A NOTE OF THANKS TO VARADARAJ OF THE BRONZE CREATIVE, SWAMIMALAI

Hello Shanmugam sir,

The Picture of agathiya peruman opened his eyes is awesome. (No more words to say). The bronze statue of Agthiya peruman is very very very beautiful also i never saw agathiya peruman in this much beauty in any where else. 

valli 30 November 2013 06:11

Photo edited by Bala Chandran, Malaysia

அன்புள்ள ஷண்முகம் அவர்களுக்கு,

வணக்கம். தங்களிடம் இருக்கும் அகத்திய பெருமான் அழகை என்னவென்று வர்ணிப்பது. ( I felt love in that statue) நானும் நம் நாட்டில் எத்தனயோ கோவில்களுக்கு சென்று உள்ளேன். இப்படி ஒரு அழகிய உருவ சிலயை நான் பார்த்திருக்கவில்லை என்றே நினைக்கிறேன். அதுவும் வெறும் மல்லிகை மலர் மட்டும் சாத்தி உள்ள போது அகத்திய பெருமான் கொள்ளை அழகு. 

If next time i have a chance to go through Malaysia i definitely come and worship the Agthiya peruman at your resident if his grace allows me. Thank you. valli 1 December 2013 22:42

அகத்தியர் கண் விழித்து பார்க்கும் படத்தை என் வீட்டில் மாட்டி வைத்து உள்ளேன். valli17 January 2014 09:00

Happy to see all the pictures. Also very happy to see many publications use the Agasthiyar picture of yours in their books. The statue of Agthiya peruman at your house is soooo pretty i never seen any thing like this in my life. Valli 17 January 2014 08:57

I have been receiving the above mails and comments from a devout devotee of Agathiyar from the USA. 

What can I say? All the credit should go to Varadaraj of the Bronze Creative based in Swamimalai. 

Varadaraj immediately contacted me by phone agreeing to create this fine statue of Agathiyar when I e-mailed him and twelve others in 2009. 

His brother Cheenu traveled to Agasthiyampalli in Vedaranyam to see for himself and photograph images of the existing granite statue of Agathiyar.

Agathiyar at Agasthiyampalli. Photo courtesy of Cheenu of the Bronze Creative

Varadaraj (left) and his brother with Jnana Jyothi Amma when she visited them at Swamimalai recently

Dr. VM Jayapalan has produced an audio CD titled AGATHIYAR THIRUVILAIYADAL in which he narrates the origin of this ancient temple of Agathiyar. The revelation was made during his meditation.

Then the three brothers and their staff started work on the wax model and finally created a masterpiece. 

My family and I went over to meet Varadaraj and thank him personally when he came down to Malaysia to see his clients, as we had not met each other earlier. All the transaction was done by phone and e-mail. 

The 23 feet tall statue of Lord Nadaraja currently nearing completion, created by Varadaraj

Agathiyar at Agathiyar Vanam, Malaysia

Varadaraj is currently creating a 23 feet bronze statue of Lord Nataraja. Amazing venture. Jnana Jyothi Amma just returned from having a first-hand look at this masterpiece in the making.

More statues ready and waiting for their clients to claim them

The majestic statue of Lord Nataraja

Jnana Jhoti Amma has only this to say of these great sculptors,

"And Finally the SHOWSTOPPERS. VARADHARAJ AND HIS BROTHER CHEENU ..... THE TWO CREATIVE GENIUSES OF 'CREATIVE BRONZE". The Architects/Artists/Sculptors behind the carving and making of Agathiyan at your temple, Shan. "AMAZING GRACE."

"Cheenu narrated to me, as to how he went to Agasthiyapalli, studied the Murthy of Agathiyan there. Sketched it as per the instructions given by you to Varadharaj... AND HOW THEY WENT ABOUT FINISHING AGATHIYAR'S MURTHY WHICH NOW SITS MAJESTICALLY AT YOUR TEMPLE ... AGATHIYAR VANAM."

