IMPERMANENCE OF LIFE & THINGS

Debby Germino quotes the Zen Buddhist teacher, Norman Fischer in her blog at https://medium.com/

Norman Fischer writes about impermanence in the following way in his article, Impermanence is Buddha Nature, in Lion’s Roar.

“As far as classical Buddhism is concerned, impermanence is the number one inescapable, and essentially painful, fact of life. It is the singular existential problem that the whole edifice of Buddhist practice is meant to address. To understand impermanence at the deepest possible level (we all understand it at superficial levels), and to merge with it fully, is the whole of the Buddhist path. The Buddha’s final words express this: Impermanence is inescapable. Everything vanishes. Therefore there is nothing more important than continuing the path with diligence. All other options either deny or short-shrift the problem.”

As Buddha says impermanence is inescapable, we are shown by the Buddhist monks in a symbolic way where a Mandala is painstakingly created, only to be destroyed later after a small ceremony, thus transforming their minds into enlightened ones.

A mandala is a symbolic picture of the universe. The mandala's purpose is to help transform ordinary minds into enlightened ones and to assist with healing. According to Buddhist scripture, mandalas constructed from sand transmit positive energies to the environment and to the people who view them. They are believed to effect purification and healing. Mandala sand painting was introduced by the Buddha himself.

The design of the mandala is marked with chalk on a wooden platform. This meticulous process takes an entire day. Starting from the centre and concentrically working outwards, the monks use metal funnels called chak-pur to place millions of grains of dyed sand to make the elaborate patterns. The vibrations of the chak-pur being grated with a metal rod cause the sands to flow like liquid. Other popular substances are powdered flowers and herbs or grains. In ancient times powdered precious and semiprecious gems were also used.

Once the mandala is complete the monks ask for the deities' healing blessings during a ceremony. As the monks chant, one monk begins the destruction of the mandala by scraping a knuckle through the sand, creating a cross of grey sand. Another monk takes a paintbrush and slowly and carefully sweeps the sand from the perimeter to the centre of the mandala. The destruction of the mandala serves as a reminder of the impermanence of life. The coloured sand is swept up into an urn and dispersed into flowing water - a way of extending the healing powers to the whole world. It is seen as a gift to the mother earth to re-energise the environment and universe. Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/customs/mandala.shtml) 

Fearing that we shall begin to get attached to the guru and his place, Tavayogi broke the camel's back on his very first visit to my home by instilling in me that he too shall one day perish. Instead, he asked me to hold on to that which lives on in all of us forever. I never had his photo at my altar or hanging on the wall. I never had any memorabilia of his, neither did he pass me any. When news reached us that he had gone into samadhi some two hours after his arrival back at his Ashram upon being discharged from a Medical center, we never shed a tear. He last spoke to me over the phone while at the hospital. His last words were, "If I do not return to the ashram, Mataji shall take charge." I knew he had done his job well and it was time for him to leave. Earlier in 2007, when the news of the demise of my first guru Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai, reached me I did not shed a tear too. He told me he had seen the Jothi just days after he began his last worldly penance. All he had asked that I do was to feed a thousand people in Tiruvannamalai which I did subsequently through Jnana Jothiamma and Swami's family. When I passed the message of Supramania Swami's demise to Tavayogi asking him what I should do as his disciple, Tavayogi asked me only to pray that his soul is placed in a high place. If we had always believed that the Guru is the one dispersing the knowledge and the disciples are the sole beneficiary benefiting from the guru-disciple relationship, today we have come to understand that the disciple's prayer for his guru too goes a long way in aiding the guru's journey, continuing even after the guru leaves his mortal frame behind. The guru-disciple relationship benefits both parties. If so, I fail to understand why one has to cry for the loss or demise of another especially for one who had worked and toiled years to reach the abode and the kingdom of God. Should not we rejoice that he or she has attained the state that they have yearned for and worked towards?

Life teaches us that nothing is permanent. Look around us and we shall know. Even establishments that began with the blessings of the divine have to give in to the laws of nature and her wrath at times. If history stands as a witness to the disappearance of many cities and civilizations, in recent times we have seen states of dilapidation or extinction of several others too. Many years back we received news that the statue of Agathiyar in the Kallar hills that we tracked up to pay homage to was broken and removed. After Tavayogi moved to his new Ashram the old ashram began to fall apart. Recently the statue of Agathiyar and Loba Ma at Kalyana Theertam was washed away by floodwaters too. So too did Agathiyar have me dissolve the AVM group to have its family members continue their Siddha worship in their respective homes with their family instead of converging at AVM. Can we presume that all this is an act of God too? The Siddhas who know the truth let things be. They let things take their cause unless humanity cries out to them to intervene. 

Those who worship idols and nature have always been the target of criticisms. Many are known to ask how can you limit the might of God who is in all and prevails everywhere within a statue. We have a government. Can anyone show us the government that rules? Can we show an individual or a department has the government? It has machinery in place to carry out its various functions. These are scattered all over at the federal and state levels. If you need to apply for a particular permit for instance you need to step into the relevant office and submit your application to the officer in charge. Similarly, in God's administration that is even bigger and encompasses many worlds, 14 according to Ramalinga Adigal, you need to go to a spiritual spot or temple or place and place your wishes to the deity in attendance. Hence the reason we scuttle around specific temples and places of worship going on pilgrimages hoping to drop a note to the divine in these places and praying to see results soon. Temples and rituals are essential to all beginners on the path. To one who has traveled far on this path, with the grace of the divine and His blessings, he carries with him their energy wherever he goes and can initiate or energize stone, metal, sand, water, or any other element to an equally sacred state. This is how Agathiyar in his travels began to create Sivalingas and worshipped them. He then left it behind for others to sit in meditation and derive and partake of its energies. Over time people began to perform rituals towards them. All the rituals in fact are meant and done to increase this energy force in and around us. Agathiyar time and again tells us that there is no necessity to conduct rituals in their sacred abodes and samadhis. We need only sit in silence and gather the energy. Who are we to harness and transmit energy to them by way of our rituals asks Agathiyar? These spots are themselves potentially energized by the tapas that the saints had undertaken over the years. Could this be the reason Agathiyar has except for an occasional bath with water for the bronze statue of his, asked us to abstain from all forms of rituals at AVM too? 

In revealing himself, he first came with a name as Agathiyar to us, as the male gender. Then as a form, as a granite stone at Agasthiyampalli and Papanasam in India, and a bronze statue at AVM. Later we are told that he was of the female gender too having met and greeted us as a lady at numerous spots on our pilgrimage to India. Tavayogi adds a variant and another perspective of him. He came in the form of light to him. To mark the spot where he had the darshan of Agathiyar he had devotees place a statue of him. This has since been broken and removed by others. Then Tavayogi tells us that he is the Breath and in asking us to observe it, brought us to step out of Sariyai and Kriyai into Yoga. Finally, at least for now, the man himself comes to us and declares that he takes the form of vibration. To those who have worked their way up and are able to accept that he is beyond name and form, Agathiyar comes within as vibrational energy. 

Rebecca Joy wrote at https://www.healthline.com/health/vibrational-energy,

You are a living energy field. Your body is composed of energy-producing particles, each of which is in constant motion. So, like everything and everyone else in the universe, you are vibrating and creating energy. Vibrations are a kind of rhythm. Rhythms happen on a grand scale, like seasonal changes and tidal patterns. They also happen within your body.

She points out that the visible rhythms that can be felt and measured are that of heartbeats, breathing rates, and circadian rhythms. There are much smaller vibrations too as in each one of our cells and molecules.

Using atomic force microscopes, researchers have detected vibrations on the nanoscale — much smaller than 1/1000th the diameter of a single human hair. Proponents believe it’s possible to speed up or slow down the vibrations that occur at the cellular and atomic levels by changing our thoughts, behaviors — and even our surroundings. Changing those nanovibrations, it’s thought, could ripple outward, affecting our mental state and physical health. Researchers are finding that vibrations of many kinds — electromagnetic, sound, and light — can be used to encourage healing and stimulate growth in the body.

She writes that these vibrations generate electromagnetic energy waves.  Electrical and magnetic energy in the body in turn stimulate chemical processes.

She lists out Breathwork; Meditation; the Act of Expressing Gratitude and Generosity; Observing certain Diets; Outdoor Immersion or getting out into Nature; Energy Therapies; Yoga; and Healthy Relationships as in Satsang, all go far in increasing these waves. She adds, 

Studies have suggested that the vibrations produced during the rhythmic chanting of the syllable “om” temporarily deactivate the amygdala and other brain structures involved in processing emotion.

My friend wrote earlier,

Every part of Creation is, and should be a vibration... There has to be a primal, fundamental vibration which should be Paraparai. Everything else has to be a harmonic of this basal frequency. Based on such a frequency and its myriad variations, there is a difference in name and form. In truth, there can be no difference at all. This should be the Oneness of the entirety of Creation.

