AGATHIYAR EVERYWHERE

My wife once asked, after coming to Agathiyar, "How is it that we seem to see Agathiyar everywhere now?" True he seems to appear everywhere we go these days. Take for instance official work brought a friend to Jakarta. He was surprised to see many sculptures of Agathiyar and other Hindu Gods there. He shared the photos he took immediately. Suren met him in Jakarta and took the liberty to visit the place too, sharing more pictures.

Many years ago we came to know of the existence of Agathiyar at Carey Island and made our way there, having the privilege to carry out abhisegam for him and the other deities.

We were told of the presence of Siddhas in a subtle form in the caves of Sungai Siput through a Nadi reading for a friend and made our way there too. On arrival, the caretaker priests revealed that Tavayogi's guru, Chitramuthu Adigal had meditated in this cave before returning to India.

Bala Aiya and Shanti ma were invited to join a friend visit a cave in Cambodia some time back. Their contact brought them into the dense jungles of the Siem Reap District. There was a statue of Agathiyar installed in a cave.

Many years back I was passed a document titled SIDDHA AGASTHYA – FOREMOST OF THE SIDDHAS by Nadi Guru Ramesh. In it were amazing revelations about Agathiyar, the Siddhas and their contributions towards society and humanity. In that article, Dr. Mandayam Kumar of the Siddha Medical Research Institute, Bangalore says it was possible to find out details about Agathiyar during the course of literary research on the Siddha medical sciences in a Tamil manuscript written on Nadi or palm leaves about 3,000 years ago. The text is titled PRAPANCHA KAANDAM and runs into several volumes according to the Dr. The text is attributed to Lord Murugan. Agathiyar dictated the contents of the Nadi while his student Pulastyar recorded it.

As his thirst for knowledge in particular on philosophy, yoga, medicine, and astronomy was immense, Agathiyar traveled all over Kashmir, Tibet, China, Nepal, and Kailas in Manchuria. (Mount Kailas was deemed to be in Manchuria those days). He became a disciple of Nandi and Dhanvantri. He then traveled towards the south to Cambodia and Malaya (present day Malaysia). In Cambodia, he established the very first of his many educational institutions for the propagation of philosophy and science.

After establishing a similar institution and hospital in Malaya, he crossed the sea to the continent of Kumari Kandam (during Agathiyar’s time, Kumari Kandam occupied a vast area extending from present-day Sri Lanka to the Antarctic. Ravana, a great devotee of Lord Shiva, ruled this continent). King Ravana gave away a portion of his kingdom to Agathiyar to establish more institutions. The foremost of these institutions in this region was known as Arunodaya Giri or Meozone. Here Agathiyar practiced yoga and taught it to his large following of disciples.

Agathiyar then went back north to Malaya. He returned to Kumari Kandam where he met Lord Murugan in the form of Supramaniar at Trikona Malai (present-day Trincomali). At the hill station called Kadari Kama or Kadhirgama, Lord Murugan imparted spiritual knowledge to Agathiyar.

Dr. Mandayam Kumar says Agathiyar could see impending calamities take place in the future during his meditation. As a result, he moved to the North Pole considering it to be a save place. This period of his move to the arctic was said to coincide with the end of the Dwapara Yuga placed at about 6580 BC. Just as he had seen of an impending calamity and had decided to move north, a tremendous explosion in the planet mars sends a piece of debris towards the earth. This impact caused a great deluge on the earth. Significant portions of Kumari Kandam submerged into the Indian Ocean. Continental drift then resulted in the present-day arrangement of this region.

After the great flood, Kailas was no more but instead, the Himalayan mountain range had emerged in north India. Amidst all these geographical changes, says the Dr, Agathiyar went seeking for a place that would not be affected by future calamities. He located a mountain range in south India. This is the present-day Courtalam. This spot is said to be the safest place and free from any future catastrophes. Here Agathiyar met Lord Shiva and Uma in the form of Dhakshinamurthi and Shenbaga Devi. The spot where the meeting took place between Dhakshinamurthi, Shenbaga Devi, Lord Murugan, and Agathiyar was Mahadeva Giri. This meeting also signified the commencement of Kali Yuga.

Other Siddhas then started coming to Mahadeva Giri. Lord Dhakshinamurthi revived the knowledge of the Vedas and instructed these Siddhas to propagate this knowledge in the appropriate manner and time for the benefit of humanity. The imparting of this knowledge was said to have taken place on the 21 days of the Tamil month of Kartigai, during the eleventh year, Eswara Samvatsara, of Kali Yuga. Agathiyar gave much importance to this day. All his dating was reckoned from this day.

The Siddhas recorded their knowledge on palm leaves after extensive discussions held in Alagan Kulam and presented them to Lord Dhakshinamurthi for his perusal. This included the 64 kinds of learning, 18 Puranas, 96 tattvas, and 48 branches of scientific knowledge. The entire literature in Tamil came to be called SIDDHAVEDA.

Bhogar from China (Agathiyar in the Jeeva Nadi revelation to the late Jeeva Nadi Guru of Chennai says Bhogar was from Mongolia), Thaeraiyar from Malaya, Yugimuni from Kerala, Pulipani from Kantha Malai, Pulastyar, and Kapiyar all served Agathiyar.

The Siddhas went on to establish numerous institutions. An institution known as Siddhar Gnana Koodam was inaugurated by Lord Murugan and was headed by Agathiyar. Pulastyar and Kapilar headed the literary section while Pulipani in research. Thaeraiyar who was into surgery headed a medical research center established at Thorana Malai. Yugimuni who was into herbal medicines headed an ayurvedic hospital at Paradesi Kundai. Bhogar who was in charge of all scientific researches established an alchemy research center at Tiruparankundram. Pambatti was heading a team researching venom at Marudamalai.

After having established these institutions Agathiyar again started on an extensive mission of propagating the wealth of knowledge gained by these Siddhas in Tibet, Manchuria, Egypt, Palestine, Rome, America, Africa, Malaya, and the Arab world.

After satisfactorily completing their mission of propagating the said teachings the Siddhas merged themselves into the cosmos. Supramaniar in Thorana Malai, Bhogar in Palani, Thaeraiyar, Pulipani and Yugimuni in Kantha Malai and Agathiyar himself choose to come back to Courtalam. He chose a spot called Dhashina Meru in the Pothigai hills. This spot is also the abode of Dhakshinamurthi.

Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar in his book, "POTRINAL UNATHU VINAI AGALUM APPA", details the process through which Agathiyar attained the highest state, that of becoming one with Erai. This state was granted to Agathiyar by his Guru Supramaniar (Lord Muruga). I shall run through a translation of his writing, originally in Tamil, briefly.

All the knowledge to attain the state was made available to Agathiyar by Supramaniar because Agathiyar had provided the space, shelter and all comforts for Supramaniar to carry on with his penances (tapas) and austerities (tavam) in a past birth. Agathiyar was 60 years of age then when Supramaniar attained the body of Light through his tapas, thanks to Agathiyar looking after all of Supramaniar's needs. Supramaniar promised Agathiyar that they shall meet in a subsequent birth and that he shall return the favor.

In the succeeding birth, Agathiyar traveled in vain in search of his ideal guru. He eventually met Supramaniar at Kodaikanal, where Supramaniar made him recall the past and as promised in return for all his services in the past birth, blessed Agathiyar and taught him secrets of attaining the state of Erai.

Agathiyar mentions that he learned the Siddha way from Supramaniar. Supramaniar granted Agathiyar the body of Light or Jhothi Nilai in the following birth as an appreciation of Agathiyar's service rendered to him and helping Supramaniar himself achieve his desire in attaining the Jhothi Nilai.

Agathiyar began with performing puja to Supramaniar. By way of devotion to Supramaniar he began to realize that he had had the greatest gift that was the human birth, which comes by very rarely. Through Supramaniar he came to know himself and the divinity that resided in the physical body. He understood the very Nature that brought him forth and resided within him. With Supramaniar's guidance and blessings, Agathiyar relished the ambrosia or nectar that came about through his tapas. This removed the seven veils to reveal the Jhothi in him, hence attaining the body of Light. With this came Bliss, Siddhis, and the state of Deathless-ness. Agathiyar attained the five tanmai of Erai namely Creation, Sustenance, Destruction, Veiling and Showering Grace.

