COMING TO AGATHIYAR, RAMALINGA ADIGAL & MY GURUS

In the nineties, I had befriended a chief clerk Mr. Sedhu from another department in an adjacent building to my office block. He used to drop by on hot days and during lunch breaks to escape the heat of the day as his office was only equipped with ceiling fans while mine was central air-conditioning. We used to talk about Indian classical music and slowly the conversation lead to astrology. He introduced me to Dr. Krishnan, an astrologer and Siddha physician. In 1996 when the predictions for me did not materialize, I asked the Dr. if there was a possibility that his readings do not work out in our favor. He told me "Yes, if we had a curse or Saabham." I asked him to look into my charts and tell me if had earned these curses. He replied it was not possible to do so but the Siddhas in the Nadi can tell us. That was the very first instance I came to learn about the Siddhas and their Nadi. But I did not know any Nadi reader then, and neither did he show me one. The matter ended there. Mr. Sedhu and Dr. Krishnan were Upagurus on my journey. I thank them from my heart.

In 2002 as I was chatting with my colleague Muralidharan Saminathan he brought up the subject of the Nadi. He had seen it in 2000. I was pretty excited and asked if the Nadi reader was still around. I stood before the Nadi reader in December of that year. Sivabalan who brought in these readers, continuing the family tradition, accompanied me during the reading. Going through three bundles of Nadi, we only came close to one that I identified as exactly relating to me except that it stated I was married to one Manohari. That was not my wife's name. We skipped that Nadi and I was told to come another day. Two weeks later on 14 December 2002, I located my Nadi flipping through the first few leaves. The Podhu or general, Karma and Shanti Kaandams or chapters were read. Agathiyar addressed me in them. Besides revealing many things about me and my family, career, and assets, he revealed my past, present, and future. Yes, I had been cursed. He confirmed it. The karma I earned stood in my way and deprived me of all the material good I was to receive. It deprived me of all the benefits of my efforts in my spiritual practices too including worship and yoga. He sent me off to carry out several remedies to correct things both locally and in India. It was a pilgrimage of sorts where we engage in prayer and charity. That was the very first instance I came to learn about karma and its effect on us. That was the first time I began to give through charity and donations. Sivabalan suggested that I see the Gnana Kaandham too. After a short prayer, the Nadi reader came back to read the Gnana Kaandam. Besides showing me the way to come out of the dilemma that I had brought onto myself Agathiyar asked me to come to his path and worship the Siddhas. Agathiyar spoke about me meeting my guru in an unexpected way. 

Senthilkumar who read the Nadi arranged for a puja that Agathiyar requested, to give thanks to the Siddhas for documenting my life (his)story. I was introduced and connected to the Siddhas that day. That was the very first instance I came to know the Siddhas as their names were recited. Muralidharan, Sivabalan, and Senthilkumar came as Upagurus on my journey too. I am indebted to them.

Prior to that a year earlier in 2001, Agathiyar had come to reinstate me on the path through a mysterious happening. He came to bring to a close the 14 years of exile or Vanavasam and hibernation that Lord Shiva commanded in a dream in 1988. My nephew Thayalan dropped by my home with a message or rather a mantra that he was to pass on to me, having been instructed by his Paramaguru Gopal Pillai who came through another student. I only knew about the origin and source of the mysterious initiation a couple of years later. The Vasudeva mantra was passed on to me to recite. A message that I shall meet my guru came through him too. Thayalan and his lineage of gurus came as Upagurus on my journey too. I am indebted to them.

Going back even further to 1994 when another colleague and an officer, Mr. Segaran decided to leave his government job to become a monk in Yogananda Paramahansa's Ranchi ashram in India, he passed a painting of Lord Shiva, Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi" and a piece of advice that I cherish till this day. Reading the book brought me to another world, the realm of men who turned gurus. If all this while I was engaged in worship to the deities and the whole pantheon of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, my sight then was turned towards Godmen. Now Agathiyar had turned my sight to the Siddhas. 

Armed with the small booklet that listed the names of the Siddhas given by Senthilkumar, I took up the worship in my home gathering songs of praise and information related to the Siddhas from the books I purchased and the net. Searching for movements engaged in the worship of the Siddhas brought me to several places but ended in disappointment. Though I learned many things here and from the materials I purchased, none shed light on the rituals that went along with Siddha puja. Anbarasan, Mrs. Jayanthi, and Manivannam from Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar's local affiliate in Dengkil were helpful in dispersing information on their guru and its activities. They came as Upagurus on my journey too. I am indebted to them.

This was about the time Mr. Sethu came by and passed me several audio cassettes of songs from Ramalinga Adigal's "Thiruarutpa". I was blown out of my mind listening to it. I looked for the complete collection of songs in the local audio outlets. I purchased the entire volume of the Thiruarutpa compiled in chronological order by Ooran Adigal. This was a treasure I knew then though I could not comprehend much of its content. But I read through it though. If Yogananda's book introduced me to Godmen, Ramalinga Adigal strengthened the faith and possibility that man could achieve higher states at par with the divine or one with the divine. Segaran came as a Upaguru on my journey too. I am indebted to him.

