I would like to share my life lessons after being on the Siddha path for some 24 years now. I guess this is the least I could do to repay what the Siddhas have given me.
Towards becoming Light
Reading about Ramalinga Adigal in the nineties, I came to know that he had become Light. After meeting Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram in 2005, I asked that I wanted to see him turn into Light. Though he told me that he had missed the boat, Lord Dhanvantri, coming through a devotee, told us that he had become Light. Agathiyar later told us that as Tavayogi was doing his work, Agathiyar had to come and guide us further. Tavayogi had mentioned to me that Agathiyar came as Light to him on several occasions. In 2022, Agathiyar asked me to share the internal transformation taking place with those keen to know the journey towards moving towards becoming Light. The entire journey was summarized by Agathiyar and dictated to me as notes on the eve of Guru Purnima 2024.
Coming to the Siddhas
Before taking up the call to come to the worship of the Siddhas, which came through my very first Nadi reading - which itself was a call to move towards realizing why I was here - I was into temple worship and worshiped at my home altar, all the gods and goddesses in the Hindu pantheon. In the Nadi, Agathiyar spoke about my past birth and Karma, the present, and touched briefly on the future too.
This can be likened to the Purgative stage or phase that G. Valmikanathan mentions in the life of Ramalinga Adigal in his book "Makers of Indian Literature - Ramalingam", published by Sahitya Akademi (e-book at http://www.vallalar.org)
I was asked to worship the Siddhas. Now I had a choice. I could have walked away. But since I chose to walk the path, my life took a turn. I had no idea where it would be heading, though. I unknowingly had surrendered my free will to the Siddhas at that moment. From then on, it was all their doing. They began to chart the course. On the other hand, if I had used my discretion and walked away, not heeding the call, I wonder what and where I would be?
Worship of the Siddhas
In asking me to worship the Siddhas, Agathiyar started me on it by having me perform a thanksgiving puja called Naadikku Dhaanam, which he asked in the Nadi reading that I perform. The Nadi reader Senthilkumar of Avinashi most generously led me into doing it. He became an Upaguru at that instant. Bringing back Agathiyar's painting and the booklet in praise of the Siddhas, I began my home puja for the Siddhas.
Seeking to know more about their worship, I looked up movements that carried Agathiyar's name and dropped in on them to know further. As they were into doing charity and holding satsang, I dropped out and continued my home puja for the Siddhas, compiling further information and materials for my puja from books that I purchased and also from the net. I eventually compiled a 49-page compendium of songs in praise of the Siddhas for my use.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_R6X34DNy3oYhKlN3_M5wsQfda6099uy/view?usp=sharing
Walking with my Gurus.
If I were led to my guru, Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai, on the pretext of charting and reading my daughter's horoscope, taking up the worship of the Siddhas, I was brought to meet Tavayogi when he was in Malaysia. I began to walk with both my gurus.
Walking with the Siddhas
The first encounters with them began as Tavayogi led me into the jungles and caves in India. In taking up the rituals that Tavayogi initiated me to carry out, the Siddhas came down to our realm from theirs. If the rituals bridged both worlds, the Yoga practice that Tavayogi gifted me brought me to go within and brought within me the Cosmic pranic energy. It began to resonate in the chakras, bringing on the flowering of the 1000-petaled lotus at the Sahasrara.
Connecting with the Prapanjam
The Cosmic pranic energy began to envelop the home, turning it into a temple. I could connect with it while taking a walk outside, while having food, while breathing, while having a shower, and at every other moment. I began to realize that I was one with the Prana and the Prapanjam. I had written earlier on 20 August 2021 about this.
I remember my first surge of Prana enter my body in abundance when I took up and began to practice diligently the Pranayama and Asana exercises that Tavayogi taught us back then in 2007. If back then it came after much effort, these days it just comes on. Any act for the matter is enjoyed these days bringing immense joy within. I realized my senses were enhanced beginning some years back as my vision improved tremendously, my taste buds were able to pick up and identify the ingredients that go into food, my hearing was enhanced so much so that every noise and sound was amplified manifold, and my breathing cleared. It was as if my being was rejuvenated, the whole body brought alive and connected with the surroundings.
