GAINING MORE INSIGHT 2

Just as we understood that as we move up the spiritual ladder our karma is lessened in many ways revealed at the appropriate time at each stage of our progress, the divine too shows its form according to our spiritual maturity.

Asked to come to the path through the Nadi reading in 2002, I was given a painting of Agathiyar to worship. He came in this form.

Coming to meet Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram in 2005, he pointed us to a 6 feet tall fiber statue of Agathiyar as his form and initiated us telling us that Agathiyar who resides in all of us is God, "அருள் ஞான ஜோதியே அகத்தின் ஜோதி தனி பெரும் கடவுளே அகத்தீசர் ஆவார்."

If Tavayogi had depicted God as Agathiyar standing 6 foot tall in the space where rituals were done at Kallar and the inner space in all of us, moving into the inner chambers of the Dhyana room or meditation room we are confronted by a Aaru Aadhara Peedham or 6 tiered granite structure with an oil lamp placed on the highest tier. This was an abstract form of the divine we came to understand.

During my second initiation at Kallar in 2005, he tells me that the breath was God.

In 2010 Agathiyar comes into our home in the form of a bronze statue commissioned and made in Swamimalai to specifications outlined by Agathiyar in the Nadi. He was a replica of the granite statue at Agasthiyampalli in Tamilnadu.

In 2013 he surprised us by opening his eyes in this statue just as he did in his original at Agasthiyampalli in 2005.

Prior to this miracle, he had opened his eyes in his painting in the home of 9 female devotees a day after we gathered to perform his puja at their home.

Returning from Nattadreswar temple in Erode with Tavayogi in 2013, he told us that Siva was Agathiyar.

Then we were slowly trained to see him in the faces of man and animals. We started doing charity and feeding.

When Tavayogi used to tell me that Agathiyar came to him I asked how did he come? Like a light, I was told. So to a Gnani he took his luminous form to appear. Hence we understand why we are asked to light a lamp. Recently I saw a documentary where we get to see the colors of the sun that is a fireball in the sky representing that of the flame of an oil lamp.

The phenomena below that appeared in the distant hills surrounding Kallar Ashram was taken during the Yagam several years ago. 

Many devotees have seen images of deities taking shape in the ever-changing shapes of the burning fire of the Yagam we are told.  

We could see that we were slowly being brought to see God first with form, later in others, and then moved to the formless. Lately, Agathiyar asked us to see him in all of nature and asked to get connected with it. Recently Agathiyar answered a question from a couple who were staunched devotees of his, having worshipped him in all forms, beginning with a form as in statues and paintings, serving him at their home and his temples; then as sound as in mantras; then as light as in the lamps; and expanded their vision of God to all of his creation, serving both man and animals, birds and fishes. She now stood before him asking to know his true form after having seen him in all these forms. Agathiyar asked her what and how she felt and experienced while doing all these? She replied a vibration. "I am that" he replied. He revealed yet another form that day. Names (sound), and forms (light) were secondary and came later we understood. He is constantly and continously vibrating in us, and in the universe or prapanjam of which we are a part. 

Now we tend to understand Mataji's experience when she was at AVM with Tavayogi in 2016 where we lit a Homa. As she recited the Siddha names followed by all gathered, she had felt the ground vibrate below her. When I saw her the next day she shared the experience with me and later with another devotee who came by. Both of us did not experience it. As she read the Jeeva Nadi the following day to an AVM family member, Agathiyar pointed out her experience in the Nadi and told Mataji that she was the sole witness to that phenomena or miracle where all the Siddhas had arrived to participate in our puja. The earth shook as they laid their feet on the ground. 

Agathiyar explained that his energy and vibration was spread out in all things. He mentioned he was in the lines of the verses of the songs in his album "Agathiyar Geetham" too. In our walks through the jungle and to the numerous abodes of the Siddhas, Tavayogi used to point to me the presence of these Siddhas. He would point to the sky and tell me that they were showering flower petals on us ushering us to their abodes. He used to point out a certain aroma, scent, and smell that arrives with the breeze and lingers for a moment or two. Agathiyar has told me that he showed himself as a twinkle or spark of light for a split second or so in these places. 

To a question from my wife as to why he asked us to have his statue made and worshipped at home, especially the particular form or "version" as seen at Agasthiyampalli, he asked her another question just like Tavayogi always replied a question with another question. "Why do you go to the temple?" "To receive the vibration and energy" she replied. "Exactly," he said and told her that she was blessed as "When others traveled to these temples to receive it, the temple has come to you with its energy." 

As to why he stipulated the particular form or "version" as seen at Agasthiyampalli, we learned from Agathiyar who revealed the history of his temple at Agasthiyampalli to Siddha practitioner Dr. VN Jayapalan in his meditation that it was the very first temple built for him by Kubera, king of the Asuras, in the very beginning of Kali Yuga. Hence Agathiyar had brought a replica of his original form from his very first temple into our homes.

The following day as we traveled in the car, she had another doubt, and almost immediately it was answered. She asked me "If he had asked us to abstain from doing all forms of rituals and go within, why has he asked us to ensure that we conduct his Annual Vizha or celebrations that was around the corner? Immediately it dawned on her that he had brought together and tutored all his children in learning and doing sariyai and kriyai at AVM and after some 7 years decided to break and dismantle the group and have them lose their dependency on one another, a specific venue to gather, society, and organization and names and labels. As he brought them to worship the Siddhas in their own homes, now he wanted them to come back to AVM to be recharged once a year.

Today we are proud to see AVM Agathiyar adorn billboards, book covers, CD covers, leaflets, and even on vans. 

GAINING MORE INSIGHT 1

Much has been said about karma in this blog. I only came to know about karma after reading my Nadi for the very first time in 2002. Prior to that, I had kept away from all forms of worship and reading of spiritual and religious books for some 14 years after I did not receive answers to all my queries. I was confused after hearing all the stories and readings that painted a rosy picture that God was all compassionate, but in reality, it did not match with what took place. Only the opposite happened. Although I was spared, I was questioning why people suffered, even staunch devotees, sometimes at the very hands of God. But I still kept at continuing my temple and home worship. Lord Siva came to put a stop to all this questioning telling me to keep my questions to another date (in the future). 

