RECLAIMING THE LOST WEBSITES 6 - INTRODUCTION TO THE PATH OF THE SIDDHAS

From http://indianheartbeat.fws1.com/TheSidhas.html

July 19, 2011

The Sidhas

Introduction to the Path of the Sidhas

Sidha Margam, a Tamil word, when translated into English means the path of the sidhas. Who are the sidhas? They are men who strived to achieve godhead by means of performing austerities together with living a life of discipline. They then taught their disciples this path. Together they then laid them out in writings for the future generations to cherish and follow. They perfected means to enable the body to remain alive for generations and eons and to this date are believed to be living amongst us. Today they do communicate through the nadi readings by nadi readers from the Valluvar clan in India. They also do appear to some disciples in person. Their writings are available in the Tamil language. Sage Romarishi mentions in one of his writings the names of some of these sidhas. They are:

Karuvurar, Bogar, Agathiyar, Sathainathar, Konganar, Brahmasidhar, Machamuni, Nandhithevar, Korakar, Patanjali, Edaikadar, Chandikesar, Vasamuni and Kamalamuni

The Teachings of Sidhas

The sidhas regard this birth as very auspicious and rare. The sidha known as Avvai in her writings says 'Rare indeed is to take a human birth, Rarer than that is to be born with a perfect human form, sight, hearing and speech. Amongst them it is rare to see one who does austerities and charity. When one does austerities and charity the gates to godhead is opened.’ The sidhas had searched the nooks and corners of this earth for god and finally realized god in them. But not everybody can realize god in themselves immediately. So they paved the path where one would have to go through the four divisions of Yoga namely:

1. Sariyai, 2. Kiriyai, 3. Yogam and 4. Gnanam.

The Importance of Understanding Karma

For one to realize god without any hindrance one has to know ones karma. A lot of importance is given, in the initial stage, to karma by these sidhas. These karmas are revealed by the sidhas through the nadi readings.

Know the Rights from the Wrongs

The nadi is a comprehensive reading of what you are undergoing currently; what you had done in the past and what to expect in the future with lots of option thrown in. One is required to perform appeasement and atonements (Parikarams) to one’s wrongdoing to other beings. Ramalinga Swami, a recent sidha from Vadalur, in his ‘Manumurai Kanda Vasagam’ mentions the probabilities for one’s rebirth.

‘Did I create fear in others?

Did I hurt my loved ones?

Did I summon and tarnish others,

Did I stop others from making donations?

Did I smear my friends?

Did I sabotage friendships?

Did I speak gossip that lead to families being destroyed,

Did I I refused to help one in need,

Did I increase taxes and rob others,

Did I make the poor suffer?

Did I act unjustly?

Did I stop the means of income of others?

Did I entice others and cheat them,

Did I rip work but refused to pay accordingly,

Did I adulterate rice with pebbles?

Did I ignore the hungry?

Did I refrain from feeding the poor?

Did I exposed those that had taken refuge with me,

Did I aid those who committed murder?

Did I scout and spy on behalf of thieves,

Did I snatch properties belonging to others and lied to them?

Did I sleep with those who had lost their virginity?

Did I abuse virgins who I had a responsibility to protect?

Did I rape those who already had had a husband?

Did I lock up birds in their cages?

Did I not feed the calves?

Did I build up this body by consuming meat?

Did I poison drinking water?

Did I fell trees that gave us shade?

Did I destroy others out of revenge?

Did I demolish public halls?

Did I not listen to my parents?

Did I not greet my guru?

Did I not give my guru his dues, for his sustenance?

Did I envy the learned?

Did I find mistakes in the writings of the wise?

Did I offend devotees of Siva?

Did I offend the yogis?

Did I prevent the public from conducting their prayers by shutting the doors to the temples?

Did I smear the name of the Lord?

What sin did I do, I do not know’, questions the saint.

A New Beginning

The nadi could tell one’s past. Further revelations are made if one sincerely follows the instructions faithfully to the very word. Once the atonement for one’s sins is performed a new leaf starts. The sidhas start to guide you according to your vision and mission. If you surrender unto them, they take hold of you, and there starts a new chapter in your life. Our life although it is predetermined is not rigid. It is in a state of fluidity. Anything is possible. The options are put before you. The paths are numerous. The choice is yours. Each path we chose will determine a new fate, a new set of occurrences and experiences. The idea in having taken birth is to gain all kinds of experiences.

If you set your mind on something it will materialize eventually, unless the power above us decides otherwise, which happens rarely and only to some selected souls who have a bigger mission that they themselves envision.

Having understood karma and its domino effects we are required to tread carefully so as not to incur more negative karma but instead increase the positive karma. One has to refrain from performing even the positive karma eventually for that would result in being born again to enjoy the fruits of one’s action. For one who is spiritually inclined he would have to even forego doing good that results in good karma and having to take birth again in order to reap the benefits of the good done in the past life. So to end this circle of birth would mean having to do nothing. When you do nothing you do not tread on others feet, you do not mess up others life, you do not change things and create happenings, and you do not resists changes. You do not actively participate in the happenings around you but instead you will be just watching.

After a period of meditation and having received God's grace one would if required be asked to go back to a mission to educate and bring more souls into the fold of god. This action by the person who would most probably by now is a re-known saint does not create bad nor good karma for he would be carrying out activities that would not enslave him but instead be for the betterment of the entire public that comes into contact with him. He could then choose to leave of his own will when the time was right.

Our Mission

Each on of us comes with a mission. Without realizing it we move on creating blunders and creating more karma that needs more lifetimes of birth to undo. Once we surrender unto the sidhas they hold onto us and show and guide us often giving us options, advice and guidance. Our mission will then be revealed by the Sidhas.

How Do We Approach The Sidhas?

Sidhas have trodden the path to godhead. By holding on to them we too can see and experience all that was seen and experienced by them. We need to get their attention, sincerely adhere to their instructions and guidance, and pray that they show solace and shower their grace onto us. The Sidha Margam is the simplest path to godhead. When we call out the names of these sidhas, their attention falls on us. Through their teachings and guidance, we build up the body and soul to make it a suitable dwelling for the Lord. Once god and the sidhas shower their grace you are assured you have the blessing and strength to undertake your mission with an assurance of success.

I came to know much about life and how to live it in a fruitful manner from the Nadi, a medium through which the sidhas communicate to their believers, followers, and disciples. Below are the blessings that one receives as a result of following the dictates of the sidhas.

The sidhas give the following advice and assurance to their disciples:

The Sidhas Speak On:

On Karma:

‘Birth is a result of past karma. If karma (both good and bad) is erased there is no reason to take birth again. The disciple needs to live his life, distinguishing between the good and bad karma, which takes shape as a result of links with the past births. Confusion too is a result of past karmas and it does not make advancement in spiritual practices possible. The disciple needs to perform tapas and penances to end this circle of birth. He needs to cleanse all karma is through prayers.’ The sidhas give assurance that the disciple’s karma shall be cleansed by prayers. ‘The karma shall be burnt away by the very fire of meditation’, say the sidhas.

On The Nadi:

The sidhas give instructions through the Nadi. It is a means of communication between the sidha and the disciple.

‘All those who come in search of the nadi, have the blessings of the sidhas. Never belittle the nadi readings for it is sacred,’ they tell us.

On Morality:

‘Do not worry. Do not fear. Do not be sad. Do not cry any more. Weep no more. Do good. Be joyful. Be truthful, do prayers and meditate. Be compassionate. The disciple shall see the results. The disciple shall see positive and clear changes in him. People around the disciple shall challenge and argue with him but the disciple needs to be aware and not get dragged into these discussions. Feed the poor and the animals. Help the needy. Do charity. Live a life of virtue. Control anger as temper shall destroy all merits gained through meditation. Do not utter harsh words as they shall take shape’, they warn us.

‘The disciple needs only to fulfill his responsibilities towards the family and nation. Be pure at heart and the disciple shall be at peace.’ They also say that ‘When the disciple is truthful, he shall face challenges. In those circumstances do nothing, and the disciple shall see bliss, they assure us.

They advise us further to take things one step at a time.

On Marriage:

The sidhas encourage their disciples to marry and carry out their responsibilities to their families. They ask that their disciples walk the path to godhead without deserting the families.

On Food:

‘Take natural foods. Consume pure food. Take food devoid of salt, sweetness, sour and pungent.’ They advise us, giving the reasons too. ‘When meditating excessive heat would arise in the body of the disciple. Since heat shall increase hence there is a need to take only sattvic foods to counter the heat. The disciple’s body shall generate heat due to yogic practices. Counter the heat by taking cooling stuff.’

On Worship:

The disciple needs to help finance the building of temples and other places of worship. She/he is encouraged to conduct prayers and practice asanas and breathing exercises. The disciple is encouraged to visit and pray at the abodes and dwellings of sidhas. The sidhas are happy to see the disciple pray to them daily. ‘Happiness shall prevail in the lives of the disciple as a result of these daily prayers to the sidhas’ says the sidhas.

The disciple needs to be steady in his or her mission even when confronted with people who shall shake their faith. The disciple is advised not to heed these harsh and discouraging words but instead to carry on with the prayers. There is much good in prayers, they assure us. All the disciple’s problems shall be relieved step by step through prayers. The disciple is encouraged to conduct research, continue the aforementioned practices, prayers, and rituals to the utmost satisfaction without any error.

The disciple is encouraged to recite the Maha Mantra – ARUTPERUNJHOTI, ARUTPERUNJHOTI, TANIPERUNKARUNAI, and ARUTPERUNJHOTI. They ask that besides the mantra ARUTPERUNJHOTI let the names of the sidhas be the maha-mantra for the disciple and to repeat it daily. The sidhas request the disciples to chant Lord Murugan’s name too for it is LIGHT.

‘Bliss and joy is acquired by chanting the Lord’s name.’ The sidhas mention that they too are in the form of light in this world. Thus they ask that we light up the home and worship this LIGHT.

They ask that the disciple perform prayers at temples to appease the planets and to garland the gods for then they shall be pleased. The disciple shall spread the sidhas teachings through prayers and service. She/he is requested to stay on this path. The disciple is to continue consistently with the spiritual practices that the disciple currently following. She/he is advised not to get distracted. He is reminded not to give up on prayers. ‘Worship sidhas and attained much’, request the sidhas.

On Pilgrimages:

The sidhas encourage disciples to go on pilgrimages that would help change one’s perception of god and to know and learn more about the sidhas. Some spots and persons which are a must (visit) are Thiruvanamalai, Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal in Kallaru, Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar in Turaiyur, Palani and Bhogar’s Samadhi, Sage Agathiyar’s temple at Agasthiyampalli, and the caves in Courtalam, Pothigai, and Sathuragiri. The sidhas shall wait with open arms for the arrival of their disciples, they assure us. The sidhas promise that they shall receive the disciple and accompany them on their pilgrimages to these shrines, caves, and samadhi.