Yesterday just as I was taking my first mouthful of food during lunchtime, a surge of pranic energy passed throughout the body, what I believe resulted from the food that was packed with it. My wife is a good cook and those who had been to AVM shall vouch for her. Though the food was simple and an everyday meal dished out by my wife but it tasted extremely delicious compared to other days. The energy brought much joy that I called over my wife and daughter and fed my two granddaughters too. Though this surprised me I could figure out what was taking place.
Similarly, as I brush past and through the branches of the pinwheel flower tree in my garden, picking out the flowers for puja, surges of pranic energy like minute electricity pass from the tree to me.
When I stand outdoors or in front of an open window the breeze and air that brushes by invigorates and brings tremendous bliss. It is as though the pores of the skin are open and breathing directly too beside the nostrils and nasal passages.
Bathing too is invigorating and refreshing these days, that I have them often. When abhisegam or libation or bathing the Murthy of Agathiyar or his bronze statue, my body and internals are simultaneously cooled down too. These I suppose is Prana in action.
The article "A VISION OF DEMATERIALIZATION OF RAMALINGA'S LIVING BODY" by Gangadharan, on the website http://www.ramalinga.com, carried a rare account of Ramalinga Adigal attaining the state of Light or Jothi in Siddhi Valagam, seen during meditation by Mother Mira Alfassa (aide of Sri Aurobindo of Pondicherry).
“On the first day of the Tamil month of Thai (14-1-1978) I had a continuous vision in my usual meditation in the night: the vision of de-materialization of the physical body of Swami Ramalinga into and as the truth-light of supreme grace which contains or possesses in itself supreme compassion and bliss of grace.”
“Though I have had occasions to ascend into and remain for some time in the truth-world of grace-light where from I could see the earth as part of the universe, the said vision came to me when my consciousness was on the earth itself.”
“To begin with, I sensed an ineffable silence and peace prevailing everywhere and I heard continuously Para nada, the mysterious divine sound. Then the vision broke out.”
“A small village was seen in its simple and beautiful surroundings. There was the concrete presence of the supreme and universal divine with the beautiful truth-light of grace and fragrance, which enriched the place all the more and enraptured my heart with ever-increasing aspiration for grace. At the center of the village was seen a small house. Sweet fragrance of grace radiated everywhere from the house.”
“Vallalar was seen entering the house. His face was calm and peaceful. His whole body was radiating the light of grace. Besides, his body was of silken or light golden shining color. He stepped into his room, closed the doors, and bolted inside. At that time there was the concrete presence of the supreme and universal divine in the room. The presence could be sensed even physically and even by the born-blind. There was also silence, peace, fragrance, and the light of grace due to the presence.”
“Vallalar sat on a white cloth spread on a low wooden plank and began to concentrate. In that poise, he was seen as a mountain of truth-knowledge with the truth-light of grace and peace and fire of tapas. He was verily a supreme form of the divine. Flood of light was radiating from his pure and luminous body into all the directions.”
“Supreme grace, supreme compassion, and the light of grace are expressive of the secret truth that they hold the key for transformation of physical body into the deathless physical body of grace in its eternal youthfulness. One has to live in the depth of the ocean of blissful grace-light for being transformed into the divine nature and as the divine body.”
“The intensity of the flood of light that radiated from his whole body was very powerful and one shall have the strength and capacity to bear and receive it. My whole body vibrated with a joy and pleasantness because of the vision of light of his body.”
“After sometime of concentration, he rose up and saw the physical sky. Full moon was shedding its blissful cool rays over the earth. A little distance away from the moon was seen a very bright dazzling star of light. Vallalar poured his concentrated gaze at it for some time. He became enraptured with blissful joy in the heart, which radiated on his face. A little time thereafter, he again sat on the white seat of the plank and entered into deep concentration.”
“Though Vallalar was inside the closed and bolted room, he could see clearly the whole universe with its tiers of many worlds of mind, life and the physical including the physical earth and sky with its moon, stars and clouds.”
“When he was thus absorbed in deep concentration, an effulgent truth-light of grace broke out from his heart and with its unique heat began to burn his radiant physical body very slowly, as at a snail's speed, and that in an upward direction, from the heart towards the head. The burning of the body may be somewhat likened to that of an incense-stick which however burns downwards by its inner heat of fire, forming ash covering but without the falling down of the ash-form. When the upper part of his radiant body was burnt completely from heart to head, there was left in its place a form of pure white substance, which also radiated its light of consciousness. The burnt part, however, showed all its features intact and clearly and even the burnt hair of his head was seen distinctly as luminous white hair. Then the heat of the pure light of grace descended to burn the lower part.”
