THE SOUL'S SOLO JOURNEY

Each soul that takes birth in a physical body on the face of this earth comes with a mission; has the potential to become somebody; comes to lead, comes to bring change within and without; or in many cases to learn and leave to come again, as Arnold Schwarzenegger, in his role as the title character from the 1984 science fiction film The Terminator says the now-famous catchphrase "I'll be back". 

With a vast number of possibilities out there, these are made known to the soul even before it begins its journey here. Only with its acceptance is the soul sent over. The time it arrives has to be carefully coordinated with the arrival of other souls to coordinate and work together on this plane. Just as there are souls whom we know waiting to receive us upon leaving this body, there are the souls already waiting to receive or interact with these souls that arrive. There are so many possibilities and probabilities out here for the soul to journey. A small move in this dynamic chain of events will cause a ripple effect or the butterfly effect on all further happenings. But amongst all these possibilities there is one that stands out prominently that the soul will identify as its path sooner or later, after having sidetracked and stepped aside for a while encountering road diversions or attracted to pleasurable things and lucrative ventures meanwhile.

As said of the slow decline of Satyam or Truth over the four Yugas leading to the present Kali Yuga, we are told that more atrocities shall take place in the future. Looking back at history, the march of the soldiers to capture and conquer cities and losing its personals while doing so; the wars we fought and the lives lost; the ethnic cleansing that took place; the slavery that people were put through and the suffering that certain communities who were targeted by others went through; etc, where there was never a moment of peace back then too, one wonders how bad could it get? Going through the major epics too, there were so much treachery, treason, ill will, and jealousy then too. Death occurred through ethnic cleansing and war, through famine and drought, through scheming and cunning scams of individuals. Following these links, we will be astonished at the number of warfare we were engaged in in the past.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1000%E2%80%931499

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1500%E2%80%931799

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1800%E2%80%931899

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1900%E2%80%931944

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1945%E2%80%931989

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1990%E2%80%932002

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/timeline-of-20th-and-21st-century-wars

I tend to believe that we have moved into a better millennium/ century/ age compared with the past. Maybe this is Satya Yuga for all I know, for we are more civilized, we are more compassionate and charitable, we don't slit each others throat, we don't conquer another's land etc. Have we ever wondered why so many saints came to preach high morals and right living then compared to now? If the saints composed kavasams or songs that act as shield or force fields shielding the self from all the dangers prevalent in their times including saving them from the dangers of wild animals till the small poisonous insects that could happen upon their dwellings in the caves or they could come across while roaming in the jungles, I would jokingly say to others that the present-day saint need not fear these no more but rather include the modern-day dangers of information technology, various scams and false deals etc.

• Attempts to gain your personal information where scammers use all kinds of sneaky approaches to steal your personal details. Once obtained, they can use your identity to commit fraudulent activities such as using your credit card or opening a bank account. 
• Buying or selling where scammers prey on consumers and businesses that are buying or selling products and services. Not every transaction is legitimate.
• Dating & romance where scammers take advantage of people looking for romantic partners, often via dating websites, apps or social media by pretending to be prospective companions. They play on emotional triggers to get you to provide money, gifts or personal details.
• Fake charities where scammers impersonate genuine charities and ask for donations or contact you claiming to collect money after natural disasters or major events.
• Investments where if you are looking for a fast way to make money, watch out – scammers have invented all sorts of fake money-making opportunities to prey on your enthusiasm and get hold of your cash.
• Jobs & employment where scammers trick you into handing over your money by offering you a ‘guaranteed’ way to make fast money or a high-paying job for little effort.
• Threats & extortion where scammers will use any means possible to steal your identity or your money – including threatening your life or 'hijacking' your computer.
• Unexpected money where scammers invent convincing and seemingly legitimate reasons to give you false hope about offers of money. There are no get-rich-quick schemes, so always think twice before handing over your details or dollars.
• Unexpected winnings where you are lured by a surprise win. These scams try to trick you into giving money upfront or your personal information in order to receive a prize from a lottery or competition that you never entered.

(Source: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams)

If that was not stressful enough, we have the advent of hi-tech gadgets and its attention-grabbing software and applications that lure us and gets us hooked on it.

The technological and social media advances of the past decade have bred the "constant checker." A constant checker is a person who constantly, almost obsessively, checks their emails, texts, and social media accounts. Being continuously connected in this way has been linked with higher stress levels. Furthermore, as a result of technology, more constant checkers than non-constant checkers feel disconnected from their family, even when they are in the same room, and more than one third of constant checkers say that they are unlikely to meet with friends and family in person due to social media. Many studies have observed that more time spent on social media is associated with an increased risk of loneliness and depression, which poses the question: are unhappy people using social media, or does social media use affect happiness?

(Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318230.php)

If in the times of past we took herbal preparations and teas to detox ourselves, we are told to take to unplug or take a digital detox these days as it is important for our mental health and vision.

What went wrong? Why did we decline? We cannot possibly pinpoint the cause. We will never know. Maybe if we were to venture into the dim and distant past we might find answers. Perhaps if we take hold of Agathiyar's hand firmly, he might lead us to these answers buried in the far reaches of the cosmos. Vashisht Vaid in his blog https://holysageagathiyar.com/ sheds some light by sharing the revelations of Agathiyar. Agathiyar addresses the souls prime duty and reason to take on a physical body.

The ‘’basic reason’’ for all human incarnation’s in a ‘’nut shell’’, is to gradually attain ‘’maximum number of spiritual experiences’’, which all such gathered experiences then dutifully prove to be ‘’extremely beneficial’’, for the vital conscious expansion of their ‘liberation desiring soul’ [mukti ichchhuk atama].

The ‘’radiant heat’’ [tejas tapah] of these ‘’spiritual experiences’’, also ‘greatly expand’ the holding sack of ‘’causal body’’ [karanam sharira], making it possible for a quick ‘release’ [mukti] of the ‘bound soul’ [bandhit atama].

The great sage Agathiyar then gracefully further explained to the gathered seers & sages of Tamil Sangam, that for the vital performance of mandated ’righteous duties’’, which all are gracefully based upon the ‘start up universal pattern’ of ‘universal works’ [brahmanda karmas], vitally established by the separate duty ‘’five faces’’ [pancha mukhas] of ‘one’ absolute universal lord ‘Adi Param Shiva’, there are also ‘’five types of main works’’, which should be dutifully performed upon ‘daily basis, by the evolving humanity during the given term period of their incarnated lives, of which ‘’no. 1 work’’ [prathma karma] is to find out the ‘’’very reason’’’, for which they came over to exist in this ‘’human form life’’ of ‘planet earth’ [prithvi greha].

They all can ‘easily find’ out that ‘’basic reason’’ [moola karanam], by dutifully sorting through their ‘’spiritual books of evolving human societies’’, which widely exist in the shape of various ‘holy treatise’s’, widely scattered and easily available since the ancient times [pracheen kaala], all over this physical world [bhu loka] of planet earth [prithvi greha], as well as by venerably asking ‘’relevant questions’’ to their learned seers, sages, & prophets etc., to help them find out answer to this ‘’most important question.’’

The great sage Agathiyar then gracefully further added for the gathered seers & sages of Tamil Sangam, that an incarnated human being after finding & ‘’properly figuring out’’ his ‘’reason to be’’ in this physical world [bhu loka] of planet earth, only then afterwards, should indulge in ‘any type of work’ [dainik karma] for ‘his livelihood’, which work should also ‘’’greatly advance his reason [karanam] to be’’ in this physical world [bhu loka] of planet earth.

The great sage Agathiyar then gracefully further informed to the gathered seers & sages of Tamil Sangam, that the ‘’no. 2 work’’ [dvitiya karma] for a human being, is to devoutly meditate upon the one & only unknowable universal father lord, who apart from vitally creating his ‘’numbered soul’’ [ankit atama], also gracefully provided him various ‘’quality attributes’’ [gunas], to survive & ‘’righteously perform his various duties’’ [dharma parayan kartavayas], toward the vital basis of manifested ‘matrix’ [paripancha].

