DOING SEVA & SERVICE

Agathiyar  brought us to do seva in our guru's ashram and service in the community. In http://theperiodictableofspiritualelements.com/the-book/chapter-fifty-one-service/, seva is defined by the following.

Seva, or selfless service, is another element of yoga. Seva has nothing to do with touching one’s toes and everything to do with opening one’s heart and shedding one’s ego. It is an integration of server and served. It is an exercise of Communion and compassion in order to assist and lift up.

Like any community, there are mundane and unglamorous chores to be done. Seva is the practice where participating students partake in this workload. Indeed, it is viewed as an integral part of their study and personal development. A student may have a grand background of esteemed academic credentials and conventional success. Still, he or she may be assigned to scrub toilets at the ashram. While doing this and similar tasks, students learn to work with no ego and with the joy of altruistic selfless Service to the greater cause. When each is completing their Seva, the community as a whole is kept in working order.

At the local front both Mahin and Malar have taken up upon themselves to do seva at ATM stopping over each evening after work and giving Agathiyar a bath and dressing him up in a myriad of ways.

Seva can also be done outside of an ashram. When we Serve others who suffer in some manner, who might be viewed as most in need, underserved or disenfranchised, we are practicing Seva.

Seva provides double dividends. It is intended to transform the server while assisting the served. It is a tithing of self; it is in this giving that the server receives the gift of Communion, which is the transforming Energy of Divinity.

“It is Seva that accelerates the awakening of a seeker and lights the path to God.”-Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. 

Service is also simply helping anyone in need. It is the Generosity of giving time, presence, comfort and aid. It is a tithing of self. Service can be a temporary lending of a skillset without remuneration or recognition. It can also provide the lowest level of skill that we may be capable of giving─ and doing so with Humility and without ego.

When we are truly in Service, we are doing what we are born to do. We are in our flow, experiencing Infinitude and the appropriate level of abundance that supports our mission.We are in our element. It is not work when we serve. It is neither a chore nor a direct exchange of labor for compensation. You may initiate the “Butterfly Effect.” You may plant the seed that plants a seed that plants a seed. You may be the unknown inspiration. You may be the muse that summons a poem that sparks a thousand loves.

It is a Meditation and exchange of Energy, transforming giver and recipient. It is a way of being on-call, standing by, being on the ready for whatever purpose we may serve in helping others. 

Coming to do service, I have met some wonderful souls. The most foremost soul that comes to mind in terms of compassion and service is the couple Mr and Mrs Sri Krishna. They have tirelessly carried out service to others, be it taking seekers to read the Nadi, sitting through long hours translating the Nadi for them, bringing them to carry out the remedies, taking on the task of purchasing, preparing and cooking food for the hungry, and helping all those who come knocking at their door.

I have personally seen them work their heart and soul out in service, through both times and bad times, through good and bad weather. When there is a day where there is no feeding program on the agenda, while we would like to take a break and rest at home or go on a short holiday, this couple would sit and figure out whom to feed even on their day of rest. When Capt Ariva invited us aboard a cruise ship to go as far as the Andaman islands, we rejoiced at the thought of having a holiday. This couple immediately jumped at the thought of an opportunity to feed those on the island. That is the extent of compassion for the hungry in them. 

Next on my list would be Bala Chandran. He moves from work to family to doing charity at every available moment in his life. He came exhausted one day for a Nadi reading having worked all night long and having to prepare and cook food for the inmates of a home. Agathiyar mentioned that he was aware of how tired he was. But as each session with him always boost our morals, so did he boost Bala.

Similarly, we have many more wonderful souls come forward to sacrifice their time, energy and finances in aiding the unfortunate. To all these wonderful souls, Siddha Heartbeat takes its hats off and salutes them. The following video is dedicated to all these souls.

The site http://theperiodictableofspiritualelements.com/the-book/chapter-fifty-one-service/addresses the most common flaw and the downfall of heads of organisations, movements and societies.

Those in positions of authority are often served by others through the structure in which they have power or through the benefits (financial or otherwise) brought forth by their position. The human ego is subject to excitement and expansion under such conditions. The ego loves power, control and the appearances of “importance.” A person can come to be self-important when his or her ego is activated in this way. They can come to think that their needs and desires matter more than those of others. They can become a “diva” or an autocrat. Because of the inherent dangers of ego expansion, the spiritual element of Service serves special notice to people in positions of authority to maintain Humility and a mindset of assisting and uplifting those that may be “beneath” them in whatever artificial hierarchy they may operate within. In this way, Service mandates a special duty for leaders to not abuse their power.

Good leaders see their positions as an honor and a blessing and are wary of the potential for abuse and self-importance. They constantly ask themselves how they might better serve those around them. They constantly monitor themselves so as to not take advantage of their position of power.

“A leader is best when people barely know that the leader is present. When the work is done, the aim fulfilled, the people will say: we did it ourselves.” -Lao Tzu 

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members”, ATM's greatness is measured by how it treats the unfortunate in our society.

DOING HIS WORK

Today the ATM family stands together firmly united in a pledge of allegiance to Agathiyar.

Dear father, today we stand before you not to seek or ask for favours but to remain silent and listen to you speak. Please stand with us in all the endeavours that we undertake in your name. Please open up more doors and opportunities for us to serve you and your creation. We are pleased to do your work. 

Initially, we came to him for favours, asking our desires and wishes to be fulfilled. Then he brought our narrow and selfish thoughts that focused and centred around ourselves and our needs and that of the family, to go beyond to encompass the welfare of strangers and that of others. He opened up compassion in us. Compassion was the fuel that propelled us to serve those beyond the boundary of next of kin and blood relationships. We began to go all the way out to help strangers first in the charity homes followed by helping the homeless on the streets. Soon we began helping poor families whom we adopted and pledged to bring a ray of hope and light into their homes and lives. We have brought cheer into their lives going by the smile and the welcome they extend to us each time we visit them. They need and want this support that we extend to continue. We chose to walk the practical way. Leaving behind the need to know the theory, reasons and benefits derived before engaging in doing good deeds, even before one is started, we went to the ground first and learnt from experience. 

Many devotees and seekers came to Tavayogi and sat with him for hours on hand to debate about all that they had either learnt, read, came to know, came to hear etc from books, news, masters and gurus and many more sources. They came to verify statements and teachings. They came to hear what he thought of others teachings. They came to "vomit" all their knowledge about a particular subject that they had researched on. They asked about Kundalini and the secrets of immortality even before laying the groundwork. They came to get an appraisal for their research work on the Siddhas. They were there at each visit he made, asking the same questions even some five years later. Where are they now? What happened to the hours of upadesa that they received from him? Why have they not worked on it and risen to the call of the Siddhas?

While many came to Tavayogi with questions and he too encouraged them to ask, I never had a question for him. I had dropped all my learning and all my knowing the day Lord Siva came in a dream and asked me to. I came to Tavayogi empty, waiting to be filled. I sat at his feet, silent, waiting to be filled. As fate would have, he filled me with bliss and joy instead of knowledge. He showed me the practical path by getting me to actually perform a yatra with him visiting the abodes of the Siddhas, the jungles, the caves, and the temples. He asked me to only recite the names of the Siddhas at all these places, nothing more. He did not teach the theory or explain the reasons behind his directives or reveal the results that are supposedly derived in doing it. Hence I did not have any expectations at all. I was not disappointed nor frustrated along the way for I did not have a goal to achieve or a milestone to catch up with or a target to shoot. Experience then became a teacher for me. Although I learned much by just watching and observing my gurus, my experience taught me, to heed the guide who resided within me, 24/7. I learned much of what I was not to do too, from observing and seeing the troubles that many brought onto them because of their desires and wants, by way of their frame of mind and thoughts and by way of speech, etc. These were all lessons for me to avoid.

Someone walked up to me recently at an event and began questioning about my writings on this blog that he had been following. To a question, why we did not name the organization after Agathiyar, I replied with another question, was there a need for it? We can never stake claim to Agathiyar. He is for everybody. I told him we never wanted to be communal or identified with a saint or person or race or nation. Here we help people irrespective of their faith, race, religion and beliefs. When we go around helping we never propagate the path, the deity, or promote the organization. Neither do we ask about their faith or religion. We serve on humanitarian grounds. But sadly we have some volunteers who team up with us, asking these questions and we have to shut them up and ask them to tow the line.

