THANK YOU MY LORD

Each time I decide to stop writing, I receive either a mail or message appreciating the posts and telling me how the readers received answers to their doubts and queries and solutions and understanding through these posts. 

Very well Documented. I Earnestly hope and pray that all these messages you have been posting with full Devotion on Agathiayar and the Siddhas, and Information about the Compassionate Nature and Workings of the Agathiyar, reaches out to the Masses and everyone gets a chance for the Betterment of their lives...All that Agathiyan wants of us is the Reach Out to Him.He is ever ready as a Compassionate Father to help everyone..Shivay Namah Aum..

This and many other similar messages made me write further. Recently I made this blog private as we were sharing more intimate experiences with the divine. I was not worried about the figures and numbers and readership that took a plunge as a result of making the blog private. Only a handful who indicated their interest in following the blog postings were added to this list of readership. I allowed them access to these pages. I thank them.

Then Agathiyar told a devotee who was pretty confused to read the blog for clarification and relate it to her family members for them to help understand better what and why they were going through tough times. He mentioned that much has been written about karma, surrender and the soul in the blog. As it was his desire to have his seekers learn a thing or two from the blog, I opened up the blog again.

Many years back a teen from Pune wrote to me telling me that Agathiyar had mentioned the blog in her Nadi reading and told her to follow it where she will receive answers to all her doubts and queries. 

Hi sir. Thanks for a very enlightening post from none other than the great sage agasthiar. I really prayed to him to tell me about the working of karma and he replied through your post!I am thankful to both of you. I am only 17 years old and I live in maharashtra. 

Hi. I commented a few days earlier about karma questions. They are kind of solved now. I really love your blog and it is my only hope! 

i went fr another nadi reading. he advised me to read your blog regularly and pray regularly. when i asked the doubts in my mind he said that i should ask them to u as told in earlier reading. 

thank you...it was lovely conversing with tavayogi ji by email and also on phone. u have been forever supporting...cant thank u enough. thanks agasthiar also. wherever he is i know he is listening to me. i started with confusion and ended in bliss. it was a tough journey but the end couldnt be more perfect. thanks for writing ur wonderful blog and for replying to my every mail and comment. thanks for the 24 min short potri. it worked! ...immediately. i listen to the moola mantra everyday on youtube. it is pacyfying and beautiful. and i have agathiar standing behind me to catch me if i fall..thank u again.

Jnana Jhothiamma told me she came to know Agathiyar through this blog and intrigued by my writings and experiences with my gurus, traveled from the USA to Kallar Ashram. Although she had just returned to the USA from India, she went back to India again as the call from Agathiyar at Kallar was too strong for her to ignore. Her life changed the moment she stepped into Kallar Ashram. She became a staunch and devoted devotee of Agathiyar.

Greetings to you Sir, I was reading an article from Agasthiar.com......when one link led to another and then to another another and finally saw this link........My travels with Supramania SWAMY. This interested me a lot....a I had for a very long time  trying to find out visit Saint Agasthiar's cave. I read all the articles posted on Sadhguru Venkataraman's site. What is this person who is mentioned as Tavayogi.Is he a guide or an Enlightened Master. Then I saw this link which shows...."email me ". Hence I thought I would email and find out the details of all that is mentioned here. I would also like to know who shanmugam avadaiyappa is. regards.

I happened to ........rather spontaneously be guided to this site. In fact I feel more drawn towards Saint Agasthiyar. This urge/longing to visit the paces where the Noble Saint had treaded started growing inside me for a couple of months. Whatever snippets I could get I started collecting from the internet. This was how I accidentally stumbled upon the previous site through which I was able exactly see and feel what i was searching for. But you have mentioned you had your Nadi read and it was mentioned there for you that you would meet Tavayogi. I did not have any nadi reading read for me.May be. since I am an ardent devotee of SHIRDI SAI BABA.......HE must have guide me to this site.......where I was able to read about your meeting with Tvayogi and also lucky to get his contact number  from you. Thank you so much Sir......for having replied my mails and for having helped me to establish contact with Tavayogi. The attachment shows the site .....under the caption "from my travels in India"...form where I was able to get the complete picture of your travel and experiences with the Tavayogi and Subramaniya swamy. regards,

Agathiyar too had encouraged me to write previously in my Nadi readings. I am blessed to have Agathiyar use me as a tool to bring many to know about Agathiyar, the Siddhas and their Nadi, to help dispense his Jnanam, alleviate their pain and agony, and clear the confusion that arises in readers who are brought to this blog.

I can only look back at my travels and journey on his path with awe and amazement. It is all like a dream to this day. It all started in 2002. I was intrigued by hearing about the Siddhas who could tell about our past, present, and future from a colleague. Although the late Dr. Krishnan, Siddha practitioner, medical astrologer, and guru, had mentioned briefly about the existence of the Nadi back in 1996, it did not trigger me to search and see the Nadi. My colleague arranged for me to see the Nadi and my amazing journey began henceforth. Agathiyar invited me to pursue his path. My search to know more about him and the worship of the Siddhas brought me to a few establishments run under the name of Agathiyar in Malaysia then. If the Nadi reader had introduced me to the list of names of the Siddhas to be worshiped and Sivabalan who housed them from India gave me a painting of Agathiyar, I picked up material in the form of videos and books by Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar circulated by his affiliate body in Dengkil. In 2003 I meet him at Ongkara Kudil. A couple of days later Agathiyar has me meet my very first guru Supramanai Swami of Tiruvannamalai. He lighted the fire of devotion in me and taught me about the bond between a guru and his student. Then Agathiyar sends me to meet Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal who was here to officiate an affiliate peedham of his in Batu Caves in 2005. Tavayogi took me as his disciple and taught me worship of the Siddhas, taught me to conduct a homam, taught me asanas and pranayama, nurturing me further and filling the gaps and voids that existed in my spiritual path. Agathiyar came through the Nadi and personally to complete the job of molding me. Today I stand with arms folded before Agathiyar with only one prayer, "Please direct me to do your work further", adopting the prayer of Ramalinga Adigal.

பொழுது விடிந்ததென் உள்ளமென் கமலம்

பூத்தது பொன்னொளி பொங்கிய தெங்கும்

தொழுதுநிற் கின்றனன் செய்பணி எல்லாம்

சொல்லுதல் வேண்டும்என் வல்லசற் குருவே

and loads of thanks.

TOTAL SURRENDER

Below is a translation of Velayutham Karthikeyan Aiya's posting in his blog SITHTHAN ARUL at http://siththanarul.blogspot.com that captured my attention and brought me an understanding on the workings of Karma, the Siddhas and their Nadi. I happened to drop on at this site while searching for another site SITTARGAL RAJIYAM at http://www.siththarkal.com/ that came highly recommended by Nadi Guru Selvam several years back.

The Nadi has been written by Siddhas for us to know about our past, the present and the future. Many have corrected their lifestyle after listening to the explanations, heeding the instructions and carrying out atonement. Many more had regained their health and peace of mind.

The Siddhas are those who knew the past, present and the future. They were gnosis. The Siddhas were similar to a company’s secretary. The Siddhas were God’s messengers. When those who had prayed to God and had yet to receive God’s blessings, approached the Siddhas instead, they immediately received God’s blessings.

Karthiyen Aiya’s blog entry brings us back to time immemorial where the Siddhas, being compassionate and kind, put forward to the Almighty who they prefer to call Erai their wishes for humanity. The Siddhas put forth their wishes that whoever seeks them out and surrenders to them, they shall be pardoned for their past deeds, however bad and evil they may be, and shall be saved from the trials and tribulations and the consequences of their actions. Erai granted the Siddhas their wish. The next instant the Siddhas wrote down; the reasons for each individual’s sufferings; listed out the solutions and remedies; and showed ways and means to overcome or end their problems, sins, diseases, illnesses, and sufferings. They wrote them in Tamil prose on dried palm leaves. These writings came to be known as the Nadi. Reading Karthikeyan Aiya’s blog that carried stories of individuals who had seeked out the late Jeeva Nadi Guru of Chennai and the Jeeva Nadi in his possession for answers to their problems, dilemma, and sufferings, opened up a new area and of understanding that revealed the workings of their mystical and mysterious world, enlightening and bringing acceptance to all that life has to deliver. 

The key component here is surrender. One cannot claim that he has surrendered and yet dictate how something or an event should move or the result should be. That is partial surrender or no surrender at all. It is only with total surrender and total acceptance of the results that the Siddhas come forward to lend a hand in times of our need. Just as a friend at the office several years back, called me over to his desk to assist with a problem with his computer, it is only when he vacates his seat and hands over the control of the mouse to me that I can start figuring out what was wrong and troubleshoot and advise accordingly. Many claim that they have surrendered but still hold on to the lifeline. 

Agathiyar explains about the nature of surrender in times of stress and at peace, as follows at http://siththanarul.blogspot.com/2014/05/172.html). 

When one surrenders his or her body, soul and spirit to his guru, in desperate times, the guru comes forward to take the rein. Agathiyar has done so in numerous occasions.

உடல், பொருள், ஆவியில், எப்பொழுது சரணாகதி தத்துவத்தில் ஒருவன் விழுந்துவிட்டானோ, அவன் பார்த்துக் கொள்வான். "பொறுப்பை உன்னிடம் ஒப்படைத்துவிட்டேன். நீ தைரியமாக பொறுப்பை ஏற்று செய்" என்று அர்த்தம். குருவை ஒருவன் அடைந்துவிட்டாலோ, குருவே அந்த பொறுப்பை ஏற்றுக் கொள்வார் என்று அர்த்தம். "அகத்தியனே பலருக்கு குருவாக இருந்து பல நன்மைகளையும் செய்து காட்டி கொடுத்திருக்கிறேன்.

