and swirl. Travel along your seven chakras. That journey shall awaken your chakras. After traversing these chakras when it touches the seventh you shall know your purpose here. This is the right time to start this practice." வெளி உலக பயணம் சற்று குறைத்துக் கொள். தினமும் காலையில் குளித்து வெறும் வேஷ்டி அணிந்து என் முன் அமர்ந்து தியானம் செய்து வா. தியான முறையின் பொது உமது குரு கூறிய சுவாச சுத்திகரிப்பு பயிற்சியினை செய்து வா. அனைத்தும் வேண்டாம். மூல பயிற்சி மட்டும் போதும். அதை நீ செய்து வர உனக்குள் ஒரு தனி குளிர்ச்சி ஏற்படும். அந்நிலையில் நீ அமைதி கோல். உனது மூச்சில் கவனம் கோல். உமது மூச்சு உமது சுழிமுனை தோட்டு சூழும். உமது ஏழு சக்கரங்களில் பயணம் செய். அப்பயணம் உமது சக்கரங்கள் ஒவ்வொன்றாய் பூர்த்தி செய்யும். மூலாதாரம், ஸ்வாதிஷ்டானம், மணிபூரகம், அனாகதம், விசுத்தி, ஆக்கினையென ஏழாவது சக்கரம் தொடும் நிலையில் நீ உனது பிறவிக்கான பலனை அறிவாய். 

Tavayogi had told me back then that he knew his purpose in the hours of meditation though Agathiyar had guided him through Nadi readings in the beginning too.

Ramalinga Adigal came on 14.5.2020 and revealed more about the Suzhimunai that was spoken about. "When you reach my state, energy will come within you without your knowledge. That is Suzhimunai." "எனது நிலையை நீ தொடும்போது உன்னை அறியாது உன்னை நோக்கி ஒரு சக்தி உன்னுள் இறங்கும். அதுவே சுழிமுனை."

Agathiyar allayed my fear telling me "You shall witness many changes taking place within you. Do not fear. Due to the activation of the chakras your body shall emit a foul smell. You shall have constipation. You shall urinate often. Take lots of warm water.  The Agathiyar Kuzhambu you took (on 27 June 2022) did help in expelling the three dosas. But there is still more filth that shall be expelled in due time. Carry out the said practice." He gave me further practice. "உடலில் பல மாற்றங்கள் கண்டறிவாய். பயம் கொள்ள வேண்டாம். இச்சக்கரங்கள் புணர்ச்சியால் உன் உடலில் ஏற்படும் மாற்றங்கள், துர்நாற்றம் வீசும், மல சிக்கல் ஏற்படும், கழிவு ஆகும், சிறுநீர் அதிகம் வெளியேறும். வெந்நீர் அதிகம் அருந்து. அன்று நீ உண்ட குழம்பினாள் உன் உடலிலிருந்து வாத, பித்த, கபம் சற்றே அகன்றது. இன்னும் இருக்கிறது. அவை அகலும். இப்பயிற்சியினை மேற்கோள்."

The blessed day that Agathiyar spoke about earlier on 30.1.2020, came on Monday, 22 August 2022. I felt an "explosion of energy" in my belly as I woke up at 6:40 a.m. and stretched myself in bed. I felt a pull of a nerve and a tug right below the navel. It brought on a swirling sensation followed by a chillness. My whole body became numb right to the tips of my fingers and toes. I felt nauseous and had the urge to pee and urine. Rising from bed, I collapsed twice on the way to the toilet picking myself up each time. I was alone then while my daughter was in her room asleep. Back from the toilet, all was fine. A blissful feeling that came over me. Narrating this to my daughter the next day she called for her mother who arrived from our grandchildren's home to accompany me. The next day, Tuesday 23 August 2022, I woke up at 7.20 a.m. to go to the loo but I could not pee. I fell again. I picked myself up and climbed onto the bed as my wife watched without any inkling of what was going on. Agathiyar had told her in the past to just observe and watch. My body became numb from the shoulders down. I lay like a deadlog on my bed. Although I could not move even an inch of my torso I was able to see, hear, and talk and was aware of what was happening to me. I had no fear or anxiety. I asked myself if this was what "to be dead" was? Soon the experience went away. 

Seeking answers to what had taken place, Agathiyar cleared the air later. He told me not to worry and said that "the stagnated water" was released. கவலை கொள்ள ஒன்றுமில்லை. தேங்கி இருந்த நீர் வெளி கொண்டது. 