The perception of these differences are subject to the evolution and transformation of the individual ego... the less the ego the more the differences. I guess, in samadhi, the ego ceases to exist, and there is complete Oneness. The Great Ones have destroyed their ego, but retain their individuality. They have been graced with the knowledge of Paraparai, and have the ability to change the vibrational frequency of any other individual or a group, to attend to the genuine needs of their disciples for the betterment of the collective whole. It is thus clear, that individual souls are a minute, yet significant part of the collective whole, or, otherwise there can be no completeness. 

I guess, without sounding egoistic, God and the individual souls are very important to each other, and play an intricate dance... one with awareness, and, the other, in ignorance. God, by His Grace, desires us to get that awareness, and be with Him.... The state of ஈசத்வம். Therein lies the work of the Great Ones. That is their desire to raise us to their state.

He adds further, 

I had been out this evening. On the road, Amma (Krishnaveni Amma) spoke to me. "Do you know the state of Pure Consciousness... Paraparam? That state is before the primal vibration of Paraparai. It is a state before the Primal Intent. There is no existence of the Five Great Acts of God. Therefore, there is no Intent. Every intent comes with its own vibration. His Pure State is without intent, without vibration. The anthakaranas are also states of intent/vibration. Even Shakthi is unable to fathom His Completeness. His Primal State cannot even be experienced. Such is He."

One would wonder why Agathiyar always asked us to look up to Lord Siva. Even in these current trying times of combating the pandemic, Agathiyar has asked us to pray to Lord Siva. The pure state of Siva is before, and beyond the primal vibration of Paraparai as mentioned above. A state that is timeless. Never subject to rot, disease nor elimination. It goes beyond form and name. This is the state that we should be working towards. Lord Siva comes as Agathiyar to lead us to this state. 

Looking back at the many teachings and practices given to us, we can only appreciate and be grateful towards the divine for leading us to engage in a series of methods and ways to enhance, energize, revitalize our inherent energy source that either has depleted over time or exhausted excessively due to various factors, or activities. 

REACHING OUT TO THE NEXT-GEN

When I saw the Nadi the very first time in 2002 Agathiyar in calling me to his Siddha path asked that I build a temple for him. I was a simpleton minding my family and business till then before this reading. I was not into any public service nor holding any post in society. I became excited that Agathiyar wanted me to erect one for him. I felt special. Just as my feet started to lift off the ground and my head began to swell, Sivabalan who brought the Nadi reader over and provided all the logistics at his home for a convenient and conducive Nadi reading intruded into my thoughts and feeling of joy at that moment. He told me not to get excited as Agathiyar had mentioned this matter to close to fifty others who came for a reading. So it seems that I was not special after all. I was not the chosen one. 

When I asked Tavayogi his reason to indulge in a costly affair of purchasing a piece of land and building a temple ashram he replied it was not for him but to leave something for others in need. Many good souls came together to see his wish come true in 2016. To all these folks I extend my gratitude and thanks. Supramania Swami too carried a wish to build a temple for some 40 years till I met him in 2003 and we began work on it. But the divine came to squash that task instead through a stranger who questioned the need for the temple and why the need for Supramania Swami to step back into bhakti. We dropped the mission. 

But Agathiyar and Lord Murugan never dropped this topic entirely. In 2018 Lord Murugan came in a Jeeva Nadi and reminded me of my obligation towards building him a temple. Seeing that I was not the least interested to fulfil his request he turned towards my Sadguru Agathiyar who I hold dear and close to me. While conducting a puja in an island temple of his, Agathiyar came through an elderly devotee and surprised us. We had all this while relied on the Nadi for his messages. That day he conveyed his message in realtime and life, through a person, to all those who chose to believe in the never-ending surprises out there. He asked me if I was going to do it. Again I chose to remain silent. After a bout of silence, he continued telling me that he shall do it in 18 months. I was happy that the matter was settled. But as the end of the stipulated period approached in October 2019, there was no development on the matter. He called me up for an Aasi Nadi reading and told me that they had dropped the matter. I was still skeptical whether it was only a temporary measure and whether they were buying some more time. I wanted to know if they had only shelved it for the moment, or it was off for good. Later Agathiyar came through a devotee and told me that they had tested me. They waited to see if I took the bait and get caught in the series of events that shall follow as a result of my decisions. I refused for the reason that we shall stagnate forever at the stage of temple devotion or external Bakti. I would be tied down and bonded to the physical: first the complex, then the followers. I shall become accustomed to the power and authority that comes with this responsibility if I was not careful and let my guard down, and might secretly yearn for it. I had refused to take the bait, refused to fall for their trick, and refused to be lured or coaxed. I was saved from getting entangled in engagements that would halt me from traveling further on this mysterious journey of life and beyond. I guess I had fulfilled our immediate guru Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal's aspiration for us that we should step out of Bhakti into Gnanam by declining to take up the task. 

After beginning my home puja that included the recitation of the names of the Siddhas in 2002; after my introduction to the rituals by Tavayogi beginning in 2005;  with the advent and coming of Agathiyar in the form of a bronze statue, and bringing him and these rituals out from the confines of AVM into the homes of fellow devotees and temples, Agathiyar chose to remain at AVM, forbidding us to move him elsewhere and have us minimize the need for rituals unless wished for. He brought us to walk through the whole spectrum of his Siddha path that took off from where our parents left off in Sariyai or devotion. With the coming of the guru in physical form, he led us into Kriyai or doing rituals and had us engage in the practice of Yoga, and finally, the Siddhas have led us to go within to gain Gnanam or spiritual wisdom. 

The first time the word Gnanam was mentioned was by Tavayogi who wanted us to come out of devotion or Bhakti to Gnanam. Yet we did not have any inkling or idea what the word meant. When Agathiyar came around asking what each of us wanted, after deep pondering I asked that I be born again and again to serve him as we did now. He replied to me with another question if that is what I wanted? I knew then that that was not what one should ask for. Speaking over the phone with Mahindran, another devotee regarding this miracle, we agreed that maybe we should ask for Gnanam, not knowing the least what it meant, not knowing what we were asking for, and not knowing what we were getting ourselves into. Having eavesdropped on our conversation the next moment Agathiyar came within a devotee he surprised me telling me that I had asked for Gnanam and went on to explain what the word meant. Gnanam is the fruit of the experience that comes by as a result of our inner journey. 

Today we have come to understand that there is no point in having the tools polished and well-kept for display in a showcase. One has to use them. For instance, it is pointless to discuss on end the tattvas listing them from memory or referring to them in the pages of the books. One has to understand them from experiences that arise from within oneself. Mere reading shall not bring an understanding. It has to be experienced. Hence, we understand the constant reminders from Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal to practice the methods they gave followed by the need to revisit the writings of Tavayogi on the tattvas as we journey along. I guess now we know the reason he wrote these books. I guess we needed to walk through all these stages before we arrive at Gnanam. Only then can we safely say if we learned a thing or two or otherwise in adopting all these methods and means to achieve the goal.

When I went scouting around establishments that were related to Agathiyar by name and offered to bring their activities and services to a broader spectrum of the public through the medium of webpages and websites, none of its management was convinced of the potential and the extent of the impact that the internet would have in helping spread the teachings of the Siddhas. They preferred to stay "closed" both to their membership and "closed" to these ideas. I chose to travel alone sharing my experiences. I continued with my website indianheartbeat (now defunct). My desire as a youth to become a movie director was fulfilled when Tavayogi came along. When I chose to follow Tavayogi I began to carry his Kallar ashram in the many websites that I created further to his introduction. I created videos of his Kallar ashram and posted them on YouTube. He was my lead hero. When I decided to deactivate all of these social media accounts after reading a message posted by someone on a photo of my first guru Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai, that hurt my feelings, I reported back to Tavayogi of my action in terminating everything. Tavayogi exclaimed in sadness, "Why, my son. Let it be. Many shall learn from it and come." Taking heed of my guru's words I took to reviving these postings, rebuilding everything from the start again. I guess Tavayogi appreciated our work and had the foresight to see the capabilities of newer technologies in bringing the words and messages of the messiahs from small cottages in remote parts worldwide. 

The website indianheartbeat that I started in the nineties began as a personal storage cloud for me to store my artwork that was gathering dust. I digitalized and uploaded them. This website later carried the entry of my maiden pilgrimage to India. Soon I shared the Siddha songs that were rather difficult to come by those days, or either were scattered all around in numerous books and on the internet in a comprehensive compilation titled "The Book of Praises to the Siddhas" at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QMY5ycQRGlVKoHRweTbD1bHYCfkHoH5A/view?usp=sharing. This book put together as a source of Siddha songs to be sung by devotees who came together in puja at AVM soon was adopted by others in their homes and temples too.

