THAVATHIRU RENGARAJA DESIGAR SWAMIGAL - A GNANI WITH A BIG HEART

When Agathiyar asked me to come to his path after I read my Kaanda Nadi for the very first time in 2002, Nadi Nool Aasan Senthilkumar handed me Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar Swamigal's compilation of Siddha names in booklet form, while Sivabalan handed me a picture of Agathiyar. Sentilkumar also handed me a leaflet from Thaai Veedu Thangarasan making known his intention to build a temple for Agathiyar at Kallar. 

Senthilkumar called me over later to perform a Siddha puja at Sivabalan's premises where he stayed and provided his services. I was initiated into prayers to Agathiyar and the Siddhas that day. 

I began to search for material and people associated with Agathiyar. 

This brought me to the Malaysia Sri Agathiyar Sanmarga Kurukula Eyakam at Kampung Laksamana in Batu Caves and the Agathiyar Sanmarga Sangam in Dengkil. 

I met Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar Swamigal at Ongkarakudil in 2003. Although I was in India to perform and fulfill my atonement or parikaram, I wanted very much to go over to Ongkarakudil and meet the Swami. I arrived at the Agathiyar Sanmarga Sangam in Thuraiyur at 5 in the evening. Sri Nadaraja told me I could meet the Swami at 6.30pm when he comes out of his austerity or tavam and participates in the evening prayers, blessing all those present, then. 

Meanwhile Nadaraja served me tea and placed all their mission's publications before me. as I was browsing through these, he came over and told me that a couple of men will arrive shortly from Bombay to see the Swami regarding providing a Solar system for the temple/ashram complex, and added that I could then see the Swami once they left. I was overjoyed for the offer and thanked him. 

Before I met the Swami, Nadaraja told me that he had to take me around the complex to show me the extend and amount of contributions and the nature of work the Sangam was involved in. I was told that this was a directive from the Swami to all those visiting the Sangam. 

Nadaraja took some time to show me around the premises pointing out to me all the services they were providing, altogether forgetting about bringing me to see the Swami early. When he suddenly realized the fact, he hurried me along praying that the Swami should not have returned to his room. 

I was fortunate to find the Swami still seated on the floor, in a corner of the room, while an aid waited on him at the door to another room. His guests had returned.

Nadaraja introduced me to the Swami. Deva, who was tasked to drive me around by the local tour agent, and I fell inches away from his feet. The Swami entertained us. After a while we took leave, thanking him for seeing us.

On my last leg of my maiden pilgrimage, I met my very first Guru Supramania Swami at Thiruvannamalai. 

Subsequently I met Thaai Veedu Thangarasan or Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal in Malaysia in 2005. 

Then on 19 August 2008, 5 years after my visit to Ongkarakudil, I was surprised with a Nadi reading where Agathiyar mentions the greatness of Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar Swamigal.

THE DIVINE WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS

I received the following mail from a devotee of Agathiyar that brought joy, knowing how the Divine works to assist their devotees as and when they think its appropriate.

Warm greetings from a very cold Johannesburg (South Africa). I hope this email finds you very well.

I wanted to drop you a little note to say that I have been enjoying your writings on saint Ramalinga Adigal immensely. You have written much and shared much regarding the saints work and teachings lately. The divine saint appears to have an amazing way of drawing people towards him.

A few weeks back I attended a pooja at a temple. As we were early we waited patiently in the prayer hall for the prayer to begin. During this time I watched the temple guru with much curiosity as he searched tirelessly in his bag for something. Several minutes later he appeared to have found it. He handed it over to one of the devotees and requested that it be given to everyone present. This increased my curiosity. It happened to be a beautiful picture of Ramalinga Adigal. I accepted the picture and instantly had two thoughts, one - that it was a message and two - that it was a gift. I felt an immediate connection with the picture. 

On returning home I placed the picture on my desk until I could find a perfect place for it. That evening when I logged in on my laptop, your site with the Ramalinga Adigal post popped up. Needless to say I began reading with keen interest.

Some time passed before I found the perfect place for the picture. I had to ensure that I had a perfect line of vision of it from where I sat at my desk. This perfect place happened to be on the inside of a book case next to me.

A day later I found myself searching the bottom of the book case (directly below where I had placed the picture of Ramalinga Adigal) for a specific book, unsuccessfully. I checked and re-checked the row of books secretly hoping the book I was seeking would jump out at me. But this was not to be.

