Sunday, 10 September 2017

ANNADHANAM IN SOUTH AFRICA

Mrs Kogie dropped in a wish and the following account of her family's humble move to feed the hungry in their home town Johannesburg in South Africa.
Wouldn’t it be great, if regardless of where in the world we resided, we could come together in thought and consciousness to help others. If each of us undertook to do something small in our corner of the world. It could make a huge difference in someone’s life and ultimately have a bigger impact in the world. The size of the initiative is not important. As devotees of Agathiyar we should step forward to do this. Thank you Shan aiya, Bala, Sri Krishna and the many AVM pioneers who have been giving and serving others selflessly. All of you have given me the courage and light to begin the small things in my corner. 
A Time to Smile
The day was wintry but warm when my family and I went off to a small farm. It was a lovely, welcoming place, with happy ducks and chickens roaming around. There was a small dam within sight, some cows, vegetable beds and patches of herb and flower gardens. In the middle of the property stood the farmhouse, with a host of excited people waving and gesturing us toward them. It was a beautiful home with beautiful people. It was also a home not frequented by many.

It was the home of elderly and people with disabilities (some with physical and some with other disabilities). We had gone there with their Sunday lunch. We were welcomed with great excitement and invited into their dining hall. Each person took the time to introduce him or herself, which was very special. When lunch was ready to be served one person of the 70-member family stood up to say a prayer. It was heart warming and painful at the same time. My prayer in response was “Thank you Agathiyar for giving us the opportunity to do this”.
Their smiles were beautiful. They thanked us profusely for the meal, which was not necessary. They had given us the opportunity to give something back, to feel a deep sense of care and compassion and not expect anything in return.
It was no longer about providing a meal, it became about giving our time and a smile, which they appeared to appreciate profusely, both of which costs us nothing. 





After a hearty meal they were each handed a winter hat by Mr Kugan 

Sporting the winter hats and a smile 

MORE ANNADHANAM

Sri Krishna and his family with help in cash and kind from many circles, successfully completed 57 days of feeding the less fortunate children from SJKT Castlefield in Puchong. These students were required to stay back for additional classes to prepare them for the Standard Six UPSR exams. The examination will start tomorrow nationwide.

A group photo with the students on the last day of the Annadhanam programme

Nalini and her family from Chennai did their share of providing provisions to the Sri Aadheeswarar Charitable Trust yesterday.



THE ROAD TO MUKTHINATH FROM THE LENS OF DYALEN

Dyalen Muniandi captures the beauty of mother nature on his travel to Mukthinath recently.




Saturday, 9 September 2017

BRINGING CHEER TO A HOME

AVM, TS, AS, AUM, together with brothers Captain Ariva and Arul brought cheer and joy to the inmates of a home in Kampong Sireh, Semenyih. Captain Ariva conducted a series of games for the inmates that brought lots of laughter and joy to them. The management of the home and we too joined in the fun. AVM thanks Captain Ariva and Arul for putting together this wonderful program.

Sri Krishna and Srimathi Krishna prepared, cooked, and delivered the food that Amudha Surabhi sponsored.





























ANNADHANAM 2

Sri Krishna  together with his family members took the initiative to buy, prepare, cook, pack and distribute food parcels to the poor on the streets some time back. His noble gesture and work impressed many in AVM, TS and AS to help him in cash and kind. Sadhu Janagiraman from India while on one of his many frequent visits to Malaysia officiated Sri Krishna's "Pothigai Meals on Wheels" program of feeding the homeless, at Batu Caves a year back and since then there was no turning back. Sri Krishna does not wait for an occasion to do good these days but selflessly goes about feeding people everyday in one way or another. His family has worked with him tirelessly in all his ventures. 

Soon he took his service to the schools, bringing food to the children who had to stay back for extra lessons. He arranged and paid their bus transport fees too so that they could reach home safely at the end of the day. 


AVM, TS and AS wanted to be part of his charitable ventures and came to his aid in little ways. Sri Krishna has been an icon for us at AVM, a symbol of generosity and love. Bala Chandran Gunasekaran too with his force of youngsters in Thondu Seivom (TS) picked up the cue from him and reached the society in many ways. We are proud to associate with these two good souls and samaritans.

AVM and TS stretched its wings and took to the streets of Tiruvannamalai and Palani when we were there bringing this noble service of feeding the poor and hungry in India too. Soon AVM teamed up with TUT from Chennai to feed the poor in Chennai.