Similarly, I had originally intended to make a video too, sort of tutorial on carrying out a homam but decided that I did not want to step into the terrain or that area less I might offend the purohits and priestly ones who are well trained in such matters from a very young age. If there was anyone fit to teach these it was them. When Tavayogi prompted me to start lighting a homam in my home just as he did the Yagam on a larger scale at his Kallar ashram, I was initially reluctant in engaging in rituals. In fact, when Tavayogi asked me to light the homam in my home I told him that I was ignorant and that it was the domain of the priests. Furthermore, it was the privilege of the learned pundits and priests as it was their domain. I did not want to engage in doing something that I had no idea nor training in and end up displeasing them or gaining the curse and wrath of the Gods. I had already been in the bad books of the senior and elderly and fellow priests in my last birth having been born as a  Namboothiri priest in Kerala. I had to please them in this birth. Tavayogi gave me the courage to start. Later he came to fine-tune it on his next visit. Soon Agathiyar sent seekers to my home to join and learn the ritual. We had each seeker host the ritual in their homes too. Later we were invited to perform them in temples too. In fact, I learned to tie the string around the kudam or water vessel from YouTube. I was a learner too. How was I supposed to teach another? When I accompanied Tavayogi during the early years of his visit to Malaysia to the homes of other devotees he would ask me to talk about Agathiyar and the Siddhas. I was a freshie and a new kid on the blog. What was I to talk about such acclaimed sages and Siddhas? My knowledge of them was shallow if not practically zero. But Tavayogi did trick me into speaking about them. He caught me by surprise at a forum when he announced publicly that "Shanmugam shall now speak about the Siddhas". I was taken by surprise. It took me some moments to come to the reality that I have to address all those gathered for their eyes turned to me as they sat waiting for me to speak.  My mind worked against time figuring how to get out of the situation and dilemma. I spoke a few words about Tavayogi and began to lead all those gathered around to sing the Arutperunjothi mantra. I was saved by the mantra that day. 

Tavayogi told me the reason he did the Yagam at his Kallar ashram was to appease nature and bring or contained the wrath of nature from otherwise lashing out its terror as did happen resulting in the Tzunami of 2004. The following year Tavayogi undertook a Yagam on a large scale to counter the effect of Mother Nature. Tavayogi encouraged me to conduct a similar ritual but on a smaller scale in Malaysia, telling me it was rather simple and guided me as to what was needed for a start over the phone. Soon on his next visit to Malaysia, he showed me what was needed further to complete the ritual. In all these years of worship and doing rituals, Agathiyar never for a moment told us that what we did was wrong but always appreciated our efforts in enhancing each ritual. He came forward to convince an otherwise reluctant candidate like me that what we did was for the good of humanity, nature, and the world at large. Only after that did I indulge in the rituals with my heart, soul, and spirit committed to it. Agathiyar had many join me and my family at my home in carrying out these pujas.

Recently I received a mail.

Shanmugam Ayya Vanakkam, I earlier had the chance to reach you via WhatsApp for my ailing father 3 years back. Now, I wish to know how to do the சித்தர் பூசை homam at home and your guidance on the same. (searched links on the blog- some videos are there but Complete picture kedaithal பேருதவியாக இருக்கும்) I, at times, read 24 nimida sithar poosai PDF printout taken from your website. Homam seidhadhu illai. After reading your posts especially the latest one, would like to try ayya. உங்கள் வழிகாட்டுதலை எதிர்நோக்கி உள்ளேன். (One small suggestion: Blog aaga எழுதினால்,வேண்டுவோர் பயன்பெறுவர்.) 

I pointed him to my book on the subject at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bduv5PhFtuqncAherXq8WMPJ80yXFd7n/view?usp=sharing hoping that it would guide him to start this ritual. 

When Dylan saw his Jeeva Nadi along with many others from the AVM family when Tavayogi came a calling to Malaysia in 2016, bringing along his Jeeva Nadi, Agathiyar passed on the message that Chitramuthu Adigal was yearning for us to bring the Siddha puja to Lord Murugan's temple at Tanneermalai in Taiping. We were all excited including Tavayogi and Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar too. We brought over paintings of the Saptarishis, Agathiyar, and the Siddhas and performed a Yagam in the temple spearheaded by Tavayogi. We the children of the lineage had fulfilled Tavayogi's guru Chitramuthu Adigal's wishes that the names of the Saptarishis and Siddhas be echoed in the halls of the temple and the adjacent jungles where Chitramuthu Adigal had spent days in meditation in the past. Today I ask myself why did Chitramuthu approach us when there are many direct descendants and disciples and followers of his around. Or maybe he did approach them but none chose to do it. 

On this journey of life, each person has a role to play. Just as our lives are affected by a multitude of factors right from the seen to the unseen: the planetary travel or gochara palan; the karma that hangs over us like a curse, shadowing us closely and determining the actions and conditions for it to prevail; the nation's policies and those who dictate them, all influence us and our lives in many ways. Even nature is affected by man's doing. The irony is that we think we are in charge but in truth, we are mere chess pieces that are being moved by unseen hands. The Siddhas found means and ways to correct the wrong done by man over the ages. Their teachings bring us not to ask for individual favors but to work towards the good of the world. They respected nature. They worshiped nature. In return, nature respected and worshiped them. Mutual respect was gained. The Siddhas explored ideologies and experimented on themselves first. The Siddhas who were originally 18 in number, then brought these possibilities that they had envisioned and experienced within them to the notice of a niche group of followers, 12 for instance as in Agathiyar's followers. As the Marga or way of living spread its wings all those who came to be touched by their compassion, love and teachings took heed and followed their ways become Siddhas themselves. Everything they did thenceforth was for the good of humanity, nature, and the world at large. 

It came as a surprise when my daughter pointed out in amazement telling me that my YouTube channel had garnered some 1.8 million views and had some 10K subscribers while this blog had managed to captivate the hearts of readers receiving 524 views in the last 24 hours.

Although I did not expect to achieve or accomplish much, many have written in or messaged or told me the extent of my work on this blog and the videos on YouTube in bringing joy to their hearts and soul. I guess I had a small part in contributing towards the cause and in bringing many to the fold just as Supramania Swami and Tavayogi had worked on me. I guess this is my purpose in coming here. I guess we have to a certain extent satisfied Agathiyar's 5 tenets put forth to humanity. 

As we take a step away from all forms of activity and wind down to go within, a worry crept in me as to who was going to help sustain the Siddha faith in the generation that is currently turning into toddlers and young children. Although the parents could bring them to sit together at prayers in their homes, they shall miss out on the good times like what we had in coming together at AVM in puja, performing rituals, and singing bhajans and songs of praise. Now I understand why Tavayogi went ahead with the Ashram. Now I understand his statement that it wasn't for him. Putting this proposal across I had Mahindren volunteer to bring together these next-gen children to walk the path of the Siddhas. We shall revive AVM as AVM Junior specifically to cater to the next generation. The seed shall be sowed in them just as Tavayogi sowed and nurtured it in us. That is the least we could do for the Siddhas in return.

SIDDHAR NERI

In a world where there are purportedly said to be 8.4 million species, (See http://aumamen.com/topic/hinduism-science-8-4-million-species-of-life) it's no surprise that man too has a multitude of beliefs, practices, and religions. Among them is the Siddha path or way of living. The first mention of the Siddhas came by way through a friend from Sentul, Kuala Lumpur (KL) who was transferred to my place of work in Lumut back in the early eighties. He asked me to see a Siddha practitioner in Leboh Ampang, KL as I told him of my heaty constitution. I did make the trip and consult the elderly practitioner who sat behind his desk dispensing herbal preparations. He recommended I take Chyavanprash and stop taking chicken meat. His medication and advice worked in bringing the heat down. Since then I had been taking this herbal preparation. Prior to exploring further the Chyavanprash that I was taking, I knew the term Siddha to be only a name as in a branding attached to traditional medicines as in Siddha medicine. After reading about the medicine, I came to know that they did know what was required to restore the body back to good health. A story is told of the origin of this herbal preparation Chyavanprash. A milkman used to send milk to a Rishi who was meditating high up in the hills daily. Once he told the rishi that he could not bring his ailing body to take the strides needed in hiking the hill to bring him his daily supply of milk. The Rishi wrote him a prescription asking him to gather the roots, herbs, etc, prepare and consume them. The old man recovered his strength and continued serving the Rishi. This concoction came to be known as Chyavanprash named after the Rishi. Another story goes as follows.