The great sage Agathiyar gracefully further added for the gathered seers & sages of Tamil Sangam, that since then all the ‘’human souls’’ got ‘’permanently numbered’’, for the basic reason of ‘’equal opportunity for all human vital existences’’, according to their already attained spiritual experiences, which they all dutifully attained, while gradually evolving from the ‘lower kingdoms’ [mineral, plant, animal etc.] of manifested ‘’matrix’’ [paripancha], so that they all according to their given frequency numbers, could also gracefully play out their dutiful ‘’human life roles’’, during the incarnated cycles of their ‘’reoccurring cyclic lives’’ [reincarnations], gracefully working as the ‘’different duties co-creators’’, to vitally aid all types of ‘’spiritual aspects’’, in this ongoing  established evolution, and also get benefited, by properly fulfilling their ‘’five main duties’’ during their cyclic lives, in this ongoing evolution of planet earth, and get ‘’finally liberated’’ [mukta] for their ‘’further ascensions’’ in the invisible ethereal web [adrishya akasha jaal], through gradually increasing ‘’higher conscious states’’ of ‘’time & space relationships’’, till they all themselves finally achieve the two highest universal worlds ‘’tapah loka’’ [brahmanda vaikuntha loka] & ‘’satyam loka’’ [brahmanda shiv loka] of this infinite universe [brahmanda], and thus ‘’get spiritually qualified’’ to vitally carry out ‘’much higher conscious roles’’, in the unknowable & non-explainable worlds of ‘’para brahmanda’’ [outfinite universe], during their distant ‘’brilliant future’’.

As all his family relationships & all of the works related to his physical form, are still a part & parcel of this ever changing ‘’illusory matrix’’ [maya paripancha], in which ‘’illusion’’ [maya] some appears to be ‘’near & dears’’ and some as ‘enemies’, while in true reality of this universe ‘’no one’’ is a ‘’friend’’ or an ‘’enemy’’, as all such occurrences are pertaining to ‘’previous life’s’’ various ‘’actions & reactions’’ [karmas].

Always at the end of ‘’a cyclic life’’, pertaining to the incarnated life cycle of ‘’all human being’s’’ [samastha manushya], the ‘’embodied vital consciousness’’ [jeeva atama] of ‘’physical world form’’ [bhautik sharira], by forcefully leaving behind all so called ‘’life relation aspects’’ of this ‘’dense matrix’’ [bhautik paripancha], have ‘’no choice’’ but to continue their ‘’forward journey’s, once again ‘’all alone’’, to move forward in the ‘’unknown & unchartered territories’’ of ‘’higher or lower dimensional world’s’’ [urdhava & adho lokas].

Under such anxious & wondering situation’s of ‘’lonely mind’’, the ‘’only one’’ who could be ‘’truly considered’’ as their ‘’own’’, is the ‘’one’’, who is the ‘’absolute controller’’ of this ‘’grand experiment’’, which ‘’ongoing experiment’’ is widely known among all vital conscious existences as our unfathomable ‘’infinite universe’’ [brahmanda].

The great sage Agathiyar then gracefully further disclosed to the gathered seers & sages of Tamil Sangam, that the ‘’no. 3 work’’ [tritiya karma] for a human being is to dutifully pay respects & obedience to this ‘’physical world dutiful caretaker’s’’, which all caretaker’s especially include their physical world ‘’parents & grand parents’’ [lokik pitris], who tirelessly raised them right from their incarnated birth with ‘’unselfish love’’, and also to the ‘’lunar forefather’s’’ [soma pitris], whose angelic hierarchies gracefully created their vital bodies & physical forms in their mother’s womb, from their father’s living ‘sperm’ [shukranu] and mother’s living ‘egg’ [andakosha], and also pay respect to ‘’all invisible angelic & demonic hierarchies’’ [adrishya sura evam asuras], who as integral part of their prescribed duties upon this planet earth, also dutifully support  various types of life aspects, invisibly working among ‘’all incarnated human beings’’ [samastha manushya jatis], upon this physical plane world [bhu loka] of planet earth [prithvi greha].

So it is an ‘’essential work’’ for all human beings to also dutifully support the ‘’invisible co-existing angelic hierarchies’’ [deva dals], through the prescribed offerings of ‘’fire sacrifices [yajna].

The great sage Agathiyar then gracefully further added for the gathered seers & sages of Tamil Sangam, that these fire sacrifice offerings [yajna] of various prescribed products, gracefully shared by oral & written down tradition’s, gracefully compiled by the ‘inner mind wisdom’s’ [anahatha mansa jnana –vijnana] of the great seers & sages [maha rishis, maha munis], since the ‘very ancient times’ [ati pracheen kaala] of planet earth, all of these offerings through the inherent ‘fiery heat’ support of flaming frequencies, which all are a part & parcel of the ‘material fire’ [brahma agni], vitally create changes in their embodying matter, and thus gradually release those ‘’elemental essences’’ [tatva saara], from their ‘’embodying matter’’ [bhautik padartha], to exist as the ‘’string type smoke appearance’s’’ in the ‘’atmosphere of troposphere’’ [bhu loka akasha], which ‘’elemental essence’s’’ [tatva saara] vitally nourishes & thus willfully support the life cycles of all these co-existing ‘’invisible beings & entities’’ [adrishya arupa pranis], whose vital existence is also of ‘’utmost importance’’ for their own human survival, so that they all can widely continue without ‘’undesirable mutation’s’’, in their this ‘’current form of human existence’’, upon this significant planet earth [prithvi greha] of our solar universe [aditya mandla].

The great sage Agathiyar then gracefully further informed to the gathered seers & sages of Tamil Sangam, that the ‘’no. 4 work’’ [chatush karma] for a human being is to dutifully aid & help, the ongoing evolution of ‘’all co-existing human beings’’ upon this planet earth, as all human races widely living in their differentiated aspects of ‘sub & branch races’, upon ‘various continents’ [vibhinn khandams] of this physical world bhu loka].

They all actually got vitally separated in the ‘ancient agamic times’ [agam purana kaala], by the immense oceanic body having deep waters of the one ‘’great ocean’’ [maha sagara], upon this planet earth, and thus since then vitally living & gradually evolving in their various ‘tradition’s’ [prathas], ‘cast’s’ [jati, prajatis] & ‘creed’s’ [pranalis], upon the far away places of this planet earth, which tradition’s’ got vitally established by the spiritual contemplation’s of their exalted conscious prophets, seers & sages, & dutiful works of god conscious avatars.

The great sage Agathiyar then gracefully further added for the gathered seers & sages of Tamil Sangam, that the ‘’best way’’ to dutifully perform this no. 4 work in this physical world, is to regularly & faithfully do ‘’charitable giving’s’’ of at least 1/10th [thith] of their ‘’earned incomes’’, during the entire duration of their incarnated lives, making sure to give to ‘’’only’’’ those ‘’religious institution’s’’ [dharma sanstha], who ‘’daily feed’’ the ‘’needing humanity’’, ‘’all day freely’’ & with ‘’respectful love & care’’, and also vitally provide all other types of ‘’physical & spiritual assistance’’, which should include the ‘’free shelter’’, ‘’clothing’s’’, & ‘’health aid’’ to all needy human’s, as ‘’all human beings’’ [samastha manushya jatis] of this planet earth [prithvi greha] are the ‘’evolutionary children’’ of their same ‘’one supreme establisher’’, the great preserver lord ‘’isha – vasudeva’’ [hari vishnu, venkateshvara].

The donations given to other religious institutions, who do not utilize in ‘’freely feeding the needed humanity’’ on a ‘’daily basis’’ may get ‘’stagnated’’ to ‘’germinate true aspects of spirituality’’, and get foolishly used in other wrongful purposes of making huge materially inclined ‘’buildings & empires’’, by the ‘’material mind actions’’ of all those, who are ‘’in charge’’ of ‘’dutiful spiritual circulations’’ of these gathered funds, which can ‘’ultimately result’’ in ‘’religious wars’’, and subsequent ‘’death & destruction’’ of ‘’main stream humanity’’.

The great sage Agathiyar then gracefully further informed to the gathered seers & sages of Tamil Sangam, that the ‘’no. 5 work’’ [pancha karma] for a human being is to dutifully aid & help, the ongoing evolution of ‘’all co-existing beings & entities’’, who all vitally existing upon the lower levels of evolutionary ladder, also dutifully support the manifested ‘matrix’ [paripancha], and many of the lower kingdoms, vitally exist like the minerals having precious & semi precious crystals, who also having basic aspects of vitality, also gradually evolve by increasing in their sizes, in correspondence to the vital energies of ‘’celestial organs’’ of time & space relationships, and many of whom get gracefully embodied in various types of ‘’jewelries’’ to be prestigiously borne as ‘’specific remedies’’ by evolving human’s, and also various types of living herbs & plants of plant kingdom, especially the ‘signature plants’ with ‘’magical & supernatural powers’’, get vitally planted gracefully in their house’s & in their surrounding garden’s, and various types of working & pet animal’s of the animal kingdom.