On Yoga:

The sidhas advocate the practice of Thega Sudhi, and other breathing techniques (pranayama). Preferably, these practices should be enhanced through a guru, they say. The disciples are to practice meditation daily as a result of which they shall gain full concentration. The disciple needs to just concentrate on his meditation while the sidhas shall take care of the disciple’s other needs.

To enable advancement in the disciple’s practices and meditation, the disciple is requested to sit on a seat made of wood during meditation, to place a white cloth above it, and to meditate for twelve minutes daily with eyes shut and the sight focused between the brows and chanting the sidha’s names. To progress further in the spiritual endeavors, he/she is to meditate sitting on the Tharpai grass.

The sidhas assure the disciple that, ‘The disciple shall receive great benefits from this practice. The thinking ability shall improve. Temper shall be gone. Health shall improve. The body shall become robust. The disciple shall gain clarity. She/he shall see changes in them during these stages of meditation and prayer. The disciple shall attain through meditation, knowledge and speech attributes and others benefits. All efforts and practices shall not be in vain. The disciple shall achieve the highest meditation through the Sidha Margam. The disciple shall gain all that the sidhas and elders have attained.’

On The Guru:

‘God is father, mother, and guru to the disciple. Advancement in spirituality comes with the aid of a guru. He shall receive guidance and blessings from the gurus. The guru opens up the mind of the disciple. The mysteries and secrets of the body, soul, and world shall be revealed through the guru.’

The sidhas ask that the disciple fulfill the responsibilities towards the guru without a second thought, full-heartedly and without mistake. The sidhas remind the seeker to choose the right guru who shall lead him further on. They remind him to chant the name of the guru daily. They add that if that is not possible, allocate a day in the week in prayer for the guru.

They reveal that ‘Gurus come around so that the disciple shall know the truth. The truth shall be revealed through the guru.’

The sidhas encourage the disciples to gain merits by visiting gurus and places of worship. And they ask that the disciple be patient for the time will come when this transmission takes place. ‘With the blessings and grace of sidhas the disciple shall be protected from harm’, they promise.

On Sidha Margam:

Siddha Margam is THE path. The sidhas say, ‘Live your life as the sidhas do. The disciple shall live like a sidha in this world. The disciple shall live like Sivam too.’ The disciple is assured that he/she shall see changes taking place. The sidhas shall give visions and conduct miracles just for their disciples. They shall appear to the disciple. They shall perform miracles. ‘Miracles would take place. Miracles and visions shall take place at the abodes, caves, and samadhi of sidhas. The disciple shall witness miracles happen every day’, the disciple is assured.

‘The disciple needs to establish himself firmly in the path of the sidhas. Be faithful to this path.’ Let God's name flow through the breath of the disciple, they ask of us. ‘Let the thoughts revolve around the sidhas. Sidhas shall live in the disciple. God shall live in the disciple. The disciple shall become one with the sidhas. Let the sidhas show the disciple his path. The sidhas shall show the disciple the path. Receive the advice of sidhas with devotion. Spread the sidha teachings.’

The disciple becomes a true friend and is highly regarded by the sidhas. ‘The sidhas shall love the disciple as much as the disciple loves them. Once a disciple comes to this Margam, others around him too shall follow the disciple on this path. Family members and others shall benefit from the disciple's association with the sidhas. The family and others too shall have the blessings of sidhas. The sidhas shall care for the disciple and his family. The sidhas shall grace their presence in the disciple’s home.’ They are greatly moved by the devotion of the disciples. ‘Never miss the worship of sidhas at home’, they remind us. ‘Invite sidhas to the home’, they tell us. Make them a part of the family too, they ask of us. Then great saints shall live with the disciple, they proudly declare. When the sidhas are established in the home of disciples then the disciple has no need to spend his life at an ashram. ‘Sidhas shall visit the disciple’s home then.’

The sidhas shall tests the loyalty of their disciples occasionally but they shall not let down the disciples. ‘When confronted with danger call out to the sidhas and we shall protect’, assure the sidhas. ‘Admire the sages and decorate the sidhas in the heart's eye. The sidhas too shall decorate the disciple similarly. The sidhas shall advise and witnesses the disciple do prayers and meditation.’

The sidhas say further, ‘Follow the path of sidhas and all the disciple’s wishes shall come true. All the disciple’s efforts will pay off. The disciple shall see much progress come his way. The disciple’s aspirations shall be realized. The disciple’s asking shall be granted. The sidhas shall provide the disciple the knowledge to spell away ignorance. The sidhas shall be present in the disciple’s thoughts, word, and deed. The disciple shall realize joy and bliss each day. Let the thoughts be centered on sidhas day and night. The disciple shall attain a sweet voice, youth, and clarity of thought through prayers to sidhas. Follow the advice and guidance of sidhas. The sidhas shall send their messengers to deliver their word to their disciples. The disciple shall realize the reason for his birth. Research into the reason for taking birth. The sidhas shall be a companion. Just as the parent takes care of the child, the sidhas shall take care of the disciple. Live with pride that you, a disciple of the sidhas, have chosen to follow the path of the sidhas.’

Tavayogi has compiled a list of names of sidhas which he chants with us during prayer. The names are as listed below:

Om Agathiyar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Agapai sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Asuvinit devar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Athiri magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Ambigananthar Thiruvadigal Potri 5

Om Arunagiri nathar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Arulnanthi sivachariyar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Allama pirabu Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Alukanni sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Asideva magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 10

Om Alagananthar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Aritha magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Anjanadeva rishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Atchayadeva rishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Atitha magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 15

Om Aritsa magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Atreya magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Asuvalayana magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Anantha sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Edaikadar Thiruvadigal Potri 20

Om Ramalinga swami Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Rama devar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Ramananthar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Umabathi sivachariyar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Ubamanyu magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 25

Om Kadaipillai sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Usana magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Uthayagiri sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Auvaiyar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kanjamalai sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri 30

Om Kaduveli sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kannananthar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kanni sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kanabathi dasar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kananathar Thiruvadigal Potri 35

Om Katamba magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kabilar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kamala munivar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Karuvur devar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kalluli sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri 40

Om Kalaicoathu munivar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kaubala sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kanaramar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kagabujandar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kasibar Thiruvadigal Potri 45

Om Kalangi nathar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kanva magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Karka magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kausa magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kanaga magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 50

Om Kangeya magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Katya magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kabala magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kakeya magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kartikeya magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 55

Om Kalava magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kalinga natha magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kala magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kanba magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kintha magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 60

Om Kiruthu magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kusarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kutsaga rishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kugai namasivayar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kuru namasivayar Thiruvadigal Potri 65

Om Kutambai sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kumaragurubarar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Guru dhaksanamurthy Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Gururajar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kurumbai sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri 70

Om Kurmananthar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kongana magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Korakar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kausigar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Kautamar Thiruvadigal Potri 75

Om Sangarshana magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Satumuga magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Satanantha magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sangu magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sanatana magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 80

Om Chandira kula magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Savitira magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sangiyayana magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sandilya magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Santirayana magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 85

Om Sarat vanthu magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sali hotra magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Satvikadeva magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sanga muni sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sangara magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 90

Om Sangili sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Satchithananthar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sattanathar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sandikehsar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sathyananthar Thiruvadigal Potri 95

Om Chitra muktar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sivayogama munivar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sivananthar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sirungi magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sivayambuva manu magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 100

Om Sugabrahmar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Suntarananthar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sundara murthi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Suta munivar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Suriyananthar Thiruvadigal Potri 105

Om Sula munivar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Saykilar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sethu munivar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Sorubananthar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Somaga magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 110

Om Saunaga magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Jambu magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Janagar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Janantanar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Janatanar Thiruvadigal Potri 115

Om Janakumarar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Jabali magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Jeganathar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Jeya munivar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Gnana sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri 120

Om Damarananthar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Danvanthiri Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Tayumanar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Tananthar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Tatisi magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 125

Om Tamba magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Talapiya magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Tathuva gnana sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Trikona sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Thiru gnana sambanthar Thiruvadigal Potri 130

Om Thiru navukarasar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Thiru maligai devar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Thiru valuvar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Tirunabindhu magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Dhurvasa munivar Thiruvadigal Potri 135

Om Teraiyar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Tevatatta magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Tevala magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Tevarata magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Nanthanar Thiruvadigal Potri 140

Om Nanthisvarar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Nathantha sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Narathar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Nagaradeva magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Nondi sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri 145

Om Pandri malai sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Pattinathar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Pathragiriyar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Patanjaliyar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Paratuvasar Thiruvadigal Potri 150

Om Paramananthar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Parasa rishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Pampati sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Bagadeva magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Parvatha magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 155

Om Bhaskara magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Pingala munivar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Pidinakisar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Bhirugu magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Brahma munivar Thiruvadigal Potri 160

Om Pirunjaka munivar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Pirungu magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Pipala magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Punnakesar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Pulatisar Thiruvadigal Potri 165

Om Pulippani sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Pundariga magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Puru kotha magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Punai kannar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Bhoga magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 170

Om Macha munivar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Mayuraysar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Manikavasagar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Markandayar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Malangan Thiruvadigal Potri 175

Om Matanga magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Manu rishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Marisa magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Mandavya magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Mukthananthar Thiruvadigal Potri 180

Om Mutkala magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Meikanda devar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Maunach sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Megasanchara rishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Maitraye magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 185

Om Mrityunjaya Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Yakgnadeva magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Yuhgi munivar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Yoga sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Yogananthar Thiruvadigal Potri 190

Om Rohma rishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Raipriya magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Vasudeva magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Vama devar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Vala kilya magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri 195

Om Vasistha magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Varata rishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Vara rishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Varagimigi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Valmigi Thiruvadigal Potri 200

Om Veda magarishi Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Vyakramar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Vyasa munivar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Vilaiyathu sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Vidana munivar Thiruvadigal Potri

Om Waythantha sidhar Thiruvadigal Potri 206

RECLAIMING THE LOST WEBSITES 5 - MIRACLES ABROAD & AT HOME

MIRACLES AT KALLAR

Posted on February 1, 2013, at 5:10 AM

Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal before becoming a mendicant (turavi), used to be a well-known orator often chairing the many talk shows (pattimandrams) that were popular with the public. The talent he had as a proficient and convincing speaker was maximized now since he takes the stage again but this time to preach and popularize the path of the sidhas (Sidhar Margam).

He was a successful businessman managing his cotton industry in Tirupur, Kovai. He was into politics and movies too.

He became a disciple of Chitramuthu Adigal and came to be known as Thaaiveedu Thangarasan. He was a devout follower of Agathiyar and the Siddhas.

Tavayogi had seen the worst of times when his business collapsed as a result of politics in India at that period of time; he had to hit the streets with his family; he became blind overnight, and was on the verge of committing suicide when he formed a determined resolve to belief in Agathiyar and let Him rule his life as He pleases. He regained his sight; his life picked up and he regained his lost treasures only to leave them all behind voluntarily this time. He handed over the responsibility of managing the company to his son and family and walked out of all the luxuries he had been accumulating.