Then he asked if my family were all vegetarians. I told him my wife and I were, but my children were not. I told him Agathiyar had not asked my children to stop, to which he answered neither did he ask to start. I told him that he would bring forth the change when we are ready to drop it, not by force. I became a vegetarian overnight for reasons even I do not know. It just happened. When people ask me if I switched because of religious reasons or health reasons, I reply that I do not have a reason. When many come around preaching to people to switch to vegetarian they must also make provisions for these meals to be made easily available. Those who have a heart of compassion and intent to follow in the path of compassion, find it difficult to avail themselves of good vegetarian food. Taking for instance, a ride along the expressway from north to south, how many R & R provides vegetarian food? Take the institutions of learning for that matter, from the nursery to the University. How many of them provide vegetarian meals? Take the cafeteria and canteens in government departments and hospitals. How many provide vegetarian food? It is not enough if we canvas but we have to make vegetarian food available to those to whom we preach.

Then he asked why I made the blog private, when many could have benefitted from it? I told him since Agathiyar had begun to guide us in very specific ways that do not conform to the norms of the general public, I did not want to add on to an already confused and lost society.

Then he went on to ask how Agathiyar comes, referring to my postings. He asked if it could be hallucinations for that matter. I told him to sit in prayer and he shall know. I asked him to gain that experience for himself rather than wanting to know mine. I told him if at all he was interested to know about these experiences to look up Ramalinga Adigal's, Manikavasagar's and the Nayanmar's experiences that are both authentic and much more majestic in nature rather then showing interest in beginners like us.

Not done with combating my postings, finally, he told me that Agathiyar could be passing messages to me through him. Bala Aiya saved the day or rather the night by coming up to us at this juncture and calling it a day, asking us to have our dinner and leave as the temple had to close. Phew! What a relief that was.

I messaged him the following morning at 5.23am.

Hi, as I told u last night, going by your messages, I had a gut feeling that u were not interested in Agathiyar but had a different agenda since day one. First u asked to participate in the puja, then u said u could not make it because your b-i-l was ill which as I said had nothing to do with u. Neither was it a reason to stay away from attending the puja, which u replied as being complicated. Then u switched to wanting to have a chat instead. U proofed me right last night when we met. U bombarded me with questions n started pushing your views n opinions, even challenging those that I held knowing pretty well that we had only met. If your intention is to place me under your  microscope as a case study, pls understand that I do not need to proof anything to u.

My advise to u is to get engaged with Agathiyar first, heed his advise, n see the results for yourself rather than wanting to study another. Scientist of the past experimented on themselves instead of on others. Bhogar too experimented on himself. I hope I managed to talk some sense into u last night, as I consider that there is a reason n a lesson to be learnt through every meeting. I too have more reason to keep my blog private now. I shall remove access to my blog. U can seek to learn elsewhere. Have a nice day.

Your friend understands pretty well the reason we come to spiritualism that is to elevate the soul to the state of bliss n not merely to entertain the games of the mind.

Yes another thing. When u said that Agathiyar could be passing a message through u, let me tell u that he does not talk much like u did. Both Agathiyar n my guru will give only a passing remake that  has depth n makes sense only later.

When I came to the worship of the siddhas, I knew nothing. I looked up the bookstores for any literature on them that I could get my hands on. I needed to know who I was going to pray to. I began worship by placing a painting of Agathiyar at my altar n chanting the names of the siddhas as many before me had done. Then Agathiyar made me learn by observing my gurus supramania swami and tavayogi. As I spent time with them, I saw a few come to supramania swami for their needs asking to chart horoscopes, asking for talisman etc. Many came to tavayogi with lots of questions. I realized that it was not that they did not have the answers but they wanted to show that they were knowledgeable about many spiritual matters. None came to these wonderful masters with the desire and yearning to really wanting to know the means to liberation. 

Both my gurus were saddened by this phenomena. I too was sad for u.

Having written this post I went back to Agathiyar if I should share this conversation that I had with him and the video I had assembled. He gave me the approval, reminding me of Ma's words that what is an experience to me will be gnana to others. Anyway, it is he who orchestrates the show. I surrender to his will. Be prepared for an explosion within you too, any time. https://youtu.be/f0OxkG5xF8Y

ATTAINING BLISS

There are many things that bring pleasure to us in life. There are many things done and that man engages in that brings him pleasure. There are many things created to bring us pleasure. Man becomes addicted to pleasurable things. Hence he goes in search of more and varied forms of things that could bring pleasure. This is what we had sought for all this while. These bring a sense of joy to us, at least momentarily. 

The Saints on the other hand though, by their teachings, bring us from the search of pleasure that is derived externally by way of the senses, to go within and drink the divine ambrosia and attain bliss. From the pleasures on the physical level, they now bring us to bliss that is of the soul level. Connecting with the divine is the stepping stone that brings forth this bliss. When the love towards the divine is reciprocated, bliss is derived. Bliss transcends the body, reasoning, time and space we are told. If at other times we are aware of all four, when in a state of bliss, awareness of all these are lost. The only remaining thing that we are aware of is the connection and communion with the divine. When bliss sets in, the hand reaches out to share it with others too, thence holding hands with all gathered, both seen and unseen. Today we understand why we were prompted internally each time to join hands at the height of our prayers at ATM.

In http://theperiodictableofspiritualelements.com/the-book/chapter-seven-bliss/ we are told the reason.

Here on Earth, Bliss is the spiritual ecstasy derived from a precise awareness of the connection with God. It is the byproduct of true, unimpeded Communion and awareness of Divinity. Bliss is an uncontained sense of vast and expanding happiness, rolling over hills and valleys, stars and galaxies, going inward and outward at the same time. It is the feeling of holding hands with everybody on the planet and every angel, too - at the same time, everywhere. Bliss is the pleasurable radiation of happiness from the heart at a level just below bursting. It is a smile on one’s face that just might rip. It is the spiritual analogy to a full body, all-pore-inclusive orgasm. It is chi, life energy, sustained in perpetuity. It is unlimited, everlasting Joy. Bliss is Joy, exponential.

Today we too have turned our attention towards the soul within so that the soul too can revel in the joy that we call bliss. When bliss dawns on the soul all systems shut. We are drenched in joy that can never be described. The pleasure derived is not by way of the senses no more. It arises from deep within and overwhelms us. We lose control of ourselves. We whelm with tears in the eyes that begin to stream down the cheeks beyond our control. We cry out in ecstasy. The body quivers. The limbs spontaneously go into various poses. Energy traverses through the body. Further tears stream down profusely. We break into loud laughter. There is an outburst of joy and laughter and we begin to dance. The soul delights in the arrival and company of the divine. Finally, we settle down and go into a state of silence. Silence prevails after the storm. True knowledge then dawns in these moments of silence - the knowledge that comes from the source, unadulterated and true to its source.

At http://theperiodictableofspiritualelements.com/the-book/chapter-seven-bliss/ we learn more about bliss.

Experiencing true Bliss can render us unable to function, as it transcends body, reason, time and place. It can lead to trance, out-of-body experiences, obliviousness to one’s surroundings, personal rapture, revelation and profound understanding and insight.

Bliss is the joy of heaven on Earth. It is sweet elation. It is Nirvana. It is the pleasure of enlightenment or Samadhi. It is beatitude. It is a sacred euphoria. It is egolessness. Bliss is an ambrosia for the soul and of the soul, self-fulfilling and self-perpetuating. It can make you dance ecstatically, or leave you oh-so-very still.

Our Bliss tells us we are part of something greater than ourselves as it is greater than a singularly sourced joy. Bliss is the happiness attained upon stumbling upon the Holy Grail. It is the Holy Grail of happiness, inherently Divine by nature. Bliss is the ultimate natural high.

Is Bliss a lure? Maybe. Bliss could be the divinely-inspired, dopamine-inducing pleasure which lures us to Communion.

The element of Infinitude describes that state of awesomeness and unbounded capacity we feel when we are here on Earth and are also in our flow, fulfilling the mission of our Truth in Service to others. We experience Infinitude when we are doing what we were born to do. This might be said to be a form of Bliss. When we are living our Truth in Service to others; we are aligned with Divinity and we are in Communion. Pure Bliss differs from Infinitude in that it foregoes any need for a mission beyond “just being.” Bliss reflects the awesomeness and unbounded capacity of a soul just being a soul connected to God. We can feel both Bliss and Infinitude while living on Earth. In following our Bliss and in living our Truth, we may first experience Infinitude, which might then help us to bare our souls and experience true, soulful Bliss.

While Bliss is the ecstasy experienced from direct Communion with God, Joy is the daily manifestation of Bliss within all interactions here on Earth. Joy happens when we see Divinity all around us and within us. Bliss can be so powerful that it separates us from the practical world. Joy, on the other hand, is accessible Bliss that we can experience in everyday life without being in the la-la land of full- blown spiritual ecstasy. Bliss is a spiritual experience of the soul. One might say that Joy, on the other hand, is a taste of that experience filtered through the Body.