Similarly in heightened and deep meditation one screams for the Lord, emotions flow, all 7417 Nadis with all that is said to be the body, comes together in spontaneous involuntary movements and emotional outbursts and finally settles down, coming to a state of total surrender too.

த்யானத்தில் உச்சநிலை ஆகும் பொழுது, அவரவர்கள், தன்னை மறந்து, முருகா என்றோ, அம்மா என்றோ, வேங்கடவா என்றோ அடி வயற்றிலிருந்து எழுப்புவது வழக்கம். உணர்ச்சிப் பெருக்கில், 7417 நரம்புகளும் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து, உணர்ச்சிகளும் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து, ரத்தமும், நரம்புகளும், எலும்புகளும் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து ஒடுங்கிப்போய், உச்சநிலையை அடைவதைத்தான் த்யானத்தின் உச்சகட்டம் என்று பெயர். ஒருவன் எப்பொழுது த்யானத்தின் உச்சகட்டத்தை அடைந்துவிட்டானோ, அப்பொழுதே. முற்றுமே இறைவனிடம் தன்னை ஒப்படைத்து விடுவான். 

The most compassionate Agathiyar reveals how he brings each individual's prayers personally to the Lord's attention. Agathiyar narrates how he brought his devotee's wishes to Guru Bhagawan personally. At that hour his devotee shed some tears for something that took place in the subtle body.

இன்றைய தினம் குரு வரத்துக்காக இவன் போட்ட பிரார்த்தனைகள் அத்தனையையும், கூட்டாமல், குறையாமல், அலுங்காமல், சிதறாமல், அப்படியே கையினில் ஏந்தி, குருபகவான் சன்னதியில் வைத்துவிட்டேன். அப்படி வைத்துவிட்ட நேரத்தில்தான் இவன் தன்னையும் அறியாமல், அகத்தியனை நோக்கி கண்கலங்கி பேசினான். ஆக எதற்கு சொல்லுகிறேன் என்றால், அகத்தியன் இவன் கொடுத்த வேண்டுகோளை, கையாலே தாங்கி, அந்த பொற்தாமரை மலரடி பாதத்திலே வைத்த பொழுதுதான் கண் கலங்கி இருக்கிறான். சூட்ச்சும சரீரத்திலே ஒரு நாடகமே நடந்திருக்கிறது.

Bala Chandran had posted the following piece on total surrender on fb some time ago.

ஆவென்று மழை கொட்ட, வசிக்கும் வீடு இடிந்து விழ, வீட்டில் மனைவி உடல் வலியால் துடிக்க, அடிமை என்னும் மாடு சாக, விதை மட்டுமே வீட்டில் இருந்ததால் அதை விற்க ஓட, வழியில் கடன் கொடுத்தவன் வழி மறித்து நிற்க, அந்த நேரம் பார்த்து நெருங்கியவர் மரண செய்தி வர, இந்நிலையில் காலில் பாம்பு தீண்ட, முக்கியமான விருந்து வர, அரசன் நிலத்தை உழுது உண்டதுற்கு வரி கிஸ்தி கேட்க, குருவும் எதிரே தோன்றி தட்சணை தாவேன்றாரே.

இப்படி பட்ட துயரமான நிலையில் குரு வசிஷ்டர் தட்சணை கேட்க, அந்த குடியானவன் கையிலிருந்த விதையை வேறு எதுவும் செய்யாது குருவின் கையில் குடுத்து, "அய்யனே, குருவே நீ தான் என்று சரணாகதி அடைந்தான்".

அவ்வாறு செய்தவுடன் அவன் எல்லா துன்பமும் உடனே காணமல் போனது என்று கிராம வழி கதை உள்ளது.

எத்தனை துன்பம் வந்தாலும் குருவின் வழி நிற்கவேண்டும். ஞான வழி காட்டும் குரு நம்மிடம் எதிர்பார்ப்பது காசு பணம் இல்லை. அவர்கள் நம்மிடம் எதிர்பார்ப்பது வைராகியம், ஒழுக்கம் மற்றும் அசையாத நம்பிக்கை தான்.

இந்த மார்கத்திற்கு தடையாய் உள்ள நம் பழக்கங்களை விடுவதே அவர்களுக்கு செலுத்தும் சிறந்த குரு காணிக்கையாகும்.

The translation goes:

The rain pours, the house comes down, the wife is in pain, the cow dies, the only remaining thing was the seed. Rushing to sell it in return for cash, he is faced with the creditor stepping onto the path demanding immediate payment. The news of the death of a close one he receives. A snake chooses this moment to bite him. An important event awaits. The king comes for his taxes, and at this moment of extreme trial and tribulation, Guru Vasishta seeks Dakshina from his disciple. What can he do but surrender the seed to his Guru? And giving away the only possession he had, he surrendered to Guru Vasishta. The moment he surrendered to the Guru, all his miseries and sorrows vanished immediately!

The message conveyed in this story is "Be what may befall us, be steadfast on the path shown by the Guru. The Guru does not expect money from us, instead expect determination, steadfastness, good morals, and unwavering faith and belief. The best offering to the Guru would be giving up all negativity."

We have been asked to surrender by Lord Muruga before he was ready to part his gift with us. As we lined up to face him, he kept asking each one of us if we had surrendered in total. To some he initiated them. To others, he sent then away to settle their thoughts that were muddied that day. As for me, he sent me away too - to Agathiyar. 

Seeking the Siddhas for relief and solutions, they who fully understand our situation, out of compassion for us render a way out of our intense situation, although they very rarely would want to involve. They would rather have us live through the experience for then the karma is lived out and exhausted. But being compassionate they step before us to figure out how to save us from the mess that we have brought onto ourselves. They come up with the solution and ask us to perform remedies. As the one who suffers the stomachache has to take the medicine, here too stand-ins or proxies won't do. It is only when the party concerned is an infant or child or an adult who is laid immobile, unconscious or in a coma that another can seek out either the Nadi, or carry out their stipulated remedies on behalf of them. But one should understand that it is not an easy task to alter another's fate. It is akin to a butterfly or domino effect where several other moves have to be made to accommodate a new change. Then the karma, that can never be exhausted unless burnt in the sacred fire of austerities or deep meditation or by the grace of the guru, has to be continued and substituted in another form and will come to haunt him or her some other time. There are so many concerns on hand for the Siddha just as a surgeon has so many things to consider as he cuts up his patient. What is portrayed in a cross-section diagram of the anatomy is clear and easily identified. But in reality, it is otherwise.

If there is a need to caution us of the consequences the Siddha will do so. It is only with our approval and asking that they venture to change things. We have still to be responsible for our actions - in this case, our asking. Therefore be careful what we ask for. There is no way to undo them. 

Many call me up and ask to light a lamp or put in a prayer for another soul. I tell them to get the person concerned to do it too. It is pointless if they do not believe in God and his miracles while we place the effort and prayer for them. From the point of the soul as in infants and children and adults gone senile or mentally challenged or in coma, or on the verge of dying, we would not want to bring about the desired change, one to our liking, for we would not know what the soul desires. If it desires to leave, we would not want to hold that back. If it has surrendered and wants to return, we would not want to stop it. At times like these, our efforts will not pay, for God only sees the soul and its wants.

Ruzbeh N Bharucha in his blog at https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/the-master-s-grace wrote,

Yes, the laws of karma are rigid and the cards are dealt without emotion. What one has sowed, one shall reap. The experience shall be gone through. There is no escaping this fact. And yet throughout the ages, through time, Sages, mystics, Sufis, the Holy Scriptures, all proclaim that The Master is Merciful. On one hand we have the unyielding laws of cause and effect. On the other hand we have the mercy and tenderness of The Master.

Ruzbeh says that "They are so merciful that our Masters seek no credit for the innumerable times when They have protected us from our own karma, our own stupidities and that of the world." And so it was that the master came for his students, disciples, and devotees. We have seen and heard of many instances of these miracles take place. As Ruzbeh says, ".. the Perfect Master, like our Baba Sai, who can stand between us and our own karma and work things out in the best way S(H)e feels is right and appropriate for the wellbeing of the disciple and devotee", the master might not grant or deliver what we ask for at times if it would hurt us further. He would rather see us suffer in pain a few days rather than have us suffer life long. But our greatest setback is our hold on relationship with the world and the bond it creates.

Balakumaran in his "Guru Vazhi", Visa Publications, 2005, narrates a story. Seeing a man and woman holding a child, standing in the long queue in the hot afternoon sun, Balakumaran whispered to Yogi Ramsuratkumar, asking him to see them first. The Yogi ignored him and went on talking with his devotees. After Balakumaran asked repeatedly that the Yogi see them first, finally Yogi consented. He said, "If it is disturbing you ask them to come in." The couple came up to the Yogi and sat before him. They asked for something to which the Yogi replied "My father will grant" and went on talking to others. After 15 minutes, Balakumaran motioned them to leave so that others could meet the Yogi too. But the couple refused, telling him off arrogantly, "Let the Yogi say." After a while, Balakumaran again requested then to leave but they told him to mind his business. Sensing the tense situation the Yogi demanded that they leave. They left abruptly, without giving due respect to the Yogi. Yogi Ramsuratkumar reprimanded Balakumaran telling him, "This is my place and I know who to let in." The divine knows best. Our judgment often fails us.