Just as Sri Krishna and his wife Sri Dewi initiated us to do charity, Rakesh of TUT, Chennai tells us that AVM was a inspiration for them. Soon this noble act was picked up by many good souls. Many AVM members took to the streets on their own to feed the hungry. We are indeed proud of them. 

Surendaran Selvaratnam took to the streets passing pastries and drinks when he was on assignment in Manila recently. 

Sailaja wrote to tell us about her contributions in Visakhapatnam. "Namaste Sir! AVM, TS and others are doing such selfless service. Sir, once a week my husband and I are doing annadanam to at least 6 to 10 people. This Pithru Paksh fortnight, we are working towards serving food to 5 to 10 people. We just got home after doing annadanam and am reading your latest blog post on Annadanam. Thank you for inspiring us to do what is right and spiritually uplifting."

Sanjiv Malhotra from New Delhi tells me he has made it a routine to feed the poor on Saturdays. "I have made a routine of doing so on Saturday."

Both Kugan and Kogie from South Africa tell me that they too have begun charity in their town. "The family and I have started a charity drive. We used to do it before but I did not keep track or document anything. But in April, my daughters birthday she usually donates food and blankets to the SPCA a animal shelter. I took pictures, wrote a piece and documented that. We also contributed to several other small initiatives. This Sunday that passed we did provided  lunch to a home for the elderly and mentally handicapped. Kugen together with another friend started an NGO just to serve give and provide even from our own pockets in the beginning. This weekend he ran the drive providing school shoes and scarves. We arrange with disadvantaged places of need and provide there. But during the day I usually keep some food stuff in the car and as  I am driving through I give it to people who beg along the road."

Kogie gave us a boost too, "AVM has so many people all over the world. If one person in another state or country start such an initiative we can make a difference throughout the world. Just one person needs to start and others will follow. We need to carry this message globally and give others the strength and courage to begin however small." Her words and wishes have materialized. 

TS gave out buns and drinks last night to those on the streets in Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with Sundarananthar's Jayanthi.












Friday, 8 September 2017

ANNADHANAM 1

Ram Dass of "Love Serve Remember Foundation" shared a beautiful statement from his Guru, Neem Karoli Baba, that summarizes the benefits gained in feeding people - "When I asked my guru to raise my kundalini, he said, "feed people."

Today Sri Krishna completed 57 days of feeding some twenty odd school children as they stayed back for extra classes. Krishna and his wife cooked, packed, delivered and served the children daily with participation from Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM), Thondu Seivom (TS), Amudha Surabhi (AS) and other individuals and good samaritans, in terms of cash and kind.

Krishna also feeds the homeless on the streets of Kuala Lumpur regularly under his "Pothigai Meals on Wheels" program. Following in his steps, TS under the leadership of Bala Chandran Gunasekaran started doing their part to bring food to the poor, hungry and homeless in conjunction with every Jayanthi of a Siddha. Tonight TS hits the streets again as it is Sundarananthar's Jayanthi.


Rakesh from Guduvancheri, Chennai with his "Thedal Ulla Thenikalaai" (TUT) have begun feeding the poor on the streets in their vicinity regularly with participation in cash and kind from AVM. See http://tut-temple.blogspot.my/2017/08/avm-tut.html#gsc.tab=0 The next feeding program is scheduled for 16/9/2017 in and around Velachery at lunch time. 

Besides feeding TUT is also engaged in cleaning up the premises of temples or Ulavarapani and conducting prayers. Next they would be doing this service at the Guduvanchery Mamarathu Vinayagar Temple on 17/09/17.


Malarvathy and her family represented AVM, TS and AS in Kallar Ashram hosting an annadhanam in conjunction with the recent Pournami Puja. This feeding program was instructed by "Aiya" recently where all AVM, TS and AS family members were asked to contribute towards the cost of the annadhanam. Next "Aiya" has asked us to carry out annadhanam for 3 consecutive days at Pothigai.


Another annadhanam is scheduled for tomorrow at the Kampong Sireh Home for the Old and Mentally Challenged together with a Motivational Talk to boost the spirits of the inmates and bring some cheer to them.