“After the whole body was thus burnt, Vallalar was seen as a bodily form of pure white substance from head to foot, radiating its light. The white form kept intact all the different kinds of cells of his body and all the distinctive features and formations of his interior and exterior body. His bodily form did not shrink in size after the burning. I saw no visible flame nor sensed its heat during the burning of his living body, nor smoke, nor any bad smell as of burnt tissues, nor heard any cracking noise as of burnt bones. Instead, there was a sweet fragrance since the time his body began to burn and it spread everywhere. I sensed in my heart an ineffable calmness and silence, which gave me in turn a state of bliss.”
“Now a second stage of burning began. The unique heat of grace-light began to burn slowly Valalalar's luminous form of white substance from head to foot downwards. When his white substance-form full of its radiating light, was thus burnt completely, the white substance became very fine sub-atomic conscious particles, which permeated and pervaded the entire universe and the farther pure worlds of consciousness beyond. The fine, white and conscious particles with its radiating light also entered into and got distributed everywhere in the earth and even in matter. After the universal pervasive distribution of the particles, they could be seen no more and disappeared from my sight. Now there pervaded everywhere the sweet, soft and fine fragrance of camphor which gave my body a blissful sensation and enraptured my heart as well.”
“Then I had the rare vision of Vallalar's universal luminous golden form. In fact, the immensity of his golden form contained in it the whole universe. This form too disappeared from my view and was replaced by another vision in which I saw the golden light of truth-knowledge and grace entering into all the directions more speedily than the lightning. It permeated and pervaded the whole universe and the farther pure worlds of consciousness. It entered into our earth and all its crores of the physical forms of beings and objects and in the apparently insensible matter and even in the very dark realm of the vast in conscience. All the forms that were permeated by the golden light of truth changed into golden forms of beings and objects. The golden light entered into my whole Adhara including the physical body. My body felt in all the cells vibrations of ease and pleasantness.”
“Then I heard some words of grace. However, they were indistinctly heard and could not be deciphered, as I was absorbed in a rapture of bliss due to the sublime vision and experiences. Thus, the vision lasted an hour of time and ended.”
Mother Mira said that Saint Ramalinga had achieved the Mukti. The visible physical light is the concrete symbol of the vast truth-light of grace, which is the source of all lights. Camphor is verily a solid form or symbol of that light. Vallalar's soul is inseparable from the conscious white particles of substance, which he has become, and pervading distributed everywhere. When the supreme truth-consciousness manifests in the physical world, it becomes the golden light of grace. The golden light of grace will purify and transform man and the physical body too will become deathless physical truth-body, and the Sanmaarga of truth, purity, and goodness shall prevail on the earth. As Atma realizes the pure spirits, the body too shall realize its truth as the true body of the spirit.
Each time Ramalinga Adigal came amidst us, through a devotee, we felt the extreme joy and bliss that he brought with him and transferred onto us, connecting us with the rest of Prapanjam. As he began to lift off, we had to hold onto him (the devotee). He would cry out Arutperunjothi and have us follow suit. He would coin songs that we would not have heard before, off the cuff. We are glad that we have had such moments when he came down. His only wish is for us to attain his state too. The Siddhas make the effort to bring us there. In bringing us his Guru Purnima message, Agathiyar paves the path for us to explore and return to him. He has simplified the journey in terms that we could grasp and travel along. Shouldn't we do our part too?
"Who is Agathiyan?"
You are. I am. True. We all are Agathiyan. The Jothi or flame in us is Agathiyan. He resides as the fire, flame, heat, and warmth in us. He is Esan. He is the Esan who resides within.
"Why is it that we do not realize nor feel him?"
It is because we have not attained the state of preparedness or readiness to realize him. Once our soul attains this state, we shall begin to realize him.
"How can we attain this state of preparedness?"