Supramaniar granted Agathiyar the title Gurumuni and Kumbamuni and sent him off to spread the Siddha way extensively all over the globe, bringing many into his fold. All the Siddhas soon looked upon Agathiyar as their Guru.

M. Govindan in BABAJI AND THE 18 SIDDHA KRIYAYOGA TRADITION, Kriya Yoga Publications, Quebec, Canada, 1991, details Agathiyar's journey as starting at Agastya Ashram near Nasik (Pancavati in ancient times), marriage to Lobhamudra, king Vidarbha’s daughter (mentioned in the Mahabharata), and meeting up with Rama. Then his pilgrimage takes him south where he has a residence at Malakuta near Badami (ancient Vatapi Puram or Dakshina Kasi). Then he comes to Pothigai hills. He moves on to the Indonesian islands, Borneo, and takes up residence in Maha Malaya hill in Malaya Dvipa. He enters Siam (present-day Thailand) and Cambodia where he marries Yasomadhi. They beget a young prince named Yasovarma. He is reported to be living until the present day at Courtalam.

P. Karthigayan in his HISTORY OF MEDICAL AND SPIRITUAL SCIENCES OF SIDDHAS OF TAMIL NADU, quotes Bhogar as having mentioned that Agathiyar was from a family of farmers. This little known fact was mentioned by Agathiyar in the Nadi reading for AVM. Agathiyar in his search for knowledge approached many people from various communities, finally picked up the yogic way and excelled in it. On achieving the inner glow he took on the name Agathiyar.

P. Karthigayan says as Siddhas specialized in a particular field that suited them, Agathiyar had many mentors including (Lord) Siva and (Lord) Kumaran and an equal number of disciples. P. Karthigayan lists out an extensive list of Agathiyar's contribution towards the community and humanity, hence receiving the famed title Guru Muni or great mentor.

P. Karthigayan dates Agathiyar's achievements accordingly as pre - and post-Sanga period, whence the establishment of the Sangam or literary academia too place. If during his pre-Sanga days he was into yogic practices, after the establishment of the Sanga: he established more Sangams and monasteries, pioneered and promoted the Tamil script and Tamil grammar, collected and compiled the works of the Siddhas and published them, streamlined the Siva faith, and spread the Siddha Marga, and exposed the false teachings, in total bringing a Renaissance.

In his post-Sanga years he concentrated on medicine and science. His greatest achievement was his ability to live for 4 aeons, at the time of mention in writing by Bhogar, and still lives among us in present times. P. Karthigayan writes that Agathiyar "gave rise to 48 generations."

In a Nadi reading for AVM Agathiyar answered a query to his origin. Agathiyar in his very first mortal birth had the vision of Kailash at a very young age of 10. After the vision he took up extreme tapas (tavam) including breath control. With the holy feet of the Sadguru forever in his thought, he reached a state of Nirmala at Kailash. Upon receiving theecha from Lord Kailai Shiva, he was blessed to be born a Siddha. It was a mystical birth. Agathiyar adds that it was not necessary to dwell into the source and the details (Rishimulam Nadhimulam).

Born as a Siddha now and moving in the jungles, sustaining only on fruits, his thoughts fixed on Erai, having no attachment to the good or bad, he soon had the vision and grace of Goddess Vana Kali. Continuing with his seeking and search for realization, and upon accomplishment through further severe tavam, Lord Kailai Shiva shows him his vision in Pothigai. Merging with Erai, Agathiyar stayed on at Pothigai upon Lord Kailai Shiva's directive. While here he came to know about the medicinal benefits of various herbs and plants. Agathiyar received the names of Kudamuni, Kumbamuni and other names from Lord Kailai Shiva.

Going without food and remaining in silence, staying in the state of Vasi, adhering to the eight limbs of Asthanga Yoga and performing extreme tapas, for the rest of the Yuga, gaining the Siddhi to travel through air, yet Lord Kailai Shiva told Agathiyar that there was something that he had failed to accomplish and do. When Agathiyar asked for further clarification, Lord Kailai Shiva laugh and looked him straight into his eyes, "Although you are an embodiment of Jnana, and those who hold on to your feet shall never face any disappointments, Gurumuni you do not have a companion as I do." Agathiyar was taken aback. He came to know that the Lord intended to get him engaged to the very representation of Mother Kaveri, and Kaberan's daughter, Lobamutrai. Hence in this Kali Yuga, his energy that was of Shiv Sakthi came to stay at Kalyana Theertam with the intention of blessing all those who came seeking him and stood before him and Lobha Ma, seeing them as a personification of Shiv Sakthi.

FROM THE EXTERNAL TO INTERNAL

As I complete a cycle of 60 years and step into my 61st year, I can only give thanks to Erai for still moving in me as the breath. I can only give thanks to him for giving me good health until this moment. I can only give thanks to him for keeping me alert in mind rather than going senile. I can only give thanks to him for coming into my life in the form of family, friends, and strangers in times of need. I can only give thanks to him for giving me an extended family in the form of his children and devotees who have come under his umbrella Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia. I can only give thanks to him for coming into my life, showing his presence in miraculous ways. I can only give thanks to him for inviting me into his path or marga. I can only give thanks to him for showing me to two wonderful gurus. I can only give thanks to him for continuously guiding me through the numerous other mediums including his Nadi and upagurus.

We have come this far thanks to his continuous surveillance and monitoring of us and our activities out of love for us. He has taught us useful lessons in life and the means to break the cycle of birth and death. These are simple means and ways to achieving the final state of Jeevan Mukti as he desires for us. The ball is in our court. It is for us to make the move. As Prithviraj shares a story with us below, we have to be careful not to slide down the path. 

The 13th century poet saint Gyandev created a children's game called Moksha Patam. The British later named it Snakes and Ladders instead of the original Moksha Patam. In the original one hundred square game board, the 12th square was faith, the 51st square was reliability, the 57th square was generosity, the 76th square was knowledge, and the 78th square was asceticism. These were the squares where the ladders were found and one could move ahead faster. The 41st square was for disobedience, the 44th square for arrogance, the 49th square for vulgarity, the 52nd square for theft, the 58th square for lying, the 62nd square for drunkenness, the 69th square for debt, the 84th square for anger, the 92nd square for greed, the 95th square for pride, the 73rd square for murder and the 99th square for lust. These were the squares where the snake waited with its mouth open. The 100th square represented Nirvana or Moksha.The tops of each ladder depict a God, or one of the various heavens (kailasa, vaikuntha, brahmaloka) and so on. As the game progressed various actions were supposed to take you up and down the board as in life...

Agathiyar started us with external worship, a much-needed stepping stone for this age, to remain dedicated to the cause and focused, to discipline and strengthen the faith, and has slowly brought us to the fringe of meditation.

Among the many rituals, Agathiyar brought us to specifically conduct the homa, a smaller version of the yagna, telling us that the remaining unexhausted desires will eventually be burnt by the regular act of performing the lighting of the sacrificial fires. Paramahansa Yogananda in his "God Talks With Arjuna - The Bhagavad Gita", published by Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, 2002, while relating external worship and rituals to inner development and growth of the soul, says the act of performing the yagna is equivalent to merging with the fire (light). 

"This act of withdrawing life from the body and uniting that energy with the light of God (as performed by the Nayanmars and saints of the past) is symbolically shown in the burning of clarified butter or ghee in the sacrificial fire, that of uniting life energy with cosmic energy."

"This is the highest yagna" he says, "the real fire rite," he writes, "casting the little flame of life into the great divine fire, burning all human desire in the divine desire for God." 

Yogananda equates the yagna to casting the little flame (and all desires and the Self) into the greater flame, in preparation for the final merger into the flame of Jnana and Jhothi.

As for the act of giving towards Erai's cause, Yogananda says it brings down the wall between him and Erai. Beginning with things of the world that in fact are his creation too, taking what he has given us and giving it back to him as a gift or dana, slowly the aspirant and devotee is led to surrender his soul to Erai through love and devotion for him. This act of selfless giving, without asking for any favors or expectations in return, work slowly towards gifting himself for Erai's cause. 