Quite by chance I pulled out a book, knowing it was not the book I was seeking, and was preparing to return it to it's place when I noticed that a book had fallen at the back (behind the row of books). I retrieved the book. It was extremely old, tattered and unkempt. I looked at the worn out cover, "Garland of Grace", it read. I opened the book. It opened instantly to the first page which read:

Garland of Grace

Thiru Ramalinga Swamigal
The Embodiment of Mercy
The Apostle of Kindness

I turned to the next page which read "A brief study of Thiru Ramalinga Swamigal and the English renderings of some of his inspired songs (gracious utterings) by Thiru Swami Sivananda Navaler" (A South African Spiritual Leader).

Could this be a co-incidence… or one too many to ignore… I wondered.

As I was in a kneeling position; I slowly rose to my feet, book in hand. I lifted my gaze from the book, to ponder further the possibility of a co-incidence, to find myself looking directly at the picture of Ramalinga Adigal, which I had put up. There was a warm feeling, a personal connection and fine intuition which drew me closer toward the saint.

I could vaguely recall seeing the book previously but I had no knowledge of it's contents. It was one of the books I took from my family home many years ago before we moved out and moved on. It was not the kind of book I would have been interested in back then hence it surprised me that I had taken it. I had no idea that it would someday mean something to me. I had no idea that the saint himself would lead me to it and have me read it.

I have since gone on to read and learn more about the remarkable saint. His biography draws one deeper into his writings. From the little I know of the saint, he has a quiet, yet powerful magnetism which attracts one to journey further into his work. To a open heart his poetry (songs) reveals intense compassion, grace, devotion, love and many other treasured virtues.

Thank you for bringing me closer to the amazing saint.

ANANDA JYOTHI PART 2

ANANDA JYOTHI PART 1

Nadi Nool Aasan T.Ramesh had read the Nadi for Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal. He was witness to the spiritual development of both Gurus from a common man to a Jnani. 

When I read Ramalinga Adigal's biography, I was in a state of awe coming to realize the spiritual nature of the saint. I wished I was there to see him achieve the feat of transforming himself into Jhothi or light in 1874. When I learnt that Jeganatha Swamigal's Samadhi too was lit up by the effulgence of the Jhoti in 1959, I yearned to witness this extraordinary phenomena. 

When I came to Tavayogi he was already a mendicant or Thuravi, having left his family and business to settle in the hills of Kallar. I told him I wanted to see him perform the same feat as Ramalinga Adigal. He replied that it was not possible in this birth and that he had to come back again.

Then Agathiyar answered my prayers. I received a mail from a lady in the USA. She emailed me on 30th June 2011 after reading my article "From My Travels in India" on my, now defunct website “indianheartbeat”. 

She wrote, 

Greetings to you Sir, I am Mrs ..... I was reading an article from Agasthiar.com. I read all the articles posted on Sadhguru Venkataraman's site when one link led to another and then to another another and finally saw this link My travels with Supramania Swamy.

This interested me a lot. I had for a very long time trying to find out visit Saint Agasthiar's cave. Then I saw this link which shows "email me ". Hence I thought I would email and find out the details of all that is mentioned here.

What is this person who is mentioned as Tavayogi. Is he a guide or an Enlightened Master. I would also like to know who shanmugam avadaiyappa is.

regards Mrs ....." 

I replied to her. She went back to India again the same year to visit Kallar Ashram, planning to stay six months at the Ashram. But Agathiyar had some other plans for her. Agathiyar blessed her with an initiation through Tavayogi and sent her back to the USA immediately. Just before she left, Agathiyar confirms the happenings and reveals new happenings in her very first Jeeva Nadi reading, read by Tavayogi.

She returned to the USA as directed, ever so eager to know more about Agathiyar now. She asked to watch live, the prayers my family and I conducted at Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia. She would stay up till late night and the early morning hours to watch the entire ritual of lighting the sacrificial fire or homam, libation or abhisegam and singing the praise of Siddhas and Erai or bhajans through Skype.

The yearning to be with Agathiyar was too strong in her that a year later she arrives in India again to participate in the annual Agathiyar Jayanthi and Guru Puja held at Kallar Ashram. Having made several acquaintances during the fest, she ventures with her new found friends to new frontiers, exploring caves and jungles, mountains and hills, staying in ashrams, meeting Gurus and spiritual masters, going on pilgrimages to many temples, while amassing many spiritual experiences along the way.