Various ancient Indian texts like Mahabharata, Puranas etc., relate that Ashwini Kumar brothers, the twins, who were Raja Vaidya (Royal Physicians) to Devas during Vedic times, first prepared this formulation for Chyavana Rishi at his Ashram on Dhosi Hill near Narnaul, Haryana, India, hence the name Chyavanprash. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/)

We learn further that, 

The first historically documented formula for Chyavanprash appears in the Charaka Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic treatise from the early first millennium BCE. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/)

Dr. Krishnan, medical astrologer, and Siddha practitioner was next to mention the Siddhas and their Nadi predictions many years later in the late nineties when I turned up at his office to ask why his predictions for me did not take place. He referred to a higher authority for the answers. They were the Siddhas and their Nadi. After seeing my Nadi, I came to know another aspect of the Siddhas, that they had the unique and mystical ability to look into the past, present, and future and that they would predict certain instances from one's life when one sought to know the cause of his or her troubles. Searching for a site that came highly recommended by Nadi Guru Tamaraiselvan, "Siththarkal Rajiyam", I came across another site "Siththan Arul". I was amazed and spellbound reading pages upon pages of stories that the late Hanumathdasan Aiya of Chennai shared with the admin of this blog Velayudham Karthikeyan Aiya, of how ordinary people were shown remedies and given solutions to all their day to day problems by Agathiyar through the Jeeva Nadi in the former's possession. It was an eye-opener for me for here were instant remedies dished out to people in trouble and seeking remorse merely by these Siddhas looking into their past, and analyzing their karma. Having read through the pages of "Siththan Arul", my appetite for more revelations grew in intensity and was only satisfied after Jnana Jothiamma purchased for me the full set of five books published by Aranthangi Shankar of Chennai that carried even more stories of Agathiyar as revealed to Hanumathdasan Aiya in the Nadi. As I had a ferocious appetite for reading I soon read and ate my way through the pages of these books in a jiffy.  My appetite was satisfied beyond words. There was a whole new world out there waiting to be explored and I was going to find out. I took to researching about them. Sadly though when we search for information on the Siddhas or whenever even those traveling the path take the stage, they immediately dwell on the Siddhis that the Siddhas performed and the Kundalini. People who learn the art of magic do them these days too. Did their lives only revolve around making predictions, and dispensing medicinal cures and remedies or parikaram? Many have taken up the science of prediction too and began to guide those in trouble. Are the Siddhas only capable of executing such feats? What is that that makes a Siddha special? 

My introduction to the world of Siddhas broadened with the coming of Tavayogi. Agathiyar made me travel to India and live with Tavayogi at his ashram for a couple of days and made him bring me to the abodes of the Siddhas. I had a brief stay and experience of living at an authentic ashram and had a short overnight stint experiencing sleeping in the caves where Siddhas and Tavayogi stayed in the past. I was given a glimpse of their mystical world that goes beyond logic and understanding. For instance when Agathiyar opened his eyes in his granite statue after Tavayogi threw me his shawl to sit on at Agasthiyampalli, figuring that I was a disbeliever he had me shown another instance where he opens both his eyes in his granite statue at Papanasam Temple - only this time it was real humanlike eyes staring back at me. I was again stunned when Tavayogi looked up into the skies and turn to me telling me that the Siddhas were showering flower petals on us ushering us to their abodes as we made the walk through the jungle path. Then he brought my attention to the aroma of sandalwood that lingered in the air telling me that they were around us to receive us. We had the sacred ash or vibhuthi that mysteriously materialized in a cave in Uthiyur that Tavayogi applied on my forehead, his and another man who accompanied us. Although Tavayogi is known to downplay all these miracles I could not help tell and retell them as I thought miracles might lure others to come to visit this path too. Hence the very first post and many that followed were all about miracles. 

If the miracles he displayed in India were not enough, Agathiyar promised more on my return to Malaysia. He did keep his word. He performed a similar miracle in my home after eight years in his metal statue. He opened his left eye as he did at Agasthiyampalli. He chose the moment when his beloved daughter Jnana Jothiamma was with us for a very short visit. He had shown numerous miracles to Jnana Jothiamma earlier and the most spectacular was when he came as a beam of light that traveled from one end of the lake at Kalyana Theertam to the statue of Agathiyar and Loba ma at the other end, disappearing mysteriously just as it had appeared. Dr. Ram Supramaniam of Tirunelveli was witness to this spectacular play of light as he hurriedly followed the column of light capturing it on camera in the heat of the afternoon. It is said that the Siddhas show themselves as balls or specks of lights around the falls at Kalyana Theertam late at night. Hearing this I was excited and wanted to see this display of light too, but Tavayogi suggested otherwise that we head for the caves at Kutrallam for our overnight stay. When Bala Chandran, Dyalen, and both Masters Uva and Arunan were returning from their climb to the Pothigai peak after paying homage to Agathiyar, a tree trunk that had fallen across their path gave way to them as it sank further into the ground sufficient enough to let them walk across rather than around it that would have taken more time and effort. 

Once convinced of their existence, I obediently listened to the Siddhas and carried out the remedies, advice, and practices and waited patiently for further guidance while carrying on with my home worship to the Siddhas. I was then called for more Nadi readings, this time from the Siddhas' Aasi Kaandam. If the Kaanda Nadi was traced and located using our thumbprint and followed by a series of questions that only needed us to nod or negate, the Aasi Kaandam comes as a gift to those who have submitted to the Siddhas and taking up their ways. I am indebted to the Siddhas to have their grace fall on me and call me by whenever they wanted to tell me something. We are also cautioned that if we misuse this privilege, they shall withdraw back on all future readings and might bring a stop to it. Then as we progressed on the path and became intimate with them, another avenue opens up where a conversation with the Siddhas pursues literally a two-way dialogue as our real-time thoughts are acknowledged and answered immediately through the Jeeva Nadi. In the absence of Tavayogi in physical form these days they convey many messages choosing to speak to us through ordinary people. Agathiyar has shown us that he can come in a palm leaf as words, come alive in stone and metal, move wood and the rest of nature, come as an aroma in the breeze and wind, appear in the sky in broad daylight as light rays, and as ball of light, stars in the night sky and come through fellow humans too.

Seeing that we are willing to learn, Agathiyar recently lamented to us that no one is practicing the way of the Siddha path (Siddhar Vazhkai Neri Murai). What then is this Neri and how do we live it? It is a way of life living close to nature, respecting it, and always remembering to give back to it. It is not much of adopting and following doctrines, codes of practice, and conforming to rigid practices but more tuned towards flexibility in experimenting, and learning further as one progresses gaining new insights, perspective, and experiences. It runs parallel to the way of the Buddha and the compassion shown by his followers. Taoism has very close ties to it. It shares the dictate of "love thy neighbors as thyself" as practiced by both our Christians and Muslim brothers.  Though the teachings of the Siddhas run parallel with the rest of the world's teachings and practices, one point to be noted as standing apart from the rest is that the Siddha path was closely related to nature. The Siddhar Neri is rather a comprehensive way of living according to the dictates of nature and nature's law besides respecting the divine laws, taking into consideration the many aspects of this body that man has inherited and identifying his true purpose in coming to earth and living it. 

They make us take stock of our lives and be responsible for our actions. Hence the very first lesson on this path is to understand the underlying philosophy of karma or the cause and effect of all our actions, thoughts, and deeds. For this purpose, an inventory of our karma is printed out and given to us to study, evaluate, and redeem the prize as in good actions or suffer in silence for those bad deeds. They instill in us the fact that while living this life one needs to learn the truth and the purpose of taking birth as human birth is regarded as a rare and precious commodity. Thus Agathiyar's 5 tenets for humanity revealed during the Tamil Sangam comes in handy. Next, they teach us by showing us the impermanence of life. Hence the old Kallar ashram that is in a dilapidated condition slowly falling apart and to the ground; the idol of both Agathiyar and Loba ma that was washed away together with their chariot in a recent flood at Kalyana Theertam; the mandala that is painstakingly painted and destroyed and blown away with the wind, after a small prayer by the Buddhist monks to reenact and instill the thought of the impermanent state of all things; the long line of ancestors who came and only left their genes behind in their children; and the long lineage of gurus who came, realized, taught and left their wisdom behind as glowing seeds in their students; all serve to be reminders that nothing shall forever exist and gives an equally grim reminder that life is short and that we are in a race against time and its byproduct - aging. Hence what are we to do within this short span of time? Understanding the urgency, the next step would be for us to know and seek our creator who has given us a wonderful body and all the right elements for survival, and on top of it has added on a bonus as in the many pleasurable things that we enjoy. If we have attended to the needs of the flesh it is time to seek the needs of the soul now. It is time to unite with him in thought, deed, and spirit. If he had come through many mediums and forms of communication as we have seen above, his arrival here now in the present moment is to address our soul that is the medium that bridges both the physical and material world to his spirit and make it aware of its origin and bring it back over to his kingdom. As Pon. Govindasamy reveals in his book "Vallalaarum Brahma Gnana Sangamum", Bharath Book Bureau, Chennai the Divine's plan, that of the mission of the Divine to save the souls that are riddled, locked, and chained by Aanavam, Kanmam, and Maayai and bring them back to his state of purity, the only obstacle then is the Self that is chained to these three impurities or Malam. The Siddhas have come as a savior to release us from this bond. We are here to transform this body to its basic elemental state that is beyond the meat and flesh of the physical body and its internal organs that have tagged along with our baggage of karma in all our years of living. The greatest challenge yet for us is to transform this body into light particles. 

Kallar Ashram - The Old & The New

Today as we settle in the shoes of Tavayogi and look back, we see through the veil and find the truth that has been veiled from our sight all this while. We understand fully all that Tavayogi stood for. Tavayogi who has since gone into samadhi left behind a legacy that lives on in the soil of Malaysia and South Africa, besides its place of origin in India. He left behind a place for fresh seekers on the path of Siddhas to serve, worship, practice, and meditate. 

Although the old Kallar Ashram that was dear to us is in ruins today, it shall always live in our hearts. Now the new ashram headed by Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar after Tavayogi's demise, has many amenities and is well equipped for both the devotee and the weary traveler, and offers a homestay too for a small fee. This goes towards maintaining the new sheets and hot bath coupled with hot food and peace and serenity that is topped up by Mother nature as a bonus. Please do visit the place once the pandemic subsides.