Agathiyar tells us that dana of the highest order, besides serving others and feeding the hungry, is to spread the word of the guru and Erai. We were told that showing the way of the guru and standing by it supersedes all other dharma. We then began to actively spread the teachings of the guru and the Siddhas. 

Supramania Swami mentioned that no effort of ours will go to waste. We have begun to realize that now. All external rituals help us to understand and prepare us for similar feats that we shall take on internally later. All the help extended to others in our lives brings us to open the heart, bringing compassion for others within.

Hence all practices are a way to liberate ourselves from our hold on the world and its pleasures. You could convert mud into gold for both mud and gold are products of a combination of the same five elements, only in different proportions, we are told. Agathiyar is working on this piece of clay that is us bringing it to a beautiful state, to the state of a Jeevan Mukti. What else can we say but a big thank you.

GOING HOME

Agathiyar has shown us his home. He has sent the vessel to carry us over this vast sea of samskaras. The vessel is Siddha Margam. The oars are the 5 tenets. He wants us to board the vessel and row some distance. He will take it from there. If initially we are engrossed in the task he has given making sure that we are doing it right, once we cross international borders, he asks us to sit back and take in the view. He mans the ship from there henceforth. He showers blessings in the form of rain showers as we glide over the water surface without effort. The breeze that blows across our faces has cooled the torso that is heated through the acts of performing austerities or tapas. The scent and aroma that lingers in the air bring us to a state of calmness. The sight is beyond description. The touch, his touch is soft and soothing.  His words ring out in the vastness of the ocean, loud and clear as he educates us about our journey this far. Tears of joy stream down our cheeks. We remember Ramalinga Adigal's song then.

Our memories go back in time. The many births we took flash before our eyes. We wish we could have done more. The wind that blows brings the news from our Father's kingdom. Our arrival is much anticipated and awaited by our divine parents and siblings.

We burst into ecstasy, breaking out into a song of gratitude and praise for the divine and all his mercenaries.

All our senses bow towards the divine. Every cell in us vibrates in mystical joy and ecstasy. The identity of the individual self that we carried all these while is lost in the ocean of divinity. We merge in him. We dance in him as he dances in us. The dance goes on and on. We have lost track of time. All the memories fade away. We only retain the state of bliss. We have arrived home.

REMEMBERING BHARATHI

1921 செப்டம்பர் 11, இரவு சுமார் 1.30 மணி,

வெளியேறத் துடிக்கும் உயிரோ பாரதியின் உடலை உதைத்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது.

சில நிமிடங்களில் அந்த 39 வருஷக் கவிதைக்கு மரணம் முற்றுப்புள்ளி வைத்தது.

அந்த மகாகவியின் உயிர் பிரிந்தது. ஒரு மகாகவியின் வரலாறு இவ்வாறு முடிந்தது. 

ஒரு யுக எரிமலை எப்படி அணைந்ததோ? ஒரு ஞானக்கடல் எப்படித் தான் வற்றியதோ?

குவளைக்கண்ணன், லட்சுமண ஐயர், ஹரிஹர சர்மா, சுரேந்திரநாத் ஆர்யா, நெஞ்சு கனத்துப் போன நெல்லையப்பர் ஐவரின் தோள்களும் அந்த ஞான சூரியனின் சடலத்தைச் சுமந்து கிருஷ்ணாம்பேட்டை மயானம் நோக்கி நடந்தன.

இறுதி ஊர்வலத்தின் எண்ணிக்கையோ வெறும் பதினொன்று, சுமந்தவர்களையும் சேர்த்து.

தூக்கிச் சென்றவர்களோ தோளின் சுமையை இறக்கி வைத்தார்கள். ஆனால் துயரத்தின் சுமையை?

எரிப்பதற்கு முன் ஒரு இரங்கல் கூட்டம்...

பாரதியின் கீர்த்தியை சுரேந்திரநாத் ஆர்யா சொல்லி முடிக்க, ஹரிஹர சர்மா சிதைக்குத் தீ மூட்டுகிறார்.

ஓராயிரம் கவிதைகளை

உச்சரித்த உதடுகளை

ஞான வெளிச்சம் வீசிய

அந்த தீட்சண்ய விழிகளை

ரத்தம் வற்றினாலும்

கற்பனை வற்றாத

அந்த இதயத்தை...

தேடித்தேடித் தின்றன

தீயின் நாவுகள்.

மகா கவிஞனே!

எட்டையபுரத்து கொட்டு முரசே!

உன்னைப் பற்றி உள்ளூரே புரிந்து கொள்ளாத போது,

இவ்வுலகதிற்குப் புரிவது ஏது?

உன் எழுத்துக்களை வாழ்க்கைப் படுத்தினால் அன்றி உன் பெயரை உச்சரிக்கக் கூட எமக்கு யோக்கியதை தான் ஏது?

நன்றி Kiruba Haran

https://lmexpressions.com/2016/10/02/barathiyar-translation-besought/#more-1870

JEEVAN MUKTA

When readers of this blog thank me for the postings I go back to Agathiyar and thank him for I know that it is not my writing but his thoughts and words that fill these pages. I sit with him telling him how amazed I am reading these writings. I praise him for enlightening me too along the way, besides enlightening the other readers.

Agathiyar has now got me into doing research on the state of a Jeevan Mukta. When Agathiyar told me in a recent Nadi reading on 5 September 2019, to take the next step to make the attempt to achieve the state of Jeevan Mukti, I was so honored, obliged, grateful and thankful for it implied that all the earlier efforts we took, to carry out the numerous tasks dished out for us and the listening we did to all his advice and guidance had finally paid off and that he had endorsed and accepted them and was now taking us a step further. 

Several days before the Nadi reading, I had come across a piece on King Janaka who had lived a life of a Jeevan Mukta, while caring for his nation and subjects. Vasishta gives a full discourse to Rama on reflection of life and the nature of the true Self and its relation to the world that he sees as an illusion. Vasishta narrates the story of King Janaka to Rama.

Janaka happened to come by a group of Siddhas, one fulfilled in his purpose, that he has no more to search and seek, singing the Siddha song called Siddha Geeta in chorus. Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha in translating this song in his book "Quietude of the Mind", Narayanashrama Tapovanam, Paralam, 1975, ends with a note.

The noble people should try to achieve the holy and benign happiness which emerges from the inner psychic quietude. One whose mind is steeped in quietude attains freedom from his desires. He will lead to the holiest state of the delightful Self the state wherein he abides in his own innate nature, which is supremely peaceful and quiet. By abiding more within himself than outside, he gains the inner spiritual communion. This inner communion will purify his being, sharpen his understanding, rarefy his thoughts and inquiry, eventually he realizes that there is nothing else, either as the cause or as the effect.

Hearing the Siddha song drove Janaka into deep thought and inquiry. As he sat at the verandah of his palace and gazed out into the plains in deep thoughts, he thought of how minute was his span of life upon this earth compared to the ceaseless course of the eternal time.

"My soul was ageless before it came here. After leaving here too is going to be endless. Yet I being a fool think this present or middle period upon earth to be the real. My fame, fortune, and riches are false. Where are the riches of the so-called monarchs who ruled this earth? All that was there at one time have gone to sheer dust later", laments the King alone.

Brooding long about life, Janaka realizes, "All my dangers and calamities are the net, woven by the hundreds of threads of my own desires and ambitions." Caught in this net, he says he had enough of this weaving, and enough of this bondage. "Let me take resolve to rest in my inner chamber. Now I have at last been awakened by this high souled Siddhas. From now on I shall heed my soul, follow the Atma, which is the only sure means to attain freedom and supreme bliss. Let me sit alone and withdrawn. I shall win quietude in my own soul and find all my peace and contentment therein."

But rather than have him drop his kingly state and all his riches and go away wearing a loincloth like the rich entrepreneur Pattinathar did, Erai brought him to a state of indifference and non-attachment even as he continued to rule his kingdom. He realized that the soul neither can benefit from action nor beget harm by inaction. It is pure and immortal. "Like the soul in my body, let me sit quietly and still, alone and contented." He then decided, "However, let me rise up. Let the body pursue whatever it has been used to. To restrain it all of a sudden will be wrong and damaging. If the mind remains desireless the results of actions done by the body and its limbs will be taintless."

