More Revelations In The Nadi
19 August 2005, I called Ramesh. He asks that I see him for he has news from Sage Agathiyar’s ‘Aasi Kaandam’. Sage Agathiyar assures me that I have the blessings of Lord Murugan, Saint Ramalingam (Vallalar), and him. He explains what happened at Palani when I was there in 2003. Now I have the answer.
Sage Agathiyar Brings Forward My Trip To India
On 26th August 2005 I called Tavayogi on the phone at Kallaru. He recognized my voice immediately. I told him I am making arrangements to come to India and Kallaru. I continued, “I have to go to Palani…” But even before I could complete the sentence Tavayogi replied, “I shall take you wherever you want to go”. Then all of a sudden he put forward a question. He asked, “Are you coming next month”. I remained quite for a moment and said I have to arrange for finance etc. to which he said he understood. He was disappointed I think that I could not come in September. I could tell from his response to my answer. I told him I would try to come as requested. I do make the trip as requested by Tavayogi. Later Sage Agathiyar reveals in his nadi that he had to call me over to India immediately so that I could get to know more about HIM.
MY SECOND TRIP TO INDIA
Day 1 – Starting The Pilgrimage With Saint Ragavendra’s Blessing
I boarded the plane for India from Kuala Lumpur International Ai rport at 9.05 am on the 16th September 2005 on a pilgrimage a day after my 46th birthday. I had been directed to make this pilgrimage by Sage Agathiyar through the nadi.
I arrive in Chennai at 10 am IST. Jiva, the tour agent in India and Prem, my driver received me at the airport. I confirmed my return ticket at the Jet Airway’s counter before heading for the moneychangers in Saidapet. I changed the currency I had brought.
I called on Amman Satyanathan at Triplicane to collect herbs for my brother-in-law Arumugam. Amman Satyanathan was a staunch devotee of Saint Raghavendra. He is an author and publisher of many books on the saint. I started my pilgrimage with a prayer at Saint Ragavendra’s Brindavan opposite Amman Satyanathan’s publishing company cum bookshop.
I had lunch at Hotel Saravanabhavan and I left for Tiruvanamalai at 1.20 pm.
Melmaruvathur Athi Parasakthi Temple
I stopped at Melmaruvathur Athi Parasakthi temple. This is the second time I was here. There was hardly any crowd this time around and I had the Goddess all to myself. Trying to find my way out of this temple complex I chanced upon a building that caught my attention. As I looked to see what was inside, an elderly gentlemen invited me in saying it was the meditation hall. The meditation hall had a large portrait of Bangaaroo Adigal. There was no one around. I sat to meditate. I saw an aura around the portrait of the saint and the altar.
After coming round the temple grounds a couple of times trying to find my way out, I finally find the exit. I was not the only one. There were some women too who asked me for directions to exit from the temple grounds. I left the temple at 3.15 pm. I reached the outskirts of Tiruvanamalai at 5 pm. I had the first view of the hill here. I went looking around for Supramania Swami’s kudil but eventually decided to call Swami’s son Ramajayam, over to Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s (Visiri Swami) ashram and have me taken to the kudil.
Visiri Swami’s ‘Samadhi’ And ‘Ashram’
While Prem tries to contact Ramajayam I prayed at Visiri Swami’s temple and samadhi. As I entered the temple complex prayer was going on. A small group of devotees were singing the Swami’s naamam ‘ Yogi Ramsuratkumara, Yogi Ramsuratkumara, Yogi Ramsuratkumara, Jaya Gururaya’ and going round the samadhi. I joined them. I was given prasadham that I eat and fed a dog that stood looking at me.
Supramania Swami’s ‘Kudil’
Ramajayam was already waiting as I came out of the ashram grounds. We hugged each other. He took me to Supramania Swami’s kudil. We stopped the car a short distance from the kudil and I hopped onto Ramajayam’s motorcycle as the path had narrowed down from here on. I saw the building that I had helped put up for Swami for the first time. It was thirty feet by eleven feet built on a small plot of land thirty feet by sixty feet. Swami’s wife greeted me at the door. She said I looked different. When did she see me? I wondered. I did not meet her the last time I saw Swami. Maybe she was comparing to the photo that I had taken with Swami on my first trip.
