To truly understand the texts and songs by saints either the saint has to come before us or within us to have us understand or have us experience it to know it exactly the way they had experienced it. Agathiyar has told us to only read the original texts and not rely on translations and further elaborations.
While watching together her videos on my YouTube Channel with my second grandaughter age 4 yesterday, and moving on to videos of Bhagawan Ramana she recognized him as the old man who pets the cow. Suddenly she asked, "Why do we pray to God?" She made me think about how to answer a complex question in simple terms to a 4-year-old without distorting the facts.
I began by telling her that we were all godly in nature but we have forgotten this fact. We then start to "find" ourselves outside by going to temples and worshipping idols first. Hence we pray to God given forms and names externally. Later we begin to see God in us and worship the Self or Atma or Soul. She listened intently. As there was no further question I assume she understood.
My 7-year-old second daughter too while sitting on the lap of Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal during our very first meeting with him at a local Peddham that he came to officiate some 19 years back in 2005, surprised us by asking Tavayogi what was the Soul or Atma. Though I cannot remember his answer to her now, Tavayogi was pretty amused and told us that we should all ask similar questions.
Children generally absorb, consume, and follow whatever is seen and heard. They retain what is touched, felt, smelled, and tasted too. In beginning schooling they learn more about themselves and the world around them. Soon they grow up as teens and youths and begin to explore life independently of their parent's surveilance. All of these make them into full-fledged adults. When they have children of their own another chapter in their lives begins. The notion and concept of God too changes as they encounter many tributaries to this single source. Impressed by a teaching they begin to explore the path further, traveling it. The experiences gained might enhance their perspective, beliefs, and faith further or otherwise. Their experiences are somehow brushed on to their kids who shall begin to explore further when they come of age.
Sadly many adults stop at seeing God in the temples and idols. They never come close to exploring him within and further. A guru who has realized God in him has to come along to enlighten them of their true Buddha nature. Once the fire in them is kindled they need to make efforts to unveil the truth found within them. Soon the divine shall assist in all ways to bring him or her to realize his or her true nature and oneness with God. He or she shall attain the state of a Jeevan Mukta or one who has attained Mukti or completeness in this very birth. A Jeevan Mukta turns to guide others to the path. The lineage of gurus continues unbroken. Once his purpose is served he or she sets sail back to God's kingdom. He might choose to come back or remain to do God's work in the subtle state in another realm.