The story is told of one Kisa Gautami from a wealthy family who went to the Buddha asking to revive and save the life of her only son, barely a year old. He had fallen ill and died suddenly.

Kisa Gautami was struck with grief, she could not bare the death of her only child. Weeping and groaning, she took her dead baby in her arms and went from house to house begging all the people in the town for a way to bring her son back to life. Of course, nobody could help her but Kisa Gautami would not give up. Finally she came across a Buddhist who advised her to go and see the Buddha himself.

When she carried the dead child to the Buddha and told Him her sad story, He listened with patience and compassion, and then said to her, "Kisa Gautami, there is only one way to solve your problem. Go and find me four or five mustard seeds from any family in which there has never been a death."

Kisa Gautami was filled with hope, and set off straight away to find such a household. But very soon she discovered that every family she visited had experienced the death of one person or another.

At last, she understood what the Buddha had wanted her to find out for herself — that suffering is a part of life, and death comes to us all. Once Kisa Guatami accepted the fact that death is inevitable, she could stop her grieving. She took the child's body away and later returned to the Buddha to become one of His followers. (Source: http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/bs-s03a.htm)

Ram Dass tells of another story. A woman whose son was bitten by a cobra begged Shirdi Sai to give some sacred ash to save him. Sai did not. When a devotee begged him on her behalf he replied "Don't get involved in this. Her son's soul has already entered another body in which he can do especially good work, work that he could not do in this one. If I draw him back into this body, the new one he has entered will have to die in order for this one to live. I might do it for your sake but have you considered the consequences. Have you any idea of the responsibility and are you prepared to assume it." The devotee was only seeing the mother's grief. Sai saw a bigger picture. A guru exercises his powers with caution. We too were reminded of the consequences of our choices, our demands, our asking, our desires, and wishes. 

Ram Dass writes in "Paths to God", Harmony Books, 2004, "I had to realize how unfathomable it was for my rational mind to comprehend what the guru was doing to whom or why", telling us we cannot comprehend the thoughts and moves of the gurus too. Indeed we can never comprehend the ways of the divine and the guru. At times they would ignore and shun some while paying attention to others. Ram Dass says of his guru Maharaji, "Somehow he had sensed in that person a moment of ripeness a readiness for that little tap", giving a person something to work on while sending another back empty-handed. Ram Dass says, "The guru performs a siddhi when we are ripe for a certain change to take place. Siddhi stories feed our faith by reminding us that there is more going on than meets the eye." He says you need to perform siddhis for people to sit up and notice. "You get people shaken up a bit and they are open to new possibilities. That roughly is the way siddhis are generally used."

Before we can even gain the grace of the divine, we need to prove our worth. This is where the guru comes into the picture to mold and form us. He places many tools that we can use to train and practice, understand and comprehend and use for our spiritual development and advancement. He then begins to work on our soul, after having us go through all the external means to salvation. Ruzbeh explains at length about the benefit of meditation and going into silence in cleaning our slate, as told to him by Baba Sai. Meditation is a way to,

... bathe the mind, heart, body and aura in the cool river of Oneness. Meditation or going within is the most subtle and sublime form of karmic cleansing. It is one of the fastest ways through which the Master helps in clearing the karmic backlog. We have karmic cleansing done via prayers and the dream state, but through meditation, we can actually have the power of cleaning our own slate and realizing our true self. Apart from healing the body, calming the heart thereby clearing the fog from the mind, through meditation one can attune oneself to the grid of Ancient Knowledge and realize our true identity and Oneness with The Great Spirit and while on this silent journey, most important of all, we clear all our karmic sludge.

Ruzbeh adds,

Sages brought down the Ancient Wisdom only through meditation. All the divine and mystical powers attained were via this silent method of going within. The greatest of discoveries, the most inspirational art and all the beauty that has been created by mankind, has come about, through this silent communication with The Creator.

HOLDING ON TO THE GURU

There is pain both in the external and also within. While the pain that comes as a result of injury and wound, illness and disease, etc that is basically physical in nature, and anguish and agony that is suffered mentally, the pain within is felt by the soul that yearns to return home or as Frank J.Alexander in his "In the Hours of Meditation", Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta, 1993, defines it "the ecstatic anguish of not having fully realized the truth."

This excruciating pain is not relieved by applying a balm or taking a pain killer. Only the graceful look, gentle touch and soothing words, complemented with compassionate, love, and kindness, of guru and Erai can ever heal the burning fire within one.

It is rather surprising and sad to note that those who say they seek the divine, knowing of the many gifts and treasures that come their way with practice and austerities fall for them losing sight of their objective in attaining the state and status of the divine. They tend to be attracted by these by-products of devotion and bhakti, rituals and practices. They go for the Astama Siddhis, and the many other powers that come with these practices.

As Tavayogi told me with sadness, that no one comes to gain Jnana or wisdom, rather only asking that their immediate needs be granted and leave. Supramania Swami too lamented that they come for material needs and solutions to their daily problems not wanting to venture beyond that.

Many others come to establishments and gurus with the thought of wanting to know God but deviate from their objective looking into other trivial matters and state of affairs at these places and preying into others, and finally walking out carrying hatred and enmity within.

While the saint's songs give strength and motivation, hope and faith to an otherwise weakened soul that has given up on life, the guru's words give strength to the soul. This leads one to gain Soul Power or Atma Balam.

A genuine seeker would come to his Ista Devata or guru with love, wanting to emulate him in compassion, love, humbleness, gentleness, care, etc rather than seek the art of turning metal to gold, gain Siddhis, gain power, wanting authority, etc. He seeks to adopt the nature of his guru, and adopt his ideals, and carry on his mission. He seeks to become divine in nature, bringing a transformation both externally and internally, turning metal into gold in the true sense.

Marshall Govindan in his book “Babaji and the 18 Siddhars Kriya Yoga Tradition”, 1991, Kriya Yoga Publications, Quebec, Canada explains this transformation.

In many verses (of the Thiru Arutpa) Ramalinga sings of how his ‘impure body’ of ‘impure elements’ was transformed into a pure body of pure elements, called a golden body of immeasurable carats (Swarna Deham). He sings that one has to think incessantly, until he feels and melts with love for god. In such a melting mood one bursts into tears and sings praise of god and soothing warmth is produced in the aspirant. When this universal love and sacred warmth develops, the body as well as the soul became prepared for the descent of the grace, in the form of light. When this occurs, the material body of impure elements is transformed into a ‘body of pure light’, emitting a golden hue. 

How many of us stand before him asking that we want to become him? When we stand before him asking for riches and comfort, KR Sivakanthan in his "Sittargal Tathuvamum Yoga Neri Muraigalum", Tirunelveli Then India, Saiva Sitthantha Noor Pathippu Kazhagam, Chennai, 2003, sets an example for us to emulate.

ஞானம் வேண்டேன்
நல்வேதம் வேண்டேன்
சூரியக்கலை வேண்டேன்
சந்திரக்கலை வேண்டேன்
சுழிமுனை வேண்டேன்
அட்டமாசித்தி வேண்டேன்
ஆறு ஆதாரம் வேண்டேன்
அதற்கு மேலும் வேண்டேன்
நின் பாதாரவிந்தம் வேண்டும்
நின் கருணை வேண்டும்
நின் பாதாரவிந்தம் மறவா மனம் வேண்டும்
பூண்டி ஈசா சரணம் சரணம் சரணம்

I do not seek knowledge, I do not seek the Vedas,
I do not seek to know the art of breath control,
I do not seek the eight Siddhis,
I do not seek to know the chakras, and more,
I seek your Holy Feet, I seek your Grace,
I seek a heart that never forgets your Holy Feet,
Poondi Esa, I take refuge in you.

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

உற்றாரை யான் வேண்டேன்
ஊர் வேண்டேன்
பேர் வேண்டேன்
கற்றாரை யான் வேண்டேன்
கற்பனவும் இனி அமையும்
குற்றாலத்து அமர்ந்து உறையும் கூத்தா
உன் குரை கழற்கே கற்றாவின் மனம் போலக்
கசிந்து உருக வேண்டுவனே

When we begin to refuse all the gifts that are showered on us, we can escape the huge responsibilities that come with it and its associated problems. Having certain powers in us and standing in society builds the ego in us as people come seeking us for advice and solutions. Soon a following revolves around us. People come, they stay and they elevate us to a state only to drop us and stamp on us the very moment they are at crossroads with us. Having the gift of prediction brings its own set of problems through people who do not have any inkling as in the case of the Nadi and of how these predictions work and shoot it down the moment things do not move in their favor. A gift of being a guru or the gift of running an ashram brings an organized attack from disenchanted followers.

Refusing all these treasures and gifts of love from Erai, he can only give himself in the end. In a Nadi revelation, Agathiyar reveals the extent of humbleness in his student Bhogar. When once Agathiyar asked Bhogar if he knew Mother Goddess, Bhogar replied he did not know. When asked if he knew Lord Vishnu, he replied he did not know too. When Agathiyar asked if he knew Lord Muruga, again Bhogar to everyone's surprised answered "no". How could one who was behind the making and installation of Lord Muruga's statue at Palani not know him? When asked if he knew about the herbs that he had sought, collected and done extensive research on, he replied in the negative. Bhogar had replied that he did not know to all the questions put forward by Agathiyar. This surprised all those gathered. Finally, when asked what he knew, Bhogar answered that he only knew the Holy Feet of his Guru, Agathiyar.