As I stepped into the kudil, Supramania Swami came out of the prayer room. On seeing me he backed away against the wall. He too said I looked different. I handed Swami the offering of flowers and fruits that I had bought and fell at his feet. I suddenly cried. Swami picked me up and ushered my into the prayer room. He handed over a dhoti (kaavi) to adorn and had me sit on the carpet. Ramajayam tells me Swami was waiting since morning for my arrival with excitement.
Later Swami tells me that he heard the sound of Ongkaram and a loud blast as I arrived at the kudil. He told me I was ‘heavy’ as he tried to pick me up.
I could not help notice that he had covered an existing window with a gunny sack. When I enquired he told me he had closed up the window, which was in the living area directly opposite his bed, because he could not continue to see the hill any longer, as it was too ‘fiery’.
Swami and I spoke throughout the night and early morning. Swami’s wife had retired for the night sleeping in the kitchen of the kudil. Ramajayam had rode off to his home in the village where his family stayed. I finally called it a day at 2.40 am while Swami kept on with his chanting.
Day 2 – ‘Girivalam’ - A Second Time
17th Sept 2005 - I woke up at 5 am. Today was the first Saturday of ‘Puratasi Sani’. Swami asked that we go to Lord Sri Ranganathar temple in Tiruveragam that morning. But he asked to delay the journey and told me we should leave at 10.30 am after ‘Rahu Kaalam’. I thought why should Swami bother about ‘time’ having being a gnani?
I thought I should read my nadi to Swami while waiting, since he was the first guru I had met. Swami was excited when I talked about Sage Agathiyar and the nadi. He listened attentively. After listening to the nadi reading Swami mentioned to me why he had asked that we delay the trip to the temple. He had wanted me to share this reading, he said. That is when he narrates to me the incident that took place in the wee hours of that morning after I had gone to sleep. A mother and a child came into the kudil and seated themselves beside me as I slept through that morning. Swami was watching from his bed and listening on their conversation. The mother was dressed in a rainbow colored saree and was carrying a feeding bottle also of the same color. The child was placing his hand on my belly button. Then the child told the mother, “Lets see if the oil lamp in the altar has sufficient oil”. He took her to the adjacent prayer room. “The mother and child had followed you to the kudil and never came out of the prayer room”, said Swami. He cried at this juncture. I too cried.
Swami was so excited he too wanted to see his nadi.I gave him Ramesh’s contact number and told him I shall ask Ramesh to read Swami's nadi once Ramesh was back in India.
Tiruveragam Sri Ranganathar Temple
We left for Tiruveragam Sri Ranganathar Temple, a 500-year-old temple near Swami’s village. Only then did I notice how the few kilometers that we drove to Sri Ranganathar temple that morning, had taken its toll on him. I had requested Swami to follow me on my pilgrimage but then I figured whether it was wise to do so. He was not in good health to travel such a vast distance. Ramajayam too mentioned that Swami had recently returned from a trip to Palani only to be bedridden later. So I told Swami on the way back that I would go alone to which Swami agreed and added that he did not want to delay my trip in any way.
My Second Girivalam
It was a full moon day (Pornami) and I had planned to circle Annamalaiyaar with Swami but he was not fit and instead asked Ramajayam to accompany me. I got the blessings of Swami and his wife before I started on the Girivalam from Swami’s kudil at 6.40pm. Swami asked that we go next to Visiri Swami’s ashram before joining the Girivalam path. We did as requested. We prayed at Visiri Swami’s temple. We went in and out of all the temples and ashrams lined throughout the Girivalam route. Mysteriously at the entrance to Vallalar’s ashram and temple an old man hit me with herbs as I came alongside him. Later a young man popped up in front of us enquiring us as to where he could purchase books on Sage Agathiyar. We could easily show him the way because we had stopped over at that stall only a moment ago. At 1.40 am I was in front of the main temple. It was closed. I finished the Girivalam after having taken six hours to cover 14kms. On the first trip in 2003 it took me nine hours.