True to what was said and predicted I met my first guru in Tiruvannamalai on the pretext of reading my daughter's horoscope which was mooted by my wife as I took the taxi to the airport to fly to Chennai to carry out my remedies or parikaram in 2003. Finishing my visits to the numerous temples stated by Agathiyar in the Nadi earlier than planned, I had a day to spare in Tiruvannamalai. I asked Deventhiran who was assigned to me to pick me up at the airport and drive me to all my destinations by the tour agency if he knew any astrologers in Chennai. He told me his uncle was an astrologer and was only eight kilometers away on the outskirts of Tiruvannamalai town. His uncle was to become my guru. Instead of charting my daughter's life course Supramania Swami spoke about me without even asking to know anything about me. He sat there on his deer skin for five solid hours engaged in divine communion with the Prapanjam, spilling the beans on me. Deventhiran came as a Upaguru on my journey too. I am indebted to him.

Moving on to 2005 Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal visits Malaysia to officiate an affiliate branch of his Kallar Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in Batu Caves. Though I never subscribed to the Tamil daily, that was the time my neighbor Augustine used to pass me unsold newspapers in all languages to read. An advert attracted my attention as it appeared almost daily. It was regarding the officiating of the above-mentioned Peedham. It carried Tavayogi's name. That name struck a cord in me. I had seen that name earlier.  Nadi reader Senthilkumar had passed me a leaflet that carried his name. 

But I had to verify if it was him. I called up the number advertised and made an appointment to see Tavayogi. Upon arrival, the bespectacled bearded man with a large but slim frame took me to an adjacent room and enquire about my visit. I showed him the leaflet and asked if it was him in it. He confirmed it. I told him that Agathiyar in the Nadi had asked me to come to the worship of the Siddhas. He replied that I had come to the right place. He asked that I see the Gnana Kaandam too. I replied that I had. Telling him that Agathiyar had asked me to see the Nadi three years later after my first reading and that the time was just about right then, Tavayogi showed me to Nadi reader T. Ramesh. Tavayogi told the organizers that he would like to initiate me into the path to which they replied that I could join eight others coming over for an initiation that evening. Thiru Apana Nagappan who brought Tavayogi to officiate his center came as a Upaguru on my journey too. I am indebted to him.

Setting an appointment with T. Ramesh, Agathiyar surprised both Tavayogi and me asking to get initiated again which I did the same night. A new journey began with Tavayogi. Rather than while my time at the local affiliate Agathiyar had me travel behind Tavayogi trying to keep pace with him in the jungles and hills of India. I was 43 then while he was reported to be 69. T. Ramesh who subsequently read the Nadi 56 times came as a Upaguru on my journey too. I am indebted to him. Interestingly Ramesh had read the Nadi for Tavayogi too in the past.

Along the way, I had many other Upagurus in the form of family and friends, Acharya Gurudasan who fine-tuned the Yogic practices that Tavayogi shared with us, and a long list of gratitude that I have carried in my online publications available on the web version of this blog.

The relationship between guru and disciple flowered and flourished till Supramania Swami's samadhi on 7th February 2006 and Tavayogi's samadhi on 3rd July 2018. I am indebted to them for life. But our journey did not end with their demise. They come often to speak to us through devotees and Yogi Ramsuratkumar and Agathiyar have spoken about their presence respectively in our home, Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia. I guess the relationship with our gurus is thicker than blood spanning many births.

He invited me to join his group and called me onto his path. When I showed interest, he added me to his group. He messaged me through his Aasi Kaandam. He kept me well informed of my mission, task, and progress. Initially, I had been walking behind him, running to catch up with him, eagerly anticipating what was in store for me or where he was leading me. He took me over rough terrain and made me sleep in the cold caves in the midst of dense jungles. He gave me the experience of staying at a traditional ashram too, a hurricane lantern kept us company at night and the river was the source of water. A city boy had his first taste of life in the wilderness and amidst nature. He showed miracles upon miracles so that I would believe in their existence among us. He brought young souls to accompany me on this wonderful journey. He made me a tool to dispense his messages. He made me share my experiences. He keeps these writings and blogs alive. He kept the fire burning in me. 

GOING HOME

The gates to Heaven are open now I guess. For Agathiyar is making it simple to attain Siddhahood. If Tavayogi on watching us told me with a sign of disbelief, "How is it son you have made it here easily when we had to scale the hills and mountains and engage in extreme tapas, I felt blessed and was full of gratitude to the divine for his mercy and compassion. As I step into my 63rd year, looking back I shudder to think what had I done? There were many blunders I did and near misses but somehow I was saved from the situations that would have disrupted and diverted my life for the worse. Looking back I do not deserve their mercy and compassion. Agathiyar ran through my life journal of the past, present, and future when I read my very first Nadi reading and set me off to carry out numerous remedies to counter my past flaws and faults and karma that was in a bad light. He asked me to come to the worship of the Siddhas. I started the worship and remedies that were to be carried out at local temples immediately while the other remedies in India were done the following year. After I listened and followed as told he acknowledged these faults and disasters in my second reading three years later removing the burden of shame and guilt and telling me that it was all his doing too. He wanted me to have those experiences too. He asked me to forgive myself first and that he shall forgive me too. So I am indeed surprised that the way was paved smoothly for me to travel with the Siddhas.