THE OLD KALLAR ASHRAM

True understanding does not come at the moment but much later only after we go through the experiences of our mentors. Truth is not understood by mere listening but only after it is applied in our lives. Similarly, many of the short statements or utterances that Tavayogi made as he walked by us, walked with us, or stopped to turn back to tell us, only makes sense now, many years later after we began to walk the talk and walk the path too. 

Meeting him in Malaysia for the first time in 2005, he showed me what he was doing back at his ashram in Kallar, India. He invited me over. Soon I saw myself standing at his ashram doorstep a month after he left Malaysia for India. I was brought to experience life at an ashram that I never imagined in my wildest dreams. I was practically visiting temples following the tradition. Then a keenness to do puja at home followed. I sang the songs of praise to the Gods both at dawn and dusk each day, showering them with flowers that I picked from a tree that stood outside my home. All these ended in 1988 that saw me being transferred from a fishing village that turned into the country's first Naval base to the capital city. I guess I must have cooked my brain, baked it, fried it, and broke my body too, with much reading of anything and everything on tradition, custom, the arts, religion, and spiritualism those eight years, figuring all the mysteries out there, to the extreme state of my brain becoming a mess,  that Lord Siva for his love for me had to intervene and saved me.

Seeing Tavayogi receive me at his doorstep was like walking into the "Zen Zone", the perfect place where peace and tranquility prevailed. Me and many others who have been to this place, his first ashram and the current new one some two kilometers away, would vouch to agree that this original old ashram was closer to nature and closer to our vision of a traditional ashram. When I went over the first time in 2005, there was no electricity. Neither was there piped water. Tavayogi would light up a hurricane light only when necessary and put it out at other times. It was even costly to have one light burn throughout the night. Hence we would go to bed as early as after 8pm. Tavayogi's loud and powerful breathing would wake us up in the early hours of dawn the next day as he practiced pranayama. We would head for the nearby stream to wash our clothes and have our bath. We would fetch water in vessels from a huge elevated water tank placed in a common area for use of both the locals and also the natives who were housed in a colony nearby. Breakfast would be idli and sambar and a glass of cow's milk. The same goes for dinner. Lunch was available if and when a visitor or someone from the neighborhood volunteers to cook. All these were alien to us and our culture in the city with everything within reach of a remote or a switch, back in Malaysia. The only modern-day amenity we had then was a flush toilet or latrine specifically constructed for Malaysians who drop by. 

Those who come for a spiritual retreat seeking to take part in programs organized by the ashrams to deliver God to their doorstep will be in for a disappointment too. We are left to fend and be with ourselves most of the day. But that gave us time to actually be with ourselves, a priced gift that most do not get in the hustle and bustle of the city. Unfortunately, I did not treasure these precious moments but instead felt bored as we are used to doing something or anything always. I would end up tidying the ashram to keep myself occupied. What I did not know and realize then was that I had unknowingly taken the first step in Sariyai, that of keeping the abode of our Father clean. Tavayogi would conduct a small and brief puja showering flowers to Agathiyar in the mornings and evenings. Unknowingly I was engaged in Kriya. I would help him pick the flowers from his garden. But even then the thought of having had the rare privilege to participate in the puja of the Siddhas led by the guru did not occur to me then. When the boys who were regulars to the ashram come over they would take to the practice of Yoga or start questioning Tavayogi. I would just watch. I was being introduced to Yoga. Today after learning from Tavayogi yoga asanas and pranayama during his visit to Malaysia in 2007, I cherish the art of Yoga and the benefits that it brought on. Apart from this nothing much happens. 

To visitors with problems he listens intently and makes them aware that their troubles are all due to their doings in the far past. We are given our first lesson on karma at this juncture. They start to ask if there was a means to be elevated from their miseries. But people being people always want the easy way out instead, citing their ignorance in rituals and settle willingly to spend money on these rituals or remedies without wanting to trouble themselves or work on them - in short, have somebody do it for them. Just as we lift a commoner among us to become our representative first in the community, then the society, then in politics or elevate him to the position of a statesman and similarly elevate another to the status of a guru, we shift the buck to others to get the remedies done. When a bunch of people sat and analyzed the day's daily newspaper during breakfast at a stall, half the time condemning the leaders and their policies, even after I returned to the place five years later, I walked up straight to them and told them not to waste their time as all these coffee shop talks on politics would not change a thing and that if they truly wanted to be heard I asked them to join politics, seek a post and work towards becoming a politician and voice out in parliament. 

Once the remedies or parikaram are done people move on with life as usual till another bout of "fever" steps in and they come rushing for another "antidote". Thus they are forever seeking soothsayers, the Nadi, and other mediums never taking charge of their lives. If remedies are dished out and given, from a simple puja to the most elaborate of rituals as in some places, Tavayogi instead, teaches us to take the bull by its horn. He gets us to actively participate or perform puja to the Siddhas personally. Both the worship and remedies is not a one-time affair as many take it to be. One has to continue doing them for each day we tend to break the divine law and gather fresh karma. People who wanted to know why they suffered only looked at the remedies dished out but not the cause that was explained to them on the onset. Sadly people go back to their old ways never pursuing the reason and the path. Having had the introduction to karma should we not train ourselves to tread the path of life carefully less we make the same mistakes again and again and end up paying the compound? If karma determines our life path should not we take karma into our own hands rather than create more karma and looking for remedies and solutions later? The Siddhas in revealing our karma mean to teach us to understand how the divine laws work and are executed and with that understanding come to work on repelling or overcoming them standing apart from its hold. Tavayogi did not dish out amulets, magic charms, or quick fixes to those who came seeking solutions. He never wanted to take on others' karma. But he was willing to show them a way to come out of it. But they had to untangle the knot that they did in the very first place. Very few wanted to put in the effort. They seek quick ways and short cuts, painless ways, and means, cheap and quick fixes. Hence they moved on to other venues where a quick means was offered for a hefty price. Remember that there are no quick fixes to man-made problems. He has to set his mind and soul in undoing it.  One who breaks the hold of karma is indeed a Siddha. 

Having stepped into his original ashram it did not dawn on me until many years later after I picked up the knowledge of the four stages that each of us has to travel on this path, namely Sariyai, Kriyai, Yogam, and Gnanam, that indeed his ashram was built to exemplify these stages externally. It was the perfect setting where a new arrival to the ashram is first fed at the dining hall. Then again many partake in the food and leave. As no one is employed to look after the affairs of ashrams, it strongly relies on volunteers to come forth to run these events would not it be great if the one who is served in turn serves the others who turn up too? This would greatly bring relief to the small band of volunteers on hand to serve at these ashrams. Walking into the kitchen we can help out with the preparation of food, cooking, serving, cleaning up, or any odd job that is given to relieve the workload of other volunteers. It is told that Bhagawan Ramana spends time in the kitchen too apart from sitting on his coach receiving visitors to his ashram. By doing these deeds we get to engage in Sariyai. But these days community service is slowly disappearing. No one helps out with community work, charity, cleaning, and sweeping their homes and neighborhood let alone the temples and ashrams. They are happy to be visitors and to receive blessings by way of standing apart and observing without having to lift a hand in helping with the festivities. A group that has come forward to indeed correct these shortcomings and spearhead in doing these deeds is Thedal Ulla Thenikalai (TUT) with Rakesh and friends based around Chennai. Learn about them at https://tut-temples.blogspot.com/ and follow their activities at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcuexVEmx6Z0EguUgdgSX3Q/featured

Taking a step further up and into Tavayogi's ashram grounds, we find ourselves at the place where rituals are performed daily. Looking around we find a need to gather firewood for the Yagna or Yagam. We get our introductory lesson in identifying the various wood and the other items that are placed into the fire pit. We learn to build a fire pit if there is no permanent one on the premises. Just as we each carry a part of the divine in us as a spark in some and as a growing flame in others, similarly, the expertise we bring home from a Yagam should set aflame the yearning to carry out a similar but smaller Homam in our homes too. But this does not happen as people separate the home and temple/ashram. They keep returning to these centers for such rituals. One who lights the fire in his home indeed has begun his personal journey towards Siddhahood just as one who lights a lamp in his house begins his personal journey of bhakti or devotion to the Almighty.

Walking out of the puja area where we have solely engaged in rituals that invite the deities and Siddhas over to grace and bless us, we venture further in bringing on a sound mind and body through the practice of yoga. If previously the body, mind, and soul were strengthened through undertaking pilgrimages and sitting in rituals, Yoga now strengthens us both inside out. Yoga brings us to embark on a journey within. We are educated on the food that one has to take to remain healthy and have the body constitution at its peak, performing at its peak for the coming of yet another mystical journey and various mystical happenings where a magnificent display of the might of the divine and its performance begins within.

Finally, after all the hectic work put in for the day we wind up sitting in silence at the Dyana Peedham or meditation hall, discharging completely and recharging the essence and energy in readiness for another day's work. 

