TELLING AGATHIYAR'S STORY

Yesterday, I had a surprise visitor from outstation who was in town and wanted to drop in at AVM. By Agathiyar's grace, the family of four ended up performing their very first homam and returned home contented. We all agreed that it was all Agathiyar's doing. Watching a handful of followers of Fa Lun Chi Kung in the park this morning I addressed their master later as Sifu. He replied he was not a Sifu and that there was only one Sifu, the grand master. It reminded me of Tavayogi showing us to Agathiyar rather than self-proclaiming himself as one. Such humbleness reminds me again of Bhogar who replied to Agathiyar that he knew nothing but only him. When living gurus expect so much of protocols and respect, Agathiyar pops in and out as he pleases. He can come right amid a conversation, either physically through a devotee or through the phone. He surely is making use of all the gadgets and technology available to reach out to us. Just as Velayudham Karthigeyan Aiya of the blog "Sitthan Arul" shared that Agathiyar told him that one's face should be forgotten, similarly, Agathiyar wants me to stay away from the public and remain unknown.  

Agathiyar can be loving and compassionate he can also be the strictest dad taking his staff or the cane to reprimand us. But know that he is harsh at times because of his love for us, not wanting us to while away and waste yet another precious human birth. Agathiyar saw it timely to close AVM just months before the pandemic reared its ugly face fearing that when a cancer had spread in another affiliated movement it would spread into AVM too. It was the fate of AVM or Karma. If it was our Karma that was the reason for this birth and sufferings and pleasures as revealed in the Karma Kaandam of the Nadi reading, coming to worship and travel with him, Agathiyar later tells me that for want of certain experiences and learning he had cleverly executed the chess pieces and checkmate us, taking responsibility partially. Now he tells us everything, good and bad, is his doing taking the blame solely and entirely. Which guru would do that? Agathiyar does. It is like in Jesus taking on our sins God himself takes our place. Tavayogi in asking to ignore the long list of remedies given to my daughter in her Nadi reading, I believe, took on her Karma. When we completely surrender Agathiyar takes on our sins and karma but cautions and warns us not to repeat them again. From living out my Karma, Agathiyar pushed me into undesirable circumstances that we would generally avoid for want of even those experiences, now he says it is entirely all his doing, taking the blame for everything. In other words, he is taking on the Karma that would arise with each action of ours. In telling us to go ahead and that he shall be with us, he has completely wiped out the term Karma and its affliction in our lives. Agathiyar who initially had us walk a round of remedies, then told us to forgive ourselves and others, and that he too shall forgive us, now is taking away the remaining guilt from our hearts to make it pure to receive the grace of Arutperunjothi. 

From bringing us into action to recede into inaction and recede further into silence, he has killed the Ego. If I had only read the Bhagavadgita a few pages, Agathiyar brought us to experience the epic in real life. As Krishna tells Arjuna that the Kurukshetra war was all laid out and planned by him, asking what was he wailing about at having killed his flesh and blood, Agathiyar tells us that it was all planned before. We were merely instruments executing them. This reminds us of Sadhu Om's songs based on Bhagawan Ramana's teaching that conveys the same. Karma is real only as long as we think we're in charge. The moment we come to the understanding that it is all his will, Karma, and with it, the "I" or "Doer" disappears. It is only existence after that. Plain existence. We begin to fit the role given and purpose. We shall have no likes or dislikes. We won't plan. There is no ambition. We just exist. When even our names have been written in the Nadi thousands of years ago it makes us wonder and ask what is truly our doing? Balachandran asked me after his first Nadi reading if his name was already mentioned in the Nadi, purportedly said to be written thousands of years ago, how can we claim that his parents named him? In asking me to drop the identification to name and body, he is asking me to drop the identification to our other relationships, seeing another as a wife, husband, child, etc, and instead to see all as a soul, nameless and bodiless. Does the tree judge? Does the bird judge? Only man who has the following faculties outlined by Thomas Suski at https://www.themindguy.net/article/6-faculties-mind, that of perception and imagining, thinking, reasoning and analysis, judging and intuition, and willpower.  Besides these man can have beliefs, and opinions, and has experiences, understanding, and learn lessons from them. All techniques and practices are to discipline us. One who is disciplined sails the seas pretty fast and smooth.

Nature is silent. In silence it gives. Just as nature is connected to everything Agathiyar tells me that the silence that prevails beneath all the noise and sounds connects each individual. He asked me to remain silent and in silence connect with all of Prapanjam and tell his story.

IT IS ALL QUIET OUT HERE

If once upon a time (2002) Agathiyar told us that birth and the parcel of joy and sorrow we brought with us was because of our past Karma, after some 22 years he tells us that everything taking place was his doing. He has completely taken over our lives. He is ruling it. Though we are making decisions and acting accordingly, he is pretty much in charge. But at the end of the day, he asks us what we have learned from all that has taken place. If previously we looked up to him for his approval and blessings in all our endeavors, now he tells us to go ahead and he shall support all our moves.

When his devotees would be celebrating his Jayanthi fest all over tomorrow it is rather quiet at AVM. He has not asked us to carry it out. Previously when Tavayogi initiated me to carry out the celebration on a smaller and modest scale in my home coinciding with the lighting of the Yagam at his Kallar Ashram, Agathiyar came along to move the date for us to Thaipusam. But since 2019 he has asked us to drop it all.

IN THE HOURS OF SILENCE

The most important works are accomplished in silence we are told. I took certain lines from poet sage Nakkirar's prayer to Lord Vinayagar, "The Vinayagar Thiruagaval" as my prayer at AVM for years. True to the prayer, Agathiyar has asked me to sit with him in Tavam each time he comes. 

மோனா ஞான முழுதும் அளித்து
சிற்பரிப் பூரண சிவத்தைக் காண
நற்சிவ நிட்கள நாட்டமுந் தந்து
குருவுஞ் சீடனுங் கூடிக் கலந்து
இருவரும் ஒரு தனியிடந் தனிற் சேர்ந்து
தானந்தமாகித் தற்பர வெளியில்
ஆனந்த போத அறிவைக் கலந்து
ஈசனிைணயடியிருத்தி
மனத்தே நீயே நானாய்
நானே நீயாய்க்
காயா புரியைக் கனவெனவுணா்ந்து
எல்லாமுன் செயலென்ேற உணர
நல்லா உன்னருள் நாட்டந் தருவாய்
காரண குருவே கற்பகத் களிேற
வாரணமுகத்து வள்ளலே போற்றி

Richard Schiffman in his "Sri Ramakrishna – A Prophet for the New Age", Paragon House, 1989, writes about the significance and depth of silence. Silence is potent. In silence, the walls that separate the guru and disciple cease to exist, he adds. Both their hearts meet. In these hours of silence, the "self" speaks with the "higher self". In silence, there is neither giving nor receiving. Just being in each other's presence. 

We learn from Ruzbeh Bharucha's writings that sitting in silence has the tendency to fill one with more Param Akash Tatva or Prime Ether and Vairagya Vruti, or disenchantment sets in as we delve deeper and deeper into a state of silence. Ruzbeh says, "It is only the Ether Element that takes one closer to The One." As the causal body is made of Param Akash Tatwa or Prime Ether, Param Vayu Tatwa or Prime Air, and Param Agni Tatwa or Prime Fire, from having us inhale large volumes of Prana or Prime Air through Pranayama that fans and builds up the heat of Tava Kanal or Prime Fire in us in the past, Agathiyar now has us tap the Prime Ether. 

Muruganar shares a story he heard from Ramana himself.

"When the four-aged Sanakadi Rishis first saw the sixteen-year-old Sri Dakshinamurti sitting under the banyan tree, they were at once attracted by him, understanding him to be the real Sadguru. They approached him, did three Pradakshinas around him, prostrated before him, sat at his feet, and began to ask very shrewd and pertinent questions about the nature of Reality and the means of attaining it. Because of the great compassion and fatherly love (Vatsalya) that he felt for his aged disciples, the young Sri Dakshinamurti was overjoyed to see their earnestness, wisdom, and maturity, and hence he gave apt replies to each of their questions. As he answered each consecutive question, further doubts rose in their minds and still they asked further questions. Thus they continued to question Sri Dakshinamurti, for one whole year, and he continued to clear their doubts through his compassionate answers. Finally, however, Sri Dakshinamurti understood that if he gave more answers to their questions more doubts would rise in their minds and hence there would never be an end to their ignorance (Ajnana). Therefore, suppressing even the feeling of compassion and fatherly love that was welling up within him, he merged himself into the supreme silence. Because of their great maturity (which had been ripened to perfection through their year-long association with the Sadguru), as soon as Sri Dakshinamurti thus merged himself, they too were automatically merged within, into silence, the state of Self."

T.R. Kanakammal wrote in the "Mountain Path", that Bhagawan Ramana except when he answered questions, abided in the natural state of absolute silence. His Upadesa was mainly through silence. T.K. Sundaresa Iyer wrote "Sri Bhagavan sat and sat in His usual pose, no, poise. No words, no movement, and all was stillness! He sat still, and all sat still, waiting. The clock went on striking, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, one, two, and three. Sri Bhagavan sat and they sat. Stillness, calmness, motionlessness – not conscious of the body, of space or time. Thus eight hours were passed in Peace, in Silence, in Being, as It is. Thus was the Divine Reality taught through the speech of Silence by Bhagavan Sri Ramana- Dakshinamurthy. At the stroke of 4 a.m. Sri Bhagavan quietly said: “And now have you known the essence of the Dakshinamurti Hymn."

EXPERIENCE & LEARN

I guess I have cried, Wolf! once too often, and way too many times, that my readers will not believe me the next time I say I want to wind up this blog. But it is selfish of me not to share Agathiyar's words that are both music to our ears and a bombardment to our Ego; and wisdom or Gnanam to the Self. 