If I thought chanting Agathiyar's name 100,000 times was a mighty task that Agathiyar gave me when he came over to my home in 2010 in the form of a bronze statue, he settled for the 45,000 chants that we could only manage among the handful of us that day on 3rd January 2010. He asked us to carry out a libation to his statue with nine items too. Recently in staying put in my daughter's home, he asked to chant only 1000 times. He made it easy on us. A week later at another puja in another devotee's home, a participating devotee was gifted a miniature bronze statue by Agathiyar who personally performed libation to it. She was asked to continue in her home. Well, he sure has made things easy for his devotees these days. 

All it takes is chanting the name of Agathiyar. If time permits one could chant the names of the rest of the Siddhas too. In worshipping the Siddhas they help us with our past karma that stands as a hurdle and obstacles to better things in life. Once it is out of the way it is indeed good times ahead. While fulfilling our daily needs for survival Siddhas deep down in their hearts want to elevate us to their standing too. They begin to work on those who they see have the potential to grow. The growth mentioned here is that of the Soul or Atma. They enhance the Atma, removing first the veil that keeps us from knowing it. Once it gains Atma Balam he then begins to lead others to the ways and the means. With several methods and practices that are given, he is shown the means to get in touch with his origin and source. He meets the Prapanjam. He becomes one with it. He then commands it. The Prapanjam works in his favor. Now it is no more of individual desires and wishes but all his actions are for the betterment of the world and its inhabitants. When I hesitated to carry out the Homam or fire lighting ceremony in my home that Tavayogi asks me to do as I told him it was exclusively for the priestly kind, Tavayogi pushed me to do it. Later Agathiyar tells me in the Nadi that it was not for me but for the well-being of the world just like Tavayogi told me the temple ashram he built at Kallar was for others. When the pandemic reared its ugly head Lord Shiva had us carry out Homam in our individual homes with only the family around as most parts of the country were under lockdown. Later Prapanjam sensing another revival of the dreaded virus, asked us to carry out the Homam. 

When man moves towards doing things for the benefit of the world rather than for his individual gains, he has taken a large step towards meeting the Prapanjam. It then comes to meet him halfway. He is then a Jeevanmuktha. In "Pathway to God Trod by Saint Ramalingar, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay by G.Vanmikanathan says of a Jeevanmuktha that, 

"A jeevanmuktha does not act on his own volition. God acts through him and speaks through him. The jeevanmuktha has imprisoned God in his heart, in every fiber of his body."

I guess when I read the Nadi the very first time, Agathiyar in calling me to his path and the worship of the Siddhas had envisioned that I shall build a temple as a service to other seekers too. I did scout around in excitement but the excitement died down as I faced rejection from existing temple committees to house Agathiyar in their temple premises. Soon I dropped the search to look for a venue for him. A consolation came by when my first guru Supramania Swami wanted to build a temple for Lord Muruga in Tiruvannamalai. But that was dropped after the divine sent a stranger who questioned Swami why he was stepping back into Bhakthi being a Gnani himself. Another consolation came by when Tavayogi built a temple ashram for Agathiyar in Kallar later. I thought my job was done through my gurus and took a breather. But in 2018 Lord Murugan in a Nadi reading asked me to build a temple for him. As questions ran through my mind as to why he wanted another temple as he already had many, Lord Murugan told me that though he was aware that there are many temples for him in Malaysia, he was portrayed differently. He said I shall show him in a different light. எனக்கு நீ ஆலயத்தை அமைக்க வேண்டும். நிற்கவே இம்மண்ணில் எந்தனுக்கு ஆலயமும் அமைத்து உள்ளார். என்னை வேறு விதமாய் காட்டித்தான் வைத்துள்ளார். என்னை நீ காட்டுகின்ற காட்சி வேறு. But recently he told me that they had dropped the idea and the assignment considering my age. They did not want to trouble me. Instead, he conveyed Tavayogi's wish to see each home turn into Agathiyar Vanam. Agathiyar shall move house too to a home of a young devotee where his worship shall flourish in times to come. As for me, he has asked that I continue writing this blog. தக்கதொரு எழுதிடுவாய் சித்த மார்க்கம் பற்றி. எழுத வைப்போம் சிந்தையிலே கலந்து நாங்கள். கருணையுடன் கருத்துகளை உலகிற்குப் பரப்பிக் கருணையான நிலை தன்னை பலர் அடையச் செய்தாய். உண்மையான மார்க்கத்தை உலகிற்கு ஓதி உயர் நிலையைப் பலர் அடைய வைத்தவன் நீ. அருள் நிலைகள் பெற்றிருக்கின்றார் பல மாந்தரும். மாற்றங்கள் பலர் அடையக் காரணமாய் இருந்தாய். இந்தத் தேசத்தில் சத்தமின்றி அகத்தியரைப் பலருக்கு நீ காட்டினாய் அப்பா. உன் தொண்டை மெச்சுகின்றேன்.

Then he told me "Enough of writing about him" and instructed me to write about the experiences taking place within me henceforth so that those who worship the Light and yearn to become it shall know what to anticipate and encounter on this journey. Come join me in this adventure of discovery on the way back home. I shall be glad if you make it before me. 

Swami Saravanananda in this book, an English translation of Ramalinga Adigal’s "Aruperunjhoti Agaval" published by Ramalinga Mission, Madras, writes, "At whatever age the aspirant gains illumination or the effulgence enters in him or emanates from within, some remarkable changes take place in the body-frame. The Divine Light seems to change the very cell of the body, ..."

