Does the Siddha path end with each becoming a Jeevan Mukta, having attained Jeevan Mukti? It certainly seems so, going by what we have covered until now.
From "Metaphysics of Saiva Siddhantam - Sivagnana Boodham by Thiruvilankar Canagarayar, l96l, we learn that,
The soul which has realized God through divine knowledge, Pati Jnanam, after it had renounced the worlds as changing or Asat, is called Jivan Mukta. Jivan Mukta is one living in a body ever after his purification, till he exhausts his residual Karma.
So did Ramalinga Adigal too attain Jeevan Mukti while still in flesh and form.
From "Pathway to God Trod by Saint Ramalingar, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay by G.Vanmikanathan, we learn that,
Here ends our Swaamikal’s journey on the Pathway to God. He has arrived. He has become a Jeevan Muktha, a seeker who has gained what he sought, who has reached the end of his quest. Swaamikal had indeed arrived at his goal, at his journey’s end, and he has nothing more to do on earth than to spend the remaining years prescribed for him by praarabdha-karma in adoring contemplation of the Godhead and in loving service to all creatures. The point of utmost importance in Advaita is that every seeker after deliverance may hopefully aim at the goal of jeevanmukthi …The term ‘jeevanmukthi’ is used to describe this state of continued life in the body on the part of a knower of Brahman. A jeevanmuktha does not act on his own volition. God acts through him, speaks through him. The jeevanmuktha has imprisoned God in his heart, in every fiber of his body.
From "Metaphysics of Saiva Siddhantam - Sivagnana Boodham by Thiruvilankar Canagarayar, l96l,
The Jivan Mukta should now become one with Siva, just as Siva was one with him in his fettered state. When Jivan Mukta is one with Siva, what he does would not be his acts, but would be the acts of Siva. For the Ichcha, Jnana, and Kriya states of Jivan Mukta are identical with those of Siva. Whatever Jivan Mukta does is done according to the will of Siva, for Jivan Mukta is in Advaita relation with God, Siva.
But though having attained Mukti, which comes with the state of a Jeevan Mukta, Ramalinga Adigal yearned for everlasting, evanescent bliss and eternal union. He yearned for Videha Mukti - "disembodied release from the cycle of death and birth." Is this the reason Ramalinga Adigal is said to have claimed that he attained what the Siddhas failed to attain, Videha Mukti?
"Liable as it is to disease and decay, to pain and putrefaction, the Jeevan-muktha now longs for release from the body, longs for death. The body which was an asset for so long has become a liability as soon as the Jeevan-muktha state has been attained, as soon as the mystic union with God has been achieved. The mystic lives with dread for his companion, the dread of losing the bliss, the ecstatic union with God. So the Jeevan-muktha now longs for death, for release from the human body, for eternal bliss and union everlasting. He has obtained, it is true, supreme bliss, but still not evanescent bliss; he has obtained union with God, but still not eternal union. On having these beatific visions, wisdom and peace descend on the mutinously impatient Jeevan-muktha, impatient for death, impatient to shed the human body, impatient to gain videha mukthi - disembodied release from the cycle of death and birth."
From G.Vanmikanathan in "Thiruvachagam", Amudha Nilayam, Chennai, 2002, we learn that,
The "Koil Thiruppathikam" sings of the attainment of the Jeevan mukta state where there are still two entities, one being the seeker and the other being the sought. God and man, while remaining no doubt metaphysically distinct, are practically and experimentally one spirit. Soul consciousness has not yet been completely eradicated. Civan consciousness is not yet everlasting. The disembodiment of the soul and its merging in Civan then would constitute Videha mukti.
This is exactly what Agathiyar, in asking me to let go of him, asked: when were we going to become one? He was bringing me from Dvaita to Advaita.
G. Vanmikanathan writes,
The point of utmost importance in Advaita is that every seeker after deliverance may hopefully aim at the goal of Jeevanmukthi …This state of continued life in the body on the part of a knower of Brahman. A Jeevanmuktha does not act on his own volition. God acts through him, and speaks through him.
Now I understand where I stood. And this admonition came by way of Balamurugan too, who asked me, "What are you searching for further? You are there already. Why do you need to become another Agathiyar? Why do you need to become another Ramalinga Adigal?" he asked. Just moments ago, I saw someone in the path of the guru walk barefoot in the current hot spell on the tar road, seeking alms. The master is gone. People hold on to him, living and dressing up like him. I felt sad. It reminded me of him telling me to remain as Shanmugam Avadaiyappa. He told me to make something distinctive of myself.
In bringing me to the state of a Jeevan Mukta, attaining Jeevan Mukti, Agathiyar wants me to step into Videha Mukti. The soul that merges in him merges in Sivam.
So the Jeevan-muktha now longs for death, for release from the human body, for eternal bliss and union everlasting. He has obtained, it is true, supreme bliss, but still not evanescent bliss; he has obtained union with God, but still not eternal union. On having these beatific visions, wisdom and peace descend on the mutinously impatient Jeevan-muktha, impatient for death, impatient to shed the human body, impatient to gain videha mukthi - disembodied release from the cycle of death and birth.
("Metaphysics of Saiva Siddhantam - Sivagnana Boodham by Thiruvilankar Canagarayar, l96l)
Indeed, this is the path that Agathiyar charted for us, in simplified terms, by having me take down notes and share them with those who attended the Guru Purnima Puja of 2024. He had charted my journey and had me share it with them. He was using me as a role model; hence the reason he asked that I share the transformations that were taking place with those keen to know what it takes to reach the Light. I am blessed.