Coming to the Nadi and Agathiyar, I learned that we were answerable to our past deeds that take shape as karma. Hence I understood and accepted the fact that we and the others have made mistakes in the past and have to pay in the form of our sufferings. I too was sent to carry out numerous remedies or parikaram. I did a pilgrimage to India after completing them locally. I was asked to pray and worship, do charity and feed both man and animal. That was a means of cleansing my karma, I was told in the Nadi. 

Agathiyar tells us that going through pain is a means of reducing them too. He tells us going through inconveniences and hardship was another way of reducing them. Hence we understand why certain temples were sited in remote areas and atop hills and in deep jungles. With this new understanding, we tend to accept the hardship, delays, and obstacles that devotees go through in traveling on pilgrimages to these places. It was a means to shed our karma. These were ways of reducing karma for one on the path of Sariyai. 

Coming to Kriyai, learning to start a fire and reciting the names of the Siddhas, as did Tavayogi introduced us to, we learned from him that this was a way to end or at least reduce the effects of natural calamities brought on by Mother Earth and nature. Agathiyar came later to enlighten me that the homa that I was doing reluctantly was for the good of all of consciousness or prapanjam. Later Tavayogi tells us that this ritual will help heal our sufferings and ailments too. When Tavayogi took ill in 2017 we pleaded to Agathiyar to spare him. Agathiyar gathered the Siddhas to conduct a Yagam that is a Homa done on a larger scale with the intent to save his life. Tavayogi survived. Agathiyar tells me later that lighting this sacrificial fire does eradicate our karma to a certain degree too. 

Moving into the next stage that of Yoga we are told that by the internal fire of our tapas or austerities or Tava Kanal that results from our practice of meditation our karma is burnt away further. 

We understood that as we move up the spiritual ladder our karma is lessened in many ways given at the appropriate time at each stage of progress. 

Having attained maturity in understanding and arriving at the state of satisfaction and acceptance, the move to Gnana is made where we are then given the bitter pill or truth to swallow. We are told that all the ways and means prescribed earlier do not contribute the least to ridding, eradicating, or lessening the hold of karma on us but had contributed immensely towards adding on to our existing bank balance of merits. We had to balance the scale. Dr. Krishnan, medical astrologer, and Siddha practitioner in running through my horoscope did explain how my life was spared or a danger put off in many instances. This was countered by the draining of my financial resources. I had to either lose money or lose my life.

We learn the truth that we still have to answer to our karma but with the divine now by our side, our load is lessened to a large extent. A couple who were devotees of Agathiyar shared how they have come to terms with their karma. Before the divine come to their aid, the load they carried on their shoulders was akin to carrying a bag of coins. Coins are heavy. When the divine stood by their side, the heavy load turned into paper money. It was a breeze and they could sail through the dilemma of life. 

We now understand and have come to terms that the amount of karma accumulated never changes but its form could. Having such an enlightened view and perspective, karma however huge and heavy, sure does feel light and easy on our shoulders to carry. Thus we begin to understand why we still go through misery and suffering even after having done numerous remedies, and tend to accept responsibility for our sufferings.

In bringing us to do charity too, we were told that it would help loosen the hold of karma on us. But in actuality, it served to open our hearts and bring on compassion and love in us towards fellow man and animal.

On another note, we have been trained to please God all this while by showering him with money, gifts, garlands, milk, etc. This is seen in Sariyai. For those of us who have found a guru, he comes to shift our sight from pleasing God to serving him. This is seen in Kriyai. Slowly the guru shifts our sight to attain higher achievements working in tandem with us on our purpose and spiritual goal. This is seen in Yoga. With the dawn of divine wisdom that results from going within, the sadhaka drops the sheaths, he drops the method, he drops the path, and stands merged with God. This is the state of Gnana. If he chooses he comes back from his state to show others the way and the means too. He then is a Jeevanmukthan.

Coming to the path having served him, served his devotees, served his children, and having carried out rituals we became satisfied and contended. We never expected Agathiyar to offer us boons. But he did ask all those gathered and finally turned his attention to me. I had nothing to ask of him. I was satisfied and contended. But as he was waiting for a reply, I began to think fast. Finally, I thought that serving him as I did now would make him happy. I told him that I would love to take numerous births and serve him as I do now. He asked me if that was what I wanted? I remained silent knowing that this was not what was to be asked of him. I sincerely told him I do not know what to ask fearing that whatever I ask shall be wrong. He left it at that. Over the days I called Mahindren and shared my thoughts. I told him maybe we should be asking for Gnana as Tavayogi always laments that nobody comes seeking Gnana. When he came next I was taken aback and surprised when Agathiyar told me that I had asked for Gnana. He had eavesdropped on our telephone conversation. I knew this was the right thing to ask as he went on to explain the means and the way. I can easily relate this conversation with Agathiyar with the lyrics of the a beautiful song penned by Pa Vijay for the film "Mookutti Amman".

பார்த்தேனே உயிரின் வழியே
யார் கண்ணும் காணா முகமே
கல் என்று நினைத்தேன் உனையே
நீ யார் என்று சொன்னாய் மனமே தான் நீயா

எதில் நீ இருந்தாய்
எங்கோ மறைந்தாய்
உன்னை தேடி அலைந்தேன் எனக்குள்ளே தெரிந்தாய்
இது போதும் எனக்கு வேறு வரங்கள் 100 வேண்டுமா
இறைவா இதுதான் நிறைவா
உணர்ந்தேன் உனையே உனையே
மறந்தேன் எனையே எனையே

வேதங்கள் மொத்தம் ஓதி
யாகங்கள் நித்தம் செய்து
பூசிக்கும் பக்தி அதிலும் உன்னைக் காணலாம்
பசி என்று தன்முன் வந்து
கை ஏந்தி கேட்கும் போது
தன் உணவைத் தந்தால் கூட உன்னைக் காணலாம்
உன்னைக் காண பல கோடி இங்கு வாரி இறைக்கிறார்கள்
எளிதாக உன்னைச் சேர இங்கு யாரு நினைக்கிறார்கள்

அலங்காரம் அதில் நீ இல்லை
அகங்காரம் மனதில் இல்லை
துளி கள்ளம் கபடம் கலந்திடாத அன்பில் இருக்கிறாய்
உணர்ந்தேன் உனையே உனையே
மறந்தேன் எனையே எனையே

அகம் நீ ஜகம் நீ
அணுவான உலகில் அகலம் நீ
எறும்பின் இதய ஒளி நீ
களிரின் துதிக்கை கனமும் நீ
ஆயிரம் கை உன்டென்றால் நீ ஒரு கை தர கூடாதா
2000 கண் கொண்டாய் உன் ஒரு கண் என்னை பாராதா
உன்னில் சரண் அடைந்தேன்
இனி நீ கதியே.