"The inward journey begins the very moment one becomes aware of the divine presence working through him. He then surrenders to the will of God, hence surrendering the sheath of his intellect or Vinjnanamaya Kosham. Once aware of the divine presence, "he has already begun the transformational process and surrendered the sheath of the intellect or Vinjnanamaya Kosham where the analytical or intellectual component of the being is fully informed by the divine light attributes, accumulating experiences and knowledge enlightened by the higher deeper aspects of self." 

"As the intellect undergoes this transformation, the mental sheath or Manomaya Kosham, associated with the senses, is similarly transformed."

"As the divine attributes of the Atma that manifest in the very subtle sheath of bliss or Anandamaya Kosham comes to be known, a subtle transformation begins in the very subtle part of the being. All his experiences and knowledge are then tailored to teach him the higher and deeper aspects of the Atma. The teachings that were focused on gaining experience in life and knowledge for living in the physical world, shift to that of knowing the Atma and one's true purpose and mission. He becomes well-informed and knowledgeable not through the normal means of attaining them but informed by the divine attributes within him."

We are told that when the divine light descends into the sheath of energy or Pranayama Kosham,

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

Swami Saravanananda writes that when the transformation of the Pranava body is completed the next and final stage of transformation into the Gnostic body (Gnana deham) starts.

Though it might seem like the effulgence had come within through our efforts, rituals, worship, dharma, etc, in reality, no matter how much effort is placed in the spiritual field things are only possible with divine grace. If I have arisen to this stage it is not my doing but the 40 years of collective merits of the tapas and austerities of my first guru Supramania Swami that I inherited, the blessings of Tavayogi, and the grace of the Siddhas and the divine. I would return to dust to be tramped upon if I claimed that it was solely my effort that I rose to this state. It's only with the grace of the divine that can man come to him. His efforts minus the divine grace go nowhere. The Divine Light awakens the Atma and draws the veil aside. The Atma shows itself. The Atma then takes the lead, provided we surrender the "I". It takes over the wheels. The Atma is now captain of the ship and helps us stay clear of the rapids, whirlpools, and rocks, bringing us to calm waters. As peace and calm settle in, the journey back home begins.

TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE ARUTPERUNJOTHI AGAVAL

Recently Agathiyar asks that I research Ramalinga Adigal's "Arutperunjothi Agaval". Though I and my family used to sing this wonderful gem of a song that brings us the saint's personal encounter with the divine, the essence of this song had always evaded and remained a mystery. Reading several translations and explanations never really brought an understanding or clarity to me either. The fault I understood was with us and not the texts that we read. We were not able to comprehend this marvel as yet. In telling Agathiyar that the inner meaning of this song has always eluded my understanding he tells me to continue reading and I shall understand. I too believed that one day it shall all dawn on me. Meanwhile, I kept posting much on the saint in this blog. Let us revisit some of these wonderful pieces on the saint's journey to attain the state of Jothi or Light. 

We come to understand that the saint documented his spiritual journey in these songs that came to be compiled as the "Thiruarutpa". What is the "Agaval" that Ramalinga Adigal composed that spans some 1596 lines? 

Swami Saravanananda has given a beautiful English rendering of the original in Tamil of Ramalinga  Adigal's "Arutperunjhoti  Agaval", published by the Ramalinga Mission, Madras. 

1‐12, Deals with the attributes of effulgence (jothi).  

13‐26, Deals with the various boons conferred on Ramalingam:  zeal or great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective, discernment or the ability to judge well, radiant body, prosperity, liberated from countless births, freed from religious bigotry, removed doubt and misconception, freed from the clutches of religious scriptures, and made him pure.  

27‐56, Deals with the various voids or spaces or spiritual planes which a soul has to pass through before attaining godhead.  

57‐110, He brings the truth that the various voids are not external to our being and can be realized within ourselves. I guess this is what he sings about in his song "ஆணிப்பொன்னம்பலக் காட்சி" too.

111‐336, Deals with the attributes of the effulgence (jothi) that abides in the inmost void. Whenever He comes and initiates us, something happens within that is beyond our senses and control. It seems like he is working on another sheath of our body. As our thoughts go on, we are witness to everything external, but something else is moving within too that is initiated by them. Could he be working on the Anandamaya Kosa?

337‐366, Praises the effulgence (jothi)  as the source of all elements.  Ramalingam now a primordial being is provided with penetrating radiant vision to pry into the secrets and mysteries of nature.  Thus, equipped he beholds the evolution of the universe in all its aspects all of which are recorded in these verses.  

337‐402, Deals with the various aspects of the nature of the earth.  

403‐430, Deals with the various aspects of the nature of the water.  

431‐460, Deals with the various aspects of the nature of the fire. 

461‐492, Deals with the various aspects of the nature of the air. 

493‐512, Deals with the various aspects of the nature of space.  

513‐544, Deals with the process of the creation of the human body, the acme of the entire evolutionary process.  Ramalingam describes how each and every organ and its system are evolved and placed in the human frame; provides a step-by-step process of the evolution of the human body.  

545‐554, Deals with how space yields the other elements.  

555‐580, Deals with the various partial spaces or voids.  

581‐620, Deals with the various forces that activate the universe and the human body.  

621‐628, Deals with creation arising from the One.  