Supramania Swami wanted to feed 1000 people in his hometown of Tiruvannamalai after he completed his 60 day mauna virutham in 2006. But he went into samadhi just days into his virutham. With assistance from his family members, Jnana Jhothiamma led the annadhanam program that Swami wanted to put together in 2013, finally fulfilling Swami's wish. I met her in Trichy immediately after she completed serving food in Tiruvannamalai. She shared all that took place.

Jnana Jhothiamma wrote to me later, recapping the events. 
Dear Shan, we had fed that day nearly 2000 Sadhus. Half way on the Grivalam path suddenly Deva, and I, noticed a huge congregation of Sadhus approaching us. We were very apprehensive if there would be enough food.. Already nearing 900 sadhus, ordinary people and kids have been fed near Aadhi Parashakthi Amma's temple...
I told Deva, "We are not doing it. The Divine's hand is there. They will take care. So drop your worry. We are doing their service and they are with us." 
I could identify some Divine souls/sadhus, by their gaze. Some touched my hand, some placed their hands on my head, while some others whispered a mantra or two..when I gave them the food packets.
But amongst them, I saw a very handsome lad, who wore ordinary clothes and not a monk's attire. There was something different in him... he kept watching me from a distance, went straight to Supramania's Swamy's wife, took some water from her and when she handed over to him the food packet, he seemed to avoid it... then when that huge crowd dispersed after taking the food packets...he came straight to me and with both hands stretched... asked me food.... I gave him on a leaf, throughout the time, his gaze was so sharp and even after taking. the food, kept looking deep into my eyes... smiled and left. Not a word he spoke. I saw his eyes sparkle with happiness..
Dr.Ram (Subramaniam) too narrated this incident to Deva and me while we were traveling to Trichi to receive you and your family at the airport.. as he was operating the camera throughout. Ram says that only one pic of that lad was left behind from the many pics he captured of that lad....whose mannerisms and gestures were very unusual and strange...
I realized that many Siddhas too had come to partake our food.. even in the form of a dog, whose unusual behavior and movement caught all our eyes. The dog too did not eat at all, till the end of the path and finally while we were nearing the end of the path I gave him some food.. he was coming behind the van and our car, right from the time we started from Amma's Temple.
When you asked me a couple of weeks back, if I could Identify Subramania Swamy or any Saintly Souls... it was only based on these experiences I told you, that many Siddhas too had come in human form to partake of our Annadhanam.
Jnana Jhothiamma shared her experience in serving people on such a massive scale on video when she dropped in at AVM after a few days. 


Thursday, 7 September 2017

GETTING ASSURANCE

Just as the Nadi or oracle opened a whole new world of mystery, mysticism and possibilities out there that I did not know existed till then, Yogananda Paramahansa's "Autobiography of a Yogi" showed me the mysterious world and ways of the Yogis, masters and saints. How that book came to me and disappeared only to reappear again is a story I need to tell.

When I reported back at the HQ in 1994 after serving in a unit, I worked with Segaran for 3 months before he left for Ranchi, India to become a monk. Before he left he gave me a copy of this book. I read through it and was mesmerized by the journey of a young lad in search of spiritualism. Over the years I thought I had loaned the book to someone I knew but she denied having taken it. I lost the book. When Gopal in my office was promoted and transferred out I helped him pack his personal things and having made sure he did not leave anything behind, I sent him off. A few days later as I passed his work station I noticed something on his table. It was a copy of this book! As there was no other person I knew who would own this book, I took it taking that it was meant for me. 

Just yesterday I was checking out the book again confirming certain facts that was written in the blog I mentioned in my last post, https://www.ananda.org/clarity/2013/03/yogananda-astrology-god-joy/, I happened to open to a particular page and began reading. Although I had read this book many years ago, I was surprised to see similar miracles mentioned in the book, take place amidst us.

In Chapter 3, The Saint with Two Bodies, the young Yogananda writes about his meeting with a saint Swami Pranabananda. Wishing to see Banaras, his father provides for the train tickets and some money to spent and gives the 12 year old Yogananda a chore too, to pass a letter to his friend and another introductory letter to the Swami. On reaching the Swami's residence, Yogananda finds the letter of introduction from his father was not necessary as the Swami seemed to know him and was anticipating his arrival. After half an hour his father's friend Kedar Nath Babu arrives. Yogananda soon learns from Kedar Nath Babu how he was summoned by Swami to his residence, without Swami leaving the premises.

