SHARING

In conjunction with Sri Nandeeswarar Siddhar Jayanthi (18/05/2019), Persatuan Teman Setia (P.T.S) distributed buns and drinks to the homeless people in KL city. 

ATM'S NATCHATIRA MAALAI or STAR NIGHT

Having engaged hours, days and years in conducting prayers for the good of Prapanjam and carrying out acts of charity to those in need, ATM wanted to reward the volunteers with a couple of hours of melodies that would please their ears and soothe their soul.

   

If earlier we had taken a hike up a small hill to take in the morning breeze, watch the morning sunrise and move our limbs and take in the Chi or Prana through several simple steps in Chi Kung, and play a game of ball, last weekend we turned up at a hall to sit back and relax, listening to the soul awakening renderings that ATM's family members sang.

Many among us shed tears of joy and gratitude at listening to these soul touching numbers. Many appreciated the efforts in hosting the event. 

LET US HELP BRING CHANGE

We are all little buddhas. We are apostles of God. We are all saviours in our own little way. We can be the Erai to a few out there. 

A man cultivates good and noble values. People regard him as a good man. When he surrenders his life to the service of God he is seen as been religious and spiritual. When he surrenders his life to the service of the fellow man he is known as Deivam in the circle of those whose lives he had touch. When he surrenders his life to both God and people he is called a Mahan. All these states are achieved in this very lifetime in this physical world. We make a mistake of looking up into the skies and beyond for God when he is right in front of us if only we wished to see. He is within us and in those who have come to know him, working tirelessly to save humanity. We give God numerous names and endless forms, coming out with a name and a form almost daily. What we forgot is that God is already existing in the form of every living creature and nature. Take a moment from our busy schedule and look outwards into the vast ocean of creation and you shall see God in all things. Take care of the needs of others and you have served God. You are God in the eyes of the receiver.

Then again we can turn into little Napoleons and place hurdles and obstruction in others way and make life difficult for them. We can harm them. We can manipulate them for our own gains. We can terrorize them. We can keep them as slaves doing our bidding.

The choice is ours, either to liven up someone's life or dampen it. We can either talk about karma and walk away from one who is suffering or help elevate their sufferings. The sick can see a doctor. The hungry can be fed. The ignorant can be schooled. But one who is plunged in debts cannot expect another to help settle it. Kamban sings of Ravana's predicament and state of mind after Rama sent him away to come back another day. Kamban equates Ravana's state of mind, in the moments of his remaining few hours of the night before dawn broke where he was spared his life, as hell and that which a debtor undergoes having brought upon him a huge debt. When one knowingly lands himself in trouble there is not much another can do. Man who has begun to make decisions for himself shall have to face the consequences of his actions. But to those who go through misery and sufferings due to unforeseen circumstances, sudden illness, sudden poverty etc we shall extend a helping hand. Children should be saved from hunger and danger at all cost. 

Man has to wake up to reality and work towards coming out of the dungeon he has fallen in. It is only when he takes the first step shall all the available doors be made known and seen by him. Sitting in the bottomless pit he would never know of the existence of these doors that could serve as opportunities for him to make his getaway and escape. The drive and initiative has to come from him though. Erai cannot possibly help one who has given up on life. He could come to the aid of one who although perseveres and toils endlessly, finds it difficult to come out of the quicksand. It is to those who persevere that Erai comes to aid. It is to those who seek a change for the better, that Erai comes knocking their door.

I believe we have answered one such rare call. As we listened to the endless stories of pain and suffering endured by the poor in the homes we provided groceries, finally we came to the home of an elderly couple. The man was in his seventies. He was still working to support themselves. They accepted the handouts we gave with gratitude to us, their guru and Erai. It brought much joy to our hearts as he mentioned that they had no worries and that the good lord and guru has taken good care of them till this day and has even extended and showered his grace by sending us over to provide them with groceries. After hearing all the sad tales and never-ending needs of the other families, there was a couple who were satisfied and grateful for their existence rather than dread the dawn of another day. 

Another milestone in our act of doing charity is when a mother asked us to take along with us, her eldest son, a teen, to distribute food and groceries. This thought of bringing those families to serve their fellow mates in hardship was in my mind for some time. As I was contemplating the ways and means that they could help out, the mother offers her children to help us in distribution. The following month she sents her other son too. When I tipped the children as an incentive in helping us, the mother apprehended us not to gift them with money as she wanted them too to do thondu or service. This was a victory for us.