Nevertheless, he gives a warning to all of us. When the chakras are activated late in life it would have some adverse results on our bodies. When the heat of tapas increases in our body, blood flow will be less bringing on numbness. This would result in urinary and excretion problems. He asked that I seek English medicine. ஆனபோதும் முதிர்ந்த நிலையில் சக்கரங்கள் திறப்பதனால் உதிர வாட்டம் கொண்டுள்ளது. முதிர்ச்சியில் சக்கரங்கள் திறக்கும்போது அவ்வுடல் சில பாதிப்பினை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளும். உனது உடலில் உஷ்ணம் ஏற ஏற உதிரம் குறையும். உதிரம் குறைந்தால் உடல் மறுத்துப் போகும். உடல் மறுத்துப் போனால் சிறுநீர் கோளாறு கழிவில் கோளாறு. ஆகையால் எண்கள் மேரு பெறும். ஆகையால் மருத்துவம் உனக்குத் தேவை. ஆங்கில மருத்துவம் கொண்டு அதனைச் சுத்தம் செய்து கோல். 

Later Agathiyar comes to give me strength and courage besides asking that I share my experiences with readers. He says, "Do not be afraid of death. It is but another door to another journey. One who invites death is a Siddha. There is much I need to carry out through you. Enough of my praise. Write about your bodily experiences. Let your writings be about the changes taking place in your body. Let your readers know the changes that take place in the body if they come to worship the light and seek to merge with it. My wisdom shall be your experience. Experience first and I shall clarify the experiences later. Experience is knowledge to you. Nothing is beyond experience." மரணபயம் வேண்டாம்.  மரணம் ஒன்றும் அல்ல. மற்றொரு பயணத்தின் கதவு.  எவன் ஒருவன் மரணத்தை அன்போடு வரவேற்கின்றானோ அவன் சித்தன் ஆகின்றான். உன்னில் இருந்து நான் காரியங்கள் செய்வதற்கு இன்னும் நிறைய இருக்கிறது. எனது பெருமை போதும். இனி உன் எழுத்துக்கள் உடல் மாற்றங்கள் உடல் அனுபவம் பற்றியதாக இருக்கட்டும். ஜோதியினை வழிபட்டால் அதில் இணைய வேண்டும் என்றால் உடலில் எவ்வித மாற்றங்கள் ஏற்படும் என்று உன் வாசகர்களுக்குத் தெரிய படுத்து. உனது அனுபவம் எனது அறிவு. அனுபவமே உனக்கு அறிவு. அனுபவத்தைத் தாண்டி ஒன்றுமே இல்லை. நீ அனுபவம் கொண்டுவா, பின்னர் உரைக்கிறேன். 

The swirling sensation felt for several weeks in the abdomen just below my navel was regularly felt in the crown of my head but with a lesser intensity in the days to come. I guess this is what Agathiyar meant when he said I shall feel a magnetic wave arise. A couple of days later, it seemed more like a flowering of petals and was blissful. A chillness and swirling that is akin to a flowering went on irrespective of my daily activities these days. It was more intense each time I brought my attention to it. Following the flowering in the crown that went on without my effort, participation, or action, I asked Agathiyar what I should do further. His reply was to do nothing and that it shall do its work. 

Since Agathiyar said the energies will do the rest, we have basically become a dynamo. The breath that is akin to the river turns the turbine machine in our case the chakras to produce electricity and energy.  A clear nostril is a highway for these energies to hitch on the breath and make their way swiftly to the depo at the top of the head. The body is now a magnet that is attracting the effulgence from beyond. We understand that while we see lightning appear in the skies and strike things on the ground, there is a small amount of electricity that reaches out to it from the earth. Similarly, the small amount of electricity in us meets the larger expanse that is God.  

In Supramaniar Gnaanam 200 we learn that,

"Receiving the Vel from Valabai in return for her worship, and attaining a body of light akin to the moonlight, the Vel brought on a swirling within which brought me to witness the flowering of the 1008 petals. I remained in samadhi. The music within was heard (as Agathiyar too told me to listen to). The Manam was chained. I melted in the Karumunai or His abode. (If the journey within starts with the swirling of the Suzhimunai it ends in the Karumunai.) I was tied forever to the Peroli or Light that knew no bounds and boundaries."