I observed that in establishing the ashram either Tavayogi had taken into consideration each devotee's role or it was the divine will that visitors be allocated a role according to their nature and temperament, for each type of devotee who comes by to his ashram has the opportunity to lend himself/herself with a mission and purpose to his/her visit rather than remain mere spectators. The natives would drop by to help around and spend some time with him, and help out with the cooking and preparation of meals and other chores. Visitors from afar would find themselves walking into a puja and reap the benefits of it. His hope was that they carry out similar puja on a smaller scale once back at their homes. Once Tavayogi even arranged to have devotees light individual fire pits in celebrating the Guru Puja, providing hands-on and guided lessons in lighting the homam. In return, they tend to make a small donation or contribution to the running of the ashram. I remember when a colleague exclaimed, "Wow, it's free stay and free food then at the ashram" when I told her of my plan to visit and stay at Kallar. I reminded her that any ashram, for the matter, that does not generate money, is dependant on handouts and charity to continue to feed visitors like her and me on our visits without having to charge us. It is only fair then that we return the favor by donating towards the cause so that another shall be fed on his visit there just as we were fed with contributions by other devotees before us. Where would they find the means to do so if we do not contribute? When we can book into a hotel and pay for the food why should we expect the ashrams to feed us free of charge? It is our conscientious duty to donate the relevant amount or even more if one could afford to these institutions to carry on the tradition of feeding its devotees and visitors. If we drag our feet to contribute towards food and lodging that are basic necessities how are we to repay for the knowledge, lessons, practices, guidance given, and the experience gained in these venues that go beyond any mode of payment?

Visitors would come regularly with their baggage of troubles and seek a solution from Tavayogi. I would wonder what perception or idea did the public have in their minds of the guru and the ashram? Was it only catered to solve people's daily problems? Tavayogi used to share with me his sadness in seeing people come for solutions to their daily problems, things that according to him can be solved with arivu or some thinking and resolution on their part. They seek his Jeeva Nadi for the same reason too. When initially Agathiyar made his rounds coming through devotees at AVM we were naturally excited.  But soon it dawned on me as I feared that we were helping create the same scenario that Tavayogi lamented about. They all came to Agathiyar with their life problems. Sadly none came asking to know the means and the ways to attain Siddhahood like Tavayogi pointed out. We then asked that Agathiyar stop his visitation. He did just that. We were not going to submit our Sadguru Agathiyar to the state of a medicine man, healer, astrologer, etc. We were not going to submit the Maha Guru to answer petty questions related to problems that are man's doing in the very first place. We, just like what Tavayogi wished, wanted people to seek out Agathiyar purely for Gnanam or spiritual wisdom and enlightenment. We wanted them to seek him for ways to arrive at his stature of a Siddha, nothing less. 

When several good samaritans came along and offered to purchase a piece of land and build a new ashram/temple/meditation hall, Tavayogi went with the flow and submitted to move. I did ask him if it was necessary to venture into such a massive project as he had always inculcated the idea in us that we must break away from the path of Bhakti and move up the ladder to Gnana when ready. His reply was that that new complex was not for him. Neither was it intended to gain laurels or credit for the venture but to leave something behind for the future generation of seekers who have no knowledge of the Siddhas and yet are keen to begin their new journey. Today I fully see and accept his view in totality. He has seen God. It is time others came to the path, tread the path, walk the journey, learn and experience and travel the Siddha path and way just as numerous others have gone ahead on the journey. He is indeed a Jeevanmukta who comes back to show the way yet walking aloft among society.

Our journey can be summarized in three stages by three wonderful songs. "Yengenggu Sendrom Vanthom Ethu Varai Vaazhvile" was before the start of the journey; coming to the path without the least effort and traveling it without being aware as to where we were heading as in the song "Ariya Payanam"; and finally arriving at the truth as in the verses of "Paarthene".

Today as we settle in the shoes of Tavayogi and look back, we see through the veil and find the truth that has been blocked from our view all this while. We understand fully all that Tavayogi stood for. Tavayogi who has since gone into samadhi, left behind a place to serve, worship, practice, and meditate for legacy. Although the old Kallar Ashram is in ruins today, it shall always live in our hearts. Now the new ashram headed by Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar after Tavayogi's demise, has many amenities and is well equipped for both the devotee and the traveler, and offers a homestay too for a small fee. This goes towards maintaining the new sheets and hot bath coupled with hot food and peace and serenity that is topped up by Mother nature as a bonus. Speaking about Mother nature, I believe we shall all appreciate the breath and learn to breath better and fuller once this pandemic settles to dust as we have been wearing the facemask for far too long. We shall cherish the freedom given to us too for it has been curbed for far too long too. 

BRINGING COMPLEX DOCTRINES TO THE COMMON FOLK THRU MOVIES

The Indian cinema has helped much in bringing complex teachings and doctrines to the reaches of its cinema-goers and patrons through the medium of celluloid over the years. Besides the stories based on the lives and times of saints, there were movies with storylines that touched on the need to uphold noble values too. There were many instances of teachings and songs of saints inserted and carried through this medium into the hearts of cinema-goers. One of my favorites was this song by R.Balasaraswathi and her mesmerizing voice. Only recently my wife pointed out that Ramalinga Adigal is mentioned in the lyrics. The young mother believes that Vallal (Ramalinga Adigal) hearing her plea for a child has come as a child to her.

Gowri Arumugam too has penned a song for her Raagawave Production's album "Agathiyar Geetham" seeking Agathiyar to come as a child to those yearning for one.

A song of Ramalinga Adigal appears in the movie "Chandrahaaram."

Isaikavi Ramanan has written and sung numerous songs regarding the guru. Here is a compilation that I did from several of his talks.

The latest entry captured my heart with the lyrics by Pa. Vijay that we can relate to pretty well. It's a song from the movie "Mookutti Amman."

A devotee friend sent me another song clip that was equally enlightening questioning the need for middlemen when God resides within. 

Fearing that the lyricists has included gurus too in his list of middlemen, she wrote back "Aiya, I think the lyrics referring to the middle man like josiyar, kuri solbavar and not gurus." I replied, "(The contents were) Wonderful and true too. But they do not know the joy in having a guru just as we are happy having our parents family and friends around. It's good that they have come to the realization that they do not need a guru. But how do you achieve the state of God then? Just by thinking or holding the thought that I am God? What after that?"

Recently we have come and can attest to the need for a guru who shows the way and the means and stands back without interfering in the process and progress of the student's transformation. The guru's work is to lead him to the lake and teach him to swim. The student needs to learn to stay afloat and swim to the other bank. In the event, he struggles only then the guru comes to his aid. The student has to grow and find his own identity. He is never to imitate the guru. He should not fall into the shoes of the guru. Each teacher, master, and guru is unique. So are the students. We do not want to mass produce students who resemble him. We do not want to clone the gurus.

Agathiyar shared a secret that initially he asked to keep under wraps until he brought it out to the open. He summoned Bhogar and Tirumular to a ritual. He told us that although the Siddhas and he were one for certain purposes they had to assume various names and forms. Although they are one, he summons each Siddha for a specific purpose. When my daughter was laid in the hospital, Agathiyar told us he came with Tirumular and raised her blood count to help her recover from her bout of extreme exhaustion due to the dengue fever. He tells us that Ramalinga Adigal always follows him wherever he goes. Krishnaveni Amma of Kalyana Theertham is always visited by Agathiyar and accompanied by Shirdi Sai Baba. 

Before coming to their path life might go on as usual for many looking after family and their career, with an occasional visit to the temples. Once we step onto their path, the need is there to work on these souls. Just as criminals are rehabilitated, and just as the field is weeded and prepared to be sowed with good seeds, man needs to be prepared for the spiritually uplifting journey and a higher purpose in life. This task is given to the Siddhas or Vignanakalar. The Siddhas are forever willing to guide man back to Erai's abode. That was the wish they put forward to Erai. From Velayutham Karthikeyan Aiya's posting in his blog Siththan Arul at http://siththanarul.blogspot.com we understand the compassion of the Siddhas towards humanity. 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 wish to guide and save humanity. The Siddhas had wished that whoever seeks them out for solutions to their problems and surrenders to them, he shall be pardoned for his past deeds, however bad and evil they may be. The Siddhas asked that man shall not be put through the trial and tribulations and made to face the consequences of his actions but instead will be saved. Erai granted the Siddhas their wish. Simply said coming to the worship of Siddhas helps to break the chain of karma. The Gnana Thiravukol or key is provided by the Siddhas. After the audience with Erai, the next instant the Siddhas wrote down; the reasons for each individual’s sufferings; listed out solutions and remedies; wrote down ways and means to overcome or end the seeker's 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. Hence the Nadi came to be written for every individual. 

Below is a translation of Karthikeyan Aiya's post,

“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. 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. 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.” 

Though the Siddhas are waiting to help mankind, Karthikeyan Aiya adds that one has to seek out the Siddhas to solve his problems.