This is the approach we need to take. We need to serve the Guru. We need to gain their trust. We need to prove our worth. And more then anything else we need to be patient. The wise have always been reminding us to adopt tolerance and be patient in all situations. Many times Agathiyar has asked of us to be patient and obedient. It was to buy time so that we would gain maturity in due time from further day to day experiences and eventually come to understand the play of God and accept everything in good faith. When this knowledge dawns on us, we understand them and their divine play and become one with them, both in thought and deed. Taking on the nature of the guru or divine, we then tend to spiritualize everything we come into contact with, as Frank wrote, "Spiritualize everything thou doest. God is always near not in the physical sense but in the spiritual sense."

Frank says, "In the inner world of meditation there can be no darkness for all is effulgence. There can be no ignorance for all is Jnana. With the acquirement of spiritual knowledge, all shackles are broken." Let us take on the nature of the guru and the divine rather than seek power and greed. The only mantra right now for us is the mantra of appreciation and gratefulness - "Thank you Agatheesa! Thank you Agatheesa! Thank you Agatheesa!" One cannot repay his kindness. When we find it difficult and refuse to forgive another, the most compassionate father forgives us. He sets us on the right path reminding us often not to stray. But even that he regards as a necessary experience for us. He takes us back into his folds. He refines us. He polishes us. He makes us fit to take on the task he has in store for us. He makes us missionaries and secretaries of his church. He sets us on a venture getting us to aid in his mission and fulfilling his wishes. He oversees our accomplishments. He honors us. He gives us our dues by rewarding us with gifts. But the idea here is to refuse all that he gives. He will keep on giving. Refuse to accept them. He will give further. Say no to that too. Eventually, he will have nothing else to give but to give himself. Mission accomplished!

THE FACE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

We are co-creators with the divine to a certain extent. The saint goes a step further. 

Swami Saravanananda in his English transliteration of Ramalinga Adigal’s “Arutperunjhoti Agaval” published by Ramalinga Mission, Madras wrote, 

"As explained by Vallalar, the person whose third eye is active is verily God Himself because he can raise the dead into life and perform the fivefold primordial functions."

With the advent of the opening of the third eye, 

This third eye enabled him to gain knowledge of the whole universe and all the individual beings contained in it. He asserts that his knowledge penetrated and pervaded layer upon layer of the varied types of universes. With the advent of this eye, the body sheds whatever subtle impurities it possesses; consequently, it becomes nearly invisible. The third eye enabled Vallalar to have tier upon tier of divine experiences.

With the functioning of the third eye, the transformation of the light body or Pranava Deham is completed and the next and final stage of transformation into the Gnostic body or Gnana Deham starts. The transformation of the Pranava body into a Gnostic body begins with the functioning of the third eye.

Slowly his body through the intensity of concentration of the mind begins to generate the flame of lapses, popularly known as psychic heat. Slowly the quantity of psychic heat is increased due to intense meditation and concentration on the universal effulgence. The extreme heat generated in the body produces smoke at first; this smoke gathers up in volume and escapes through the junction of the parietal bones of the skull (Brahma Randhra). During this period, the body and mind undergo untold stress. Vallalar often mentions about the sufferings that he had undergone since he was twelve years old. The psychic smoke clears off and enhanced illumination results. This light (Tegas) is also called as the aura or nimbus.

But even before one can attain the Pranava and later the Gnana Deham, he has to undergo untold misery in transforming his physical body to that of the perfect body or Suddha Deham and Pranava Deham.

Marshall Govindan in his book “Babaji and the 18 Siddhars Kriya Yoga Tradition” Kriya Yoga Publications, reproduced with permission via e-mail, wrote,

The transformation of the mortal human body into the perfect body (Suddha Deham), is achieved by universal spiritual communion and devotion to God.

In many verses (of the Thiru Arutpa) Ramalinga sings of how his ‘impure body’ of ‘impure elements’ was transformed into a pure body of pure elements, called a golden body of immeasurable carats (Swarna Deham). He sings that one has to think incessantly, until he feels and melts with love for god. In such a melting mood one bursts into tears and sings praise of god and soothing warmth is produced in the aspirant. When this universal love and sacred warmth develops, the body as well as the soul became prepared for the descent of the grace, in the form of light. When this occurs, the material body of impure elements is transformed into a ‘body of pure light’, emitting a golden hue.

This ‘golden body’ appears to be about twelve years of age. The body of grace (Pranava Deham) according to him can be seen visually but it cannot be touched. It appears to be a heavenly child of about five to eight years of age. The ultimate and greatest transformation in human evolution: a transmutation into the godhead, which he referred to as merging with the body of supreme wisdom - the body of god supreme (Gnana Deham).

Swami Saravanananda wrote,

At whatever age the aspirant gains illumination or the effulgence enters in him or emanates from within, some remarkable changes take place in the body-frame. The Divine Light seems to change the very cell of the body, with the result, that they seem to function in the opposite direction. Consequently, the old body becomes middle aged, then to youth of eighteen years, to twelve years (pure body), to eight years and finally five years (Pranava body). After five years the body grows to the size of the universe to become casual body or a body of gnosis (Gnana deham) which is the natural abode of the soul.

In the foreword to “An Introduction to the Philosophy of Saint Ramalingam” by Dr. C. Srinivasan, Rao Saheb K. Kothandapani Pillai BA wrote about these transformations,

These transformations occur in the body of the aspirant according to the intensity of spiritual warmth produced in him. The body is deprived of all its dross or impurities and made pure, fit for divine absorption (Sudha Deham). These are the practical transformation, which came over the body of the Swami stage by stage on the way to union with the absolute. Conquest of death by imbibing supreme grace is the quintessence of his philosophy. The more he ascended in his holy pursuit the more was the descent of divinity in him.

In an interesting article in the net, the author of the article says,

As an individual begins to be liberated from the influence of the mind-stuff, the divine attributes of the atman or self manifest in the very subtle sheath of bliss (Anandamaya Kosham) that surrounds the soul (atman.). When the transformation of that very subtle part of the being has been given fully to the divine, the individual becomes literally a beacon of bliss-light. Simply being in the presence of such a being is uplifting. 

Anyone whose spiritual practices have thus resulted in the awareness of the divine working through them has already begun the transformational process and surrendering of the sheath of the intellect (Vinjnanamaya Kosham). Here the analytical or intellectual component of the being is fully informed by the divine light attributes.

As the intellect undergoes this transformation, the mental sheath (Manomaya Kosham), associated with the senses, and is similarly transformed. Of course, this individual is fully aware of the divine as the prime mover. Since the ego has been given to the divine, every action related to the senses is observed and understood to be none other than the indwelling god or goddess doing the experiencing and enjoying. Such a Buddha can enjoy all the senses without fear of confusion or being lost spiritually in them. For the great tantric who have attained to this state, conventional rules which guide and provide stability, safety, and structure are irrelevant.

As the divine light descends into the sheath of energy (Pranayama Kosham) the entity becomes a Siddha in the truest sense of the word. As defined in the Upanishads, a Siddha is one who has progressed from the exalted ‘state of freed while living’ (Jivanmukta) to ‘supremely free with full power over death’ (Paramukta). 

Swami Saravanananda wrote,

With the descent of sufficient Divine Light the psychic head begins to emerge. According to Vallalar, this psychic head (a crown or diadem of light) is made up of a special and highly refined type of brain called Omkar brain. As soon as it emerges, it draws more cosmic light; the more the light the greater the growth of the psychic head.

With the advent of psychic head, more and more changes take place in the already purified body. The cells and thence the whole body begins to transcend the limits imposed on them by impure Maya (the grosser principle of nature) and try to break one more of its veils. The cells undergo alternate condensation and expansion for an unspecified period and the body slowly emerges out of its bondage and begins to grow. This expanding and ever prospering body, is called the subtle body or the body of Omkar or Pranava body. 

By showering love to others and all of Erai's creation, Erai comes within us bringing us to the state of Bliss. In http://www.ramalinga.com, Ramalinga Adigal state of bliss and his experience or anubhuti is shared.

I have seen and realized Him here in the world and enjoy the Bliss. I have happily partaken of Amrita (of Bliss) in the Realm. 

From http://www.ramalinga.com we learn more,

... the full Union with God in body and soul (deathless body) takes place when the Most High Lord accepts the absolute surrender of the disciple. These great saints saw a Column of Light rising above the Sahasrara up to the Divinity. In one who realizes the Golden Deathless Body an indissoluble bond is established with the Divinity through this Column of Light. Till this moment, one must make an effort ascending to the Divinity, later having to descend again to the physical level, nevertheless on having been settled the Column of Light one does not need to continue doing this effort, but from this time the Divinity descends on oneself.

The Column of Light starts to be formed in the states previous to the full Realization of Golden Body. The one in whom the Column of Light is settled enjoy the continual experience on the Divinity, who, on having descended, resides in one's own Heart (as shining Sun) and fills with Himself the whole Being gradually, even the physical body (which, cell by cell, is completely transmuted up to becoming divine). At first the above mentioned experience has not the same intensity all the time. Moved by His great Compassion, God takes the maximum care of the possible after effect in the physical body and that's why He is alternating the intensity to manifest Himself as Divine Light. Some times His resplendence is very soft whereas in other occasions It becomes the most intense, seeming that one is going to be melted in It. This experience on God fills the Self with Divine Love and Compassion, which overflow from the Heart as a river flowing endlessly towards the other beings.