The great sage Agathiyar then gracefully further disclosed for the gathered seers & sages of Tamil Sangam, that all such ‘’above mentioned few examples’’ of other ‘’visible kingdom’s’’ [rupa pranis], who all during their own ascending evolution’s upon this objectively manifested planet earth, finally get vitally qualified to have a human tutorship, so that they ‘all’ by being in close contact with the human race, being a part & parcel of the manifested ‘’matrix’’, can also learn about his ‘’evolutionary mind’s tonal frequencies’’, which gets vitally depicted to them through the tonal frequencies of their language sounds, and also through their vitally performed mental & physical actions – reactions, so that they ‘’all’’ can also get qualified to become a ‘’human being’’, in some ‘’distant future’’ evolutionary cycle, with the graceful attribute of an individualized mind and a ‘numbered soul’ [ankita atama].     

The great sage Agathiyar then gracefully further added for the gathered seers & sages of Tamil Sangam, that thus through this ‘no. 5 work’ of incarnated human life, every incarnated human being of this planet earth, also unknowingly becomes a ‘’teacher’’ [adhyapak] of ‘’some or many’’ members of the co-existing ‘’lower kingdom’s’’, who also being a part of the illusory matrix [maya paripancha], thus also vitally becomes a ‘vital part’ of his ‘’evolutionary life’’ upon this planet earth [prithvi greha].

Such a training from an member of the highest species upon this physical world [bhu loka], thus greatly help the vital consciousness of all lower kingdom specie’s, upon this evolutionary planet earth of our solar universe [aditya mandla], whose ‘’lower specie vital consciousness’’ till then vitally exists in a ‘’non individualized manner’’, only as a ‘’very tiny part’’ of their ‘’collective consciousness group container’’ [samahuit chetna kalsha].

The great sage Agathiyar then gracefully further disclosed to the gathered seers & sages of Tamil Sangam, that in these 5 main works of above mentioned group, which are supposed to be vitally performed by all human beings during their incarnated lives upon this planet earth, the ‘’no. 1 work’’ is of ‘’utmost importance’’, as ‘’without properly understanding’’ the ‘’main reason’’ for his human incarnation, an evolutionary human being ‘’’cannot dutifully perform’’’ the ‘’other 4 main works’’, and when by properly understanding ‘’his reason of incarnation’’, an incarnated human being [manushya] then vitally performs all these ‘’five works’’, then he gets ‘’a spiritual award’’ of higher wisdom [rudra agni jnana – vijnana], which makes him vitally understand this ‘basic fact’ [moola tathya], that in this ‘’flux matrix’’ [chalaymaana paripancha] of ‘’physical world’’ [bhu loka], a ‘’true love’’ [satyam preeti] for any finite being or an ‘’material object’’, cannot help him in his ‘true goal’ of ‘’higher conscious ascension’s’’, so his ‘’true love’’ should only be vitally developed for the venerable grace of immortal controllers lord ‘’vasudeva ishvara’’ [venkateshvara]  & ‘’rudra maheshvara’’ [dakshina murthi], the two immortal lords of the two universal immortal worlds, widely known among all exalted conscious seers & sages as the highest universal worlds of ‘’tapah loka’’ [para nirvana kshetra, vaikuntha dhaam, karam khandda], & the ‘’satyam loka’’ [para param nirvana kshetra, shiva dhaam, sachcha khandda].

The great sage Agathiyar then gracefully further added for the gathered seers & sages of Tamil Sangam, that when such an ‘’true understanding’’ [satyam jnana] of ‘’true love’’ [satyam preeti] gets ‘’vitally embedded’’ & ‘’firmly rooted’’ in the ‘’gradually evolving soul consciousness’’ [chetna vriddhi atama chetna], through his very tiny investment of ‘’personality consciousness’’ [jeevatama chetna], in this ”nursery school of spiritual learning’’ [adhyatamic shishu pathshala], which is also the ‘most dense physical world’ [ati bhautik sthool prakriti bhu loka], of the ‘three worlds schools’ [triloka pathshala], vitally established for ‘’spiritual learning’s’’ [adhyatamic chetna pathshalas], in the ‘segment of righteousness’ [dharam khandda], then the ‘evolutionary soul’ [chetna vriddhi atama], after gracefully gaining the desired ‘’liberation’’ [mukti], ‘’does not’’ any more ‘’desire for salvation’’ [moksha] in the next great world of enlightening wisdom [bodhi loka, maha loka, nirvana kshetra, gyaan khandda], which solar plane world of higher wisdom vitally corresponds to the ‘’universal world of intuitive wisdom’’ [brahmanda maha loka, brahmanda bodhi or nirvana loka, brahmanda gyaan khandda] in our infinite universe [brahmanda], but instead want to quickly proceed further with an undiluted aim, and ‘’non failing attitude’’, first towards the next higher world of ‘’brahma loka’’ [maha nirvana kshetra, jna loka, shramma khandda], which directly corresponds to the universal world of tree of life ‘’brahma loka’’ [brahmanda jna loka,  maha nirvana kshetra, sharamma khandda], and then faithfully still proceed further towards the next higher ‘’solar world of radiant heat’’ [tapah loka, param nirvana kshetra, karam khandda], which also directly corresponds to the universal immortal world of ‘’vaikuntha loka’’ [brahmanda tapah loka, param nirvana kshetra, karam khandda], and if possible then to also gracefully attain the highest solar plane world of ‘’satyam loka’’ [shiva loka], which also directly corresponds to the universal immortal world of ‘’absolute truth’’ [brahmanda satyam loka, para param nirvana kshetra, sachcha khandda, shiva loka], where he can gracefully receive all of the ‘’needed teachings’’, about the otherwise unknowable ‘’outfinite universe’’ [para brahmanda]. 

AGATHIYAR & FOOD

https://blog.good-will.ch/WordPress/2010/10/23/rishi-agastya-a-little-miracle-and-some-stories/ carried a post mentioning a miracle that took place at the home of several devotees who pitched up together in an apartment. The girls had decorated Agathiyar's painting and offered prayers to him, a day after we had brought Agathiyar's statue at ATM (then AVM) to their homes. No one noticed the miracle in which Agathiyar opened his eyes, only one eye to be specific, in the painting of his till I received the digital copies of the shots taken through email the next day. I called them to asked if they saw that particular photo. No one did notice. The girls who were out headed straight for the Cyber Cafe and viewed the photos again. They called me back in the excitement that yes indeed Agathiyar had opened his eyes during their prayers.

Here is the particular post:

A friend sent me the following photos of a little miracle Rishi Agastya made some days ago (1st september 10). Rishi Agastya is a sage being with the earth since times immemorial. The first photo shows a poster of Rishi Agastya in the home of seven young devotees. In the second picture taken during prayers Agastya is then captured opening his right eye. My friend wrote: “He keeps an eye upon his devotees…” A rishi, being a “seer” looks inside, and from the inside out …

The puja held a day earlier on 31st August 2010 follows.

The same blog carried an interesting piece about Agathiyar.

Last week I came across a transcription of a seminar given by Sri Kumar in the Nilagiri Hills in 1996 about Agastya, Master Jupiter. He said that Agastya is very different in profile and in appearance from the other Masters of Wisdom: Whereas Lord Maitreya or Master Morya and Master Kuthumi are described as being of a tall stature, having long hair and a beard, Agastya is small and a bit round, radiating smile, of a golden-yellow complexion, bald-headed without any hair (unlike the presentation on the poster…), being dressed scarcely with a lungi, never wearing anything else. He has great, round eyes, is often traveling with his disciples and loves to cook and to serve. Through serving food he likes to spread himself into the people and thus to adjust any imbalances in the mental, emotional, and physical bodies. In his spiritual activities he never treads any trodden paths, but gives new trends and directions, being full of freshness. His live is always accompanied by will, spreading be-ness and presence. He is very humorous and his teachings are very powerful, but nevertheless humorous, thus uplifting the people.

In the scriptures there is the story that once a group of disciples in the Himalaya had the questions who is the one fasting most, and Maitreya told them, “It is Agastya, he never eats.” They wanted to see Agastya and went to him. Agastya said: "Observe me for three days.”

They were very surprised to see him cooking, eating and serving. He was not missing any meal, and every meal was from our standpoint very excessive in its quantity. After three days the group asked: "We have not understood your way of fasting.” He answered: "In so far as you don’t feel that you are eating, it is fasting.” He does not think he is eating. He lives in tune with the universal consciousness and in such a tune-up the food is given to all the elementals around him with himself as the channel.