WALKING THE PATH OF THE SIDDHAS

Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal always tells me that the path of Siddhas was not a bed of roses. "The Siddhas shall test you", he used to say. But I used to counter saying Agathiyar has kept me well. Anyway, I used to wonder why other devotees, heads of Peedhams or establishments too, were having a tough life. Why did Agathiyar, in Tavayogi's words, test them so much? Tavayogi tells me later that it is to mold us into a stronger person.

He tells me to be prepared to face brickbats thrown at you. He always encourages us with his Guru Chitramuthu Adigal's popular motivational line, 'Himaya Malai Thalarnthaalum un Ethaiya Kotaiyai Thalara Vidaathey' which simply translated would mean even if the Majestic Himalayas were to crumble, let not your heart crumble. Later he used to add, 'Agathiyar Yellam Paarthuparr' meaning Agathiyar shall take care of things.

The Siddhas move to exhaust the Karmas in us as fast as possible so that they can then begin working spiritually on us. Once the Karma is exhausted, they then lay a plan for us. When we abide by all their instructions and wishes, we are taken on a journey of sheer bliss and amazement. For some, it might start late in life. For others, they start early. It all depends on the amount of Karma and merits one has gathered in the past.

Tavayogi says it beautifully, "What you are today is the result of your past Karma; What you shall become tomorrow is the result of your present actions."

Tavayogi, an MA by qualification, himself has had a fair share of troubles and miseries; and has seen some ups and downs in life. He was a very successful merchant dealing with the manufacture and sale of singlets in his hometown of Tirupur; a prominent speaker at forums called Pattimandrams; and a producer of two Tamil movies, Eni Oru Suthandiram and Ethaiya Thamarai. Tavayogi was into politics too, close to the then Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, MG Ramachandran.

As a result of certain policies of the Government of the day, Tavayogi's business was also affected seriously where he ended up having to sell all his assets to settle his debts. All hell broke loose to the extent, his wife had to look for odd jobs to sustain their family. To make matters worst Tavayogi lost his eyesight too. He spent a year at a temple near Coimbatore where it was said the Goddess could cure the blind. While there he passes his time with the other blind folks staging the Pattimandrams for their amusement. Once he lost all hope of getting cured and decided to end his life at the railway tracks only to be stopped by a voice (Asarithi) telling him that Agathiyar was there for him. That stopped him in his tracks. He decided to dedicate the rest of his life to serving Agathiyar. After a year of living in the darkness he slowly regained both his eyesight.

Tavayogi picked himself up from where he left. He came into the worship of Agathiyar and the Siddhas having taken Chitramuthu Adigal of Panaikulam as his Guru. He used to hold prayers and feed folks at Tirupur. Then Sarojini Ammaiyaar came along with her own problems. Tavayogi showed her to Chitramuthu Adigal too. Chitramuthu Adigal boosted her morale and took her to the stage, literally speaking, where she became an exponent in speech receiving many invitations to take the stage to talk. Tavayogi roped her into his Pattimandram schedules where Tavayogi used to be the chairperson and Sarojini Ammaiyaar one of the speakers.

Then at 50, Tavayogi voluntarily gave up everything. He roamed the length and breadth of India seeking new adventures and experiences as a monk or Turavi. He spent nights sleeping on the platform, in the caves, at the temples and any place that could accommodate him from the cold of the night and the rains. He had the Darshan of Siddhas and the Gods too during this trying period. Finally Agathiyar instructed him to locate a place known as Agathiyar Vanam and to start an ashram there. That place turned out to be the present day Kallar. Tavayogi approached the village headman who gave his blessing for Tavayogi to occupy the present spot where is now housed the Agathiyar Gnana Peedham. Agathiyar instructed Tavayogi to have a seven tier granite structure known as Aaru Aadhara Peedham to be worshiped.

The Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham too has evolved much to become a well known pilgrimage spot known today as the Sri Agathiyar Sri Thava Murugar Gnana Peedham Dhyana Kudil.  Today it houses the statues of Agathiyar (6 1/2 feet tall fiber statue) and Thava Murugar (also in fiber); a miniature granite statue made on the instruction of Agathiyar to Sarojini Ammaiyaar and placed at Avinashi only to be redirected by Agathiyar to be brought to Kallar a year back; a mystical Rudraksham 1 1/2 feet tall and weighing 7 kg, now worshiped as a Shiva lingam and finally the mysterious Jeeva Nadi that is read by Tavayogi himself.