Little by little, God is increasing by degrees the intensity of Light and one is becoming accustomed to it, until the time comes when God manifests Himself wholly. Then the Column of Light shines from beginning to end with Its entire splendor. It isn’t visible, except in very rare occasions. This Column of Light is truly the embodied Divine Jothi, which burns constantly so that the Divine Light radiates coming to all the beings. This is the Full God's Manifestation in the Earth.

BEING RESPONSIBLE

UNDERSTANDING MEDITATION

People on the path of Siddhas have the wrong notion that coming to worship the Siddhas, their troubles will go away; that their misery will end; that all illness will heal; that their debts will be settled, etc. Many come to the worship seeking these remedies. Although Agathiyar addresses these questions by them, his main concern is to raise our soul to a higher level of consciousness and help it to gain strength or Atma Balam through his 5 tenets. Agathiyar and the Siddhas are concerned with the soul only. Their business is realization. All the past saints' business is realization too. But we fail to realize this truth, but rather go again and again either seeking their Nadi or advice for material gains or for other menial and trivial matters that in the words of Tavayogi can be thought out and settled by the individual with either concerted effort or discerned thoughts.

The Siddhas await earnestly our arrival, to take us by the hand to their kingdom of no return, reversing all of nature's law and the way it rules on us. Rather than be at their mercy, man than overrules and masters them. The Siddhas have the key to it, but it is only given to us once we are ready to know the true reason for taking birth. 

Ramalinga Adigal, the most recent Siddha, in his many compositions, that are documented experiences of his journey, tells us that by taking the hand of his guru, the nameless one, he strived for 12 long years and with the grace of the divine, he attained the much-acclaimed state of deathlessness. Agathiyar is said to have meditated under the sea for 12 long years too. Arunagiri is said to have been told to go within and stayed in that deep state of meditation for 12 long years too. When Jnana Jhotiamma was told to go within, Agathiyar shut her up completely inside a room and asked her to stay away from all social media that he said would affect her meditation in solitude or tavam. I too have reminded to go within. 

What happens when we go within? 

Frank J.Alexander in his "In the Hours of Meditation", Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta, gives a wonderful account of his silent moments sitting in meditation. We read from the Preface to the book that, Frank,

Seized with a great spiritual unrest, which knew no quietude, till he came across by chance some writings of the Swami Vivekananda, which opened the vista of a new world before him, the call of his master was so strong that he afterwards sailed for India, to consecrate himself to the service of the order founded by him. Here he threw himself heart and soul into work and rendered invaluable help in bringing out a life of Swami Vivekananda by which his name will be immortalised.

Frank describes these blessed moments.

There are hours when one forgets the world. There are hours when one approaches that region of blessedness in which the soul is self-contained and in the presence of the highest. There is no holier sanctuary than a purified mind, a mind concentrated upon god. There is no more sacred place than the region of peace into which the mind enters when it becomes fixed in the lord. 

The spiritual consciousness dawns in these silent, sacred hours. The soul is close to its source. Then comes the voice of god, audible within the silence.

The Silent or Mouna Guru who resides within begins to speak. "I am thy Soul. Verily thy Soul is I."

Purity, bliss, blessedness, and peace prevail in this moment of silence. Frank says these "make up the atmosphere of the state of meditation."

Frank equates all mortal things to shadows. Our very form itself is a dream. Similarly, the soul is stationed in the formlessness of divinity he says. Knowing pretty well that life is a play, he asks us to play our part well. Although we must engage in it as that is the law and that there is no escape, but we are asked to escape from all these just for some hours, at the least, to contemplate and just to sit in silence all by the self, with the self and god. "Give at least some short time unto the Lord. He asketh little, only this, that thou shalt know thy self; for verily, knowing thy self, thou comest to know him. for god and the soul is one" and God shall say "Beyond the universe, beyond all dreams, I rest self-contained within immensity. And so do you. I shall carry thee across the ocean of darkness and ignorance unto Light and Life everlasting." Ramalinga Adigal too said the same, to take hold of the Light in the moments of darkness and to bring the Light where there is darkness.

Why are we told to take the opportunity to go within at certain times of the day?

"These hours are when nature is at peace and when nature is at peace more peacefully does the soul retire into the inner chamber of the heart", explains Frank. Tavayogi identified the residence of god as being within this inner chamber of the heart, writing it out as he autographed his book "Andamum Pindamum" for me. The journey begins and ends there, he wrote.

Frank tells us "that death and destruction are the lot of all forms." But we are reminded that we are the soul. The highest form of worship is that of the self, the soul that is of god. Hence we are brought within from all things external to worship the soul.

"Understand that which is the highest within thee. and the most perfect form of worship is the knowledge that thou and the highest are one. Having understood, perceive. Having perceived know. Having known realize. Having realized then thou art that!"

We are all fellow travelers. God comes along to travel with us too. We need only be on the lookout and be aware and identify him. "Retreat from the world. It is the embodiment of dreams. It (the world) together with the body, verily, these are the nests of dreams."

"Through experience after experience I sent thee, but always doth my eye follow thee in thy wandering. Through all manners of experience and of thought, I fasten the bonds that are between us. My salvation is naught to me unless thou dost take part in it." 

"Thou art the self of me in another form." True to what Frank wrote, Agathiyar and the Siddhas have a responsibility towards us that is to bring us to a state of realization that we are one with him. Similarly, Agathiyar says, "Many lived in my name."

Seeking out his will, dropping our desires and taking up his vision, we enter a bond with him where he is bounded and bonded to see through this new venture that we have taken upon.

"The more thou dost absorb the vision which is mine, lo! the more and more do we grow into that spiritual oneness which is the divine life. The veil of separate personality falls off. So close are the bonds. Death and separation have no hold in my relationship to thee."

Frank spells out clearly Agathiyar's message, that "discipleship does not consist in having seen my form, but in having understood my will. For though thou mayest not have even seen the physical form I wore, still none the less art thou my very own. Thou canst never escape the net I have cast out."

"Harder than adamant are the bonds of relationship between guru and disciple. Stronger than death are they. For they are tied by immeasurable love and the divine and omnipotent will" describes Frank on this sacred bond.

We have come to realize the truth that Frank shares too, "No matter where thou goest, I am already there." Yes, Agathiyar goes ahead of us and awaits us to turn up at the destination these days. He sits waiting for our arrival, knowing pretty much that we are delayed by the many distractions that take the shape as sights, smell and pleasures of the world, that catch our attention while traveling towards him. We are reminded to "Beware of all mirages. The goal is not there. Be thou not deceived by the attraction of externals. " Agathiyar besides keeping us from harm's way, he clears the obstacles. Most importantly he is ever willing to gift us with, in Franks's words, "the fruit of my realization I bequeath unto thee."

"He will make me struggle with them (doubt and temptation) in order to reveal my true strength and my own powers to myself. And how shall a man know his true self and his powers until he has tested himself?" 

We are then brought to see the world through the eyes of the guru. This is the final agenda of his. Once we qualify we become him, he becomes us.

From aligning with an association as is necessary initially he diverted me to Tavayogi upon seeing my willingness to listen and heed his instructions. He has brought me on a lone journey. "Follow thou not the many caught within the net of manifoldness. Go thou along the paths whereby saints journey singly and separately to the goal of oneness." Blind faith would not do but faith with a vision is required.

Agathiyar draws me to be brave in breaking the norms and initiating new trends and ideas, all given by him, working through us as tools. He tells us that "thine is no chance destiny" but all have been accounted for and have a purpose. This purpose he revealed through his 5 tenets for us to adapt and follow.

We are reminded to continue our prayers for Frank says, "and pray steadfastly for constant vigilance of soul is required in the spiritual struggle. Constant vigilance be thy motto and constant prayer and they who are the helpers, the messengers of the Highest shall come and thou shalt be free." We are told that even one who has attained the much-desired state of a Jeevan Mukthan will need to be very cautious lest his old ways and vasanas crop up or the ways of the world tugs on him, or pulls him down and destroys him. "In that time call upon the Lord and he heeding thy prayer shall give thee grace." Ramalinga Adigal asks us to call upon the Light to clear the Darkness in times of need and to bring the Light within to dispel the Darkness. Frank too says prayer shall bring light therein. "It lends wings to thy soul." God never lets down the call for help. For those who are weak in upholding good virtues and are easily tempted to do otherwise, there is a need to build a fortress around him or her to save oneself from the continuous barrage of temptations all around us. Prayer comes in handy here, "by prayer thou shalt build a fortress about thy nature and it shall be impregnable."

A song is a magnification of prayer. Very true. We saw how the divine comes down upon hearing us sing with love for him. Recite the Sivapuranam in the hours of life, not in the hour of death. Agathiyar fills our shoes and pens a song telling Lord Narayana that he might not be in a conscious state at his deathbed and hence reinforces himself this day itself seeking his grace and calling out his name. "Before death stalks or pain arises I shall behold thee" sings Agathiyar, asking us to do the same. We are told not to neglect the life given and to seek his grace now itself. We are told never to postpone the moment. There is nothing more important than him. Take care of him and he shall take care of us and our needs.

When life is seen as a fraud; when death is present; when the heart is wrung with agony; and human woe attains its climax, remember to make thou the effort to remember that these things are of the body and that thou art the soul. 

Agathiyar too brushed aside the pain and agony I endured for several years telling me it was superficial and not real.

Make japa of it every moment of thy life. See the wisdom of his will. And then even in the mouth of a tiger, even in the presence of death, even on the threshold of hell, thou shalt find god. If this be thy life's labor to remember god, then great joy and a serene peace shall abide with thee and that which seems gruesome shall become beautiful and that which seems terrible shall become all-loving. This is the strength of the soul.