Agathiyar tells us that if earlier we had tried to understand what Tavayogi wrote in his books, it is time for us to experience these words. Though I had read them earlier, these words echoed in the first few pages of his Atma Gnanam. 

Tavayogi writes that the powerhouse which we tagged as God, that drives all things, using Maya as an instrument, drives our body from birth to death too. To know how it works in us and to feel and experience and to know and find ways to divert this powerhouse to sustain and maintain the breath and the body respectively is indeed Atma Gnanam. Going within these feelings arriving at an enlightened state is attaining Arivu or Gnanam.

இந்த மாபெரும் இயக்கும் சக்தியான இறைவன், மனம் என்னும் மாயக்கருவியால், பிறந்தது முதல், இறப்பு வரை, நமது உடம்பை இயக்கிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறார். இந்த இயக்க சக்தி, நமது உடலில் எப்படிச் செயல்படுகிறது என அறிந்து, அதே இயக்க சக்தியை நாம் உணர்ந்து, அந்த சக்தியை நம்முடைய உடலையும், உயிரையும், பேணப்பயன் படுத்தும் வழிவகைகளை தெரிந்து கொள்வதே ஆத்ம ஞானம். இந்த உணர்ச்சிகளைத் தூய்த்து உயிரானது பெரும் உண்மைத் தெளிவுதான் அறிவு அல்லது ஞானம் எனப்படும்.  

What begins as a fight over my toy, my pencil, and my book, becomes a fight for my space in the car, I want the front seat, etc in a child, then turns out ugly in adults fighting for parking spaces. We then fight to claim our rights and equality. The fight turns into war when countries invade and conquer other countries. The Ego grows into a monster not able to think rationally. We become Asuras. Compassion and love are the least on our vocabulary during these times. If we can miraculously let go of all the above-mentioned things, it is a struggle and battle to let go of one's Ego. If we can let go of all our vices, it is a struggle and battle to let go of one's Ego. Curious to know what was in smoking a cigarette I bought a pack of seven sticks and puffed at it continuously and never touched it again. When a German consultant told me that construction men always drink and poured me my first glass of drink, after a while I dropped that too quite easily. I could turn vegetarian overnight. Sexual urges too came to be satisfied. But what is still remaining is this Ego that we falsely identify with the Self. 

Agathiyar in asking me to go beyond body, mind, and learning, or Gnanam, is asking us to know the Self that is beyond knowledge and ignorance. The Self, Bhagawan Ramana says is pure Consciousness, pure Light. "The knowledge that there is nothing but God or Self, that I and mine don't exist, and that only the Self exists is Jnana" says Ramana.

"The Jnani knows that nothing exists but the Self. To such a one what difference could the presence or absence of body make? The Jnani knows he is the Self, the only reality which is both inside and outside and which is not bound by any form or shape."

Ramana too like Agathiyar says the same, that beyond experience nothing exists. Agathiyar giving us the experience comes to ask us what we have learned from them. We are supposed not to repeat them and move on. I am currently being schooled by him at times taking up the cane to discipline me. But I know that though it hurts, wanting to see us become Siddhas too, his love and compassion drive him to push us to place the effort and push us to our limits.

Agathiyar tells me that in speaking I am only sharing my experiences. He asked when was I going to tell his story too. He answers how this takes place too. In "Silence" he says. It is in Silence that he reaches out to us all he reveals.

(Bhagawan Ramana's teachings based on Bhavan's Book University's "Erase the Ego", 1963.)

SILENCE

Just as I was saddened and confused when Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar refused to bless me telling me that in coming and arriving there itself was a blessing, when I visited him at Ongakarakudil in 2003, and just as I was saddened and confused when Tavayogi instead of appreciating my note of thanks upon him gracing my home the very first time in 2005, shattered me by telling me that I was living in Maya, I was saddened and confused when Agathiyar recently cooped up his divine play so that I could come to terms with my Ego and let it go. Agathiyar in telling me to lose my false identification with my Ego, is asking me to see only the Self that is One. 

In revealing to us that he was Silence itself, Agathiyar has brought us to the teachings of Bhagawan Ramana. Bhagawan Ramana says that the highest form of grace is Silence. He says that it is also the highest spiritual instruction. Ramana in speaking about Sankara who revealed his real state of silence, appearing as Dakshanamurthi to grant peace to the great ascetics, asks "When even the ancient teacher Dakshanamurthi revealed IT through speechless eloquence how could any other convey IT by speech?" hence shutting us all up. Hence the reason for me to want to end this blog several days ago finishing off with the following.

We have given so many forms and names to Agathiyar. This Karthigai Deepam has revealed his true form to us. After knowing his true form there is nothing further to write. Hence this brings an end to this epic of writing this blog. Thank you for following it, readers.

Ramana says that the guru comes only to tell us that god is within and to dive within and realize him. He adds that grace too is within us. All that is necessary is to know its existence in us. 

"Mouna is the utmost eloquence. Because the person remains in his essential nature, he can call up any power into play whenever it is necessary. That is the highest Siddhi" says Ramana. 

Agathiyar who had brought us from the phase of activity beginning in 2002 and speech since 2013, had me go within in  2019, observing only my thoughts, and now has brought me to observe Mouna. Ramana says that Silence that is ever speaking is interrupted by speech. Now I understand why Agathiyar kept telling us that he was always speaking to us. He envelops everyone in Silence. Just as Agathiyar said that he was the Silence and that it benefitted everyone, Ramana says the same that it benefited the whole of mankind. Ramana refers to silence as "Heart to Heart Talk". 

We are told that Silence is the highest form of initiation for there must be the subject-object relationship established in the other Dikshas.

From a village idiot, we rise up to be a Gnani. Agathiyar in asking us to move away from the body, mind, and even Gnanam, echoes Ramana's words, "That is why the Self is said to be beyond knowledge and ignorance."

(Bhagawan Ramana's teachings based on Bhavan's Book University's "Erase the Ego", 1963.)

MEDITATION FOR THE KIDS

Mahindren who heads the new AVM targeted at nurturing young kids into the path had hosted a series of events for them beginning with a Start-Up Siddha puja on 22 September where he engaged them in lighting the Homam, 

a Yoga session on 20 October, 

a Sangeetham session on 17 November, 

had planned a Minion's hiking trip on 15 December. Agathiyar who came a day earlier asked that we replace that planned event with meditation. Asking myself how these kids were going to sit to meditate, Agathiyar surprised us by coming to help conduct the class, asking each one of these children to be given a toy. He asked that they look at it, hold it, and play with it, while he guided the adults into meditation. This reminded me of the Buddhist technique of meditation of concentration and focus as one goes about doing his chores. This is what we came to realize too in all the rituals he had us carry out. We were fully focused on the job on hand, be it in the preparation, in lighting the Homam, in chanting the names of the Siddhas that accompanied the Homam, and libation or Abhisegam, and finally in singing the Bhajans.

Agathiyar who did not make his presence felt or show himself during the Sangeetham session was fully aware of it as he had us sing a note again as we did earlier.

We did go ahead with the hike a day earlier though.

I AM BACK 2

I would be doing an injustice to my readers who kept following my journey if I dropped a cliffhanger as I did in the last posting without revealing what took place over the two days of Karthigai Deepam. I had written in my last post that,

We have given so many forms and names to Agathiyar. This Karthigai Deepam has revealed his true form to us. After knowing his true form there is nothing further to write. Hence this brings an end to this epic of writing this blog. Thank you for following it, readers.

In fact, I had drafted an earlier post on December 13, a day before Agathiyar's revelation but somehow did not get to finish and post it. It goes as follows.

This is the final duel. You will face off with Maya, Mara, Satan, or whatever you want to label it. This is the battle between good and evil, light and darkness, compassion and hatred, calm and anger, and all the opposites. Our negative tendencies come to the surface when diving into the ocean to bring up the Amrita. They shall clothe our thinking, causing us to make mistakes and regret later. It is the moment to be truly aware of all spoken and done. Only total awareness of the moment shall keep us safe. 

If until now the transformation was in the body, now we enter the phase where the mind is transformed. If earlier it was bodily aches and pains, and purging of impurities as in Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, which still is taking place, additional to this is the rather frightening phase of entering the mind and observing its workings, seeing it slowly alienate itself, and being a watcher, and listener. Everything is amplified in this state even the silence that has become deafening. Just like we are so very much connected with the mother in the womb that when we snap the umbilical cord, we come with an unknown fear of the world, when we are disconnected from the world we know, we enter a state of fear. As I draft this post I await Agathiyar to explain what is happening and how to react to these changes in the level of the mind.

Indeed he did come to our calling. To enter the next phase which is moving away from the body or Udal, mind or Manam, all knowledge gathered in multiple ways and from experiences Arivu, or Gnanam and reaching out further, he asked me to read Tavayogi's books. He asked me why I was afraid of death and consoled me saying that for it was yet another door to another journey. "How can a Siddha harbor this fear?", he asked.  He asked me to recall Bhogar's answers to him as to what Bhogar knew. I repeated Bhogar's answers to Agathiyar in the way past that he only knew Agathiyar and nothing else. As I recounted the humbleness of Bhogar, a full-fletched Siddha who mastered many arts and sciences, Agathiyar revealed that I too needed to drop the Ego that I became identified with. He asked me how long do I want to remain as Shanmugam Avadaiyappa? I needed to drop this identity that was holding me back causing a separateness between me and others and everything else. He revealed that he was in this Oneness. He has brought us to Bhagawan Ramana's teachings. Ramana never initiated anyone as he saw everyone as himself. I guess this is the reason that Agathiyar reversed his initial offer of making me a guru and instead offered to make me a Siddha. To enter this Oneness, I needed to observe Maunam or Silence. Finally hugging me Agathiyar whispered in my ears that he was this Silence. 