Ramalinga Adigal tells me "Use your breath to fan the Jothi. It shall travel through Sushumna and touch Ajna. Then the Jothi is seen. Carry out Nadi Sudhi to raise the Prana. Now it does not move in both nostrils. When it travels in both nostrils, you shall then rest in completeness or Sudha Paripuranam. Dhyana will be yours then. You are one with the Prana. Pay attention to it. The changes in you are but discharges. It shall leave your body. Do not worry. What you are doing is tavam. Agathiyan has accepted and received it. We shall continue working on your insides and from within." பிரணவத்தை கொண்டு ஜோதியை சுடர் விடச்செய். சுஷும்னா வழி சென்று ஆக்கினை தொடும். பின்னர் ஜோதி தெரியும். நாடி சுத்தி செய்து பிரணவத்தை உயர்த்தவும். இப்போது இரு நாசியில் செல்ல வில்லை. இரு நாசியில் செல்லும் கால் பிரணவம் இடகலை பிங்கலையில் சீராகச் செல்லும் தருணம் சுத்த பரிபூரணத்தில் நீ ஆழ்ந்து இருப்பாய். தியானம் என்பது உனது பரிபூரணம் ஆகும். உனது பிராணவத்தில் கலந்திருக்கிறாய். பிரணவத்தில் கவனம் செலுத்து. உன்னுள் ஏற்படும் மாற்றங்கள் யாவும் கழிவுகள். அகன்று போகும். கவலை வேண்டாம். நீ செய்தது யாவும் தவம். முயற்சி யாவும் அகத்தியன் பெற்று விட்டான். உள்ளிருந்து யாவும் நடத்துவோம்.

On 19.10.2022 as I lay on my sofa in the living room with my eyes closed, my finger that was touching the crown of my head could feel a pulse. This is usually observed in small children. Modern science brushes this off as "feeling a pulse in the fingertip. It refutes that "there is no way that our fingers would be able to detect any blood flow given the condition that between the finger and the scalp and the arteries of our brain is the skull." It was there for some time.

Agathiyar told me that the energy had become stuck, lodged, and subsequently ponded after the Muladhara was awakened in 2007, and he had the bunds broken and I saw the swirling of the energy just below my navel which subtly made its way to the Sahasrara in just days, swirling in the crown of my head. Jnana Jothiamma had referred to this in her email earlier. She wrote, "Manipura Chakra...is the most important chakra for a human...anybody for that matter...coz it is there many great yogis saints get stuck...Once anyone is able to get past that......enlightenment is gained."

R Venugopal writes in his "Soul Searchers - The Art of Breathing", Health Harmony, New Delhi, 2000, "The Svadishtana is regarded as a blockage to the awakening of the kundalini. He says the actual awakening starts from the Manipura chakra only. Till the time Manipura chakra does not get purified and awakened the kundalini cannot rise fully."

Agathiyar replies to our doubts as to the word kulam which is often related to a water body, leading hence to my understanding that I had ponded at the Svadhishthana. I came to know that the Kulam or pond or lake is to be understood as each chakra and not only that which is related to the water element.

“மூலமாம் குளத்திலே முளைத்தெழுந்த கோரையை
காலமே எழுந்திருந்து நாலுகட்ட றுப்பிரேல்
பாலனாகி வாழலாம் பரப்பிரமம் ஆகலாம்
ஆலமுண்ட கண்டர்பாதம் அம்மைபாதம் உண்மையே.”

Its translation goes as follows: Due to man's inappropriate lifestyle, the Muladhara chakra has been dammed and prevented from flowing. With continuous practice of breathing techniques over time, the chakras gain power or energy or Shakti. By continuing this one can become light and continue living as light, can become Brahmam in the Paraveli and reach the Holy Feet of Sivan who drank the poison. மனிதனின் முறை அற்ற வாழ்வியல் முறையால் முடக்க பட்டுக் கிடக்கும் மூலாதார சக்ரம் (இங்குக் குளம் என்பது சக்கரத்தைக் குறிப்பதாகும்) காலத்தினால் மேட்கொள்ளும் மூச்சி பயிற்சியினால் சக்கரம் சக்திகொள்ளும். அப்படி செய்து வரவே ஒளியாகி வாழலாம், பரவெளியில் பிரமம் ஆகலாம், விஷம் குடித்த அந்தச் சிவனின் பாதம் அடையலாம்.

Agathiyar clarified further that the Muladhara and Svadhishthana chakras were open. At present, it has stagnated at the Manipuraka. Hence the need to carry out the given breathing practices to open the chakra completely and set the energies free. இத்தருணம் உமக்கு மூலாதாரம் திறந்தது, ஸ்வாதிஸ்டானம் திறந்தது. இப்பொது மான் மூச்சி குளத்தில் இருக்கிறது. அவை திறக்கும் தருணம் வந்தது. இப்போதுதான் நீ உமது பயிற்சியினை தொடங்க வேண்டும். இந்த நிலையில் அச்சக்கரம் முற்றும் திறந்துவிடும். 