Day 3 – Meeting Up With Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal In Kallaru
18th Sept 2005 - I am back at the kudil at two in the morning. Swami and his wife were awake waiting for Ramajayam and me to return.
I woke up at 5 am and l left for Kallaru at 7.40 am. Before I left Swami told me I will get Goddess Amman’s blessing. Swami added, “You will receive the blessings of sidhas where you are headed”. “You shall get the blessing of a sidha at a place where the waters from Lord Siva’s head meet this earth”, he added. I do meet a sadhu unexpectedly at Shenbaga Devi Amman Temple in Courtalam.
He gave me a blanket to use in Kallaru. He prayed for my save journey. We hugged each other as I bid farewell.
We were headed for Coimbotore. We cut across a forest before reaching Salem at 11.15 am. I called Tavayogi to inform him I was coming over. We crossed the Kaveri River at Bhavani. There were lots of lorries and buses on this route, which leads one to Kerala too. We reached Methupalayam at 3 pm where I bought fruits and flowers as offerings to Tavayogi.
We reached Turipalam at 3.30 pm. Tavayogi had sent out his helpers and disciples to wait on me at the row of shops that lined this halt on the way up to Ooty. In fact I came to know from them that he had sent word about my arrival and asked his disciples in Madras , and Tiruvanamalai to offer all the assistance possible. They too had been waiting for me, I was told. Tavayogi was waiting for my arrival at his ashram steps. He greeted me just as a father would have received his son. He hugged me. Tavayogi pulled up a couple of chairs and offered me some fruits.
Some of his devotees had stayed back after the full moon prayers. These devotees come down to his Peedham just before full moon to hold prayers and help out with the feeding of the poor. He asked me if I would like to take a dip in the river or take a bath in the shed that was constructed at the Peedham grounds. I opted for the river. We had to come down a flight of steps onto a railway line serving Mettupalam and Ooty. After some distance we stepped into a path that took us down to a river were we took our bath. After prayers and meditation, we set off to the wholesale market at Methupalayam. I was told Methupalayam was where greens produce from the Ooty and Nilagiri hills where sold to retailers and dispensed throughout India. When we returned Nadaraja, Tavayogi’s faithful cook had already prepared dinner – idli and sambar. My nephew Thayalan called while we were having dinner. As the Peedham did not have electricity supply, Tavayogi and I chat under the luminosity of a gas light for a while before retiring to bed at 8.15 pm. Tavayogi slept in the Peedham prayer room. He gave me the option whether I wanted to spent the night in the prayer room or with the others in the cabin. I chose to rough it out in the shed rather than intrude on Tavayogi’s privacy.
Day 5 – Meeting Other Swamis
20th Sept 2005 - Tavayogi suggested we go to Ooti to drop in on some of the local living saints. With Suresh from Tiruvanamalai, who was at the peedham for the Pornami festivities, we went looking for Mani to take us to see these saints. We picked up Mani and his son-in-law too and headed for the first stop - Sargurunathar’s cave and ashram on the face of a cliff just along the Ooty - Methupalayam trunk road. Sage Agathiyar himself had blessed Sargurunathar. After his demise one Ramasamy Swami had taken over and done much charity in and around Ooti. On Ramasamy Swami’s demise last month, his disciple Suyam Jhoti Swami was now leading this organization. His ashram was in the slopes of Nilagiri Hills in Ooty in a place called Kasolai. Tavayogi and he were engaged in a long conservation regarding their movements. We had lunch at his ashram. His disciples served us food. We were served simple food – rice and a soup cooked with lots of grains and nuts. Suyam Jhoti Swami took us to the prayer room and blessed us. I gave Tavayogi Rs 2,000, which Tavayogi handed to Suyan Jhoti Swami as donation for his ashram activities. The Swami gave us some books on songs about his parama guru written by him.