From https://www.good-will.ch/pdf/e_lunar10_8.pdf we gather the same episode.

Lord Krishna once sent three disciples, who were fasting irresponsibly, to Agastya in the Blue Mountains to learn right fasting. Agastya said, “Observe me for three days. Then you will know it.” They observed him. He did not miss any meals. He ate mountains of food but he had a flat belly. After three days they told him, “We cannot understand you kind of fasting.” He replied, “I have been fasting eternally. I do not need food because I do not eat for myself. It is fasting if you feel that you don’t eat.” We think that we are eating. Agastya does not think that it is he who eats. He lives in accordance with the universal consciousness, and thus the food is distributed to all the elements around him, with himself as a channel. 

There are stories about disciples of him, who were so much engaged in work for the Plan and did not have time to eat, did not become hungry, because the Master ate for them. Master CVV also provided rich meals, for the body should not be neglected. We should live a yoga which fulfills spirit and matter. 

Normally, Agastya does not interfere with the evolutionary activity on the planet; it is guided by the ashram in the Himalayas. In times of crises, when the Hierarchy and the Devas alone cannot cope with the challenge, he cooperates and gives a push.

Amazing right? Just some time ago, Kogie from Johannesburg, South Africa asked me if Agathiyar has stepped on that continent? In this same piece of article, we are told that he had an ashram there.

Even though he represents a cosmic principle, he lives in a body of flesh and blood. While the other masters live in the Himalayas and in other ashrams all over the planet, his centre is in the Nilagiris, the Blue Mountains of South India. This, however, is only one of his ashrams. Another ashram is in South Africa, and a big ashram is in South America, which geographically is further south compared to the Nilagiris.

IN THE GURU'S ARMS

This blog has mysteriously opened the hearts of many to come into the path too, as I came to know from messages and emails I received. 

• I have came across your blog many years ago but shut the website as nothing attract me. But once Agathiar appa decided the time, i came across your blog again by miracle and..... everything was so interesting to me. Within 2 months after reading your blog i called Bala to purchase Agathiar geetam and soon was introduced to this beautiful family! I feel when the time is right, we do get the chance to walk the divine path in some way!

• Tavayogi.. Showed you the way to Agasthya. You showed me the way to tavayogi... And siddha  teachings. I take this, day to express my gratitude to you for turning my life so amazingly. Your writings work wonders. My humble salutations to you sir. And to the entire team of ATM.

• Im climbing small steps to leave my desires and learning alot from your experiences Anna. Day by day my perception on things changing. 

When the disciple is ready the master is ready also, we are often told. "When the disciple is ready to receive only then does the master point the way. The master knows that if he had pointed the way earlier, the disciple would not have seen it, would not have taken note of it," says Rohit Mehta in "The Creative Silence" The Theosophical Publishing House, 1957.

Lord Muruga asked for total surrender, at times asking us several times. He made sure we were ready to accept him before he passed on the initiation that opens the heart chakra, for he says it would be a worthless affair if the devotee was not ready. If the devotee was still drowned deep in the issues and matters of urgency that needed their immediate attention, he postpones the initiation asking to come another day. It's rather similar and akin to a Nadi reading where it is of utmost importance that both the seeker and the reader are in a clear state of mind when the transmission of the oracle is done.

Contrary to many who dress alike and ape the saints, the master points the way which leads the disciple to become what he is. "It is only when the process of becoming something ends and the process of becoming oneself starts that the master truly enters the life of the disciple." The saints were never here to manufacture clones of themselves. Again there is a need to reiterate that "The master points the way which leads the disciple to become what he is." I too asked of Tavayogi, "Now guide me as to how I should proceed", to which he showed me Agathiyar. Bringing us to the Siddha path, understanding our lifestyle in a modernized world Agathiyar drafted a simple way to attain his state - that of Guru Kripa. Rather than have us sit for hours in meditation, have us twist and turn our torsos into extreme and complicated positions, or have us starve, he opted to show us the simplest and easiest none exerting way, to beget the grace of the divine. 

Ram Dass in his "Paths to God - Living the Bhagavad Gita", describes this path, one that he adopts and follows too.

Guru Kripa or the method of the guru is one form of bakti practice. It is the specific form of bhakti that focuses on the guru, and on the guru's grace or the guru's blessings."

Tavayogi showed me Agathiyar and stepped aside exactly as how Ram Dass describes a guru. 

"The relationship with the guru is totally an internal matter with its essence being love. The guru is a being who awakens incredible love in us and then uses our love to awaken us out of the illusion of duality" quoting Ramana, "The glance of grace from the master is enough to awaken the devotee from the sleep of ignorance to the knowledge of the real. The guru as a separate entity exists only within the illusion of separateness ... the minute the method of the guru has worked it's awakened you, and it ceases to be anything at all. It has an automatic built-in self destruct mechanism you use it until it opens you in a certain way and then you see through it and let go of it. The guru becomes irrelevant."

Ram Dass says of his relationship with his guru "It became less and less rooted in dualism as time went on." He shares an episode to elaborate this statement. 

"Sometime after I had first met Maharajji (Neem Karoli Baba) I was sitting across the courtyard from him, and I thought to myself, what am I doing here? That body sitting over there isn't what its all about. At that moment, Maharajji called an old man over, and said something to him, and the man came running over to me and touched my feet. I asked him why did you do that? He told me Maharajji told me, go touch Ram Dass feet. He and I understand each other perfectly."

The guru did not see himself separate from his disciple. Once the awakening begins you can't help but feel a profound love for all the beings who have helped you along the way. This is what the Satguru does. "He is the one who is the doorway," says Ram Dass. 

Along the way we meet upagurus, he says, who are like marker stones along the road that say go this way, go that way. "They are teachings rather then teaches," he says. "We can take a teaching here and a teaching there and then go our way, instead of getting hung up on them" he adds. 

Besides these gurus on the physical plane, "then there are the astral guides too, beings on all those other planes as well... helping us along in various ways... all wanting to help us get free."

Ram Dass says "The very essence of the relationship between a guru and a devotee is a sense of complete utter trust" something Lord Muruga is insisting now from us. We trust that whatever the guru does will be for our own good. Then our life becomes completely transparent, they read your mind, they see you, you can't hide, its all in the open now, he adds. We jokingly look towards the sky while outdoors and look around the room if indoors asking if they have installed CCTV to watch us for they can tell to the minutest details what we think, have done or intend to do. Gosh, it's frightening at times. We need to be extra careful these days. But as Ram Dass says "Maharajji knows about all my dirty laundry and he still loves me", the same goes with Agathiyar, Lord Muruga, Ma, and Aiya. 

Ram Dass touches on a very pertinent point of truth that we consider: that the world is his stage and we the players: "I used to sit in front of Maharajji... I felt like he had created me out of his mind in order to play with me."

A guru "will say or do something that causes a certain flip to happen which leads that person to the next stage. The guru is just there doing whatever the dharma of the moment demands", he says. There is no ploy or deceit. Neither a plan. Just plain living in the moment.

Ram Dass speaks about reasons the gurus engage in an outward show of their Siddhis. "Most of the time gurus use Siddhis to break a person loose at the point where he or she is ripe for a certain change to happen" adds Ram Dass. When a devotee is ripe the guru uses his Siddhis to impress him and bring him into the path, as what Supramania Swami and Agathiyar did. When we are ready all that is needed is a tap. Siddhis are generally used to shake up people and to bring them out of their dream state into Reality. But at times they turn us down or fail us in the moment of our need only because they see through the past, present and future and chose not to involve and change the cause of happenings for our own good. 

"The love for a guru is a process of surrendering," says Ram Dass of his love towards Maharajji. "I learned to let go into whatever he thinks best for me. I surrender to his version of my storyline in place of my own." Instead of writing our own script for life let him write out the script of our life. It would definitely be a good story. 

Just as Tavayogi said we become what we desire to be, Ram Dass guides us into Guru Kripa:  coming to the guru, invite him into our hearts, install him in the altar within the heart, offer yourself to him, sing, chant, pray, love him as you love yourself, open up to him, watch and slowly become - Him.

