When overzealous devotees elsewhere who took charge were known to obstruct and send away devotees who were meat eaters and women who were menstruating from actively participating in the rituals, Agathiyar welcomed them at Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM).
In the days when my wife, two daughters, and I did frequent puja at home and gave notice about it to the AVM family, my wife would be pretty disturbed mentally thinking if it was right and proper to sit in on the puja and rituals as in conducting libation or Abhisegam to Agathiyar's statue and lighting the sacred sacrificial fire or Homam when either one of them was having their menstrual cycle and period. But Agathiyar came and assured them that that was the nature of the women's body and there was no harm in them participating.
Recently when Agathiyar had instructed us to travel to my parent-in-law's house in another state and conduct a Homam, we had stopped over to have lunch. My daughters for a moment forgot that we were the ones who were going to carry it out, and began to take the fish and prawns that were so tempting and appetizing and pleasing to the palate. When we reached our destination and prepared to carry out the Homam, they distanced themselves feeling guilty that they had taken non-veg earlier. But Agathiyar who came called both of them up to light up the Homam and care for the fire making sure it did not die out. He had me sing the Arutperunjothi mantra while he personally offered the herbs into the fire.
So who instilled these fears into the devotees and kept them away from the worship of the Siddhas? Overzealous devotees and followers who later took the stand and role of gurus. When these overzealous devotees who took charge placed codes of practice to adhere to and disciplines to take heed of, they drove away potential seekers. Agathiyar invited one and all and embraced them at AVM. Slowly did he bring them over and brought changes in them over time, having them let go of their earlier practices, either after educating them by giving them a proper understanding or by having the understanding come on naturally in due time, without any stress or pressure from outside.
He tells us that if we intend to change this gross body into a light body we need to refrain from continuing to take meat. Turning vegetarian does not apply to every Tom, Dick, and Harry on the street. Neither does it apply to those disinterested in walking the path of this internal transformation. It does not apply to those who do not have any idea of the process involved in this transformation. The process calls for discipline and perseverance, in carrying out puja and rituals, and in practicing Yoga Asanas and Pranayama. The Siddha path is not in procuring the Siddhis that has been made out to be. Neither is it about publicizing and showing them off. It is all about returning to our original state, being one with God. To arrive there one initially makes good his past mistakes after learning about them and would eventually have to learn to let go of all that he had grabbed along the way and made his possessions. Only a few shall stay to travel this path. Of this, only one shall arrive, for the path is narrow and one has to travel solo.