WHO IS MAKING THE DECISION or ARE WE IN CHARGE OF OUR LIFES?

I was just listening to a podcast on the Love, Serve, Remember Foundation's blog where Raghu Markus introduces Ram Dass and his seeking a Guru that takes him to Maharaji. He narrates an incident where the Maharaji was having his face shaved when the barber laments to him about how his eldest son left 10 years ago and never returned. He was telling Maharaji that he needed his son now has he was pretty old and had to have someone take care of the family. Maharaji it seems left to go out while in the midst of having his face only partially shaven. Shortly after Maharaji returned and took his seat and the barber continued shaving. Maharaji tells him that "God will take care". 

The next day the barber's son arrives! The father visibly shaken asks the son what he was doing back at their home. The son replies that a man came rushing into his place and insisted that he (the son) leave for his home immediately. What astonished and surprised the son further was that the man's face was half-shaven!

Raghu Markus narrates another equally amazing story. After a long time seeking Maharaji and not finding him, and enrolling in a meditation course for a couple of months, Ram Dass decides to take a break by going to Delhi and have some ice-cream and a bath. Some of his friends wanted to follow too. On the way someone suggested they stop at Alahabad to have a darshan of Lord Hanuman. Now Ram Dass was left in a dilemma as he had to decide since he had arranged the trip and transport. Although Ram Dass wanted very much to skip Alahabad and continue to Delhi, after much pondering he finally gave in. As the entourage of 33 arrived at Hanuman's temple, there was Maharaji waiting to receive them! What surprised them further was that Maharaji had asked the household to wake up early that day and prepare food for 33 guests!

Now Raghu Markus and Ram Dass asked, "Who is making the decision here?"

Listen to this podcast at http://www.ramdass.org/indian-stories/

I had translated from the original in Tamil and written in FIRE OF DEVOTION, about a similar miracle, one among many revealed to the Jeeva Nadi Guru of Chennai by Agathiyar through the Jeeva Nadi in his possession, currently being posted by Velayudham Karthikeyan on his blog Siththan Arul.

Case 3 The Case of the Devoted Devotee

A devotee of Agathiyar who had received Agathiyar’s blessings in the Jeeva Nadi before going to Dubai called the Jeeva Nadi Guru on the second day of his arrival in Dubai to inform him that he had lost his travel documents and cash. He only realized it was missing when he was at a counter to pay for the stuff that he had purchased. He wanted to know from Agathiyar if he would get back his documents and cash. 

The Jeeva Nadi Guru looked into the Nadi if Agathiyar had an answer for him. 

“He shall get back what he lost. Ask him to pray to his kuladeivam and Puttaparthi mainthan. This lad had taken Satya Sai Baba as his Guru and frequented Puttaparthi helping with the chores. He has diligently followed Agathiyar’s Nadi. He is a true devotee.”

So why was he in this predicament? The Jeeva Nadi Guru seek answers from Agathiyar on his behalf. 

Agathiyar reveals, “This lad had promised to conduct garuda utsavam at the temple of his kuladeivam. Even after eight years, he had not carried out his promise. He had also promised to feed 100 people at Puttaparthi if he landed the job in Dubai. However, in his haste to leave for Dubai, he did not do as promised. If he had done as promised he would not have landed himself into this trouble.” 

The Jeeva Nadi Guru waited for the lad’s call from Dubai. The lad called again. When the Jeeva Nadi Guru mentioned what was revealed in the Jeeva Nadi, the lad recalled his promises and promised to fulfill them once he was back home. He added that he had just received a call from the shopping outlet. The shopkeeper had in his possession the lad’s passport, visa and wallet. He told the Jeeva Nadi Guru that he would call again once he took possession of them.

After half an hour, he called back. He narrated what had transpired. Someone came to the shopping outlet and had handed over his documents. The lad was puzzled because the description given by the shopkeeper was that of Agathiyar! The lad immediately took out a photo of Agathiyar that he always carried along in his pocket. The shopkeeper acknowledged that it was Agathiyar who handed the documents! 

TAYUMANAVAR

Kediliappa Pillai, an administrative officer in the Nayak Kingdom, and Gajavalli offered their son Siva Chidambaram in adoption to his elder brother, as his brother Vedaranyam had no child of his own. Moving to Trisirapuram from Vedaranyam, on the invitation of the Minister Govindappa to serve the King Vijaya Ranga Chokkanatha’s court, both Kediliappa and Gajavalli now frequented Lord Thayumanavar seeking for another child. The good Lord blessed them with one who they named Tayumanavar. After his father’s demise Tayumanavar was offered his father’s job. Although he had access to the royal kingdom and its luxuries, all these did not lure Tayumanavar from his keen yearning to know the Lord. 

Tayumanavar who frequented the rock-temple for his daily worship, met his master there and immediately asked that he take him into his fold and allow him to follow and serve him. Mauna Guru was an embodiment of Lord Dhaksanamurthy. He hardly spoke. But he made an exception then.

Dr B Natarajan in his translation of SONGS OF SAINT TAYUMANAVAR describes the meeting between Tayumanavar and his guru, Mauna Guru. 

"Master" said the disciple, "I shall follow Thee, renouncing home and royal service."

"Wait, good soul!" admonished the Teacher, "be a householder until you beget a child. Then I shall come to initiate you in meditation."

The master put him on a regime to follow and left, 

"Be silent. Rest in peace. Keep quiet (Summa Eru). Have faith. You will reach the supreme state of Bliss".

Thayumanavar followed the master’s teachings faithfully.

At the invitation of his brother Siva Chidambaram, Tayumanavar with his disciple Arulayya left for his hometown Vedaranyam. He was married to Mattuvarkuzhali and later had a son Kanakasabhapati. When his wife passed away, he entrusted his son to his brother’s care and waited for the return of his master. The master came as promised. 

Dr B Natarajan writes further, 

"The Master came one day when he was meditating before the vast sea near Vedaranyam. Thayumanavar fell at his feet crying:

"Master, by Thy Grace, I am free to follow Thee. Bless me with Thy Grace. Let me enter the high plane of superconscious trance. Let my being thrill with the nectar of immortality"

The Master graciously looked at the ripe soul and said, "My darling, your psychic being is ripe enough to receive that yoga. My son, hear from me the ancient wisdom taught by Sri Mula (Thirumular) and Satyadarsi and sing it to humanity."

The Divine Master, then initiated the faithful disciple in super conscious trance, poured his energy into him and watched his progress for a few days before he disappeared. 