His travels through India brought him to the hills of Uthiyur, Kolli, Sathuragiri, Pothigai amongst other sites of Siddhas.

He finally settled in Kallar, on the 9th km of the Ooty-Methupalaiyam trunk route. He started an ashram that he named after his guru the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham. What started as a humble hermitage by Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal on the instruction of Agathiyar, the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham has today mushroomed into a much bigger ashram the Sri Agathiyar Sri Thava Murugar Gnana Peedham Thirukovil Dhyana Kudil.

Agathiyar instructed Tavayogi to seek Agathiyar Vanam and set up his hermitage. And so Tavayogi found himself at present-day Kallar on the 9th km Ooty-Methupalaiyam route.

Agathiyar instructed him to install the 6 Aathaara Peedham to be worshiped. This 7 tier granite structure was subsequently made and installed.

Agathiyar sent local native aboriginal Indians to settle around the Peedham. The Government later built homes for these dwellers. Tavayogi started feeding these native children and donated clothing and stationary with funds from the general public.

Tavayogi was then instructed to spread the teachings of the sidhas to devotees in Malaysia and Singapore. Tavayogi made a few trips to these countries.

Tavayogi started conducting Yagams or lighting of the sacrificial fire. Later he was instructed to light 5 fire pits and this was increased to 108 the following year on the instruction of Agathiyar.

Then a fiber statue of Agathiyar was installed and another of Tava Murugan followed soon.

Agathiyar then instructed Tavayogi to place a granite statue of the sage at the exact spot where Agathiyar had appeared to Tavayogi in the jungles of Kallar.

Agathiyar has been performing miracles at the Sri Agathiyar Sri Thava Murugar Gnana Peedham Thirukovil in Kallar. Along the way, Tavayogi gets visits from Sidha Konganar, Lobhamudra, and Lord Murugan. A few days before the Agathiyar Jayanthi & Guru Puja celebrations on 31st December 2012, a sadhu mysteriously shows up at Kallar bringing with him an unusual Rudrakcham and hands it to Tavayogi with instructions to worship it as a linga.

Agathiyar continues to perform miracles at the Sri Agathiyar Sri Thava Murugar Gnana Peedham Kallar. 

TAVAYOGI IN MALAYSIA

http://indianheartbeat.20m.com/manadu.htm

October 14, 2007

Tavayogi arrived in Malaysia with his entourage of seventy-five Indian saints, learned pandits, professors, Siddha doctors, and common folk on 24th May 2007. They were driven to the University of Malaya where the First Conference of Sidha Principles was to be held that evening.  The moment I spotted Tavayogi alighting from the four-wheel drive, I hurried to him. Another disciple of his approached him too. He hugged both of us. Tavayogi moved aside to reveal Madam Sarojini or recently given the honorable title of Mataji. I held her hands and we both embraced ourselves. I told Tavayogi that I had wanted to go over to the airport but decided I would be of use at the university where preparations were being conducted for the seminar.

Earlier Uran Adigal was driven in by his disciple in Malaysia, GN Supramaniam. As the Adigal alighted from the vehicle, I greeted him. I became the porter for the day by circumstances. The group of volunteers in charge of receiving the participants was nowhere to be seen. I carried Adigal’s luggage to his room and later had the privilege to serve him tea in his lodge. The rest of the entourage had arrived by now. I greeted them and assisted in carrying some of their luggage. I showed them their rooms and solved some tiny-winy problems that they faced during checking in.

Meanwhile, my wife and children were equally busy helping prepare the identity cards for the participants. I called them over to Adigal who on seeing them took out a packet of vibhuti and blessed them. When Tavayogi arrived I called my family over to greet him too.

As we left for home around one in the afternoon, thinking we had assisted enough for the day, we met Tavayogi who was being chauffeured to the radio station for an interview, at the traffic lights. We greeted each other again while still in the car, and Tavayogi asked that we return in the evening to talk.

At 6 pm my family and I picked up my brother-in-law Arumugam who had had just arrived from Ipoh to attend the conference. Tavayogi had gone to the airport to fetch a Vice-Chancellor from a university in India, we were told. Arumugam and I went to meet Uran Adigal who was in his lodge. I took the opportunity to get Adigal to autograph my copy of the Tiru Arutpa, the sixth canto, that he had published in 1982.[1]

Later as Adigal came down for a walk I approached him to ask if he would like a drive to ‘Little India’ - Brickfields. This is a small township where everything Indian is available. Adigal consented. He talked about himself, his writings, his previous trips to Malaysia, etc. We came back to the university in time for dinner. Tavayogi was already back for dinner too. Tavayogi retired early that evening.

THE FIRST CONFERENCE OF SIDHA PRINCIPLES

25th May 2007 was the official opening of the First Conference Of Sidha Principles. As I parked my car and walked up the hill where the Convention Center was located with my brother-in-law Arumugam, my brother Kathi, and the Nadi reader Ramesh, we spotted Tavayogi at the patio to the Convention Center. We walked briskly to meet him. We gave the traditional Indian salutations as we walked up the slope and he returned the salutations. Upon reaching him, Kathi and Ramesh fell at his feet. I grasped his hands only to realize this was not Tavayogi. He was Swami Hindu from Ipoh. Tavayogi arrived at the Convention Center only later. All four of us were pretty sure that we saw Tavayogi a moment ago. We realized that Tavayogi had given us a vision that morning on top of the hillock.

As I was having tea with Arumugam, Kathi, and Ramesh later at the open-air carpark in front of the Convention Center, I spotted a squirrel on a tree nearby. A few minutes later that squirrel approached Kathi and started to sniff his feet. Then it did the same at my feet. I was surprised that it was friendly. Since it was friendly I bent down to pat it. Surprisingly it did not run away but instead allowed me to pat its back. Kathi then started patting it. It stood still. Then it moved on to another person.

As I came down after having my lunch that afternoon, I noticed Swami Omkaranandha standing alone in one corner. I took the opportunity to approach him and fell at his feet. He asked for my name, where I stayed, and if I had children. Shortly after that his disciples came and ushered him away.

On the final day of the convention, Kathi, my friend Murali and myself waited at the foyer to meet the swamis and bid them farewell. We meet Swami Omgaranandha, Mataji, and later Tavayogi in the Press Room. We invited Tavayogi to our homes.

[1] Only later that I came to know that I had made the right choice of bringing him to the 6th canto. The first five cantos I was told relates to Bakthi Margam while the 6th was solely on Gnana Margam.

RECLAIMING THE LOST WEBSITES 4 - FROM MY TRAVELS IN INDIA

FROM MY TRAVELS IN INDIA as appeared in the now-defunct website at http://www.indianheartbeat.20m.com/guru.htm

February 25, 2010

PRAYERS WITH SUPRAMANIA SWAMI

Later that night at 7.30 pm, Supramania Swami lead me on prayer in his kudil. The Swami started chanting his guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar's (Visiri Swami)name. The chant went YOGI RAMSURATKUMARA, YOGI RAMSURATKUMARA,YOGI RAMSURATKUMARA JAYA GURURAYA. (To listen To This Chant By Yogi Ramsuratkumar Himself Click Here, Save Target As... Save In Your Computer To Play Later. Needs RealPlayer.) I joined in.[1]

After about a few minutes into the chant, I heard another voice - that of a male chanting together. I could hear Swami’s voice. I could hear mine too. So who was this third-person chanting with us? There was no one else then in the kudil. Swami's wife and son had gone out. I did not open my eyes. Eventually, after about twenty minutes, Swami ended the chant and the voice was not heard again. I had wanted to ask him about this third voice but completely forgot. [2]

SUPRAMANIA SWAMI’S LIFE IN BRIEF

I asked Swami to narrate his life history because the first time I met him in 2003, I had only spent five hours in his company, where he was only talking about me. Swami narrated briefly his story, aided by his wife.

Swami was born on Monday, 17th July 1943 on a ‘Kritigai’ day, an auspicious day for Lord Murugan, in the Tirutani Murugan temple grounds. His mother was doing penance by taking a ‘kavadi’ when she had labor pains and delivered Swami. Muthalamma was their clan’s deity. Swami was named Supramanian. His grandfather Thuraisamy Pillai was a Vaisnavite from Aadi Peedham, Ladavaram near Tiruvanamalai. He was an accountant at Tiruvanamalai Arunachaleswarer temple. His father Jayaram was teaching in Reddi Kuppam, Anaikoyil. His uncles were teachers too. At one juncture, his father left his mother, another son, and him in Andipalam and came to Tiruvanamalai. Later, in the absence of his father who was in Tiruvanamalai at that moment, a priest admitted Supramanian to a school in Andipalam. Supramanian’s brother who joined the military contracted high fever and passed away at the age of 24.

Supramanian used to follow his father to the woods to chop ‘kalli’ tree. That’s when the sap of the tree blinded him. Supramanian now partially blind, went to Madras alone, hoping to receive treatment at the Government hospital. A policeman seeing him struggling on the streets of Madras called an ambulance that took him to the hospital. There the local Indian doctors certified that he had to be operated on to remove his eyes. There was no other way to it; any delay would otherwise lead to the poison eventually reaching his brain. One of the doctors however sent for an American doctor to get a second opinion. The American doctor said he could save Supramanian’s eyesight and he subsequently performed six operations on Supramanian, which cost Rs950, 000. Supramanian was blessed to have the politician Mr. MU Karunanidhi who was undergoing treatment for his illness at the same time at the hospital take up the cost of operating on him (Supramanian).

Supramanian’s father who worshipped Lord Vengadasalapathy gave him ‘teecha’ on Lord Murugan. Supramanian meditated for seventeen years in the hills surrounding Tiruvanamalai. One day he lost his mind. He started performing miracles. He would grab a handful of sand, which would turn into vibhuti, kumkum, or panjamirtham. This he gave to the people, which cured their illness and sufferings. He was only attired in a banana tree bark then. During this time a sidha indicated to the locals the site of a ‘vel’ that was buried by him by entering Supramanian's body. Supramanian kept possession of this vel.

Supramanian had no memory of what transpired during that period. He only heard about his antics after gaining his memory back, which surprisingly came back to him after consuming food prepared by a stranger. When Supramanian was in Tiruchendoor he pulled the temple chariot for seven consecutive years walking on sandals with nails on them. His back carried the scars of hooks driven into his skin with which he had pulled the temple chariots. Occasionally he puts on the clothing to resemble Lord Murugan and takes part in plays or dramas held at the temple grounds on festival days.

Supramanian was married at the age of 31. His ability to perform miracles by changing sand and earth to sacred ash stopped on its own after he had his second daughter. He has three daughters and a son and a few grandchildren.

His wife and granddaughter were already asleep as we talked into the early hours of the morning. They had stayed back at the kudil while Ramajayam went back to the village that night.