This Peedham has seen much growth through this past twelve years, growing in its wonders, amazement and astonishment. It has many stories to tell. I managed to document some of Tavayogi's and Mataji's experiences during my recent trip to Kallar in October 2013.

TAVAYOGI AND AGATHIYAR (Continued)

The other time I got a 'bashing' from Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal was when I got carried away and started entertaining friends and relatives who came for the prayers by giving advice which got me into trouble later.

When devotees came to participate in the prayers at our home, Agathiyar Vanam, they started to open up and reveal their problems too. As my wife and I were good listeners, they started to open up the Pandora boxes. Naturally, we sympathized with them and started giving our views, opinions, and suggestions to overcome their dilemma. We used to recommend who they should see too for their problems.

These devotees came often and sometimes stayed late into the night which was disrupting our life to a certain extent, as I had to work and our daughter had school the next day. Sometimes they used to call us at the break of dawn too. When I mentioned this to Tavayogi over the phone, he immediately asked me, why I interfered in their affairs, which startled me. Tavayogi is fond of answering a question with another question. Tavayogi reminded me that I should direct them to Agathiyar who was seated in my home. "Ask them to open up to Agathiyar, cry their hearts out to him", added Tavayogi. "Agathiyar will take care of their problems", continued Tavayogi. That was a good beating I received from him that day.

Since then I stopped guiding them but instead led them to Agathiyar, giving them a moment of privacy with the most compassionate father. Later we prayed to Agathiyar that all these should stop too, and he granted that too.

I am glad too that those who came to see and learn a thing or two about how prayers or Puja was conducted for Agathiyar, soon moved on to perform their own Puja in the comfort of their own homes. I do not wish to start a following in my home and around me with devotees dependent on me to lead the prayers.

It is beautiful to hear and I share their bliss and happiness when they call me to say that they had conducted Puja in their homes personally without a middle man. They came into communion with God directly!

By they starting the Puja in their homes they open up yet another path to others in their families too, who initially might be suspicious of their moves and faith and believes, but soon settle to accept what their kin are up to without laying any obstacles. One day they too might come unto this path - the path of the Siddhas.

GOOGLE CHROME EXTENSIONS

I was surprised to see yesterday, links provided for certain keywords on my blog posts that took one to various advertisements. Some prankster has underlined and linked these keywords to adverts and sort of hitched a hike on the popularity of this blog to promote their goods.

For those surfing using Google Chrome please install the AdBlock and Adblock Plus Extensions available under Tools/ Extensions of the Google Chrome browser. This will remove the unintended links from these hackers. I wonder how they do it without even gaining access to my blog post account?

Those using Internet Explorer will not see these links. I am not sure about the other browsers.

TAVAYOGI & AGATHIYAR

Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal at Agathiyar's temple at Agasthiyampalli, Vedaranyam (2005)

No Saint or Guru had visited my home. The only Saints and Gurus I met where when they came to the temples to give a speech. At the end of the speech just like everyone else I would line up to get their blessings and sacred ash or vibhuti prasatham.

Now as I recall, I have seen Kripananda Variyar in Sitiawan, Haridos Giri in Sungai Petani, and Nithyananda at Bangi. So you can imagine how I felt when Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal agreed to accept my invitation to have lunch at our home. I was on cloud nine - blissfully happy! But my happiness did not last long! Tavayogi shot me down!

Before I go further I will have to start from the beginning. When I went for my very first Kaanda Nadi reading in Petaling Jaya in 2002, Nadi Guru Senthilkumar from Avinashi passed me a leaflet. In it was written that one Thaaiveedu Thangarasan MA was planning to build a temple for Agathiyar at Kallar.

In that reading, Agathiyar had ask that I come into the Siddha path, worship the Siddhas, help finance the construction of temples and also built one for Agathiyar. So I took the very first opportunity to help towards the cause by handing a small amount to Sentilkumar to pass it on to Thaaiveedu Thangarasan. I had kept the leaflet among my others things.