Taking care of the immediate family is not an act of charity but a responsibility. Being hospitable to friends, relatives and visitors is an act of courtesy or Virunthu Upasarippu. Stepping out of the home and providing aid to a stranger, who has no blood ties, and without expecting favour, a reward, honour or merit, is an act of charity. 

Although we could not possibly change the fate of a person, we can surely change his destiny to a certain extent. Giving food to the hungry will keep him alive for another day. Providing aid to him might eliminate the need for him to turn to the streets and join the large numbers who are homeless. Giving an ear to their problems might give them the strength to persevere and not end their lives.

Let us do our part. Let us be a representative of Erai. Let us bring joy to the lives of others. 

AGATHIYAR & MY GURUS

Agathiyar in my Nadi reading told me I shall meet my guru. He showed me two gurus in the human form. He showed me Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai. Then three years on he shows me to Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram. I had two gurus then. Agathiyar spoke passionately about both gurus in my later Nadi readings. 

Supramania Swami set me on the worship of Lord Shiva giving me a unique mantra of his. He initiated me with his guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar's Nama Japam bringing the saint from his samadhi to join us both in the chant of his name. He sent me off to meet my second guru Tavayogi and upon returning from Kallar enquired about him with concern. When Supramania left his mortal frame and was placed in samadhi, he had passed all his hard-earned merits from the 40 years of tapas or austerities to me. 

Tavayogi showed me Agathiyar and introduced me to the worship of the Siddhas. He showed me to Agathiyar and stepped aside, bringing me to deal with Agathiyar and Erai himself personally and directly without the need for him to intervene or act as a medium. Tavayogi watched us grow from afar and went into samadhi satisfied at having accomplished his task in planting the seed of the Siddhas in all us at AVM.

Erai showed me the guru and the guru in return showed me Erai. I was spared from falling for gurus who portray themselves as Erai. I was spared from false gurus. I was spared from maintaining the lifestyle of the rich and famous gurus. Both my gurus were down to earth and humble in nature, giving an ear and concerned about both our material growth and spiritual growth.

Many others came along to either initiate, teach a thing or two or rope me in into their agenda. With Erai's grace, I had the good sense to see through their schemes and not fall for the game. All these taught me a valuable lesson not to lose our guard and never to greed for things unimaginable. Most of all I had Erai on my side to forewarn me of the dangers that lurked behind the spiritual garment.  

Having sent two wonderful gurus in the physical form, Agathiyar came into my home in the form of a bronze statue and today has taken a place in our hearts too. He dictates and we follow his command. At times we do bargain with him, talk with him, disclose to him our thoughts (although he knows all) and state our opinions and views. He listens. He accepts. We move on.

A guru has failed if he has not groomed, trained and brought his disciples to his state of existence or higher. Similarly, I felt we had failed when a feeding session at a school for several poor children by an associate of mine was not picked up and continued by the parents, teachers or the parent teachers association. They kept depending on him to run the program. After two years of giving lunch for some 52 days in a year to these hungry primary school children, sadly no one came forward to carry on a tradition we had started.

Similarly, the distribution of groceries that we carry out each month would be a failure too if we cannot convince the recipients of these aids to do their fair share of charity either by giving to another a portion or whatever is in excess or sharing these groceries with others who need it more than them. When receiving aid we have a choice of sharing it with another. Sadly we are so used to receiving that we forget to give to another. 

PRA & POST SIDDHA FAITH

There is a distinct difference in the state of affairs before or pra-Siddha faith and after or post-Siddha faith as has been revealed and we have come to realize too.

When I took the hand of Tavayogi and he walked me through the path of the Siddhas, he told me "Only now our true journey begins my son!"

After stepping out of Nattadreeswarar temple in the middle of River Kaveri at Kangayapalaiyam, Erode, he turned to me and said: "Both Siva and Agathiyar are one!"

When Raghavendra Swamigal came through my brother-in-law who runs a Brindavanam for the saint in Ipoh, Raghavendra told me that both he and Agathiyar are one!

Agathiyar himself has told us that he and Ganapathy were one when I dressed and worshipped him as Lord Ganapathy on Chathurthi. Agathiyar added that he would appear in whatever form of a deity that we would like to see.

In another reading, he said that he was all encompassing and that he was the prapanjam and that the prapanjam was in him too.