Many years later, Tayumanavar willed to shed his mortal frame. He entered his room and closed the door leaving a note outside which read,  (Dr B Natarajan's translation)

"Dear friends, withdraw the mind from the senses and fix it in meditation. Control the thought-current. Find out the thought-centre and fix yourself there. Then you will be conscious of the Divine Self; you will see it dancing in ecstasy. Live in that delight. That Delight-Consciousness, is the God in you. He is in every heart. You need not go anywhere to find Him. Find your own core and feel Him there. Peace, bliss, felicity, health - everything is in you. Trust in the Divine in you. Entrust yourself to His Grace. Be as you are. Off with past impressions. He who lives from within an in-gathered soul-life is a real Sage though he may be a householder. He who allows his mind to wander with the senses is an ignoramus, though he is learned. See as a witness, without the burden of seeing. See the world just as you see a drama. See without attachment, Look within. Look at the inner light unshaken by mental impressions. Then, floods of conscious bliss shall come pouring in and around you from all directions. This is the supreme Knowledge; realize! Aum Aum!"

Arulayya broke open the door and was confronted by the body of his guru in union with the Lord. Tayumanavar went into samadhi in the Tamil year of Subakiruthu, Tamil month of Thai,  Visaka Natchathiram which coincided with a full moon day, of 15th of January 1742.

My family and I witnessed a miracle at Lord Tayumanavar's Temple at Trichy which was the last leg of our tour of India last October. After paying our respects to Lord Ganapathy at the start of our climb, we arrived at Tayumanavar's Temple. We were dazed for a while as to which way to go to get the darshan of the Lord. That is when we hear a clap. A man clad in white shirt and dhoti beckoned us to approach him. He only made hand gestures and sounds. Immediately he hurried away looking back occasionally to see if we were following him. He took us around the temple complex, touching the deities and motioning us to follow suite. At one spot he stopped in his tracks and got down on his knees, motioning us to do so to. And then he pointed out to us a Shivalinga, visible only through a small opening, snuggled on a level below the one we stood on. He then lead us to Ambal's sannadhi. Then he motioned us to go up a couple of steps and we did as directed, while he stayed behind. There was Lord Shiva seated majestically in the form of a Shivalingam. As we came down the steps he was waiting on us. He then lead us out of the inner chambers to the passage where we joined the other devotees. He pointed the way to Uchipilaiyar's Temple. We were still in a daze, now more dazed then ever as to what had transpired a moment ago. Who was this soul who came to our aid?

Vedaranyan has a special place in our hearts too. This was where Agathiyar opened his eyes in his granite statue in his temple at Agasthiyampalli, Vedaranyam just as he had promised in the Nadi reading. This is also the very first temple built for Agathiyar by a Asura King Kuberan at the start of Kali yuga in recognition of Agathiyar curing him and his subjects by feeding them. This revelation was made known to Dr V.M Jayapalan of Bangalore during his meditation. The Dr narrates the historic turn of events in the following video.

At Agathiyar's Temple, Agasthiyampalli, Vedaranyam. Photo courtesy of Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal

Agathiyar as he appears in Vedaranyam in 2009. Photo courtesy of Varadaraj of the Bronze Creative, Swamimalai

Agathiyar at Vedaranyam in 2012. Photo courtesy of Suren Selvaratnam

A replica in bronze of Agathiyar in Vedaranyam beautifully sculpted by Varadaraj of the Bronze Creative is being worshiped at Agathiyar Vanam in Malaysia following Agathiyar's directives in the Nadi reading.

Agathiyar performs the same feat of opening his eyes to bless his devotees in the replica of his form at Agathiyar Vanam, Malaysia. Photo courtesy of Praba Shanmugam Avadaiyappa

(The above biography of Tayumanavar is based on Dr B Natarajan's translation available at http://www.mountainman.com.au/thayumanavar/bkground.htm, http://www.scribd.com/doc/211340505/The-Songs-of-Tayumanavar and at https://www.himalayanacademy.com/view/the-songs-of-tayumanavar)

ANOTHER NEW KID ON THE BLOG

Saravanan Palanisamy has created a blog at http://arulgnanajyothi.blogspot.com/. Siddha Heartbeat congratulates him on his maiden venture and wishes him all the best in hosting this blog. May the Siddhas guide and nourish him with insight and wisdom as he takes a big leap on this mystical and mysterious path of theirs.

A SIMPLE TRUTH AS TOLD BY RAM DASS

Here is another beautiful post by Ram Dass on his master and his teachings at http://www.ramdass.org/simple-truth/

If only we can get closer to these truths and uphold them in our daily life.

ON PLEASURE, HAPPINESS & JOY

Ram Dass posted a beautiful article on his blog at http://www.ramdass.org/ocean-devotion/

Saravanan Palanisamy's beautiful depiction of devotion from Velayudham Karthikeyan's post of today on his blog Sitthan Arul 

A MOMENT WITH VELAYUDHAM KARTHIKEYAN

Beginning today we shall have three consecutive days of prayers. Today 11.6.2014 is Vaikashi Visagam, an auspicious day to hold prayers for Lord Murugan. Tomorrow will be Guru Naal, a Thursday, like all Thursdays is auspicious for the worship of one's Guru or Master and it is also a full moon which is of course an auspicious day for the Siddhas where they worship Lord Shiva. The following day 13.6.2014 is the day of transit of Jupiter or Guru Bhagawan and an auspicious day to hold prayers too.(13.6.14 as per Vakiya Panchangam which is widely followed in temples and 19.6.14 as per Thirukanitha Panchangam)

I have had the opportunity to chat with Velayudham Karthikeyan, the administrator of Sitthan Arul several times on Google +. He has posted many invaluable information on his blog. He has kindly shared many of his thoughts and some of Agathiyar's dictates with me. I think he would not mind me sharing them with you. 

Chatting with him, I could see the humbleness in him. When I praised him for his effort in posting the revelations by Agathiyar to his friend the late Jeeva Nadi Guru of Chennai, in his blog, he very humbly brushed aside all praises and reminded me that all was Agathiyar's doing.

Here are a few wonderful views he held during our conversation (chat).

"அது அகத்தியரின் விருப்பம். அந்த தொகுப்பே அவருடையது. முன் சொன்னபடி, தலைப்பு கூட அவர் அருள், அவர் தீர்மானம். இதில் எனக்கு என்று ஒன்றுமே இல்லை. எல்லா புகழும் அவரையே சென்று சேரும்"

"It is Agathiyar's wish. The post (referring to the late Jeeva Nadi Guru of Chennai's revelations) is his. Even the title (Sitthan Arul) was by his grace and his decision (given by Agathiyar). All praise goes to him."