Then Mani took us to another priests who runs a Mariamman temple in the middle of a field. The priest conducted prayers, questioned us a lot, talked on his temple and festivities, and blessed me and our entourage, even Tavayogi, by applying kungumam on our foreheads. We had some bites here offered by the priest. His helpers served us.
The last stop was to Dayananda Swami who lived alone in his ashram in some woods in Ooty. A volunteer cum caretaker informed the swami of our arrival. Saint Adi Sankara’s Portrait in the hall of this house greeted us as we were lead into a room where the swami was cuddled on a bed in a corner of the room. He adorned a woolen cap on his head, a woolen shawl around his neck and a blanket wrapped around his body exposing only his feet to us. He asked lots of questions and also talked about Ooty - past and present. He told us he was going to leave the world and we shall see him as a star in the sky. Initially this saint did not allow me to photograph him but as we were having this conversation with him he eventually told me I could snap a picture or two. We were served hot tea, which brought relief in this cold weather.
Tavayogi had planned to return a visit by a swami who dropped by at Tavayogi’s Peedham sometime back. But as it was a cold and wet night out in the hills of Ooti and as it was already late we decided to head back to the Peedham. Strong winds and drizzle prevailed throughout our journey.
On the way back Tavayogi explained to me the spiritual state of each of these Swamis.
Day 6 – A Day In The Life Of An Ashramite
21st Sept 2005 - It was in Kallaru that I saw the moon extremely big and close with a very wide radiant circle around it. It was extremely beautiful. There was also a noise that woke me up in the early hours one morning. Upon lying in bed and paying attention to it, it sounded like the walk of heavily built person with a walking stick. I was not sure what it was. I narrated to Tavayogi that I heard sounds in the night. He in turn narrated stories where elephants used to walk right up to the Peedham and stand in the bushes; a leopard having come into the Peedham grounds and killed a dog that was tied up to a post; and numerous occasions where snakes were spotted in the grounds. During the time I was in Kallaru, I used to wake up each morning at 4 am and tried to meditate until sun break, which occurs early in India, around 5 am. I then picked the flowers for the morning prayer.
I spent the day at the ashram with Tavayogi, Vimalan, Suresh, and Nadaraja where I did some reading besides chatting with these folks. Tavayogi was with the local village headman sorting out allocation of the housing for the local aborigines that the government was building adjacent to the Peedham.
Tavayogi related to me the anxiety he had to go through trying to put up the ‘Aaru Aataare Peedham’. The Peedham was fashioned based on exact measurements and guidance given by Sage Agathiyar to Tavayogi. It was one massive piece of granite weighing 1,250kg that was cut into seven number of receding steps. It was made out of a solid piece of granite elsewhere and then transported by lorry to the foot of the small hillock where the Peedham was perched on. The Peedham had to be carried across the railway lines that were running from Coimbotore to Ooti passing the small village of Kallaru. When he was lost for ideas trying to bring the Peedham, all the way up the small hillock over the railway lines, Sage Agathiyar sends someone with an elephant to pull it up the hill slopes.
Tavayogi spoke about Arutprakasa Swami, Jaganathar Swami, and Chitramuthu Adigal all of whom followed Saint Ramalingam’s teaching. Chitramuthu Adigal was both Arutprakasa Swami’s and Tavayogi’s guru. Jaganathar Swami was Chitramuthu Adigal’s guru.
As I was sitting at the Peedham I had a thought that since the next day, being a Thursday, an auspicious day for Guru worship, I wanted Tavayogi to carry out a special prayer for Sage Agathiyar followed by serving food for the locals. I mentioned this wish to Tavayogi. Nadaraja and he were overjoyed. In the evening we went downtown to purchase groceries and vegetables for the feast.