I came to my gurus as a blank white paper ready to be written on. I had never known saints. All I knew was temple worship and the deities. I believed in God, as most people did lifting my hands in salutation both at the altar at home and in the temples. As a bachelor who had taken up a new job away from home, I had so much time on my hands. That is when I delved into reading about religion, rituals, custom, art, music, and dance. I began to pick up certain methods from the books and performed these pujas in my room/home. Persistently engaging in prayers both at dawn and dusk, I had dreams upon dreams of Gods and saints that never made any sense to me then. I used to engage with some senior colleagues in discussing religion. If the books told me that the divine was full of compassion, it was the opposite in real life. I saw those around me suffer and undergo pain. I became disgusted when the divine attributed that it was it's doing too. Why would a merciful God punish his children? As questions and doubts began to accumulate and nobody I knew then could shed some light I was beginning to become disillusioned by all that I read and saw. As if to save me from further torment and mental torture, Lord Shiva came in a dream and asked that I keep my questions for a later date (time). I stopped all my reading, discussion, frequenting the temples and home worship. At the same time, I was transferred to Kuala Lumpur city from the small town of Lumut. I got married. I had a child but I kept frequenting the temples for the sake of my wife and child. There was a period of non-involvement in religious matters from 1988 till 1998 when my second child was born. At the same time, a new temple had come up for Lord Muruga in my vicinity. We frequented the temple. In 2002 my colleague brought up the subject of the Nadi reading that he had had a year back. It rekindled my thoughts had having heard the Nadi mentioned by Dr. Krishnan in 1996. I asked to see the Nadi. My life changed that day. I went empty. I received what I was told and executed all that I was asked to do. I just fitted into the play of the divine, placing some efforts doing their asking. I suppose Agathiyar was overjoyed that here was a fellow ready to listen and work with him for he began to call me up and give further instructions, directives, and guidance. A bond was cemented between us through the Nadi. He threw me at the feet of two wonderful gurus in the physical form, Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram. They guided me well. Today although both of them are not with us physically we sense their presence and hear from them regularly. The divine comes in various ways to guide us further. This journey of ours is beyond words to express. We have no goals, no expectations, we live in the moment, executing his directives and await for more directions. There is not an iota of doubt or questions about their existence. We have given ourselves to them to run our lives, just as Lord Muruga had asked of us. We know we shall be in safe hands, just as the child falls free knowing the Father will catch him.

Today many have taken Agathiyar has their guru and follow his path at ATM. They too are seeing miracles and changes taking place in them and their surroundings. We are grateful to the lineage of gurus who look over our shoulders 24/7.

We thank Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal, Chitramuthu Adigal, Jeganatha Swamigal, Ramalinga Adigal, Agathiyar, the Siddhas, and all other saints who were upagurus to us. We thank the divinity in its various forms: Lord Muruga, Lord Vinayaga, Ma Parvathi and Lord Shiva, Ma Laxmi and Lord Vishnu, Ma Saraswathi and Lord Brahma, and the whole pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. We thank our parents, soulmate, siblings, children, and friends, and our ancestors. We thank our Kula Deivam and Yellai Deivam. We thank all the planets and stars that today have become gurus to us and shower their blessings on us. We thank all of nature and this prapanjam in sustaining us, and ask that they forgive all our misdoings out of ignorance and at times due to arrogance.

MAKING THE LEAP

When we approach a Siddha and ask for direction on our worldly matters, although they guide us, they prefer to address the issues of the soul rather than the body. Their main concern is for our soul, to lead it back to the kingdom of the Lord. Hence they come in many ways to remind us of our purpose in taking birth. In that moment of awakening from a deep slumber, some choose to follow the path and direction shown, being assured that the Siddhas will lead them to the destination. Many continue their slumber, as the bed is very inviting. 

For those who tag along, they are shown the mysteries behind the veil of illusion. The Siddhas begin to reveal the secret and hidden path back to the abode of the Father. They come along all the way and safeguard us from harm's way. The divine sends the whole retinue of forces to overlook and care for us. And so it was that I too stumbled upon the path, or I thought I did. But today I know that the path was there waiting for me. It was shown to me, otherwise, I would not have seen it or recognized it. I took heed of the signs, the commands, the directions and ventured further into the maze of mystery.

When I heeded Agathiyar's call to come to the path, worshipped him and held on to him, as a result of the correct guidance from my guru Supramania Swami and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal in the physical form who were shown to me by him too, I came under his protection. When I asked Tavayogi for further guidance and direction he told me, "What am I too direct, he is directing you." When I stood before Lord Muruga when he called for those who have surrendered to him to step forward and hold his hands, he told me the same too, "I have nothing to give you, you are being led by Agathiyar."

I remember when I visited Ongarakudil back then in 2003 and asked of Rengaraja Desigar to bless me, he remained quiet. Thinking that he had not heard me, Nadarajah who was managing the establishment, told me to speak louder as he was poor of hearing. I spoke louder. Yet no response. I spoke even louder then. He turned to me and said, "What am I to bless further when coming here to (Ongarakudil) itself is a blessing." I was disappointed then. Today I understand that he had foreseen that I was to meet my very first guru Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai four days later and my second guru Tavayogi of Kallar Ashram two years later.

When someone visited Yogi Ramsuratkumar and asked for his blessings, the Yogi did not bless him but sent him off. The Yogi said that the man had just arrived after visiting another saint. He did not want to "disturb" the blessings showered on him by the saint. This episode is mentioned by Will Zulkowsky in his book "Meetings With Yogi Ramsuratkumar", published by Yogi Ramsuratkumar Bhavan.

We have the chance of witnessing some really interesting moments with Him (Yogi Ramsuratkumar). For example, a young American man with a shaved head who had just come from seeing Anandamayee Ma, a famous North Indian Saint, appears one evening while we are sitting with Swami. He tells Swami that he has graduated summa cum laud, i.e. first in his class, from Harvard University and has completed three years at John Hopkins Medical School. As a result of his medical studies, he realizes that pain and suffering are everywhere and has come to India to find out what is the root cause of suffering before he goes out to practice medicine.

Swami first asks him what a dirty beggar like Him could possibly tell a Harvard grad. Swami listens nicely to the man for about two hours and then the man leaves. A few minutes after the man leaves, Swami turns to us and says that "this beggar could do nothing for that man." About ten minutes later, Swami tells us that Anandamayee Ma had made a blessing over that man's head and that He did not want to disturb it.

In ‘Yogi Ramsuratkumar’, Olga Amman too writes about a visitor and the Yogi’s attitude towards him.

After a few moments, one of the devotees explained to Bhagavan that he had come from Calcutta, and that his journey had been very long. These three ladies (Olga and her companions – Ed) come from Italy”, was the saint’s comment. 

Yogi asked the same devotee: “Don’t you have a Guru in Calcutta?”

“Yes, I have”, the man answered, and told his Guru’s name. 

“Then, why don’t you follow him? Why do you need to visit this beggar?”

The conversation ended there.

The Yogi has this to say of a guru,

“This beggar has no knowledge of the religious rituals. All the rituals and religious practices prescribed in the Vedas should make one reach the feet of the Guru, if these rituals and religious practices are done with all sincerity. Once you attain the feet of the Guru, then you need not worry about your spiritual growth. You need not do any rituals also. It is enough to listen to your Guru and remember your Guru. Your Guru will take care of you and he will take you to the destination." - Yogi

It has been an exciting journey for us at ATM with many others coming along. Many left on the way seeking greener pastures. Those few who chose to remain with ATM are great souls who have come for a purpose - his purpose, as we came to know. They are being exposed and shown to us slowly by the divine. They came to ATM, brought together by Agathiyar, and since then has kept them close to him, grooming and guiding them constantly.

The Divine has a plan laid out for all of us. He wants us to submit to his divine plan. He wants us to place aside our individual plans. His plan is for the good of the whole of Prapanjam while ours is for the self and the immediate family.

After having hibernated in the dark dungeons and caves or Kugai of the heart chakra, Agathiyar, our Parama Guru came within the confines of our hearts that was the abode of Kuga (Lord Muruga), bringing in the light of knowledge and illuminating the space, to reveal the magnificent splendour and majesty and golden hue of Lord Muruga, the embodiment of Gnana. Kuga broke the shackles that have bound us for ages, breaking the chain of ignorance and shredding the veil of illusion or Maya, awakening us from the sleep of ages. 

Hence the Siddhas on this marvelous journey, today have brought us to the door that opens the heart chakra. From Muladhara, Svadhisthana, Manipura we now stand at the doorway to Anahata. Having hibernated for ages, the Guru has come to awaken us and lead us to the next level. Let us take his hand and invite him into our hearts. We have come to do his work but have forgotten our purpose and deviated. He has come to remind us. Time and again the guru drops by to remind us of the promise or obligation towards the divine. The divine asks of us to admit him into our hearts so that he could do his work through us. As Sri Ramakrishna explains, "When the mind learns to dwell there (at the heart chakra), man experiences his first spiritual awakening", the veil of illusion that had us believe that we were separate is pulled aside and Reality, our real self, is shown.