"ஏதும் அருளுவது அகத்தியர் என்கிற பட்சத்தில் நாம் யார் அதற்க்கு ஒரு விலையை நிச்சயிக்க. இது என் கருத்து."

"How can we state a prize when all (happenings) is by his grace. This is my opinion."

"மனித நேயம் தான் முருகர் விரும்பும் அன்பு. அதை எந்த உயிர் என்று பாராமல் நாம் மனிதர்கள் கொடுத்து பழகவேண்டும்."

"Lord Muruga prefers love and compassion. We should learn to show love to all beings." 

"அகத்தியரை தொடர்ந்தது முதல் ஒரு விஷயத்தை புரிந்து கொண்டேன். அவர் நடத்தும் நாடகத்தில், எந்த பாத்திரம் யாருக்கு சேரும் என்று அறிந்தே அருளுகிறார். அதற்கேற்றார் போல் தான் நிகழ்ச்சிகளும் நடக்கிறது." 

"After following Agathiyar, I realized something. In his play, he decides which role is appropriate for whom and showers his grace accordingly. And things happen accordingly."

"நான் யோசிக்கும் போது, ஆசை தான் மீண்டும் மீண்டும் பிறக்க காரணம். அதையே அறுத்துவிட்டால் என்ன? என்று தான் தோன்றும்."

"When I think about it, desire is the reason for taking rebirth. What if we detach from desires?" 

"அகத்தியருக்கு அடியவர் என்றால் அது இந்த ஜென்மத்துடன் முடிவதல்ல. எத்தனையோ ஜென்மங்கள் தொடர்பு இருந்தால் தான் அவரிடம் இருக்க முடியும்."

"Being a servant of Agathiyar means it does not end with this birth. Also coming to Agathiyar means having to take many many births serving him." 

To my question on why the Siddhas and the gurus consider this current period in time as the Gnana Siddhar Kaalam, Karthikeyan replies,

"Even though Agathiyar has not specifically mentioned about it, in over all manner when we see he insists gnana path as guidance. What I came to know recently is in Thuraiyur Agathiyar Asramam, the Swami (Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar) reads naadi. On May 18th, it came that Subramanyar (Lord Murugan) has come and taken charge and people need not worry and the world will be guided by Gnanis."

The transliteration of the Nadi revelation is as follows: "Aasaan Muruga perumaan aatchi poruppai yettrullaar. Ini jnanavaan aatchi appa", which translated means, "Lord Murugan has taken over the reign, it is the wise Gnanis that will administer." 

As to what would be the outcome during this golden period or age, Karthikeyan adds, "Intha manitharkal maaruvaarkal. Nalam vilayum. Ini kaliyin baathippu kurayum", that is, "People shall change (for the better). Good will prevail. The adverse effects of Kali (Yuga) will lessen."

To my question as to how a particular incident in a particular place can effect others far far away, Karthikeyan beautifully answers my query, "Oru yaagam nadanthaal, athan pugai, agni, balan ellaa idaththilum paravi suththap paduththuvathu pol, ingu varum maatram ulagai aalum", meaning, "Just as the fumes, the flame and effects of a Yagam or the fire ritual spreads and reaches everywhere and thus cleanses the atmosphere, so too does the change that takes place here, reigns the world."

Karthikeyan also mentioned a miracle that took place at Palani a year back. A transliteration by Karthikeyan,

"27/05/2014 andru Bogar Jenma Natchaththiram. Pona varudam ithe naalil naanum en uravinar oruvarum ponom. Pogum mun bogaridam, naangal varukirom, vanthu tharisanam kodungal endru vendik konden."

"Vanthaar paarunga. Muthalil unaravillai. Kooda vanthavar yetho kelvi ketkka atharkku bathil sollikkonde nimirnthu paarththen. Adiyenai koornthu gavaniththuk konde nadanthu sendraar. Kannil appadi oru velichcham. Naan vanakkam ayyaa endren. Punnagai pooththapadi thalaiyai aattik konde kadanthu sendraar. Antha neraththil naangal oru benchil amarnthirunthom. Ivan unaravillai endru therinthu kondavar, satru thalli poi yetho seivathu pol nindru kondirunthaar. Koottaam athikam enbathaal naanum gavanikkavillai."

"Naangal nadanthu sendru marupadiyum oru idaththil amarntha pozhuthu, marupadiyum engalai parththuk konde nadnthu sendru, engalukku pinnar valayum paathayil thirumbi ponaar. Sattendru unarntha naan, nanbarai azhaiththuk kondu vegamaaka odip poi avari thedum pozhuthu, avarai yengume kaanavillai. Adadaa, nalla vaaippai nazhuva vittuvittome endru satru varuththam."

"Pinnar thaan yosiththen. Naan kettathu tharisanam. Aathai sevvanave koduththuvittaar. Atharkkumel ethir paarppathum, varuththap paduvathum koodaathu endru theermaaniththuvitten. Mikuntha karunai ullam konda siththar avar."

A translation of his amazing encounter.

Bogar's Jenma Natchatththiram is on 27.5.14. My relative and I had been there last year (in Palani for the event). Before leaving, we prayed that Bogar should give us his darshan. He came! I did not realized initially. As I looked up while answering a question from my relative, someone walked pass me, his eyes fixed on me. There was a shine in his eyes. I wished him. He gave a smile and nodded and continued walking past me. We were sitted on a bench at that moment. Realizing that I did not realize who he was, he walked some distance and stood there as if doing something. Since there was a large crowd, I did not heed him then.

When we moved to another spot, again he passed us looking at us as he walked by. He disappeared around a corner behind us. Only then did I realize and with my relative, we gave chase. But he was no where to be seen. I became disappointed since I had missed a good opportunity.

Then I thought to myself. I had asked for a darshan. He had given me what I had asked for. I should not be asking for more nor should I regret. That was the compassionate Bogar.

Karthikeyan concluded with a description of how Bogar appeared to him, "Aanaal nalla uyaram. Thejasaana sareeram. Aazhntha paarvai", that is, "But he was tall, a body of Thejas, and a deep penetrating look."

Later in Karthikeyan's posts of May 29, Agathiyar too mentions that "Ithu Siddhar Kaalam", or "this is the age of the Siddhas."

Then Karthikeyan mentions a means to overcome something that I was facing - my anger. He quotes Agathiyar,

"ஒவ்வொரு சூழ்நிலைக்கும் காரணம் கர்மா. அதை உன்னால் மாற்ற முடியாது. உணர முடியும், பிரார்த்தனை செய்தால் எங்களால் மாற்ற முடியும். பிரார்த்தனையுடன் அமரு. நாங்கள் பார்த்துக் கொள்கிறோம் என்றார்."