Later that evening Tavayogi brought out bundles of nadi that were in his possession. They were of various sizes and lengths; some with very fine writings and others with big writings. He read to me some transcriptions of the nadi written in notebooks. He passed me the one on his daughter. In it Sage Agathiyar consoles Tavayogi’s daughter who was saddened since Tavayogi had left the family to become a monk. Sage Agathiyar says Tavayogi was a sidha and on his demise his soul would be lead away by Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi themselves in a craft called ‘puspavimaanam’.
Vimalan came over to me and whispered close to my ears that Suresh and Mani’s son-in-law were waiting at the village below and wondered if I would like to follow them into town. I excused myself from Tavayogi who did not stop me nor questioned me. I dressed up and we headed for Methupalayam in my car.
Only in the car did they mention they wanted to go to the famed Kil Tirupathy temple out of town. This temple was a miniature of Tirumalai Tirupathy temple of Andra. It was on a privately owned property in the middle of a mill. It was beautiful and well maintained. Vimalan had to leave his cell phone with the security. Once inside the temple they wanted to wait it out until closing time were the God and Goddess are put to sleep.
When we came back to the Peedham, Tavayogi was waiting up for us. Upon seeing the car he sent Nadaraja down with a torch. Nadaraja passed the torch without saying a word and went down to the village, apparently angry at us for turning up late. Tavayogi asked me why we were late. I told him we went to the temple. He asked why we did not call him. Vimalan replied he had surrendered the phone with the security. Tavayogi told us Nadaraja had prepared dinner and had waited on us. “The food has now gone cold. Help yourself”, he said. He watched us as we ate in silence feeling guilty for staying out late and not informing him. I could envision him as a father who was worried sick and nervously plying the room waiting for news of his children and looking out for signs of a car approaching with his children returning home.
Day 7 – A Day Of Doing Charity
22nd Sept 2005 – Suresh and Vimalan cooked the food with some assistance and supervision from Nadaraja. Word was passed on to the villagers that prayers would be conducted and free food would be served. Tavayogi conducted prayers at exactly 11 am followed by serving food at noon.
Nadaraja out of the blues commented that the day’s event was even greater than the usual feeding done on full moon days. He added that the day was also auspicious because it was Kritigai, a special day for Lord Murugan. Later Tavayogi tells me it was not Nadaraja who had made the statement. He indicated that the sidhas were communicating through Nadaraja and THEY were happy. I did ask Tavayogi if the sidhas were present at the altar in the Peedham to receive our prayers. Tavayogi questioned me back, “What! Do you think they are not around?”, since he must have thought I doubted their presence by asking each time if they were around, at the Peedham, in the caves and at the samadhi that we visited.
That night Tavayogi and myself sat done to plan over journey according to Sage Agathiyar’s Aasi Kaandam. My brother Kathi who was a journalist with a local English daily in Malaysia, was also in India having just arrived on September 17th for a convention cum visit to farms. He was reporting on methods of farming adopted in India. He was with a few other journalists and some farmers from Malaysia. We made arrangements to meet him in Trichy the next day.
Day 13 – Another Day Of Doing Charity
This morning I went for a bath at the river with Tavayogi, Kathi and the local children while Mrs. Sarojini (now Mataji) and a local woman prepared food to feed the locals, sponsored by Kathi. Back from the river, I cleaned and decorated the prayer room, which I took it upon myself to do as long as I was in Kallaru. Kathi took the opportunity to show the transcription of his nadi that was read in Trichy some days back. I had very much wanted Kathi to read the nadi because I feel he is someone special. Each time before the gods and saints appeared in my dream, Kathi was always there. I did mention this to Supramania Swami. He interpreted Kathi appearing in the dreams as Lord Vinayagar himself - the elder one. I had also mentioned to Tavayogi and requested Tavayogi to advise Kathi to see his nadi when he was in Kallaru. In fact when I was in Kallaru Tavayogi did ask me if I wanted to read the nadi. He could make arrangements for people to come over from Avinasi to the Peedham. I declined because I had yet to go on the tour with Tavayogi as instructed by Sage Agathiyar. Once I had fulfilled the instructions in the latest reading of the nadi, I would consider seeing it again for further directions from the Sage.