Kedar Nath Babu mentions that Swami had approached him just as he ended his bath in the Ganges half an hour ago and informs him that Yogananda was waiting for him to pass a letter from his father. Taking him by his hand, he leads Kedar Nath Babu for a distance till he leaves him to continue to his residence, saying he had something else to do meantime.

The Swami goes on to narrate an episode with Lahiri Mahasaya. He found it difficult sitting in meditation for 8 hours at night and working in the day, and desired to devote all his time to God. Although he had wonderful results but he felt a veil always remained between them. He wanted a Divine intervention from his Guru Lahiri Mahasaya. Lahiri Mahasaya asked him to go and meditate more profoundly telling him that he had interceded on Swami's behalf to Brahma. 

Swami's goal was achieved that night during meditation. He returned to his master to thank him and asked to be released as he was intoxicated in bliss continuously. He could not continue working at the office. Lahiri Mahasaya asked him to apply for permission to leave his job and get a pension. When the Dr asked for a reason to leave early, Swami told him an overpowering sensation was rising in his spine, permeating his whole body. He told the Dr he was not fit to perform his duties. He got discharged and received his pension.

When Agathiyar in the Jeeva Nadi revelation to Dyalen in July of last year, instructed AVM to bring over framed photos and paintings of Jeganatha Swamigal, Chitramuthu Adigal, the 18 Siddhas and the Sapta Rishis and place them at the Tanneermalai Murugan temple in Taiping and perform a Yagam, specifically on a Thursday, we told Tavayogi and Mataji immediately after the reading that we would like to do it while they were still in town. Agathiyar told us that Chitramuthu Adigal wanted us to conduct the puja and had relayed it to him. But we could not make it on a Thursday. Tavayogi then told us to go ahead and arrange it for the weekend and that he would speak to "them". He interceded with his Guru Chitramuthu Adigal!

Photo Courtesy of Mohana Gowri Vinesh


When I wanted to take an early retirement, I did not know if it was the right choice and it was the right time. I had put in 36 years and could go another 4 years. But I still wanted assurance from Agathiyar as I wished to work in attunement with him in all matters. I went ahead applying for early retirement as Agathiyar did not call me in for a reading then, praying that my choice was also his choice. 

What prompted me for early retirement was partly my ailment or pain that I had in my lower back that spread to my right leg, back and buttocks. It all started when one day while I was brushing my teeth, I cleared my throat with a bit of a force. I felt a sharp pull on my right buttocks slightly below the hips that ran right down my right leg till it reached my toes that made me immediately squat down, frozen and unable to move for several moments. From then I had to drag my leg as I walked. The pain came off and on, as I took a walk, and had me look for a place to sit each time I was out. It soon came on often and increased in intensity that it was felt even as I stood. One would be refreshed after a good night's sleep but I wasn't. I used to wake up with body aches and pain. I found it difficult to get out of bed and go to work. Soon the extreme and intense pain woke me out of my sleep. 

I was enduring this pain close to a year thinking it would go away. I referred to Dr Krishnan who looked at both my feet for any signs of swelling and water retention. There was non. He ruled out the possibility of a failing kidney. I had no pain during urination so he ruled out the existence of stones, whether in the kidney, bladder or urinary track. He asked my to go for an X-ray fearing it could be a slip disk. That is when I turned up at the local Government Health Clinic with my complaint. They found no problem after putting me through all the tests. They then referred me to the Orthopedic Specialist for his opinion. He too did not find any problem.

I referred to a Chinese masseur to see if his massage could help bring relief but he instead gave me a herbal preparation that did relax the nerves when taken. 

As the pain increased day by day I reported back at the Clinic and they sent me for Physiotherapy beginning 12 May of 2011 and I opted off on 4 July 2011 when I told them I saw an improvement. It was fine for a while. 

Meanwhile I called up Nadi Nool Aasan Ramesh to look into the Nadi or oracle for the reason and a solution. He called me in on 26 November 2011. Agathiyar called my ailment "paarisa peedhai" and  to my surprise brushed the whole thing aside. He asked me to stop all forms of tavam that I was doing immediately. He told me that heat had spiraled up in the Muladara Chakra, resulting in unease in the body. He told me the three doshas that is vata, kapha and pitta too had gone haywire losing their balance. He asked me to take any Amalaki based herbal preparation and Tripalaki for a mandala and in another reading on 16 January 2012 asked me to continue another half mandala. He asked me to pray to Lord Muruga and Lord Surya.