(Source: https://www.tharunshiv.com/paarthene-mookutthi-amman-song-lyrics-with-meaning/#tlyrics)

MORE MYSTERIES 2

 My friend continues,

Yesterday, Amma revealed that She had to search for a suitable womb for souls to get embodied. That is the way of the Masters. They are with us from time immemorial,and, once having accepted us, their care for us extends beyond the many embodiments.

In mentioning the way of the masters, we become aware that the divine looks for a suitable womb for a soul to be born. This explains why a devotee continuously lost "her bundle of joy to be" each time she conceived. The couple was told by Agathiyar that the past conceivements were a result of kaamam or lust. Since they have come to his fold, he asked them to bring divine thoughts within in those moments of intimacy and wait patiently for the miracle of life to unfold. The couple now has a beautiful baby girl, their first child. Hence it answers the delay too.

As Neale wrote, "Each element of life down to the tiniest sub-molecular particle is a part of the mind of God, the thought has a pull over elements bringing it into alignment", this reminds us of the many stories told of how couples meditated on the divine to issue them a prodigy or divine child. The divine would then give them an option and asked to consider if they were prepared to accept a short-lived divine child or a normal child that lives long. Agathiyar tells us that our children and grandchildren are gifted and divine souls who shall begin to teach others beginning with us. 

When my wife was carrying our second child, the consecration of a new Murugan temple, the Sri Bala Supramaniyar temple, began followed by further rituals for the next 48 days. We frequented the temple each night as it was a short distance away from our home. When a priest opened the floor to questions one day after the puja, I chose the opportunity to ask him when does the Atma or soul begin to reside in the womb? He took delight in answering the question and told us 3 months after conception. Later I read somewhere it was mentioned as at 7 months. Paramahansa Yogananda refutes the notion that the soul enters the body at birth, saying that "If it were not already there the body would not have developed from the original tiny cells." 

Paramahansa Yogananda wrote in "Man's Greatest Adventure", published by Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, Kolkata, 1970, giving us a detailed account of the miracle of birth. 

The adventure begins with the struggle the soul goes through to enter a womb at the time of conception. In the astral world there are millions of souls struggling to return to earth, to enter the mated sperm and ovum cells at the time of conception. At the time of conception there is a flash in the ether and one soul enters as the sperm and ovum cells unite. 

He says we had to compete with other souls in fighting to get into the womb. Once inside there the soul regrets as it realizes that it is once again caught in the web of birth and pleads to return where it tends to struggle inside the womb, asking to be let out.  Inside the womb it has occasional memories of the past coming in. Paramahansa Yogananda says, "The child's will to move is a memory coming from the soul's past. So he stirs restlessly in the mother's womb until he tires and goes to sleep. When the will becomes very strong the baby is born. Though "The baby's first cry is an effort to activate the lungs and start the breath of life", it is also true that it cries for being born again. "His prenatal resistance to birth ends with his first breath when Maya comes over him" he explains. He adds that "The soul's memory of the past is always there. He feels once more attracted to the physical."

My friend shared the message he received from Krishnaveni Amma in his meditation. 

Today evening, She said that the horoscope has its limitations because birth is to charted from the time of entry of the soul, into the "body". There is a great secret to the duration of time, as 7 days to a week, 30 days to a month, and 12 months to a year. Maybe you should write about the concept of Time in your posts. Food for thought.

Do we actually know our self? Have we actually seen ourselves in totality? Can we possibly see within the body with the naked eyes? Everything we know about us comes from another source. Otherwise, how would we know how we look like? We can only see all our body parts except for our faces and our backs. If it was not for the mirror that shows our image and the reflection of our face in still waters, we would not even know how we look like. We need the aid of medical equipment to look within the body too. Although man is said to have the capacity to become God, we are so limited when confined to the body and its senses.

Just like adorning a shirt for the day, we have come to adorn another body in this birth to fit into and play the role given. Just like we discard the shirt and adorn another the next day, we discard the old, worn out, and tired body for another in the next birth. What lives on is the soul, the witness that is a part of the divine consciousness. Neale Donald Walsch in his "Conversation with God" is told that "The soul that is the source of the energy of the essential essence is indeed God in us." God tells us further, "That the soul is the expression of the being that is God or God being manifested" and that "The soul is the local expression of God's desire which is to experience itself."

There are so many unanswered questions regarding the Atma. The only way it seems now is to engage directly with our souls and find out. Hence the reason for Agathiyar to repeatedly ask us to go within, and to look within for all answers. The external search has stopped for us he said. Sariyai, Kriyai has been covered, bringing on the grace of the divine. In Yoga, we are asked to bring the divine energy within. Tavayogi had explained that with the consciousness coming within us, the need and dependency on the breath lessens and finally stops. That is samadhi. I only realized that Tavayogi had spoken about this during his address to us one evening while he and Mataji were in Malaysia in 2016 when I went back to his speeches and posted them in a post several days back at https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-siddhas-society-1.html. How did we miss that then? Asking Mahin and Suren who were there too, they too are equally stunned and do not remember him speaking on it. Maybe it was meant to be. I suppose even if we had attentively listened to his discourse then it would not have registered in us as we had not come to practice going within then. I suppose a veil was drawn to obscure us at that moment. Recently Ramalinga Adigal drew the curtain aside and helped us tap into the consciousness and asked that we continue doing it.