Your Bliss is right inside you right now. You don’t have to go anywhere or follow anything to feel it. It involves a pilgrimage of one step - within. To access Bliss, we have to learn to just be, shedding our ego and any sort of persona which evolved as a matter of appeasing and complying with the social demands of who we think we ought to be or what others think we ought to be. We have to strip off all layers and all masks and effectively “bare our souls” to access Bliss.

Doing personal and spiritual work consistently over time naturally leads to doing those things that truly make us happy and shedding those things that don’t. In the process, we come closer to our Truth. We peel off layers of falsity and are more who we really are by Divine order. Proximity to our Truth equates to greater Bliss since we are also closer to our Divinity.

Follow your Bliss as best as you can based upon your own Intuition. Bliss may be something we enter into through an act of Surrender and letting go. Bliss can happen is by having a sudden or abrupt epiphany, personal rapture or extraordinary mystical experience (in the dreamtime or in waking reality).

APOSTLES IN THE MAKING

Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal came to Malaysia the first time in 2004. He came to spread the word about the Siddhas and their worship. His guru Chitramuthu Adigal frequented Malaysia (then Malaya) much earlier.

Chitramuthu left for Malaya in 1922, staying in Kuala Kangsar, Perak. He worked as a toddy tapper for six years before returning to India in 1928. 

He came again to Malaya and stayed in Taiping, Perak. He went back to tapping toddy. 

Chitramuthu left for India where he had another child whom he named after his guru Jeganatha Swamigal. Chitramuthu Adigal's guru was also in Malaysia and went into samadhi in Tapah. 

Chitramuthu Adigal left for Malaya again in 1940. This time he came to spread his teachings. 

He left for India in 1947, leaving behind a large following who had regarded him as their guru. In India, he preached Jeeva Karunya or compassion towards other beings as upheld by Ramalinga Adigal. He opened up his home to the public and named it Aruloli Madam where he started giving discourses. He travelled to the neighbouring villagers spreading his message. 

He was back in Malaya in 1951. Chitramuthu Adigal preached at the Sree Thandayuthabani temple in Penang, the Aruloli Murugan temple in Penang hill, the Maha Mariamman temple in Ipoh, the Court Hill Pillaiyaar temple in Pudu, the Scott Road Kandaswami temple in Brickfields, the Athi Eswaran temple in Sentul, the Sree Maha Mariamman temple in Jalan Bandar, the Shivan temple in Jalan Sungei Besi, Kuala Lumpur and the Mariamman temple in Singapore. 

He stayed in Ceylon in 1953. Later he left for India. He established many missions in India and Malaya. Chitramuthu Adigal went into Samadhi on Sunday May 5, 1995.

Jeganathar left Puri, India for Chittagong in Burma in 1832 at the age of eighteen. Later at thirty, he tracked down to Malaya through Thailand. He worked as a brakeman in the Malayan Railways. He was based in Tanjong Malim for four years. 

Later he lived in Baling for eight years. The locals there saw him as a spiritual man and addressed him as Swami. 

Then he went on a pilgrimage to Singapore. Enroute he stopped at Taiping, where he was mistaken as a spy by the Burmese security forces loyal to the British in Malaya and put behind bars. Surprisingly he was released the next day without any interrogation. 

At Seremban too, people began to take notice of his spiritual nature. 

He moved on to Teluk Anson where he undertook charity and fed the poor. 

Finally, he settled in Tapah. He built a hut for himself near a Chinese graveyard and continued his sadhana and tapas or austerity here.

So Tavayogi followed the footsteps of his Guru and Paramaguru and set his foot on Malaysian soil in 2004. He managed to give a talk in a couple of temples before heading back to India. He came back the following year to officiate a local chapter of his Agathiyar Gnana Peedham at Batu Caves. That is where I met him and a beautiful relationship started. He paved the way for me to engage in doing charity and rituals. 

Following in his footsteps, the wonderful team at PTS have been doing charity without fail. Wanting to bring the culture of conducting the Siddhar Puja in their homes, Mahindren took the lead in organizing such an event recently at his home, having invited family and friends. It was carried out in the calmest and most systematic way and most importantly it was short and brief. My mind settled immediately the moment Mahindren started the puja. After the puja we were treated to a banana leaf dinner.

It makes me proud to see the seed that was sowed by Tavayogi has grown into a tree that has begun to fruit beautifully too. Besides this both Mahin and Malar drop by ATM daily to bath the bronze statue of Agathiyar and dress him up, in the most beautiful manner. Tavayogi's dream to bring the Siddha worship to our shores has seen fruition. 

WHEN NATURE BEFRIENDS US 2

Having read my earlier post, Sailaja from India, messaged me, sharing a similar encounter with nature's beauty just as Gayathri Muraleedharan has had.

Aiya, I can so relate to Gayatri Muraleefharan's post. I have been sighting a kingfisher perched on a jackfruit tree which is very close to my bedroom window. I look forward to seeing the kingfisher as I believe Appa is watching over me and assuring me "don't worry my daughter, I am with you" (His words in my Nadi reading). This has been occurring since the past few months and I feel joyous when I sight the kingfisher and pay reverence. In fact. Aiya, since past few days I have been trying to find the significance of the sighting of the kingfisher and here comes your latest post which answers my query. Google says that the Kingfisher is connected with planet Jupiter. Thank you Aiya for everything. I am eternally grateful.

As Mahin messaged "Siddhas everywhere and watching us", the world of the Siddhas intrigues me. They are akin to Guardian Angels. Betty J. Eadie writes in her book, "Embraced by the Light", "I saw Angels rushing to answer the prayers." They worked within an organization to give as much help as possible. As Bharathi sings, 

தன்செய லெண்ணித் தவிப்பது தீர்ந்திங்கு
நின்செயல் செய்து நிறைவுபெறும் வண்ணம்
நின்னைச் சரணடைந்தேன் — கண்ணம்மா!
நின்னைச் சரணடைந்தேன்!

Betty too says that we must invite his will to become our will, by surrendering to him.

Just as Angels are here to remind us of our promises and commitments made in the spirit world to help each other and prompt us to get working on it, so do the Siddhas come into our lives to remind us of our mission in life. They have a will and vision for us. If only we opened up to them and let them in. When we are attuned to Erai we tend to recognize these missions and task.

We are here for the growth of the spirit we are told. For spiritual advancement and development to take place, the soul has to be reborn again and again in this world. Manikavasagar mentions the various births it takes to reach the rare and gifted state of a man in his Sivapuranam. 

புல்லாகிப் பூடாய்ப் புழுவாய் மரமாகிப்

பல் விருகமாகிப் பறவையாய்ப் பாம்பாகிக்

கல்லாய் மனிதராய்ப் பேயாய்க் கணங்களாய்

வல் அசுரர் ஆகி முனிவராய்த் தேவராய்ச்

செல்லாஅ நின்ற இத் தாவர சங்கமத்துள் 

எல்லாப் பிறப்பும் பிறந்து இளைத்தேன், எம்பெருமான்

மெய்யே உன் பொன் அடிகள் கண்டு இன்று வீடு உற்றேன்

உய்ய என் உள்ளத்துள் ஓங்காரமாய் நின்ற

மெய்யா விமலா விடைப்பாகா வேதங்கள்

Oh Lord by becoming the grass, small plants, worms, trees,

Several types of animals, birds, snakes,

Stone, human beings, ghosts, different types of devils,

Strong asuras, sages, devas,

And I travelled all over this spectrum of moving and not moving things,

And took all types of births and became tired.

Truly I have attained salvation seeing your golden feet,

Oh God, who stood as letter “Om”,

in my mind so that I would be saved,

(Source: http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Shiva_Puranam_(Tamil) )

R.Venugopalan in his "Hidden Mysteries of Kundalini", mentions that after completing the cycle of all the 8.4 million yonies the soul takes rest in the purest heart of the Lord himself from whence it came forth originally. The soul has arrived back home to Sivapuram as Esai Gnani Elaiyaraja pens in a song "Yen Ooru Sivapuram Paraloga Perumpuram" on Annamalaiyaar in the album 'Guru Ramana Geetham'. This is liberation from the cycle of death and birth.

Ravi Srivastava writes at https://www.quora.com/Does-a-soul-have-84-lakh-birth

Liberation (mukti) means putting a stop to the journey within the cycle of 8.4 million species. When one breaks this cycle, one is liberated from repeated birth and death, and is transferred to the spiritual sky, where he gets an eternal body.

The eternal body is said to be one of Sat or eternity, Chit, that of knowledge and Ananda or bliss.

According to the Vedas, there are 8.4 million species of life and the conditioned soul which is immortal is continuously passing through the different species according to his karma, under divine supervision. Thus there are 8.4 million types of bodies, out of which the soul assumes a body at the time of death. The body that we will get after giving up the present body will depend upon our stock of past karma (activities). If we have a stock of sinful activities we will have to assume an animal’s body or even lower forms whereas if we have a stock of pious activities we may get a human or a super-human body (demigod’s body).