He reminded me of Lord Dhakshanamurthy's last act to uplift his four students to become on par with him. When the Lord chose to remain silent, not taking on and answering any further questions henceforth, all his students became enlightened the very next moment. Hence he revealed why he kept silent and never came to us since 22 September. Though he did not appear before us he was with us he said. In saying thus he tells us to carry out whatever needs to be done and he shall endorse them, bringing us away from our habit of waiting to be told what to do or securing his approval on all matters.

Bringing me to the path through a calling in my very first Nadi reading in 2002, bringing Tavayogi over to teach me Yoga in 2007, bringing youths to participate in my home puja in 2013 and having us carry out charity, and bringing it all to an end in 2019, having me go within, to help me work on my first two Chakras that had been unknowingly activated by the Yoga practice, in 2022 he has this energy travel through the rest of my Chakras and reside in the Sahasrara. He tells me there was nothing further to do and do nothing for the energy shall do its work. Now he asked me to be silent. 

Bringing us to worship him as a Mantra, and giving form to this Mantra as in the paintings and statues of him after my first initiation, Tavayogi told me that he was the very breath or Vaasi during my second initiation. He later shared his experience of having seen Agathiyar as Light in the Kallar hills. Agathiyar told me that during my travels with Tavayogi, he had come as light in the eyes of his granite statue at Agasthiyampalli and Papanasam.  Finally, Agathiyar tells me that he was the very Silence that prevails beneath all the rubble and noise. So he banished my fear of this silence for it was him too. 

Tavayogi's books in PDF are made available on this blog in the "View Web Version" option on your phones. 

AGATHIYAR

We have given so many forms and names to Agathiyar. This Karthigai Deepam has revealed his true form to us. After knowing  his true form there is nothing further to write. Hence this brings an end to this epic of writing this blog. Thank you for following it readers.

THE ATMA

After all the grueling tests one shall face the final test before he is absorbed into the Param. The soul that came into this world shaping a body that would fulfill its desires and yearning to experience and learn, schooling from the parents and later the teachers at school, then learns about love and life as a youth and young adult, learns to accommodate and take on responsibilities, then finds a spiritual master or vice-versa, the master comes to him, he is taught to go within, using the external tools given initially and then dropping them to only observe the tool that traveled with us, the Breath. The Breath brings tremendous earth-shaking changes to take place, from activating the Muladhara, the lowest Chakra, and the creative force Kundalini that after shaping the body and staying awhile in a kid moved to hibernate in most throughout their lives and in some to awaken and journey upwards. The Prana that hitched on the Breath awakens each Chakra on its way up, to finally reside in the crown Chakra in the head, the Sahasrara. 

Just as Agathiyar asked me to allow the divine forces to do their work using my body and several other devotees' bodies and our homes and later Lord Murugan too asked me to step aside and watch their divine play that was akin to the heavens opening up, now want us to just watch the energy forces at work within. I guess this is what Lord Murugan coming through a devotee asked every individual who came before him if they were ready to surrender to him fully for he had something to give them. It is only in surrender that they can work on us. Any resistance or hesitation only delays the delivery. Agathiyar said that one who seizes the opportunity that knocks on his door shall see positive results. He added that time does not wait for us. We have to make time. How many of us devote our time to him and his cause? We seem so occupied with our cause. He who created us wants us to do his will, carry out his tasks and return to him in good shape.

We who came into this world clear and pure in soul soon found ourselves covered by layers and layers of sheaths and coverings till our last breath leaves not knowing our purpose and the Self within. The guru in a physical form comes to point this out and helps us peel these covers. Our joint efforts bring us to Svadishtana. By then we have reckoned that there is a soul in us that was lying asleep just like the energy that created and brought forth this birth and body. This is Atma Darisanam. Henceforth there is no need for a physical guru for the Atma becomes the guru and leads us to fulfill our purpose and destiny, breaking away from fate and its associated Karma that is dissolved. 

AT THEIR MERCY

Many things that Tavayogi and Agathiyar said only make sense now after we arrive at that moment of experiencing it. Agathiyar is putting me through the final test now. Agathiyar who told me to put aside my desire to depart for now, said that I had a purpose and that he was preparing me for it. To another question about what I should do now, he said that I should do nothing. He asked that I accept all the trials and tribulations that would come my way and keep my peace and calm. This I saw coming, right from having to tolerate the noisy neighbors in the wake of Agathiyar having me under house arrest, to trying my very best not to lose my anger at the stupidity shown by some when he ended my seclusion and asked me to go back into the society. He told me that this itself was a test and a practice for the moment. All those who were dear and close to us have avoided us too. Or is this his will and his play too, just as he had brought the shutters down on puja and charity, to give me the time and space to be with myself?

Just as there is trash strewn, thrown, and dumped around us, we find them on the net and to our surprise in space too. If authors of published books, newspaper agencies, and news channels are accountable for what is written or aired and are careful to verify before releasing, netizens, the general public, and the man on the street seem to get carried away and forward or share them the very next instance without validating the facts. As there are those believers, like me to whom you could sell practically any ware that carries Agathiyar's brand and I will buy it, Agathiyar pointed out this weakness to me and asked me to be careful. Then others would set out to investigate and only when they are satisfied would they begin. When I pointed out to the attendees who joined my home Pornami puja that Agathiyar upon his arrival, in the bronze statue opened his eyes just like Tavayogi pointed out to me when Agathiyar opened his eyes in the granite statue of his at Agasthiyampalli, each of them began to view him up close and from all angles and came up with opposing accreditation. 

Are Agathiyar and the Gods, the Nadi, and their predictions all for real? If this world is Maya, aren't these part and parcel of it? What if this too was a game? In wanting me to realize the hold of Maya on all things, he sent me to a Nadi reader, The reader kept stressing multiple times his opinion that the Siddhas would only come through the Nadi and that all other ways, forms, and means of communicating as, in his words, was Satan speaking. It surprised me coming from the reader. But I never took his opinion seriously and brushed it aside. As Ramalinga Adigal sang only God knew his bliss, the one who tasted the honey knows it is sweet. If it was Satan who spoke to us all these while, why would he send me to the Nadi reader and have me hear this out and have him expose it? A thief would not send me to the police station to verify his character. Just as a thief, if it was Satan surely he would not expose himself. He would surely pour me more whisky to keep me intoxicated and drunk forever. 

Could this all be a hallucination asked a psychologist? He had followed my blog and rushed to meet me at a temple knowing that I would be there to join others to celebrate Agathiyar Vizha. He walked right up to me and popped the question. 

Speaking with my wife, she shared her observation that Agathiyar, coming through his devotees, never spoke about Karma to all those he saw at AVM.  I agreed with her. He would heal and advice, give certain practices, and send them off. To those who ignored his advice, Agathiyar has only this to say 'Let it happen as fated", in other words, let Karma work out its course and let fate take its course. But never has he told us in the face that that is the reason for our being here and our sufferings. The only times he touched on it was in the general canto of the Nadi revelations and after giving remedies never revisited them again and moved on to living a life. Tavayogi too only spoke about it when people came forward to know the reason for their endless troubles. If we let Karma blur our vision, we cannot live a peaceful life. If we carry the burden of knowing our past Karma we cannot live a fruitful life. It is sufficient that we know Karma plays a part in our lives and let it be and move on. 

The gurus we took as role models after reading their books and biographies have let us down, making headlines for all the wrong reasons, in their later lives. Promising disciples who served their masters with distinction, when they took over the portfolio of a guru, became slaves to sex, ego, lies, and drugs too. I have always wondered why the patron guru did not look into the future of their disciple and see it coming. My very first guru Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai looked into the past, present, and future and downloaded all that he saw to me in the 5 hours I spent with him on my first visit. Tavayogi said one shall be tested for 12 years before the guru would part his knowledge. Just as some in public office misuse their power and authority these gurus prey on the innocence, obedience, and surrender of their disciples and end up embroiled in rape and other misconduct. I guess this is the age of tearing the false masks of gurus. I'm glad I did not fall for the fake. This too is his play. I guess that is the reason Agathiyar wants me not to let my guard down and my pants too. I understand now why Agathiyar came out to say that my two gurus were indeed true gurus in all manner. I guess that is the reason Agathiyar retracted his offer to make me a guru, fearing I shall be enticed and fall for it. The churning of the ocean in 2022 to collect the ambrosia hidden in its depths by the Devas and the Asuras has brought forth poison in me too. Just as he consumed the poison as told in the Puranas only Lord Siva's grace can save me. Just as he dived into the ocean and returned the pot of Amirtha to the realm of the Devas, only Dhanvantri's grace can bring me to savor the ambrosia. 

Frank J. Alexander in his "In the Hours of Meditation", Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta, writes that "He will make me struggle with them (doubt and temptation) in order to reveal my true strength and my own powers to myself. And how shall a man know his true self and his powers until he has tested himself?" 

TO TELL OR NOT TO TELL

As I sat in the park taking a break and a moment to draft this post this morning, I took in the sounds and sights of nature. It is only in these moments that we realize nature is around us. Nature like our parents provides for us. It cares for us. It shades us from the blazing sun. It shelters us from the winds and rain. As we begin to love her back, we tend to get angry with the litterbugs who throw rubbish all over and pollute the ponds, lakes, and rivers and those who spit everywhere but we never get angry with nature. Similarly, it is only when nature shows its fury that we take notice of her. 