These are the many ways he educated us to see him in all things and all things in him. This was a large step that he made us take towards scaling greater heights in strengthening our soul or gaining Atma Balam.

If prior to coming to the path, Erai was in the pictures and statues we worshipped or in the skies that we looked up to, after we took up this faith he was next to us walking us through in all our endeavours. The divine began to interact with us closely, using us for its purpose. The planets that had control and ruled us now became our gurus, guiding us rather than rewarding or punishing us.

If prior to holding on to him tightly, the Nadi and its writings were feared and had to be adhered too strictly, after gaining their grace, the Siddhas mellowed down and began to shower compassion and love through further readings. They began to make us drop our dependency on the Nadi and rather began to speak either directly, in the silence of the night or when our thoughts settled.

The great saints and Gods and Goddesses do not distinguish man by color, race, language, faith, status both material and spiritual, intelligence etc. To a question then "If Erai is all fair why do I suffer so much? one has to look back on his past actions in the numerous births he has taken. He has to judge for himself his actions, deeds and life. This is a divine secret of life! that begins, is sustained and cherishes or dies. We can want to know the reason behind our sufferings, enquire and search for answers or live through life without wanting or knowing. We could accept karma and live it out, taking on more sufferings, illnesses etc. Or we could try to work it out, carrying out the remedies given. We could burn it in the fires of devotion or the divine can choose to erase them. There are so many options in life out there and it is all to our choosing. There is no right or wrong way of living. Every soul comes to carry out its destined role. Along the way, he can bring changes to his mission either in an uplifting way or work towards ruining his life. The best solution is one of none interference as undertaken by the world's great saints. They live out their karma.

Taking the cue from previous saints before coming to the path, following their teachings and living a life following in their footsteps, after coming to the Siddha path we begin to create a path for ourselves, a formula that works for an individual or a small group of followers. The Siddhas taught us to work on our past karma and create our own destiny. They walked with us at each moment of the journey. They moved us from being selfish to becoming compassionate. They moved us from being greedy to become satisfied. It is through bringing these small changes in us that they worked towards moulding us into becoming a better person first. The rest of the virtues and criteria associated with the saints fall into place if we can uphold the basic values that make a good man. That is sufficient.

ON TAKING A GURU

There is a trend going on now. Everyone wants to be associated with a reputable club, a society, an association, a mission, a guru, a teaching, a path, etc. The need for a guru seems to be more pressing now than at any other time in the past. Even if one hasn't given a thought about it, he is bombarded with the numerous adverts and media depicting the gurus as lifesavers and saviours of mankind. Hence the common man too knocks on these doors, hoping to gain some relief from the storm that has left his life in ruins. 

Touching on the need for gurus, both Suren and I were taken aback when we realized that the saints of the past did not have gurus, or mention that they had gurus in the physical form. The 63 Nayanmars did not have personal gurus. Who did they worship then? They went for the source.

Neither were they affiliated to any religious groups, society or association. They never started nor headed ashrams or spiritual bodies. They never started nor had a following like in modern times. Ramalinga Adigal although briefly mentioned about a guru, never exposed him. Ramalinga pointed us to the source too. Instead of taking his hand on the journey to discovery, we have settled for him. Today we have begun to worship him instead. 

Tavayogi although he spoke, narrating the lives of his Paramaguru Swami Jeganatha and his immediate guru Chitramuthu Adigal, never worshipped them, but only Agathiyar. That is exactly what he told us to do too, in a stern way, worship the source and not Tavayogi.

Supramania Swami who mentioned the five gurus he had, never worshipped them but instead was engaged in the thought of Lord Shiva 24/7.  

I had never gone to see a guru or master prior to my meeting Supramania Swami and Tavayogi. If I happened to be at the temples at the same time a guru or master was visiting, I would stand in line with other devotees to get his blessing and move away. No physical attachment to any particular guru or master and his path. I had only paintings of deities at my altar too. As I began reading about great gurus and masters I began collecting their paintings or photos and displayed them on the walls of my prayer room. 

When the calling came to have my Nadi read, Agathiyar told me to worship him and the Siddhas, besides continuing the worship of the numerous deities in the Hindu pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. He told me I would meet my guru soon. Prior to this reading, my nephew brought me a painting of Lord Dhakshanamurthy and relayed to me a mysterious message that a year forth I shall meet my guru, too. True to these predictions I met Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai during my tour of India in 2003 and Tavayogi of Kallar Ashram when he toured Malaysia in 2005.