When we gathered together to bring the statue of Agathiyar around the temple in circumambulation it was an easy task - for a beginning at least. Soon the four carriers, Shanga, Bala, Dyalen, and Sugu could not handle the weight of Father as he came within the statue responding to our call and invitation in the form of a song titled அகத்தியர் வருகை. Then I was told that in a temple in India, when the deity is brought out to bless the devotees what starts with only 4 people carrying him, adds on, and finally, we find more people having to join in to carry the deity around. He gains weight. Once they bring the deity back, the weight is released and eventually, the original 4 place him back at his spot. Amazing right? It is very obvious that the divine comes to our calling. 

Supramania Swami once in asking me to do tavam, told me that he shall progress further if I began and continued to engage in tavam. I asked myself how could my tavam raise his status and standing? Recently Ramalinga Adigal said Tavayogi had attained the state of Jothi or light aided by the strength of our tapas. Similarly, Agathiyar reminded family members and encouraged them to take up vegetarianism to aid in the progress of fellow members who are thriving to succeed spiritually. It would pave the path for him to attain his goal without hindrance. In return, we are told that if one succeeds in his spiritual venture 21 generations of past and future shall have their karma written off. One man's merit collected from his tapas shall clean the slate of the ancestral lineage of its karma. It seems now that we need each other to not only sail through life but to even attempt to scale the heights in attaining a divine state as long as we live in a society.

An individual could appease his personal and individual karma through remedies and individual prayer. We are currently victims of collective karma. Only collective prayer could possibly address collective karma. Hence, the need has arisen to come together in a single and specific thought or sangalpam. As coming together physically might not be possible during these times of the pandemic, collective thought shall break through the barriers laid on our path and bring success in all our noble endeavors. As every conscious thought registered in the cosmic consciousness gains momentum and strength and power by the grace of the divine beings and comes back to us to heal us and the world, shall we all come together tomorrow Sunday 13.12.2020 at 12 noon Malaysian Standard time to sit silently and place our requests before Lord Siva. This is in line with Agathiyar's directive that we come together in asking and to move Lord Siva who is known to grant boons irrespective of our spiritual status, to shower his grace and kindness in removing entirely this pandemic that has shown its ugly face. Agathiyar said he too shall try his best in convincing Siva. Maybe the divine hand can go back in time and make some adjustments and bring a positive outcome. 

MORE MYSTERIES 1

Looking at both my 6 months and 3-year-old granddaughters I often ask them who they are? Why did they come? What was their purpose? Now looking back on my life, I am still puzzled over so many questions. We are only aware of what had taken place in the past years when we shift through our memory. Most of the time someone else has to refresh or fill in the gaps regarding many instances in our life. What is my earliest memory of me and my surroundings? I cannot seem to touch that point in time. What I remember is certain scenes from my childhood that are fragmented all over my internal hard disk. If only we could defrag those files, sort and organize them as in a timeline for easier retrieval. 

When I placed the following questions to my friend from India, who receives messages from Krishnaveni Amma in his meditation, "When did we know for the first time we existed? When were we aware that we were alive? When did we become aware of life? Can you remember? I cannot. It's all like a dream with no beginning", he replied.

In which dimension would the point of singularity be? Who or what exist before that state/dimension? Are you sure you were"born"? You can't be born if you existed prior to this embodiment, and, so, you can't die. It is said when the great saints came out of samadhi, they came out laughing. Probably, they realised no one was ever born, for anyone to die. 

From the concept of Time to the vastness of Space... What a wonderful journey it would be. The age of the universe is @ 13.8 billion years. The farthest galaxy from earth is MACS 0647 JD, which is supposedly 13.26 billion lightyears away. 

What would it be to be there this very instant and look back at earth? The Milky Way would be the farthest observable galaxy. Nothing will be seen beyond our galaxy, in the opposite direction,as light would not have reached the observer there. But, newer galaxies will be visible beyond MACS 0647 JD.

We assume that light is the fastest, in our galaxy. How false it is. The expansion of the universe is at a rate faster than the speed of light, as we are not able to see beyond. The cosmos continues to expand at a rate faster than the speed of light. Therefore, there can be no vault limit to the vastness of the cosmos.

I am sure you have seen the picture of Lord Shiva sitting in dhyana. He has put forth the entirety of Creation as a thought/dream, and watches it play out. The moment He withdraws that thought, Creation comes to a standstill. The entirety of Creation is but a figment of His imagination. The Lord sitting in dhyana, is the first vibration of subtle form, Maheswara tattvam, which descended from Sadhakiyam. It was of great wonder as to what He was meditating on. I recently came across an answer to this ( I forget where). When the entirety of Creation meditates on Him, it is said that He continues to meditate, from the very onset of pre-time, before Mahakala and Mahakali, on the nature of Parabrahma, That which is, and, is not. Even Maheswara is absorbed into the Primal Consciousness, at the end of Time. What would then remain? Pure Consciousness, even before Its own vibration as Para. There would be no Nada or Bindu. What a state. The Lord, as we know Him, is one of the eight Vidyeswaras... Known to us as Sri Kanda Parameshwara. He is such a Pure Soul, He is on par with Sadasivam, and even beyond them. 

Such a cosmos has Lord Shiva as its Creator, Sustainer, Destroyer, Obfuscator and Benefactor..ஐந்தொழில் ஈஸ்வரன். And, He is known to us as Bhuvaneswaran, and together with His Consort Bhuvaneswari are the parents of the microcosm and the macrocosm.

Now, this Creation is said to take place at the level of the Maheswara tattva. The Lords of this tattva are said to be eight in number...அஷ்டவித்யேஸ்வரர். These eight Great Souls are called ப்ரளயகலர் ஆன்மா, meaning that during the dissolution of all that could have been imagined, these Souls merge with Paraparai, who,in turn merges with Paraparam.Beyond them are the Sadhasivars, the Nadam, the Bindu, Paraparai and Paraparam. 

We now exist as சகலர் ஆன்மா...Maya rules over us and gets Her way, by using our Ego to do Her work. When the Great Masters raise us to their level, we become a விஞ்ஞானகலர் ஆன்மா. We, then, get to understand Time and Space. Thus, the third gets revealed on its own, namely, Causation. Then, Maya has no hold on us anymore. When the Time of that subtle embodiment comes to an end, we merge with Lord Bhuvaneswara...ப்ரளயகலர் ஆன்மா. 