In a recent interview posted on the net, with a famed motivational and spiritual speaker, the compere of an online channel impressed me with the many thoughtful and logical questions that he put forth. The compere asked if reading a few books and walking some distance on the path made us a guide? He asked if the speaker agreed that if he had yet to know if he had attained Gnanam, how could he begin to preach? The compere asked if one could share the things passed on by one's guru to him in private to others and in public? And whether we take it up upon ourselves to teach others or whether we are destined for this purpose and task? This drove a spike into my heart too. "Was I doing the right thing in writing this blog?" It made me rethink and ask myself "Where do I stand on the spiritual ladder?" "Am I a self-proclaimed guru?" "Did I fall for the trap?" I asked myself "Did reading a few books on the Siddhas and taking a few steps walking the path inflate my ego to think that I knew all the answers and begin to show off?" So many other questions were triggered and cropped up while watching the interview. I had to revisit my past to be sure I did not fall for the snare that the compere had mentioned. Upon checking my past moves, I was relieved to realize that I had only followed what was instructed to me. I hope that in doing them I had not permitted my ego to step out of line nor strengthen its hold further. I guess I had exerted caution, always telling myself I was here solely to learn for myself and did not jump onto the bandwagon to teach and preach back then.

Looking Back

Back then, beginning in 2002, I was going about my solo home puja for the Siddhas which was pretty much a private matter, and later with my family, until Jnana Jothiamma, or Molly Menon as she was known back then in 2011, connected with me after going through my previous websites and asked to stream my home puja so that she could follow it from the USA. I accommodated her wish. I began to stream for her eyes only on Skype. Later when another devotee also from the USA asked to watch, I began to stream it trying a couple of platforms Ustream.tv and later on Live -YouTube.

After getting to know Tavayogi and although he asked that I speak about the Siddhas even before my thumbprint had dried up back then in 2005, he never asked me to teach others the Yoga techniques that he taught me and a handful of seekers later in 2007. Neither did he ask me to start a Peedham or Ashram, a group, movement, society, or establishment when many came before him asking him to officiate theirs. 

It was Agathiyar who sent the youths to my home later in 2013 to follow and learn the Siddha puja. With their coming my home took on the name Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) for the sole reason of guiding seekers to its location on Google Maps. It was Agathiyar who got us to group together and carry out charity programs. If Agathiyar told me I need not leave the family to start an Ashram and revealed that my present home itself was an Ashram, he revealed in later years that his wish and that of Lord Murugan's for me to build a temple was a test and that in truth my home had become a temple. They dropped the directive. Then in 2022 bringing on some weird and mysterious transformations within, Agathiyar asked that I stop writing about him and instead share these experiences.

If Agathiyar revealed that I had earned Karma that had brought on this birth and sent me off on a pilgrimage in 2003, to soften its hold on me, in later years as he called me up for regular Aasi Nadi readings, he revealed that there were many a moment when he staged the play and had me engaged so that I could have those experiences too. Eventually, he told me that there was no right and wrong and that we were here to be schooled and learn from life experiences. In "The Little Soul and the Sun", a children's parable published by Hampton Roads Publishing Company Ins, 1998, that was an adaptation from Neale Donald Walsch's "Conversations with God", Hodder and Stoughton, 1995, we learn the same that for want of these experiences the Little Soul comes to earth to live it out with other souls that he knew assisting him in all manner to gain these experiences. 

When Tavayogi told me that the soul should not be caged and should be left free to explore and experience back then when I came to know him, I asked myself if it was all right to carry out crimes hiding behind the cover of wanting to explore and experience. Now I understand that what he meant was to free the soul from being caged up by our ego.  The ego that overruled us after some time and sent the soul behind bars should be checked. This is what the great masters have taught us through the years asking us to adopt virtues, honesty, righteousness, compassion, and love. Coming to the spiritual gurus they have us carry out puja that connects us with the Siddhas and God and charity that brings out the compassion in us and socializing among seekers that bring on love towards all creation. The living gurus make us a better man. That is about all they do. With a concerted effort and putting the techniques they taught into practice, traveling on our internal journey we arrive at the second milestone, the Svadhistana Chakra. Henceforth the divine comes to lift us further up covering the other milestones till we arrive safely in their kingdom. But the journey does not end there. As Yogi Ramsuratkumar told his followers at his deathbed not to cry as he could do a better job in the subtle plane and as Agathiyar told us that while Tavayogi was doing Agathiyar's work in their realm, Agathiyar had to carry out guiding us from where Tavayogi left, and as Ramalinga Adigal in defining the various stages tells us that there was an infinite number of stages that await us beyond and above what he listed, no one can claim he knows all. 

While Ramalinga Adigal is said to have built the Satya Gnana Sabai as a school for the Devas, which to our disappointment did not take off for reasons only known to them, similarly, the world is a school for us. We are here to be schooled. If initially, our parents school us on the right ethics, virtues, what not to do, and what is acceptable, the teachers at our school teach us about science and maths, and other academic subjects, and the mysteries surrounding the earth we live on. Soon stepping into life as a teen and youth, brings us to fall in love with the opposite sex, while as an adult we are taught about responsibility towards the career and the new family that has evolved around us. We then begin to give back to society. After facing all kinds of crises, we face midlife crises. Before we know it we are at the edge of our life span looking down at the bottomless pit. We begin to look back on life. We want to change many things, the decisions we made, the steps we took but then it is too late and there is no way to reverse the clock. We might seek pardon from those we had harmed provided they are around and alive. As for the rest of the blueprint and design, that we had thought out in space; that we breathe in as desires and ambitions; executed on the ground; and sailed it as in a boat on the water; that has now come to be written in stone, we can only bear witness to whatever has taken place and pray that we come back to correct and fix them or do it all right the next time around. For those who refuse to learn or are so engrossed in the illusions thinking that life is permanent, missing these moments to come to a realization and to pursue their true purpose, they find themselves jolted out of this dream state as they keep falling into the abyss when their time is up. For the majority who walked the path that religion showed, religion tends to be an armor protecting them at all times and to which they could turn for all their needs and seek solace in trying times. Those few who pursue further and arrive at the brink of religion find themselves falling into yet another bottomless pit of spirituality, where they discover more than the eyes meet. They begin to travel within and into new unexplained and least understood territories. Venturing within they come across the beast and the monsters hiding within them. Soon they realize that not everything is Holy on the spiritual path either. As one walks the spiritual path, sexual urges peak, ego inflates and the tendency to lie arises. All these if left unchecked and if one gives in to these weaknesses, shall bring disgrace and dishonor. He then falls from grace. He is disgraced. Walking the path is akin to walking on a razor's edge.

How does one safeguard himself from the onslaught of these traps? Only by the grace of the divine for all our attempts at defeating the devil shall fail. In summiting to God who comes as a guru, we submit our ego. The guru shall destroy our ego either instantaneously or as we travel along with him. If Swami Vishnudevananda's ego was subdued the moment Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh fell at his feet first while the former who was a military personal found his ego disallowimg him to do so, Yogi Ramsuratkumar was chased away several times by Ramdas. Eventually, the master took him in. By this time Ramdas had broken the Yogi. The Yogi is said to have said, “In 1952 Ramdas killed this beggar”. The Yogi from then on addressed himself as the Beggar. 

When I asked to see Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal, Tavayogi told me that it was possible but asked me if that was what I wanted? When I adorned gems, and mercury beads on me, he told me that we do not need them. If Tavayogi began to break me bit by bit at the start of my journey, Agathiyar came towards the end to break me loose of the remaining shackles. When I told him I wanted to make him proud he replied "How would that be possible as he was beyond name and fame?" When I thought taking birth upon birth to serve him would repay his kindness, he had me rethink again if that was what I wanted. When I thought Gnanam was the thing to ask for, he told me it was not gifted and that I had to work towards it.

In coming to worship, we put aside our logical and scientific thinking and begin to believe. We begin to surrender. Now the transition takes place where we are handed over to the Gods. We gain the grace and protection of the angels, the Siddhas, and the Gods. His grace tells us that we are not alone in this battle and that he has taken up arms and is with us. They give us the courage to live life through the toughest and trying times. You can erase everything in this instance and rewrite your journey. Do not let past guilt hold you back. Forgive yourself. See all your mistakes and blunders as part of a learning curve. Who hasn't made mistakes or blunders? Even the saints will have gone through this. We have all sinned. It is all right. Let us move on. I too am in the same boat. I too have many weaknesses that I'm trying to work on. These are the last obstacles or traps before taking flight, the last few links in the ring shackles, the last few links of the chain that hold us back from taking flight.

We have arrived at our last lap of the journey. They finally get us to observe the breath where we slip spontaneously into a state of meditation. We came to know that it shall unfold many mysteries. It is the road back to our source. If going on pilgrimages and adventure brings us on the road to discovering God and the Prapanjam around us respectively, hitching on the breath brings us to a realm of calm and much-needed peace. Just as before we play a tune, we check the strings of the musical instruments, first, we check on the flow of the breath in our nostrils and correct them. With dynamic breath we increase the intake of air and oxygen, and with it Chi or Prana. Soon we settle in on only observing the breath. As we halt all external activities and learn to go within, soon it happens spontaneously without our effort. We just fall into this deep space and moment. Contrary to the common belief that abstaining from speaking was Maunam, Tavayogi corrects this misperception telling us that it is not about speaking but going beyond the space and moment of silence that we then arrive at the state of Maunam. Agathiyar in his song "Manamathu Semmaiyaanaal" tells us that we can leave all our activities and practices once the Manam (mind, thoughts, desires, wishes, wants) settle. All that was achieved and derived through external means is now experienced by sitting on our own and looking within. Even what is considered taboo and sinful as the pleasures derived from sex or the thoughts of it are achieved in meditation. Though the remaining Vasanas keep coming to the forefront, in ignoring them, they slip away and die a natural death. For those like me who find it a battle to overcome them, or subdue these negative and Rajastic and Tamastic energies, he needs to convert them into that of a positive and Satvic nature. This is what the Gods did as told in the Puranas. After overcoming the dreaded Asuras they turned them into other benevolent forms of energies and kept them with them to do their asking. The ego which is the tread that holds us back from the alter ego that is required for continued existence in this body, dies a natural death too. 