As Agathiyar forewarned, the pain similar to that which I had endured in the years between 2010 and 2012 in my lower back originally over time moved to the groin, at times the left and other times the right, and the testes, and later to the chest and then the left of my neck and the back of my head. It resulted in pain in the left ear too. The pain and discomfort after holding base at those places mentioned would leave after several days on its own accord for the next campsite. Excessive wind would be expelled from the body during these times. 

On 7.5.2023, after a long break, Agathiyar had me throw up bile (pittam) and phlegm (kapam) and expel wind (vaatam) all at a go. It was as if a dam had been opened. It was painful, bitter, and distasteful. The dinner I took came with it. Though disgusting to air and read I have to relate the phases as Agathiyar had told me that my readers should be made aware of the changes that come with the asking for Siddhahood. While I threw up, I was laughing away though as it was blissful as Agathiyar had pointed out some years back when I writhed in pain as the body spontaneously slithered like a snake. The body pains that came on during the day vanished after throwing up. The swirling in the crown of the head comes on as it pleases without my effort. It drenches my brain to say. It cools my head. As of now the whole body aches, and pain is felt in the left testes. The numbness that Agathiyar spoke about is felt in the fingers while the drying out of gel in the knees occasionally becomes obvious with sudden movements. Sexual urges are in overdrive. I guess I understand now why big names in this industry have flaws and faults. As old age and deteriorating health could contribute to these signs and symptoms I went for a medical checkup and was given a clean slate. I guess these are the workings of the mysterious energies that once lay dormant and asleep, working their way up and beyond as Agathiyar mentioned. The house is in a mess as these renovations are taking place within. It is the price we pay for eternal bliss that comes with the coarser vibrations and the frequencies in the gross matter reaching subtler nature and finer levels of tuning, materialization, and existence.  

Demian Lichtenstein and Shajen Joy Aziz in "Discover the Gift - It's Why we're Here" published by Crown Publishing, 2011 speak of vibration as,

"Quantum physicists know this vibrational paradigm as "string theory", a way of describing the nature of the universe as made up of infinitesimally tiny multidimensional vibrating strings. The frequency they vibrate gives them form." 

Annie Besant in her talks on "The Laws of the Higher Life", the Theosophical Publishing House, 1903, draws two distinct divisions to people and their brains. The coarser vibrations of the lower world and those adapted to it are one. The others are those who are in the front of evolution and of a subtler nature.

"The brain has to be changed, refined, and improved, and its connecting links fashioned and manufactured for the purposes of the expression of the higher consciousness. The self gathers around it upadhi upon upadhi, vehicle after vehicle, gradually shaping its own instruments. Here we see a consciousness that shapes bodies according to their needs, gradually refining them and bringing them under the control of the higher. Here he works because the divine outwelling finds its channel in his life, and he needs no outer compulsion because of the perfection of the inner law." 

They tell us that a shift in thought and action by being open and aware is required to break free from the conditioned life that we live in. Tavayogi too told me that no one can string the soul or cage it up. It has to be left free to explore. 

Agathiyar says of Gnanam, "The truth shall dawn when we go within. When the veil is drawn aside the truth is revealed. When the truth is known the veil is shed. That is the moment of Gnanam. It is not hokus pokus. It is beyond that too." நீங்கள் உள் பயணிக்கும் போது எல்லாம் தெரிய வரும். எல்லாம் தெரிய வந்ததால் திரை விலகியதற்கு அர்த்தம் தானே? எல்லாம் தெளிவாகத் தெரியும் சமயம் திரை விலகியதற்கு அர்த்தம். அதுதான் ஞானம். இது மந்திர ஜாலம் அல்ல. அதற்கும் அப்பால் பட்டது.

"Gnanam is not gifted but has to be earned and experienced. When one goes within, as the journey brings upon subtle experiences these shall translate into and become Gnanam. It defers to each person. As such I cannot possibly define it." நீ என்னிடம் கேட்டது ஞானம். ஞானம் என்பது நான் தருவதல்ல. நீ கற்பது. ஒருவன் தனக்குள் உள்வாங்கி அவனுள் பயணம் துவங்கும் நேரம் அப்பயணம் தரும் பாதிப்பே ஞானம். அவை ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் மாற்றம் பெரும். ஆகையால் அவை நான் இதுதான் என்று சொல்ல இயலாது.