ANOTHER DAY WITH SUPRAMANIA SWAMI

After a night's rest in Kallaru, I woke up early. Mrs. Sarojini (now Mataji) heated up the water for our bath as it was too early and dark to have a bath in the river. She prepared breakfast too. My brother Kathi and I bid farewell to Tavayogi and Mrs. Sarojini. We left Kallaru for Tiruvanamalai at 6.00 am. We reached Tiruvanamalai at 2.30 pm.

I introduced Kathi to Supramania Swami. The Swami asked me, “Did you see your Guru?” I was simply amazed at this man who upon hearing the nadi reading that I had to take Tavayogi as a guru, did not feel deleted nor discouraged me nor did he stop me from visiting Tavayogi. Supramania Swami then asked, “Did you hear the voice?”, triggering my memory back to the day I heard a third person sing along with us in the kudil. I ask Swami who it was? He answered with a laugh, “That was Visiri Matai” referring to his guru Visiri Swami (Yogi Ramsuratkumar). Only then did I realized the potential of Supramania Swami. He had made his guru appear and chant with us in his very abode. Amazing.

THE ACTUAL JOURNEY BEGINS

23rd Sept 2005 - “Only now our actual journey begins”, said Tavayogi with a big grin on his face and a twinkle in his eyes, as we left on the second leg of our tour. We were headed for Agasthiyampalli in Vedharanyam, Pothigai, Courtallam, and Palani as instructed in my Nadi. He was just as excited as I was too. We reached Trichy at 2.00 pm where we had lunch. Then we went over to the hotel where my brother, Kathi was staying. Tavayogi excused himself to visit his friend in Trichy while my brother and I went to a book fair. Tavayogi returned shortly to the hotel.  Subarao, Mano, and others who accompanied my brother for a seminar in India met Tavayogi and exchanged views. Tavayogi and I wanted to find accommodation in the same hotel but we were told all rooms were taken up. On the way to the adjacent hotel, the local organizer of the seminar insisted that he would make arrangements for all of us to stay in the same hotel. Eventually, we stayed in the same room as Kathi with some adjustments in the sleeping arrangements.

SAGE AGATHIYAR WELCOMES US AT AGASTIYAMPALLI

24th Sept 2005 - At 6.00 am Tavayogi and I left Trichy for Vedharanyam. We stopped over at Tanjore at 7.30 am for breakfast. We saw the salt lakes where Mohandas K Gandhi had carried out his famous salt walk. We also saw the places where the tsunami wave had hit on 26th December 2004.

We reached Agastiyampalli, Vedharanyam at 10.30 am. A temple priest who was sitting with two people at the entrance of the temple, on seeing us alight from the car, came forward to usher us into the temple grounds. He took us straight to Sage Agathiyar’s shrine. This shrine was on the left of the entrance and was facing the main temple of Lord Siva. He lighted camphor and showed the flame. Tavayogi and I sat on the floor. Tavayogi started singing a hymn. The priests interrupted him, asking us to go around the temple ground and then to the main temple first. He insisted we prayed at Lord Siva’s shrine first as he was going away to another temple to conduct prayers. He gave instructions on how to go around the temple grounds.[3] 

Tavayogi told me, "Let us oblige him". Tavayogi and I came round the temple grounds as the priests had instructed. We stepped into Lord Siva’s shrine where the priests were waiting for us. He showed the flame. He explained that this was the very temple where Sage Agathiyar pressed his thumb into the ground to balance the earth that had tilted due to the Devas, Gods, and Goddesses converging in the Himalayas for Lord Siva-Goddess Parvathy’s wedding.

Marshall Govindan in ‘BABAJI AND THE 18 SIDHA KRIYA YOGA TRADITIONS’(Govindan, Marshall, Babaji, and the eighteen Siddha Kriya Yoga tradition, 1991, KRIYA YOGA PUBLICATIONS (REG), 196 Mountain Road, P.O.Box 90, Eastman, Quebec, Canada, JOE 1PO, http://www.babaji.ca ), explains this episode:

‘At the time of Siva’s marriage to Parvathi on Mount Kailas, the assemblage of gods and goddesses was so great that the equilibrium of the planet was disturbed. The north sank low under the weight of the crowding celestials while the south rose up. To restore a balance, Siva asked Agastiyar to travel from Mount Kailash to southern India. The most famous ashram site in the Tinnevely district near the Courtrallam waterfalls in the Pothigai mountains of southern Tamilnadu is where he is reported to be living to this day.’

After praying at Lord Siva’s shrine we came back to Sage Agathiyar’s shrine. Tavayogi picked up singing the hymns from where he had left. I continued with the Potri songs as usual. As I started reciting the ‘pranavam’-‘AUM’ at Sage Agathiyar’s shrine I could hear and feel the ‘pranavam’ reverberate, and bounce off the granite walls. I felt a cool breeze sweep over me even as I was sweating away at the shrine. As I uttered the last line of the 'Potri' song, ‘OM MAA SIDDHARGALE POTRI’ I broke down in tears. I cried and cried. I asked Sage Agathiyar to open his eyes and see me.[4]

He did not respond. I shut my eyes as I wept. I opened my eyes after some time, Tavayogi who was earlier seated opposite me was not there anymore. I turned towards the entrance. He had moved to the open and was standing there.

SAGE AGATHIYAR OPENS HIS EYES

As I got up he ushered me to his side and told me, Sage Agathiyar had opened his eyes twice. “There is the aroma of sandalwood in the air too”, he added. He asked that I stand at the same spot he had stood. “Concentrate looking at the sage's eyes”, he said. I peered at the granite statue of Sage Agathiyar but I could hardly make out his face much less see him open and close his eyes. The shrine was dark. I could sense Tavayogi’s disappointment that I could not see the Sage open his eyes. This I knew from the tone of his voice when he consoled me, “Never mind, son. Let us snap some photographs, shall we?”

I entered Sage Agathiyar’s shrine again and was about to sit when Tavayogi motioned me to sit with Sage Agathiyar in the inner sanctum sanctorium saying, “Go in and sit at Sage Agathiyar’s feet at the inner sanctum. He is our father. Who dares object?” That’s when Tavayogi throws his shawl over to me asking me to lay it on the floor to sit on as the floor had oil spills. As I laid his shawl and sat, I glanced at Sage Agathiyar’s face and what do I see? The sage is observing me with an eye open. I looked hard not believing. Only a moment ago I had seen him with both eyes shut. The eyes were engraved into the granite and I was sure they were engraved shut as I entered his shrine this morning. I was overcome with joy seeing Sage Agathiyar look at me and I called out to Tavayogi, “Swami…”. Even before I could complete my sentence Tavayogi understood and told me, “Right!, he has seen you, has he, come!, They will show (themselves) you only for a moment.” Even as I came out from his shrine the sage was looking at me with one eye shut, grinning away.

We left Agastiyampalli at 11.15 am. Tavayogi tells me it has been ten years since he came to Agastiyampalli. In the Nadi prediction, Sage Agathiyar had promised that he would look at me when I came here. I was convinced the vision I had was possible only with the help that I got from my guru Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal. Only after he had thrown his shawl over to me to sit on did this miracle take place.

BACK AT BREEHADESHWARAR’S TEMPLE AND SAGE KARUVURAR’S SHRINE

We had lunch at Tanjore and proceeded to Breehadeshwarar temple at 3.00 pm. As the temples in India are closed from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm, Tavayogi took the opportunity to take a nap in front of the huge Nandi at the temple grounds while I went around to snap some photos of the temple. I walked up the flight of steps to Lord Dhashina Murthi’s shrine. Then I walked to the back of the temple grounds where Sage Karuvurar’s shrine was located[5]. 

The caretaker who was cleaning the oil lamps got up, called me in, lighted the camphor, showed the flame, and gave me the sacred ash. I came back to the spot Tavayogi was napping. He invited me to share the shawl that he had spread on the ground to lie down.

At 4.00 pm when the temple doors were opened to the public, Tavayogi went straight to Sage Karuvurar’s shrine, and the same man who attended to me earlier attended to Tavayogi too. Tavayogi sat at the shrine in meditation. I followed suit. Some pilgrims who had taken shelter away from the scorching sun at Sage Karuvurar’s shrine were conversing loudly. The caretaker drove them away saying there were people meditating, referring to us, creating a peaceful environment for us to meditate.

As we came around the temple complex, Tavayogi must have sensed my yearning to see Lord Siva for he told me to go ahead while he stood in the shade of the temple structure.[6] 

I rushed up the flight of stairs to the inner sanctum of the temple where was house the largest Siva lingam. I joined Tavayogi shortly and we left the temple complex.

SARASWATHY MAHAL

Tavayogi suggested we visit the Saraswathy Mahal hoping to show me some old scripts and collections of King Sarobhoji. It was 5.00 pm as we got into the car and rushed to the museum before they closed for the day. Tavayogi purchased a couple of tickets and we entered the museum. The palace of King Sarobhoji was now converted into a museum that houses his vast collection of English books, portraits, and old writings. Tavayogi was saddened that most of the writings that were kept here earlier were no more to be seen now.

We returned to Trichy where we shared the room with Kathi at the hotel. Tavayogi still insisted on sleeping on the floor although he relented to accept a blanket to be spread on the cold floor and a pillow under his head.

POTHIGAI AND COURTALLAM

25th Sept 2005 - Kathi checked out of the hotel. His visit to India to participate and cover a seminar had ended and he had extended his visit to follow us. Tavayogi, Kathi, and I left for Pothigai Hills at 6 am.[7] 

We had breakfast in Tanjore and lunch on arrival at Papanasam, Pothigai. Here was the famous Agathiyar Falls. This place was packed with holidaymakers, as it was a Sunday. Tavayogi and I washed our clothes in the stream and laid them out to dry on the rocks.

We took a bath under the falls, dried ourselves, and started our climb up a long flight of stairs to a lake known as the Kalyana Theertam. On the way, we passed a house built into the cliffs where a lady saint, Krishnaveni Ammal was staying. I was told she has been staying in solitude since coming up to this spot following a Siddha when she was barely thirteen years of age. She never went back. Tavayogi stopped to enquire if she was around only to be told that she was having her afternoon nap. Tavayogi told us we could try our luck on our way down. Further up perched on a cliff was a Siva temple. There was a shrine for Sage Agathiyar too.[8] 

Tavayogi meditated at this spot. Tavayogi tells us this was the spot where Sage Agathiyar himself had meditated and attained Mukti.

I was told this was also the spot where the sidhas come down in the form of light after 11.00 pm daily. Appana from the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in Malaysia had the opportunity to witness this event when Tavayogi brought him to this place earlier.

Impressed by the talk that one could see sidhas in the light form in this spot, I requested Tavayogi that we stay overnight to watch them but Tavayogi preferred to stay in the caves of Courtallam.

Swami Saravanananda in his preface to his English translation of the ‘ARUTPERUNJHOTHI AGAVAL’ does mention these lights:

'A vivid description of the phenomenon of floating lights has been given by John Blofeld in the 'Wheel of Life', who had spent months on the sacred mountain Wee Tai Shan in China.’