Since then I stopped both my search for a path and seeking another guru in the physical form. I took Agathiyar as my guru. Although he pointed me to several other living gurus, I refused to meet them. Neither did I make the move to meet them. I was happy with Agathiyar's path and was happy to serve him. This stern decision of mine saved me a whole lot of trouble.    

Many gurus, masters, and devotees came along the way, as I was slowly crawling on the path, at my own pace. They came with panacea and magic formulas, mantras, yantras, techniques, ways and means to hasten the journey, willing to reveal them, willing to give initiations or teecha. I refused to receive them. This stern decision of mine saved me a whole lot of trouble.    

I am grateful for Erai in alerting me of impending dangers. I am happy that the divine showed me a way of seeing through the ulterior motives and their cunning ways of gaining submission from others. I stayed aloft while many around me fell for it, even after I had forewarned them in very subtle ways of the impending dangers. I am indebted to the divine for sparing me the sour and bad experiences that many had to go through. I had the good sense to learn of the impending dangers and keep my distance from people who purportedly want to help us but ended up destroying others lives. I watched and learned the lessons from afar. I am truly grateful to Agathiyar for standing by me, in these trying times, giving me the ability to use the Wisdom or Arivu wisely, without falling for our own likes, desires, and weaknesses that are observed and seen and used by others to manipulate and gain control of our senses and lives. 

Here is where all the saints implored only to the Gods to save them from known and unknown dangers and the cunning and manipulative ways of man. On this path towards Erai it is important that we are focused on attaining him, aware of the dangers that lurk in the dark and take his hand.

Ramalinga Adigal was aware of the dangers which he equates to devils in disguise, that lurked around in numerous forms, waiting to bring us down at the moments when we lose our guard.

யான் என்கின்ற ஆணவப் பேயும் 

எனதென்கின்ற இராட்சதப் பேயும் 

மாயையென்கின்ற வஞ்சகப் பேயும் 

பெண்ணாசையென்கின்ற பெரும் பேயும் 

மண்ணாசையென்கின்ற மானிடப் பேயும் 

பொன்நசையென்கின்ற பொல்லாப் பேயும் 

குரோதம்மென்கின்ற கொள்ளிவாய்ப் பேயும் 

உலோபமென்கின்ற உதவாப் பேயும் 

மோகமென்கின்ற மூடப் பேயும் 

மதமென்கின்ற வலக்காரப் பேயும் 

மாச்சரியமென்கின்ற மலட்டுப் பேயும் 

மனப் பேயோடு கூடி 

இரவும் பகலும் ஆட்ட ஆடி ஆடி யிளைக்கின்ற அடியேனைக் 

காத்தருளத் திருவுள்ள மிரங்கித் தரிசனமருளி 

துன்பத்தை நீக்கி இன்பத்தை யளித்தருள் 

எம் பெருமான் என்னாண்டவனே என் தந்தையே என் தாயே என் குருவே என் தெய்வமே என் குல தெய்வமே என் உயிர்த்துணையே என் அறிவுக்கறிவாகிய இறைவனே.

When we begin to refuse all the gifts that are showered on us, we can escape the huge responsibilities and its associated problems. Having certain powers in us and standing in society, builds the ego in us as people come seeking us for advice and solutions. Soon a following revolves around us. People come, they stay and they elevate us to a state only to drop us and thrash us the very moment they are at crossroads with us.

Having the gift of prediction brings its own set of problems through people who do not have any inkling of how these predictions work and shoot it down the moment things do not move in their favour.

A gift of being a guru or the gift of an ashram brings an organized attack from disenchanted followers.

Refusing all these treasures and gifts of love from Erai, he can only give himself in the end.

KR Sivakanthan says it beautifully,

ஞானம் வேண்டேன் 

நல்வேதம் வேண்டேன் 

சூரியக்கலை வேண்டேன் 

சந்திரக்கலை வேண்டேன் 

சுழிமுனை வேண்டேன் 

அட்டமாசித்தி வேண்டேன் 

ஆறு ஆதாரம் வேண்டேன் 

அதற்கு மேலும் வேண்டேன் 

நின் பாதாரவிந்தம் வேண்டும் 

நின் கருணை வேண்டும் 

நின் பாதாரவிந்தம் மறவா மனம் வேண்டும் 

பூண்டி ஈசா சரணம் சரணம் சரணம் 

Manikavasagar too pleads only for the opportunity to weep at his feet, brushing all other desires aside.