The Padma Purana further divides them into six groups, namely aquatics, trees, insects, birds, animals and humans: Aquatics/Jalaja – 0.9 million; Trees/Sthavara – 2.0 million; Insects/Krimayo – 1.1 million; Birds/Pakshinam – 1.0 million; Animals/Pashavah – 3.0 million; Humans/Manavah – 0.4 million who are classified as Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, Caranas, Angels, Apsaras, Yaksas, Rakshas, Bhutaganas, Uragas, Pasus, Pitas, Kinnaras, Kimpurushas, Pretas, Pisacas, Bhutas, Pannagas, Vaitalikas, Vetalas, Nagas, Uragas, Pannagas, Suparnas, Mahoragas, Pramathas, Nayakas, Asuras, Devas, Daityas, Danavas, Guhyakas, Ribhus, Kindevas and so on.

Having led a particular existence as in the animal kingdom and lifestyle as in humans, we are said to be reborn again and again, sometimes as humans and at other times as plants, animals and other species. It is said that the animals closest to the man in this hierarchy is the cow and the elephant, hence the reason these animals are kept and worshipped in temples. Agathiyar complements Manickavasagar: Taking the rare human birth, one progresses from a common man to a divine man, a master (guru), a Rishi, a Siddha, a Gandharva, a Deva and finally heads back home to the kingdom of Erai.

The Lord is known only through this amazing creation of his - man. Let us not waste this birth as we had in all the previous births. Let us take the hand of Agathiyar and cross this sea of birth.

WHEN NATURE BEFRIENDS US 1

When we arrived at the car park at the University of Malaya and alighted from the car, my brother, brother-in-law, my friend Murali and Nadi reader Ramesh acknowledged that we saw Tavayogi ushering the participants and visitors of the First World Conference on Siddhar Principles 2007. As we approached him all of us fell at his feet. Only then did we realize that it was not him but someone else. How did all five of us mistake another sadhu for Tavayogi?

When I was with Tavayogi, a call came in from his cook at the ashram. His cook excitedly told him of the miracle that took place back at the old ashram just moments earlier. As he walked down the small hillock, he saw Tavayogi walk up the small path leading to the ashram. How could that be he asked him as Tavayogi was in Malaysia? Soon the figure of Tavayogi turned to become that of Agathiyar. The figure vanished into thin air.

When Tavayogi and I alighted from the ambassador at the entrance to the Brihadeswar temple at Thanjavur, a peddler selling rosaries walked up to us hurriedly and asked Tavayogi with a surprise look on his face, what was he doing there, mentioning that Tavayogi had been at the temple the day before? How was that possible when I never left sight of Tavayogi as we travelled to the abodes of the Siddhas?

It is said that the Siddhas do come in the form of insects too. But I tell Agathiyar not to come in this form as I shall kill it. I can vividly remember how a mosquito sent me to the wards for the very first time in my life after it bit me. I was warded 4 days for dengue. My daughter had been bitten a year earlier. She spent a night at the wards. So you can understand my anger towards it.

During the morning tea break at the First World Conference on Siddhar Principles 2007, as my brother and I enjoyed our cup of tea at the car park, a squirrel scrambled down a tree and ran towards us. It sniffed our toes before making its way up the tree again. Why did it do that?

When my family and I were led by Simbu, Prabakaran and Kartik up the jungle track behind the old Kallar ashram, we suddenly heard the rustling of leaves and twigs and the boys immediately alerted us to stay put. He feared it was the wild elephants. A spotted dog came out of the bushes and stood in front of us instead to our relief, before heading back into the woods. 

Peacocks and peahens are said to frequent a home in Batu Caves where the owner will place bread in their living room for the peafowls to feast.

Gayathri Muraleedharan from Kerala messaged me the following.

Last week an interesting thing happened here..but a not miracle..mustn't be. These days I'm reading yoga vasishta and how beautifully and blessedly I've been directed to that book, oh I can't express! I started the book and was having goosebumps like feeling/happiness each time I read it.

One morning after my bath, I opened my rooms door. There, on our fan in the hall was sitting a beautiful kingfisher! At the sight of me, it started circling the fan and flies towards this bookshelf.

This is the place where I keep Agathiyar. In my book shelf which I consider the only safest area

I shrieked and got inside my room nd closed the door. Then I felt such a happiness for the sight of the bird and having woken up my son, we opened the door. But the bird was not there. A window portion was opened in the room. Maybe it flew through it. But after some time I wondered that within one or two minutes can a bird find its way through a grilled window?  Oh I don't know.. miracle or no miracle, I Cherish sooo much the sight..

A similar incident took place when my daughter had to walk quite a distance to meet her friend in college to deliver the accessories that she had made for her. After walking some distance she felt tired and as it was almost dark, she was a bit worried and regretted having decided to walk rather than wait for the shuttle bus that plies through the campus grounds. That is when she saw an Oriental Magpie-robin perching on the railing along the footpath, minding its own business. As she came up to it, my daughter began to address it. "I saw the Robin and talked to it asking it to accompany me." To her surprise, the tiny bird kept her company, following her from tree to tree, flying ahead of her and perching on the branches of the trees waiting for her to catch up, until she reached the spot where her friend was waiting.

On another day, an afternoon, as she was making her way up three flight of steps to a hall for a rehearsal of an event, the bird landed in front of her and hopped onto each step of the stairs till the top before it flew away. Since then it has been accompanying her around the campus when she is going somewhere alone.

Sailing the River of Deliverance

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GURU

Just as Ramalinga Adigal sings in his Arutprakasa Maalai that the divine came knocking on his door and gave him a gift in his hand, Agathiyar came knocking on our doors giving us two gifts that would bring us out of this endless cycle of birth and death. Those are the acts of doing austerities and charity or Tavam and Dhanam. And so our journey started. He brought us to the worship of the Siddhas besides the other deities. He brought us to perform rituals. He brought us to practice yoga. Then he brought us to carry out charity. 

Today he has come to stay with us. He listens to our prayers. He acts out his desires through us. He charts the way for us. There is no more talk about karma, fate and destiny. There is no more dosa as the planets do no harm. Coming to his fold we are protected from harms way. How is all this possible? It is all possible because we listened to him without doubting and questioning. We were faithful to his cause. 

He brought us to drop our dependence on the guru in physical form and his other mediums and forms of communication including the Nadi, clairvoyants, astrologers and other middlemen. He comes to lead us on directly.

My journey started on his invitation to come to his path through the Nadi. For the purpose of enlightening me further, he brought me to his abodes accompanied by a guru whom he sent along. I began to learn a thing or two by observing Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram. Tavayogi introduced me to the rituals involved in the worship of Siddhas. He introduced me to do charity. He taught me simple yogic asanas and pranayama. 

Agathiyar groomed me further through his Aasi Nadi readings. He then came as experience and groomed us at AVM that transformed to ATM further. We slowly were brought to identify areas where we could expand these acts of charity. We worked on it as soon as the idea dawns in our minds. If it was not feasible or not in accordance with Dharmam we stopped or discontinued it. And so we have come a long way. My first act of doing charity started at Kallar ashram itself by feeding the native children who lived in the vicinity. Returning home I continued by way of giving little handouts to individuals. Soon we extended a helping hand to the children's home and the old folk's homes led by Bala Chandran and Shanga. We were brought to feed the homeless by Sri Krishna. Krishna also introduced us to feeding the fishes, birds, cows, dogs and elephants. We released birds too. We offered to help support a couple of University students identified by Bala Chandran and Vimala. We were moved to help the poor in their homes, following the cue from Vintha. Today we have ventured to feed the students at a University too, listening to the plight of these students that reached us through Vimala.

Agathiyar has kept us busy. Besides caring for the immediate families, he has opened both our eyes and hearts to the sufferings of fellow humans around us. He opened up these opportunities for us to serve the community. He has given us the means too to satisfy the needs of the needy. He stands by us in all our efforts and is quick to let us know and differentiate the true and the false while engaging in service. All these happen due to our trust in him and his trust in us. This relationship is here to stay. We are indebted to him for all the blessings he showers on us. Thank you Agatheesa for giving us this rare opportunity to be of some use to mankind. Thank you for keeping us and others alive. Thank you for showering your compassion and kindness on us. Thank you for this health and wealth. Thank you for the family and friends. Thank you for sending us tutors from all walks of life from whom we learnt many things. Thank you for opening the doors and providing us with a myriad of experiences. Thank you for all the lessons in life both sweet and bitter. Thank you for all the knowledge and understanding that you shared with us. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We love you.

THE MYSTERY THAT IS THE SIDDHA

Just as in the opening of Disney's "Jungle Book" is narrated that "Many strange tales are told of this jungle, but none so strange as the cub called Mogli", so too many strange tales are told of the Siddhas.