In these quiet moments, his minister came to announce the arrival of dignitaries from abroad. Janaka made his way to meet his royal visitors. Having reflected thus at length Janaka attended to all his duties and work relating to his kingdom. He was neither over concerned nor worried. He was dwelling cheerfully in the present accepting whatever that came to him as an event or duty. From then on Janaka became a Jeevan Mukta. End.

This is the sublime teaching of the Siddha Geeta. Now Agathiyar has asked us to adopt this teaching too. So I was not entirely ignorant of the word. I immediately set out to find out what the state of a Jeevan Mukta meant. Nothing much relevant and useful came up on the net. It surprised me that present-day saints did not speak about it. The blog https://www.ananda.org was helpful though as it described a Jeevan Mukta in detail. https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2019/09/moving-on-to-bigger-things.html Going back to my collection of books brought some inkling and gave some idea about this and other related states.

Before zooming in on Jeeva Mukti we need to understand the state of mukti that has gone hype now just like the word kundalini and its process, moksha or liberation with everyone promising this state too, talk is amidst about achieving the Siddha state and becoming one etc.

CS Murugesan explains in detail the various states of mukti in his "Sithargalin Saaga Kalai", Azhagu Pathigam, 1998.

உலக உயிர்கள் அடைய வேண்டிய உயர்ந்த நிலையாகிய பேரின்ப வாழ்வினைத்தான் முத்தி என்று சித்தர்கள் கூறுகின்றனர்.

The Siddhas speak of a high state, that which brings utmost "joy" or Perinbam, called Mukti, that all beings should strive to achieve and attain. We now understand why Agathiyar has finally come to mention this state to us. To reach this state one has to work on the 5 tenets given by Agathiyar that has subtle but direct positive repercussions to our soul, building, empowering and strengthening it to grow and gain Atma Valarchi and Atma Balam. The Atma or soul using the body as a tool and with its aid merges with the grace of the divine attaining completeness.

ஆன்ம வளர்ச்சி என்பது மனித உடலைச் சாதனமாகக் கொண்டு ஆன்மா  திருவருளில் கலந்து பரிபூரண நிலையை அடைதலாம். கிடைத்தற் கரியது மானிட யாக்கை. இதனை அவமே கழிக்காமல் மனித வாழ்வினும் மேம்பட்ட ஒரு வாழ்க்கையினை (அமர வாழ்வு) அடையப் பயன் படுத்திக் கொண்டனர் சித்தர்கள்.

The Siddhas used the rare opportunity of taking human birth, rather than waste it, thrived to advance to a higher state or Amara Vazhvu. It is natural for man to seek bigger attainments, be it in achieving pleasure, riches, comfort, etc. What we are told is to replace these desires with that of Erai. The pleasures of the senses when fully experienced will make a man ask what is there beyond it and search for that something which is more lasting and permanent in nature. Then he moves to seek the unchartered territories. From Sittrinbam, that which is transitionary, he moves to achieve Perinbam or mukti, that which is permanent and lasting.

Just as we take on many learning aids and tools to do a job, Tirumular guides us on the process stressing the need for the body and the soul that comes to our aid. The inquiry and search for answers help us initially. The thought and desire to attain Siva is required too - initially and comes to assists us greatly, making major progress. The greatest aid is asking to end the cycle of birth.

உறுதுணை யாவது உயிரும் உடம்பும்
உறுதுணை யாவது உலகுறு கேள்வி
செறிதுணை யாவது சிவனடிச் சிந்தை
பெறுதுணை கேட்கிற் பிறப்பில்லை தானே.

CS Murugesan classifies the means of achieving the state of Mukti as follows. For some only grabbing onto Erai will make them lose hold on all other passions, one that Tiruvalluvar too sanctions; for others its only when they lose their hold on their attachments that Erai's grace will shower on them; then there are others where Erai himself comes to grant them mukti without any effort on their part, and for the rest they have to be roasted and toasted before gaining this state.

CS Murugesan writes that using this body given by Erai as a vehicle, taking up the path of Sariyai, Kriyai, Yogam transforming and bringing changes to the vehicle, as an automobile is modified or innovated further, and finally attaining a Divya body, the Siddhas reside in the world of Siva in the state of mukti.

இறைவனால் அளிக்கப்பட்ட இந்த உடலைக் சாதனமாகக் கொண்டு சரியை கிரியைகளைச் சாதித்து யோகப் பயிற்சியினால் கந்த, நித்திய, மங்களமான திவ்ய சரீரத்தைப் பெற்று சிவ லோகத்தில் சித்தராயிருப்பதை சித்தர்கள் முத்தி என்று கூறுகின்றனர். 

If we had taken hold of Sariyai as a tool and way to attain Saalogam, bringing us into Tasamargam, where we took Erai as the mighty god to be feared and bowed and served him as slaves and servants; taking hold of Kriyai we attained Saameepam carrying out the rituals advocated to us for the well being of all of his creation as his representative in Satputramargam; taking Yogam as a tool to attain Saaroopam, now becoming his companion, we march with him in Sagamargam and finally treading the path of Sanmargam we await his grace to shower us with Jnana and attain Saayutcham.

Murugesan says the Siddhas have divided this state of mukti into 11 in "Sivaprakasam", song 50.

அரிவையரின் புறு முத்தி1, கந்த மைந்தும் அனு  முத்தி2, திரிகுணமும் அடங்கு  முத்தி3, விரிவு வினை கெடு  முத்தி4, மலம்போம்  முத்தி5, விக்கிரக நித்தி  முத்தி6, விவேக  முத்தி7, பரவுமுயிர் கெடு  முத்தி8, சித்தி  முத்தி9, பாடாண  முத்தி10, இவை பழிசேர்  முத்தி11, திரி மலமும் அகலவுயிர் அருள் சேர்  முத்தி திகழ்  முத்தி யிது  முத்தித் திறந்த தாமே.

He explains that while the first 10 mukti(s) constitute பழிசேர்  முத்தி, the 11th mukti results when the 3 malam (மும்மலம்) is eradicated and merging with Erai's grace, stands as Sivanubhavam or experience of Siva (சிவானுபவம்), a permanent state of Suddha mukti (சுத்த முத்தி).

இந்த பத்து முத்திகள் பழிசேர்  முத்தி என்றும், பதினொன்றாவது முத்தி மும்மலம் நீக்கம் பெற்று அருளோடு கூடிச் சிவானுபவமாய் நிற்க்கும் நிலையான சுத்த முத்தி என்றும் சொல்லப்படுகிறது.

What would be the final state then? Tirumular compares the body to that of the camphor that is lit where the body and its elements return to its source, while the soul migrates and merges with the Grace of Erai.

திருவருளால் கற்பூரம் போன்று உடல் நுண் மயமாய்ப் பிரிந்து நுட்பப் பட்டு தத்துவங்களில் அடங்க ஆருயிரானது திருவருளில் கலக்கும் என திருமூலர் கூறு கின்றார்.

Then browsing through Paramahansa Yogananda's "God Talks With Arjuna - The Bhagavad Gita", published by Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, 2002, there was mention of this state under "The Nature of the Jivanmukta."

Just as we age we begin to lose clarity and only see shades and shadows of objects and the world around us, we are told to see the world as a play of light and shadows, as merely a dance. The keyword here is to just watch. I suppose the divine gave us old age to automatically move into this mode knowing pretty well that we would never want to pull the brakes on our own. By freeing ourselves of likes and dislikes, and filling this space with the divine's wishes and desires, it brings untold joy in doing his divine work. All things are done in his name. All things done in his name become divine in nature. He then comes to direct the show, relieving us of task and occupying our (director's) chair. But Ramalinga Adigal tells us that the most compassionate Erai went to the extent later to give him (Ramalinga) his very seat and staff of authority and his domain to carry out Erai's five divine work. Ramalinga assumed the post of Erai that day.

The secret in bringing an end to birth and rebirth, the cycle of death and rebirth, is to erase ourselves from the picture or screen, frame by frame until we exist no more. If only we could have that done in Photoshop. As Yogananda says, "the yogi turning within to the imperturbable joy of his soul is not emotionally involved with a mere picture", first, we are asked to see life as celluloid before us - a motion picture of daily life. Make your mark only if absolutely necessary. Otherwise, refrain from action for even good action shall be rewarded with another birth.