I decided to continue the Single Infrared Heat Lamp Therapy and had minute electrical charges sent to the back that brought much relief and felt good beginning on 29 November 2011. During my visit to the Physiotherapist on 15 February 2012, she asked me if I was doing the five stretching poses that she had taught me. She wanted to see me do it. As I moved into the pose I felt something give way in my back suddenly. I let out a cry of relief. I was relieved of the pain and discomfort. The pain that I had endured for years just went away that day.

On 28 March 2015 some 9 months ahead of my retirement date, Agathiyar gave me his blessings to leave the public service and ask that I serve him. My wish and his wish were one.

Wednesday, 6 September 2017

THE WORKINGS OF KARMA AND FREE WILL

I happened to drop in on Velayutham Karthikeyan Aiya's blog Siththan Arul while searching for another blog Sittargal Rajiyam which came highly recommended by Nadi Nool Aasan Thamaraiselvan Ramaiya Aiya (Selvam). I came to know Selvam Aiya through Nadi Guru T.Ramesh while he was in Malaysia. There were several occasions when both the Nadi Gurus read the Nadi jointly for me. When we at Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) celebrated the Annual Agathiyar Jayanthi and Guru Puja, both Ramesh Aiya and Selvam Aiya graced our homes to participate in the prayers. Selvam Aiya has since then been reading the Nadi in Chennai while Ramesh Aiya is based in Malaysia.

Selvam Aiya posted the following message in the Whatsapp group as I was working on this post. After an absence and a break,  Erai has granted Selvam Aiya to begin reading the Nadi. He can be contacted at 9952026908 / 9976048004 Email:bjnaadi@gmail.com. In event he is engaged in a reading and cannot be reached, he asks to get in touch with Nathan at 950040619.

இறை திà®°ுவருளால் à®®ுக்கிய பணிகள் நிà®±ைவு குà®°ு பெயர்ச்சி ஆசியுடன். சென்னையில் ஜீவ நாடிபடிக்க  à®†à®°à®®்பம்  10.9.2017. 12.9.2017, 13, 14 தேதிகள் தவிà®°்த்து மற்à®± தினங்களில் தொடர்ந்து ஜீவநாடி வாக்குகள் உண்டு. குà®°ுவின் à®…à®°ுளால் பயண் அடைய வேண்டுகிà®±ோà®®். à®°ீடிà®™் சமயத்தில் தொடர்பு கொள்ள à®®ுடியவில்லை எனில் 9500450619..நாதன் என்à®± எண்ணுக்கு தொடர்பு கொண்டு தகவல்கள் à®…à®±ிந்து கொள்ளலாà®®்.

When what Dr Krishnan predicted for me did not take place, I asked him for a reason.  He told me that I could have taken on curses that stood in my way from attaining my desires and receiving what was meant for me. When he told me that I could know my past, present and future, mentioning specifically that I could know if I had a curse hanging over me through the Nadi, the subject did not excite me then. I had the Dr to forecast my future, if the need arised. He was to be a Guru to me too later, guiding me on the worship of Agathiyar, giving me Agathiyar's yantra and mantra. Dr Krishnan told me to search for my Nadi. I let it be. That was in 1996. 

It was only in 2002 my colleague Muralitharan brought up the subject about the Nadi again mentioning his experience in reading it in 2000. Through him I managed to locate a Nadi reader locally instead of having to travel to India. The Nadi or oracle opened a whole new world out there that I did not know existed till then. In my very first Nadi reading, Agathiyar confirmed what Dr Krishan had told. Nadi Nool Aasan Sentilkumar started me off on my journey with the Siddhas.

Seeing me write about the Nadi many mistook me for a Nadi reader thinking I had the Nadi in my possession. I received mails from readers of this blog asking if karma determines our fate and destiny, then isn’t there any free fill on our part? I do not have answers to all these doubts. Similarly there are many questions of mine too left unanswered. But based on what I have read from authentic and credible sources and based on Agathiyar’s revelations to his devotees, I could figure out and comprehend a little on this mind boggling subject. The prime source of information on karma that came through the medium of the sacred Nadi in the possession of the late Hanumathdasan Aiya of Chennai which was posted and published online by Velayutham Karthikeyan Aiya in his blog "Siththan Arul" and also published in 5 volumes by Aranthanki Sankar Aiya as "Nadi Sollum Kathaigal", were an eye opener for me. Besides that Velayutham Karthikeyan Aiya used to share his views in a private chat on Google Hangouts. I was blessed to receive a compliment from Aiya who I understood followed this blog then.