Her journey on the path of the Siddhas brought her to many places and many masters and eventually Agathiyar started to lead her directly through his Nadi. She spent hours with Agathiyar where Agathiyar shared much knowledge and wisdom, revealed to her many mysteries, explained to her agamas and traditions, dictated to her many task, guided her spiritually and consoled her when she was alone and hurt. After traveling extensively to many spiritual spots Agathiyar finally ask that she stay away from people and carry on her tapas or austerities in secrecy and in private. Agathiyar was Guru, Teacher, Father, Mother, Friend, Companion, Doctor, and Nurse, all put together. He taught her techniques and practices. Her physical body underwent many changes that made her ill as a result of undergoing these extreme austerities but Agathiyar was with her throughout her ordeal and nursed her back to health. I recall Ramalinga Adigal lamenting in his Arutpa the amount of hardship he had to endure for 12 long years before he was granted the grace of Erai.

In yesterdays Jeeva Nadi reading Agathiyar has allowed her to step out of her self made cocoon of isolation as directed by Agathiyar, to meet his devotees. Her mission to spread the fame of Agathiyar and the Siddhas has begun!

A beautiful relationship started and blossomed where my family and I had the opportunity to see her grow spiritually, moment by moment, day by day and step by step.  Each day she would either call over Skype or email to update me about her travels and experiences that enriched both her and my family too. When I left for Palani, leaving behind my first Guru Supramania Swami, as his health was ailing, he blessed me and told me that I was undertaking the journey on his behalf. Similarly she tells me each time she visits a sacred place we are in her thoughts. We are blessed indeed to be introduced to Agathiyar's child, Molly who became Jnana Jyothiamma and henceforth shall be know as Ananda Jyothiamma.

A PASSIONATE DEVOTEE

When my wife's cousin invited us along to the Brahma Temple in Pahang, Roshaan followed too. As we only left the place after 3 pm, we had much time to hold a Satsang among ourselves. We realized then, that here was one soul who spoke passionately about his spiritual endeavors. 

AGATHIYAR PATHAM

Uvaraj is in India currently. He was blessed to have a reading from the Jeeva Nadha Brahma Suvadi through Sri Muthukumara Swamigal of Courtallam. He WhatsApp the following photos.

PUJA @ SHENBAGA DEVI TEMPLE COURTALLAM

Viewing the video footages of Sri Muthukumara Swamigal performing puja at the Shenbaga Devi temple brings fond memories of my pilgrimage with my Guru Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal. I was blessed to be taken to the Shenbaga Devi Temple and the surrounding caves at Courtallam by Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal in 2005.

At Kalyana Theertam

At Agathiyar's sannadhi

Kalyana Theertam

At Shenbaga Devi Temple

At Courtallam

At Agathiyar's Cave

Inside Agathiyar's Cave

Inner chamber of Agathiyar's Cave

Outside Dhakshanamurthy's Cave

Outside Dhakshanamurthy's Cave

Inside Dhakshanamurthy's Cave

Inner chamber to Outside Dhakshanamurthy's Cave

Outside Vallalar's Cave

Inside Vallalar's Cave

At Agathiyar's Temple Courtallam

108 NEI THEEBAM YETRUM VIZHA & ANNATHAANAM

Some young devotees at AVM, besides participating in the prayers to Agathiyar and the Siddhas, wanted to serve Agathiyar and his devotees. They started a group Thondu Seivom. Since then Thondu Seivom members have been contributing in their own little way toward society. 

Thondu Seivom members had participated in the 'Towards a Caring 1 Malaysia Welfare Program. See http://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2014/12/thondu-seivom.html

They had contributed a new laptop to a deserving but under privileged student and are contributing monthly towards the studies of this student.

Thondu Seivom members have contributed towards the prayers held at AVM regularly too. 

They had presented a drawing of Agathiyar and Lobha Ma by Balachandran Gunasekaran to fellow AVM members Mr & Mrs Balachander recently during a puja at their home.

Thondu Seivom had stretched their wings to cross the ocean to India to help out at the Annual Agathiyar Jayanthi & Guru Puja celebrations held at the Kallar Ashram.

They also carried out a massive Annadhanam at Thiruvannamalai.

They have initiated the 108 Nei Theebam Yetrum Vizha & Annathaanam some time back, to be held at the Batu Caves Murugan temple on 2 August 2015 at 8 am, with the intent that all of God's creation shall attain Erai's blessings.

Agathiyar has blessed Thondu Seivom to carry out this noble event through Balachandran Gunasekaran's Aasi Nadi reading, read yesterday.