Yogananda says, "The yogi beholds all mundane scenes with undisturbed tranquility knowing them to be only lights and shadows. It is not that he fails to understand the value of gold as being different from the value of clay; or that he does not discriminate between pleasant and unpleasant persons, or that he is coldly insensitive to life's experiences. But he no longer has a personal interest in the phenomenal world even though he lives in it."

King Janaka lived this life, viewing all as a passing shadow. 

Even the saints in their quests to come back to help us come out of illusion and attachment to it, or coming back on "God's command, have to submit to work in harmony with the cosmic mother or lawful nature, to whom the Lord has given full power over the phenomenal worlds. To a certain extent, even such exalted beings have to place themselves nominally under natures cosmic delusion and thus forgo full realization of spirit immutable unborn and unmanifested", says Yogananda. He adds that the "Liberated saints having appeared to undergo physical sufferings or to display sympathetic identifications with other people in their troubles and joys." This pretty well explains and clears our doubts about the nature of illness and the painful process the saints undergo towards the last days of their mortal lives before leaving the physical body behind.

For the divine to work in our plane, "they are obliged to accept Maya or delusion as the only means by which their bodies assume visibility at all." They need a body too. "However, such exalted ones are able to dismiss their body dream at will and thus to perceive the transcendental spirit." Saagamal Saagum Nilai and Thungaamal Thungum Sugam, are both states of being indifferent to the play of the world. Agathiyar tells us that to take a human birth and a physical body, one, including the saints, will have to have some small fraction of ego in them. That is the prerequisite requirement for taking birth. As for others, karma determines birth.

Yogananda explains the reason as to why some saints are householders. He says "Some rishis such as Lahiri Mahasaya were married men who assumed that difficult status in order to encourage worldly people to seek the divine path regardless of their outward entanglements."

Yogananda defines the various stages of saintly men. The rishi(s) are liberated sages reborn to serve as ideal human models to inspire the human population. The yogi(s) practice techniques to God-realization while muni(s) are yogi(s) who withdraw their consciousness at will from all external sense objects and mental distractions. The swami(s) are members ordained into the various monastic orders.

Now, why did Agathiyar have us take up and work on becoming and attaining the state of a Jeevan Mukta instead?

Describing the Jeevan Mukta, Yogananda says "A jivanmukta has destroyed the very cause of reincarnation by refraining from new desires. While some jivanmuktas destroy the remnants of past material karma after death by doing work in the astral realm or cosmos, having no cause to come back, some are reborn carrying subtle hidden seeds of past actions with them." They then begin to roast these samskaras in the fires of wisdom.

Yogananda gives us a reminder to exhaust all desires "for a yogi might free himself now from greed in eating but might yet harbor impressions of past desires or samskaras to indulge in their favorite foods or he might have completely detached himself from worldly possessions but yet harbor seeds of a past unfulfilled longing to own something or yearn for an experience." We need to be constantly aware of our actions from now on so that it does not create new seeds of earth binding karma, "as under tempting circumstances those hidden seed tendencies might sprout again", explaining the downfall of saints and gurus in the peak of their spiritual life.

In the present birth, Agathiyar sents us to exhaust the baggage of karma we brought along by doing remedies first, and to disperse the karma that we bring upon us each day, he brings us to conduct prayers and rituals, serve others, and donate generously towards noble causes, feed the hungry, and work towards the well being of others.

Agathiyar brought us to specifically conduct the homa, a smaller version of the yagna, telling us that the remaining unexhausted desires will eventually be burnt by the regular act of performing the lighting of the sacrificial fires. Yogananda describes the act of performing the yagna is equivalent to merging with the fire (light), reminding us now of the grace of Erai in having us do all the rituals externally to prepare us for similar feats that we shall take on internally. Now I realize that no ritual done is wasteful. On the contrary, all external rituals help us to understand the internal process that takes place later. Supramania Swami too mentioned that no effort of ours will go to waste.

"This act of withdrawing life from the body and uniting that energy with the light of God" as performed by the Nayamars and saints of the past is symbolically shown in the burning of clarified butter or ghee in the sacrificial fire, that of uniting life energy with cosmic energy. "This is the highest yagna" he says, "the real fire rite," he writes, "casting the little flame of life into the great divine fire, burning all human desire in the divine desire for God." Wonderful. A yagna is symbolic of casting the little flame (and all desires and the Self) into the greater flame, in preparation for the final merger into the flame of Jnana and Jhothi.

Yogananda says, "A jivanmukta is one who has recovered his true divine identity" after having traveled far and lost in indulging in matters that are subject to change and are perishable. This discovery of one's true state, "the discovery of his true divine identity" is the lasting state that Tavayogi spoke about and wanted us to ask of Agathiyar rather than wanting to see them take on a physical appearance for us or give us darshan. 

Yogananda says one who has destroyed all desires and all karma, past, and present is freed while living and is known as a Jivanmukta. He is cognized as a Siddha or a perfected being. 

A THANK YOU NOTE

We do not ask "Why me?" when we are kept healthy but cry out asking the same question when illness or disease brings us down. We do not question if we are qualified and deserve something when honored on stage but become disappointed if not selected. Coming to their path, the Siddhas teach us to go beyond dualities for we live in a world of dualities, night and day, life and death, joy and sorrow etc. Only when we win the battle without engaging directly in battle shall all forms of duality subside.

This reminds me of Tavayogi asking me to be prepared to receive brickbats that will be thrown at us while traveling the path. Heeding the advice of both Agathiyar and Tavayogi not to engage in debate, I have come to accept arguments from others without retaliating or entering into debate with them. But I went one step ahead and closed all the doors and windows so that I will be safe in my brick house, unlike the little pigs who built the house of straw and sticks. I closed all avenues for others to hurl things at me. As I do not see and hear them I am at peace with my self in my makeshift world.

There was a time when I detested people falling at the feet of saints asking myself why the saint do not stop their followers, stop the practice, pass an order that henceforth no one is to fall at his feet. Similarly, we see countless devotees pour milk and water and other offerings of items including forcing food into their mouths while they sit still receiving all these without objecting. I objected to this act. I asked myself if they really cherished to be adored by the devotees. People, as we know, will go all the way to place someone up on the threshold at par with God and will drop them the very next moment, pull them, drag them to the ground and smear their faces in the dirt in the event they lose favor with them. Wasn't this a trap that the knowledgeable saints should avoid? This and many other questions used to spin in this little devilish mind of mine. Then one day I got the answer from within. Since we are supposed to battle the dualities, drop Dvaita and see all as one as in Advaita, we are to drop making choices as that would bring us to duality. By making a decision, based on our likes and dislikes, wants and desires, by stopping a devotee from falling at his feet the saint would then be making a decision based on his choices, wants and desires. Preferring to let it be they go ahead with whatever the divine wishes for him without condoning it or stopping it, hence skipping the need to make a decision or placing a rule.

And so too did Lord Muruga come to ask me to allow the divine into the home and the self. If I carried on stopping his will it would amount to me using my free will to decide what is best for me rather than allow the divine to decide for me. It was only when we gave way that we came to see the kingdom of Erai come down and play their lila before us. Recently he came again to ask devotees to open up their hearts and let him in, in total surrender. The saints who have surrendered to his will cannot possibly lift their hands or raise their voices to stop the kind affection and devotion shown to them for it would clearly state to others that he was in charge of the moment and not the divine.

Now as the messages from readers after reading my last post begin to pile up I have to remind myself and take care that it does not inflate my ego. I have to be attentive and aware, watching my feet and pushing it down less I should float on cloud nine. But it is nice within to hear and receive messages from family and friends who have an honest opinion, interest and wish that we should excel in all our ventures and endeavors. All their prayers shall make it happen. I am silenced by the amount of love showered by them. I can only read and passed it on for your eyes. I am stoned, still and silent. No words arise. Although I hesitated for a moment to post the goodwill messages from readers, but again I should not determine what is good for me or otherwise since I too have surrendered to him. I shall go with the flow. Thank you to all those who wrote in.

