Gurus are known to start communes that the public sees as dangerous to society. I would not blame the former for keeping up with certain doctrines that they extend to all those who are keen to follow. Only a few from society take up the call and the cause and follow. They are then included in the following which is often labeled by others as a cult. The concept of a commune takes shape which is seen as a distancing and a mystery. One must understand that this is not compulsory teaching or training as we see in the programs like the National Service held by governments. One out of curiosity enters the commune or is enticed by peers and friends already following the group and its teachings. It is a gathering of like minds.
This is how Bala Chandran who saw the Nadi was told by Agathiyar to attend the Pornami Puja that I and my family were conducting in our homes back then in 2013. Soon he spread the word about his Nadi reading among his friends and many went for a reading too. Similarly, he shared his visits to my home, besides Agathiyar sending others too. I soon came to accept these strangers who eventually became the Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia or AVM family knowing that no one would stand at the door without Agathiyar's invitation or calling. Previously, seeing my detachment from any of the organizations, movements, and societies that I visited after my Nadi reading in 2002, seeking to know about worship to the Siddhas, Agathiyar sent Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar ashram over to our shores in 2005 and the latter took me in as his student.
Agathiyar tested me if I would be ready to let go of AVM, the respect, and the honor that came with it. In 2019, he had me wind up this group and called me to go within. Agathiyar who wanted me to build a temple for him in my first Nadi reading, and Lord Murugan who joined the wagon asking one for him in 2018, seeing my reluctance in engaging in this humongous task, told me that they were testing me again. Agathiyar builds and breaks it too, just as Goddess Kali in reply to Swami Vivekananda's cry for answers upon seeing temples demolished, saying that this too was her work.
Similarly in testing me further, he had me part with his bronze statue in 2022 that had become a part of my family and household name since 2nd January 2010. Agathiyar had called me to have his bronze statue in the likes of his granite statue at Agasthiyampalli made in Swamimalai, and placed at the Sri Jegathguru Raghavendra Mritiga Brindavanam in Ipoh which was being built by my brother-in-law. On 8 January 2009, Agathiyar gave me specific instructions on how his statue was to be made at Swamimalai and brought over to my home first before moving to the Brindavanam. As Agathiyar was to be in the form at Agasthiyampalli, I could not buy his statue off the shelf. I had to commission it. After failing to locate people who could assist me, I searched the net and e-mailed 13 manufacturers in and around Swamimalai and Kumbakonam. Through Agathiyar's grace, Varadaraj of the Bronze Creative at Swamimalai offered to have Agathiyar done as specified. Among the conditions he laid was that he was to be made in the form he presided at Agasthiyampalli (Thirumaraikaadu), Vedaranyam; he was not to exceed 1 foot in height; he was to be made at Swamimalai; work on him had to start in the Tamil month of Thai and Maasi of 2009; libation or abhisegam and prayers done on him at the Adhi Kumbeshwarar temple at Kumbakonam and only then shipped to Malaysia; on arrival in Malaysia, Nava Abhisegam was to be conducted followed by chanting his name (Aum Agathisaya Nama) 100,000 times.
Why a replica of his granite statue at Agasthiyampalli? Agathiyar says that he is seated in a meditative posture at Agasthiyampalli, engrossed in watching and admiring the beauty of the occasion of the marriage or the Tiru Kalyana Kolam of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi taking place in Kailash. Dr VM Jayapalan while in meditation was given the story of the origin of this temple, which happens to be the very first temple for Agathiyar in this Kali Yuga.
On completion of the Brindavanam and awaiting its consecration on 12.6.2013, my thoughts at that moment were that one could not just lift him off from my home without some sort of proper ritual to honor the move. As he had not delivered another reading to authorize my next move, I took it upon myself to inform the Brindavanam that as Agathiyar had not spoken I was not sending him over. Almost immediately a devotee volunteered to place another bronze Agathiyar at the Brindavanam. I feared that I might have erred in making the decision to keep Agathiyar to myself. But in a Nadi reading on 21.9.2014, after more than a year, Agathiyar to my relief, tells me that he had shelved his plan to go to the Brindavanam and instead decided to remain at my home!
I had always had the thought, why Swamimalai and not somewhere else. Then Rightmantra Sundar in his blog explains why Swamimalai comes to mind when one needs a bronze statue. He says that Swamimalai is preferred for making the temple Urchava Murthis as they are made using age-old traditional methods, the lost wax method of casting, and according to the Agamas. Clay or mud from the riverbanks of Kaveri used by bronze statue creators at Swamimalai is most suitable for making the molds as it captures even the most minute details, revealing even thumbprints! Statues made at Swamimalai are renowned worldwide. The post by Rightmantra Sundar revealed to me then the reason why Agathiyar wanted him to be made at Swamimalai too. Later I came across a couple of well-researched videos explaining the same.