'Shortly after midnight, a monk, carrying a lantern, stepped into our room and cried, ”The bodhisattvas have appeared!” There in the great open space beyond the window apparently not more than one or two hundred yards away, innumerable balls of fire floated majestically past. Fluffy balls of orange-colored fire, moving through space, unhurried and majestic, truly a fitting manifestation of divinity!’

Swami Saravanananda himself says he was fortunate enough to have had the darshan of these balls of light. The first vision he had was when he was meditating in a dry riverbed.

‘At about midnight, he would see balls of fire of the size of the headlight of a car, balls of varied hues and also of pure white. They moved majestically here and there and sometimes seem to be playing with each other. At other times, they hovered around the meditator (Swami Saravanananda) and came towards him within ten feet where he was sitting and then retreated. Infrequently, they stood above his head and seemed to be watching his thoughts. He had a similar experience though less spectacular than the previous of witnessing the balls of fire while he was keeping night vigils in Pothigai hills, the abode of Sage Agastiyar.’

As we started on our way down and approached Krishnaveni Amma’s ashram, the ashram door was still closed. Tavayogi did not want to disturb her and lead us away from there. Then we stopped at a large temple dedicated to Sage Agathiyar further down. Here Sage Agathiyar was enshrined in the form of a granite statue sitting in a similar pose to that of Ayappa Swami in Kerala. Then we returned to Agathiyar Falls where there is a large and old Sivan temple. It was closed. We waited for the temple to open at 4.00 pm. We then left for Courtallam.

We had tea at Courtallam and later purchased a candle and torchlight as we were going to stay in the caves overnight.

OVERNIGHT IN SAGE AGATHIYAR’S CAVE

Tavayogi stops at one of the numerous houses lined up in this small town and enquire about the caretaker of the caves. We are told she was at the temple in the hills. Prem drops us at the famed Courtallam picnic spot. I picked up my bundle of laundry that was still wet. I take along my bag of fresh clothing and blanket and we rushed to the caves on foot, as it was almost nightfall. Strong winds blew again as we hiked up the hill behind the Courtallam Falls. It was a three km walk uphill to Sage Agathiyar’s cave. Eventually, the night set in. We trodded in the dark with Tavayogi leading the way with the aid of torchlight. Suddenly Kathi slips and falls but picks himself up. He was not hurt. We continued the journey.

It was pitch dark as we reached the Shenbaga Devi Amman temple, which was in total darkness except for light inside Devi's shrine. Tavayogi calls out in the dark through the metal grills. I see some movement on the floor of the temple. Apparently, some folks were sleeping in the temple. He introduces himself and they seem to know him. He asked them to open up Sage Agathiyar’s cave, which they obliged readily. A gentleman led the way while we followed. It was pitch dark and I could not make out the surroundings although I knew we were walking on the banks of a lake and could hear the roar of a waterfall nearby.

The caretakers were three elderly women. Their brother Supramaniam who was from out of town was the one who showed us to the cave. He unlocked the iron grills to the cave. He lit the hurricane lamp and tidied the place so that it was conducive to spend the night and even prepared hot tea for us in the cave. The drink was a blessing in that cold weather.[9]

There were a few statues including a statue of Sage Agathiyar, pictures, and the stick that Sage  Agathiyar used.  This stick is placed under one's arms to retain the flow of the breath through a particular nostril. Tavayogi told us there were even Sage Agathiyar’s sandals earlier but now was missing. The caretaker lady drops in to check if all was conducive for our night out in this cave. They then leave.

We could hardly stand up in this cave. It was small, cozy, and warm in here. The adjacent compartment of the cave which was empty except for an oil lamp burning, was where Sage Agathiyar had meditated I was told. We entered this chamber and seated ourselves. Tavayogi was sad to notice that a portion of this cave had now become a store filled with pots and pans. Tavayogi was also saddened that the cave had now been named Avaiyaar’s cave when in actuality it was Sage Agathiyar’s cave. As usual, Tavayogi sang the hymns which I have now become familiar with, followed by Kathi and me singing the Potri. Tavayogi then left us to continue with the prayers and retired for the day. I dried my clothes outside the cave and locked up the grilled door to the cave entrance before retiring for the day. We laid blankets on the ground and used our bags and clothing as a pillow. We were so exhausted that the moment we laid our heads on the ground we had dozed off. I did wake in the middle of the night though and saw rats scurrying away in the crevices and sides of the cave. I had a good night’s sleep and was refreshed the next day.

ROAMING THE JUNGLES OF POTHIGAI AND COURTRALLAM

26th Sept 2005 - I woke up early as usual and came out of the cave to realize that we were next to a huge waterfall and a lake. In the early morning sunlight, I could make out some movements in the surrounding jungles. I sat and watched the day begin. As the day dawned and there was more light, I noticed it was monkeys that had been perching on the cliffs and trees. Tavayogi and Kathi woke up shortly. Supramaniam and the caretaker lady turned up early to prepare tea for us. We took our bath at the falls under the watchful eyes of Tavayogi. He cautioned us to be careful as the rocks were slippery and asked that we hold on to the railings that had been put up. I washed and dried my clothes again![10]

After drying my clothes I came up the steps to the cave. I was taken aback to see a sadhu squatting at the entrance to the cave and having tea. He resembled the photograph of Sri La Sri Pundi Mahaan Aatru Swami who was one of Supramania Swami's gurus. He had long matted hair and was beaming a smile. He invited me in. I gestured Vanakam to him and sat down beside him. I had my tea. He remains quiet as Tavayogi talked with the caretakers. This sadhu then tells me he would be at the temple below and left the cave. [11]

LORD DHAKSANAMURTHY’S CAVE

Tavayogi suggested we go over to Dhashina Murthi’s and Saint Ramalingam’s (Vallalar) cave. He asked me to get the blessings of the elderly woman and give a small contribution to her which I did.[12]

As we came down the slopes of the mountain Kathi narrated a dream that he had when asleep in Sage Agathiyar’s cave the night before. He had seen three figures pulling and tugging him and he was crying out Sage Agathiyar’s name. Tavayogi explained that it was Sage Agathiyar, his wife Lobamuthirai, and Sage Visvamitra that Kathi saw and they were pulling him into the path of Sidhas. [13]

We came down the hill to Shenbaga Devi Amman temple. I saw the sadhu again. He was at the temple just as he had promised. I told him I was going to the caves and asked if he would like to follow. He jumped down from his seat immediately and led the way to Lord Dhashina Murthi’s cave. He opened up the grilled gates to the cave entrance for us. He lighted the oil lamp inside the cave. The sadhu having lighted the place for us went out and sat on a rock outside the cave. We entered the cave which was large enough to allow us to stand.  What a surprise I had. There were statues of Sage Agathiyar, his wife Lobamuthirai, and Sage Visvamitra in this cave! These were the sages Kathi had seen in his dream. In the inner chamber was a statue of Lord Dhashina Murthi. We sat in meditation for a while.

SAINT RAMALINGAM’S (ARUTPRAKASA VALLALAR) CAVE

The sadhu closed the grilled gates to Lord Dhashina Murthi’s cave as we came out. Tavayogi then leads us to Saint Ramalingam’s (Vallalar) cave. The sadhu followed us a distance but eventually turned onto another path. I caught up with him to thank him. He gave me a wink.[14]

I turned to join Tavayogi and Kathi who were already some distance ahead. Tavayogi left us at a spot to check out the route to Vallalar’s cave. He reappeared from a different direction and led us away from the spot. The entrance to Vallalar’s cave was secured with metal grills too. Tavayogi told me it was locked. I inspected the door and tried to unlatch it. Surprisingly the latch gave way and I could slide the grilled door aside quite easily. It was pitch dark inside. We had to light up the candle. The outer chamber was large enough to stand around. Tavayogi and I crawled into the inner chamber which was rather small. I grasped Tavayogi’s hand. Tears ran down my cheeks. I was grateful and appreciated Tavayogi for having guided me to these auspicious spots and places. I would not have seen and experienced this much if I had undertaken this journey alone. We closed the grill to the caves and headed back for Sage Agathiyar’s cave.

We prayed at the Shenbaga Devi Amman Temple on our way back. This temple was where Maha Avatar Babaji had sat for days in meditation. His guru Sage Bhogar had instructed him to go to the Pothigai hills to meet Sage Agathiyar. Babaji left Kadhirgamam in Ceylon for the Pothigai Hills. Babaji adamantly went into penance until Sage Agathiyar appeared in front of him.

M. Govindan in ‘BABAJI AND THE 18 SIDDHAR KRIYA YOGA TRADITION’(Govindan, Marshall, Babaji, and the eighteen Siddha Kriya Yoga tradition, 1991, KRIYA YOGA PUBLICATIONS (REG), 196 Mountain Road, P.O.Box 90, Eastman, Quebec, Canada, JOE 1PO, http://www.babaji.ca ), narrates this episode:

‘Boganathar inspired his disciple, Babaji, to seek this objective of Siddhanta Yoga, and so directed him to seek initiation into Kriya Kundalini Pranayama or Vaasi Yogam from the legendary Siddhar Agastiyar at Courtrallam in the Pothigai hills of Tamil Naadu. Babaji traveled on foot to Courtrallam and on arriving there at the Shakti Peetam, one of the sixty-four shrines throughout India dedicated to god as the divine mother, he made a solemn vow to remain at that spot until Agastiyar would initiate him into the secrets of yoga. On the forty-eight day, when Babaji was on the verge of complete collapse, with great longing, he simply repeated over and over again the name ”Agastiyar.” Suddenly the eminent Siddhar stepped out of the nearby forest and came up to where Babaji was sitting in prayer.'

‘Agastiyar emphasized the strict conditions under which it was to be practiced and its potential for awakening the higher levels of consciousness, spiritual enlightenment, and ultimately the transformation of all five bodies. He then directed Babaji to go to Badrinath. Babaji made the long pilgrimage to Badrinath and then spent eighteen “long, lonely months” practicing intensively all the yogic kriya taught to him by his gurus Agastiyar and Boganathar.'

We bid farewell to all the caretakers who had gathered at the temple.  Tavayogi again insisted on carrying my bundle of damp cloths. We started down the mountain to the spot where Prem left us yesterday. Prem had been worried sick having no idea about our whereabouts in the jungles of Courtallam. He had been calling Tavayogi on the cellphone but there was no signal in the mountains. He was relieved to see me as he was answerable to his agency on my safety and well-being. We then continued on our journey to Palani.