If Haary Roshaahn Yograj's reading of the "Spiritual Numerology of Moses" better known as the "Soul Contract Reading", revealed my purpose here was to be a catalytic spiritual teacher, Agathiyar came around asking how was he to depend on one person to do his work. He had to raise everyone to come to the state where they carry out his work. Agathiyar surprised me by saying that I had desired it and as such he had to fulfill my desire. Never in my dreams did I want this portfolio. Neither did I want all the gifts he was prepared to shower on me for my obedience and being faithful to the path. He had me teach Mahindren the Yoga techniques that Tavayogi taught me which I put into practice and told Mahindren to teach the rest. He had me initiate a couple into the path. That was about all he had me do. Agathiyar who had to prepare me for the role asked that I accept all the trials and tribulations that would come my way and keep my calm and peace. He asked that I do nothing, telling me that this itself was a test and a practice for the moment referring to my earlier query as "What should I do?" after he triggered, activated, and set off the dormant energies within me in 2022. Most recently he threw the question if he should make me a guru. As I had refused all the promised goodies before, and since I just wanted to give back to him for all the kindness, love, compassion, guidance, and practices given, I nodded my head and gave in finally. But the very next second he surprised me saying, "No, No, I shall not make you a guru but a Siddha instead". He begins to talk with us from within, in our thoughts, through our deeds henceforth. He gives us a sermon, he writes us a memo, he speaks through us and writes through us that surprises us. As Angelon Young writes at Remembering a few stories from the first time I met Yogi Ramsuratkumar — AWEN that "Yogi Ramsuratkumar seemed to me a true spiritual son, molded in the image of the father and yet also a uniquely different expression of the Divine", we are a personification in the flesh of the guru in the subtle form. 

If Christy Beam wrote in her memoir, "Miracles from Heaven", "Standing in the light of all he's given us, in the light of all that's happened I can't not tell you our story", Neale Donald Walsch writes about his conversation with God that "I could have kept this latest dialogue private but everything within me shouted, don't you dare." He felt that he should share keeping a promise to God. Ramalinga Adigal revealed all that he saw and experienced too. I take solace in the words of these saints and tell myself that it is all right to share, whatever little we know. But I remind myself, just as scientists rewrite science and archeologists and historians rewrite history in the wake of making newer discoveries, that as I progress spiritually I shall change my stand or opinion and make the relevant changes to what I thought was the truth earlier. Ramalinga Adigal did just that and we have the 6th Thirumurai of his Thiru Arutpa in our hands. 

SAINTS & MALAYA

The Star Online carried the message of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, underlining Malaysia’s multiracial and multireligious communities.

“I have consistently reminded the people of Selangor about the importance of unity and respect for one another’s faiths. Islam is the official religion in the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, but the rights of all races and religions to practice are enshrined in the Constitution,” the Sultan added. His Royal Highness also expressed pride in Klang’s diverse heritage, which includes numerous temples, churches, and mosques in close proximity. “We have many religious sites in Klang. I want to ensure that the areas remain harmonious. There are mosques, Chinese and Hindu temples, Indian Muslim places of worship, and now even a Chinese Muslim mosque. There is harmony in these areas, which reflects our acceptance of different religions within the state,” said Sultan Sharafuddin.

We are a blessed nation in every way. If we have people of different faiths practicing their beliefs and religions, similarly Malaysia is a haven for food of various ethnic origins. It provides shelter for citizens and also foreigners wanting to make a living. 

Avadaiyappa Chettiar, son of Narayanan Chettiar & Valliammai, daughter of Ramasamy

My father who was from the money lender clan, the Chettiars in Sivagangai, Tamilnadu, did venture into running a theatre back then in India. Like many Chettiars, who "with the growth of British colonial rule in Southeast Asia, emigrated from India to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Burma (now Myanmar) and Malaya (now Malaysia) as the British expanded their presence in the region"1, made his way to Burma, Sri Lanka, and Singapore to finally settle in then Malaya. He married my mother who was born and raised here. Together they raised us, giving us food, shelter, clothing, and education, and passed on their beliefs, faith, culture, and tradition. We are grateful to them and this nation that has accommodated us well all these years. 

I was always proud of my father for his courage to travel far in the years when the only means of travel was by foot, horsecart, bullock cart, and ship. I wonder at times if I could have performed the same feat. When he had traveled far and wide, from his village Kilasevalpatti, Sivagangai to Rangoon in Burma, and sailed to Sri Lanka and later came to Singapore before making Malaya his second home, I never ventured out of my house nor traveled away from home. My maiden travel to India too came by and materialized because Agathiyar gave me a nudge through my Nadi reading. 

I used to wonder how my parents raised me and my other six siblings in those years before independence and the post-independent period. Money and food were scarce, yet they raised all of us well, giving us all an education, a roof above our heads, and meals too. My late father never shared his story and his ties with his family in India. However, I went in search of his village home in the hope of meeting my relatives on Indian soil during my maiden journey to India in 2003. But for some reason, it did not materialize even as I stood on the street where he played and grew up, even as I stood at the door of his ancestral home in Kilasevalpatti. I came to know from a relative a few doors away that the whole family of my late father was gathered at the home of my cousin who had passed away the previous night. I could have met all of them but as I was on a pilgrimage of temples listed out by Agathiyar and the highlight of it being my circumambulation or girivalam of Annamalaiyaar of Tiruvannamalai the next day, I had to shelve my wish to step into the ancestral home of my father. I just took some photographs of the exterior of his home and the street and left.

We were amazed to see the speed and accuracy with which my father used to calculate, without any external aid, all done mentally and verbally. I wish I could have excelled like him in arithmetics too. Having purchased properties and assets, life was promising until the war came. When a string of machine gunshots from a Japanese fighter plane missed my father by inches, he realized that moment that all the wealth and money he had could not possibly bring him alive if he had been hit by a stray bullet. When the British came back, life picked up and he renewed his profession, continuing with his charity. We believe that all the merits gained in doing charity must have saved him that day and are saving us to this day.

Then one day, he took a drastic decision, keeping us all in the dark. He left home in 1968 without informing anyone. We only knew after his return home many years later that he had been living at an ashram in India. We were too young to even enquire about his missing years. My father who wanted to remain in the ashram and serve the master was sent back to Malaysia to fulfill his remaining responsibilities towards his family by his guru. After returning to Malaysia, he did not return home immediately though but served as a priest in a temple in Tampoi, Johore. When he had a stroke, he was forced to return home. After seven years of absence, he came back to us. I remember how he used to pick up a pencil or pen and would try to hold it in his hand and begin to write daily. He would practice and keep on practicing until he could hold and write steadily. He recovered fully from his stroke. He would keep to himself exchanging only a few words with others; hardly left home except to go to the Kittangi to update himself on news from his hometown from fellow Chettiars. His younger brother who was residing in Malaysia too, having married a local Chinese, and who was operating a driving school, was his constant companion till his last days. My father’s final moments were amazing as we reflect upon it now. We guess he knew his time was up, as he who always did his own chores asked for his shirt to be ironed and asked for a cup of coffee from my mother. When my mother returned with the hot coffee he was not in his usual seat but was seated cross-legged on the floor in the opposite end of the living room. His eyes were open but the pupil gazed up. When my mother reached for his legs that were tugged neatly, deep, and close to his body, he toppled over, his head resting on my mother's lap. The paramedic on arrival, declared that he had passed away. We buried him. He was 76 then in 1991. I have to thank my father for taking the great risk of venturing into a new land and making it his home. This is a wonderful country, a country that Agathiyar calls Sukra (Venus) Bumi, or Bhoga Naadu, where milk and honey flow. 

Just as Ramajayam told me that he only realized what a great saint his father Supramania Swami was only after his demise, now that I have traveled a short distance on the spiritual path, I realize that my father was no ordinary soul too. I can imagine how we would react in the face of approaching death and here my father faced death calmly, taking up a spot in the corner of the home, sitting in Padmasana, and bringing his gaze up to his Sahasrara Chakra. He was not ill, and neither did he suffer. He did not have the fear of death, was not complaining, was not crying in pain, nor was he gasping for air. It all happened within minutes. We are grateful to the divine for making his departure easy. My mother too at her deathbed told us that she was going to "sleep". Soon she passed away. She too like my father was not ill, and neither did she suffer. She had only complained of stomach pain earlier. She did not have the fear of death and requested to be burned in a funeral pyre, and prepared the money to see through her last rites. She was not complaining, neither was she crying in pain nor was she gasping for air though she was administered oxygen. It all happened within a couple of days. 

Read about others who made Malaya their home at

Siddha Heartbeat: THAMBOOSAMY PILLAY IN MALAYA

Among the many individuals who set foot on this soil in the past were those who became saints later. Tavayogi shared with us a concise and detailed account of his Paramaguru Jeganatha Swamigal, which was passed on to him by his guru Chitramuthu Adigal who was a disciple of Jeganatha Swamigal. 