A reader message the following and went on to write a longer note.

"I figured that by turning down the gifts the divine would have nothing else to give but himself! That is my birthday gift this year!"

I love it Shan aiya 👏👏👏.
Your relationship with him is  unconditional hence the playing field accommodates such sincerity and gratitude with  fairplay.  I say this only because I have gotten to see his love and his side as a caring father. So please indulge me aiya, If I may be so bold  to say ... I think you may have outsmarted him. 🙏🙏🙏. It's now his move. 🙏🙏🙏.

He plays fair aiya 😊. Appa Agasthiyar...all eyes are on you ...I together with all his followers request that you grant Shan aiya his wish.  Appa Agasthiyar  you do not need to be convinced that Shan aiya has earned it and deserves it.  

The full message...

Dear readers, This is in response to Shan aiya’s last post (Agathiyar’s Gift).

Given Shan aiya’s tireless, exhausting but determined search for Agathiyar all these years, I thought we should say thank you and pray that his wish be granted.  

Shan aiya has treaded smoldering coals, thorny terrain and dangerous waters to bring us the invaluable insights he has acquired, which we read on a blog today.  We are acutely aware of the numerous struggles he encountered during his mission.  However, it would appear that his search for Agasthiyar all those years ago coincided with the beginning of his work for Agathiyar.  

Shan aiya, discovered, unearthed and gathered much information around our father and the many siddhas over time.  He acquired much of this information through personal experience, which he documented meticulously.  His regular prayers and rituals positioned us firmly on a path, we now realise was destined for us.  While continuing with the writing he spread his interest to charity, feeding and several other humanitarian activities.  He went on to bring us knowledge around special methods of healing, medicines, yoga, exercises, diet and several other body nurturing themes.  He did not fail to stimulate our emotions around, compassion, empathy, love, kindness, gratitude, and appreciation.   He molded our character to reflect principles and values we did not possess.  More recently he brought us face to face with the 5 tenants, which is to now become our way of life.  He brought all of this and more through the medium of a blog.  He has succeeded in igniting emotions and melting the hearts of followers through a blog.  Worthy of mention is the fact that none of what he together with Aunty Mages undertook was for their benefit or personal gain.    He has not only found Agasthiyar but he has been carrying all of us with him to Agasthiardom.  Admittedly, a paragraph does not do justice to capture the achievements of Shan aiya’s work over the years, however all the intricacies are known to him and Agasthiyar.   

Returning to the last post… 

I concluded reading the last lines and burst into laughter. I soared to a space of child safe excitement and pure delight. At this point you must be pondering something like  “But how was that funny?, I didn’t think it was funny”.

Before I continue I would just like to explain that my relationship with Agathiyar is very much like Shan aiya’s is with him.  We interact with him as a real person because we know he exists and his interactions with us, mostly from the nadi, confirm this.   Hence I mean no disrespect to him by what I write and it is not my intention to offend anyone.  Agasthiyar has in fact asked me several times to write.  My expression here is merely reflective of the loving and comfortable relationship we have.

Back to Shan aiya’s post…

“I figured that by turning down the gifts the divine would have nothing else to give but himself! That is my birthday gift this year!”, is what Shan aiya concluded.
Unable to restrain, myself I eagerly messaged Shan aiya.
“I love it Shan aiya” I exclaimed in excitement, with hand clapping emoji’s.
“I think you have outmaneuvered him.  It’s now his move”.
From all that I know of him, “he plays fair, so let’s wait and see”, I added.

I then humbly requested:

Appa Agasthiyar ….all eyes are on you…I together with all Shan aiya’s followers request that you grant him this birthday wish.  Appa Agasthiyar you do not need to be convinced that he has earned and is worthy of it.   

Dear readers,  Shan aiya has taught us the power of collective consciousness in prayer, hence if we all send in a request/prayer to our dear father Agasthiyar, I think he will be happy to answer our prayers and more importantly grant our dear teacher his blessed wish.

The request or prayer can be your own words.  Please share and I do think Shan aiya would love to read them.  Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts.  

Thank you dear ones.

• Superb Anna👍🏻🙏🏻Thank you for your experiences Annaa. Appa's mind voice most probably like "Magane, I gave u many things, why r u refusing that?" Shan Anna's replied like " I wan You and only You Appa". Appa got no other choice than giving HIMSELF😍😍😍😍😍 This shows ur vairagya also Anna😍. Thank you for everything🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

• Wonderful aiya thank you for your guidance aiya so blessed to be a part of ATM and thanking appa for giving u to us as a gift    nandri nandri ayia 🙏🙏

• Wonderful writing anne and obviously the best gift ever for your upcoming birthday is appa himself and all the priceless experience 🙏🙏and I'm thanking Appa for gifting you to us as a lifetime gift. Thank you for your guidance anne. 🙏🙏🙏

• ❤thank you is too small a word Aiya. We are truly blessed to be part of ATM and Siddha heartbeat. 🙏

• Wow ..spoken like a True Seeker......❤🌹🌹🌹🌹The other thing that I would like to humbly add here is ....the Importance of Experience, I was lucky to go for many yatras- Pre coming to Agathiar n AVM- was in Matha Amritanandamayi in Kerala, so many white folk, I was curious just asked them why and what attracted them to Sanatana Dharma...( Sorry I might sound like a RSS member) one pretty white lady said, "Why Not......" The others, it's the experience. ....I realized that only in SD  ( not belittling other system of beliefs)we stress the importance of Experience, in other belief systems, is doctrine, theory and more theory.....for Us miracle is A possible science  based on Devotion and strong belief, earned by good Karma via Righteous deeds....We All should thank the Almighty for either giving us the birth being in Sana tans Dharma or for some being introduced to it ...and later based on their own filtering methods , bring us to path of the Siddhas, Feel Blessed, Grateful, and Thankful for this birth and being in the company of such Noble Hearts ...Thank you🙏🌹🌹🌹🙏We have proved and have proof..that even normal mortals like us can be Siddhas & Devas ...it is a possibility of Human Birth & process of the Soul.😊Now I understand the reason for the blog bring private , Good move Anne, it's difficult to explain, to those whom are not Open...that, Yes they have basis to debate based on scripture, which in 1 angle is Academic, totally Left Brained..but to make That Transition From the logical to creative brain( left to right) it takes Bhagawans Kadacham , Gift...to go beyond Logic and that there is such a realm / portal / world that defies logic....( hence the psychologist asking for investigation😊) ...We are truly Blessed, even to come this far...in our journey & Evolution

• A journey with aim and focused to get Agathiyar Appa as a gift. And it’s happened today and you’re an example to us that anyone can get this gift if we’re focusing on that. I’m really very much thankful to Appa to show this path without get trapped into any wrong direction and thanks to you Anna for guiding me all this while.

• True Shan sir, reading alone may/maynot lead you towards the siddhas but experience is gained only by practising what they say and one persons experience is different from the other. Some of us ignore experiences when we get them thinking ...hey...this cant b happening to m..realising later on ......and others absorb themselves in it....that very moment. Both gain an experience...every experience is a stepping stone...What  measures the Guru decides for the individual is a one to one between the Guru and disciple. For you HE must have decided something beautiful.....Your special. Hope to hear from you post 15th and a very Happy B'day in advance.

• 🙏🙏 indeed it is so really important for us to be focused on practices..than on reading... blessed 🙏🙏

• Indeed you are a blessed soul. We are also fortunate enough and heartfelt thanks to Maharshi Agasti. 🙏🙏Is it your birthday today sir?Oh I see. We will wish you then but what else a man needs when he is blessed by Appa?

Thank you very much, family and friends. My prayers these days is for Erai to grant you all, all that he granted me. We shall all board Agathiyan Airlines.

AGATHIYAR'S GIFT

What is the origin of Agathiyar?

Many pandits and learned historians, researchers and academians have attempted to gather and bring together the many bits of information spread out in numerous works of the Siddhas and their songs, telling us that there was more than one Agathiyar and debating amongst them on the number. It was a completely confusing jargon of information laid before us.

Off course to know more about Agathiyar we have to look up to the person who introduced us to his worship for answers and clues. We sit in with others and watch and listen Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram hoping for him to fill us in on the subject and give us the details. But he did not. Rather than fill us with words, he took us to the ground to "experience" Agathiyar. Indeed we have come to realize today that Agathiyar can only be "experienced" and not seen or known.