Rohit Mehta writes in "The Creative Silence", The Theosophical Publishing House, 1957, "Reality always is, it has not to be brought into existence. Because there are screens hiding reality," we do not discover it. "It is only as veil after veil is rent asunder that the reality comes to view."

This path is not of finding something anew or a path of discovery. It is an unveiling of something that is already there. Once we see our true nature we are enlightened the very moment.

"We become only that which we already are" states Djwal Kul, in Book Two of "The Human Aura", Summit University Press, 1971. He writes further, 

"Draw nigh to me and I will draw nigh to you" are the words of the Lord spoken within the soul of the Apostle James as the key to the union of god and man through the blessed mediator, the Christ Self. In order for god and man to be one on earth even as the soul of man is one with the Spirit of God in Heaven, the Christ comes forth to mediate the frequencies of matter and of the spirit. The perfect blending of the energies of god and man are realized, then, through the Christ Self of the individual or through masters ascended or unascended who have attained the harmony of the Christ Mind. To fulfil then the first half of the equation, "Draw nigh to me and I will draw nigh to you" mankind must raise the energies of consciousness to the level of the heart chakra... the magnet that you create within the heart chakra is the ascending triangle... the presence of this forcefield... will draw the descending triangle of gods consciousness into the heart chakra... "

Swami Satprakashananda in his "Meditation - Its Process, Practice and Culmination", Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, 1976, says "As a devotee is drawn to god, so god is drawn to a devotee." The merging of creator and creation takes place forming the matrix that is the six-pointed star or Sadachara. The merger of ATM souls with the divine was a spectacle to behold where Lord Muruga implanted his matrix or Sadachara in the hearts of his devotees who surrendered to him.

In "The Chakras" by CW Leadbeater, The Theosophical Publishing House 1927, the nature of the chakras are explained.

"All these wheels (of the chakras) are perpetually rotating, and into the hub or open mouth of each a force from the higher world is always flowing.. which we call the primary force... without this inrush of energy the physical energy cannot exists.

In the undeveloped person, it is sluggish while it glows and pulsates in the evolved, Leadbeater adds further.

From https://beherenownetwork.com/the-fourth-chakra-the-heart-in-balance/ we learn further.

The heart chakra is in the middle of the seven main energy centers in the body... When the “fire in the belly” of the third chakra is sufficiently charged and you are determined to follow the call of spirit, you make the energetic leap to the heart chakra, which bridges the three lower earth-bound centers with the three non-physical centers in the throat, the “third eye,” and the crown of the head that provide you with access to the more expansive spiritual realms.

And in reverse, the heart serves as the access point for downloading divine love from above into the lower chakras and thus purifying your personal needs and desires, allowing you to come into balance within yourself and with the world around you. You can give and receive love, which is the main job of the heart chakra.

This is love that comes from within yourself. This is looking at a flower blooming in the spring and feeling tears come to your eyes because your heart is overflowing with its beauty. This is the love you feel when you have forgiven those who have hurt you, when a newborn takes hold of your finger, when you are permeated with the bliss of the divine within.

When many pay to attend classes that teach how to open the heart, as Tavayogi used to say that we got to come into the company of the Siddhas quite easily, without the hardship that he and many others went through, the heart chakra was opened by the divine itself, asking only one thing from us - that we surrender to him. We are blessed indeed. All these is possible only by the grace of our Gurus, through masters both ascended or unascended as Djwal Kul says, and the consent of the divine.

Aum Agatheesaya Namaha.

RECEIVING THE GRACE OF THE DIVINE 2

Muladhara

The idea in sitting crosslegged as in the traditional Indian way is to ground the root chakra Muladhara, at the seat of the perineum between the anus and genitals, to the earth.  "The Muladhara located at the base of the spine, the pelvic floor, and the first three vertebrae, acts as the gateway for the energy of the earth to pass through all our various bodies", says Veronica Hope. It is also said that all past memories are stored in the tip of the spine on the last vertebrae and that they never perish. No element can wipe it out and that the great saints tap into it, scanning through for past memories of an individual.

On the other extreme end, we have the Sahasrara Chakra that is located on the top of the head, that acts as the antenna and entry point for energy from the cosmos to come within.

"Also through Sahasrara, there is an energetic connection of the lower chakras with the divine levels. (Here) In 7th chakra, the energies from all the lower chakras come together. Simultaneously, the 7th chakra ensures that the rest of the chakras are recharged by the Universal energy." (Source: http://veronicahope.com)

Great saints are said to tap into its Akashic records or huge store of knowledge.

Veronica Hope brings us walking through each Chakra at http://veronicahope.com/hope/index.php/muladhara-chakra/

"The Root Chakra is the seat of the unconscious. All our fears “live” in our first chakra. All memories about wars, hunger or any disasters that threaten the survival of humanity, all of them are imprinted in the energy of the Muladhara Chakra. The wise regard all fears as valuable and beneficial experiences. When one learns from them and begins to work on him/herself, one makes progress in the spiritual development."

Svadhisthana

Svadhisthana is located halfway between the pubis and the navel point. Our subconscious resides here. All emotion is stored in this chakra that takes on the nature of the water element. So from remaining at the unconscious level, we have moved a step into the subconscious level, the realm of consciousness that lies between sleeping and waking says Veronica. Tavayogi mentions our effort is only till these two chakras, Muladhara and Svadhishthana and that the divine will take us on from there.

Manipura

Manipurа, is located in the solar plexus region. Here fire dominates. It is akin to the fire in the sacrificial fire pit homa or yagna that feeds on our offerings. Just as the fire acts as a medium for our sacrifices to be received by the Devas and Heavenly Beings, food ingested is digested and absorbed and sent to all the elementals residing throughout our body. While science says, "Your digestive system is uniquely designed to turn the food you eat into nutrients, which the body uses for energy, growth and cell repair", Agathiyar says we need to feed the elementals, that play a role in the upkeep of the physical body, appeasing their hunger.

The moment we sit to eat, a message is triggered by the senses, the smell, and the sight of food. Saliva is produced that breaks the food that goes through the track and digestive secretions are churned out to do the job further. The process is amazing, elaborate and precise thanks to the intelligence that governs the running of this machinery called a body. Just like we journey in our daily lives, food too goes through a journey. "Obtaining nutrition and energy from food is a multi-step process. The first step is ingestion, the act of taking in food. This is followed by digestion, absorption or assimilation and elimination. 

The mouth is the beginning of the digestive tract. In fact, digestion starts here as soon as you take the first bite of a meal. Chewing breaks the food into pieces that are more easily digested, while saliva mixes with food to begin the process of breaking it down into a form your body can absorb and use. The stomach is a sac-like organ with strong muscular walls. In addition to holding the food, it's also a mixer and grinder. The stomach secretes acid and powerful enzymes that continue the process of breaking down the food. When it leaves the stomach, food is the consistency of a liquid or paste. The small intestine continues the process of breaking down food by using enzymes released by the pancreas and bile from the liver. Bile is a compound that aids in the digestion of fat and eliminates waste products from the blood. Peristalsis (contractions) is also at work in this organ, moving food through and mixing it up with digestive secretions. The duodenum is largely responsible for continuing the process of breaking down food, with the jejunum and ileum being mainly responsible for the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream. Among other functions, the oblong pancreas secretes enzymes into the small intestine. These enzymes break down protein, fat, and carbohydrates from the food we eat. The liver has many functions, but two of its main functions within the digestive system are to make and secrete bile, and to cleanse and purify the blood coming from the small intestine containing the nutrients just absorbed. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped reservoir that sits just under the liver and stores bile. Bile is made in the liver then if it needs to be stored travels to the gallbladder through a channel called the cystic duct. During a meal, the gallbladder contracts, sending bile to the small intestine. Once the nutrients have been absorbed and the leftover liquid has passed through the small intestine, what is left of the food you ate is handed over to the large intestine, or colon. Stool, or waste left over from the digestive process, is passed through the colon by means of peristalsis (contractions), first in a liquid state and ultimately in solid form as the water is removed from the stool. A stool is stored in the sigmoid colon until a "mass movement" empties it into the rectum once or twice a day. It normally takes about 36 hours for stool to get through the colon. The stool itself is mostly food debris and bacteria. These bacteria perform several useful functions, such as synthesizing various vitamins, processing waste products and food particles, and protecting against harmful bacteria. When the descending colon becomes full of stool, or feces, it empties its contents into the rectum to begin the process of elimination. It is the rectum's job to receive stool from the colon, to let you know there is stool to be evacuated, and to hold the stool until evacuation happens. When anything (gas or stool) comes into the rectum, sensors send a message to the brain. The brain then decides if the rectal contents can be released or not. If they can, the sphincters (muscles) relax and the rectum contracts, expelling its contents. If the contents cannot be expelled, the sphincters contract and the rectum accommodates, so that the sensation temporarily goes away.