Mrs. Sarojini told us much has been said in her nadi about Tavayogi to which Tavayogi stopped her from revealing more. Later when she came into the cabin that was our lodge I asked her to continue on Tavayogi and the nadi readings pertaining to him. She brought more transcriptions of the nadi on Tavayogi, on her, and some others kept in notebooks. She read to me the greatness of Tavayogi that was mentioned by the sidhas. She told me it was stated in her nadi that she could achieve enlightenment by serving Tavayogi.
That afternoon we had a prayer for Sage Agathiyar and the sidhas followed by free food for the locals. Then Kathi on seeing the pitiful sight of the native Indians suggested to me if he should buy them clothings too. I told Kathi we could try mentioning to Tavayogi. I was surprised when Tavayogi happily agreed. Tavayogi added that he was pondering as to how he was going to manage these children who would come around asking for new clothing since Deepavali was around the corner. Tavayogi surprised me. Only a couple of days ago when I had arrived in Kallar I put foreword my wish if I should get these children some shoes. I noticed they go to school bare footed. Tavayogi told me it was not necessary. His priority was getting them textbooks and stationeries. Anyway they would lose those shoes eventually, he added.
This event reminds me of an episode that I read in the book ‘FRAGRANT PETALS- A REPRESENTATIVE ANTHOLOGY ON SRI BHAGAVAN’ on Ramana Maharishi of Tiruvanamalai. TPR writes in “The Approach Through Songs’ in that book as follows:
‘Bhagawan turned to me and said: "He is Kanappa, the disciple of Vallimalai Swami. He sings beautifully, even better than his guru. He brings tears to one’s eyes". Bhagawan went on praising Kanappa, which was something quite unusual, so a real urge to hear him came over me, and I begged him to sing. He began to sing Tiruppugazh. I have never heard such a vibrant voice. He even brought tears to my eyes. For an hour or more we all listened spellbound. I went out of the hall just behind Bhagawan and he suddenly turned around and said to me, "All this is unnecessary. If you gave your mind to it, it will lead you astray- no use". This was a shock to me, as he had just been praising Kanappa sky high.
‘On another occasion, the famous singer Dilip Kumar Roy spoke as follows; "I know no meditation or samadhi and no sadhana to attain it. I follow the devotional approach of bakti. I worship god through my songs. By crying to Him I seek to attain Him Bhagawan, is this way right? Please guide me, master." Bhagawan looked graciously at him and said with immense love and compassion; "Yes, what you are doing is just what you have to do. Carry on and it will certainly lead you to your goal. Through devotion to god we discharge our emotions and that is a sure way to reach him." Again I went out to lunch just behind Bhagawan and again he turned to me. This time he said, "Tell Dilip that our Tamil saints have said that bakti is the mother of jnana. So bakti margam is supreme. The essence of bakti is in merging with the universal being through emotional devotion."
‘I was perplexed. The other day he had praised the singing of Kanappa but then advised me not to follow that way; and now again he was saying that the devotional and emotional way of bakti was the supreme and almost the only way to reach god. I pondered over it for a time, and then it flashed on me that he praised this way to Kanappa who was already following it under instructions from his guru but cautioned me against it and the caution applied only to me personally. And he alone can judge what path is right for me. Now again he was commending the bakti path as supreme because for Dilip it was supreme.’
The disciple eventually realized that Bhagavan’s reply and the advice he gave were meant solely for each individual and not to be generalized.
Osho too had on many occasions contradicted his own sayings. When questioned he would give an answer that was true and appropriate for that disciple and for that moment only.