Agathiyar himself has evaded from answering this question telling us as the elders tell us too, not to delve into questions, probe or investigate the beginning and end of things, be it the creation or a person. But out of compassion for us, Agathiyar answered Jnana Jhothiamma and Suren's question on his origin in a Nadi reading some years back. While he did mention that Aadhi Sivan was the beginning and is in the form of the Jhoti and in all of us including him to the former, Agathiyar told the Nadi reader not to elaborate on his revelation for the later but to deliver the revelation as is. 

How did the worship of Agathiyar origin or begin? 

Dr VN Jayapalan narrates a story that was told during his meditation in an audio CD "Agathiyar Thiruvilaiyadal" that the temple of Agathiyar in Agasthiyampalli in Vedaranyam was the first temple built in this Kali Yuga for Agathiyar by an Asura King Kuberan as a way to show his gratefulness to Agathiyar for quelling his hunger and relieving him of his karma through food and the chant of Agathiyar's name by a stranger.

The story goes,

The first civilization at the beginning of the age of Kali or Kali Yuga started in a part of the world which was to become Kubera Nadu, with the birth of a child who would later become its king. The Asuras were glad that one from their clan was chosen to take birth and lead the nation and celebrated the occasion. The child was born with Asuric nature (evil tendencies). He was blessed and groomed by the leader of the Asuras, Sukracharya. The kingdom was blessed with riches. There were temples and places of worship and the main deity was their Guru Sukracharya. Only his name was chanted and heard in this kingdom. Those who defied the rule were put to death.

But evil took shape in this nation and as a consequence, the people had to face 12 years of drought and famine. Then a man riddled with leprosy appears one day at the doorstep to the king's palace asking to see the king. The admiral meets him and tries to shoo him away but the old man is adamant that he meet the king and convey his message personally. He is lead to the king. The old man offers food to the king. The king ridicules him and drives him away. But the man before leaving, invites the king to his humble hut at the outskirts of the kingdom, in the event there arises a need for food.

The king develops hunger pangs that no amount of food could satisfy. His guru Sukracharya then directs his disciple, the king to the old man. Only the old man can satisfy his hunger, he is told by his guru. Meanwhile, the citizens of that kingdom arrived at the old man's hut to partake the food that was served by him. The only condition he laid was that they chant the name of Agathiyar. For each chant, they were given a morsel of food.

News reaches the king and he decides to go in disguise and see for himself. He sees his subjects now chanting Agathiyar's name and not that of Sukracharya. As he sits amongst his subjects and watches the first Kutu Prathanai or joint prayers ever conducted, he takes on the dreaded disease, leprosy. The old man turns into a normal being, hale and healthy. The old man now hale and healthy feeds the hideous king. The king sings the praise of Agathiyar. The disease together with his karma leaves the body of the king and stands affront in an Asuric form. The king is surprised to learn that he had carried that much karma with him which was now mocking him in the Asuric form. The king becomes divine by merely chanting Agathiyar's name.

To show his gratitude the king builds the very first temple for Agathiyar in his kingdom, Kubera Naadu which later was Vada Naadu and in present times, Vedaranyam. This temple at Agasthiyampalli, Vedaranyam which houses a granite statue of Agathiyar is the first temple for Agathiyar built in this Kali Yuga. Agathiyar granted moksha to the Asura king who became divine.

In 2005 as I sat with Tavayogi at this temple Agathiyar opened his eye to look at us as promised in my Nadi reading. Many years on in 2013 as my family and I sat with Jnana Jhotiamma at our home AVM, Agathiyar opened both his eyes in the bronze statue of his.

Over the years, a devotee of Agathiyar settled at this temple and cared for Agathiyar. The then Chozha king a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva tried to oust the Agathiyar's devotee from the temple after having debated on who was more superior: Lord Shiva or Agathiyar. To prove to the king that they were one, Lord Shiva and Agathiyar appeared together to the Chozha king at this temple of Agathiyar.

In present times we were told of Agathiyar coming with his Guru Lord Murugan and blessing us at a small temple in Sime Darby Estate, Carey Island, Selangor, Malaysia (Coordinate: 2.8880459, 101.3974356) built-in 1938 that houses sannadhis for both masters. A devotee who was saddened that he could not see the libation and prayers at these chambers of the deities as he had volunteered to take up the task of ringing the temple bell, was given darshan of Lord Murugan right before him in the open.

Dr Nanjan of Ooty who accompanied Tavayogi to Malaysia many years ago told me his experience of having a darshan of Agathiyar at a home. A veterinarian doctor by profession he had visited a couple who were staunch devotees of Agathiyar. Upon requesting to see and worship Agathiyar he was led into the prayer room of the couple. Upon opening the door, the Dr saw Agathiyar arise from a reclining pose like that of Lord Vishnu, straighten and tie his long tresses and leave the spot!

An Australian lady of Chinese origin who was in Malaysia for an official visit was picked up by a devotee who drove the Grab taxi, made acquaintance with her over the days she was in Malaysia and brought her to ATM. She came out in tears telling us that she saw Agathiyar standing ceiling height.

Jnana Jhothiamma was witness to the presence of the Siddhas when she visited us in 2013 and again in 2014. I have heard of stories of miracles and visitations of the divine in various form and energies but never envisioned that we too would be blessed to witness them.

How did I come to Agathiyar or rather how did he come to us?

The first time I heard the Nadi mentioned was in 1996 when Dr. Krishnan revealed the existence of these palm leaves, well guarded and kept within the circle of its trained Nadi readers. Here was a mysterious tool and medium through which it was said that the Siddhas spoke. I went for a reading after a colleague informed me of his experience in having seen the Nadi a couple of years back, back then in 2002. I was introduced to Agathiyar for the very first time. Agathiyar addressed me and spoke about me. He spoke about personal things that I was not privy to till then; that I did not know and that both amazed and shocked me. This is how I came to Agathiyar. This is how Agathiyar came to me too.

The ATM family members too have shared the very first moments when they came to know and worship Agathiyar.

I came to Agathiyar without any knowledge of him. After 17 years I still don't know him. I have not seen him. I do not know if he is tall or short fair or dark. I do not know his story. But I do sense his presence around and within. I have heard him speak through the Nadi. I have heard him speak through another. He has spoken through me. A psychiatrist doctor who read my blog was keen to place me under his microscope, asked if I could be hallucinating. I told him to come my way, do all that I did and find out the answers for himself, personally, rather than studying another.

As Agathiyar tells us not to differentiate the Gods and the Siddhas, but instead to see them all as Light, hence I dressed and worshiped him as Ganapathy on Chaturthi many years ago after which he called me up and expressed his happiness and said that that was the truth too endorsing what I did as right. Then someone seeing our prayers on Youtube chose to disagree and wrote in.

I just wanted to comment on your new Video. You show pictures of Aghastiyar worshipped as Ganesha. Ganesha and Aghastiyar are different living entities. The Mayavada theory that all is one and you can worship in whatever way you like is wrong as will be proved from the Vedas and Vaishnava Acharyas.

And he went one to refer to the scriptures defending his statement. I then made this blog private, for I understood that whatever Agathiyar was to reveal to us henceforth was not for public consumption but specifically tailored for us. To avoid any further confusion or provide an avenue for debate and argument, I decided to share them with fellow devotees who followed the blog without fail. Agathiyar has told us countless times to avoid going loggerheads with others over issues of opinion, and asked to gather experiences first and then go back to the scriptures for verification. Sometimes scriptures fail us but not our "experiences".

Although he was there all the while we only caught sight of him after he brought down his grace upon us as Manikavasagar sings in the Sivapuranam, 

சிவன் அவன் என்சிந்தையுள் நின்ற அதனால் அவன் அருளாலே அவன்தாள் வணங்கிச் சிந்தை மகிழச் சிவ புராணம் தன்னை முந்தை வினைமுழுதும் ஓய உரைப்பன் யான்.