"Karma is the reason for all occurrences. You can't change that. But can realize it. If you pray, we can change it. Sit in prayer. We shall take care of it." 

Those were Agathiyar's comforting words.

Karthikeyan shares his beliefs too.

"முதலில் இருந்தே சித்தன் அருள் அகத்தியர் ஆணையால் உருவானது. தலைப்பு கூட அவர் தான் எடுத்துக் கொடுத்தார். அதில் வரும் விஷயங்களும், அவர் யாரெல்லாம் எதை எல்லாம் தெரிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும் என்று விரும்பினாரோ, அவர்களுக்காக கொடுத்தார். எல்லாமே அவருடையது என்கிற பட்சத்தில், எல்லாம் உங்களுக்கே சமர்ப்பணம் என்ற பொழுது அவர் சொன்னார், "தமிழ் முருகனுக்கு சொந்தம்; நடந்த நிகழ்ச்சிகள் யாருடைய கர்மாவோ, இதில் எனது என்பது என்ன?"

"Sitthan Arul (the blog and the post) is a result of Agathiyar's directive, right from the beginning. Even the name of the blog was given by Agathiyar. It was Agathiyar's desire to disclose the episodes thus revealing messages to those who needed direction. Since all was his, I decided to surrender unto him. That's when Agathiyar questions, "Tamil (the language) belongs to Lord Murugan. All the happenings (narrated in Sitthan Arul) are people's karma. How can I (Agathiyar) claim credit for it?"

"அதை அப்படியே வாங்கி போட்டுவிட்டேன். அதும் இரவல் தான். என்னுடையதல்ல. அவருடையது. உயர்ந்ததாகத்தான் இருக்கும். அதில் எந்த வித சந்தேகமும் இல்லை. இந்த உலகில் நடப்பவை எதுவும், யாருக்கும் சொந்தமில்லை. அது அனைத்தும் இறைவனுக்கு சொந்தம். இதைத்தான் அவர் குறிப்பிடுகிறார்."

Karthikeyan says he carried this statement of Agathiyar in his blog. It was not his but borrowed. It was Agathiyar's words too. "Nothing is ours. It's all God's doing. This is what Agathiyar mentions."

"நான் தினமும் என்னை ஞாபகப் படுத்திக் கொள்கிற ஒரு விஷயம். நான் போகும் பொழுது எதுவுமே கொண்டு போகப் போவதில்லை. அப்படி என்றால் எது என்னுடையது? என்ற எண்ணத்தை உள்ளே புகுத்திக் கொள்வேன். அதனால் எந்த வருத்தமும் வருவதில்லை."

"Each day I remind myself, that I am not taking anything with me (on my demise). If that's the case, then what is mine? When I carry this thought with me, then I do not get disappointed."

Karthikeyan reminds me the date of Agathiyar's Jayanthi too,

"மார்கழி மாதம் ஆயில்யம் அகத்தியரின் நட்சத்திரம் என்று சொல்வார்கள். குறித்து வைத்துக் கொள்ளுங்கள்"

"Agathiyar's star is Ahilyam in the Tamil month of Maargazhi. Please take note."

He reminds me also about the coming Guru Peyarchi,

"அவர் குரு. இந்த வருடம் குரு பகவான் மிக பலம் பெற்று உச்சத்தில் இருக்கும் காலம். 12 வருடங்களுக்கு ஒரு முறை இதே போல் அமையும். இது சித்தர்கள் காலம். அந்த நேரத்தில் குரு பலம் பெற்று இருக்க, செய்கிற விஷயங்கள் பல மடங்கு உயர்வு பெரும். ஆதலால் எங்கு வாய்ப்பு கிடைத்தாலும், நுழைந்துவிடுங்கள். அபூர்வமாக இப்படி ஒரு வாய்ப்பு கிடைக்கும்."

"He (Agathiyar) is Guru. Guru is strong and at his full strength the coming year (beginning 13.6.14) This only happens once in 12 years. This is the age of the Siddhas. Since Guru is at his peak, all things done will acquire strength in multiple folds, hence, whenever possible participate (in prayers). It is indeed a very rare opportunity."

He also shared a unique unheard of concept.

"முகம் மறக்க வேண்டும். அது ஒரு மிக உயர்ந்த தத்துவம்."

"The face has to be forgotten. It is a very high philosophy!"

Even as I posted this post, I saw that Karthikeyan was on line and sent him a message asking for permission to use our conversation. He was gracious enough to remind me that nothing was ours to own!

Vanakam Aiya. ipoluthu thaan adiyen oru post yethi erunthen. Naam pesiyathil silavattrai post seithullen.

http://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-moment-with-velayudham-karthikeyan.html.

Thaagalin anumathiyai naadukindren.

12 mins

வணக்கம் திரு சண்முகம் அவர்களே

நேற்று தான் சொன்னேன். என்னுடையது என்று ஒன்றும் இல்லை என்று. என்னிடம் அனுமதி கேட்கவே வேண்டாம். பிறரிடம் பகிர்ந்து கொள்ளவேண்டும் என்ற நோக்கத்தில் தான் அதுவே வெளி வருகிறது. எதையும் எடுத்து பிறருடன் பகிர்ந்து கொள்ளுங்கள்

என் அனுமதி இதற்க்கு தேவை இல்லை என்பதே என் எண்ணம்.

SARAVANAN TIES THE KNOT

You would have seen his beautiful, vibrant paintings that adorned the pages of Sitthan Arul lately. His paintings brought to life the revelations by Agathiyar that it accompanied, posted by Velayudham Karthikeyan. 

Saravanan Palanisamy married Tamarai between 10 am and 12 noon today 4.6.2014, in a simple wedding held at Klang, Malaysia in the presence of family and friends. May Agathiyar and all the Siddhas bless and keep the newly married couple well.

Saravanan & Tamarai tie the knot

AGASTHIYAR GNANAM

Agasthiyar Gnanam is one of Agathiyar's many works. It is available as part of Periya Gnana Kovai.

An audio of this beautiful rendition set to beautiful music is hosted by http://xn--vkc6a6ba9cg7h0ee.com/sage/ and available at https://soundcloud.com/kalyanakumar1985 and https://soundcloud.com/kalyanakumar1985/sets/agathiyar-gnanam-30

Read along at http://www.tamilvu.org/slet/l7100/l7100pd1.jsp?bookid=140&pno=366

Agathiyar digitally edited by Bala Chandran

A BEAUTIFUL SPEECH

KARMA (Part 4)

How Does Karma Work For One Who Is Realized?

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami showers some light on this.