Who are these Siddhas?

I have come to see them as spiritually elevated souls, literally too, who once walked this very earth just like you and me but now are placed or elevated themselves to a plane much higher than us, much purer, more subtle and that is not affected the least by the laws of our world. This plane transcends time and space too. Even as they keep Erai company, their compassion that is beyond words has made them frequent this earth of us, in the hope of elevating us too to their status. Hence resulting in the advent of the occasional strange phenomena and miracles we have seen. 

We have basically being living the life of a frog in a well. Science has made great leaps and advancement and has brought us an immense understanding of the world around us including new concepts and ideas. Science has enlightened us in many ways about the world we live on. Today we understand our world better. We understand ourselves better. As the scientist took to solving the tremendous mysteries of life on our planet, the Siddhas took towards solving the mystery of the spirit and the soul besides studying the physical body and nature. 

Our perception of life is based basically on our experiences. To a man who has lived his life in poverty, he cannot possibly envision life beyond these walls. To a man who has lived his whole life in comfort, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he cannot possibly envision life under extreme poverty. Both these people go about their lives convinced that their world is all there is because it is all that they can experience. The fish that breaths in water will gasp for air if laid on the ground. The air around us is of no use to it. The air in the water keeps it alive. Then there are animals that can live both in the water and land. Other animals and man need air to survive. So every creation keeps to its own habitat hardly venturing out of it. For it, that is its world. Apparently, they abide to different laws of nature, they abide to different aspects of nature.

Ella Alderson wrote in https://medium.com,

Imagine you are living in a lake. You are a fish with eyes on either side of your head and all you know is the underwater world of sediment and vegetation and other fish swimming around you. The sunlight comes in, dimmer and refracted, through the water. You go about your life convinced that this underwater world is all there is because it’s all that you can experience. However, there exists an entirely new environment outside of your line of sight — one where animals don’t need water to breathe and flowers bloom in a far more arid world. This is the situation physicists believe we’re in. We are those fish and those higher dimensions are the new environments we can’t perceive.

She goes on to enlighten us on the string theory in simple terms.

String theory also has an answer for the mysterious moment before the Big Bang occurred. The universe then consisted of nine perfectly symmetrical dimensions and one time dimension. The first four are perceptible to us while the last six or seven were reduced down to a size smaller than an atom.

The four fundamental forces  -  gravity, weak nuclear, strong nuclear, and electromagnetism - were held together under extremely high pressure and temperature. When it became unstable, it broke into the dimensions of time and space we know today. 

First Dimension - A line connecting two points. There is no depth and no height, only a width. You can call this the x-axis.

Second Dimension - Now we have added height or the y-axis. Think of any flat figure, like a triangle.

Third Dimension - We have now added depth or the z-axis. This is the dimension in which we experience the world. It includes volume and the ability to obtain cross sections from objects. You can think of this dimension as space without time. A three dimensional triangle is now a pyramid.

Fourth Dimension - The fourth dimension is not a spacial one but it consists instead of time. Time helps plot an object’s location in the universe and also adds a way for the third dimension to change. Remember how the third dimension is space without time? Well now we officially have space time. Fourth dimension as a tesseract.

Fifth Dimension - From here on we begin to see the higher dimensions. These are imperceptible to us, scientists believe, because they exist on a subatomic level. These dimensions are curled in on themselves in a process known as compactification. The dimensions here on out really deal with possibilities. In the fifth dimension there would be a new world that would allow us to see the similarities and differences between our world and this new one, existing in the same position and having the same beginning as our planet, i.e. the Big Bang.

Sixth Dimension - The sixth dimension is an entire plane of new worlds that would allow you to see all possible futures, presents, and pasts with, again, the same beginning as our universe.

Seventh Dimension - In the seventh dimension up through the ninth, we now have the possibility of new universes with new physical forces of nature and different laws of gravity and light. The seventh dimension is the beginning of this, where we encounter new universes which have a different beginning from ours. That is, they were not born from the Big Bang.

Eight Dimension - This dimension is a plane of all the possible pasts and futures for each universe, stretching infinitely.

Ninth Dimension - The ninth dimension lays bare all the universal laws of physics and the conditions of each individual universe.

The Tenth, or Eleventh Dimension - Some scientists believe that the multiverse has only 10 dimensions while others put that number at 11. However, a universe cannot have more than 11 dimensions because of self-consistency — they become unstable and collapse back down into 11 or 10 dimensions. At this point, anything is possible. There are all futures, all pasts, all beginnings and all ends, infinitely extended, a dimension of anything you can imagine. Everything comes together.

She sums up beautifully,

While the idea of a multiverse is fun in terms of science fiction and daydreaming, it’s also mathematically sound and would provide the framework for a theory of everything - which is exactly what string theory attempts to be. It would be a beautiful coming together of science, math, and mysticism.

When I attended a course in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) some years back, we in the class were asked to draw an elephant on an A3 size paper. As I am good in drawing, I drew a detailed drawing of an elephant that got the praises of the whole class. We laughed at others seeing their attempts at drawing. One drew a very tiny elephant in a corner of the large paper while another began to draw a large elephant that the large paper could only accommodate its torso and there was no room on the paper for the rest of its body. Finally, it turned out that we all became subject to laughter, when our tutor told us he would draw an elephant and went on to place a dot with his marker pen on that large piece of A3 paper. "That's it", he told us! We were shattered when he told us that his view of the elephant was from a different plane, that of space. I realized then that I needed to think out of the box. All new possibilities and frontiers are out there if only we were not rigid in our thinking and welcome them. 

To illustrate our dependence on the language and the spoken word that confines us to a tiny space and mode of thought, he gave us a long list of stuff that he asked us to imagine we were carrying on board a sailing vessel. Then a hole appears on the deck. Water is gushing in. We are to ditch the stuff on the list to keep the vessel afloat instead of sinking. He began us thinking about what to ditch first. At the end of the session, he asked us to present our move and action to save both the vessel and us. Off course all of us listed the heavy items needed to go first, keeping the featherweight last. He then jolted us from our trend of thinking asking us why did not we use all the stuff to fix or mend the hole on deck? It was another blow to us! 

He moved on to challenge our perspective, perception and view by holding an ATM card before us. He questioned us on what we saw. We all saw him holding an ATM card before us. But when he asked us to describe exactly what we saw, the answers varied according to the position the class was sitting at and their angle of vision. Someone sitting directly in front only saw the front side of the card. Another sitting behind the tutor saw only the back side of the card while those sitting on the left and right sides of the tutor saw only a thin line. This simple exercise in perception applies to everyday life too. The object in our vision or thought although the same, will vary in perception and view and in opinion as a result of our stature or status in life, our past experience, our knowledge and wisdom, our learning and of course where we are standing. We came away from the course more enlightened. No opinion is wrong. No vision is wrong. No understanding is wrong. Time and space determine our vision, perspective, understanding, and opinion.

PURSUING DHARMA

Someone who has continuously trekked the Transhimalaya range to Kailash cautioned a friend about helping the unfortunate at the PPR housing scheme citing that she was also staying in one of those units. An individual who took upon himself to expose the wrongdoings of masters and gurus also hits out at those doing charity. Similarly in our efforts to help feed the hungry some are of the opinion that we are encouraging laziness in them, making them dependant on handouts.

Shall we then just turn a blind eye towards the sufferings of others? Should we then regard the sufferings of the poor and unfortunate as their karma that they have to live with? Can we place the label "results of past karma" on them and walk away? Imagine if the doctor were to turn us away. Imagine if the fireman refuses to fight the fire that has engulfed our homes. What if tomorrow the stars are not in our favour and we end up on the same streets sitting beside them and begging for a meal? How can we bring ourselves to tell them in the face that it was all due to their past karma when we too carry loads of karma? The Siddhas can talk about it for they are above and beyond the limitations of body and mind, fate and destiny etc. The saints endure the sufferings of the physical body as they regard it as Kayapuri that is a dream, and as they want to transcend the limitations of the body, they live out their karma without seeking remedies or manipulating them, bringing an end to their cycle of birth and death. The common folk seek to change their fate, replacing misery and suffering with pleasure and joy. If the saint has gone beyond the dualities the common man has preferences. This is where the Siddhas seeing the sufferings of the common man, out of compassion for them seeked Erai to bend the rules. Knowing that everything we go through is directly or indirectly related to our past actions and merits gained, the Siddhas were granted the gift of looking into our past and recommend remedies to offset our karma or effects that generated as a result of past causes. Hence began the practice of Nadi reading for the common man.