He was there all the years ensuring the breath went in and out at the precise timing without fail all our lives. But since we were ignorant of his presence through our breath, moving in and out of his abode and temple that is our body and the cave in the inner chambers of our hearts, that he made his residence, which was why he had to shake us up from deep slumber and remind us that it was time we took notice of him. He came to have us stop our search for the impermanent and begin looking for something that would last forever. For a start, he came as the Nadi that shook the ground and our senses; then as the physical gurus who did not mince their words, shaping us into ideal candidates to do their work; then as a bronze statue that stood still and silent, and so we thought, until Agathiyar began to open his eyes and speak; then coming in and through his devotees, giving insights into their world and mysteries; soon he came as the poor and hungry, and gave us an opportunity to serve him, and followed by coming as nature, animals, and plants to serve us in return. 

He showed us the reason we had taken birth. Birth is a result of past karma he said. He showed us the means to shed the hold of our karma both past and present and come out if it and keep our distance from it respectively. As Mike and Sully try to find Boo’s door to get her home in the Disney cartoon "Monsters, Inc", so did Agathiyar show us the many doors and the many possibilities behind it and out there that could have kept us going on the beaten track as countless other souls have. He also showed us the door to a jam-packed journey of mystery and awe every moment. He did not compel us to choose but left it to us. He gave us total freedom to open the door of our choice. Whether we wanted to stay around awhile or to linger around longer taking in the beauty and pleasures that this world had to offer or to place blinders or blinkers over the face and keep right on track taking the path shown to us, was at our discretion and dispensation. When tiredness and hunger overcame us he came with hope and food. When lost on the track he sent his guides. When overcome with fear he stood beside keeping us company. When sleep overcame us he stood guard and worked on us subtly. He waited patiently for our hearts of stone to melt in love for him and to yearn to return to him. 

How did Agathiyar come to be worship?

When I was asked to come to his path and the worship of Agathiyar I was immediately given a painting of his and a tiny book of a compilation of the names of the Siddhas. Determined to find out everything and anything about him, and if possible to locate and find him, I set out knocking on doors to several movements and establishments carrying the name of Agathiyar. The search disappointed me. No one could show me Agathiyar or show me to Agathiyar. All they could show me were various paintings, as the one I had already received, of how "he might have looked, each claiming that that was how he looked." Everyone was engaged in reciting the Siddha names too. Some we engaged in feeding the hungry and helping the unfortunate through donations collected from the public. Many conducted courses and classes and held satsangs that neither impressed me nor made me stay or brought me or drove me to revisit them. I then stepped into every book shop hoping to gather this information from the pages of the books. But I did not go far in this area too, for the books carried songs upon songs of the Siddhas in ancient Tamil that was difficult to read much less comprehend. I looked up the net too. There was a lack of material in English and I realized that I had to fill this gap, at least to translate, compile and keep as notes for my reference. My first stint was that of compiling all the songs of praise to Siddhas that I came across scattered in the numerous books I had. This came to be a massive compendium of Songs of Praises to the Siddhas. But naturally, you could not sing all these lovely songs in one sitting or with a tight time schedule. So taking the interest of those on the run and busy, I came up with a modest compilation that only took 24 minutes or one Nazhigai to recite. I took to the net to publish them. Seeing my yearning to approach and know him Agathiyar then began to give me life experiences rather than book-based.

After reading my first Nadi he put me to test to see if I believed him and whatever he had said in the Nadi. He sends me off to carry out prayers and remedies in numerous temples both in Malaysia and India. After three years, in 2005, he called me over to India again urgently to show himself to me out of grace. He created many miracles bringing me to a state of awe and amazement initially and bringing me to a state of bliss finally. Coming to the Siddha path we came to know that the other Siddhas looked up to Agathiyar as their guru, role model, and comrade. Through Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal, Agathiyar made me realize that he could come in many forms: as Agathiyar himself; as Siva; as Light and as the breath. Later through the deities who came upon his devotees, we were told that he was Ma, breaking the arrogance of many who held on to the form that he is seen in all the paintings. In the Nadi we were told that he was Lord Muruga. Then Agathiyar comes to tell us himself that he is the Prapanjam, the Matrix and that he would take whatever form we chose to see him.

Today Agathiyar who brought us to the worship of the Siddhas; who asked us to visit the temples of all the other deities too; who brought us to carry out charity; who brought us to idol worship and doing rituals; chose to bring to our attention the 5 tenets he had spoken about at the Tamil Sangam way back then, bringing our journey to a close.

To understand our purpose in taking birth and with this purpose known then, we shall come to thank the divine creator or energy that brought forth this birth through consultation with the lunar forefathers and their angelic hierarchies that co-exist with us down here. With the constant showering of his blessings that come to us by way of living a purposeful, meaningful and fruitful life, the soul grows in strength, luminance, and intensity gaining Atma Balam. Showing appreciation to the divine that gave us an opportunity to take birth again to sort out our lives, we then thank all the caretakers both seen and unseen, in the present and the past, on this earth and in other realms. With all their blessings and grace showered on us, there is an obligation on our part then to "dutifully aid and help, the ongoing evolution of all co-existing human beings." The final task is to extend this aid and help, towards "the ongoing evolution of all co-existing beings and entities, existing upon the lower levels of the evolutionary ladder, dutifully supporting the manifested matrix or prapanjam."

There is nothing much left to be said. It has all being said. Agathiyar has not left any stone unturned in revealing the reason and purpose for which we are here. He has clearly stated in simple terms and given us the simple means to fulfill our purpose and return. We are grateful to him for he had already started us working on these 5 tenets much earlier even without announcing it then. I only came to learn about these tenets when I went back to Vashisht Vaid's blog https://holysageagathiyar.com that I had bookmarked many years ago only to read it recently. For those yet to carry out these tenets, now is a good time to put into practice what we have been told. For those who never came to worship the Siddhas get a picture or idol of a Siddha and begin chanting their names. For those who are into it take up the mantras and practices given sincerely. For those who have been initiated into this and other practices continue to do it with determination and discipline - vairagya. Enough of reading. It is not sufficient to only read and hear things spiritual and devotional to satisfy the appetite of the yearning. One needs to engage directly in the methods. For those already practicing open your hearts and mind and let in the divine to take charge. You shall then see the divine work in you and through you.

As is usual for Tavayogi to answer a question with another, when I told him my desire to see two divine persons, Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal, he replied that "They will come but is that what you want?" As Tavayogi implied to my desire to see Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal, that it is not important if we saw him or not but we should ask for something lasting, Agathiyar has given me "that" something, the "experience", that is lasting as mentioned by Tavayogi as a birthday gift as I come one cycle completing 60 and stepping on to 61 years of age this Sunday. This is the greatest gift of all.

Agathiyar had promised and was willing to gift me many things as I went on this journey. Some I accepted while I rejected many others thinking that it would be bothersome and eventually invite trouble. He has hinted about gifting a Nadi that I would use for myself and for others. I turned it down. I feared that both devotees of his and troublemakers will make their way to my home and stand in line to have a reading. He had asked me to build a temple/center to accommodate the crowd that he was to send over. I and my wife did not favor it. He has since dropped the thought too. I had been asked to go over to several other places of interest to seekers on the path, abodes, and caves of the Siddhas. But I told him I had him and was not going places. He dropped the topic. When the Siddhas came to heal several people at our home, my wife and I asked them to stop for we did not like the idea of opening up our private home to the public who would stand at our door after hearing the word go out that healing was done. They stopped and so we thought they did. But Agathiyar and Lord Muruga told us that they were only using the body and the home as a tool or medium and avenue respectively for their purpose wanting to rid the problems of many. They told us to step aside and watch. They told us to accept all that was to take place for it was part of the process, a play of Siddhis. When we allowed it, all hell broke loose, or should I say the heaven's gates opened. My wife would jokingly say that they have opened up the drawbridge to heaven and opened up a portal.

I feared most that by accepting the gifts that the Siddhas showered on aspirants along the way, we would get caught in their trap and stagnate there, enjoying the power and authority that came with these tools and Siddhis. We would not progress further as we are either caught forever in servicing the gifts or we would fall for the rewards that came along with it. I am truly grateful to the divine to give me the courage and the thoughts to make wise decisions along the way. I figured that by turning down the gifts the divine would have nothing else to give but himself! That is my birthday gift this year!