THE DAY THE DIVINE ARRIVES

In the early days of my frantic search to know God, the only means I knew was from reading books. These were the years leading to the nineties. Then there was the internet that came in handy. But it was only in 2001 that the divine knocked on my door mysteriously. Till then I had never imagined that the Siddhas would extend an invitation to join their exclusive following. I never imagined that I would have a calling. I never imagined that I would get a calling to go over to India. I never imagined that I would hook up with two wonderful gurus in physical form. I never imagined that I would travel with them to places of significance to the Siddhas, saints, and gurus. I never imagined that the Siddhas would come down from their realm to ours. I never imagined that we could communicate with them. All this seems like a dream these days.

We have come to realize that what Agathiyar said, "Let it happen and I shall believe say men; belief and it shall take place say the Siddhas" is true from experience. Tavayogi used to say do not take the word of even the Siddhas blindly but realize the truth in it first. This realization comes from experience. The lessons learned from these experiences shall become Jnana or wisdom for others, we are often and regularly reminded, these days.

Andy Williams wrote and sang a song for the movie "Love Story" many years back. The lyrics would apply to us too, Agathiyar and me, by substituting the object of worship with Agathiyar.

Where do I begin
To tell the story of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the love she brings to me
Where do I start

With her first hello
She gave new meaning to this empty world of mine
There'd never be another love, another time
She came into my life and made the living fine
She fills my heart

She fills my heart with very special things
With angels' songs, with wild imaginings
She fills my soul with so much love
That anywhere I go, I'm never lonely
With her around, who could be lonely
I reach for her hand-it's always there

How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need her till the stars all burn away
And she'll be there

How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need her till the stars all burn away
And she'll be there

It is no surprise to us these days as all the saints too have loved their ideal form of God or Ista Devata. In "An Introduction to the Philosophy of Ramalinga Swamigal" by Dr. C. Srinivasan, Ramalinga Adigal explains the eternal union and communion of the Supreme God.

The Lord Supreme who has established a fondling abode in me got Himself not only merged in me but got me merged in Him. He became one with me. He became Himself realized in me. The supremely sweet Lord dancing in the arena of pure knowledge and wisdom is in me in a state of blissful ambrosia. 

In fact the Swami goes a step further to point out that it is only the love of God that has alchemised his body and brought him all bliss and eternal happiness.  Love of God is not only the means for the realization  of God but is an end in itself as God is love. 

In "Makers of Indian Literature - Ramalingar" by G.Vanmikanathan, Published by Sahitya Akademi, the author classifies Ramalinga Adigal's life into three distinct portions.

During the first period, he travelled on the toilsome Purgative Way, during the second period, he travelled up the not so arduous Illuminative Way, and during the last period, he travelled on the joyous Unitive Way. 

In Upanishadic language, these three Ways are defined  in the world-famous prayer, 

From the unreal lead me to the Real, 

From darkness lead me to Light, 

From death lead me to Immortality. 

Discrimination of the Real from the unreal is the keynote of the  journey on the Purgative Way; the travel from darkness to Light is the journey on the Illuminative Way; the resurrection  from  death to a life of deathlessness, to amritvam, is the journey on the Unitive Way. 

In this battle between evil and good, between the pull of the world and the pull of God, God won slowly and steadily. In the conflict of the unreal and the Real, the Real won. 

The journey on the Purgative Way ends on a note of victory, over that self same mind  which even less than ten decads earlier was obstinate, obstreperous, obstructive, obdurate.  Ramalingar  has  received God’s grace in  full measure and has come out  victorious over his arch-enemy, the mind. God has taken His abode therein. 

On this journey Ramalingar gained knowledge, gnosis, gnaanam. What is this gnaanam that Ramalingar gained? He learnt that God is love. He experienced through every fibre of  his being the truth of the unique pronounce ment of Thirumoolar.

Ramalingar declares, “Such  a One  with  three  eyes  dwells  in  my  mind”. Ramalingar  gained this illumination from this Dweller in the  mind, from this One who does not desert one’s heart for even as long as it takes to wink, from this ullam-kavar-kalvan the Stealer of one’s heart. To this Stealer Ramalingar lost his heart and became his bride. It is this love-drama which is enacted in 24 decads in the language of bridal mysticism. This is the Bridal Mysticism which is a unique characteristic of the manner in which the saints of Tamilnadu apprehended the Godhead. Ramalingar  plays  the  role  of  the  bride  and, of  course, God is the bride groom. 

Closer to home the divine wanting to hear the soulful songs of his devotees requested us to sing a song by Ramalinga Adigal. We sang his "Ambalatharase Arumarunthe." He was so delighted that he began to sway and rose to dance. It was a completely uplifting phenomenon, literally speaking too. We were blessed indeed to witness something of this nature. As we stood around him and he began to bless all those gathered, he placed another request to Jegan Shanmugam to sing his favorite song on Lord Narayana, one that Agathiyar himself had penned. Jegan sang to his pleasure. Jegan Shanmugam has rendered many devotional songs each time he drops by at AVM for prayers. Here are a wonderful collection and compilation of songs including Agathiyar's favorite. 

Agathiyar has often requested similar songs from another devotee who sings beautifully, Vinthamaray Stan Santosh. His favorite was always Ramalinga Adigal's "Thannai Arinthu." 

Both these talented singers had been roped in by Gowri Arumugam to sing with her and others in AVM and Raagawave Production of a compilation of songs on Agathiyar "Agathiyar Geetham." Gowri came out with this audio CD album, initiated and with the blessings of Agathiyar and Tavayogi. 

We jokingly told ourselves that we have to prepare, rehearse and practice a long list of songs for we shall never know what song the divine would request from us on his/her next visit.

TAKING HIS HAND

I came to read the Nadi in 2002. In this Kaanda Nadi he asks me to come to his path. Since then Agathiyar has been blessing me with further readings through the Aasi Kaandam. There was a period when he used to call me over every weekend for a reading where many Siddhas addressed me. Then it all came to a halt. I was worried if I had erred or done something that contributed to their anger or refusal to talk to me through the Nadi. Then Agathiyar calls me up and asks, "Why do you need the Nadi when I am with you?" He continued with further readings though when there was a need to address certain issues on hand. Although I could not comprehend his message then but he made me realized later that if we have surrendered to him everything that takes place, be it good or bad, the obstacles, the delays, the gifts, the appreciation, the scorning, that comes our way or is thrown at us is all his doing too to make us a stronger person or rather to gain Atma Balam or strengthen the soul. 

The Nadi is a medium for the divine to connect with us initially. Once the bridge is laid we gain access to him in numerous ways. Then we can safely drop our dependency on the Nadi. I had many friends seek the Nadi to get advice on their career, or business engagements. Many sought solutions for their problems and illness. Others sought Agathiyar for means to clear their debts. They all came with a specific purpose expecting an answer that they had already drafted. Expecting Agathiyar to endorse the move or reply as they had envisioned. Very few came to hear the Mahamuni speak. 

Agathiyar complies with their wishes not wanting to hurt them although he knows that their desires would only bring further sufferings. For one who drops all his personal desires but seeks him out waiting to carry out his orders, the Divine Will, he will give him the strength, both physical and mental, to see through their desires and wishes fulfilled.

Ramalinga Adigal in the beginning verse of his திருப்பள்ளி எழுச்சி sings

பொழுது விடிந்ததென் உள்ளமென் கமலம்

பூத்தது பொன்னொளி பொங்கிய தெங்கும்

தொழுதுநிற் கின்றனன் செய்பணி எல்லாம்

சொல்லுதல் வேண்டும்என் வல்லசற் குருவே

while standing before the Almighty, hands grasped in prayer, as dawn breaks, seeking the divine  to instruct him what needs to be done for the day.

Bharathi laments that when he set out to do his thing he went through much suffering but the moment he took up the Divine's willing he saw progress. 

தன்செய லெண்ணித் தவிப்பது தீர்ந்திங்கு

நின்செயல் செய்து நிறைவுபெறும் வண்ணம்

நின்னைச் சரணடைந்தேன் — கண்ணம்மா!

நின்னைச் சரணடைந்தேன்!

Bharathi like other saints considered all things menial in nature. He was so into the thought of the divine that he could see through the veil of Maya and recognized them as trivial matters. When he knew he had a higher purpose in life he began to shun and cry that he was being dragged into the matters of the kitchen so to say, as his wife would inform him that they had run out of kitchen supplies etc.

We are asked to face life boldly as the experiences that come our way through good and bad tidings help build the soul making it stronger, preparing it for a higher purpose in life. When one gains Atma Balam, he can then begin helping and aiding others transferring his strength and sharing his experience with them, fulfilling the tenets of Agathiyar.

These days the divine comes to speak to us through devotees, dropping the need for tools. They enlighten us on what needs to be done further. They endorse our work. They take us to task when we deviate or lose our focus. It is wonderful to know that the divine stands guard over every action of us. All our action then is not tainted by the thought that we are doing it, hence relieving us of its karma, both good and bad.

THE MAGIC OF WORSHIP

For many, they are rather satisfied with occasional temple worship. Many others go in search of temples when in dire straits and are directed as in the Nadi or by others who have seen some benefit. Only a handful pray at home, willing to spend time invoking the deities and making offerings. Then there are others who never give a thought for the divine. But it is all right. Everything has its time.

