Agathiyar is considered the foremost of the Siddhas by Dr. Mandayam Kumar of the Siddha Medical Research Institute, Bangalore, in his article "Siddha Agasthya - Foremost of the Siddhas", a result of literary research on a Tamil manuscript "Prapancha Kaandam" attributed to Lord Murugan and written on Nadi or palm leaves about 3,000 years ago. Agathiyar dictated the contents of the Nadi while his student Pulastyar recorded it. A well-traveled Agathiyar who became a disciple of Nandi and Dhanvantri, practiced yoga and taught it to his large following of disciples. Agathiyar could see impending calamities take place in the future during his meditation. Amidst all the geographical changes that took place, Agathiyar went seeking a place that would not be affected by future calamities. He located a mountain range, Mahadeva Giri, in southern India. This is the present-day Courtalam. Here, Agathiyar met Lord Shiva and Uma in the form of Dhakshinamurthi and Shenbaga Devi and Lord Muruga. Other Siddhas, including Bhogar from China, Thaeraiyar from Malaya, Yugimuni from Kerala, Pulipani from Kantha Malai, Pulastyar, and Kapiyar, started coming here. Lord Dhakshinamurthi revived the knowledge of the Vedas and instructed these Siddhas to propagate this knowledge. The Siddhas recorded their knowledge on the 64 kinds of learning, 18 Puranas, 96 tattvas, and 48 branches of scientific knowledge on palm leaves after extensive discussions held in Alagan Kulam and presented them to Lord Dhakshinamurthi for his perusal. The entire literature in Tamil came to be called "Siddhaveda". An institution known as Siddhar Gnana Koodam was inaugurated by Lord Murugan and was headed by Agathiyar. Pulastyar and Kapilar headed the literary section while Pulipani headed in research section. Thaeraiyar, who was into surgery, headed a medical research center established at Thorana Malai. Yugimuni, who was into herbal medicines, headed an Ayurvedic hospital at Paradesi Kundai. Bhogar, who was in charge of all scientific research, established an alchemy research center at Tiruparankundram. Pambatti was heading a team researching venom at Marudamalai. After heading these institutions, Agathiyar started on an extensive mission of propagating the wealth of knowledge gained by these Siddhas in Tibet, Manchuria, Egypt, Palestine, Rome, America, Africa, Malaya, and the Arab world. His work seems to continue to this day. He wants to make a Siddha out of all who come to know and worship him, and most importantly, are willing to listen and put into practice the lessons structured towards bringing a total transformation of body and mind. Though I do not deserve it, Agathiyar is working hard to get me there, too.
For want of answers, the divine sparked a yearning in me to know about our culture and tradition that soon brought me to want to know about religion. Seeing my confusion and anger towards the Gods and deities for bringing on sufferings to close ones, Lord Siva came in a dream in 1988 to have me put off all my questions to a later date. That day came some 14 years later, where meanwhile I dropped worship, reading, and discussions, and began to focus on family and career. Passing me the Vasudeva Mantra in 2001 in a mysterious manner, that cleared the knots and obstacles, internally and externally, respectively, Agathiyar paved the way for me to meet my gurus. Calling me in for a Nadi reading, the following year, he sent me on a pilgrimage to temples in 2003, where he had me shed my past Karma that stood in my way, depriving me of the benefits of my earlier Puja and Yoga practice that I picked up from books. Sending me to Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai, I received a boon. Swami left behind the merits of his 40 years of austerities, Tavam, and Tapas that escalated my journey. Sending Tavayogi over to our shores in 2005, he officially initiated me into the path of the Siddhas and had me learn rituals that bridged both worlds, that of ours with the Siddhas, bringing on their visitations to my humble home that took the name Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM). Tavayogi threw in a treasure during his visit in 2007, in the form of certain Yoga practices that brought in the flood waters (Prana) that burst the dam at Muladhara. Agathiyar, with his touch, burst the dam in 2022, freeing the flood waters that had ponded at Svadishtana since 2020, enabling the release and flow of the energies (Sakthi) again. She made her way through the remaining Chakras in a jiffy and reached the ocean of bliss, Sahasrara, uniting with her other half, Siva, within days. The flowering and subsequent opening of the 1000 petals takes place even today, where the subtle tap dance of the Divine Feet (Cosmic Dance) is felt. The three Doshas, Vata, Kapha, and Pitta, are continuously expelled from my body. I am growing black hair, and the patch of bald on my head has closed. I have lost sleep, waking up in the wee hours of the night. It is 2.30am and I am penning this post. I have a ferocious appetite for food that is satisfied immediately, taking only a few morsels of food. Sexual urges peak, and I satisfy them too. Compassion and love are at their peak, too. The body aches from head to toe. Pain has become bliss these days.
As I said earlier, Agathiyar wants to make a Siddha out of us, all those who come to know and worship him, and most importantly, are willing to listen and put into practice the lessons structured towards bringing a total transformation of body and mind. Though I do not deserve it, Agathiyar is working hard to get me there, too. Just as we hear a line mentioned in the trailer of the upcoming game, "Expedition 33", "Even if we fail we will leave a trail for those who come after" and just as Supramania Swami said that we shall continue to polish our ware till we succeed and Tavayogi telling us that in event we fail we shall come back to continue from where we left, let us walk tall as Agathiyar's child.