"After the realization of the Self, Parasiva, the forces of dharma and previous karma still exist, but through the force of the realization of God, much of the impending impact of karma has dwindled, and it is faced differently, treated differently. Prior to the experience of realization, karmas were dealt with in individual increments. After realization, the sum total is seen. The spiritual destiny is realized."

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami writes how clear it all is to the Yogis whose karma that once stood in their way of God realization is removed. Fresh karma is then dissolved immediately. Karma waiting to germinate is roasted in the fire of their tapas.

"One does not have the experience of realizing the Self until all of his karma is in a state of resolve. When this begins to occur in him, he actually sees that man is not man, man is the Self, God, for his karma and the forces of his dharma have begun to become transparent to him. Through the power of his realization, the karma is created and simultaneously dissolved. This occurs for the one who lives in the timeless state of consciousness. If one were to realize the Self each day, he would live his life like writing his karma on the surface of water. The swamis who renounce the world and do tapas are trying to burn the seeds of the karmas that they did not bring with them in this life. They set fire to the whole house. They renounce the world and put restrictions upon themselves that others don’t."

Paramahansa Yogananda says,

"In Nirbikalpa Samadhi the yogi dissolves the last vestiges of his material or earthly karma. Nevertheless, he may still have certain astral and causal karma to work out and therefore takes astral and then causal embodiment on high vibration spheres."

Yogi Ramsuratkumar consoled his disciples when he was about to go into samadhi, saying he could do a better job in the subtle plane.

How Does Karma Work For One Who Is Under The Care Of A Guru?

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami explains that karma is transferable.

"Karma is transferable. One can take on some of the karma of other people, work it out for them and make their burden a little easier for them. The guru guides and also shares a bit of the heavier burdens, if one is fortunate enough to be dedicated enough to have a guru who will lend his powers in this way. But each aspect of the karma, the outgrowth of the dharma, must be passed through by the disciple, creating as little as possible of a similar karma on this tenuous path of the repetition of the cycles of life. The guru may take unto himself, into his nerve system, some of the heavier areas of your karma in the same way your parents performed this function for you perhaps unknowingly."

Paramahansa Yogananda in AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI, Self Realization Fellowship, 1990, adds that only great gurus can take on their disciples karma.

"By putting on the ailments of others, a yogi can satisfy, for them, the karmic law of cause and effect; its workings may be scientifically manipulated by men of divine wisdom. Only great gurus are able to assume the karma of disciples."

Agathiyar has taken on the karma of his devotees. Paramahansa Yogananda struck the shoulder of a chela with a burning brand only to free him from painful death; thus satisfying the karmic law through slight suffering by fire. Help a hungry man by feeding him and you have brought relief to him. The donor gains merit and is relieved of his karma. Similarly the karma of the one fed is exhausted that very moment too.

Annie Besant and Bhagawan Das in SANATANA DHARMA by the Theosophical Publishing House, 2000 states an exception to this.

"Only a full and clear knowledge of the causes in the past resulting in the suffering of the present could justify refusal to help on karmic grounds."

What Happens When All The Karma Of All Past Lives Is Worked Out?

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami reveals the answer.

"You would truly be an artisan, an absolute expert at working out karma in the mental and spiritual spheres, and could begin to help working out karma for other people."

Annie Besant and Bhagawan Das in SANATANA DHARMA by the Theosophical Publishing House, 2000 write, 

"A man may escape from the wheel of births and deaths, and yet remain manifested so long as Eswara chooses to manifest, by ceasing to create karma and by exhausting what already exists. When all desires hidden in the heart are loosed, then the mortal becomes immortal, then he enjoys Brahman. Whose works are all free from the molding of desire, whose karma is burned up in the fire of wisdom, him the wise have called a sage. Then freedom is achieved, and the man may either remain, as the rishis have remained, to aid in the evolution going on in the Brahmananda or may sink to rest."

If they chose to return to help others work out their karma, Paramahansa Yogananda writes,

"Such voluntary returns are called vyutthana or reversion to earthly life after Maya has ceased to blind. When the yogi has reached his infinite goal, all his actions, miraculous or otherwise, are then performed without karmic involvement. The iron filings of karma are attracted only where a magnet of the personal ego still exists. Their incarnations on this planet are not subject to the rigid restrictions of karma. Sri Yukteswar himself was serving on an illumined astral planet called Hiranyaloka as a savior to help men work out their physical karma. He aids advanced beings to rid themselves of astral karma and thus attain liberation from astral births. Even as in his earthly incarnation he had occasionally assumed the weight of disease to lighten his disciple’s karma, so in the astral world his mission as a savior enabled him to take on certain astral karma of dwellers on Hiranyaloka, and thus hasten their evolution into the higher causal world."

The realized one would be required to go back into the society with a mission to educate and bring more souls into the fold of God. His actions would not create good or bad karma for he would then be carrying out activities that would not enslave him but instead be for the betterment of the people who come into contact with him. He could then choose to leave on his own will when the time was right.

And there are the Siddhas, Rishis and Munis who are on the look out for potential aspirants on this path to realization, spot them and take them into the folds, guide them, take upon themselves the karma of these aspirants and them achieve realization just as they have attained. Such is the grace of the Siddhas that they chose to see into both the past and the future of humans and have them written down so that humanity could learn to rectify its mistakes and make good whatever harm done to others. In simple terms the Siddhas have showed us an escape route to end this cycle of birth.

KARMA (Part 3)

How Does Devotion Help Remove Karma?

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami beautifully explains how Bhakti or devotion eradicates one's karma.

"Bhakti brings grace, and the sustaining grace melts and blends the karmas in the heart. In the heart chakra the karmas are in a molten state. The throat chakra molds the karmas through sadhana, regular religious practices. The third-eye chakra sees the karmas, past, present and future, as a singular oneness. And the crown chakra absorbs, burns clean, enough of the karmas to open the gate, the door of Brahman, revealing the straight path to merging with Siva."

Many of the present day saints have extolled the efficacy of songs of saints of days bygone, that arose out of extreme devotion, in 'melting the heart' as Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami phrases it. The Thiruarutpa of the Siddha Ramalinga Adigal; the Thirumanthiram of the Siddha Thirumular; the Thevaram of the sixty-three Nayanmar; the Thirupugazh of the Siddha Arunagiri; the Agasthiyar Satagam by Kunangkudi Masthan Sahib and the numerous songs by the Siddhas all have helped bring about the right mood whereby even the toughest heart is mellowed down. Only when the heart melts can man see through this veil of Maya or ignorance. Ramalingam mentions seven veils that need to be removed before one enters that state of realization, seeing the Lord in oneself and other beings too.

What Are The Other Means Of Overcoming Karma?