629‐646, Deals with the seed.  

647‐682, Deals with the dual or polar nature of manifestation.  

683‐690, Deals with the tattvas and the primordial elements.  

691‐702, Deals with the modes of the birth of organisms.  

703‐716, Deals with the male and female characteristics of the human being.  

717‐782, Deals with the protection and sustenance of organisms. 

783‐812, Deals with the repression and control of all impure tendencies by the effulgence.  

813‐832, Deals with the various kinds of curtains or veils that surround the soul and prevent it from having a clear vision of the great effulgence. With the removal of the last screen, the self stands face to face with the resplendence merging in the effulgence to become part and parcel of it and perform all the functions of the effulgence to make other selves realize the same level.  

833‐852, Deals with the removal of the screens one after another as and when the entity rises up from one plane of consciousness to the next higher plane. By thus removing the veils the effulgence enlightens the beings of human and celestial origin and also deities high above the celestial origin.  

853‐874, Narrates how the effulgence pervades through all the functions of the dynamic powers.  

875‐880, Deals with the uniqueness of the supreme beings.  

881‐920, Deals with the omnipresent aspect of the effulgence.  

921‐930, Deals with the cosmic self which manifests everywhere.  

931‐940, Deals further with the attributes of the effulgence.  

941‐976, Deals further with the cosmic self.  

977‐1018, Deals with the manifold manifestations and activities of compassion. 

1019‐1038, Deals with the boons that are bestowed on Ramalingam.  

1039‐1070, The narration of how the effulgence as the guru has taught Ramalingam all the knowledge and wisdom.  

1071‐1114, Deals with the motherly aspect of the effulgence.  

1115‐1164, Deals with the paternal aspect of the effulgence.  

1165‐1176, Deals with the attributes of the companionship of the effulgence.  

1177‐1192, Deals with the friendly attitude of the effulgence.  

1193‐1200, Deals with the attributes of the kinship of the effulgence.  

1201‐1213, Deals with the eternal (sat) aspect of the effulgence.  

1214‐1238, Deals with the knowledge (chit) aspect of the effulgence. 

1239‐1254, Deals with the blissful (ananda) aspect of the effulgence.  

1255‐1290, Deals with the attributes of the effulgence further.  

1291‐1310, Deals with the wish-fulfilling attribute of the effulgence. 

1311‐1320, Deals with the gem, the mantra, and the medicine which confers everlasting Siddhis. 

1321‐1336, Deals with the ambrosial effect of the effulgence.  

1337‐1366, Deals with the sterling qualities of the effulgence.  

1367‐1380, Deals with the munificence of the effulgence.  

1381‐1386, Deals with the effulgence of a mountain with divine attributes. 

1387‐1448, Deals with the effulgence of the sea and its shores with divine attributes.  

1449‐1494, Deals with the changes that take place when the divine descends on the human frame. This is the most esoteric and sublime part of this work.  

1495‐1510, Deals with the intense love that transmutes itself into light becoming the guiding factor of all souls.  

1511‐1518, The light is compared to that of the full moon.  

1519‐1528, Deals with the effulgence of rain that removes all dross from the heart and mind.  

1529‐1538, Deals with the effulgence of the sun that removes the darkness of ignorance.  

1539‐1548, Deals with the brilliance of the effulgence of the sun.  

1549‐1554, Deals with the glow of the flame of the effulgence.  

1555‐1596, Sums up all the boons that Ramalingam received through the grace of the effulgence. Ramalingam offers his thanks. 

If Swami Saravanananda explored the "Thiruarutpa" above, G.Vanmikanathan in his "Pathway to God Trod by Saint Ramalingar", published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay, has given us a beautiful and much-awaited biography cum journal on the life and experiences of Ramalinga Adigal. This spiritual evolution on Ramalinga Adigal's part is pretty obvious when one follows his experiences and devotional out-pour, laments, wailing, utterances, plodding, pleading, petitions, and revelations as compiled in the form of the Thiruarutpa.

Vanmikanathan explains,

"Though the period between 1823 and 1835, i.e., from the date of birth to the 12th year of our Swaamikal has been classified as the period of Kandhakottam, .. which has as its theme-shrine the temple of Murukan in Kandhakottam which goes today by the name of Kandhaswaami Koil." Vanmikanathan writes, "He is initiated by Murukan Himself into the methods of His worship." Here we have to acknowledge that all saints have had a beginning in Bakthi or devotion too. What does devotion bring upon us then? Vanmikanathan translates the song of the saint on this matter.

"Oh Guru Who came into my mind and bestowed the perception that through ritualistic worship of Pathi (God) and similar good rites, the creaturely instrument of understanding called the mind will be rid of impure concepts and stand established in pure contemplation and, thereby, the state of true union with Pathi with the result; that, thereupon, buddhi, the power of ratiocination, freed from (the triad of) bonds will merge in the mind, and that, forthwith, the state of absence of incoming and outgoing will be gained in the shape of unwavering real gnosis."

We understand that man has to arrive at knowing the Pathi through rituals and devotion. Impurity in the body and confusion and delusion in the mind then makes way for the arising of the Buddhi that in turn makes way for true knowledge or Gnanam to dawn on us.