உற்றாரை யான் வேண்டேன் 

ஊர் வேண்டேன் 

பேர் வேண்டேன் 

கற்றாரை யான் வேண்டேன் 

கற்பனவும் இனி அமையும் குற்றாலத்து அமர்ந்து உறையும் கூத்தா 

உன் குரை கழற்கே கற்றாவின் மனம் போலக் 

கசிந்து உருக வேண்டுவனே 

Ramalinga sought the feet of Erai in the face of danger.

குருவே அயன் அரி ஆதியர் போற்றக் குறைதவிர்ப்பான் 

வருவேல் பிடித்து மகிழ் வள்ளலே குணமா மலையே 

தருவே தணிகைத் தயாநிதியே 

துன்பச் சாகரமாம் கருவேர் அறுத்திக் கடையனைக் 

காக்கக் கடன் உனக்கே 

As all the saints of the past have shown, the best bet on this path is that of self-discovery and to go for the source, keep knocking at his door till he opens the gates to his kingdom.

சிவயோக நிலை

மதிமண்ட லத்தமுதம் வாயார உண்டே
பதிமண்ட லத்தரசு பண்ண - நிதிய
நவநேய மாக்கும் நடராஜ னேயெஞ்
சிவனே கதவைத் திற.

இந்தார் அருளமுதம் யானருந்தல் வேண்டுமிங்கே
நந்தா மணிவிளக்கே ஞானசபை - எந்தாயே
கோவே எனது குருவே எனையாண்ட
தேவே கதவைத் திற.

சாகா அருளமுதம் தானருந்தி நான்களிக்க
நாகா திபர்சூழ் நடராஜா - ஏகா
பவனே பரனே பராபரனே எங்கள்
சிவனே கதவைத் திற.

அருளோங்கு தண்ணமுதம் அன்பால் அருந்தி
மருள்நீங்கி நான்களித்து வாழப் - பொருளாந்
தவநேயர் போற்றும் தயாநிதியே எங்கள்
சிவனே கதவைத் திற.

வானோர்க் கரிதெனவே மாமறைகள் சாற்றுகின்ற
ஞானோ தயஅமுதம் நானருந்த - ஆனாத்
திறப்பா வலர்போற்றும் சிற்றம் பலவா
சிறப்பா கதவைத் திற.

எல்லாமும் வல்லசித்தென் றெல்லா மறைகளுஞ்சொல்
நல்லார் அமுதமது நானருந்த - நல்லார்க்கு
நல்வாழ் வளிக்கும் நடராயா மன்றோங்கு
செல்வா கதவைத் திற.

ஏழ்நிலைக்கும் மேற்பால் இருக்கின்ற தண்ணமுதம்
வாழ்நிலைக்க நானுண்டு மாண்புறவே - கேழ்நிலைக்க
ஆவாஎன் றென்னைஉவந் தாண்டதிரு அம்பலமா
தேவா கதவைத் திற.

ஈன உலகத் திடர்நீங்கி இன்புறவே
ஞான அமுதமது நானருந்த - ஞான
உருவே உணர்வே ஒளியே வெளியே
திருவே கதவைத் திற.

திரையோ தசத்தே திகழ்கின்ற என்றே
வரையோது தண்ணமுதம் வாய்ப்ப - உரைஓது
வானேஎம் மானேபெம் மானே மணிமன்றில்
தேனே கதவைத் திற.

சோதிமலை மேல்வீட்டில் தூய திருவமுதம்
மேதினிமேல் நானுண்ண வேண்டினேன் - ஓதரிய
ஏகா அனேகா எழிற்பொதுவில் வாழ்ஞான
தேகா கதவைத் திற.