Paramahansa Yogananda in AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI, Self Realization Fellowship, 1990, conveys his master’s (Sri Yukteswar) message.

"All human ills arise from some transgression of universal law. The scriptures point out that man must satisfy the laws of nature, while not discrediting the divine omnipotence. By a number of means - by prayer, by will power, by yoga meditation, by consultation with saints, by use of astrological bangles - the adverse effects of past wrongs can be minimized or nullified."

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami says,

"Planetary changes activate new karmas and close off some of the karmas previously activated. The magnetic pulls and the lack of magnetism are what jyotisha (Vedic astrology) is telling us is happening at every point in time. These karmas then wait in abeyance, accumulating new energy from current actions, to be reactivated at some later time. These karmic packets become more refined, life after life, through sadhana. All of this is summed up by one word, evolution. The sum total of all karmas, including the journey through consciousness required to resolve them, is called samsara."

This explains the reason behind the various beneficial and adverse effects encountered and endured by people during the transit of planets as charted in astrological charts. On 19.6.2014 Guru or Jupiter will be moving and as a result bring a myriad of changes to individuals life for a year according to their charts. Similarly people have feared the planet Sani or Saturn who tends to stay longer for a period of 7 1/2 years. As Satguru says "Planetary changes activate new karmas and close off some of the karmas previously activated", here we are given an opportunity to exhaust our past karmas and to either work on more recent ones or move on with a clean slate. The ever compassionate Siddhas by giving us the science of jyotisha, have enabled us to be forewarned about matters and thus take the necessary steps to avoid or overcome them.

Ram Das in PATH TO GOD - Living The Bhagavad Gita, Harmony Books, 2004, shows a way through.

"If we want to get done with it all, its clear that the first step in the process is to stop creating new waves. We’re never going to be finished if we keep making new waves for ourselves everyday. Once we’re acting purely out of dharma and not out of any desire, we’re no longer making waves. When you've totally surrendered to your dharma, when you’re no longer trying for anything, that’s your way through."

Dr Hiroshi Motoyama in KARMA AND REINCARNATION, Piatkus, 1992 suggests,

"Dissolving karma through learning detachment – non-action within action i.e. acting out the unfolding of one’s day to day life continuously but without attachment to the results of the action."

Eknath Easwaran in DIALOGUE WITH DEATH - A Journey Through Consciousness, Jaico Publishing House, 2002, advises,

"If we can learn not to act on a samskara by severing the connection between stimulus and response, that particular chain of karma will no longer have a hold on us. Past and future are both contained in every present moment. Whatever we are today is the result of what we have thought, spoken, and done in all the present moments before now - just as what we shall be tomorrow is the result of what we think, say, and do today."

Eknath Easwaran says if man learns to say no to his/her samskaras, the decisions will definitely be different. Every time a samskara prompts him to action he should make use of this opportunity to manage not to make the mistake of participating; then the chain can be broken. Easwaran drives the point that the responsibility for both present and future is squarely in man’s own hands.

Similarly both Agathiyar and Tavayogi have told me to be indifferent and to not to respond, retaliate or entertain adverse stimulus on many occasions.

Just as Lao Tze asked that we go with the flow, Annie Besant and Bhagawan Das in SANATANA DHARMA by the Theosophical Publishing House, 2000, write,

"A man who knows the law of nature utilizes those whose forces are going his way and neutralize those which oppose. The laws of nature state conditions under which certain results follow. According to the results desired conditions may be arranged, and, given the conditions, the results will invariably follow. Hence the law of nature does not compel any special action, but only renders all actions possible."

To substantiate this fact, an excerpt from Sogyal Rinpoche's THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING AND DYING, HarperSanFrancisco, 1993,

"Karma, then, is not fatalistic or predetermined. Karma means our ability to create and to change. It is creative because we can determine how and why we act. We can change. The future is in our hands, and in the hands of our heart. As everything is impermanent, fluid, and interdependent, how we act and think inevitably change the future. We must realize that every moment in our life, every joy and every sorrow, can be traced to some source within us. There is no one “out there” making it all happen. We make it happen or not happen according to the actions we perform, the attitudes we hold and the thoughts we think. Therefore, by gaining conscious control of our thoughts and attitudes by right action, we can control the flow of karma."

Lama Surya Das in AWAKENING THE BUDDHA WITHIN - Tibetan Wisdom For The Western World‖, Bantam Books, 1997, says,

"Every moment we are presented with the possibility of changing the future. By thorough understanding of karmic causation and skillful means we can become free. We change, and our future changes too. This is the truth. This is karma. We are responsible; the lever of our destiny remains in our hands."

Annie Besant and Bhagawan Das in SANATANA DHARMA by the Theosophical Publishing House, 2000 explains further.

"The main thing to see in karma is not a destiny imposed from without, but a self-made destiny, imposed from within, and therefore a destiny that is continually being remade by its maker."

Dr. Hiroshi Motoyama in KARMA AND REINCARNATION, Piatkus, 1992 examines karma further.

"Karma is basically a result of the spiritual ignorance of the self that mistakenly believes it is an independent entity. As long as the self functions in this state of ignorance it is imprisoned in a continuous process of death and reincarnation within the dimensions of reality that are governed by the law of cause and effect."

Paramahansa Yogananda in the BHAGAVAD GITA, Yogada Satsanga Society of India, 2002 says.

"Man has the divine gift of free choice, which he can use properly or improperly, to his benefit or harm. Animals, not subject to individual karma, are under the sway of group or mass karma. An animal’s life is predestined; man’s is not."

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami,

"We bring just a certain portion of our karmas to live through in this life, called prarabdha karmas. Karmas left to be worked out in another life are in seed stage, inactive. So, here we are, with our two suitcases of karma, and the idea is to go through life and come out the other end without the suitcases. Unless we have dharma, which we are committed to and live fully, which has the restraints, we would fill up the suitcases again."

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in MERGING WITH SIVA – Hinduism’s Contemporary Metaphysics, Himalayan Academy, 2005 says,

"There are thousands of things vibrating in the muladhara chakra, and from those memory patterns they are going to bounce up into view one after another, especially if we gain more Prana by breathing and eating correctly. When meditation begins, more karma is released from the first chakra (muladhara chakra). Our individual karma is intensified as the ingrained memory patterns that were established long ago accumulate and are faced, one after another, after another, after another. In our first four or five years of striving on the path we face the karmic patterns that we would never have faced in this life had we not consciously sought enlightenment. Experiences come faster, closer together. So much happens in the short span of a few months or even a few days, catalyzed by the new energies released in meditation and by our efforts to purify mind and body, it might have taken us two or three lifetimes to face them all. They would not have come up before then, because nothing would have stimulated them."