"In the second lap, our Swaamikal goes from Thirutthanikai Hill to Thiruvottriyoor, the last lap of the Purgative Way, from Murukan the Son to Civan the Father, from childhood to adolescence and youth."

G.Vanmikanathan in relating the external temple structure with the internal temple within the physical body writes,

"To Maanickkavaachakar and indeed to all the saints, and for that matter even to the common man, the abode of God is his own body, his mind, his heart. Thirumoolar in his "Thirumandhiram" calls the body the temple of God and instructs man to keep it pure and healthy. This faith has been extended to the ground plan of the temples by the great sages who wrote the Aagamaas. The human body has according to the seers and savants seven centers, seven seats, or seven stations. (Similarly) The ground plan of a temple closely follows the ground plan of a human body with these seven sites. Therefore when one worships God externally in a temple, he worships him as enshrined in his body." This theme is rendered in Ramalinga Swamigal's song, "Keerthi Tiru Agaval." Indeed many of the Nayanmars have sung about Lord Shiva's abodes. "The five courtyards in the temple represent the five sheaths of a human body. The devotee crosses these entrances to the innermost court. At the sacrificial altar, he sacrifices his Aanava malam. At the flagpost (or kodimaram), he reinforces his faith, and resoluteness of his purpose here. He proceeds now to worship God in the sanctum sanctorum where the eternal effulgence shines."

In their pursuit to bring this body into a state of purity, the saints have sung of how they had to endure pain, in Ramalinga Adigal's case for 12 long years. If Ramalinga Adigal's songs portray similarity in experience with Manikavasagar, G.Vanmikanathan writes that Jalaluddin Rumi's utterances parallel Manikavasagar in a remarkable way too. Jalaluddin Rumi wrote, "I am in love with grief and pain for the sake of pleasing my peerless King." Agathiyar too each time I complain to him of the pain and discomfort that suddenly comes on as a result of observing the given practices, assures and comforts me that in pain is there bliss. The painful experiences that come on intermittently are in fact Ananda Paravasam or bliss, he says, asking me to endure it. I had been having constipation the past few days. But it was not a pain or discomfort nor was my tummy aching or hard on touch. I had a good appetite and was gobbling the food down my throat as usual. After sharing this with Mahindren just moments ago, I have visited the toilet several times. I guess there is nothing to fear. 

G.Vanmikanathan too looks like is assuring me as did Agathiyar in his writings when he says, "When they (both the divine and its matters) are beyond our comprehension, our duty is not to dismiss them as meaningless, but to wait patiently for enlightenment by the spirit of the saints in their own time." I did mention to Agathiyar that Ramalinga Adigal has to come to clarify the essence and gist of his "Arutpa".

The soul once it attains purity and maturity of perfectness is entitled to be united with the Lord. The Lord's grace falls on it in a timely manner and the soul is absolved into the arms of the waiting father.

G.Vanmikanathan continues that "It is the soul's experience that it should see itself elated to a state of joy first; from joy to ecstasy; and from ecstasy to an all-encompassing and surpassing bliss, as the soul is seen uniting with Civan to the point of extinction of duality, to the point of the absence of any difference between the soul and Civan."

And so we arrive finally at the grand question of all time. Would declaring oneself as a God amount to being egoistic? Jalaluddin Rumi thinks otherwise. " "I am God" is an expression of great humility. The man who says I am the slave or servant of God affirms two existences - his own and his God but he that says "I am God" has made himself non-existent and has given himself up and says "I am naught; he is all there is; nothing but God's." This is the extreme of humility and self-abasement."

Now I understand why Lord Muruga kept asking the youngsters in the AVM family if they had surrendered to him. Only then can he give each of them something he added. When we are one with him and the Prapanjam everything is ours to live by. As in the process of osmosis where "molecules of a solvent tend to pass through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one" we without effort tend to melt in his embrace and merge into him.

WORSHIP of VIGRAHA & MOORTHI

What is the significance of idol worship? Not that of fan-based idols and stars but of bringing the energies into either a stone, granite, metal, or wood. Our ancestors have been doing it for ages now. We have continued these traditions. Many temples and the statue in them stand witness to the bygone eras of temple worship that beats our imagination. These days devotees trickle in numbers except for some auspicious occasions where we see the numbers. 

My brother, A.Kathiresan who is a journalist, in releasing a book entitled "Image Worship" in the series of books called "The Wisdom Library" put forth an argument that "Surely the Hindu sages, who gave the world the highest philosophy and who had actually seen God, had a sound reason for introducing this practice? when confronted with the fact that "image worship was being maligned by a few Hindus and many non-Hindu missionaries who wanted to convert Hindus decrying Hinduism." His book is in the form of a conversation between the guru and his disciple where the guru tries to answer and clarify the questions and doubts his disciple has.

The guru explains that "since not everyone is able to understand Hindu philosophy our sages devised several ways of bringing the philosophy closer to the ordinary man to help him understand this most ancient science better. The various Purnic stories and image worship are two of these ways."

Idol or image worship would not be an accurate translation of the Hindu term Vigraha or Moothi the guru says. Vigraha means to grasp firmly while Moorthi means materialization. Vigraha is a symbolic representation that helps the mind to grasp firmly the abstract idea of god. Through generations of practice, our rituals have become part of our group consciousness. we can therefore glide into the appropriate mental mood easily. This is one reason why image worship is so maligned by outsiders. It is difficult for them to enter the proper mental climate to be able to understand the practice, explains the guru further. "And it is human nature to be antagonistic towards what we cannot understand or at the very least to be suspicious of it."