Source: http://www.thiruarutpa.org/thirumurai/v/T270/tm/sivayooka_n-ilai

SEEING THE CHANGE

Agathiyar through the Nadi asked me to come to his path and his worship, besides the worship of all the Gods and Goddesses in the Hindu pantheon. Slowly he brought me into performing rituals for his bronze statue and place offerings into the sacred fire, in my home. Numerous doors were opened along this path, doors I never knew existed. He brought others into my home. He brought the divine into my home and our hearts. He brought love and compassion into our hearts. He opened our eyes and hearts to the sufferings of others. He opened our eyes and hearts to the hungry, the homeless, the orphaned, the unfortunate, and the poor. He brought a balanced upliftment in us, in both the material and spiritual world, asking us not to neglect either. Building on our soul first through devotion and charity, he has brought changes in us. Building on the religious, yogic and spiritual practices, he strengthens the soul. Building on having us perform charity and upholding the noble values, he melted our hearts. Love and compassion oozed out from within the confines of the tough and selfish heart. Just as even the hardest rocks can dissolve in water to a small extent, the rock that was once our hearts, slowly melted away. All our effort went towards strengthening the forces of good over evil, we understood. A subtle battle takes place at each moment in our lives and all around us. Taking the hand of the divine, we walked through unscathed. As the brave at heart shall sail through the rapids, so shall we.

Although we are told not to expect results in our efforts and ventures, it brings joy to us to see positive changes take place in the lives of all those whom we touched. Sri Krishna brought us to the streets and showed us the state of the homeless. We picked up from him the act of feeding the homeless. Bala Chandran showed us the sad stories behind the residents and inmates of the old folks home and children homes, and homes for the mentally and physically challenged. Vinthamaray showed us the plight of those who were struggling to make ends meet even with an honest livelihood, battling the escalating costs of paying rent and utility bills besides struggling to provide food on their dinner table. All these divine souls opened our eyes to the real world out there. The curtain or veil of maya was drawn aside. We stepped in to do something for these people, to bring a change in their lives. If before, we stood before our altars at home and prayed and wished for all the good things in life, demanding and expecting Erai to fulfil or shower us with them, thinking that it was our birth right and we deserved the best, today we pray for the well-being of others. Agathiyar sets us doing rituals which he says subtly brings positive changes to nature and man. Agathiyar tells us to feed the poor, unfortunate and hungry, revealing to us that besides appeasing their hunger, the food we give will turn out to be medicine for them.

Indeed we are seeing these amazing changes take place as if by a miracle. A toddler who could not even stand a month ago, today has taken steps and cries her heart out, something she did not do earlier. The vitamin supplements and fortified milk formula given to the family worked a miracle. A teen who could not bring himself to socialize has opened up to us and broke the ice when we invited him to join us in bringing food to his fellow neighbours. He has volunteered to help us in future.

Just as Agathiyar and Tavayogi planted the seed in us, Mahin tells me that we have planted a seed in the heart of this kid to serve his community, "Now this 1 seed started to grow and in future many more. Now we need to water it to grow up well... Just we want to reduce the numbers we giving and they started to give and help each other." That should be the way, not making them dependent on our aid, but instead, share the piece of cake among others too.

A bedridden senior citizen who talked about ending his life looks forward to our visits each month now. A depressed lady who had a medical problem puts on a smile each time we stand at her door. Many householders have invited us into their homes, their kids jumping in excitement the moment they see us. We are elated and happy to see a smile, laughter and a note of gratitude in them. Above and beyond these, their lives have changed positively and for the better with a little bit of concern, aid and help from us. We have come to understand that small acts of charity go a long way towards shaping the future of others. We are glad that we are given a role to play in shaping their future. Erai has placed us here not to fend for ourselves but to care for others too. Erai has given us legs and arms and perfect health so that we would serve another. All our individual sorrows disappear when we tend to the needs of others. 

Agathiyar asked us to do collective prayers lighting the Aganda Deepam that he says will take care of the wellness of all of his creation. He got us to engage in all these tasks bringing us out of our selfish thoughts to serve the world and its inhabitants. Through rituals and charity, he brought us to act as his apostles, as his arms and legs, as an extension of him. Erai works through us in relieving the hardship and sufferings of others. We are glad that he has given us this opportunity.

Simon Lister in the series "Tales by Light - Children in Need" through his camera lens and breathtaking photography captures the face of poverty. 

His "photographs were displayed on massive billboards in Times Square New York to promote UNICEF following the one-hour documentary film made about him and his work with the organisation."

Lister’s Tales by Light 3 gives its audience a new perspective on working children.

“If they don’t work, they don’t get any money, they don’t survive,” Lister explains. “They are literally making sure they can get something so that they can eat that day. A lot of us in the western culture are going, ‘Gosh, we have to get these kids out of the factories. They should be playing and getting educated.’ But when you’re there, you realise they have to get money, they have to find a way to survive.”