We then turn back to our gurus for answers. When I was asked to come to the Siddha path by Agathiyar in the Nadi, I went around to several organizations that were aligned with the Siddha tradition and teachings. I learnt from one that was affiliated with Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar of Ongarakudil that their prime mission was to feed the hungry. Later I followed his talks on video and read his books. He encouraged all his followers to feed besides reciting the names of the Siddhas. Then when I met Tavayogi who was in Malaysia to officiate a branch of his Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in Batu Caves, after the formalities he showed me photos of the activities conducted at his Kallar ashram. It included feeding the native children residing around his ashram. When Agathiyar called me in for further Aasi Nadi readings, he spoke about feeding. Avvai has mentioned that charity and tapas are the keys to open the doors to the heavenly kingdom.

A story is told of a devotee carrying a bunch of bananas to be offered to the deity at the local temple when he was met by a hungry man. Out of compassion, he gave him a couple of bananas. Soon he was addressed by the deity telling him that he had eaten bananas that he brought. The man was surprised to learn that the deity came in the form of the hungry man. 

Ram Dass of "Love Serve Remember Foundation" shares his guru Neem Karoli Baba (Maharajji) words, "God comes to the hungry in the form of food." he shared another beautiful statement from his Guru, that summarizes the benefits gained in feeding people - "When I asked my guru to raise my kundalini, he said, "feed people."

Ram Dass in his PATHS TO GOD - Living the Bhagavadgita, published by Harmony Books, New York, refers to the Bhagavadgita where there is a need to view actions as a sacrifice or offering which Ram Dass says is the central component of the Bhagavadgita. Ram Dass too ask us to look around for opportunities to serve as an offering to God. Hence we need to retrain ourselves to accept every act or deed as an exercise in karma yoga.

Ram Dass writes further that every act we do creates vasanas, life vasanas, subtle thought-forms, based on the desires connected with the act. When the physical body dies these subtle life waves continue determining the next round of birth. This is karma. It keeps going life after life until they are spent or exhausted. Ram Dass says the game is only over when there is no more individual desire, and no more separation. He says all of life is a predetermined karmic package that expresses the karmic law. Its a perfect law that keeps unfolding, he adds.

Ram Dass beautifully says that even the choices we make arise 'out of a long chain of prior events that absolutely predetermined' our decisions. To illustrate this he writes about an incident that happened with his guru, Maharajji. Going back to India a second time, in 1971, he went looking for Maharajji again but did not find him in the usual spots. Spending some time at a meditation retreat in Bodh Gaya, he resumed his search for Maharajji. Teaming up with a lady and a bus-full of passengers she brought along, all 35 including the driver headed for Delhi. Nearing Allahabad, one of the people on board insisted they stop over. But it meant further delay in reaching Delhi and they were all hungry and tired. So they all turned to Ram Dass to make a decision. After wrestling with the thought Ram Dass gave the green light. The Kumbha Mela having taken place a few weeks ago, and the Mela having ended, there were only a handful of people around on the Mela grounds. The person who asked that they stop over, directed the bus to a Hanuman temple. That is when someone in the bus spotted Maharajji with his devotee Dada. Maharajji, after the pranams by pilgrims, asked the entire entourage to follow him to his devotee's house. Dada's wife greeted them saying dinner was almost ready. She mentioned that they had been cooking all day in anticipation of Ram Dass and his entourage's arrival, surprising them by mentioning that Maharajji had told her 35 people shall arrive. Ram Dass at this juncture puts a question to us, "Now who do you suppose it was who thought he was sitting on the bus, deciding whether to visit the Mela grounds? Long before I made my decision it was already decided - Maharajji knew all about it that morning! I played my part. I "decided" to go to the Mela grounds. But my decision was inevitable."

Ram Dass continues beautifully when he says, "This present moment is the sum of all that past karma. All those life waves, flowing and flowing, just to bring me to this place, to this moment.... Ram Dass puts a question to us, "So if it's already written in stone, can a guru change your karma?" One day Maharajji acted out of the norm by gobbling eight oranges that Ram Dass placed before him. Usually, he distributes them to all those around him. A disciple states that the guru was taking on his karma. That reasoning could not set into Ram Dass then. Hindus choose to believe that 'the guru can free the disciple by taking on his karma in some way or other.' Ram Dass says his guru could see the whole pattern evolving. "If you are standing outside of time, it is possible to see the whole course of those life waves - past, present and future. When you are at that stage you see in advance the direction the karmic waves are taking, and you know exactly why its all happening the way it is."

Ram Dass in his "Paths to God - Living the Bhagavadgita", Harmony Books, 2004, gives us a clear understanding of this phenomena and karma. He says, free will and destiny exist simultaneously but on different planes. Now we are getting there. Things are beginning to fall into place. The picture is getting clearer and the confusion leaves. He says there is a plane of reality where we are the free agent, free to decide and do all things. On another plane from a "different perceptual vantage point" we realize that our thought forms are conditioned. I realize that this two planes intermingle. He adds, "The choices arose out of a long chain of prior events that absolutely predetermined your decisions. I say, "I have free will" - that's my karma talking!" Ram Dass very clearly puts it that whatever thoughts that we allow to arise are our karma. Hence let's spiritualize our thoughts. By positive thoughts and positive action, we are making our destiny; renewing, modifying and enhancing our fate.

Finally, Agathiyar tells us if we are to sit and talk or study about the pros and cons of feeding the poor and hungry we would never come to do it. He asks us to go to the ground and begin providing for them first and to decide whether to continue or not later. If we realize that it is wasteful he won't mind us stop doing the charitable act. Hence this is how we have tackled this matter till this day. We found and came to realize that it was wasteful to feed the homeless currently. A man who rushed to gather used clothes for himself that we distributed on the streets was seen still seen shirtless the next time we went to the streets. One would expect him to wear the clothes that we handed out, right? As there were many established soup kitchens doing regular feedings on the streets and many other NGOs who came to feed occasionally, we moved on to focus on providing meals to the poor in their own homes. They look forward and appreciate the aid. Here we see results compared to the streets. In the streets, we do not see any progress in their lives. We only manage to sustain them for another day by feeding them a meal. In the homes of the poor, we see their lives and standard of living improve. When we aid them by buying them the basic groceries each month the money usually spent on groceries can be put to other good use.

It is said that the human birth is the rarest of births. The world's population to date is 7.7 billion. Among these staggering figure, many go without food for days on end. It is our social responsibility to take care of the hungry just as we have a responsibility to bring food to the dining table at home. When some are reluctant and even object or prevent others from extending a helping hand to the needy, I was shown another face of compassion yet through a Lady at the PPR flats. We saw her the first time when she was introduced by another recipient of our aid at the feeding session held at the nearby temple. She had walked the distance to the temple to meet us ignoring her legs that had swollen up. She asked for aid. We passed her the last remaining pack of milk powder as we had distributed the groceries to the flat dwellers just minutes before. Soon we began to include her in the list of recipients of groceries and cooked food. Just days earlier as I stood at her door to deliver the meals, there were many kids at her home. She told me as it was the school holidays, relatives had come to stay. She who was hoping for someone to provide a meal for her two grandchildren and herself now had to provide for her guests too. Then she shocked me when she told me she had brought an old man from the streets to live with her! The old man who was not a blood relative but whom she used to meet while doing her daily chores had been asking her to take him into her house. I felt so small that day compared to this lady - Kausalya. She told us her only reason to continue living was the hope and the food that we gave her.

By setting aside our differences and taking the initiative and effort whether rain or shine we can bring both cheer and food to the unfortunate. Let us continue feeding.

For those who have received food, charity, kindness, joy, Erai's grace and wealth, it is time to give back.

EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER

I came to the Siddha path after reading the Nadi. The first time I heard about the Nadi was from astrologer, Siddha Medicine practitioner and friend Dr Krishnan in 1996. I  only managed to have my very first reading in 2002 after a colleague spoke about it and arranged an appointment for me. Agathiyar asked me to worship the Siddhas too besides the other deities. He then introduced me to Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram who was on the Siddha path too. Tavayogi recommended me to a Nadi reader after I told him it was time I saw the Nadi again as requested by Agathiyar. I was groomed by both Tavayogi and Agathiyar. Agathiyar and the other Siddhas guided me through the Nadi further, calling me over to the Nadi readers place if they had something to share. I have had some 56 Nadi readings to date. Along the way, Agathiyar sends many to my home after they too had had a Nadi reading. We began to share our Nadi experiences and were only too eager to recommend to others who came along with problems to have a Nadi reading. Although many benefited from these readings some returned disappointed at not having received what they wanted to hear. 

As my interest in the Nadi increased, I began to look for books, materials, and articles related to it and that could give us an inkling and idea and maybe fathom this great mystery of predicting the past, present and future. The online forums debated the authenticity of the Nadi and many accused the Nadi and the readers as a deception and as frauds respectively.