Jegantha Swamigal 

Jegantha Swamigal who was from Puri near Calcutta, India followed Ramalinga Adigal’s principles. He was born in 1814, nine years before the birth of Ramalinga Adigal. At the age of eighteen, he left for Chittagong in Burma. Later at thirty, he came down to Malaya through Thailand. He lived in Alor Star (now Alor Setar) and the island paradise Langkawi in North Malaya. Later he lived in Baling for eight years where he captured the attention of the locals there who saw him as a spiritual man and began to address him as Swamiji. He then went on a pilgrimage to Singapore. En route, he stopped at Taiping, where he was mistaken as a spy by the Burmese security forces loyal to the British in Malaya and put behind bars. Surprisingly he was released the next day without any interrogation. Arriving at Seremban later, people there began to take notice of his spiritual nature. Returning from Singapore, he worked as a brakeman in the Malayan Railways. He was based in Tanjong Malim for four years. He stayed at Teluk Anson (now Teluk Intan) later where he undertook charity and fed the poor. Eventually, he settled for good in Tapah where he built a hut for himself adjacent to a Chinese graveyard and continued his Sadhana and Tapas or austerity here. Jeganatha Swamigal purchased three acres of rubber land in the vicinity and allowed the locals to build their homes on his land. He lived a simple life never making himself or his powers known to others. According to "Hinduism Today," he lived in Tapah for some 78 years. He lived alone till his Samadhi at 4.30 am on 25 January 1959.  A Siva lingam was installed above his Samadhi. The locals collected funds to build a Siva Temple. In 1980, N. Arumugam Pillai of Penang built a small hall. Later in 1990, A.V. Pasupathy Pillai of Malacca renovated the Siva temple. Most recently the Malaysian Hindu Sangam renovated and rebuilt the temple. Jeganatha Swamigal is said to have lived for 145 years. He had three disciples: Chitramuthu Adigal from Panaikulam, India; Veemavar from Indonesia, and Sathyananthar of Sudha Samajam, Malaya.

When Mahindren's wife was asked to visit Jeganatha Swamigal's temple in a Nadi reading by Agathiyar that was read by the visiting Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar in July of 2022, they invited me to tag along. Jeganatha Swamigal came to usher both Mahindren and Manimala and the kids, telling them that he was waiting for their arrival, and was glad that the couple had abided by Agathiyar's instructions to come over. When we crossed over to a Siva temple mentioned by Mataji who had visited it earlier, located inside the Tapah Hospital compound some distance away, where Jeganatha Swamigal had worshipped, Jeganatha Swami came again, this time with a message for me.

Chitramuthu Adigal

Chitramuthu Adigal was born in 1900 in Panaikulam in Ramanathapuram. Before his father Dhankodi Naadaar of Marikovil in Panaikulam village left for Malaya he placed Muthu under the care of Muthu's step-mother. He was twelve then. He worked as a toddy tapper in Atthiyutthu. Muthu left India for Malaya in 1922. He stayed in Kuala Kangsar, Perak working as a toddy tapper for six years before returning to India in 1928. He married the following year and had a child in 1930 who survived only for three days. He came again to Malaya and stayed in Taiping, Perak. He went back to tapping toddy. This was when he met Jeganatha Swamigal and Jeganathar took him as his disciple and gave him the name Chitramuthu. In 1940 he took on the role of a spiritual teacher and returned to Malaya to spread his teachings. He had a short stint with the Indian National Army (INA) in Malaya before he returned to India in 1947, leaving behind a large following who had begun to regard him as their Guru. In India, he preached compassion towards other beings or Jeeva Karunya as upheld by Ramalinga Adigal. He opened up his home to the public and named it Aruloli Madam where he started giving discourses. He came back to Malaya in 1951 to preach at the Sree Thandayuthabani Temple in Penang, the Aruloli Murugan Temple in Penang Hill, the Maha Marimman Temple in Ipoh, the Court Hill Pillaiyaar Temple in Pudu, the Scott Road Kandaswami Temple in Brickfields, the Athi Eswaran Temple in Sentul, the Sree Maha Marimman Temple in Jalan Bandar, the Sivan Temple in Jalan Sungei Besi Kuala Lumpur and the Mariamman Temple in Singapore. He stayed in Ceylon in 1953 before leaving for India. He established many missions in India and Malaya and the Atma Santhi Nilaiyam in his hometown Panaikulam in 1958. The Aruloli Mandram was formed in Malaya in 1960 under the patronage of Tun V. T Sambanthan, a Minister in the Malayan Government. The Malayan Government donated a piece of land in Ipoh where on completion of the building the then Chief Minister of the state of Perak Datuk Sri Haji Kamaruddin bin Haji Isa officiated the opening of the building on 11th February 1973. He built and completed his Samadhi Mandapam and had his student and disciple Shivasri Muthu Kumara Shivachariar perform the Kumbhabishegam on the Shivaraja Kopuram in the year 1991. Chitramuthu Adigal went into Samadhi on Sunday, May 5th, 1995. He lived till 95.

He authored many songs in Tamil which were later compiled as a book entitled Arul Oli. His writing entitled "Gurumathi Maalai" which dealt with false gurus was published amidst much protest and sabotage from certain quarters. Other works of his are Thirupugazh Thiraviyam, Perinba Kural, Mounantha Mani Mozhigal, Marana Sinthanai, Gnana Pandithan, Nerai Neri Mozhigal, Seer Thirunthu Manitha, Karunai Kanneer, Kirubai Piragasa Pokisham, Aruloli Malar and Gandhiyin Thiruvarut Pulambal. 

Source: Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal, and Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyaar, who both were students of Chitramuthu Adigal; the caretaker cum local priest of Jeganatha Swamigal Temple who has since then passed away; "Thirupur Thaaiveedu Ainthavathu Andu Niraivu Vizha Malar", 1994; Nithyavani Manikam’s blog at http://nithyavani.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-post_28.html and http://thaaiveedu.blogspot.com.

Gnana Pitha Sivananda

Govindasamy Sivapalan of the Department of Indian Studies, University of Malaya, in his paper entitled "Siddha Worship in Malaysia: An Introduction" presented at the 32nd All India Sociological Conference held at Chennai, India in 2006, gives a detailed account of yet another saint Gnana Pitha Sivananda who set foot on our soil. We sourced more information from the book "Siddhaveda Sinthanaigal" by Pa. Subaiyah, Published by Sivananda Paramahamsar Dhyana Mantram, Malaysia.

Raman Nambiar, who was later to become Gnana Pitha Sivananda (Swami Sivananda Paramahamsa), was born in 1879 in Vadakarai. He left home at the age of 9, arriving at the Madam of Kanoor Swamigal. However, he was found and was brought home to finish his schooling. He served as a teacher in Kalaripayat in later years in Malabar. At 17, he left home again. His relative Ananthan Nambiar got him a constable's job at his station. When he returned home from his duty one day to find his wife had passed away, the incident made him re-think hard about life and its impermanence. This was the beginning of his spiritual conquest. After performing the last rites for his wife, he headed for Tunjathu Ramanujar's Samadhi and sat in meditation. Then he furthered his meditation at the Panjavarnam cave in Palani. After Bhogar appeared in front of him and gave him initiation, he left on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas on 5th January 1910. He returned from the Himalayas in 1913 as Swami Sivananda Paramahamsar. The following year, he went on another pilgrimage throughout India, stopping over at Pavanagar, Peshawar, Thirusoor, Savakadu, and Kadathanadu before establishing the Samapanthi Bhojana Sangam in 1921. This was later renamed Siddha Samajam. He arrived in Malaya in 1937 and set up the Siddha Vidhya Sangam in Setapak in Kuala Lumpur. He started an Ashram on 7 ½ acres of land which devotees had donated in Tasik near Kroh, Perak. It is said that before the independence of Malaya, he gathered some of his followers and left for India. His remaining devotees started the Swami Sivananda Paramahamsar Dhyana Mantram in Bagan Serai, Perak. 

If the Siddha philosophy took root in Malaysia as practiced by these saints initially, it was taken up and spread further in the 70s and 80s through Siddha movements affiliated to Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar of Ongkarakudil, Turaiyur. As Jagathiswary Ravichandran mentions in her research paper at http://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.my/2017/01/siddha-teachings-in-malaysia.html these movements have to be given credit for bringing over the Siddhas' messages in later years.

Mauna Samy, Pinnaakisan & Others

Agathiyar too revealed several saints, amongst them was Mauna Samy. Agathiyar in a Nadi reading read by Tavayogi for Surendaran Selvaratnam spoke about the history of the Samadhi at the foothills of Batu Caves in Malaysia as that of Mauna Guru Siddhar. Agathiyar says, "Having performed Tavam or austerities in the Himalayan range, Mauna Guru Siddhar traveled through Burma to the limestone hills of Malaya. He installed Lord Murugan, performed further Tavam, and gained Mukthi. He maintained silence for years and attained Siddhi. The locals called him Mauna Samy". Later Surendaran and many others were asked to light a lamp at this place. Earlier Agathiyar had directed an Indian citizen working in Singapore to pay homage at this Samadhi through a Nadi reading. 

When Surendaran asked to know if there were more Siddha Samadhis in Malaysia, Agathiyar listed several in his Jeeva Nadi including that of a disciple of a Siddha Vidhyarthi from Kerala. It is located in Penang. Agathiyar mentions another samadhi of his followers in a Thirumal temple in Penang too. He mentions that he had revealed earlier to Surendaran about Mauna Siddhar's Samadhi and Jeganatha Swamigal Samadhi. Agathiyar reveals that the Samadhi that was popularly known as Sanasimalai in Cheng, Melaka is actually that of Pinnaakisan. 