Education is important. If they can get it, it’s a luxury. UNICEF is helping to fit this, as well as health care and a safe place to sleep, into their lives as much as possible, Lister adds.

“You might have a mother with four children,” Lister continues. “The husband has died or left them. And she’s left at home with a two-year-old. Once the children are five to seven, the mother can send them off to work. These children work for three to five hours, depending on what their role or job is and then they can go to a UNICEF catch-up school. UNICEF sets up the schools with its partners. It looks after the curriculum and the teachers, and also seeks out children that need help and provides it. It also provides safe houses or shelters at night, so that street children have a safe place to go. And it makes sure that all the children are healthy. UNICEF is doing an amazing job. And it’s epic."

These great souls do a wonderful job of bringing the sufferings of others to the public and through the publicity garnered bring their plight to the attention of good samaritans and organizations that come forward to provide aid.

BATTLING EVIL

My daughter is a die-hard fan of The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) having followed all the 22 movies, reviews and behind the scene stories. And so my family went to watch the Avengers Endgame. Coming back home, a friend asked if he could expect a post about the movie. Well, this post is dedicated to him.

It is interesting to note that writer-artist Jim Starlin originally conceived the character Thanos during his college psychology classes. 

Thanos was a genocidal warlord from Titan, whose own main objective was to bring stability to the universe, as he believed its massive population would inevitably use up the universe's entire supply of resources and condemn it. To complete this goal, Thanos set about tracking down the Infinity Stones, as the combined might could wipe out half the universe. Thanos engaged in a ferocious crusade in order to obtain the Infinity Stones. During his mission, both Thanos and his Black Order invaded multiple planets and slaughtered thousands to gain the stones, including Loki and the Asgardians. Thanos soon found himself challenged by an alliance comprising the universes greatest teams, which included the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. However, despite facing off against the powerfully combined opposition and the wrath of Thor, Thanos still ultimately triumphed and completed the Infinity Gauntlet, using it to finally complete his goal and had caused the Decimation, resulting in half of all life in the universe being wiped out at the snap of his fingers.

Following the Decimation, Thanos then ensured this could not be reversed by destroying all of the Infinity Stones, resulting in the Avengers tracking him down on Titan II before then being decapitated by Thor. However, in an alternative 2014, Thanos was alerted to the events of the Infinity War by a time traveling Nebula, resulting in him traveling to 2023 and laying siege on the Avengers, as he had just decided to instead wipe out the entire universe and replace it out of revenge for their efforts to stop him. However, Thanos had been just too late to stop the Decimation from being reversed as thousands of heroes came to stop him. Despite all Thanos' best efforts, he was unable to claim victory as Tony Stark had retaken their Iron Gauntlet and decimated Thanos, as well as the Chitauri and Outriders, thus killing the Mad Titan and ending his reign once and for all.

(Source: https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Thanos)

Although Thanos is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, that character is prevalent in society and in our midst. Many have become champions of Justice thinking that they are right about issues and others are wrong. They go to the extent of causing severe damage to their reputation and lives. If both the mythical gods, heroes and villains took to face off and bring the issue on hand to an end, through duels, many these days hide behind the social media rather than settle the scores face to face.

Even the great saints had to go through torture and hardship created by the envious and vicious elements in their circle and society. Appar was poisoned, dropped into the sea, and tortured in numerous other ways by the King's men, after believers of a faith Appar was aligned with prior to coming to the worship of Siva, poisoned the King's mind. 

First, he was poisoned but with the grace of Lord Shiva the poison turned into nectar. Next, the king’s mahouts were ordered to kill him using the royal elephant, but the elephant obediently circumambulated him. In the third and the last attempt, Appar was tied to a rock and thrown into the sea but the rock started floating and brought him back to the shore at Cuddalore. (Source: https://www.dharisanam.com/pages/thirunavukkarasar-appar)