Then Tavayogi too began to read a Jeeva Nadi at his ashram. When he and Mataji visited us in 2016 we at AVM had an opportunity to read the Nadi too. But as others learnt about the Nadi and word spread, many non-devotees came and stood at the door asking for a reading. Some pushed their way into others time and space, inconsiderate of many who were already in waiting. Some sent their secretaries as a proxy. One asked the Mahamuni to predict the results of a lottery draw! Tavayogi was devastated on hearing this.

We began to realize that people who were not into the worship of the Siddhas only saw the Siddhas as astrologers. They never understood that a Muni was addressing them and revealing their life account. Many who were not satisfied or not ready for the revelation passed it off as a gimmick and scam. Many who realized that they had to spend huge amounts of money and time to carry out the stated remedies to offset their karma, lost faith in the words of the Siddhas.

Soon we decided to stop recommending the Nadi to others. We only point them to a Nadi reader if they were already into the worship of the Siddhas. For those who came with problems these days, we ask that they carry out charity, learn about the Siddhas first and pray and worship them first before embarking on a Nadi reading. This way when they go for a reading they would know and understand the magnificence and strength of the Siddha.

Tavayogi who pointed me to a Nadi reader and after I engaged myself to the worship of the Siddhas for years, told me that I do not need any Nadi reading. He said the same to others at AVM. When the regular Nadi readings of mine at times weekly, began to become sparse and only a couple of readings in a year and then came to a halt, I was asking myself if I had wronged the Mahamuni in my words or actions and if he had refrained and stayed away from providing a reading. Then he calls me up telling me what Tavayogi had told me, "Why do you want a reading my son!" Just as Agathiyar and Tavayogi mentioned Agathiyar clears the air and provides the answers from within, without the need or dependence on the Nadi these days. But Agathiyar addresses the medical issues that my family and I confront immediately when asked for in the Nadi and advises accordingly, even without the need to be present personally. We are indebted and grateful to him.

Tavayogi who saw me wear a Navartna embedded ring on my finger or the nine studded gems told me, "We do not need them." When I told him that I had a Rasamani or solidified mercury ball on me too, he told me, "We do not need them." When someone showed him a Rudraksha seed and asked if he could wear it, Tavayogi gave him the green light with several words of caution in wearing it. After the devotee left, he turned to me and told me, "We do not need them." But one might wonder why he was wearing one around his neck? I did not question further but follow his dictates to the word. I believe the guru has a reason for what he advises his disciple.

We want talisman and magic portions and instant formulas that bring immediate spiritual upliftment without wanting to go through the run of the mill and the tedious and repetitive procedures outlined. We want the Siddha to point his magic wand and bring an immediate relieve or change. But it does not work that way. The Siddha only shows us the way, means and technique. We need to put in the hours and the efforts.

I realise that we have to outgrow and lose our dependency on external means and materials as we progress both in the material world and the spiritual path. Just as the child outgrows his toys that brought him much joy, and that he held on to, screaming his head off and throwing a tantrum if taken away, we too have to let go of our dependency on the Nadi and begin speaking to the Siddhas without a medium. Just as an elder is needed to help a child take its first step in life, we need a guru to show us the path and the means. Soon we should be prepared to walk on our own discovering things anew rather than take the trodden path. Experience builds strength and teaches us to take even greater strides. Let us walk the way of the Siddha carrying Agathiyar in our heart rather than being dependent on external accessories, mediums, tools, messengers and gurus. Let the "Silent One" or Mauna Guru within each of us awake and guide us henceforth, for we are established pretty well on the path of the Siddhas now. This is not Ego speaking but understanding the fact and reality of the journey.

WE HAVE ARRIVED

Does having problems bring one to the Siddha path? Does the Siddha path equate to broken homes? Does the Siddha path confuse one? Does worship to the Siddhas equate to worshipping people? Does praying to Siddhas equate with praying to the dead? 

I have heard all these accusations and references being made to the Siddha path and posed to Tavayogi and me. Although I pondered over these questions thinking if it was possible and all true, I never believed that the Siddhas would jeopardize our lives. I took on the worship of the Siddhas irrespective of all the negative views held by many at that time. I took up the worship of the Siddhas because Agathiyar asked me to do it through the Nadi reading. He sent me Tavayogi to show me further the rituals involved and to show me the greatness of the Siddhas. Agathiyar himself performed numerous miracles to show his presence, that which I have written and shared extensively in this blog.

I did not come to the Siddha path seeking the Siddhas because I had problems. I did not go seeking a guru to lead me on. I did not seek to know the rituals and procedures involved. It was all given, sent and gifted to me by Agathiyar.

Adopting all that was shown and learning from experience and with all the subtle lessons gained from these experience, Agathiyar moulded us not into saints or Siddhas but into a better person. With prayers and charity as two vehicles to balance the scale of karma, he walked with us, protecting us from harm's way.

Many transformations took place within us creating the ideal conditions for him to come and settle within too.

Today We have arrived home. I realized this a couple of days back as both Mahin and Malar had bath and dressed the bronze statue of Agathiyar and we began to sing his praises. What would normally be a string of songs stopped at just one song. I could not go further. We stopped singing. We remained quiet. We went within almost immediately without effort. I felt that we had arrived at our destination. At that instance, I remembered Tavayogi's words - the words he penned in his book when I asked him to autograph his book "Andamum Pindamum" - Aandavan Uraikindra Edam Thangal Ullam, Athuve Payanathin Thodakkamum, Mudivum.

The search has stopped. We have come one full cycle. The search started from within and had now come to an end having settled within again. Ram Dass in "Going Home", says "When I don't know who I am, I serve you. When I know who I am, I am you", bringing us back to the starting point.

The following koan too represents this state.

During the Tang Dynasty, the Chinese Ch’an [Zen in Japanese] master Qingyuan Weixin famously wrote: “Before I had studied Ch’an for thirty years, I saw mountains as mountains, and rivers as rivers. When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, I came to the point where I saw that mountains are not mountains, and rivers are not rivers. But now that I have got its very substance, I am at rest. For it’s just that I see mountains once again as mountains, and rivers once again as rivers.” First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is. (Source: https://tricycle.org/magazine/first-there-mountain-then-there-no-mountain/)

The Siddhas practically turned around my life 360 degrees and literally lifted and flipped me and threw me into a pit in their dark cave of wonders. There were many a moment they moved my soul and body whence I dance, manipulated and twisted my body and broke into great laughter, all done without my doing, all beyond my control. They worked on my body to rid it off the toxins that had built up over the years, that hinder the smooth transition of the physical body into other states deemed fit. They began working on the chakras clearing the blockages that hinder the energy flow to higher regions. They worked on the breath. All these caused pain and discomfort no doubt. But the body needed to be prepared for their arrival. The body needed to be prepared to do their task. But they never even for a moment let go of their guards and constantly cared for my safety. How can I possibly repay them?

IN THE MOMENTS OF SILENCE 1

Whenever I sit alone with Agathiyar, all the days' happenings and the many events that take place come to mind. I do not attempt to stop nor control them but let them go by. All my plans are made in his presence. The subject matter and the contents, till the very phrases and words, posted on this blog are born out of sitting in silence with him. As I question him a lot over his administration of the world and all other matters, including moving us like puppets, these questions come to my mind at these moments of contemplation and silence, for this is the only time I can capture his attention and hopefully get an answer or two. I want answers to these queries of mine. I have stopped seeking these answers outside. I want him to answer them. Sometimes the answers dawn on me as soon as the questions come to mind. Often there is no answer from his side. Only further silence. It does not matter. I shall keep asking for I know he will answer me even if it comes a couple of years later. But the answer has to be from him. Only that will satisfy me. I have lost faith in godmen and supposedly divine and saintly men. All the best concepts, doctrines and practices held and taught by them has failed them, not able to deliver them from the clutches of Yama or death. If they cannot save themselves how are they going to save us? And we are still flocking to them in hundreds. Hence my searched stopped many years back. I had two wonderful personal gurus in the physical form and Agathiyar in the subtle form. I was pretty happy and contented.

Today I understand pretty well why Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar of Ongarakudil and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram have pointed us to the Siddhas as the means of deliverance. It is only those who have attained the highest state achievable by a mortal on the physical plane; who can tell us what is beyond the wall and beyond the veil; who can narrate to us what they saw and experienced; can show us the way to reach or achieve that place and state.

The Siddhas had been there. Their experiences that they had written and documented through numerous songs of theirs are testimony to their greatest achievements in the spiritual arena. But the path, as many other paths too, has been adulterated over time. The essence and the way have been polluted and diluted to suit the needs of the present day seekers who want everything in a jiffy. There is a price for everything these days including spiritualism. If in days of yonder the price a student paid to learn the secret to enlightenment was his devotion both to Erai and a true guru, and his time in being patient and perseverance in walking the path of truth and honesty, and compassion and love, these days money seems to buy everything under the sky, escalating the process, to the extent making everyone an instant saint.