SAGE AGATHIYAR OPENS HIS EYES AGAIN

Before we left Courtallam Tavayogi took us to a Sivan temple, Lord Kutralanathar in town. At the Siva temple was a shrine for Sage Agathiyar. Tavayogi narrated an incident that took place here during his travels through India. He was at Sage Agathiyar’s shrine at the spot we stood today. He could hear a melodious hymn. On tracing the source of that hymn, he chanced upon Somasundareswarar Swami who was standing at a shrine of Lord Siva.  Later Tavayogi met Somasundareswara Swami often at Shenbaga Devi Amman temple. Sage Agathiyar’s cave and the surrounding caves were maintained by Somasundareswara Swami until his demise. We sat at Sage Agathiyar’s shrine and Tavayogi started singing hymns.[15] 

Tavayogi and Kathi were seated to my right. There was a pillar that obstructed my view of them. Tavayogi broke down as he sang Saint Ramalingam’s ‘Indru varumoh naalaiku varumoh allathu mathendru varumoh’. That’s when I thought I saw Sage Agathiyar open and shut both his eyes. I got up to move closer, to get a better view and to confirm what I had seen. True enough there was Sage Agathiyar opening and closing, both his eyes, which were human. Back at Agastiyampalli, the sculptured granite figure of the sage had both eyes sculptured closed. But as I left his shrine his left eye was wide open watching me. At Courtallam Sage's eyes were sculptured wide open. It was human eyes that were watching me. I stood still, amazed, my sight fixed on the sage's eyes. I called Kathi over to have a look too. Each time the sage opened and closed his eyes I pointed out to Kathi. But Kathi was silent. That’s when Tavayogi called out to us saying, “You have seen, have you? Come on let us leave.”[16]

Andrew Harvey has the following conversation with Mother Meera which I can relate to Tavayogi hurrying us away each time a miracle takes place:

“You have come to give the Light to all people, so all can awaken in whatever way they choose, in whatever situation or society or religious discipline they find themselves.”

“Yes.”

“You do not want disciples in the old sense.”

“No. If people want to come to me, I can give them the light. If they want to be taught by me inwardly, I will teach them. If they want to take my light and be taught by someone else, they can.”

“Daniel said a beautiful thing yesterday,” I went on. “He said you never treat any of our visions of you or the light as special because you never want us to rest at any stage or state.”

“Yes,” Ma said. “There is always more.[17] Always. Even for the greatest of yogis, even for Sri Aurobindo, there is always more. You must go on and on aspiring, praying for more and more Light.”

“Realization is not, you have been showing me, one marvelous moment. It is a Process.”

“Yes. A journey without end. There are different stages in the journey, but the journey has no end.”

“The great danger for me,” I said, “is that the ego will seize what the soul is learning for itself, to make itself proud.”

“It will try. But the soul’s joy will break it down, no? The divine will not use you unless you are humble. My power passes through those who are clear. Keep yourself clear at all times. If they work with the light, it will transform them and give them the power to change themselves and so change the world.”

It was nightfall when we checked in at a hotel in Palani. Tavayogi told us we shall climb Palani Hill first thing in the morning. He again insisted on sleeping on the floor while Kathi and I shared a bed.

PALANI AMAZES ME AGAIN

This was the second time I was invited to Palani by Sage Agathiyar through the Nadi reading. At 5.00 in the morning, we started for the Palani temple. The streets were quiet. Shops were still closed. We walked from the hotel in town to the temple on the hillock. We had to wait in the queue, as the temple was still closed. At 6.00 am we were allowed to enter. We stood in front of Palani Andavar and offered our prayers. I still can’t recall what I saw here just as I can’t recall the first time I was in this temple in 2003. We went down some steps to the open and crossed over to another temple structure that housed Sage Bhogar’s shrine. Palani had puzzled me earlier in 2003. I wanted some answers then. Now it was clear to me. This was definitely not the route I took to Sage Bhogar’s shrine in 2003. In my earlier visit, I walked along a passage from Palani Andavar’s shrine to Sage Bhogar’s shrine. There was no necessity to go into the open air. The shrine walls now were beautifully painted with murals depicting episodes from Bhogar’s life in color. In 2003 there were no paintings on the wall.

Tavayogi sat along the corridor outside Sage Bhogar's shrine in meditation. I wept in silence. As I opened my eyes I saw Kathi was in tears too. When he came out of meditation we entered Sage  Bhogar’s shrine. There were four temple priests when we stepped into the chamber. One of them showed the flame in front of the Maragatha Lingam and another figurine of Goddess Bhuvaneswari that Sage  Bhogar had worshipped, both placed on a raised dais. The priests then pointed out the opening where Sage Bhogar had entered and is still believed to be. They narrated the history of the temple to Tavayogi and Kathi. I cried again here. After gaining control of myself, I moved to a spot in the room to sit for a while as the three priests continued filling in Tavayogi and Kathi on the temple's history. The fourth priest who was very much younger than the rest was standing in attendance observing me and the others, not uttering a word.

As we came out of this chamber, this young priest intercepted us at the corridor away from the others. He passed a tumbler that he was holding to Tavayogi who was right in front, saying, Abhisega Paal. I told myself, “My God it was happening again. I am being given the Abhisega Paal again.” I was given a tumbler of milk on my visit here in 2003. Today I was receiving it again. Tavayogi drank a portion and passed the tumbler to Kathi who was behind him. Kathi drank a portion and in turn passed the tumbler to me. I emptied the tumbler and gratefully handed it over to the priests who look pleased.[19] Surprisingly no one questioned him nor did he say anything further. Tavayogi, Kathi, and I did not talk about that incident.

As we came down the steps into the open again, Tavayogi stopped and turned back to look at me. He questioned me, “What is it, my son”. I went up to him and placed my head on his chests. Tears quelled in my eyes. He had this twinkle in his eyes and gave me a broad smile. I remained silent as we walked around the temple grounds. We left the temple premises. Later we checked out of the hotel.

MARUDAMALAI AND PAMPATTI SIDHAR’S CAVE

On the way back to Kallaru, Tavayogi took us to Marudamalai Murugan temple where Pampatti Sidha had meditated at an adjacent cave. We had to leave the car behind at the base of the hill because renovation works were being done in and around the hill temple. We hopped onto a bus that took us to the top of the hill. This was my first ride on a bus in India. We stood all the way to the top as the bus was packed. We had a quick darshan of Lord Murugan. The temple priests brought two garlands of flowers and placed them around Tavayogi and Kathi. Tavayogi removed his garland and placed it around my neck. We went down a flight of steps to the cave of Pampatti Sidha. Here the temple priests explained to us about Pampatti Sidha and his penance at this spot. We sat for a while. Tavayogi meditated. Some of the devotees and the tourists come over to Tavayogi for the sacred ash. This was the first time I saw the Indian public approach Tavayogi for his blessings in public. We took the bus back down the hill.

BACK TO KALLARU

As I was coming to the end of my tour I  realized I needed something more than the sights and sounds that were shown to me. I pondered a lot on the way back to Kallaru about this fabulous tour of religious spots and places. I was extremely blessed to have Tavayogi escort and show me around. A lot of miracles had taken place since I was here in India on my second trip just as Sage Agathiyar had promised me in the Nadi reading. Yes, it was fine for me to return to Malaysia and tell my family and friends that Yogi Ramsuratkumar had joined Supramania Swami and me in chanting his name; that Sage Agathiyar had opened his eyes to see me -first one eye at Agastiyampalli, then later both eyes at Courtallam; I cherished all that I had seen and heard on this pilgrimage. I could talk about them for some time but eventually, the talk would have to end too. What next after I reached the shores of Malaysia? Do I go back to my routine life? 

This journey should not be a mere tour of pilgrimage spots. I needed something that I could take back with me besides these memories. So I told Tavayogi, as we had tea, on our way back to Kallaru, I did not want this journey of mine to end just like any tour of India. I wanted something more out of this journey. Something that could bring me advancement in my spiritual path. He looked at me for a moment and then asked if I had been chanting the mantra that was given to me by him at the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham back in Malaysia. I told him that I had received that mantra of Sage Agathiyar way back in November of 2004 and I have been chanting it since then. Tavayogi asks me from whom I received it. I mentioned I got it from Astrologer Dr. Krishnan. Tavayogi tells me briefly there are other practices and mantras that need to be undertaken and mentioned some of them. As Kathi came back from the washroom, our conversation on this matter ended there.

[1] He initiated me into the repetition of the Yogi’s mantra, ‘Yogi Ramsuratkumara Yogi Ramsuratkumara Yogi Ramsuratkumara Jaya Gururaya’.

[2] Swami tells me later it was his guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar (Visiri Swami). Swami almost immediately brings down the guru whose ‘naamam’ was chanted from his throne to sit together and chant with this aspirant. How marvelous?

[3] It was almost noon and temples would be closed in the afternoons. So why was he in a hurry to go to another temple for prayers? Later in the Nadi reading, Sage Agathiyar tells me HE was the one on hand to greet us cheerfully at Agastiyampalli that day.

[4] Sage Agathiyar had promised to open his eyes and see me at Agastiyampalli in the Nadi reading

[5] Marshall Govindan in his book BABAJI AND THE 18 SIDHAR TRADITION (Govindan, Marshall, Babaji, and the eighteen Siddha Kriya Yoga tradition, 1991, KRIYA YOGA PUBLICATIONS (REG), 196 Mountain Road, P.O.Box 90, Eastman, Quebec, Canada, JOE 1PO, http://www.babaji.ca ),  says:

‘During the construction of the Breehadeshwarar Siva temple in Tanjore, around 900 AD Boganathar advised its builders as to how to raise the eighty-ton capstone to the top of the temple, more than two hundred feet high. This was done through his disciple Karuvoorar. About this time he also advised the king of Tanjore to build a small shrine dedicated to Karuvoorar behind the Breehadeshwarar Siva temple.’

[6] Why did Tavayogi wait till 4.00 pm if he only wanted to visit Sage Karuvurar’s shrine and not the main temple? Only the main temple was closed between 12 noon and 4.00 pm. Sage Karuvurar’s shrine was accessible to the public at any time of the day.

[7] I had adopted the prayers by Tavatiru Rengaraja Desigar and Sage Kunangkudi Masthan Sahib while conducting my prayers to Sage Agathiyar. Rengarajar says you have to ask the Lord for your needs. Some might argue saying, “Does not the Almighty know our needs”. Andrew Harvey quotes Mother Meera’s reply to Adhilakshmi in a book she (Adhilakshmi) was writing:

‘Ma replies: ‘Ask for everything, everything. Do not stop at peace of mind or purity of heart or surrender. Demand everything. Don’t be satisfied with anything less than everything. Our Yoga is the transformation of human life into Divine Life here on earth.’

‘For those who ask shall be given; for those who dare to be hungry, the Food will be brought. In burning with love for Her I will be burned with the Fire I have been calling for constantly all my life’ [7]

Kunangkudi Masthan Sahib asked of Sage Agathiyar that his (the sage) disciples should accompany him (Masthan) to the sage’s abode in the Pothigai hills and the sage should accept Masthan as a disciple too. I used to repeat this prayer each time I sat at prayers in front of Sage Agathiyar. Later in the Nadi reading, the sage asks me to come to Pothigai. And who should accompany me but my guru himself - Tavayogi. My prayers were answered.

[8] Maran tells me the statue of Sage Agathiyar was not there when he visited the temple recently in 2006. Thayalan who had spent a night here only saw the statue of the Sage the next day. So was the Sage playing games?