(Source:https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/your-digestive-system#1

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-mcc-biology2/chapter/digestive-system-processes/

An amazing work of art indeed!

Veronica continues to brief us of the journey through the chakras.

Тhe Solar plexus chakra gives us the opportunity to absorb knowledge and experience. The harmonization of the work of Manipura Chakra depends on how we evaluate that knowledge and live through the experience. The Manipura Chakra is the “City of Jewels” in which we find the pearls of clarity, wisdom, self-confidence and wellbeing. These qualities shine down to the lower Chakras as well as up to the Heart Centre. 

Anahata

As Tavayogi told me, "Only now the true journey starts!", the actual journey begins at the heart chakra. Compassion and bliss, tears and cries of joy for no reason begin to pour when the stone-hearted melt in compassion towards others. The selfish thought turns outwards. 

Anahata is located in the center of the chest. Being in the center of the entire human energy body, the heart chakra – Аnahata - is responsible for the balancing, harmonious adjustment and interaction of the lower triangle - the first three chakras - with the upper triangle of the chakras, fifth, sixth and seventh - Spiritual higher plane. The three lower chakras operate with personal energy, separating a person from the others. The three higher chakras are the collective aspects of the "I" that give a connection to the energy of the Universe. Anahata chakra is precisely the place where the personal and collective aspects of the one's "I" meet.

This is exactly what The Divine, Lord Muruga and Agathiyar meant when they asked us to open the heart chakra so that they could enter and do their work. 

When we live "from the Heart”, there is compassion and acceptance of all that is, as it is. It is harmonious enriching interaction with other people, unconditional love and the desire to share with others their joy and inner light. This strength heals the inner wounds and allows us to forget the pain and unpleasantness of the past. 

Tavayogi once taught me the mantras related to each chakra that by chanting it performs Aadhara Sudhi that cleanses the particular chakra and brings about Siddhi or its manifestations. He asks that I never share it with others for reasons only known to him. Prior to this, he made all 8 of us promise not to share the mantra of Agathiyar that he gave us upon our very first initiation at a local affiliate branch of his the Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in Malaysia. Earlier to that, when my nephew was used as a medium to convey a mantra that came mysteriously, at my home, he asked that I never question what was to take place and he never told me the inner secrets of the proceedings until many years later. Initially, I could not come to terms with the secrecy involved in these matters but later I knew that it was to avoid confusion that arises in the minds of seekers who did not understand the workings of the divine as yet but were given such life-transforming aids on the spiritual path. The seekers often share the news of they receiving the mantra with others and compare notes and become confused or disillusioned about the sanctity or correctness of the mantras when they come across these mantras elsewhere where it differs with what they had received. Instead of beginning chanting the mantra as initiated, following the dictates of the guru, or rather than going back to the guru with the doubt or question,  they either postpone or put on hold the practice and wait to verify with others. I personally have received queries from others initiated into similar mantras asking why theirs differed with how I chanted it. I tell them this is what I received and I carry on with it without questioning, hinting to them that they should do the same too. But some chose to point out the variation to us, telling us that we have got it all wrong. They tell us that we are chanting it wrongly, that there is a missing syllable or word etc. 

To those who prefer to debate, question the authenticity and remind us that a mantra wrongly said will not bring the desired effect and frighten us that it could harm us, here is a wonderful story.

A story is told of the young lad who was trained in a monastery and excelled in his religious studies. When the time was right for him to go out to the world beyond the safety and confines of the walls surrounding the monastery to learn and gain practical experience, his master summoned him and gave him a task too. He was asked to preach to the village folks who lived across the river banks, what he had learned at the monastery. The student was floating on cloud nine for being the chosen one to embark on a prestigious mission, thinking that would bring him pride and recognition in the local community.

He bid farewell to his master and traveled the long distance until he came to the bank of the river. As he stood at the bank and gazed at the village on the opposite bank, he turned around to look for any boatman who could take him across the wide and deep river. There was no boat to be seen but his gaze fell on an old man who was seated on the ground in the shade of a tree some distance away. The lad walked towards him and could not fail but notice that he seemed to be mumbling something to himself. On nearing him, the lad was surprised to hear the same mantra that he had been chanting at the monastery, was being chanted by the old man, but with a slight variation. The lad immediately apprehended the man telling him that he was chanting it all wrong and began to recite it the way he was taught at the monastery. The old man whose chanting was abruptly interrupted, gladly listened to the lad and repeated the mantra as taught by him and thanked him for enlightening him.

The young lad was proud that he had begun his mission right there on the shore of the riverbank by passing on the mantra to his very first student - the old man. Soon a boatman came along and he boarded the boat asking the boatman to take him across to the village. As they approached the middle of the wide and deep river, the lad noticed the boatman, who was seated across him and rowing the boat, gasp, his face suddenly changed pale and his jaw dropped. What had he seen that had shocked him, the lad thought as he turned around. To his surprise he saw the old man wading across the river towards their boat, walking quite naturally on the water's surface. The lad too was stunned seeing the feat. The old man came alongside the boat and told the lad that he had forgot a syllable from the mantra and asked the lad to repeat it. The lad held on to the old man, hugged him tight and cried, asking to be pardoned for his arrogance. The lad followed the old man back to the river bank never stepping foot in the village. He took the old man as his master and served him in his old age. He dropped his ego and pride that day.

RECEIVING THE GRACE OF THE DIVINE 1

Have you ever wondered why toddlers and children love to spin and go round and round, even if it makes them dizzy? I came to know only recently that what they were doing naturally was one of five ancient Tibetan exercises that actually help stimulate the chakras. My granddaughter often does this. 

The Divine has given these children the natural sense to keep their chakras active. How amazing! Next time you are with a child, take a moment to notice the wonder and excitement in a child's eyes: as he/she reaches out for the leaves on a tree and feels it; watches in amazement the beetle flying for a moment and walking the next; and jumping excitedly upon seeing a grasshopper hop. My granddaughter is intrigued by the smallest things like touching the mimosa pudica plant that immediately shuts upon touch; the first raindrops that begin to hit the ground and the accompanying smell of the dry ground getting wet. She has hours of fun playing by herself inside an empty box; and then takes some time off from pretend play to just sit and dream, her gaze falling nowhere.

"The texture, the vibrant colors, the sight of movement by a gentle breeze; these characteristics make leaves and other natural items as exciting and engaging as any manufactured toy to a young child." (Source: http://www.balancedandbarefoot.com/blog/natural-instinct-and-desire-for-nature). So is it with all things. They are very much captured by nature and all things around them, something we adults fail to see and as a result, miss out the grandeur of creation. Sadly we are more amused with the gossip of our neighbors and the social media, rather than the beauty that is all around us.

Children are still connected with their home, the source. They are divine in nature. The Buddha-nature in them is very obvious. We corrupt them. We hide the Buddha within and feed our Ego. The child watches the adults and its parents and follows suit, thinking it is fine and that is the norm. Then we apprehend them too, sometimes severely. Next time the urge comes to us to stop, advise, instruct or command a child to follow our (sick) ways, just lay off them, listen and watch them pretend play, giving them breathing space. Let them explore this wonderful world rather than push our (dead) thoughts, (outdated) opinions and regimes that kept us in chains for ages. Free these children to explore the world. As Tavayogi said a Siddha can never be chained, the soul needs to experiment, experience and learn.