"உங்கள் தொகுப்பு எல்லாà®®் எல்லாà®®் à®®ிக நன்à®±ாக செல்வதை காண்கிà®±ேன். வாà®´்த்துக்கள்!"

When I met Jnana Jhothiamma in Trichy in 2013, she passed me the published works of Hanumathdasan Aiya that I requested her to purchase from Aranthanki Sankar Aiya. I then had his full works I believe.

The subject about Karma is very complex in nature, at times Agathiyar does not delve into its intricacies but instead just shows us a way out of it. The rest is up to us to research and discover. Many masters too have written on the subject of karma extensively. I had put their thoughts on this exhaustive subject through several posts in the past.

If there are discrepancies in these writings, please pardon me for its only because I have had new information or material, and have come to understand the subject better.

Yogananda Paramahansa's "Autobiography of a Yogi" did make a great impact on a lot of people including me. He was the first to introduce me to so many masters and saints, whose stories he covered in his autobiography. The blog https://www.ananda.org/clarity/2013/03/yogananda-astrology-god-joy/, carried a post on astrology and karma based on Yogananda's teachings. It says that in ancient times, astrology was used as a guide for spiritual development, intended to assist man on his inner journey, by helping him realize his connectivity with his universe. But it has lost its true purpose over time. This is what the saints have told us that what is out there is also within us, “Andathil Ullathu Pindathil Ullathu.” 

As Isaikavi Ramanan mentions in his talks, India was highly spiritual in the past with its Rishis, through their tavam or tapas or austerities, tapped into the Akashic records and delivered the Divine messages directly to man. Later over the years, he was given the Vedas as a handbook and guide to follow. Over time Yoga was given as a tool to keep him abreast with the Divine both outside him and within him, and finally in this era, temples were constructed and temple worship and rituals introduced to him, all done according to the times, its people and the capacity and ability of man to understand the mysticism and secrets of the Divine play or Lila. 

From https://www.ananda.org/clarity/2013/03/yogananda-astrology-god-joy/, "The stars influence your life only in accordance with patterns that you yourself established in the past.” Astrology in this sense becomes a tool that predicts the effects of our karma that has begun to germinate. The effects of our karma “ripens” and takes form, creating a myriad of situations for the effective fruiting of our karmas, giving rise to various happenings as laid out and determined in the blueprint and endorsed by Erai. This takes place when the stars and planets are aligned in a particular manner to fulfill the result of the cause, all done with mathematical precision and harmony. 

Karma if seen in its totality causes fear in us and dashes all our hopes of coming out of it. The soul before coming into this body has accepted the form and amount of karma it was willing to shoulder. The good Lord has given us the option of taking tiny chunks of it, an amount that we can handle and shoulder at each birth and work on it bit by bit. He has broken down the Sanchita karma or vinai, that is the total sum or cumulative karma that we have accumulated throughout all the earlier births, and sanctions only a minute portion in each birth for us to endure and exhaust. Although these would mean that it is going to take a longer time for us to complete the process, having the need to take many more births to unload the entire truckload of baggage completely, but it would be a relieve off our shoulders, having only to face a portion of the Samchita karma rather than face the full blow of it. Taking this birth we then, through free will, can opt to accept the extend of karma that we would want to face, plead for Divine help in reducing the misery taking it in a milder form or on the contrary asking to hasten the process, seeking to end the cycle quickly, mindful that we would have to receive the full blow of the effects of our karma. 

A portion of the Sanchita karma known as Prapta karma is taken up at the time of birth through the manifestation of all that cannot be changed or altered. This options were decided by the soul in advance even before taking birth, for its enhancement and betterment, and to enrich it with the relevant experiences and learning, that it was awaiting. 

So is there no way out? Yes there is. We can work on the Agamaya Karma that is taking place right now in this life, with our approval. The decisions we make and the actions we take will alter the future, determining it. When I was told to see Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal immediately after my Nadi reading and get initiated (teecha ), I left to meet him in Batu Caves, although it was late at night. Although Agathiyar's directive did surprise both of us, as I had taken an initiation from him with my wife and eight others earlier, he initiated me, again, when I brought him the message from the Nadi.