Agathiyar himself is said to have traveled to Malaya back then according to a text attributed to Lord Muruga titled "Prapancha Kaandam". In Cambodia, he established the very first of his many educational institutions for the propagation of philosophy and science. After establishing a similar institution and hospital in Malaya, he crossed the sea to the continent of Kumari Kandam (during Agathiyar’s time, Kumari Kandam occupied a vast area extending from present-day Sri Lanka to the Antarctic. King Ravana, a great devotee of Lord Shiva, who ruled this continent gave away a portion of his kingdom to Agathiyar to establish more institutions. The foremost of these institutions in this region was known as Arunodaya Giri or Meozone. Here Agathiyar practiced Yoga and taught it to his large following of disciples. Agathiyar then went back north to Malaya where he was betrothed to the king’s daughter. He then ruled the kingdom of Vijayapuri. He returned to Kumari Kandam where he met Lord Murugan in the form of Supramaniar at Trikona Malai (present-day Trincomali). At the hill station called Kadari Kama or Kadhirgama, Lord Murugan imparted spiritual knowledge to Agathiyar. Thaeraiyar too is said to be from Malaya. (Source: Dr. Mandayam Kumar from the Siddha Medical Research Institute in Bangalore)

TK Thangaraj of Tirupur, who had a successful business in the clothing industry going for him, and who rubbed shoulders with politicians and celebrities and tried his luck in movies too, having produced two movies and having a cameo appearance in one of them, and who became Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal later came to Malaysia following in the footsteps of his Guru Chitramuthu Adigal and Paramaguru Jeganatha Swamigal and at the command of Agathiyar beginning in 2004. Tavayogi downplayed the sufferings and miseries he went through never sharing them with others. Occasionally he would tell me a thing or two. We are blessed to have known him and known Agathiyar through him and are grateful to him for taking us in as his students. Knowing his time was up Tavayogi handed over the running of the Kallar ashram to his able assistant Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar and spoke these last words to me, that in the event he does not return to the ashram, Mataji shall manage the establishment. He passed away soon enough at his ashram on 3rd July 2018. 

Read about other saints whose holy feet touched this soil at

Siddha Heartbeat: SWAMI SIVANANDA OF RISHIKESH

1 http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2013-12-11_165654.html, 

MY PARENTS

It has been two years now since my mother left us and some 33 years since my father did. He was 76 and my mother 96 when they left this mortal body. I and my siblings would not be here if it wasn't for them who contributed their flesh and blood to make our arrival in this world possible. Science tells us that,

"The resulting fusion of these two cells after fertilization of the female egg cell by the male sperm cell produces a single-celled zygote that undergoes many cell divisions that produce cells known as blastomeres. The blastomeres (4-cell stage) are arranged as a solid ball that when reaching a certain size, called a morula, (16-cell stage) takes in fluid to create a cavity called a blastocoel. The structure is then termed a blastula, or a blastocyst in mammals. The mammalian blastocyst hatches before implanting into the endometrial lining of the womb. Once implanted the embryo will continue its development through the next stages." (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryo)

Agathiyar in revealing the moment of conceiving and birth, says the multicellular microorganisms in the initial stage that are composed of 5 elements or Pancha Maha Bhutam in a specific proportion taken from each parent's body becomes the zygote. 

உடல் என்பது ஐந்து உலோகங்களின் நுண்ணுயிர்களின் அளவுகளைத் தாங்கிக் கொண்டு பிண்டம் ஒன்றினை உருவ வடிவமாய் கர்ப்பகிரகத்தில் நிலை பெறுகிறது. பஞ்சபூதம் ஆகிய நீர், நிலம், ஆகாயம், காற்று, நெருப்பு அனைத்தும் தாய் தந்தையின் உடலிலிருந்தே  எடுக்கப்பட்டு சிசுவின் உடலைப் பிறப்பிக்கின்றது. 

One portion of earth is from the female and three portions are from the male.
Four portions of water are from the female and three are from the male.
Five portions of fire from the female and six from the male.
Eight portions of air from the female, two from the male, and finally
One portion of Ether from the female and eight from the male go towards making a healthy constitution.

நிலத்தின் அளவு - 1/3
நீரின் அளவு – 4/3
நெருப்பின் அளவு – 5/6
காற்றின் அளவு – 8/2
ஆகாயத்தின் அளவு – 1/8

In the event these proportions are compromised complications appear.

இவைகளின் அளவுகள் குறையும் தருவாயில் சிசு தன் உடலின் பாகங்களில் கோளாறு ஏற்படுகிறது.

Since this proportion is regulated by Lord Brahma, hence we know him as the creator of lives. 

இவ்வாறு அதற்கென்று அளவுகள் பிரம்மதேவரால் கணக்கிட்டு உடலை உருவாக்கப்படுகிறது.

It is interesting to recall the common belief that a newborn has a conversation with Lord Brahma. What the conversation is about, is anyone's guess. But we are told that Lord Brahma runs through the child's life before him, hence the reason for the child to cry or laugh. We suppose good things said would bring on joy and laughter and bad things that are to take place brings on a cry and sadness.

And so we came into this world. My soul chose my parents and assembled the parts and built a gross body for it to come within to either satisfy its past Karma or unfulfilled desires or for a divine purpose. It determined the exact time of arrival of the Uyir or the first breath that shall keep me alive till I exhaust the number of breaths. I chose to come after seven siblings. I was the eighth in the family. The entire staging of this play was spearheaded by our individual souls that had previously figured it all out in the subtle plane having other souls agreeing to take up their respective roles in our lives. 

My journalist brother to commemorate the first year of our mother's passing, had previously released a small booklet for distribution where he recapped from memory the story of our parents. He had previously carried several articles on our parents in the local daily he worked for. 

My mother was only 17 when she married my father in 1944 who came earlier from India to seek his fortune at the young age of 20. It was during the Japanese occupation of Malaya that they tied the knot. I am grateful to my parents for having brought me and my siblings into this world, raising us, and giving us education to help us stand on our own feet. 

From living under the shadow of my parents and siblings, I came to the guru who took me under his wings and we took flight. Life has been good to me. What did I do to deserve their grace?

CHILDREN

If parents shower love on their children, the grandparents do it to the max. If a wife or husband comes along to spice up our lives, children can spruce up our lives and truly bring joy and bliss to an otherwise dry and arid life. They are like the rain showers that dampen and wet us in joy and bliss. They are the light in a dark room. They are the breeze that brushes across our faces. They are the lasting aroma in the air and in our memories. They are the very space in which every worry and fear is forgotten.

Young Director Suyorukun through his short film brings us the message that "Life is strange. It takes sadness to know happiness. It takes absence to value presence." He drives the message across that you need one to know the other.

Through the lead actress in this film, he shares our regret that "I've made countless regretful mistakes in my life." But he pacifies us telling us that it is never too late to bring a change at least towards the end and in the ending. "I can't go back and change the beginning but I can start over and change the ending."

If there is nothing much we can do about our fate, we surely can try changing our destiny. All we need is some help, from some loving people and from the divine. Making friends with them shall bring the Prapanjam to shower all our asking. The Prapanjam shall as a means of payback, task us to help others in return, which we shall willingly do. We drop our individual purpose and take on a bigger purpose. We then have lived life fully. 

THIRU ARUTPA

There was a time back then in 1996 when I met Mr Sethu, a senior chief clerk at an adjacent block of our office building. We used to spend lunch breaks together where once he passed me a couple of cassette recordings of the Thiru Arutpa. Listening to the songs in the album "Arutpa Amudam" set to music and sung by S.Sadasivam did something within me that started the fire in me in wanting to know more about Ramalinga Adigal. I wanted to own the whole volume of his works. I would walk into music stores seeking more of these songs. Finally, I came across all these songs uploaded at https://thiruarutpa.org/. I got to own these songs in print too released by Ooran Adigal in two massive volumes. I read through the Thiru Arutpa accompanied by these songs on audio. After 28 years as I listen to these songs I can relate to what Ramalinga Adigal experienced and sang some 150 years back. 

Never did I imagine that he would come to us in present times. He took us by surprise the very first time he came through a devotee calling us to reach out to Arutperunjothi. Just as we could hardly hold on to the devotee through whom Ramalinga Adigal came, he could not contain his joy and was elevated off the ground as if defeating gravity itself and reaching up for the skies.

Dr.C.Srinivasan in his book "An Introduction to the Philosophy of Ramalinga Swami", published by Illakkia Nilayam, Tiruchi, 1968 states that by the "Universal spiritual communion and devotion to God, and allowing God to be infused in him, the Light of Grace which was infused in him had alchemized Ramalinga Adigal's body and finally, he became blazed with the Supreme Grace  Light." 

Indeed we saw him ablaze in the joy and bliss of Arutperunjothi on that unforgettable day on 14.3.2020. He began to sing the following verses.

"My God came within me to grant this Jothi. Veil upon veil did he show me. He was both a spark and majestic Jothi. As he arose in me all the veils were drawn aside."

என் பெருமானே என்னுள் வந்து அருளிய ஜோதி அது....என் பெருமான் அருளிய ஜோதி அது...திரை எனும் திரை எனும் என் பெருமான் காட்டிய திரை அது....என் அருள் அப்பன் அருள் ஜோதி அது...சீர்ஜோதி அது பெருஞ் ஜோதி அது...ஏறும் பெரும் ஜோதி அது...என்னுள் அது ஏறும்போது திரை அது விலகியது...என்னுள் அது ஏறும் நிலையில் ஜோதி அது ஜோதி அது...திரை எனும் திரை அது அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி அது...

Returning from this heightened state, he assured us that the path we took was right and that Agathiyar would lead us to the Jothi, too. He asked us to aid in drawing aside the veils by raising the fire within. He assured us that Agathiyar would come within us and draw the veils aside.  

அகத்தியன் அருட்ஜோதியை நோக்கி அழைத்துச் செல்வான். திரை விலக உங்களில் இருக்கும் ஜோதி அதனைச் சுடர்விட செய்யுங்கள். என் அப்பன் அகத்தியன் உங்களுக்குள் வந்து அத்திரையை விலக்கிவிடுவார். அதுவே இப்பாடலின் பொருள்.

Ramalinga Adigal came again in December of 2021, to continue the recitation of the Agaval from where I had stopped having been overcome by my emotions. But what was odd was that he coined the words there and then which differed from his original text as if giving us the song off the cuff. He defined the state of Arutperunjothi in a few words.

When you come within me and I in you that is Arutperunjothi,
Bogam and Yogam are indeed Arutperunjothi,
When you go beyond and come to "know it" that is Arutperunjothi,

When you know that all work eventually reaches the feet of Sivam, that is Arutperunjothi,

When the male and female come together the effulgence that results is Arutperunjothi,

In going beyond all these, that is Arutperunjothi,

All the Yogam carried out in youth that comes to bear its fruit later in old age is Arutperunjothi,

That is the Light within the Light and within that too.