When we have taken the very first step that of taking notice of God, our creator, we have come a mile. We begin to acknowledge the greater power that creates, sustains and destroys all of creation. Coming to worship him, we have traveled another mile. By offering prayers at a temple we escape from the turmoils of daily life at least for some hours. Our burden is dropped at the feet of the divine.  Next for those who come onto the path of the Siddhas and start living the life of a Siddha, it brings us yet to another significant milestone. He begins to undertake many rituals himself. Engaging in lighting the homa, for instance, is significant as it brings us to a meditative pose hours before we even sit to conduct the ritual. All the preparations go towards bringing your thoughts towards an agenda, his agenda rather than yours. It prepares you for the next stage of contemplation on a mantra or a set of mantras that accompanies the homa. In a subtle manner, lighting a homa has far-reaching benefits as in giving back to prapanjam or the matrix. Moving into the yoga poses and taking control of the breath, quietens the mind and replenishes the energies lost in conducting our daily chores and activities. Read more as explained by Acharya Gurudasan at https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2015/09/introduction-to-traditional.html

As we travel from being ignorant of the existence of the divine to come to know of his existence, then as we frequent our visits to see him at his abodes, as we take up worship in our own homes, devotion builds within us and its expression takes many forms. For instance, caring for the idol as a child, bathing and dressing, feeding and singing lullabies, brings forth a deep attachment towards our chosen aspect of God. Worshipping an idol of our favorite deity or Ista Devata brings us closer to the divine.

There is a childlike innocence and purity of approach when a person stands reverently in front of an idol or an image and bows to it in total submission. It is possible only when a person has strong faith and no egoism. (https://www.hinduwebsite.com/idols.asp)

There is no doubt that in the beginning the idol, be it granite, marble, stone, bronze, wood or metal is merely a figurine that is shaped and represents our favorite deity. But even these materials are known to have certain properties that can be harnessed to turn it into a powerful source of energy. For instance, granite will cause the vibrations of the mantras to resonate at a higher level, something I felt and heard in the inner chambers of Agathiyar at Agasthiyampalli and Dhaksanamurthy at Tanjore Temple.

From https://invisibletemple.com/stone-in-sacred-sites.html, we learn that,

"Since the primary purpose of temples was for the alteration and transmutation of the human energy field – and hence its heightened state of consciousness – the choice of stone was carefully considered." 

"In ancient times, when our predecessors were far closer to the tune of nature, the temple builders were keenly aware that every rock possessed its own energy, each imbued with a spirit or force which, in turn, could be harnessed to amplify the purpose for which a temple was intended."

"Applying the correct stone in the construction of the temple was of great importance, since the properties of the stone, correctly applied, served to enhance not just the underlying subtle energies of a given location, but would amplify the purpose to which the temple served."

"Stones used for sacred sites were also chosen for their high content of quartz, a material that not only can be programmed but also generates energy when put under pressure. The type of quartz found in the bluestones of Stonehenge, for example, was used in early radio receivers."

"But the one stone that was particularly revered above all others in the ancient world was red granite. This very powerful rock is composed of high amounts of quartz and iron. Its power, in a sense, lies in the way it mirrors the human body, because the body contains quartz (silica) in its bones and iron dissolved in its blood. To work with red granite is to work in correspondence with the human body."

Anandakrishnan in an interview to The Star (https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2012/12/01/invoking-divine-blessings-for-building-of-granite-temple) mentions,

“Temple builders were aware that certain areas and rocks possessed their own energies, each imbued with a force which in turn could be harnessed to amplify the purpose for which the temple was intended."

Madhusudhan Selvarajan in https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2012/12/01/invoking-divine-blessings-for-building-of-granite-temple, too acclaims to this.

"Granite was revered as it had high amounts of quartz, a material that made a great transmitter. It mirrors the human body because we believe quartz is represented by our bones. So, the basic purpose of temples is to alter the human energy field and heightened the link with the spirit world.”

From https://invisibletemple.com/stone-in-sacred-sites.html we understand further that,

"Stones were typically organized by masculine or feminine polarity. The determining factor was decided by the way in which the stone had come into being. If a stone was forged from the convulsive force of volcanic activity its properties were considered masculine, for it embodied all the fiery, bold qualities typically associated with male energy. Masculine or positive-charged stones used in temples are typically granites: red granite, dolorite, greenstone."

"On the other hand, if the stone had been borne of the gentler, sedimentary action of water, it was considered to be feminine. Feminine or negative-charged stones are limestone, sandstone, marble." 

Anandakrishnan too says the same,

"Granite and other stones have masculine or feminine properties. Masculine or positively-charged stones are typically granite while the feminine is negative-charged stones such as limestone or marble.”  (https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2012/12/01/invoking-divine-blessings-for-building-of-granite-temple)

Historical pieces were often made of brasses (copper and zinc) and bronzes with different compositions too.

So was I asked by Agathiyar in the Nadi to have a bronze statue of him commissioned and made in Swamimalai, a puja conducted at the Adhi Kumbeswar temple in Kumbakonam and brought over to Malaysia to be worshipped. Agathiyar told us to give life and spirit to this statue by chanting the name of Agathiyar 100,000 times. Gathering a handful of family members and friends we could only manage 45,000 but the most compassionate father accepted our effort.

According to the scriptures, worlds and beings came into existence when Purusha (Divine Will and consciousness) enters Prakriti (Nature, Energy or Matter) and becomes established in it. Their association or union results in the formation of diversity. The world is a projection of God in the field of Nature. The forms and ideas are already present in the consciousness of the Cosmic Being (Isvara or Purusha). He brings them to life by pouring into them His creative energy. (https://www.hinduwebsite.com/idols.asp) 

Our world is jagat, the one which is awakened and illumined by the light of God or that which shines with the brilliance of the Sun. Before creation, the material universe (Viraj) exists as an idea in the cosmic consciousness of Isvara. When the creation begins, he breathes life into it with his creative energy and brings it to life. When an idol is worshipped with intense love and devotion, almost a similar process takes place in the mind of the worshipper. The idol is no doubt inert and inactive. At the physical level, it is just a piece of stone, clay, wood or some other material. However, in the mind of the devotee, it comes to life as he pours his love and devotion into it and makes offerings to it. It happens repeatedly whenever a devotee worships it. Hence, it is believed that not all idols are alike. Those who are ​more frequently worshipped by more people accumulate higher power in proportion to the offerings they receive. Thus in worship, devotees step into the role of God. They put life into the materiality of the idols and make them alive. (https://www.hinduwebsite.com/idols.asp)

Before a devotee worships an idol in the most reverential manner, he has to ritually install it and breathe life (prana) into it. The same is done when he worships a symbol or tantric diagram (yantra). It is called establishing life breathe into the idol (prana pratishta). When you do it, the prana that you pour into the idol comes from you. It is your life energy which you symbolically put into it. When the deity in the idol finally departs at the end of the ritual, the prana which you poured into it returns to you, purified and elevated. Inside your body, it purifies you further. Thus, in idol worship one not only worships the concrete form of God (murtam) but also the subtle, invisible and formless Self (amurtam) in the body. https://www.hinduwebsite.com/idols.asp

God who is omnipresent then is also in a piece of granite or the metal. But it needs to be worked on and rituals performed to bring it to the state where its divinity, His energy, and presence, could be seen and sensed by us, whose vision is obscured by maya.

Today Agathiyar sits majestically at my home, becoming more weightier after libation to him. What was once a mere metal is full of divine energy with the constant and continuous libation, chanting and prayers offered to his statue. Agathiyar having perform many miracles previously opened his eyes in this bronze statue and later confirmed this via a Nadi reading.

History proves that on the path of devotion, many people achieved liberation through image worship. They proved that with faith and devotion one could awaken the deities that are hidden in the idols and make them respond and reciprocate to their prayers and personal requests. Their experience shows that idol worship is powerful technique to connect to God. If there is enough devotion in the heart of a devotee, God would directly respond to those who worship his forms as it happened in case of great devotees such as Mirabai, Sant Tukaram, Shri Ramakrishna and Yogananda. (https://www.hinduwebsite.com/idols.asp)

Idols and concrete images are extremely useful and convenient to express their simple devotion and connect to the idea of God at the mental and emotional levels and on the most personal terms. An image can directly appeal to a devotee and instantly draw him into a reverential and devotional state.

Agathiyar is known to bring together the form of a Shivalinga from river sand, stone etc or inscribe on metals and worship them in the places where he stops in his travels all over the world. These places became places of worship for the commoners and took the shape of temples.

Like Lord Krishna, Agathiyar too tells us that he would take the form and shape of whoever we desire to see in these images and statues.

He also gives the assurance that in whatever form and manner people approach him, he will accordingly reciprocate. (https://www.hinduwebsite.com/idols.asp)

If Agathiyar asks us to give both life and spirit to a metal turning it into something divine, today we learn that the same applies when others take ill. For those whose souls are weak or Atma Balam is weak or deteriorating in strength, devotees who have worked on their souls, forever having the divine in their thoughts, are asks to come together to transfer power and strength to the weak either through physical mediums like prasad or food, vibhuti or sacred ash, etc or through a look, thought or touch. An ordinary man is made a healer too if the divine chooses to do so. By performing puja daily one can enrich his soul. Once his soul gains strength he can then transfer this strength to family members and others in need. It is quite akin to one visiting the temple and gaining strength and confidence besides peace and tranquility after surrendering all worries to the deity in residence at the temple.