The five variables of Asudha Maya tattvas are காலம், கலை, நியதி, அராகம், வித்தை.... Timeline of events, Art of doing, Desire to do, Predestination of events and Scholarship to do the same. Maya, when it comes to individual souls (புருடன்) limits our individual existence, to what is enough for this embodiment, in a need to know basis. Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakthi have the same five variables in looking after the entirety of Creation. Here Maya is suddha. Since our embodiment is within the confines of Creation, we are limited. They are beyond, and the cause of Creation, and, therefore, they are unlimited by Time and Space. The five variables are different, for the same soul, during different embodiments. Hence, our remembrance of the past is sketchy, to say the least, though not absent. The experience of various embodiments are different too, though they are interlinked,as சஞ்சையித்தம், ப்ராப்தம் and ஆகமீயம்....கர்மவினை... the essence of the work of the soul as predestined by Maya.

Only by effacing one's ego (அகங்காரம்) can we transcend Maya. In that state, individuality (ஆணவம் - பசு தன்மை) will be retained without a sense of doership, and the Lord's wishes will be carried out, like the state of the Great Masters. That alone is, and should be our goal of human life. Thereafter, it becomes His responsibility. 

ஈசன், மாயையை கொண்டு த்வைத்த பாவத்தில் காரணமும் காரியமும் நடத்துகிறார். ஈசன் சித்தம் எதுவோ அதுவே நடக்கும். ஆன்மாக்களுக்கு அகங்காரம் உண்டு. ராகவேந்திரரும் பட்டினத்தாரும் ஈசன் அழைத்தவுடன் உலகியலில் இருந்து விலகினர். அவர்களிடம் ஆணவம் இருந்தது. அகங்காரம் இல்லை. ஈசன் சித்தம் புரிவதில்லை. அதை பின்பற்ற அறிவும் இல்லை. ஆதலால், ஈசன் தான் கரை சேர்க்க வேண்டும்.

The saints and siddhas retained their individuality but dissolved their ego. They realised Him. 

In the Devi Mahatmiyam, it is said that the entirety of Creation is contained on the toe nail of the Divine Mother. It is also said that the lifespan of Lord Vishnu is the time taken by Shakthi to loosen Her Hair and knot it back again.

With this background, our existence is like a small viral particle that has probably not yet been seen. Yet, what an ego we possess. The desire and ownership we claim over animate and inanimate is beyond expressions. The work of the Masters and the Divine must necessarily, be gargantuan. If only we give up our ego,or, at least have a desire to give it up, the Great Ones can really make a God out of us... inner alchemy...புடம் போட்டு புனிதன் ஆக்குவிப்பது. 

Gordon Matthews in his translation of Meykanda Devar’s "Shivagnana Botham" writes,

To Sakalar, souls immersed in all three impurities, God comes as a Guru of human form; he imparts it concealing himself as a Guru. To Pralayakalar, souls affected only by Anava and Kanma, he comes as a Guru in Shiva’s form; he himself standing before them as Guru imparts true knowledge. To Vijnanakalar, souls involved only in Anava, he comes as the inner principle of the soul’s consciousness; he himself appears, as true knowledge.

Veeraswamy Krishnaraj in his comprehension of Arulnandi Shivachariyar’s " Shivagnana Siddhiyar" writes,

Lord Shiva appears to Sakalar with Anava, Kanma and Mayai Malams in human as a Satguru. To Pralayakalar with Anava and Kanma Malams, Lord Shiva appears as divine God. Those souls that are rising, Vijnanakalar - the highest class of souls among the three mentioned in Shivagnana Siddhiyar with only one impurity known as Anava Malam, do not need an external Guru to instruct them. Lord Shiva by remaining inside them as the inner guide rids them of the Anava Malam, bringing the merits and demerits to a resolution and conferring spiritual knowledge or divine grace known as Saktinipata, the descent of Sakti into the soul. Vijnanakalar receive Gnana from Lord Shiva himself as the incorporeal inner guide.

IN MEMORY OF BHARATHI

I love Srimathi Bombay Jayashri's voice. She reminds me of Srimathi R.Balasaraswathi of years gone by. My wife still puts my granddaughter to sleep singing her "Malligai Poo Jathi Roja" inspired by Jose Sancho Padilla’s “La Violetera.”

Jayashri brings to life Mahakavi Bharathi's songs in this compilation "Kannama - Outpourings of a Heart in Love", an apt tribute to the famed poet on his birthday.

 

THE SIDDHAS & SOCIETY 2

Although it is difficult to separate the myth from the history of the Siddhas, P.Karthigayan by defining them tries to sieve the myth from history. He defines the former as "unconventional information about age-old history which survived as folklores and mystified as mythology" while the latter were accounts "substantiated by relics and records of archeological discoveries." I strongly recommend that readers purchase his book the "History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu", Notion Press, 2016. It is an excellent well-researched book that sheds much light on the Siddhas.

P.Karthigayan writes that modern science accepts that the human species started some 2 million years ago. The period has its equivalent calculated to be 165,000 years into the Thredha Yuga. He says that the Siddhas have implied that human inception started much earlier in the Kredha Yuga and began to flourished and spread in groups as civilizations and societies in the Thredha Yuga. He confirms a story often told by my mother that the Gods did walk the face of the earth and lived with mortals like us. P.Karthigayan writes, "According to ancient literary records of the Tamils, the Sangam 1 was an organization of 4449 poets in total: of whom Gods (Siva, Kumaran, Kubera), immortals (Agathiyar, Mudinaagaraayar) and mortals (kings, poets, and prominent people) were 549 in number, and the rests of them were members of their literary assembly." 

Siva is said to have laid the rules of justice that were: rules for a just ruler (aram); rules for the accumulation of wealth (porul); rules for the enjoyment of pleasure (inbam); and finally having had tasted all these fleeting forms of desires, and come to a realization that life is impermanent, Siva introduces us to the rules for attaining salvation  (veedu). As Isaikavi Ramanan in one of his talks says that Siva only knows how to give, P.Karthigayan says that Siva gave boons even to the asuras. Since they had undertaken extreme austerities, in appreciation of the spiritual excellence he gave them boons. But Siva did conquer them eventually to save his people. 