Sadhu Natanananda in ‘SRI RAMANA DARSANAM’ has this to say,
‘In this case, and in all the other exchanges I have just given, the attitudes and assumptions of the devotees that manifested in Bhagawan’ presence determined the response.’
When Tavayogi told me it was not necessary to spend on clothing for the poor at Kallaru but when Kathi proposed he readily agreed and appreciated the move to buy new clothing, I too realized that every word said by a saint or guru is meant only for that individual; only for him alone. This I realized again when I mentioned to Tavayogi that Appana had wanted me to be the secretary of the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham and that I had refused the offer. Tavayogi agreed I did the right thing in refusing to accept the offer. “It was not necessary for us. It might be appropriate for Seelalli, for he has a purpose that is to spread the greatness of the Tamil language”, he added.
In an article on the net;
‘Babaji and Mataji, in their own time, melts all hearts, expand all minds and transforms the consciousness of each of their devotees. Babaji teaches that all paths are glorious and each is appropriate for the soul guided to follow it.’
And so we took along Mrs. Sarojini to shop for clothing at Methupalayam. We purchased some 39 pairs of clothing for Rs 4,200.00. The shop owner of Kumaran textiles was kind enough to give us a discount. Kathi paid Rs 3,500.00 for the lot. Earlier we did enter a shop two doors away but picked up only two pairs as the shop owner after learning that the clothing were for the poor started to dump stained, old cloths on us saying he was giving us at a discounted price. Tavayogi walked out of the shop angry at the very mindset of the owner. On our return to the Peedham word went out that Tavayogi was giving away Deepavali clothing. The villager’s children crowded around Tavayogi and each received a pair of shirt and pant for the boys and dresses for the girls.
My Third Teecha From Tavayogi
That night we started packing to leave Kallaru first thing in the morning. Tavayogi handed some things to be delivered to the disciples back in Malaysia. He then called me into the prayer room at the Peedham saying he owes me something. He ask that Mrs. Sarojini bring fruits on a tray and asked me to place some coins on it.
He then gave me a second teecha, which was in the form of a breathing exercise. The earlier teecha was a mantra.
Later Mrs. Sarojini and Tavayogi reminisces on their days together in the Patti Mantra team having spoken throughout Tamil Nadu and on various interesting topics. We listened attentively.
Day 14 – Another Day With Supramania Swami
29th Sept 2005 - We woke up early. Mrs. Sarojini heated up the water for our bath as it was too early and dark to have a bath in the river. She prepared breakfast too. We bid farewell to Tavayogi and Mrs. Sarojini. We left Kallaru for Tiruvanamalai at 6.00 am.
We reached Tiruvanamalai at 2.30 pm. I introduced Kathi to Supramania Swami. Supramania Swami then asked me, “Did you see your Guru?” I was simply amazed at this man who knew from my nadi that I had to accept Tavayogi as a guru, did not feel deleted nor discourage me nor stop me from visiting him. He then asked, “Did you hear the voice?”, triggering my memory back to the first day at the kudil. Suddenly I remembered that I had actually heard a third person chant along with us the first night I spent in this kudil upon arriving in India. I asked Swami who it was? He answered with a laugh, “That was Visiri Matai” referring to his guru Visiri Swami (Yogi Ramsuratkumar). He also said, “You have undertaken this pilgrimage for me”. I had the sidha’s blessing and Sage Agathiyar’s too, he added. He had a few predictions for Kathi. He handed Kathi a five-faced rosary that he had been using and asked us to split into two. I told him to give it all to Kathi without breaking it up. Ramajayam drove Kathi to Chennai at 4.00 pm in a four-wheel drive that Kathi hired.
That evening I took Swami to his village, Nachaananthal, eight kilometers from Tiruvanamalai town. We returned the same night. That night I contacted Vimalan whom I met in Kallaru. He dropped in at the kudil. I introduced him to Swami asking him to look into Swami’s needs since Vimalan and Suresh were locals. Vimalan wanted to take us to a few temples the next day, including that of Arunachaleswarer.