Abhirami Pattar was put to test when the King's men lowered him into the flames, etc. Even as recent as a couple of centuries ago, Ramalinga Adigal had to face numerous tests and hardship from his enemies. Seeking to know the art of making gold and returning disappointed, some instigated others to harass him and lodged reports with the authorities that he was hoarding gold. When he sang that the death could be revived, the villagers were instigated by his enemies to dump the bodies of dead relatives and carcasses of animals in his court at Vadalur and challenged him to bring them back alive, not accepting that those were the words of Erai. When he pointed out the false believes and practices to his followers, spiritual giants of his time confronted him accusing him of poisoning the minds of the common man. When he built the Satya Gnana Sabai on the instruction of Erai and Erai had promised to arrive and move in, many questioned him why Arutperunjhoti Andavar did not come even after 150 years had passed by? One has to understand that Erai only comes when we are prepared in all ways to receive him. People were not ready to receive him, hence he did not make his appearance. Day by day people harassed him. He told Erai that he had failed to bring the change as desired by Erai. He decided to leave. He brought out and placed the lighted lamp that he had worshipped all these while in his room at Sitthivalaga Thirumaligai, asking his followers to worship the light as Erai. After two months, on 30 January 1874, he began to write the last song for his Thiruarutpa. 

என் சாமி எனது துரை என்னுயிர் நாயகனார் 

இன்று வந்து நான் இருக்கும் இடத்தில் அமர்கின்றார் 

பின்சாரும் இரண்டரை நாழிகைக்குள்ளே எனது 

பேருடம்பில் கலந்து உளத்தே பிரியாமல் இருப்பார் 

தன்சாதியுடைய பெருந்தவத்தாலே நான் தான் 

சாற்றுகின்றேன் அறிந்து இதுதான் சத்தியம் சத்தியமே 

He paused a moment. Both Lord Siva and Parvathi gave their darshan. He worshipped them with his tears rolling down his cheeks. Lord Siva completes the song for him.

மின்சாரம் இடை மடவாய் என்மொழி நின்தனுக்கே 

வெளியாகும் இரண்டரை நாழிகை கடந்த போதே.

(Based on "Arutperunjothi Gnana Siddhar", by B.Kamalakkannan, Vanathi Pathippakam, Chennai, 2008.)

Tavayogi too had to go through his fair share of troubles that were initiated by some of his dissatisfied disciples. Eventually, all the saints came out of their troubles, shining in society, respected and worshipped. 

All good that one does will have an evil counterpart or elements opposing it. Many wars were fought in history and in fiction. All these centred over possession and control of land, wealth and women. The battle continues till this day.

It takes years to build an empire but just minutes to bring it down. An empire is brought down by either the misconduct of the king or master or in other instances through the treachery of a disciple or his subjects. So is it with ashrams.

One has to be always vigilant that he never slips. Similarly one has to be on the lookout for weaknesses in the chain. However one can take the hand of the divine to look out for impending dangers as we cannot always be on the lookout as in our sleep. Bring the divine to protect us at every moment. He shall guide us well.

Dangers lurk all around us and hits us when we are least aware and when we least expect. If we think the material world is full of hatred, jealousy and treachery, the spiritual path too is at risk of these dangers. Tavayogi had warned me of such dangers. Along the way, I was blessed to be kept away from such dangers. Today Agathiyar stands guard over us at ATM keeping danger at bay. 

Bringing the gods and goddesses into our homes and hearts initially through worship and rituals, that transforms into love for the divine, creates a long-standing bond between Erai and devotee.

We are given many choices in life. Picking an option will open up the relevant doors and bring forth specific situations. Picking another option will lay out before us a new set of challenges. Opting out will bring us to an entirely new environment. Along the way, whichever path we choose to walk, will bring strangers along. Some will move on while others might cling on. Relationships are built. Friendships are forged. Enemies are made. Life is interesting only if we have all these spices thrown in. 

One must learn to say no if he is to avoid any impending danger and future problems. It saves us a lot of sorrow and worries later in life by saying no on the onset and in the beginning. Listen to the first thought that comes to us for it is always the right one, as it is not adulterated by our judgement and the opinions of others.

I have stopped encouraging people to see the Nadi for many have become so dependant on it to the extent they are not using the free will and choice given to them to decide even the petty and minor issues in their daily lives. These days I suggest they take up prayers instead. Let Erai speak to us in prayers rather than through his mediums and tools.

We always expect Erai to fulfil our wishes. This would surmise to we being the employer and he, our employee, or we the master and he being the Genie. Erai is not obligated to do all our asking. He has his own plans for us. His plans could oppose that of ours. But he has our wellbeing at heart. If only we listen to him rather then our thoughts. If only we see the signs written clearly before us before taking the leap. Awareness of each moment is important if we are to make sound decisions. With Erai by our side, we shall never follow the fault in our stars.