Kumaran is said to have led the Tamils to war against the Avunas (who the author classifies as the present-day Chinese) led by Soorabanman. Thus Kumaran became a savior of the Tamils. He helped them improve their commerce bringing prosperity to their society. He helped redefine their lifestyle and imparted wisdom. Kumaran then chose to observe penance at Siva's Nandhi monastery. He picked up yoga and finally, in his words, claims "I saw and experienced the breathless place - mounam." He too went through the painful process of transforming his body into "a fumelike aural body" writes P.Karthigayan. "I attained the air like body". "Depriving the physical components that can lead one to death through the process of aging he regained his youth." Kumaran remained a youth often appearing to many in his youthful form till this day. I was surprised many a time during my pilgrimage to several temples and abodes of Lord Murugan, where a young lad would stand out prominently among the senior priests and acknowledge us. Just before we departed he would come up to us and would either gift us the unexpected or would have something to tell us. Palani, Othimalai, Tiruvanaikaval, and places closer to home at Batu Caves and the Sungai Siput Caves were such pilgrim spots where Kumaran brushed past us in a split moment either delivering his message or giving his darshan.

P.Karthigayan writes that Kumaran after the battle, and now known as Subramaniyar shared this secret to youthfulness with Siva. Besides that he shared the secrets about the cosmos and the art of achieving the light or luminous body or oli deham. Siva who himself had attained longevity through other means cited in the Rig Veda, attained the luminous body too. Siva then adopted Kumaran as his offspring. Could these secrets have possibly be parted to Siva during the said upadesam or imparting of the meaning of the Pranavam "AUM" to Lord Shiva by Lord Murugan at Swamimalai?

What was the contribution of the immortals to society then? P.Karthigayan writes that the immortals guided the kings on uplifting their subjects. The Siddhas thrived to elevate the human species to that of the nature of the Gods. Agathiyar presented the 5 tenets to mankind at the Tamil Sangam, so that mankind shall gain salvation. This is true of them for till this day they have never given up on us although we tend to give up on them in the face of adversities. 

Agathiyar is said to have initiated human societies of that era into the age-old cultural order known as the Siddhar Neri. He imparted wisdom to its people and passed on the knowledge of medicine to many. P.Karthigayan points out that the Siddhas could achieve much during their times as they were bestowed with the gift of "performing spiritual, medical, and scientific marvels". "They claimed their presence in all locations, interacting with people over various periods of time", made possible due to their long life spans, and a result of attaining immortality. P.Karthigayan says that the Gods, immortals, and long-lived kings, and scholars "had chiseled and shaped the society then." We now understand Agathiyar's disappointment on seeing the present society and lamenting to us that no one follows the Siddha way of living. 

P.Karthigayan says "The immortals formed the folklore, while the long-lived preserved them in the form of stones, clay tablets, papyrus, palm leaves, and these later were rewritten in modern scripts by bards and priests, as literature and epics, that became a history of the respective civilizations. The Gods, immortals, and long-lived were in due course included in religions of their respective societies." This tradition of documentation seems to have been continued by the Chola king who reigned from 985–1014 ce where he had numerous sacred texts collected and compiled and kept them away save for generations to come.

Rajaraja, an able administrator, also built the great Brihadisvara Temple at the Chola capital Thanjavur. During his reign, the texts of the Tamil poets Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar were collected and edited into one compilation called Thirumurai. Rajaraja embarked on a mission to recover the hymns after hearing short excerpts of Thevaram in his court. He sought the help of Nambi Andar Nambi. It is believed that by divine intervention Nambi found the presence of scripts, in the form of cadijam leaves half eaten by white ants in a chamber inside the second precinct in Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram. Thus far Shiva temples only had images of god forms, but after the advent of Rajaraja, the images of the Nayanmar saints were also placed inside the temple. Nambi arranged the hymns of three saint poets Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar as the first seven books, Manickavasagar's Tirukovayar and Tiruvacakam as the 8th book, the 28 hymns of nine other saints as the 9th book, the Tirumandiram of Tirumular as the 10th book, 40 hymns by 12 other poets as the 10th book, Tirutotanar Tiruvanthathi - the sacred anthathi of the labours of the 63 nayanar saints and added his own hymns as the 11th book. The first seven books were later called as Tevaram, and the whole Saiva canon, to which was added, as the 12th book, Sekkizhar's Periya Puranam (1135) is wholly known as Tirumurai, the holy book. Thus Saiva literature which covers about 600 years of religious, philosophical and literary development.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajaraja_I)

The movie "Tiruarutchelvar" depicts the lives of some of these saint poets or Nayanmar. 

The long-lived whom P.Karthigayan mentions were kings who reigned in these periods. He writes, "King Nediyon who pioneered the Sangam Era was said to have lived for 24000 years. All ancient histories speak about their kings who were either sons of Gods or long-lived ones who had done great service to the development of their respective societies." Sundara Pandiyan and Keethipooshana Pandiyan are said to have reigned for 60000 years respectively while Ugrakumaran Pandiyan another 40,000 years. These kings lived during the Thredha yuga and Dwapara yuga. 

In recent times, Jeganatha Swamigal who attained samadhi at Tapah, Perak, Malaysia is said to have lived 145 years. P.Karthigayan shared the following video clip of a Yogi Devraha Baba who is supposedly have lived some 900 years on his Fb.

If we know of only 4 yugas or aeons, Karuvoorar, Agathiyar, and Supramaniyar speak about there being 18. Just like the Gods, we cannot state the age or life-span of the immortals or Siddhas for they continue to live in our presence till this day, either in their samadhis, in the subtle form, as energies, as a star in the skies, as a particle in the universe, or as "Light". We at AVM are blessed that Siva, Ma, Kumaran, Agathiyar, Ramalinga Adigal, and the other Siddhas of the past keep appearing before us, showering their blessings and grace even in present times.