Day 15 – Annamalaiyaar Up Close
At 8.00 am Vimalan comes to the kudil to take us to two small temples run by Suresh and him around Tiruvanamalai. The first was where Esaki Sidha pulled the caretaker of this temple through a crack in the wall of the inner shrine of Lord Siva. There was a bright light on the other side of the crack in the wall. The caretaker panicked and let go off Esaki’s hand. The caretaker and his friends invited Swami and me for Pradosham prayers that evening.
The second was a temple where numerous statues including a Lingam and that of Goddess Amman were unearthed.
Both these temples were being rebuilt.
We went over to Lord Arunachaleswarer temple, lead by Vimalan and one of his friends from the first temple. Suresh joined us at the temple with the local flower dealer. I had a pretty good and close look at Lord Annamalaiyaar thanks to this locals.
We returned to the kudil after packing lunch at 11.00 am. Suresh, Vimalan and his entourage bid farewell asking Swami and me to go over to the first temple for Pradosham prayers at 5.00 pm. Later when we were alone Swami asked me if we had to go over to that temple? I sensed he was not keen on going over to that temple so I suggested we go to Visiri Swami’s ashram, Ramana’s ashram, and Seshadari’s ashram instead, to which he gladly agreed.
Accompanying Supramania Swami To Visiri Swami’s Ashram: Ramana Maharashi’s And Seshadari Swami’s Ashrams Too
The Pradosham prayers was being conducted at Visiri Swami’s ashram that evening. Supramania Swami sat and watched the ‘Abhisegam’ to the Lingam and Nandi silently without even moving an inch. We spent an hour and a half at Visiri Swami’s ashram.
As we came out of the temple the chanting of Visiri Swami's name was being played at a booth selling books and cassettes at the ashram. I bought but Supramania Swami paid for the cassette.
It was night now as we moved on to Ramana’s ashram were Bhajans was being sung at the Maharishi’s samadhi. We sat for a while and moved along to Seshadari Swami’s Ashram were Supramania Swami paid for the book on Seshadari Swami’s biography and his photo that I picked up.
We went back to the kudil, packed over bags, and started for Supramania Swami’s village. I put up a night with Swami in his village home.
Day 16 – Returning Home From A Pilgrimage Of A Different Kind
Preparations were done to conduct a prayer in Supramania Swami’s home in his village. As the women folk were preparing the dishes Swami charted my astrological chart. He was eager to know why I had made this trip at this moment in time. It seems that the planets were favorable for this travel overseas to see my guru. I had to make this trip according to the charts and Swami also foretold that there is a possibility I will be back in India before February 2006. This did not take place. Later in Malaysia Astrologer Dr Krishnan tells me I will make a trip to India in May or June of 2006. The occasion arises as said in the form of the fifth Anniversary celebrations at the Sage Agathiyar Gnana Peedham at Kallaru. Tavayogi extended an invitation to me over the phone and later by posting a card. But I could not go due to financial constrains.
He mentioned an eight year period when Kethu buddhi sets in, when I would be 71 years of age. This period would be extremely favorable period for me and I will see spiritual advancement.
Today was the third Saturday in the Tamil month of Puratasi. Swami conducted the prayers to Lord Narayanan. His family prepared lots of food and offered it to the Gods after which they gave me the honor of distributing the food to all those present. After prayers and lunch I bid farewell to Swami and his family. I left for Chennai at 12.00 pm. Swami’s wife accompanied us till Chennai were she would visit her second daughter. I was taken to the tour agent’s office in Kodambakam, as it was only 4.30 pm. I had Tiffin with Jeeva, the tour agent. Prem sent me to the Meenambakkam Airport at 7.00 pm. I took the flight back to Malaysia at 11.00 pm.
I arrived in Malaysia at 5.30 am and took a cab home. I reached my home at 7 am. It was yet another memorable pilgrimage.