In 2005, I came across advertisements cum news in the local Tamil daily on the opening of an Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in Malaysia. I do not subscribe to this paper but it was during this period my neighbor Augustine used to pass one daily.

In that advert, it was mentioned that a Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar will be officiating the Peedham. This name was now familiar to me. I remembered the leaflet and went looking for it. Now I had to see Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar and ask if it was his leaflet. And so I called the organizers. Perumal asked me to go over to their Peedham housed at Wisma Keringat in Batu Caves. When I knocked on the door of their office, Perumal introduced me to Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar and Appana Nagappan, who had invited Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar to Malaysia.

Earlier Appana had been to Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar's Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in Kallar and had wanted to start one in Malaysia.

Both Appana and Perumal had to settle certain matters and left Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar and me to get acquainted. Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar took me to the adjacent room where he sat on the carpet of the meditation hall. I followed suit. I immediately took out the leaflet and showed it to Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar, asking him if it was him. He told me it was his and explained to me what he was doing back in Kallar. He asked that I come in the evening with my family. That evening my wife and I received Theecha besides eight others.

I used to frequent the Peedham daily listening to his speeches. Then I observed that he accepted an invitation to devotees' homes and so I too extended an invitation. He readily accepted to come to my home. Appana and Perumal told me strictly that Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar did not submit to devotees falling at his feet nor the Paatha Puja or performing the ritual where washing of a saints feet in milk is done.

On the day of the appointment, as Appana could not make it I invited Perumal to accompany Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar to my home. I had gathered friends and relatives at my home. On Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar's arrival.at my home, my daughter was taking a video of the event. He asked her the necessity of recording his arrival and added on a lighter vein that it would be appropriated if he was a politician. My daughter immediately stopped filming.

I had placed white linen on a settee for Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar to have a seat. The others waited for him to take his seat on the settee and they all settled on the mat laid on the floor. Seeing this gesture of respect on our part, he immediately commented that he too did not need the seat and sat on the mat with us.

Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar suggested we do a prayer before he partakes the food we had prepared. It was a beautiful although a very short prayer to Agathiyar and the Siddhas. I had the painting of Agathiyar at my altar purchased immediately after the Nadi reading in 2002 from Sivabalan who had brought in Senthilkumar. I was also given a small booklet carrying all the Siddhas names, SIDDHAR POTRI THOGUPPU, compiled by Rengaraja Desigar of the Agathiyar Sanmarga Sangam in Ongarakudil, by Senthilkumar then.

Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar chanted a few hymns and showed the flame or Arati. We all adjoined for lunch.

As I stepped into the car now driven by my nephew to send Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar and Perumal back, I was on cloud nine. I could not contain my joy and blurted out that I was extremely happy that he had blessed my home by his arrival and added that no Saint or Guru had come over before this. To my surprise, he immediately shot me down by saying, "My son you are engrossed in Maya (or illusion)! You think I have something hidden within this saffron clothing (or Kaavi). I am not a Saint or Guru (Saamy) but only an AaSaamy." I felt embarrassed and kept quite. I could not understand why he had to say that then.

Today after eight years, I am grateful to him for saying that to me. I can imagine now what I would have done if he had remained quite and submitted to my praises and thanksgiving then. I would have immediately blown up his photo and would have garlanded him and prayed to him. He stopped me from starting a cult that worshipped him. Instead what he taught me was to worship the power or Shakti behind him. He calls this Shakti ...... Agathiyar! 

Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalar remains the same even today, shunning away from the limelight, still insisting that no one fall at his feet, and still mentioning that he was no super human being.

I was blessed to witness Agathiyar open his left eye in his granite statue at this temple for the very first time as mentioned in the Nadi. It was only possible after Tavayogi's gesture in throwing me his shawl. (2005)

Then in 2011, Suren from Malaysia visits Agasthiyampalli

Just yesterday, Jnana Jyothi Amma returns from having a Darshan of Agathiyar at Agasthiyampalli

VARADARAJ & THE BRONZE CREATIVE & AGASTHIYAMPALLI PART 2/2

Jnana Jyothiamma returned from Swamimalai and Vedaranyam. While at Swamimalai she met up with Varadaraj of the Bronze Creative, the creator of Agathiyar at Agathiyar Vanam.