[9] Was this Supramaniam, Lord Murugan himself? He was from the city I was told. But had appeared here on the day we arrived at the caves. He served us tea that pleased these weary travelers on the path of the Siddhas.

[10] My clothes were soiled when I laid them to dry on the rocks at Sage Agathiyar Falls.

[11] Who was he and why did he need to tell me that?

[12] Tavayogi had never told me to bow, kneel or fall at any person’s feet before these. So who was this lady?

[13] These were the very saints whose statues that we saw in Lord Dhashina Murthi’s cave later

[14] What was that wink for? Was this the Siddha that Supramania Swami told me I would meet on my journey?

[15] Yogi S A A Ramaiah in his book BABAJI GITA says this shrine is built on the exact spot where Baba Nagaraj was initiated into Kriya Kundalini Pranayam by Sage Agathiyar.

[16] Tavayogi again hurried us out of the temple having witnessed that spectacular event. He never gives us a moment to dwell on the mystical. I presume he doesn’t want us to get stuck with those images and be at that stage or level forever.

[17] Adi Sankara was always afraid that the devotee or the yogi might become so infatuated with his God that he would never get to the Reality behind the Gods.

[19] I had the gift of receiving this milk when I was on my pilgrimage to this temple in 2003. I came out of Sage  Bhogar’s shrine in a state of bliss then.

RECLAIMING THE LOST WEBSITES 3 - THE CITTAR BALANCE

When Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal came down to Malaysia in 2005 to officiate a local chapter of his Agathiyar Gnana Peedham at a center in Batu Caves, I made my way there to verify if a leaflet seeking donation to build a temple for Agathiyar that carried the name Thaai Veedu Thangarasan M.A. that I received from the Nadi reader three years prior was him. He acknowledged that it was indeed him. Thus began a wonderful guru-disciple relationship. When I passed the word around of his arrival my brother who was a journalist with a local Malaysian daily newspaper went over to interview him. I had carried a copy of his interview on the now-defunct website at http://www.indianheartbeat.20m.com/cittarbalance.htm.

June 16, 2009

The Cittar Balance

by

A. KATHIRASEN

They are the Cittars, who gave the world Siddha medicine, and their teachings revolve around the mind, the breath, and ethical living. A. KATHIRASEN catches up with Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal, a follower of the Cittar philosophy.

He was the owner of a factory making singlets, a successful businessman but at the age of 50 he gave it all up, including his wife and three children, and began a new life as a thuravi, a wandering monk.

Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Tamil Nadu, India, wanted to stay far away from people and work on his spiritual growth. So he selected a hill deep in the jungle in Kallaru and built a hut for his home and meditation.

Having studied the works of the scientist-mystics known as the Cittars from his early years, he decided to follow their ways. He practiced the techniques taught by the Cittars and meditated.

Adigal renounced family life and all worldly attachments at the age of 50 and became a ‘thuravi’.

The Cittars (also pronounced Siddhas) are realised souls who lived simple lives. They believed that man was essentially immortal. Apart from teaching the art of living a balanced life, the Cittars devised methods to stimulate cell regeneration so that one could remain young.

The traditional Siddha medicinal system, now gaining in popularity in Malaysia, was evolved by the Cittars who had written treatises about diseases and their cures long before the advent of modern medicine.

Many of the poems and songs of the Cittars are shrouded in secret codes that only initiates can comprehend.

Although there have been many Cittars, 18 are particularly revered and Agathiar is the most famous of them. He was the foremost disciple of the first Cittar, Subramaniar.

“Historians give various dates as to when the Cittars lived,” Adigal says, seated in front of large pictures of Subramaniar, Agathiar and Ramalinga Swamigal at the Sri Agathiar Gyana Peedam in Batu Caves.

Adigal, 78, was making his second visit to Malaysia, this time to launch the Sri Agathiar Gyana Peedam, a centre dedicated to the service of mankind, in Batu Caves.

Agathiar, also spelt Agastya, is one of India’s most famous Cittars. There are accounts of him having travelled to Southeast Asia in the hoary past.

“Some of the very old stories mention the Cittars. Agathiar, for instance, is found in both the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.

“But don’t assume that the Cittars are dead and gone.

“They are very much present. I have had many amazing experiences that I can’t talk about, but believe me, they live. But not necessarily in bodily form.”

Legends abound about Cittars who evaporated into thin air or travelled to places such as China and the Middle East where they taught the locals there.

The Cittars teach how man can become a divine being. They set out certain techniques, the most basic and effective of which is Astanga Yoga which is often associated with the Cittar Patanjali.

Astanga Yoga, or eight-limbed yoga, teaches man how to live life, starting from body and ethical discipline to tuning and sharpening the mind to harmonising body and mind to seeing the sacred in everything.

“The Cittars say through yoga we can live well. The secret is in learning to live in balance.

“We must sharpen the mind so that the mind will help us rather than hinder us,” he says as he brushes upwards his grey moustache with the back of his right hand.

Born in Tiruppur, Adigal prepared his wife and children for his new life. He left only after providing for their needs. His family members visit him now and then.

“A few become thuravi like me but the Cittars say you can lead a good life with the family.

“The secret is to live in the world, enjoying things without becoming attached to them. Like the lotus which is not made wet by the water.

Astanga Yoga, he says, helps achieve this.

“Yogasana, makes the body strong and supple and pranayama (yogic breathing) helps keep the internal organs clean and healthy.

“Other aspects of Astanga Yoga help purify the mind and sharpen the intellect.”

Adigal says in the old days kings and governments gave priority to emotional, intellectual and spiritual development. Today, everyone is concerned with material development, about economic figures and forecasts.

“In the past, they used histories, poems and stories such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Harichandra Puraanam to teach: men were to live like Rama while women were to emulate Sita.

Everyone was to uphold honesty and integrity like Harichandra. This went deep into the people’s minds and a society of disciplined and virtuous people developed.

“A man’s word was his bond. They learnt not to be slaves to their desires. They learnt contentment.

“Today, things have changed.

“Governments stress the economy. Have we got a growing economy? How many millionaires have we created? Did we send satellites into space? Will people praise us?

“There is no effort to develop the mind, to sharpen the intellect. No effort to teach the art of thinking, the art of life.”

The world will be a better place if emphasis is also given to strengthening the mind, Adigal adds.

So why or how did Adigal, a hermit who has no money or property, first come to Malaysia 18 months ago.

Some inner stirring prompted him to ask a friend who was going to Malaysia to get him a ticket too. Some of his friends came up with the airfare and money for the trip.

“I don’t know what made me do it,” says Adigal, who holds a Masters degree in Tamil Literature from the Annamalai University, with a twinkle in his eyes.

“I just felt an urge to come here and I came.”

It was a brief visit and he did not expect to return. But recently, several Malaysian devotees of the sage Agathiar sought out Adigal on the hill in the jungle and persuaded him to make a second visit to launch the centre in Batu Caves.

“Now, I have so many children here. Malaysians are so caring. Everywhere I go they give me food.

“In fact, they give me too much food. I am afraid that I might get used to the food and comfort here,” he laughs.

The sprightly Adigal is used to living on leaves and fruits he gathers from the jungle, and sometimes the rice and food that devotees bring to him.

He says: “You don’t know how lucky you are. There are many where I come from who are in desperate need of food.”

Despite his life of solitude on the hill, Adigal is involved with a group of hill tribe people who later settled in the area.

He could not remain aloof, looking at the plight of the hill tribe people.

Assisted by two disciples, he helps provide food and gives the children school uniform and books, with money provided by devotees.

“I never intended to get involved in society. That was why I went to stay in the jungle,” he says with a pensive look.

“But my guru Agathiar has other plans for me. And that is also why I think, I was made to come to Malaysia.”

The above interview was published in THE NEW STRAITS TIMES, MALAYSIA.

RECLAIMING THE LOST WEBSITES 2 - THE NADI & THE SIDDHAS

The Nadi And The Siddhas

From the now-defunct http://indianheartbeat.fws1.com/index.html

July 20, 2011

The Nadi

Since 2002 and the present day (20th January 2010) I have seen the Nadi thirty-four times. What was the necessity to see the Nadi so many times, you might wonder?

The Nadi for me has been:

a guide to fulfilling a mission;

has advice from the Siddhas who have trod the path, seeking the truth;

reveals the past karma and narrates ways to remove/ reduce them;

forewarns against creating more karma;

has been a good tool for motivation;

is a means of communication from the Siddhas.

Anyone venturing to know the Nadi would have to read three chapters or kaandam for a start:

The general or Pothu Kaandam,The Santhi Parikaara Kaandam, The Teecha Kaandam and The Gnana Kaadam

The general chapter describes the thumbprint of the individual that is taken to help locate the Nadi. It describes the planetary positions at the time of birth. It speaks of the individual’s parents, property, siblings, living conditions, education, occupation, life partner, and children very briefly. It reveals the name of the individual, parents, and partner if married. It reveals the life of the individual and what was in store for him or her. It mentions the occupation and its nature, and one's earnings. It mentions problems encountered, enemies, and disappointments that one faced if any. It reveals the karmas committed in the past life and the planetary positions. One is asked to performed rituals (agamas and parikarams) to cleanse one’s karma after which with the Siddhas blessing all difficulties should vanish. Journeys too would be predicted for some.

The Santhi Parikaara Kaandam reveals the past birth. If one had ill-treated devotees, the poor, and the underprivileged then he or she would have to take rebirth, regret for his wrongdoings, and take measures to remedy the sufferings that had been inflicted on others in the past life. The only way out is to repay by doing prayers and charity in this birth. By doing so one gains the blessings of the Siddhas. To lessen the difficulties, disappointments, and enmities, one would be requested to perform rituals (agamas) according to one’s religion or faith.

The Teecha Kaandam explains difficulties and expenditures that arise in the present life and their respective penance (parikaram) which includes prayers.

The Gnana Kaadam is optional. It is for those who want to know where they are heading, - spiritually. It would state whom to pray to.

I came to know much about life and how to live it in a fruitful manner from the Nadi. Below are the blessings that one receives as a result of following the dictates of the Siddhas.

The Siddhas give the following advice and assurance to their disciples:

On Karma:

Birth is a result of past karma. If karma (both good and bad) is erased there is no reason to take birth again. Confusion is a result of past karmas and it does not make advancement in spiritual practices possible. Perform tapas and penances to cut this circle of birth. Cleanse all karma through prayers. The disciple’s karma shall be cleansed by prayers. The karma shall be burnt away by the fire of meditation. The disciple needs to live his life distinguishing between good and bad karma. Good and bad shall come the way of the disciple as a result of links with the past birth.