I never allow my moments of having breakfast, lunch, and dinner, to be distracted and disturbed by talk especially topics that set off negative vibrations, considering these moments as precious and auspicious. Taking food is liken to placing offerings in the sacred fire or homa or yagna. I prefer to savor my meal quietly taking in the look, taste, and texture of the delicacy. A couple of days ago a stranger asked if he could share the table with me at a restaurant. I nodded. The moment he sat he started up a conversation. He began saying that times were bad and that he had lost his job. I told him the economic recession following the Asian financial crisis was a cycle that comes every 10 years once to haunt us, indirectly indicating to him to accept the truth of the matter and face it. We had one in 1985, then 1996, 2008 and are said to be moving into one now. Then he moved on to say the prices of all things has gone up. These talks bring on frustration and anger. Above this, these matters are beyond an individual's control. It is a matter of the state. I always preferred not to talk about these things especially while eating. Seeing that he was adamant on adding to his list of negative and saddening things I had to shut him up. I asked him just one question. "Why are people never grateful and never told others that they earned well and could spend well and were having a good life when times were good, but the moment they go through a downslide in their lives, they begin to complain and whine almost about everything, blaming God and everyone else for their troubles. He shut up for a moment. Trying to please me by telling me that he was giving back in kindness, he told me he fed some birds, and that the birds would follow him till he feeds them. I told him that we too fed birds at ATM having had at least a 100 numbers of Anthus richardi or locally called burung pipit tanah, perched on the tree from dawn to dusk. Only recently its numbers have dwindled after the cats in the neighborhood encroached into the garden. I had to tell him that we feed the homeless too, and those in homes, the poor, the hungry and the unfortunate. He shut up and left after finishing his food.

There were days back then in the past where I could never adapt myself to having a conversation with others. The talk was too negative in nature that it bothered and disturbed my physique. I even stopped frequenting malls and places where the public gathered. I felt zapped off my energy by just being in the company of people. When I was working and frequented the tea stall opposite my office building for breakfast and lunch which was the only place I could get a decent vegetarian meal, some staffs, and others from the public would gather around a table, have the daily newspaper spread before them and begin their daily analysis of the days news, talk about the politics, the figures and the economy - often ending in badmouthing and cursing others loudly, having nothing good to say. I had to stomach all that talk sitting a few tables away for I had no other choice as the stall was conveniently located just across my office. Otherwise, I would have to drive some distance in the jam, heat, and noise of the Kuala Lumpur city. After five years I came back to my headquarters after having served in a unit in Subang. The same people were there minus a few who I presumed had died or were transferred out or have stopped patronizing the stall. I saw a few new faces replace the missing ones. Sadly it was the same talk. I walked up to them and told them that these were matters of the state that we cannot address by mere talk in public. The only way is for them to join a political party, work for a post, get nominated in an election, win the votes and make his way to parliament where he will have the power and might to bring these changes. No amount of outpouring of emotions in a teas stall will change things. I asked if they would never change for the better. 5 years ago they spoke the same thing. Today they are at it again. People have moved on, some to the "other side", yet they were caught in the web that the past has spun around them.

On another occasion, as I drove my car into a workshop, the mechanic came over to address my complaint. With him came the owner of the car he was attending too. The man continued his story now addressing me. It was about his opinion of the politics of the day. He had nothing nice to say either. I had to stop him. I told him that I was pretty sure he had spoken the same thing to someone that morning over breakfast and must have done the same over dinner last night and the day before too. I told him to talk about his family for a change. He had nothing to say.

Then there are people who would mill around a journalist relative to get the latest updates on current issues and end condemning everything and everybody. There are many who are never happy and can go on complaining the whole day long. On the contrary, when we start talking about the divine and its miracles, either they give us an empty look, excuse themselves and walk away, or keep their distance, seeing us as alien beings speaking an alien language. Others come so knowledgeable in religious and spiritual matters and push their ideas so hard on us that at the end of it the conversation turns sour.

Then there are the senior citizens who upon meeting each other talk about their body aches and other discomforts, sleeplessness; and illnesses and begin to compare notes and the medicines, feeling sad for themselves. They fail to understand that these come with age and there is no way they can reverse it. Tavayogi told me that it was too late for him to attain certain Siddhis as he had gone beyond his sixties. As to attaining the body of light, he told me he had to come back again too.

Tavayogi had told me to try to extend and hold on to the rare moments of bliss that comes on without our calling. After a wonderful and spiritually uplifting puja at a temple, I was brought down to earth the very second a devotee brought up his self made problems to me. The moment to be cherished was gone that very second. It reminds us of Bharathi's lament to Ma that whenever he is elevated in his thoughts he is brought down to earth with the affairs of the day. Yogi Ramsuratkumar too has mentioned that there were days when he would be spiritually "low".

These are the many encounters with people that we face daily, that pulls us down to earth the moment we think we are taking off on a flight to the kingdom of bliss. I guess it is time to go within and imbibe in the peace and tranquility that the thought of the divine brings in us.

While we are here to gain learning from the lessons that life has to offer and gain wisdom from the experiences gained through these learnings, the divine on its part throws us into many situations too, some pleasant and some disturbing so that we gain those experiences too. We are told over and over again by Ma, Aiya, Agathiyar, Lord Muruga and the divine that we need to go through these phases of experiences. At the same time, they want us to submit our cause to them, and live life to the fullest. They assure us that they shall take care of all matters. We can take a cue from Ramalinga Adigal's Arutpa on the extent of his surrender to his Lord, in his song, "Paatuvithaal Paadugindren."

A man/ woman is only complete when he/she is married. Tackling issues with relationships are difficult. Staying under the same roof is even more difficult. Sometimes the rough times endured by many could be a catalyst for him/her to be driven away from home seeking solace and peace elsewhere or in somebody else's arm. I have seen many come to stand at my door with problems. As I have learned not to involve having learned a lesson in the past where Tavayogi cautioned me never to involve with peoples' troubles but send them to Agathiyar, I did just that. Then they stopped communicating. I guess they wanted to see immediate results or a miracle take place in their lives. I understand why all this is happening now. Agathiyar brought many people with their stories to me, for the sole reason to make me know how varied mankind is and he taught me lessons through their sufferings. He made me realize how gifted I was. I thank him daily, and every minute for his grace, compassion, and his love, not only for me but for the family as well and all those we know.

Since he has given us a good life he asked us to help the less fortunate and those sleeping on the streets. We did as told. Today we hear words of gratitude and see a smile and cheer on the faces of those who we extend aid too. It cools our being and soul in giving to others.

Since he has given us a good life it is now time for us to show our gratitude to him. Hence the reason to worship him. We conduct prayers or puja not to ask for more wants and fulfill desires, for comfort and luxury, or to storm him with our self-made problems and asking him to disentangle them, but to come together in a show of gratitude and thanksgiving.  

Rather than everyone conjoined at ATM every Thursday and making my family home a peedham or an establishment, we began bringing Agathiyar's statue to the homes of devotees. Then Agathiyar told us he was not going places and stayed put at ATM. But prayers continued at the homes of devotees where we gathered. Today we have broken the culture of having devotees rush to meet and conduct puja every Thursday at a peedham or place of worship to the Siddhas as done elsewhere, only to forget about the divine and remember them the following Thursday. Today everybody at ATM has access to Agathiyar in their own homes. Agathiyar responds to their calls directly without a medium. We realize that with mediumship comes its own set of problems: arrogance sets in, a show of authority and craving for power, all that corrupts even the most highly placed devotee in the eyes of the divine and others.

Bala Chandran who spearheaded the recitation of the names and singing the praises of the Siddhas in many of our programs, puja at ATM and during our temple visits, surprised his family members when he performed the homa and puja when he moved to another residence after his marriage. Suren surprised us when he performed a simple puja at ATM, singing the names and praises of the Siddhas. Mahin too did a good job of conducting a homa and puja at his home that was both simple and much rewarding to the soul. Both Bala Aiya and Rajah Aiya and their family led us in prayers in their residences recently. 

Many have asked me since I had reduced puja to mere minutes and since I had made this blog private, where are the newcomers keen to know and follow the worship of Siddhas and keen to read about them, going to turn to? I told them that figuring it was time we moved on and went within, we had to take these measures. The new seekers will have other avenues open up to them. Today I can boldly and proudly say that Mahin, Suren, and Bala can show the way to other seekers. These youths are doing a fine job at it.

While many rough it out in the jungles, just to get a glimpse of the divine, as Tavayogi said we were blessed to have the divine come to us. I guess we were ready and they came. When others had to go look for the hungry to feed doing their daily share or act of dharmam he sends his devotees to ATM where we are given an opportunity to serve both Agathiyar and serve his devotees. Serving the adiyar or servants of the Lord is considered a great act equivalent to serving the Lord himself. Agathiyar at ATM takes care of his needs well indeed. We too make his worship very simple. This equation works pretty well as for now. We await his further directive. If his directives came via the Nadi earlier, today he addresses his devotees through another or from within. A simple puja held either at ATM or at the homes of the ATM family members can blossom into an eventful evening for all of us. One such amazing event was the initiation and opening of the heart chakras of Agathiyar's children. The divine opened the heart chakras of those who were ready and blessed the others to work on the lower chakras further.