Here is her mail and accompanying photos and videos.

Just before she left for Swamimalai, Jnana Jyothiamma mailed me, 

"Will be at Swamimalai on 17th Poosam day. Then from there will go to Vedaranyam and return the next day to .. (isolation). Spoke to Varadharaj now and he said that his place is only 2 kilometers from the temple. The secretary of Thirupuzhal trust who is also the direct lineage of Vallimalai Sachithananda Swamy will be accompany me. Program as of such. Will be making my reservations now. Going to see the daddy cool of your temple in it's original ABODE. We missed it last time. Me undertaking this for all of you."

Returning from Vedaranyam she sents me the photos and videos.

"Had just finished having a wonderful Dharshan of Lord Muruga and had descended the stairs. Just on top, is the Sanctum of the Lord. Wonderful Experience indeed!! Mr. Krishnan had arranged a couple of his aids to assist me. The people whom you see in the second pic, are the good souls arranged by Mr Krishnan. Krishnan is associated with the Thirupugazh Sangam and is on the lineage of Vallimalai Sachithananda Swamy. In the words of Dr. Sundaram, who,a very senior and enlightened soul and president of the Thirupuzal Sangam, Dr. Krishnan's WISDOM IS UNFATHOMABLE and it is only Lord Muruga's Blessings that you (me) were able to connect with him. Am yet to meet him, as he was busy those days, but he will be accompanying me to Vallimalai and Kathirgamam (Sri Lanka)."

At Varadharaj's factory ... Creative Bronze... Thimapalayam ... Swamimalai. 75% of the casting work has been done. Varadharaj says that everything will be completed in 5/6 months' time.

"I feel so blessed. Agathiyan has made me complete. To be able to touch the "Murthy of Lord Shiva. When I asked Varadharaj if he allowed the public inside to view this ... he replied that they do not and will not allow a single person to enter this place, apart from his assistants who work on this project. I was moved to tears when he said that he was waiting to show me this work."

"And Finally the SHOW STOPPERS. VARADHARAJ AND HIS BROTHER CHEENU ..... THE TWO CREATIVE GENIUSES OF 'CREATIVE BRONZE". The Architects/Artists/Sculptors behind the carving and making of Agathiyan at your temple, Shan. "AMAZING GRACE." Cheenu narrated to me, as to how he went to Agasthiyapalli, studied the Murthy of Agathiyan there. Sketched it as per the instructions given by you to Varadharaj .... AND HOW THEY WENT ABOUT FINISHING AGATHIYAR'S MURTHY WHICH NOW SITS MAJESTICALLY AT YOUR TEMPLE ... AGATHIYAR VANAM."

"On my right is Vadharaj and on my left is Cheenu. When I asked Vadharaj, what prompted him to carve out this huge Murthy of Lord Shiva, he replied that he wanted to enter the Guinness Book of World Records, of having carved and sculpted the largest Murthy of Lord Shiva IN THE WORLD. The Height of the Shiva is 17 ft and the Peedam is 6 ft which equals 23 ft. When I further questioned him, as to why 23 ft, he said ... Na... Ma.. Shi... Va... Ya... equals. Hence the idea of the number 23 struck him.Truly amazing. He then went on to narrate that, they had exported Bronze idols of Amma, Lord Shiva (smaller sizes), Vinayagan etc ..."

"So after finishing with Varadaraj, I started on my way to Vedaranyam, Agasthyapalli to meet OUR FATHER. It is around 150 Kilometers from Swamimalai. Cheenu gave directions to the driver."

"After traveling 150 kilometers, there was no sign of reaching Vedaranyam ... as we almost reached the border of Nagapattinam. Just 14 kilometers more to reach Nagapattinam border and after that there is no land .. then sea all around. Just 17 kilometers in the water ... one is on the Sri Lanka Shore."