On The Guru:

God is the father, mother, and guru to the disciple. Advancement in spirituality comes with the aid of a guru. With the blessings and grace of saints, sages, gnanis, Siddhas, and mahans the disciple shall be protected from harm. The disciple shall receive guidance, teecha, and blessings from the gurus. Good shall come to the disciple from the blessing from the guru’s teecha. The guru shall bless the disciple. The guru opens up the mind of the disciple. The mysteries and secrets of the body, soul, and world shall be revealed through the guru. The time will come when this transmission takes place. Fulfill the responsibilities towards the guru without a second thought; full-heartedly and without mistake. Gain merits by visiting gurus and places of worship. Chose the right guru who shall lead you further on. Chant the name of the guru daily. If that is not possible, allocate a day in the week in prayer for the guru. Gurus come around so that the disciple shall know the truth. The truth shall be revealed through gurus.

On Pilgrimages:

Go on a pilgrimage to India that changes one’s perception of God. Go on a pilgrimage to India to know and learn more about the Siddhas. Visit Tiruvannamalai. Stay at Agathiyar Vanam in Kallaru with Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal for a few days. Visit Tavathiru Rengaraja Desigar at Ongkaara Kudil in Turaiyore. Visit Palani and Bhogar’s Samadhi. Visit Sage Agathiyar’s temple at Agastiyampalli in Vedharanyam. Visit the Siddhas caves in Courtallam, Pothigai, and Sathuragiri. The Siddhas shall accompany the disciple on their pilgrimages. The Siddhas shall receive the disciple at these shrines, caves, and samadhis with open arms. The Siddhas await upon the arrival of their disciples.

On Yoga:

Practice Thega Sudhi, and breathing techniques (pranayama). Preferably, these practices should be enhanced through a guru. Practice meditation daily. The disciple shall gain full concentration. The disciple needs to just concentrate on his meditation while the Siddhas shall take care of the disciple’s other needs. To enable advancement in the disciple’s practices and meditation, sit on a seat made of wood during meditation. Place a white cloth above it. Meditate for twelve minutes daily with eyes shut and the sight focused between the brows as you chant the Siddha’s names. The thinking ability shall improve by doing this practice. The temper shall be gone. The disciple shall receive great benefits. The health shall improve. The body shall become robust. The disciple shall gain the blessings of Siddhas, and elders who have attained tavam and Sidhis. To progress further in the spiritual endeavors, meditate sitting on the tharpai grass. The disciple shall gain clarity. The disciple shall see changes in himself during these stages of meditation and prayer. The disciple shall attain through this meditation, knowledge and speech attributes and other benefits. All efforts and practices shall not be in vain. The disciple shall achieve the highest meditation through the Sidha Margam.

On The Nadi:

The Siddhas give instructions through the Nadi. It is a means of communication between the Siddha and the disciple. All those who come in search of the Nadi, have the blessings of Siddhas, the 18 Siddhas, gnanis and rishis, Sage Agathiyar, all Devas, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Siva, and also the Sabtha Rishis. Never belittle the Nadi readings. It is sacred.

On Worship:

The disciple needs to help finance-building temples and other places of worship. Do prayers and breathing exercises. Pray at the abodes and dwellings of Siddhas. The Siddhas are happy to see the disciple pray to them daily. The Siddhas shall accept the disciple's pilgrimage and prayers. Happiness shall prevail through daily prayers to Siddhas. The disciple needs to be steady in his or her mission even when confronted with people who shall shake their faith. Do not give heed to their words but carry on the prayers. There is much good in prayers. Do research, practices, prayers, and rituals to the utmost satisfaction without any error. All the disciple’s problems shall be relieved step by step through prayers. Recite the Maha Mantra – ARUTPERUNJHOTI. Besides the mantra ARUTPERUNJHOTI, let the names of the Siddhas be the maha-mantra for the disciple. Repeat it daily. The disciple shall get the blessings of gurus and the wise. Chant Lord Murugan’s name for it is LIGHT. Bliss and joy are acquired by saying the lord’s name. Continue saying it. The Siddhas too is in the form of light in this world. Continue prayers. Light up the home. Pray to LIGHT. The disciple shall see changes. Appease the planets. Perform prayers at temples. Garland the gods for then they shall be pleased. The disciple shall spread the Siddhas teachings through prayers and service. Stay on this path. Stick to what he or she is doing currently. Continue consistently with the spiritual practices that the disciple currently does. Do not get distracted. Do not give up on prayers. Worship Siddhas and attained much.

On Sidha Margam:

Siddha Margam is THE path. Live your life as the Siddhas do. The disciple shall live like Sivam too. Miracles would take place. Miracles and visions shall take place at the abodes, caves, and samadhis of Siddhas. The Siddhas shall give visions and conduct miracles JUST for their disciples. The Siddhas shall appear to the disciple. The Siddhas shall perform miracles. The disciple shall live like a Siddha in this world. God shall live in the disciple. The disciple becomes a true friend and is highly regarded by the Siddhas. The Sidhas shall love the disciple as much as the disciple loves them. The Siddhas shall test the loyalty of their disciples. Family members and others shall benefit from the disciple's association with the Siddhas. The family and others too shall have the blessings of Siddhas. The Siddhas shall grace their presence in the disciple's home. The Siddhas are greatly moved by the devotion of the disciples. Never miss the worship of Siddhas at home. Invite Siddhas to the home. Make them a part of the family too. Then great saints shall live with the disciple. The Siddhas are established in the home of disciples. When the Siddhas live with the disciple, he or she has no need to spend his life at an ashram. Sidhas and yogis shall visit the disciple’s home. The Siddhas shall care for the disciple and his family. The Siddhas shall not let down the disciples. When confronted with danger call out to the sidhas and they shall protect. The disciple needs to establish himself firmly in the path of the Siddhas. The disciple shall witness miracles happen every day. Let God's name flow through the breath of the disciple. The disciple shall become one with the Siddhas. The sidhas shall show the disciple the path. Siddhas shall live in the disciple. Admire the sages and decorate the sidhas in the heart's eye. The sidhas too shall decorate the disciple similarly. The Siddhas shall witness the disciple do tavam and prayers. Let the thoughts revolve around the Siddhas. Be faithful to this path. The disciple’s aspirations shall be realized. The disciple’s asking shall be granted. The Siddhas shall provide the disciple the knowledge to spell away ignorance. The Siddhas shall be present in the disciple’s thoughts, word, and deed. The disciple shall realize joy and bliss each day. Let the thoughts be centered on Siddhas day and night. Once a disciple comes to this Margam, others around him too shall follow the disciple on this path. The disciple shall attain a sweet voice, youth, and clarity of thought through prayers to Siddhas. Follow the advice and guidance of Siddhas. The Siddhas shall send their messengers to deliver their word to their disciples. Follow the path of Siddhas and all the disciple’s wishes shall come true. The disciple shall see much progress come his way. All the disciple’s efforts will pay off. The disciple shall realize the reason for his birth. Research into the reason for taking birth. Let the Siddhas show the disciple his path. The Siddhas shall be a companion. Just as the parent takes care of the child, the Siddhas shall take care of the disciple. Live with pride that you, a disciple of the Siddhas, have chosen to follow the path of the sidhas. Receive the advice of Siddhas with devotion. Spread the Sidha teachings.

On Morality:

Do not worry. Do not fear. Do not be sad. Do not cry anymore. Weep no more. Do good. Be joyful. Be truthful, do prayers, and tavam. Be compassionate, meditate and the disciple shall see the results. The disciple shall see positive and clear changes in him. People around the disciple shall challenge and argue with him but the disciple needs to be aware and not get dragged into this discussion. Feed the poor and the animals. Help the needy. Do charity. Live a life of virtue. Do not utter harsh words as they shall take shape. Control anger as temper shall destroy all merits gained through meditation. The disciple needs only to fulfill his responsibilities towards the family and nation on a part-time basis. Be pure at heart and the disciple shall be at peace and happy. When the disciple is truthful, he shall face challenges. In those circumstances do nothing, and the disciple shall see bliss. Take things one step at a time.

On Food:

Take natural foods. Take food devoid of salt, sweetness, sour and pungent. Consume pure food. When meditating excessive heat would arise in the body of the disciple. Since heat shall increase hence there is a need to take only sattvic foods to counter the heat. The disciple’s body shall generate heat due to yogic practices. Counter the heat by taking cooling stuff.

Recently my cardiologist friend who receives messages from his guru Krishnaveni Amma of Kalyana Theertam shared her message regarding the bodily changes one undergoes in having taken up tapas or austerities and shares his own experiences too. 

மண் (காயம்); விண் (ஆகாயம்) இடையில் இருந்து, விந்துவாகி (நீர்), ப்ராணன் (வாயு) பெற்று, சாதனை செய்து, தவக்கனலால் (நெருப்பு) பாழடைந்து (முப்பாழ் நாடி - சுழுமுனை) தேக சம்பத்தை விட்டு, அகாய நிலை அடைய வேண்டும். இதற்கு சுத்த மாயையும் வாலையும் துணை வந்து சலனமற்ற முழு பொருள் ஆன உன்மை நிலையில் சேர்ப்பார்கள். இந்த பாதையே சித்த நெரி.

Today's class by AMMA

I feel my physical body is affected by the heat generated in sadhana.... I have started getting indigestion with severe, burning mouth ulcers, along with malabsorption. I am sure you would have faced the same, and overcame the same. 

He shared the following tips too.

According to Indian traditional medicines (ayurveda and siddha), one can be healthy by balancing three life humors and seven body humors. Drugs that contain all six tastes can do this. For example, amla (gooseberry), triphala, etc. But, in today's lifestyle, these two are not sufficient as you feel and I also agree with you.

Once in a six month, you need to subject you for body service. It means purgation, vomiting (vamanam) and sweating or sputum expectoration are the three procedures to balance vaatham (vata), pitham (pitta) and kapham respectively. This can be effectively done under ayurveda or siddha physicians. In ayurveda, they do it in panchakarma therapy. In siddha, it is done in two phases :

Phase one is to balance three life forces by giving a single dose of Agathiyar kuzhambu (The formula of sage Agastya). This will cause vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, sputum expectoration, etc., according to the vitiate humor. This is a one day therapy and it has to be taken once in six months.

Second phase is to balance seven body humors. This is done by taking Kaya kalpam drugs. Ancient Yogi especially Agastya muni and Dhanvantari consumed this Kaya kalpa therapy for long living.

Currently available Kaya kalpam drugs are Triphala tablet, Karisalai karpam tablet, Bhringaraj karpam powder, etc. You can take the first tablet for five months in the morning and evening and then give one month gap.

Then start second or third tablet for the next five months. Again, leave a gap of one month. This should be continued for life long.

I have been using these two tablets. This Triphala karpam tablet is different and enriched with other herbals as well.

Weekly once, you need to use pancha karpa kuliyal choornam. This powder is boiled in milk and then applied over the scalp at morning.

Wait for one hour and then take bath. On that day, you never feel sleepy instead you will be more brisk or refresh.

In addition, once in six months take Agathiyar kuzhambu just once for balancing three dhoshas. I feel this regimen is cheaper and effective than regular Panchakarma.

Early stage brownish or white hairs will also become black. This is the kaya kalpa regimen for a healthy individual.