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami cheers us up by asking us to "Carry your karma cheerfully". The Swami metes out three ways that one can handle karma.

1. The first approach,

"Then begin the tedious task of unwinding these multitudinous patterns through performing daily sadhana. Each next step will become quite obvious to you as you begin to find that you are the writer of your own destiny, the master of your ship through life, and the freedom of your soul is but yours to claim through your accomplishments of your yoga."

2. The second approach,

"The second way to face karma is in deep sleep and meditation. Seeds of karma that have not even expressed themselves can be traced in deep meditation by one who has many years of experience in the within. Having pinpointed the un-manifested karmic seed, the jnani can either dissolve it in intense light or inwardly live through the reaction of his past action."

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami continues,

"If his meditation is successful, he will be able to throw out the vibrating experiences or desires which are consuming the mind. In doing this, in traveling past the world of desire, he breaks the wheel of karma which binds him to the specific reaction which must follow every action. That experience will never have to happen on the physical plane, for its vibrating power has already been absorbed in his nerve system."

3. The third approach,

"A third way that past actions is re-enacted is through the actual intense reactionary experience and working with you, conquering inner desires and emotions. When something happens to you that you put into motion in a past life or earlier in this life, sit down and think it over. Do not strike out. Do not react. Work it out inside yourself. Take the experience within, into the pure energies of the spine and transmute that energy back into its primal source. In doing so, what happens? You change its consistency. It no longer has magnetic power, and awareness flows away from that memory pattern forever. You could remember the experience, but your perspective would be totally detached and objective. This is the most common way karma is resolved, in day-to-day experiences. The full force of the karmic experience comes, but because of his present goodness and previous blessings earned through control of his intellect, he receives the experience as a minor wound. This seed karma is worked through within himself in this way."

This is what saints have been doing. When the Siddha Pattinathar was accused of stealing jewels belonging to a temple, the local king had him tied to a post and whipped him. The Siddha took it on him without protest. He accepted it as Gods will. When Yogi Ramsuratkumar was set upon by mischief makers and beaten up, he accepted it as God’s will. His constant advice was to remain satisfied with whatever situation one found oneself in, realizing that it was part of the Divine will. He used to say, "In truth, there is only one will at work and that is Father’s will. It is therefore perfect, good for the individual, humanity and the cosmos."

Similarly when thieves broke into Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi’s ashram and beat him up he received the blows without defending himself. Tavayogi has reminded me not to oppose happenings but to submit to it. Annie Besant and Bhagawan Das describe this quietude on one’s part as merely choices to let past choices have their way, and to go in accordance with them. He simply chooses to do nothing. Again Lao Tzu too has reminded us to go with the flow.

From Henry Wei in the GUIDING LIGHT OF LAO TZU, Synergy Books International,

"So much emphasis does Lao Tzu lay on the most important doctrine in regard to spiritual cultivation known as Wu Wei or non-action which is in the sense of non-interference, that is to say, non-interference with the trend of nature or the flow of Tao."

The Tibetans accept karma as a natural and just process. Karma inspires them to be responsible in whatever they do says Sogyal Rinpoche.

Sogyal Rinpoche beautifully concludes that,

"Karma, then, is our best spiritual teacher. We spiritually learn and grow as our actions return to us to be resolved and dissolved."

KARMA (Part 2)

Karma

The subject of karma has been extensively researched and written by many outstanding saints and authors.

"What you are is what you have been, what you will be is what you do now" goes the saying of the Buddha.

"If you want to know your past life, look into your present condition; if you want to know your future life, look at your present actions" says Padmasambhava.

Annie Besant and Bhagawan Das in SANATANA DHARMA by the Theosophical Publishing House, 2000 write,

"Karma literally means action, but as every action is triple in its nature, belonging partly to the past, partly to the present and partly to the future, it has come to mean the sequence of events, the law of causes and effects, the succession in which each effect follows its own cause. What is called the consequence of an action is really not a separate thing but is a part of the action, and cannot be divided from it. Nothing occurs which is not linked to the past and to the future."

Eknath Easwaran in DIALOGUE WITH DEATH - A Journey Through Consciousness, Jaico Publishing House, 2002, says,

Hindu and Buddhist mystics would go so far as to say that we have come into this life expressly to fulfill our unfulfilled desires, which as unconscious drives or samskaras shape everything we do. The slightest thought has consequences, as does the slightest act. Over the years it is the sum of all these consequences, large and small, that shapes our lives. Nothing that he says, thinks or does is without consequences. Thoughts are the very source of our karma, for from our thoughts flows everything: words, actions, desires, decisions, and destiny."

Eknath Easwaran goes further to remind us that "Karma is not imposed by some cosmic lawgiver outside us."

Swami Rajarshi Muni in YOGA – The Ultimate Attainment, Jaico Publishing House, 2004, explains karma.

"During each earthly existence, a soul creates innumerable karmas in the form of thoughts, words, and actions. These karmas leave behind corresponding subliminal impressions that are carried forward with the subtle body from one life to the next. When these latent impressions become activated at opportune moments in the present life, or in a future life, they awaken into desires, which then amass volitional energy sufficient to lead the soul to perform new karmas. Thus the karmas of the present life lead to the karmas of future lives. They establish a continuous and unending chain of causes and effects."

Ram Das in PATH TO GOD - Living The Bhagavadgita, Harmony Books, 2004, says it beautifully,

"Every act we do creates vasana, life waves, based on the desires connected with the act. Even when we die, they continue; the physical body dies, and what remains are those subtle life waves, those mental tendencies that function like a kind of psychic DNA code to determine your next round."

Ram Das extols his guru in the way his guru could see the whole pattern of life evolving.

"Since I could only see the stage that I was in at the moment, I always caught up in reaching for this or grabbing for that or pushing away the other thing. But Maharajji could see the whole pattern evolving. When you’re at that stage, you see in advance the direction the karmic waves are taking, and you know exactly why it’s all happening the way it is."

Paramahansa Yogananda in his AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI, Self Realization Fellowship, 1990, writes,

"The effort is part of the karma, as much as the goodness or badness: karma is not a finished thing awaiting us, but a constant becoming, in which the future is not only shaped by the past but is modified by the present."

Sogyal Rinpoche in his book THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING AND DYING, HarperSanFrancisco, 1993, mentions,

"Usually we forget what we do, and it is only long afterward that the results catch up with us. By then we are unable to connect them with their causes. The results of our actions are often delayed, even into future lifetimes; we cannot pin down one cause, because any event can be an extremely complicated mixture of many karmas ripening together."