என்னுள்ளீல் நீ உன்னுள்ளில் நான் அதுவே அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி,..
போகமும் யோகமும் அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி,
… நீ கடந்து அறிவே நீ அறியும் அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி,
எல்லாம் செய் சித்தம் சிவனடி சேரும் அதுவே அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி,
ஆண்மையும் பெண்மையும் கலந்தன இறுதியில் வெளிப்படும் வெளிச்சமே அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி,
இவை எல்லாம் தாண்டிக் கடந்தபின் காண்பது அதுவே அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி,
இளமையில் நீ செய்யும் யோகங்கள் யாவும் முதுமையில் சேர்ந்திடும் அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி,
ஜோதியுள் ஜோதி அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி,

and he spoke to us the following words, that the Jothi has cooled down, Heat is Jothi, You are Jothi, I too am Jothi, the entire Prapanjam is Jothi, that which you see in this beggar too is Jothi, That which is in the Param is Arutperunjothi.

குளிர்ந்தது ஜோதி. வெப்பமும் ஜோதி, நீயும் ஜோதி, நானும் ஜோதி, பிரபஞ்சம் முழுதும் ஜோதி, மின்மினி போல் மின்னும் ஜோதி, இப்பரதேசியில் காண்பதும் ஜோதி, பரத்தில் இருக்கும் அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி.

He went on to show us the way to bring the effulgence within and keep it burning brightly. Again he asked us to aid in drawing aside the veils by raising the fire within. He assured us that Agathiyar would come within us and draw the veils aside. He tells us that we have the blessings of Arutjothi. We have the blessings of Arutperunjothi Andavar. The path is right. Agathiyar shall lead us to Arutjothi.

திரை விலக உங்களில் இருக்கும் ஜோதி அதனைச் சுடர்விட செய்யுங்கள். என் அப்பன் அகத்தியன் உங்களுக்குள் வந்து அத்திரையை விலக்கிவிடுவார். அதுவே இப்பாடலின் பொருள். என் அப்பன் அகத்தியன் உங்களுக்குள் இருந்து வழி நடத்தி வருகிறார். அவன் வழியிலே நடந்து வாருங்கள். அத்திரை விலக்குவதற்க்கு அவன் அருள் புரிவான். அருட்ஜோதி உங்களை ஆசீர்வதித்தது. அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி ஆண்டவர் உங்களை ஆசீர்வதித்தார். செல்லும் வழி சரி. அகத்தியன் அருட்ஜோதியை நோக்கி அழைத்துச் செல்வான்.

Coming to us later both Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal kept asking if we read Tavayogi's "Andamum Pindamum". Rereading it later, we found that Tavayogi in introducing the Siddha Neri, or the way the Siddhas, had shown us how to attain Soruba Siddhi. But it made no sense then. It was only in 2022 that I realized that in teaching us certain select Yoga postures and Pranayama techniques, he had helped us raise the dormant energy originating in the Muladhra Chakra that dominates all our worldly actions, to the higher reaches of the other Chakras where when the pull of the gross body or Pindam is overcome, we are free to roam the void or Vetta Vezhi. But since as long as man is entrapped in the gross body he can never venture further up the Chakras, he has to transform his gross body to that of subtler in nature, reducing the 5 elements to become the 1 and break away and to be free from the gravitational pull of the earth, and back into the emptiness. The knowledge to break loose is indeed Gnanam. Agathiyar too told us that as we travel within traversing each Chakra, upon reaching the summit or crown Chakra, Gnanam shall dawn. 

பஞ்சபூத உடலை வேதியியல் மாற்றத்தால் மாற்றி மூல அணுவாக மாற்றி புவியீர்ப்புக் கோட்டை கடந்து வெட்டவெளியில் சேர்ந்து சுதந்திரமாக உலாவுவதே ஞானம் ஆகும். அதுவே சொரூப சித்தி எனப்படும். அதை போதிப்பதுதான் சித்தர் நெறி. மனிதன் உடலில் இருக்கும் வரை மேல்நோக்கிப் பயணம் செய்ய முடியாது. மனிதனும் தன்னை கீழ்நோக்கி இருக்கும் மூலாதார சக்தியை மேல் நோக்கிச் செலுத்தினால் பிண்டத்தின் ஈர்ப்புச் சக்தியை கடந்தால் மனிதனும் வெட்டவெளியில் சுதந்திரமாக இருக்கலாம். 

These experiences become pretty obvious when one follows Ramalinga Adigal's devotional out-pourings, laments, wailing, utterances, plodding, pleading, petitions, and revelations as compiled into the Thiru Arutpa. In wanting to follow his life story we came across G.Vanmikanathan's "Pathway to God Trod by Saint Ramalingar", published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay, which has given us a beautiful and much-awaited biography cum journal on the saint's experiences and spiritual evolution. Besides this Gnana Bharathi's “Tamil Mannin Thanthai” added to this marvelous biography of the saint. 

During the first 12 years, we learn that Ramalingam was into devotion or Bakthi, worshipping Lord Muruga at Kandhakottam while residing in Chennai. All saints have had a beginning in Bakthi or devotion too. The next 12 years were the missing years of Ramalingam who left Chennai and is said to have followed a guru and traveled the hills and the plains to the abodes of the Siddhas. Coming to know that there was indeed a way to remain immortal he sat in tapas for 12 years under the tutelage of his guru. When Tavayogi brought me to the Kutralam jungles, we sat in a cave that he said was occupied by Ramalinga Adigal. 

Ramalingam, who was by then 24 returned home and to society. What he saw disturbed him a lot. Besides discrimination based on caste and the multitude of religions that had arisen, he saw other faiths moving in and encroaching on the locals who were in a dire state of disarray. He felt the sufferings of the innocent people who were being manipulated by certain quarters in all ways possible. He fought the problems that had infiltrated society during his absence. To the locals in Patiripuliyur who gathered around him and sought his advice over the confusion that had arisen after another movement was telling them that they should leave idol worship, Ramalinga Adigal replied to them to continue what they were currently doing as that was best for them. Bhagawan Ramana too is known to ask those who enquired about the path to follow, to follow what they were currently doing. 

Ramalingam then in wanting to bring salvation to these souls, began a journey of propagating his newfound path, the worship of Light beginning in Chennai and proceeding to Thiruvotriyur and Tirutani, moving to Pondicherry and then later to Chidambaram, Sirgazhi, and Vaitheeswaram. Moving south to Madurai, Thiruvathavur, Thiruperunturai, and Karunkuzhi and briefly returning to Madurai, he settled at Karungkuzhi from where he frequented Chidambaram. It was from here at Karunguzhi that he began to supervise and direct the construction of the Dharma Salai to feed the hungry on a piece of land some 80 acres in size donated by the locals at Vadalur. He brought together his followers through the Sanmarga Sangam and educated them in divine knowledge or Gnanam through the Sanmarga Bhotini Padasalai. 

Ramalinga Adigal expounds that only God would know what he experienced. When many from the orthodox school choose not to reveal God's grace working in and through them, Ramalinga Adigal let out battle cries and eventually victory cries, beating the drums and blowing the horns making known to all of his achievements through divine grace. He sings "Blaze with the drum that I have become one with the Supreme Blaze of Grace; Blaze that I have acquired the kingdom of Grace Supreme". 

சந்நிதியிற் சென்று நான் பெற்ற பேறது சாமி யறிவாரடி. அருட்சோதி ஆனேன் என்று அறையப்பா முரசு, அருளாட்சி பெற்றேன் என்று அறையப்பா முரசு, மருட்சார்பு தீர்ந்தேன் என்று அறையப்பா முரசு, மரணந்த விர்ந்தேன் என்று அறையப்பா முரசு. தன்னுரு என்னுறு தன்னுரை என்னுரை என்ன இயற்றிய என்தனித் தந்தையே. 

Indeed why should one shy away from announcing his achievements when his form and speech became that of God, especially if it came not by our efforts but by his grace and compassion. Coming to us Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal asked us to announce and pronounce the greatness of the divine and its workings in us in transforming us to the state of a Siddha and of Jothi, by sharing them through this blog. Overwhelmed by his revelations, when I sang Ramalinga Adigal's song, before Agathiyar, a song that Tavayogi would sing at every sacred spot and abode of the Siddhas, 

"இன்று வருமோ நாளைக்கே வருமோ அல்லது மற்றென்று வருமோ அறியேன் எங்கோவே - துன்றுமல வெம்மாயை அற்று வெளிக்குள் வெளி கடந்து சும்மா இருக்கும் சுகம்",

pleading for the day when we shall arise above the world of Maya and remain in the state of Doing Nothing or Summa Iruppathu, listening intently, Agathiyar questioned me asking if I knew its meaning? 

"வெளிக்குள் வெளி கடந்து" அப்பொருள் அறிவாயா? 

I told him I only knew the song but never understood its meaning. He began to explain. "When you come to know yourself completely, come to know the Ganangal, and come to know that all that is around you is impermanent and forever changing, that very moment you shall transcend that void or space or Vetta Vezhi. That is said to be Doing Nothing or Summa Irupathu.

உன்னை நீ முழுதும் அறிந்து உன்னைச் சுற்றி இருக்கும் கணங்கள் அறிந்து எதுவும் நிலை அற்றது என்று நீ அறியும் அத்தருணம் வெளிக்குள் நீயே வெளி கடப்பாய். அத்தருணமே சும்மா இருப்பது."

I now understand why Lord Muruga and Agathiyar keep telling me to do nothing. They come often asking me if I was enjoying these moments.