"Hindus actually worship god in and through images. The images and Vigrahas are symbols that speak at different levels to the discerning and intelligent devotee. Also, they were so designed as to be to the point and effective. These Hindu symbols were and still are concise and precise and have the ability to generate tremendous power under the right conditions."

This reminds me of the day Agathiyar arrived in the form of a bronze statue at my home in 2010. We had invited a handful of family and friends to join us in ushering him. Agathiyar had directed me to have his Moorthi done at Swamimalai, Tamilnadu to strict conditions laid out in the Nadi. We were asked to give "life" to the otherwise lifeless metal by chanting his name 100,000 times while performing libation or abhishegam with nine items. Our throat was parched dry and we could not utter further his name. We could only manage 45,000 with the small group on hand. Though we could not achieve the said number Agathiyar came in a Nadi reading that week and told us that he had accepted our puja. Recently in coming to my daughter's home to stay for good, he spared us the agony of chanting large numbers but instead asked us to chant his name some 1,000 times. She had already received two large paintings of the Agathiyar and Lobamitra and another of the Siddhas that was kept in puja at the Eco City temple that happened to be her wedding gift too in 2016. Just some days ago in wanting to gift another devotee a miniature bronze statue of his, he did the libation himself and handed it over to her to continue at her home. Just like life's breath is blown into the fetus just before its existence in this world, this is how life is infused into an otherwise lifeless statue.

Once energized the statue regains a stand as God who fulfills the wishes of those who seek him out. The statue becomes a conduit to reach out to the invisible energies of the Prapanjam. The Prapanjam has now taken a form just like all that is in nature and creation. With constant puja, the statue gains powers to heal and cure and fulfill wishes. It gains weight. Yes, it is true. All the rituals, puja, and devotion towards it is absorbed by the statue and it gains weight when the divine comes within it. When AVM family members got into place to ceremoniously carry Agathiyar around the Mayuranathar Temple grounds in Dengkil on a Pallakku, or litter, the throne-like chair, with two long poles underneath the chair, initially these youths stood unassuming, cool, and calm. But as I sang the song inviting Agathiyar to grace the Siddhar Vizha we held there, these boys began to feel his weight. We could see that the four litter bearers were finding it difficult to continue carrying Agathiyar as he was gaining weight. They all attested to this unique phenomenon that took place that day that we were all witness to.

Similarly, when Dyalen volunteered to carry AVM Agathiyar from my car to the home of a devotee on the eighth floor of a condominium, he quipped that Agathiyar was light. After the puja was over he volunteered to bring his statue down. He turned to me and said, "My God he is heavy!"

A story is narrated in http://www.yourgoodtime.in/TemplesAndScience.aspx of the Nachiyar Temple, Narayur Nambi Perumal Temple in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India, of how energized our temples are. The Garuda, the vehicle or Vahana of Lord Vishnu near the inner sanctum sanctorum at this temple, made of a huge granite stone 6 feet in height, was brought out during the annual Brahmotsavam festival. The miracle in this whole event is that if only two people are required to lift the Garuda in the confines of this temple, as many as 64 people were required to carry it eventually at the peak of the occasion. It is very obvious that its weight kept on increasing as it made its way around the temple grounds. On returning it to its original spot the weight began to decrease requiring only the original two to carry it.

We are all well aware of the episode about how Agathiyar had instructed Idumban to carry the Sivagiri and Saktigiri hills to the south. Idumban carried the hills easily, slung across his shoulders. Soon he needed to rest and lay the hills down. On recovering from his exhaustion he found that he could not lift nor move the hills.

Then there was a time when Ma told me to carry out libation with water daily to his statue as he had gained intense power and energy. It was time to cool him down I guess. Recently Agathiyar asked me to bathe his statue with water till he leaves AVM for Mahindren's home to stay put. This reminds me of news that is yet to be verified of the Goddess Meenatchi in her famed temple coming in the dreams of devotees asking to cool her down. The subsequent fire that broke out could have been a result of ignoring these signs. Pardon me if I am wrong. It brings tears to our eyes to read about the fire and see the photos at https://scroll.in/article/867574/fire-in-madurais-meenakshi-temple-sparks-demand-for-shops-to-be-evicted-from-complex

The guru continues, "To the Hindu, his house of worship the Hindu temple mirrors the entire universe and the human body and life. Hindu philosophy is coded into its very structure in its internal symbols and the ceremonies performed."

"Our sages say every object in the world animate or inanimate is a manifestation of the one god. The realization of and experience of this fundamental truth is the goal of the life of the Hindu. Hinduism does not present a fixed dogma or path and calls on all its followers to take that path alone. Rather, it offers various paths which they can take to reach the same goal. Techniques combining science and faith have evolved to help the aspirant move along the path of his choice."

"In the transcendent state, Siva is beyond the reach of the senses, the mind, and the intellect. This is its natural form. But Siva also assumes forms, qualities, and characteristics", hence explaining how god is both with attributes and without. The Hindus believe that god is both formless and with form. And that he transcends both."