Agathiyar confirms that his job is to identify and prepare the candidate and bring him to Lord Shiva eventually. Pon Govindasamy reveals to us the Divine's plan in his book "Vallalaarum Brahma Gnana Sangamum", Bharath Book Bureau, Chennai. He states that it is the mission of the Divine to save the souls that are riddled, locked, and chained by Aanavam, Kanmam, and Maayai and bring them back to his state of purity. 

Pon Govindasamy explains the different states of the souls. To the souls who were still tied down to the three Malam namely Aanavam, Kanmam, and Maayai, God comes in the human form to guide them to achieve the state of a Jeevanmukta called Sakalar. In dropping Maayai, they evolve into Rishis and are known as Piralayaakalar. The Maha Rishis who had defeated Maayai and Kanmam but are restrained by Aanavam are called Vignanakalar. God comes as Shiva to the Piralayaakalar who then turn to educate the Sakalar. To the Maha Rishis God comes within to teach. With the descent of God the Maha Rishis became one with God.

Pon Govindasamy reveals further. In each Kalpa, the seven landmasses under seven Manus appear and disappear one after the other. When the third land mass Kumari Kandam appeared, God sent Agathiyar, one of the seven Rishis, as its protector. Agathiyar then a Rishi and a Piralayaakalar, learned the sciences from God who came as Lord Murugan and imparted the true knowledge at Pothigai. Agathiyar mastered the five aspects of God that are creation, sustenance, destruction, veiling, and blessing, and also achieved all eight siddhis. He then stood as a Vignanakalar, appearing as true knowledge or an epitome of Gnanam. He stood as Lord Dhakshanamurthi.

Gordon Matthews in his translation of Meykanda Devar’s "Shivagnana Botham" where Meykandar differentiates the state of these disciples according to the impurities in them, explains clearly these distinctions.

• To Sakalar, souls immersed in all three impurities, God comes as a Guru of the 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" enlightens us further.

• 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 a 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 receives Gnana from Lord Shiva himself as the incorporeal inner guide.

To the common man or Sakalar who is seen to have the potential to receive their teachings and evolve into a Jeevanmukta, God comes as a guru with a human form and name. God as guru comes when he is ready to accept His teachings. God as guru prepares him to undertake the mystical journey. The candidate gets exposure to the path and is shown the means and ways, given practices and methods. The lineage of gurus before one's personal guru come to guide him too accordingly. Upagurus come by to lead him further. Having complied with the basic requirements they take joy in having prepared him. He is then given the freedom to venture on his own. He finds his true self, nature, and center. He lives in society unattached and as a Jeevanmukta. He makes quick progress by remaining indifferent to all that happens around him and becomes a Rishi and a saint called Piralayaakalar. Finally, he takes the big step to becoming a Maha Rishi who is known as Vignanakalar. Henceforth God comes within to teach him. 

Gordon Matthews explains this concept in his translation of Meykanda Devar’s "Shivagnana Botham". 

By reason of the soul’s virtue in previous births, God, who has been immanent in the soul, making it known, now vouchsafing to take the form of a Guru, initiates the soul in the Saiva mysteries. The primal one himself teaches these souls as a Guru: for in the form of consciousness, he is in union (with him). When because of the soul’s meritorious practices the primal one enlightens the soul as a Guru… When God comes as a Guru and teaches the soul, the soul is made to see that the world of experience, evolved from Maya, is non-real. It ceases then to identify itself with the non-real and to depend upon it; and in so doing it discovers its oneness with God.

A shift then takes place here, from the unreal to the real.

The sacrifice of a guru is akin to a father carrying his daughter on his back to and fro from her school each day. The guru like this father as depicted in the following clip never gives up on his children. He teaches us to battle our foes and fears alike. He carries us through the puddles, swamp, and rapids to safer grounds. He is there for us through rain and shines 24/7. The sacrifice of a guru is also akin to the mother who looks after the child, sees to his/her needs so that he/she shall excel in all his/her undertakings. Both gurus and parents rejoice in finally getting to sit back and watch their son/daughter graduate with distinction making them and their lineage and ancestry proud. 

THE GURU'S HIDDEN MESSAGES

The guru's messages only make sense now after some 20 years on; 18 years on, and 16 years on. It has been 20 years since Agathiyar came to proclaim me through some divine messengers and through the Nadi the following year.  It has been some 18 years since I met my first guru in physical form, Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai. It has been some 16 years since I met Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal. In the first Nadi reading, Agathiyar mentioned many things that have come to fruition. Supramania Swami's prediction too has come true. And of course, I suppose we have fulfilled Tavayogi's expectation of us hearing him acknowledge our efforts. Today we understand the many subtle messages that were passed on to us, not during public talks, Satsangs, or question and answer sessions but as they walked by casually, as we took a walk with them, or when they spoke alone with us.  

Bhagawan Ramana too is said to have given a reminder to Sadhu Om with a passing remark. Sadhu Om who had Bhagawan's darshan a couple of weeks earlier went back to Ramanasramam to be with him, was invited into the dining hall to have breakfast. Bhagavan was having his breakfast then. Sadhu Om took his seat in front of Bhagavan. When Bhagavan finished eating, he got up from his seat. Seeing this, Sadhu Om also got up as a mark of respect. Bhagavan looked at him and said, "வந்த வேலையை பார்" or "Vandha Velaiyaip Paar" (Look after the business for which you have come). Sadhu Om then sat down. Bhagavan, after washing his hands, seeing that Sadhu Om had paused eating, repeated the words, "வந்த வேலையை பார்" or "Vandha Velaiyaip Paar". Hearing these words, Sadhu Om started eating again. As Bhagavan prepared to exit the dining hall Bhagavan looked back at Sadhu Om and caught him watching him. Bhagawan uttered the words again, "வந்த வேலையை பார்" or "Vandha Velaiyaip Paar", for the third time in succession.

I can never forget the upadesa I got from my 3-year-old granddaughter. I used to tease her telling her that "I have seen this earlier",  "I have seen this earlier" as she seats herself on the settee, following intently her favorite kid's CGI cartoon series "Masha and the Bear", watching the episodes over and over again. She would turn to me and point her finger to a corner telling me, "I am the one watching (that she doesn't mind seeing repeats), you go to your corner." I would then go stand in a corner. She would say "Not there" and direct me to my desk where I work on my blog. One day as she stood in front of the television, I came by and told her the same thing as all grandfathers do since we are given the same script. She was so stressed up that she turned to look up at me and said, "நீ உன் வாழ்க்கையை பார்; நான் என் வாழ்க்கையை பார்க்கிறேன்" meaning  "You take care of your life and I shall take care of mine. I was taken aback by her power of vocabulary and choice of words that came out from a 3-year-old, especially the timely usage of the word "Life" or வாழ்க்கை. I realized then that Agathiyar was telling me through her to do what I came for, just as Bhagawan told Sadhu Om "வந்த வேலையை பார்" or "Vandha Velaiyaip Paar." 

When I arrived at Kallar Ashram for the first time in 2005, Suresh and Vimalan from Tiruvannamalai and an old man were there, having stayed back after the monthly Pournami or Full Moon Puja. Suresh brought out a Rudraksha seed and asked if he could wear it. Tavayogi took it in his hands and see no flaws in it, gave him the green light to wear, together with a few words of caution as to the manner of wearing it and the places to avoid bringing it to. I remained a spectator as this was all new to me. When Suresh left us Tavayogi turned to me and said, "நமக்கு இது தேவை இல்லை மகனே" or "We don't need this, son." Then I being a show-off, and wanting to impress him, showed him the gem-studded ring I was wearing. I told him Supramania Swami had asked me to wear it mentioning it shall do good. I then told him I was wearing a Rasamani or solidified purified mercury on me too, gifted by the late Dr. Krishnan, an astrologer, and Siddha practitioner. It did not make any difference to him. Tavayogi answered the same, "நமக்கு இது தேவை இல்லை மகனே" or "We don't need this." 

Coincidently the gem-studded ring went missing for several moments after we returned from our bath in the river that flowed near his ashram. Tavayogi had me place my travel documents and cash together with this ring in his steel cupboard under lock and key before we went for the dip in the river. He kept the key. Tavayogi searched with me and finally located the ring in the hollow section of the metal cupboard frame. I was relieved to have found it as I had cherished it for two reasons. One that I was told to wear it by Supramania Swami that came as a consolation to an earlier episode in my student life that Supramania Swami could not possibly know. Or does he know everything? When I sat in front of him the first time I met him he had revealed everything about me, even those messages that Agathiyar gave me in my Nadi in private. So it would not surprise me if he intended to appease my desire and yearning to wear a nine-gem studded gold ring on my finger. Rather than a yearning, I should say it was a challenge taken. I had challenged the proprietor of a gem shop that I shall wear one in my life when after seeing me, then a college kid lingering in his shop, he chased me out telling me that I could not afford them. Of course, as I had paid a big sum to have the precious stones set in the gold ring, I was saddened when I thought I had lost it. 