"So he stopped the car at this point and he asked a guy who was sitting in a small shop near by, the directions to reach Vedaranyam. He told us that we had traveled/crossed past the road, that led to Vedaranyam. He told us that the easiest way to go to Vedaranyam was, through "Ettukudi Murugan Temple" which he said we had crossed."

"When I heard the name ETTUKUDI MURUGAN TEMPLE, I told him that this temple was near Nagapattinam, for which he answered, "Why Amma you want to go to Nagapattinam for this. Go 2 kilometers backwards, there will be a road on the right side of this main road with a board reading Ettukudi Murugan Temple."

"Get into that road and straight 5 kilometers you reach Vedaranyam and another 5 kilometers you reach Agasthyapalli. So we drove back and started to proceed towards Agasthyapalli."

"Shan, do you remember I had mentioned about "Ettukudi Murugan Temple" to you two months back and I also told you that I am planning to go there and then go to Nattadreeshwar temple? But mysterious circumstances made me cancel this and head towards Nattadreeshwar temple. You know about that. I cancelled my reservations to Nagapattinam and headed to Erode. But this was always at the back of my head. I knew that I needed to go there. Only the time factor was not correct that time, during Karthika Deepam."

"So we entered that road and within a few feet this Ettukudi Murugan Temple was there. It was around 1 pm. There was an Abhishekam that was being done to Lord Muruga that time. So I was there till the Abhishekam got over. At the back of Murugan's Sanctum is a small shrine of Lord Shiva and Lord Dakshinamoorthy faces Shiva."

"Vallalar has said that many saints had got the Vision of Lord Muruga in this place called Etukudi. Lord Muruga, who is residing in Ettu (8) in Tamil, was born with six head emitting form the eyes of Lord Shiva. Agathiyan had also mentioned to me. So before getting the Dharshan of Lord Shiva, we will get the Dharshan of Lord Muruga also known as the Lord with Six heads."

"In Arutperumjyothi Agaval, Vallalar had specifically mentioned that, 'Knowing and Realizing the 8 and 2 were the first step ... 8 and 2 .. stands for both our eyes. HE had also built the Sathya Gnana Sabha as a 8 sided or octagonal building resembling our head .. Vallalar .. adds up to number 8."

"Reached Agasthiyampalli around 3 pm. Temple was locked, but an old person saw me entering and asked me if I want to go inside. He said he was the caretaker. I said I want to see Agathiyar. He opened the temple and also told me that normally he opens it only at 5.30 pm coz the priest would come only at 6 pm. As Ambal Sannadhi is the first one to the right .. I worshiped HER and the went straight inside Shiva's Sanctum, worshiped HIM. It was very dark inside. Then went to Agathiyan's Shrine."

"Since there were oil smears on the floor, there was no proper place to leave my cam, as I did not want to take pics. I was getting an opportunity of a lifetime to be in HIS temple all alone with HIM, I wanted to chant HIS Potri and meditate there for at least an hour. So again I went near the entrance of the temple, where the caretaker was sitting and left my Bloggie Cam with him as I could not find my driver in the vicinity."

"So I went inside .... stood motionless in front of daddy ... dunno how long .. and was inside HIS sanctum for almost two hrs."

"When I opened my eyes, I saw this caretaker standing at the entrance of daddy's shrine and he handed over my Bloggie Cam to me and I thanked him for opening the temple doors and gave him a small token of gratitude and as I was nearing the gate, saw a van load of tourist come inside. I was all alone with daddy at Agasthiyampalli for two hours."

"While traveling, I opened my cam to browse through the pics what all had been taken during the course of the day at Swamimalai and Varadharaj's place .... I was thrown aback in surprise .. when I saw the following pics ... how did this elderly temple caretaker operate this camera ... I wonder and he did not breathe a word to me ..... Ram could not accompany me, as he fell very sick and went back to his home after the Purnima Pooja in Kallar. And I did not want to spend my time taking pics of daddy ... as I wanted to be with Agathiyan .... all alone and meditate there for at least an hour. HE had planned for me to be here all alone. Surely there must be a reason. Since I couldn't find my driver, I handed over my cam to this elderly caretaker. HE WILL BE NEARING HIS 80'S. See for yourself the pics."