First, we have to travel this path. We need to travel to the places and abodes of the Siddhas, witness their miracles, enter the states of bliss, and bring back these feelings and work on them, nurturing them. The Siddha shall come down. When we follow their directives they shall walk with us holding our hands. This travel then shall not be that of an external but of an internal journey. Yoga is the key to this travel within. From Sariyai arriving at Kriyai, now they shall teach Yogam. The journey within shall begin. You shall witness happenings. You shall see many things. It would be puzzling to you. It would be new to you too. Continuing this internal journey, you shall arrive at each Chakra and eventually see the cosmic dance of Thillai in Sahasrara. A 1000-petaled flower will keep on opening up continuously. Arutjothi will come to reside here. Then its effulgence enters within, and just as how the Kundalini upon awakening traverses each Chakra purifying them, this effulgence brings on the shine and luminosity in them. Jothi Darisanam takes place where one sees the light or effulgence. The body takes on the same. Vibrations begin to emit within and around us and are felt by those tuned to receive and feel around you. They shall follow you. You become a Jeeva Mukta, having attained Mukti while living in the flesh. Henceforth you are no different from Agathiyan and Agathiyan is no different from you. You are me and I am you."
"யார் அகத்தியன்?
நீ அகத்தியன். நான் அகத்தியன். உண்மை. நாம் எல்லோரும் அகத்தியன். நம் உள் உள்ள ஜோதி அகத்தியன். அவர் அகத்துள் உறையும் தீ அகத்தியன். அவர் ஈசன். அவர் அகத்துள் உறையும் ஈசன்.
ஏன் நாம் அவரை உணர்வதில்லை? ஏன் நாம் இதனை உணர்வதில்லை?
நாம் பக்குவம் அடையவில்லை. நாம் ஆத்மா பக்குவம் அடைந்தால் நாம் இதனை உணர்வோம்.
நாம் எப்படி பக்குவம் அடைவது?
முதலில் இந்த பாதையில் பயணிக்க வேண்டும். சித்தர்கள் வாசம் செய்யும் இடங்களுக்குச் சென்று, பல அற்புதங்களைக் கண்டு மகிழ்ந்து, உணர்ந்து, பின்னர் அவ் உணர்வுடன் இல்லம் திரும்பி, அவர்களை நினைத்து நினைத்து உருகிப் பூஜிக்க வேண்டும். சித்தன் இறங்கி வருவான். பின் அவன் கட்டளைக்கு ஏற்ப நடந்து வந்தால் விரைவில் அவன் உங்கள் கரங்களை பிடித்து கொண்டு பயணிப்பான். இப் பயணம் வெளி பயணம் அன்று உள் பயணம் ஆகும். உள் பயணத்திற்குத் திறவுகோல் யோகம். சரியையிலிருந்து கிரியைக்கு வந்த பின்னர் இப்போது யோகம் பயிற்றுவிப்பான். அப்போது உள் பயணம் ஏற்படும். பல நிகழ்வினை காண்பீர். பலதும் உணர்வீர். புதிராகவும் இருக்கும். புதியதுவாகவும் இருக்கும். இவ் உள் பயணதைத் தொடர்ந்து வந்தால் ஒவ்வொரு சக்கரமாகச் சென்று அடைந்து பின் இறுதியில் சஹஸ்ராரவில் தில்லை நடனத்தைக் காணலாம். எந் நேரமும் அங்கு ஆயிரம் தாழ் மலர் ஒன்று விரிந்து கொண்டே செல்லும். அருட்சோதி அங்கு வந்து உறையும். பின் அதன் பிரகாசம் உள் சென்று எப்படி குண்டலினி ஒவ்வொரு சக்கரமாக மேலே சென்றதோ, சென்று கழிவுகளை விளக்கி தூய்மை செய்ததுவோ அதுபோல் அருட்சோதி கீழ்ச்சென்று ஒவ்வொரு சக்கரமும் பிரகாசிக்கச் செய்யும். ஜோதி தரிசனம் கிட்டும். உடல் ஜோதி பிழம்பாக திகழும். உடல் பிரகாசிக்கும். உடலில் இருந்து அதிர்வுகள் நீண்டு உங்களைச் சூழ்ந்து மற்றவர்களைத் தாக்கும். பலர் இதனை உணரக் கூடும். பக்குவம் அடைந்தவர்கள் புரிந்து கொண்டு பின் தொடர்வார். அப்போது நீ ஜீவ முக்தன் ஆகிவிடுவாய். உனது ஜீவன் முக்தி அடைந்து விட்டது. பின் நீ வேறு அகத்தியன் வேறு அல்ல. நீயே நானாய் நானே நீயாய் திகழ்வோம்."