THE SIDDHAS & SOCIETY 1

Take a book about Siddhas it carries the run of the mill stories of them performing Siddhis. Listening to talks, the speaker always arrives at and projects the Siddhis that Siddhas performed. The most often listed and spoken about eight classical siddhis are:

• Aṇimā: the ability to become smaller than the smallest, reducing one's body to the size of an atom or even become invisible.

• Mahimā: the ability to become infinitely large, expanding one's body to an infinitely large size.

• Laghimā: the ability to become weightless or lighter than air.

• Prāpti: the ability to instantaneously travel or be anywhere at will.

• Prākāmya: the ability to achieve or realize whatever one desires.

• Īśiṭva: the ability to control nature, individuals, organisms, etc. Supremacy over nature and ability to force influence upon anyone.

• Vaśiṭva: the ability to control all material elements or natural forces.

• The eighth is given as either: Kāma-avasayitva (per Kṣemarāja and Vyasa): satisfaction, suppression of desire, or (as Yatrakāmāvasāyitva) wishes coming true. Garimā (per the Rāmānanda Sampradāya): the ability to become infinitely heavy and be immovable by anyone or anything.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/)

Take a book on Yoga, it immediately zooms in into the mysteries of Kundalini. A seeker once questioned Tavayogi while he was in Malaysia in 2016, about the Kundalini. Tavayogi's answer was not to dwell on it for now. The reason being all those gathered including me were new to the path. Books and speeches reach out to the general public. We ought to ask ourselves if the readers and audience are well prepared to explore both these subjects that if handled differently could do more harm than good? Then again of what use are these Siddhis and Kundalini to a common man who is struggling hard trying to make ends meet? These Siddhis in the wrong hands could bring on terror to others. As for the rising of the Kundalini, Pandit Gopi Krishna has had hands-on experience in the sudden awakening of his kundalini that are not entirely blissful at times. 

By his own account, Gopi Krishna's initial experience triggered a transformative process that lasted for twelve years. During this time, the sensations of light, splendor and joy alternated with – and were often completely overshadowed by – sensations of fire, unbearable heat and bleak depression. In the introduction to Krishna's book, Frederic Spiegelberg writes: Lacking the guiding hand of a master, it is Gopi Krishna's fate to be thrown from one despair into another, hectic ups-and-downs, the daily bread of this sensational experience. Like Faust, Na Ro Pa and many others, he finds a solution several times in his life only at the point of death. Even commonplace events take on an enormous character and lead him into depressions and dangers almost to the point of ruination. His own analysis of that situation is that the awakened Kundalini went up into the Pingala nadi instead of into the Sushumna nadi where it rightfully belongs. Where does all this lead him? To constant light-awareness, shimmering halo-consciousness but interrupted repeatedly by years of relapse and illness.

(Source:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopi_Krishna_(yogi))

Hence we understand the reason Tavayogi refused to indulge in the subject with us beginners. Tavayogi never displayed any Siddhis. Knowing the Siddhas to have the tendency to cause and leave an impact on us, we should instead look at how they changed the society of their time. No writer gives an account of how society was at that time? Nobody does give us a picture of life during the era of Siddhas of the past? What was the nature of people then? What teachings did they uphold? These were the questions I had. 

Everything about the Siddhas is shrouded in mystery. It has been kept that way too, for far too long. Those who are in the know-how of how the Siddhas lived should come forward to enlighten us. Would not it be nice to have Agathiyar sit before us and narrate to us? As if answering our prayer, Agathiyar shared a moment with Gnana Jothiamma through the Nadi in which he tells us about themselves.

Agathiyar in a Nadi revelation reveals a teeny-weeny bit of history after much coaxing from Suren, that he was born in the farming community and fell in favor with the Gods. He took rebirth in a mystical way and walked the earth as the Agathiyar we all know him to be today. 

Agathiyar had passed to Dr. VN Jayapalan some leads to his history and origin of his first temple in Kali Yuga during the Dr's meditation. 

Then I came across or perhaps these books came my way to appease my hunger for answers to these questions. In "Tamil Mannin Thantai", Gnana Bharathi has attempted to give us a concise history of India and its society during the times of Ramalinga Adigal. This was based on personal interviews by the author of the remaining few relatives of the saint and folk who heard about the saint. Another outstanding book would be P.Karthigayan's "History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu", Notion Press, 2016. Karthigayan attempts to piece together the history of the era of the traditional Siddhas in his own words, by "cross verifying their authenticity, wherever feasible through available relics and records in ancient Tamil literature."

I guess my purpose in life currently is to write this blog. I am used as a pen while Agathiyar drives the hand. Just as Agathiyar told us that they only shared with us whatever that worked out for them, I too only intend to share what I have experienced. This is then verified with other's personal experiences for Tavayogi always says that whatever said or written should have references. Tavayogi has tried to educate us on living a life in accordance to the Siddha teachings in all his talks. He took up Agathiyar's calling to spread the word and show the way to those who came along and crossed his path. I guess only a few adopted the way for Agathiyar lamented to us that no one including us, adopts and lives the way of the Siddhas "சித்தர் வழக்கை முறை" these days.

KNOW YOUR PURPOSE 1

TD Jakes in his book "Destiny", published by FaithWords, 2015, writes "Do not just exist; learn to live. Real-life means discovering what God has placed inside you." He says God has invested in us and only wants to know what we will do with what he has given us. Jake says "Every person has a destiny to fulfill. It is essential to craft an environment that facilitates the fulfillment of destiny. No matter how gifted you are, you need a place of expression." God creates the avenue for us to showcase our talents, love, compassion etc. God brings together the space-time for us to come forth to showcase our talents, our generosity, our nobleness, our kindness, our gentleness, and all other traits of personal virtues. One way of building compassion within is by doing charity. There needs to be a giver and a receiver for this noble act to happen. Hence we now understand why Yogi Ramsuratkumar to a question, as to why India has so many beggars, answered that India needed beggars. 

Jake says, "To move beyond mediocrity or the frustration of a life that's too small, align with God's purpose for your life. You were born for a distinct purpose even if you have not yet figured out what that purpose is."

Having lived for our self and our individual purpose it is time now to live for a bigger purpose. When Tavayogi's young daughter refused to accept the fact that her father was going to leave them to become a mendicant, Agathiyar consoled her that her daddy had a bigger purpose in life now. If he was to remain with them he would only be a father to her and her siblings. Now he had to take on a bigger role of being a father to all. 