Ramalinga Adigal in his ―MANUMURAI KANDA VASAGAM mentions the probabilities for one’s rebirth. It is an eye opener and quite frightening too.

Did I create fear in others?

Did I hurt my loved ones?

Did I summon and tarnish others,

Did I stop others from making donations?

Did I smear my friends?

Did I sabotage friendships?

Did I speak gossip that lead to families being destroyed,

Did I refused to help one in need,

Did I increase taxes and rob others,

Did I make the poor suffer?

Did I act unjustly?

Did I stop the means of income of others?

Did I entice others and cheat them,

Did I rip work but refused to pay accordingly,

Did I adulterate rice with pebbles?

Did I ignore the hungry?

Did I refrain from feeding the poor?

Did I exposed those that had taken refuge with me,

Did I aid those who committed murder?

Did I scout and spy on behalf of thieves,

Did I snatch properties belonging to others and lied to them?

Did I sleep with those who had lost their virginity?

Did I abuse virgins who I had a responsibility to protect?

Did I rape those who already had had a husband?

Did I lock up birds in their cages?

Did I not feed the calves?

Did I build up this body by consuming meat?

Did I poison drinking water?

Did I fell trees that gave us shade?

Did I destroy others out of revenge?

Did I demolish public halls?

Did I not listen to my parents?

Did I not greet my guru?

Did I not give my guru his dues, for his sustenance?

Did I envy the learned?

Did I find mistakes in the writings of the wise?

Did I offend devotees of Siva?

Did I offend the yogis?

Did I prevent the public from conducting their prayers by shutting the doors to the temples?

Did I smear the name of the Lord?

What sin did I do, I do not know,

the siddha questions himself?

Categories Of Karma

Just as Annie Besant and Bhagawan Das mentioned that karma was action and that every action is triple in its nature, three distinguished categories of karma are revealed by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.

Ancient yogis, in psychically studying the timeline of cause and effect, assigned three categories to karma.

1. The first is sanchita (samcita), the sum total of past karma yet to be resolved.2. The second category is prarabdha, that portion of sanchita karma being experienced in the present life.3. Kriyamana, the third type, is karma you are presently creating.

Annie Besant and Bhagawan Das in SANATANA DHARMA by the Theosophical Publishing House, 2000 define and expand further these three types of karma. They name Kriyamana as Vartamana.

1. Samcita is the accumulated karma of the past, and is partly seen in the character of the man, in his powers, weaknesses and capacities. That which was in the olden time produced in many births. Mans tendencies come from this.2. Prarabdha is that which is ripe for reaping and which cannot be avoided; it is only exhausted by being experienced. From the midst of the samcitas is selected a portion, and, at the time of the beginning of the body, time energizes this. That, which has begun, is actually bearing fruit.3. Vartamana (Kriyamana) is that which is now being created. That karma which is being done. The actual, that which is now being made for the future, or the coming karma.

Can We Bring An End To Karma?

William Hart in the ART OF LIVING – Vipassana Meditation, Vipassana Research Institute, 2005 assures us that there is an escape route. He says there is a portion of karma that we can take into our hands and hence redesign our lives.

All beings own their deeds, inherit their deeds, originate from their deeds, and are tied to their deeds; their deeds are their refuge. As their deeds are base or noble, so will be their lives. We can each become master of our fate by becoming master of our actions. Each of us has the means to end the suffering in our actions.

1. Samcita karma gathered and collected can be reduced, changed or entirely wiped out.2. Prarabdha karma which is actually bearing fruit this moment cannot be changed. You have to endure it.3. Vartamana (Kriyamana) is in your hands. You can redesign your future.

So How Can We Work Out Karma?

Having understood karma and its domino effects one is required to tread carefully so as not to incur more negative karma but instead increase the positive karma. It is of utmost importance that man stays clear of these negative activities. Man has to refrain from performing even the positive karma eventually for that too would result in being born again to enjoy the fruits of his good action. Does that mean that he would have to even forego doing good that results in good karma and having to take birth again in order to reap the benefits of the good done in the past life? So does that mean to end this circle of birth one would have to do nothing? Will doing nothing be another solution to overcome this birth? 

There are options available according to the temperament and needs of an individual. When man does nothing he does not tread on others feet, he does not mess up others life, he does not change things and create happenings and he does not resists changes. He does not actively participate in the happenings around him but instead will be just watching. This applies to mendicants, monks and saints.

For those like us who are engaged in daily activity, activity is allowed and in fact encouraged provided he does not expect gains and is not attached to its results. He actively participates in the happenings around him but is not attached to the results of these activities.

The most compassionate Siddhas have been guiding us through time through many modes; in moments of meditation as with Tavayogi and Thavathiru Rengara Desigar; with their direct darshans or visions as with Jnana Jyothi Amma; through dreams as Agathiyar promised in Bala Chandran's Nadi revelation; through objects or items that belong to the Siddhas as Agathiyar mentioned in Surendaran Selvaratnam's Jeeva Nadi or pass on messages through the medium of the Nadi as in my case.

Tavayogi was asked to set up an ashram and to conduct yagams besides feeding the poor and preaching about the Siddhas and their path; Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar runs a mission that feeds thousands daily; Jnana Jyothi Amma was asked to feed the poor kids which she does every pornami or full moon at Kallar; Bala has been dishing out portraits of Siddhas to the joy of the Siddhas; Suren has interviewed gurus and devotees on this path and lastly I was asked to install a statue of Agathiyar and to perform prayers, libation and homam. Initially I did not understand the purpose of doing these actions but later I came to realize the subtle meanings of performing these rituals and providing these services. In conducting the yagam and homam, Agathiyar says one does it for the benefit of mankind on the whole which also encompasses the individual. In feeding the poor and unfortunate, their hunger is alleviated and at the same time the karma of the donor reduced. From Agathiyar's revelation to Dr V.M.Jayapalan, we understand that besides the karma of the donor reduced by this compassionate act, the karma of those who partake the food is also removed.

True to the words of the Siddha Avvai, man needs to perform penances, charity and tapas to end this circle of birth. He needs to cleanse all karma through prayers. The sidhas give assurance that karma shall be cleansed by prayers. The karma shall be burnt away by the very fire of meditation, say the Siddhas. "Seeds of past karma cannot germinate if they are roasted in the fires of divine wisdom" says Paramahansa Yogananda. Just as Paramahansa Yogananda advocates prayer, Tavayogi too says that prayers help. Astrologer and siddha practitioner Dr. Krishnan advocates the effectiveness of prayers too. Agathiyar in the Nadi says prayers definitely help overcome karma. Prayer and devotion helps expel karma.