Tavayogi who was from the orthodox school of thought told me one had to remain faithful to the guru for some 12 years before he can expect any returns for his dedication and devotion, practice and faith. Many saints of the past too have mentioned distinctly about this time period in their lives where they had to endure great and radical changes in their physical bodies and undergo agony and pain just as the butterfly undergoes in transforming itself from being a pupa into a radiant and beautiful butterfly, emerging from its cocoon after a long period of struggle.

Knowing that we can be misled by others, Agathiyar has asked us to turn to the original content of their texts and writings without seeking for mediators or translations of their works. Even if we cannot comprehend their works, he tells us that the particular Siddha whose work we have taken in our hands will come through us to make us understand. It is only through the direct transmission of gnana or divine knowledge that we can receive and understand the true teachings of the Siddhas. 

This is only achievable if we begin to allocate some of our time in contemplating the divine. Sitting in the presence of your chosen deity, in the sacred ambience of your prayer room, you can easily fall into the state of calmness and peace. You need not travel far and wide scouting for the ideal spot to sit and connect with the divine. You create the most conducive and practical environment in our very home for a beginning. Soon your "self" will settle into its place on its own. Having been accustomed daily to the place and mood created, the self settles on its own nudging wonderfully into its domain - that of silence. In these hours of silence, the "self" speaks with the "higher self" whom we have given numerous names and forms.

What if Agathiyar were to speak in those private moments of intimacy and silence? What would he have to say? What would he share?

It was one of the quietest moments, a rare moment itself in the outskirts of the city. The hustle and bustle of traffic that flowed through the main road that cuts across the small housing scheme had died down. The dogs that barked the whole day long and that were supposed to keep watch in the night too had retired for the day together with their masters.

The continuous chirping of the birds in the day was momentarily substituted by the occasional outburst of the cricket, known as the night singer. The moon shone brightly in the sky, a scene missed by most of the city dwellers who had to turn in early to wake up early for another day of stressful work. The fireflies flew from one street lamp to the other and finally disappeared out of view. I too entered my prayer room to spend some precious time with my Guru Agathiyar.

As the silence became more intense blocking out entirely all the remaining noise of the neighbours' air conditioners, only the sound of my breath was obvious. Soon even that was no more obvious to my hearing. In that moment of deep silence, I felt Agathiyar's presence. I opened my eyes. His bronze statue shone in the dark of the room, lighted only by the oil lamp that kept burning 24/7. I closed my eyes again. I heard him sigh. I opened my eyes again. There was no visible movement whatsoever. I asked him in silence what was the matter. He remained quiet. Then he spoke. 

"I am disappointed with my children." I was taken aback. I listened on without interrupting. He continued. "They think of me only as an astrologer. They think of me only as a shaman. They think of me only as a mediator. They think about me only when in trouble. They come to me asking to settle their debts. They come running to me for a solution or cure at most times. At other times they do not care to remember me."

At this juncture, my mind raced back into time where I had heard a similar lament from both my previous gurus. Supramania Swami lamented that they never asked what he wanted but instead desired their needs to be fulfilled. Tavayogi lamented that they came for material gains and not gnana. 

Agathiyar continued. "I am their conscience. Why did not they listen to me speak through their conscience then? It is sad that they had buried me long ago. They act without conscience today."

"As they came to see all things external, so too have I had the need to build temples externally to bring them to face their conscience externally. They came before me and stood in prayer asking for guidance there. They left their problems at my feet and returned home relieved. They did little bits of charity at these places of worship then. But the practice or worship soon evolved into fear for me, instilled by those who took advantage of these poor souls. Instead of love and devotion in worship towards me they did things out of fear, lest they should earn the wrath of the Gods, they were told. The element of fear was instilled in them instead of love for their creator."

"Then there came a time they lost even that remaining fear. They stopped believing that I was the stone and the rock in the temple. They stopped patronizing my abodes. Soon there was no means of sustaining these temples just as there was no means to end their troubles. The priests who had a full-time job of taking care of me and my abode had no income. They had to seek other means of survival. The temples were deserted. Charity lost its grounds. True devotees were hard to come by. I had to move too as they say to greener pastures, into the homes and the hearts of my devotees who were yearning for me. I had been travelling a lot since, seeking the homes and hearts of my devotees."

"Soon man began seeking self-made godman for remedies. As a result, they found themselves loose hefty sums in finding remedies and solutions to their problems. I have sung about these in my Gnana Nool."

"Today I can only watch in sadness as man moves on with his life indifferent to my existence. I would sit in a corner and watch the world go by. Lobamitra would observe me from a distance not wanting to disturb my thoughts. Occasionally she would walk up to me and enquire about my silence and what was in my thoughts. I would share with her my observation. She would listen intently not saying a word. Finally, she would distract my thoughts pulling me away from falling deeper and further into the world of the mortals. I would then return to my tapas."

"I am in tapas in your home too. If the need arises to be in Kallar or Pothigai or Kailash I leave immediately. Otherwise, I prefer to be here in your humble dwelling."

And so saying the Mahamuni went back within into a state of silence.

I thanked him from the bottom of my heart with tears of joy running down both my cheeks. No audible words came out from my lips, except for the tears that kept flowing endlessly like the Ganges. A sense of coolness crept into me. It was as if I was drenched in bliss. Some energy traversed throughout me. It would have lifted me from the floor if I did not forcibly force myself to be grounded. A broad smile broke out on my face involuntarily which soon turned to a loud burst of laughter from within, that was beyond my control. Was this bliss I wondered, later?

We both remained silent for some time. He broke the silence again. 

"I have told my children about the importance of several practices through your writings. But it seems it does not register well with them. Except for a few who have started heeding your words, that are my words, the rest think it is of no immediate urgency. They think it can wait. Let me tell them that there is no moment more precious than the present; there is no life more precious than the present. It is now or never. If you do not do it this moment, the much-awaited moment never comes. You will never find another appropriate moment other than now. You have to create that moment. You are partnered in creation with me. Besides us, you too are given the gift of creation, sustenance, and that of wrecking and destroying. Sadly man is prone to postponing or delaying his own plans. But the divine plan takes place as scheduled. Death comes as scheduled. Do not postpone the rare appointment given to you to meet Me. You might never get another moment with Me."

"You understand very well and have made it known in your writings numerous times. I am available to my devotees through the good gestures you and your wife have done and the facilities built and made available around you. You have provided them with access to me in your home through the many years of your worship. I come because of you. I make myself present to all because of your worship. I want them to worship me just as you worshipped me all these years. I too want to move into their homes. I too want to move into their hearts. I want to be constantly with them 24/7. But they have to invite me in first. Only if they invite me with an open heart can I visit and settle in their homes and hearts."

Then he moved on to mention the infighting his devotees had amongst them that again caught me by surprise. I guess he was opening up to me just as I had all these years. Our moments of engagement in talk has stopped being a monologue as in the past; instead, it has evolved into a dialogue. He had literally spoken to me and we had a conversation a year and a half back. He spoke to the rest of his devotees too at his temple at Carey Island. That was amazing having the Mahamuni address us through a person, to our knowledge, for the very first time. He was apparently not happy with his children fighting among themselves. He wanted it all to end. He said he had summoned some of them. But only two of his dearest children turned up not because of fear but out of love for him. I felt sad too. I listened quietly. He went into a state of silence again something he does often only to come out of it to say what needed to he said, often returning to his domain. I knew he had moved on to attend to his numerous duties and other matters. 

The silence prolonged. I moved away from the room - his room, to let him be with his thoughts. 

Sitting with Agathiyar reminded me of the few but valuable days I sat at the feet of Supramania Swami and Tavayogi. Both my gurus taught me by example that both Guru and Erai are accessible to us without the need for mediators. The problem with us is we want to follow every guru on the face of the earth and follow every teaching available out there. Hence the confusion arises. I have sat with Tavayogi watching many devotees of Agathiyar who go on questioning him for hours, comparing what another guru had said and asked his opinion about it. They come to him so full of religious and spiritual knowledge and vomit them to him, in most possibly a show of their greatness at having read and heard so much. I used to think if they knew so much why are they there in the first place? What can they possibly gain that other gurus haven't given them?

Agathiyar says we need the experience immaterial if they were happy moments or sad moments. If we are to fall for frauds and conmen and are cheated, do not be angry over them for having cheated us or angry at oneself for falling prey to their tactics. Take it as a lesson to be learned or a past score that has been settled for good and move on. Ma tells us that life is to be experienced without holding on to grudges and guilt. One man's experience is another's lesson.