"All the worlds are seen. All creation, its sustenance, its destruction, the veiling, and the showering of grace shall be known. Eventually, it will be seen and known that it is all a play of ours." எல்லா லோகமும் தெரிய வரும். ஐந்தொழில் தெரிய வரும். அனைத்து தத்துவங்களும் தெரிய வரும். எல்லாம் எங்களின் விளையாட்டு என்று தெரிய வரும்.

Ramalinga Adigal sings that he did not seek the pleasures that others sought and went after. Neither did he sought to see heaven but instead yearned for the divine's play or lila, which results in Gnanam.

பொய்யுடையார் விழைகின்ற புணர்ச்சிவிழைந் தேனோ
பூணவிழைந் தேனோவான் காணவிழைந் தேனோ
மெய்யுடையாய் என்னொடு நீ விளையாட விழைந்தேன்
விளையாட்டென் பதுஞானம் விளையும்விளை யாட்டே
பையுடைப்பாம் பனையரொடும் ஆடுகின்றோய் எனது
பண்பறிந்தே நண்புவைத்த பண்புடையோய் இன்னே
செய்யுடைஎன் னொடுகூடி ஆடஎழுந் தருள்வாய்
சித்தசிகா மணியேஎன் திருநடநா யகனே.

Agathiyar reveals "All this while you have gained external knowledge or Ulaga Gnanam. Now you shall gain Gnanam that is going to serve you." நீ இதுவரையில் கண்ட ஞானம் உலக வாழ்க்கை ஞானம். இனி காணப்போவது உனக்கான ஞானம்."

Agathiyar asked that I share my knowledge of the Atma with those keen to learn. I was tasked to bring those lagging behind to the forefront. இனி இங்கு ஆத்ம ஞானம் மட்டுமே நடக்கும். பின்னனிருப்போர் உந்தி தள்ளிக் கொண்டுவா. மாதத்திற்கு ஒரு முறை எமது பக்தர்களுக்கு அழைப்பிடு. ஆன்மஞானத்தை அறிய விரும்புவோருக்குக் கற்பித்து வா. எனது முழு ஆசியினை பெற்ற சீடனப்பா நீ. இல்வாழ்க்கையில் இருப்பதினாலே உன்னை யாம் தனித்து குருவாக்க விரும்பவில்லை. உன்னில் இருக்கும் ஆன்மாவின் தேடலை மற்றவர்களுக்கும் வரச்செய். அவர் அவர் எண்ணம்போல் உமது போதனை அவர்களை அடையும். போதிப்பது மட்டுமே உனது கடமை. பலன் அவர்களுடையது. 

He adds, "Gnanam does not come easy. It's a long journey. It does not come to all. The mind has to settle for Gnanam to dawn." ஞானம் அவ்வளவு எளிதல்ல. அது நீண்ட பயணம். எல்லோருக்கும் கிட்டாது. மனம் அடங்கினால் ஞானம் சித்திக்கும். 

Tavayogi defines Gnanam as follows. Holding onto the source of birth brings one to know the end. This is Gnanam. Knowing the source is Gnanam. Gnanam is akin to becoming enlightened. Knowing creation is Gnanam. Knowing the truth of life is Gnanam. Knowing the Atma is Gnanam. Gnanam is God.

பிறப்பின் தொடக்கத்தைப் பிடித்து முடிவையும் அறிவதே ஞானம். ஆதி அந்தக் குறி தெரிவதுதான் ஞானம். ஞானம் அடைதல் என்றால் அறிவின் தெளிந்த நிலை. ஞாலத்தை அறிதல் ஞானம். உயிரானது பெரும் உண்மைத் தெளிவுதான் அறிவு அல்லது ஞானம். ஆத்ம அறிவின் தெளிவே ஞானம். ஞானமே கடவுள்.

Introducing Agathiyar as God first Tavayogi told us that the breath or Vaasi was God. He equated Agathiyar with Siva later. Today we accept the state of Gnanam as God. 

Agathiyar says "You served me in Sariyai. I accepted you as my children in Kriyai. I accepted you as my friend in Yogam. In Gnanam we shall merge together." சரியையில் எனக்குச் சேவை செய்தீர். கிரியையில் எனது குழந்தைகளாய் ஏற்றேன். யோகத்தில் என் நண்பனாய் ஏற்றேன். ஞானத்தில் நான் நீயாக நீங்கள் நானாகச் சேர்வோம். 

I guess we have fulfilled Tavayogi's wish that we come out of Bakthi and into the phase of Gnanam. What remains of his wish is to see each home turn into Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia. Will you make the move?