Then in 2015, Agathiyar revealed that it was the wish of Lord Muruga, Lobha Ma, and Agathiyar himself that he should be made at Swamimalai through Jnana Jyothiamma's Jeeva Nadi reading. Agathiyar explains that it is Lobha Ma's wish that his statues made on the banks of Kaveri (Swamimalai in Tanjai) and blessed by Swamimalai Muruga, should reach places all over the world. Although Agathiyar's image has been depicted in many forms over time, the image of Agathiyar from Swamimalai will eventually be his identity and worshiped the world over. Lord Muruga himself has conceived this image and blessed each statue made here. He enlightened us on the significance of Swamimalai and the Kaveri River and the reason for Agathiyar to be made in Swamimalai. If Agathiyar says that Kallar hills were a place to shed one's Karma, Swamimalai is the place to come to rid of man's daily problems and worries. His Atma will be purified in Swamimalai. Agathiyar revealed in the Jeeva Nadi later that many miracles will be shown through these statues of Agathiyar. These statues will become "alive". In asking us to give "Life" to his statue Agathiyar had us chant his name 100,000 times. But although the handful of family and friends gathered on 3rd January 2010 to commemorate his arrival and his Jayanthi could only manage 45,000, Agathiyar came in a subsequent Nadi reading telling us that he had accepted it. Agathiyar who revealed that he would perform miracles in and through this Murthy or statue, reiterated that a miracle had taken place in Jnana Jyothiamma's presence too, reminding us of the miracle he performed in October of 2013, during the libation or Abhisegam. Agathiyar most graciously opened his eyes to bless all those present! My daughter came running down the stairs after the prayer was over, showing us the miracle that was caught on a digital camera. Later Jnana Jothiamma who visited Varadaraj wrote to me.
At Varadharaj's factory ... Creative Bronze... Thimapalayam ... Swamimalai.
"And Finally the show stoppers. Varadharaj and his brother Cheenu ..... the two creative geniuses of 'CREATIVE BRONZE". The Architects/Artists/Sculptors behind the carving and making of Agathiyan at your temple, Shan. "AMAZING GRACE." Cheenu narrated to me, as to how he went to Agasthiyapalli, studied the Murthy of Agathiyan there. Sketched it as per the instructions given by you to Varadharaj .... and how they went about finishing Agathiyar's murthy which now sits majestically at your temple ... AGATHIYAR VANAM."
The 5 metals that originated from the earth, that was heated up by the fire element and poured into the mould made of river mud that originated out of the earth and water element, elevating these elements to the status of Agathiyar, brought forth a wonderful and beautiful replica of Agathiyar's statue at Agasthiyampalli that today is housed at AVM. The mud from the river banks of Kaveri at Swamimalai that was used to encase the wax figurine, and the hot molten metal that was poured into the mold giving birth to the bronze statue that came to be cast, gained a status to be worshipped as Agathiyar. By performing rituals on it for the past 14 years the metal became Agathiyar in our eyes. It became alive and opened its eyes. Today he watches every activity from his small room at AVM.
After Agathiyar's arrival, Varadaraj made 10 more statues for Malaysian devotees. He soon set off to make the gigantic statue of Lord Nadarajah standing at a total height of 23 ft, (his statue at 17 ft, and the Peedam at 6 ft) that Jnana Jothiamma and Bala Chandran had an opportunity to witness its making. She wrote to me saying,
"I feel so blessed. Agathiyan has made me complete. To be able to touch the "Murthy of Lord Shiva. When I asked Varadharaj if he allowed the public inside to view this ... he replied that they do not and will not allow a single person to enter this place, apart from his assistants who work on this project. I was moved to tears when he said that he was waiting to show me this work. 75% of the casting work has been done. Varadharaj says that everything will be completed in 5/6 months' time."
Recently I came across a video where another magnificent and gigantic statue of Lord Nadarajah that surpassed the one Varadaraj did and that was commissioned by the Prime Minister of India and placed at the G20 Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. This 27 ft tall statue was made by another renowned Stapati from Swamimalai. The Stapati says the same of the reasons why Swamimalai is renowned for its bronze statues. It is truly amazing watching the process of bringing to life this magnificent work of art.