When I played back the audio recording of the reading I had, I only heard an initial few minutes of the recording which began to taper into a hiss and what remained was silence and the sound emitted from an empty vinyl tape. The recording was surprisingly erased that same night.

Reporting back to Nadi Nool Aasan T. Ramesh the mysterious happening, he did a re-reading for me, but this time the local chapter of Tavayogi’s peedham was not mentioned and I was asked to make a pilgrimage to Siddha caves and several temples which was absent earlier. 

If for a starter, Sentilkumar Aiya had introduced me to the Siddhas and their worship within four walls, Tavayogi agreed to take me to these places and brought me to the fields, caves and jungles, which turned out to be my very first physical and practical introduction to the Siddhas and their mystical world.

Taking hold of Tavayogi as my Guru that night changed my fate immediately. Agathiyar rewrote the reading. I am thankful to Agathiyar and Tavayogi.

I dread to think if I had shunned Agathiyar’s directive and returned home, I guess, I would have made my way to the local peedham as told and be at the mercy of others to help enlighten me. I learnt from Tavayogi not through discourses but seeing him move, think, speak, and advise others. Occasionally he would say a thing or two that only made sense many years later.

The most compassionate Erai has given us ways to redo, correct, and come out of the rut we are in because of our past doings. He has given us a tool called free will to make a better future for us; and in saints, to free themselves from the hold of this karma and its cycle of birth and death. 

One option is to take it in our stride and as agreed, to submit to it in smaller doses that we can stomach. 

Another option is to request to take it in all its entirety, and wait for all hell to break lose, coming down on us with all its might as it has to be exhausted in its entirety within the next few years of our remaining mortal life. 

Agathiyar and the saints offer other options to reduce the past Sanchita karma, that determines our future births. Meditation is a way. As the vasanas that are buried as seeds in us germinate and arise to drive us into activities that would fulfill the cause, we are told that through the fire of intense tavam or meditation it can be burnt even before it arises. 

The other option would be to work on ourselves, by upholding high virtues and bringing ourselves to do Erai’s work, serving him and mankind. For those who cannot bring themselves to go into a meditative state and work on their karma, like me, Agathiyar has given a much simpler option of performing rituals. He told me to conduct the ritual of lighting the fire pit, Homam, which is a smaller scale of the Yagna or Yagam. He assures me that karma will be burnt through the fire of sacrifice. For others in the AVM family he asked to extend aid to the needy, the poor, the hungry and homeless; and to alleviate their sufferings. This act he says will help us sail through trying times. By doing these acts we create good merits for ourselves that make for a better future. 

Then there is yet another way, a supreme one, that is not for us to decide, choose or pick. It is solely Erai's prerogative. Considering whether we deserve it or not, whether we have understood the might and force of karma and its workings and have initiated or began working towards eradication of it, through his grace or Arul, Erai takes the karma away in its entirety, leaving us as clean as a white sheet. That is the day of deliverance. That is the day all our efforts drops and Erai comes as a savior.

Agathiyar gave me and AVM family several tasks. So did Tavayogi. We began to prepare ourselves to do his asking, instead of working towards accomplishing our desires and liking. It is then that we realized in doing his work he took care of us and our family and our needs. The karma that attaches itself to work, resulting from our doings and our activities and that contributes to the overall Sanchita Karma that would normally keep accumulating as a result of our daily actions, keeping us moving further and further away from our target of achieving deathless-ness and breaking the cycle of birth and death, is now absorbed by Erai. So the Agamiya karma is gone. What remains now is the remaining portion of the Sanchita karma that stands before us as a huge overpowering mountain ready to engulf us in its totality. Although these karmas and its manifestations would not go away in totality, but Erai would stand by us in our hour of need and help lessen the force of karma, thus saving our lives, bringing us out of danger or lessening the impact of the fall.

“The best way, therefore, to improve your lot is deliberately to act in such a way as to counteract the evil effects of past deeds. Especially if this course of action springs from inner attunement with God, or is adopted under the wise guidance of one who knows God, it will serve as an antidote to all baneful actions of the past.”
“Cooperate with His will by offering up to Him all the strength of your human will.”
Man is the only creation of Erai who can change his fate and destiny by working on his karma. In short, we can either take it lying down or as the blog mentions "arouse our will to escape from this universal bondage by using our inner spiritual resources which are not subject to planetary pressure."