When I returned to Supramania Swami''s place again after leaving Kallar Ashram, surprisingly for a man who had scanned and read through me without the need to chart my horoscope on our first meeting, Swami wanted to chart my horoscope. I sat with him under the thatched roof of a shed outside his village home at Nachaananthal some 8 km away from Tiruvannamalai town on that hot afternoon while his family was preparing a feast for me. Only then did I notice the yellow sapphire had come loose. I removed the ring from my finger and kept it away save. Tavayogi's word did come true. I did not need them anymore. 

I removed the Rasamani too and kept it away safe. Sometime back last year as my body started to build up heat, I started to wear it on after reading Srinatha Raghavan's notes on fb.

While doing long periods of Sadhana, the Body, Mind and Breath undergo tremendous and unexpected changes. The breathing becomes deeper, slower, longer and steady, while the body starts to produce intense heat (Taapagni), due to prolonged concentration and refinement of the Mind locked in the Agnya Chakra.

Many years ago, when I underwent a similar situation, the heat and pain became unbearable, where the body would become locked for hours together and despite wanting to move, it wouldn't. It would be like the joints were locked internally by some unseen force (Actually it's the Prana) and it would unlock on it's own.

Finding no real solution after having tried a zillion ones, I continued to the best of my physical ability, pushing the body and mind to its limit, till it couldn't take no more. The body would break down with shooting pain in every inch of it, while the heat generated would make it difficult to even pass stools, with small boils covering all over the body, it was a painful time indeed. This is why it is important to have the guidance of the Guru, so his/her timely wisdom and spiritual common sense can redeem you from your plight.

Just as providence would have it I was fortunate to meet a Siddha from the South during a spiritual sojourn, who was fondly called Appa Siddhar or Rasamani Siddhar. He gauged my plight and gave me a "Rasamani" or "Solidified Purified Mercury" which is still an impossible feat for modern Science to achieve. Mercury by nature is highly poisonous and ingesting it can cause blood poisoning or even death, however the Siddhas of yore found a way to purify it through various "Bandhanas" cleaning and purifying it repeatedly with various herbal juices and salts, till it became a potent tool used for spiritual ascension.

As He gave the "Rasamani" with the instructions on how to use it, the changes in the body was instant and miraculous. A steady Mind and a steadier body is a great blessing for the long and arduous Spiritual Journey within. When I used it as instructed, the heat generated would be strangely transmitted in to the Mercury Ball or Gutika and the body would become cool, tireless and strong, even if it was not fed with anything for hours together.

Trust me when I say this, the Spiritual Path is not a bed of Roses, for a time will come when Heaven will become Hell and there will be no one to understand your plight, let alone help you come out of it. Only the grace of the Guru, has the power to see you through, that's the truth.

The Rasamai was with me for a long time, but in one of my trips, I happened to meet another Spiritual Seeker who was undergoing similar upheavals, so I gladly gave it to him, so it could do its job to help yet another one achieve or overcome what would be otherwise impossible indeed.

Note: Please be advised that the Rasamani or Parad, you get in the market today is not at all the real one. It is either lead coated with German Silver or an alloy of Aluminum and other metals, which is highly poisonous and can cause rashes and other severe conditions. Real Rasamani is very rare and the ones who know how to make it, are even more rarer, because of it's precise, time consuming and difficult to achieve perfection, making the asking price as high as the sky.

When the late Dr. Krishnan had it made for me and my colleague mine was delayed while he received his earlier. The reason the Dr gave was as Sri says "it did not achieve perfection."

When Agathiyar in the Nadi reading told me to stick with the local chapter of Tavayogi's Peedham in Batu Caves just as Tavayogi had told me too, later when I accepted and took heed of Agathiyar's message in the Aasi Nadi reading and headed straight to Tavayogi to be re-initiated as directed, the entire Nadi reading was erased and replaced with a new reading. I was now directed straight to Kallar ashram. I was to become Tavayogi's student.

While all those who seek the Nadi are generally expected to carry out remedies for their past karma or deeds, when the guru comes along and offers to take us in under his wings, under his tutorship and patronage, many divine rules are changed, dropped, or replaced with the intervention and prayers of the guru including these remedies too and the need for them. This happens only when one takes hold of the guru for life.

When Tavayogi told me the true meaning of the aphorism "பாத்திரம் அறிந்து பிச்சையிடு that literally means "Give according to the vessel", that although this seems to pertain to the person begging for food with an eating vessel in his hands, Tavayogi sees it as the gifting of the divine and spiritual knowledge. He says that it is only supposed to be shared with those who were ready for the transmission and would understand its true meaning and value the teachings. "Do not waste our breath on others not keen to follow or adopt"", he added. Hence we understand why each time he took to the stage he never spoke beyond the usual introduction to the Siddhas. The secret teachings were only conveyed to deserving students. He used to tell both Mataji and me that one has to be with the guru for at least 12 years before the guru would pass on any spiritual knowledge. Today we understand his stand on this matter. It takes 12 years for us to cleanse our slate that has been written with filth and trash. This goes the same for Nadi readings. Many a times seekers of the Nadi are led astray and they complain that their readings are false. The Siddhas who are known to play games bring non-believers and those out to test the authenticity of the Nadi readings and readers on a wild goose chase. 

Supramania Swami told me three things that should be done in secrecy: Puja, getting intimate with our life partner, and partaking food. I could understand the reason for the later two but why puja? In fact, Agathiyar had us engage in puja and had us share the joy with one and all, with those who attended in person, through streaming and in conducting them in public places and temples. Today I understand that all these subtle messages are for those who have advanced on the path and have come to a better understanding of the work of the divine hand. Agathiyar has asked us to drop all rituals and charity as he says we had done enough, only after engaging in them first. There is no bypass or a way out of Sariyai and Kriyai. It is needed to understand the journey that awaits us better. Now he decides its time we went in. He wants us to go within. Whatever activities that took place all these while was for public consumption so that they too shall step into it. Now the inner experiences are solely for each individual. No two experiences shall be the same. To avoid having to compare with another and feel frustrated in the delays or in not achieving the same experiences, we are told to keep them with us. The Siddhas are known to cover, camouflage, or hide the truth of their messages or meanings from the public with "paripasai" only revealing them to true practitioners of their path. Hence, my question as to why they are not charitable in giving away a good thing in this case the knowledge making it public domain has been answered. Now we realize the need to have a personal guru and his lineage behind him in passing on this knowledge to only truly deserving candidates of theirs and we understand the reason for the long wait. So is it with the songs of the radical Siddhas like Sivavaakiyar, Pattinathar, Ramalinga Adigal, and Mahakavi Bharathi. Their songs are addressed to those on the upper rung of the ladder where the views, perspective,s and experiences are different. Many among us confuse the public further by reciting these highly acclaimed songs to the general layman. We shall never understand the true meaning of their songs unless we have traveled their path too. They forget that the common man needs religion and rituals to satisfy his soul's yearning. It is not wrong to indulge in them. What is wrong with us is to practice them all life long. We need to drop them as we move further up the stairs.

Trailing the path of the guru one is required to be alert to divine or subtle messages that are not commonplace during their talks and large gatherings or interviews with the media, but that happens when alone with the master or while sitting alone in solitude. As I blog many truths dawn on me and become a message and learning for me too. I am only an instrument in their hands. Dhanvantri came to tell us that Tavayogi shall guide us in his Jothi form. Just as Supramania Swami made his guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar come from his samadhi and join us in chanting his name at Swami's kudil, the Yogi came from his samadhi with his disciple Supramania Swami raising and our guru from his samadhi too, to bless all gathered at AVM. This explains the fact that both Bhagawan Nithyananda of Ganeshpuri and Yogi Ramsuratkumar of Tiruvannamalai at their deathbed consoled their followers moments before they went into Samadhi that they could do a better job in the subtle form compared to the limitations of the physical form. They promised to continue to guide them too. That is the power or strength of the guru. He is the beacon of light and can disperse the darkness including obstacles. One only needs to hold on tight - to only one guru. In event his guru passes away he is allowed to seek another. But there won't be a necessity to seek another if the genuine guru has instilled his power and strength in his disciples too. They can then survive on their own looking out to their guru in moments of need, although they have left their physical form. One such disciple is Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyaar who now runs the Agathiyar Gnana Peedham at Kallar in the absence of Tavayogi in physical form. 

When many are struggling to accept the new norm in the wake of the pandemic, when Malaysians are so used to leaving the home to chat with their friends in Mamak shops over a cup of tea or Teh Tarik, when many feel miserable in not being able to carry out all their favorite past times, nor permited to travel or fulfil other desires, I wonder how do the monks and inmates of ashrams deal with this interruption to their lives. Obviously they shall not be affected mentally as they live away from society in the mountains and outer reaches of society, away from the public. Apparently they are already well equiped and trained in dealing with outside interferences to their peace, stabilty and livestyle. I guess the pandemic has not affected them in comparison with commonfolk like us, struggling to combat stress and worries and come to terms with the pandemic. Let us too like the monks in these monastries aand ashram who keep on praying for the betterment of all, bring our hands together again and beg of the Almighty to show some grace and mercy in reverting the current situation to better times like those that we have had before. At the same time do keep in mind that we too should comply with the law and help hasten the recovery process. Stay save.