Hence it is of utmost importance that one builds divine strength in him by engaging in rituals, religious ceremonies, initially, and then move on to personally conduct and perform them. Invoking the divine to grace these events, taking a seat in either the pictures or statues that adorn the altar, he later brings the divine to take permanent residence in his home. He then comes under the watchful eye of his chosen deity. If in event of danger or he needs help, help is only a cry away.

When the idols of the gods are installed in the house or in a puja mandir (place of worship in a house), the very house becomes an abode of gods, a sacred place or a temple by itself. (https://www.hinduwebsite.com/idols.asp)

The divine has now moved from his heavenly abode to the home of his devotee and soon takes up residence in the deep cave of his heart, making him divine too. Anything that comes into contact with divinity becomes divine in nature too. The magic of worship and the magical touch of the divine does wonders. One only needs to engage with the divine to experience them.

Finally, like all things even the divine idols are consumed in the end. Many great temples have been swallowed by the seas and sands. Many idols lie submerged underwater. Many others lay abandoned.

Like our gross bodies, the idols are also impermanent and destructible. Worshipping the destructible forms of God remind us of our own impermanence, the impermanence of the world and the need to work for our liberation. 

IN THE FACE OF DANGER

Man has neglected the very basic thing in life. His health. When his heath fails he seeks medical attention. When it comes to rituals man once again becomes dependent of others to perform them. In the face of other dangers or when tormented by woes and worries and troubles, he seeks another for a solution. I too had seeked helped in many instances from others in times of trouble. But all that has changed now. The day I took hold of Agathiyar, I only go to him for all my needs. I confront him, I argue with him, I cry to him, I beg him, I appeal - only to him for no one can possibly give more than he does. All the world's greatest saints survived because of him too. We ought to be grateful that the divine works through the medical profession and practitioners of alternative medicine in saving us. We ought to be grateful that we still have some genuine gurus to teach us a thing or too. We ought t be grateful that the divine comes as a stranger and a friend in times of our needs.

When I was called to the path I came empty. In the midst of my seeking to know more about the Siddhas I stood at the doorstep of several organizations. But I could not stay long enough to even be considered a follower. Agathiyar came to my aid. He blessed me with regular Aasi Nadi readings and showed me to two wonderful gurus, Supramania Swami and Tavayogi. They filled me up. I followed all of Agathiyar's dictates through the Nadi, and adhered to directives from both my gurus in physical form. Agathiyar taught me to perform libation or abhisegam on him while Tavayogi showed me lighting the sacred fire pit or Homa. My gurus taught me worship to the divine in many forms, always reminding me that they were all one. Tavayogi taught me pertinent Yoga Asanas and Pranayama. Both my masters and Agathiyar shared mantras to chant. They delivered many miracles to captivate my attention and revealed many secrets. They then sent seekers to my home to listen, watch and join in the puja sessions.

When I came to the path seeking for information on the Siddhas, I was saddened to hear many uphold the notion and opinion that coming to the worship of Siddhas destroys relationships and families. I refused to believe that such a wonderful Neri or path and its Siddhas would do damage to their offsprings and children. I rose to prove them wrong. Tavayogi told me to bring the family into the worship and not to ignore them. Agathiyar told me to take it up, together with looking after our responsibilities towards the family and society. He had in fact matchmade many couples bringing them together in matrimony. He had blessed couples with children too. We too made sure that the devotees spend their time with their families and take up the worship of Siddhas in the comfort of their homes. We proved the skeptics wrong.

When many seeked Tavayogi to officiate Peedhams in their homes and venues gathering small groups of seekers on the path of the Siddhas, I never intended to start one nor did I approach Tavayogi to officiate one at my home. When other organizations had a weekly routine where devotees would gather together on Thursdays to sing the praise of the Siddhas, although initially, I allowed the gathering soon I sent them off to worship the Siddhas in their own homes. I brought Agathiyar's bronze statue from my home to their homes and had them perform the homa and abhisegam with their family members participating together. The puja that initially took between two to three hours to complete soon shrunk to just minutes while the act of charity grew. Along the way, many came over to light a ghee lamp seeking that their wishes be granted by the divine. Many came with prayers asking to heal or save their family members. Many came to join in in the homa and abhisega, seeking solutions to their pressing needs of the day.

Today we conduct the homa and abhisegam only if the need arises and we ask that the devotee who has a prayer to offer, to do charity first before coming over to participate in the puja. We expect them to sit together with their families at their altar in their homes first before coming over to participate. They are asked to purchase all that is required for the puja. We have them come early and prepare and conduct the puja and rituals by themselves with a little bit of guidance from us. If the devotees have been singing the praise of the Siddhas in their own homes, they would be comfortable singing them during the puja. For those who have taken up doing homa, of course, we encourage them to conduct it in their home. We would like them and are trying to educate them to take their lives into their own hands and begin to talk to the divine, seek all that they wanted from him directly rather than engage another to be a medium. It is a known fact that mediums and middlemen are known to have manipulated people and the situation, cheating these desperate souls in times of trouble. 

Besides puja we encourage them to feed the hungry. With puja and charity going hand in hand and with the grace and mercy of the divine and a little bit of assistance from the guru and the Siddhas, one's wishes are granted. Many take up the task of doing charity or feeding only to satisfy the asking or directive in their Nadi as a means to appease their karma and stop at that not taking it up as a life long practice. When we started charity on a wider scale, of course, there was then a need to officially register a movement PTS as we handled members and donor's contributions.

Then there are many other tools to keep man save. But these should be put to good use while one is hale and healthy and not when faced with danger. It is always better to prevent something from occurring rather than to treat it later. We have numerous Kavasams or songs that tend to protect one from harm's way. Adopting a life devoted to the daily worship of the divine will keep the dark forces and harm away. Treating the problem once it crops up will take time and energy and of course money.

Let us prepare for the rainy day rather than get caught in the rain or be surprised. Agathiyar himself sings the praise of Lord Narayana while all his senses are in a top form reminding himself and us too that we might not be in the state to even think about the divine much less pray or sing his praises in our illness or at our deathbed.

நாராயணா ஸ்ரீமத் நாராயணா
பத்ரி நாராயணா ஹரி நாராயணா
நாராயணா ஸத்ய நாராயணா
சூர்ய நாராயணா லக்ஷ்மி நாராயணா

நொந்துடலும் கிழமாகித் தளர்ந்தபின்
நோயில் நடுங்கிடும் போது – ஜீவ
நாடிகள் நைந்திடும் போது – மனம்
எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – இன்று
கசிந்துன்னைக் கூவுகின்றேன் அருள் செய்திடுவாய் ஹரி நாராயணா

நீடு கபம் கோழை ஈழை நெருக்கி – என்
நெஞ்சை அடைத்திடும் போது
நாவும் குழறியபோது – மனம்உன்னை
எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – நான்
அன்றுனைக் கூவிட இன்றழைத்தேன் எனை
ஆண்டருள்வாய் ஹரி நாராயணா

ஐம்பொறியும் கரணங்களும் வாயுவும்
ஆடி அடங்கிடும் போது – எந்தன்
ஆவி பிரிந்திடும்போது – மனம்
எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – இன்று
நம்பி உனைத் தொழுதே அழைத்தேன்
ஜகன் நாயகனே ஹரி நாராயணா

உற்றவர் பெற்றவர் மற்றவர் சுற்றமும்
ஒவென்று நின்றழும்போது – உயிர்
ஓசைகள் ஓய்ந்திடும்போது – மனம்
எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – இன்று
பற்றி உனைப் பணிந்தே அழைத்தேன் – ஆபத்
பாந்தவனே ஹரி நாராயணா

என்பொருள் என்மனை என்றதெல்லாம் இனி
இல்லை என்றாகிடும் போது – மனம்
எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – நீ
அன்று வரும் பொருட்டின்றழைத்தேன் அருள்
அச்சுதனே ஹரி நாராயணா

வந்தமெதூர் வளைத்து பிரித்தெனை
வாவென்றிழுத்திடும் போது – மனம்
எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – அந்த
அந்தியம் நீ வர இன்றழைத்தேன்
ஸச்சிதானந்தனே ஹரி நாராயணா

Agathiyar places himself in our shoes and sees himself face old age and death. At that moment of inability, immobility, and gone senile, or with acute illness, he says he might not be able to utter the name of Lord Narayana, hence he reminds us to take the opportunity to sing the praise of the Lord right now at this very moment while we are hale and healthy, quite akin to saving for a raining day.

At that hour when death approaches me I am not sure if I will remember you, hence I am remembering you now Narayana, please take heed of my calling,

When kapam or phlegm arises and my tongue quivers, I am not sure if I will remember you, hence I am calling you now so that you would appear then to save me, Lord Narayana,

When vayu or the vital air comes to a halt, and all senses seize to function, and my soul begins to leave, I am not sure if I would be thinking of you, hence I call out to you now so that you come to my aid then,

When all that I thought was mine suddenly is of no significance and importance at the time of death, I am not sure if I will remember you my Lord, but nevertheless, I pray that you would come then Lord Narayana, hence I am calling you out now,

When Yama's servants appear to bind and take me away, I cannot promise that I would think of you, hence I call you now my Lord,

When my next of kin surround my death bed and wail and cry out, I don't know if your thought will arise in me, hence I cry out for you my Lord this very moment, so that you would appear to save me during my final moments! and so the song goes on.

This is what we should be doing daily for we might not be even able to say his name, let alone call out to him to save us in our hour of need. It is time to leave the classroom and get our hands dirty doing the practical and real thing. Of course, we understand if you are ill or your mobility is restricted or you are not in a financial position to help. But there are other ways to compensate.