Then again in taking up God's work, we need to remind ourselves that we are merely his tools, that he is working through us and we are only a small part contributing to his ever-expanding universe. A devotee from Chennai shared with me some pertinent views about us doing charity. Do not be arrogant that you have been chosen to do such an honorable and noble deed, relieving others' hunger and misfortune. It was God who sent a hungry man to you. It was he who provides for the grain. Remember that it is his arms and hands that dishes out the groceries and food to them. It is also a test of our heart and the amount of compassion. Nothing is ours to claim or lay a stake. How true it is. 

Doing God's work needs attention, love and compassion. Doing God's work calls for having patience. Doing God's work needs discipline. 

Many years back I took my family to watch the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra perform at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in Kuala Lumpur. A colleague of mine who was a frequent attendee at their concerts used to share his reviews of their performances. As my daughter was learning grade 2 piano lessons then I thought it would be a great exposure for her and a new experience for us too, to have a feel of a live and vibrant orchestral music concert. We truly enjoyed the performance. We were impressed by the attentiveness and discipline shown by the audience who sat through the performance only moving to bring their palms together to applaud the musicians at the end of the pieces played when the conductor makes his re-appearance again. 

Of course, the organizers had to lay several conditions so as not to disrupt the performance: 

"Concerts at DFP begin promptly at the advertised starting time. No latecomers will be admitted until the interval or a suitable break in the programme. Members of the audience who leave the hall before or during the performance will not be re-admitted until the next suitable break. All concertgoers are requested to switch off their mobile phones, watch alarms and other electronic devices before entering the concert hall. All usage of electronic and mobile devices are prohibited; this is to ensure an ideal concert experience for both the performers and other concertgoers. All forms of visual and audio recording are strictly prohibited in the concert hall during the performances and concerts. The safety and security of our patrons are of utmost importance to us. Whether you decide to deposit your bags or bring them into the hall, your bags may be subject to security checks. All bulky items, plastic carriers, backpacks, large briefcases, luggages and umbrellas must be placed at the lockers at Level 1. Free locker facilities are available at Level 1 of the concert hall. It is opened 30 minutes before performance until 30 minutes after its conclusion. Foods and beverages are not allowed in the concert hall. Smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited in the concert hall." And of course, they had a dress code for the audience: "Smart casual, strictly no torn jeans, shorts, collarless T-shirts and sweatshirts, singlets, sports attire, slippers, and flip flops at any time." (http://mpo.com.my/)

As this discipline is generally lacking in our society, it was an entirely new culture sitting amidst people who just came just for the music and conducted themselves well throughout the performance. On the contrary, during the debut of an on-stage performance or an Arangetram of a violinist, who was the daughter of a colleague, I had to be harsh with a fellow audience asking him to discipline his hyperactive son who kept falling on others including me who were seated on the floor. He left shortly after I told him that if he does not discipline his child then I shall have to. 

I was delightfully surprised when this violinist was engaged by Raagawave Production to play the violin for our joint album "Agathiyar Geetham" many years later in 2018.

Zaid K. Dahhaj writes at shttps://zaiderrr.medium.com/, "Success is actually a short race — a sprint fueled by discipline just long enough for habit to kick in and take over" and that "We only need enough discipline to build a habit." That habit shall soon flower into a character. Zaid says it beautifully, "Regularly working at something until it regularly works for you. When you discipline yourself, you’re essentially training yourself to act in a specific way. Stay with this long enough and it becomes routine — in other words, a habit." If a man has self-discipline no laws are required to keep him in check. It's only when he is not disciplined that someone or the law has to come into play.

I can align with Zaid's opinion that "So when you see people who look like “disciplined” people, what you’re really seeing is people who’ve trained a handful of habits into their lives. This makes them seem “disciplined” when actually they’re not. No one is." Working and living with the Navy personnel in their base, although we were civilians, we were trained to upkeep cleanliness and personal hygiene too. Imagine how the ship, submarine, or submersible that sails or is submerged, that shall be your home for months on end, would be if you did not create a habit of keeping it clean. This habit of keeping their ship clean was brought to the land too as we saw in the superb upkeep of their living quarters. We too had to toe the line or else leave. These days Agathiyar harps on the need for cleanliness often. The current pandemic too has forced us to adopt such severe measures to flatten the curve. 

Every day is a learning. In watching the documentaries; reading the same books again - now; and watching selected movies, many messages come across that I  can recall and remember the Siddhas having told us earlier. 

Tan Dun a music composer says in a DW documentary, that "Sometimes if you want to reach Beethoven you have to pass this book, that book, this tradition, that tradition, then figure out what to do with all that tradition. Beethoven is here (pointing to the book), then here (pointing to his head). It's too complicated. And one day I was thinking - forget it, about this book, tradition - just go to Beethoven - heart to heart, eye to eye, ear to ear." This is exactly what Agathiyar told us to. To understand the Tirumanthiram read a copy of the original texts he says. Do not read interpretations. The author of the Tirumanthiram, Tirumular shall come to clarify the text to us he says. Similarly, while I struggled to try to understand the tattvas and mentioned my dilemma to him, Ramalinga Adigal told me to go through them. In the event I still do not comprehend the subject he shall come to clarify it. As Swami Vivekananda asked daringly of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa if he has seen God and if he could show him too, it's time we went to the source rather than deal with people who beat around the bush. Tavayogi on the onset gave me a blow when he said that there was nothing in his kaavi or ochre clothing that he wore, and that there was nothing in him. "You are living in Maya" he added. He was not a magician. Neither could he make us one. Agathiyar too said Gnana is something we have to work for and not gifted. We have to work towards it. They broke over expectations of forever receiving things the easy way without working for it. We have always been spoon-fed. We expect or rather insists and demand that God makes us happy by granting everything we ask for. We are living in a state of illusion that God grants boons. 

Let us make the switch now, to focus on God's work rather than run behind our never-ending desires. Let us create a success story taking to heart all the teachings, guidance, and practices of the Siddhas. Let us bring the change today.