Recently I had built some courage to ask Agathiyar where he was, where Tavayogi was, and where Lord Siva and Lord Muruga were too. Agathiyar who had come within a devotee placed his palm on my chest. I understood that he was living in my heart and in me. I told him so to get reassurance and confirmation. He nodded when I continued that god manifests wherever we place our thoughts about him, be it at the temple or home altar, a picture or stone, or in someone else. God lives in our thoughts. Devotion, puja, and rituals are akin to feeding these divine thoughts. To someone else who asked to know his true form some time back, he asked her a question in return. "What do you get when you do puja and charity?" She replied "A feel-good feeling." "That is me" he replied. He continued that he was the very vibration that is felt bringing us to add on another form to his numerous other forms that we came to know earlier. Through our parents, we came to know god with form as in the paintings and idols. Through the priest and saints, we came to know their attributes as songs are sung to describe them. Dr.Krishnan, an astrologer and Siddha physician, passed me a copper foil or yantra carrying Agathiyar's form as an abstract symbol to be worshipped when I told him that Agathiyar had called me to the path. Later he spoke his mantra into my ears over the phone as I was conducting a Homam at home. Now he took on the form of sound. Tavayogi in introducing us to Agathiyar officially through an initiation told us that he was the very mantra given. He was in the form of sound. Later when I asked him how Agathiyar came to him the night I arrived at his ashram in 2005, he told me as light. Agathiyar took the form of light. In having the statues of Lord Muruga and Agathiyar made in fiber and placed at his ashram in 2010, the same year Agathiyar came in the form of a statue to my home, Tavayogi gave these gods attributes and form saying these were a depiction of their forms as described by other Siddhas in the Siddha text. Later when I and my family visited him in 2013, as we came down the steps of Nattadreswar temple in Erode, he turned to me and said that Agathiyar was Siva and vice versa giving them the common attributes. This would explain why Lord Siva chose to send Agathiyar south to bring a balance to the earth that had toppled as the heavenly beings descended to witness the betrothal of Lord Siva to Goddess Parvathi in the north. Agathiyar was equivalent to all the Gods and Goddesses assembled at Mount Kailash.

Our saints have dwelled in and sung about the attributes of god with form. They have given precise descriptions through their visions that have been carved into stone and are worshiped by us today. 

It would surprise us to know that Swami Vivekananda being a monk on the path of Gnanam has spoken about idol worship which is said to be a starter course for many higher levels. Picking up from his guru, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who describes, "God with form is just as true as God without form. He is also that which transcends both. He alone knows he is", he tackled the question about image worship as follows.

The guru shares this story. 

"During the days of his wandering through India, Swami Vivekananda went to the state of Alwar. The then Maharaja was a young modern educated man. He told Swami Vivekananda "I have no faith in idol worship. I cannot really worship wood, earth, or stone as other people do."

Swami Vivekananda replied, "Every man should follow his religious ideal according to his faith." Having said that looking around Swami Vivekananda spotted a picture of the Maharaja on the wall. Taking it down he asked the royal court to spit on it. They were shocked at his requests. Swami Vivekananda said, "Spit upon it. It is but only a portrait." The bewildered courtiers replied, "What are you asking us to do? This is the likeness of our Maharaja. How could we do such a thing?" Then turning to the Maharaja, Swami Vivekananda said, "That is the shadow of your highness which brings you to their minds and they naturally look upon it with respect. In the same way, an image in a temple brings to the mind of the devotees their chosen aspect of the deity. They worship the spirit symbolized by the image." The Maharaja understood and said, "You have opened my eyes."

Swami Vivekananda clarifies what Agathiyar instructed me to do upon his arrival. He asked that we give life to that metal statue of his.  

"We may worship anything by seeing god in it, if we can forget the idol and see god there. We must not project any image upon god but we may fill any image with that life which is god." 

A monk of a divine order having its origin in Rishikesh, who was based in Malaysia surprised us by asking Malaysian to build temples as it was our identity. Both language and customs identify us. These are much needed by common folks like us. But Ramalinga Adigal who had attained a high standing in the order sings that the day he dropped arguing on caste and agamas, he saw the Light. 

Agathiyar has often told us that he was in the Prapanjam and that the Prapanjam was in him and that he was it. Ramalinga Adigal in asking me to go within said that a time will come when we shall tend to ask if the breath is in us or if we are in it. This reminds me of yet another form that Tavayogi gave to Agathiyar. During my second or rather third initiation in private upon arriving at his Kallar ashram he told me that Vaasi or breath was god. SiVa if spelled VaSi is breath indeed. 

The guru in dispelling further doubts quotes Swami Vivekananda again. "The divinity of the all-pervading god is vibrant in every atom of creation. There is not a speck of space where he is not. Why do you then say that he is not in the Vigraha?"

ANGER

If in the early days of my search, I was angry with certain heads of missions and establishments affiliated with Agathiyar asking myself why they could not come together in unison for a common cause in the name of Agathiyar and have a single movement and agenda, in later years as I came to know the path I felt angry at those who would not lend an ear, toe the line, heed and follow, or practice and live the way.  Then when Lord Murugan asks me to build him a temple I was again sore asking myself why he needs another when there are numerous temples for him all over. If Agathiyar answered the former question by disbanding AVM and having us go our own ways in continuing the worship and practice in our own homes, Tavayogi answered the latter question that not all a born for the same purpose. He explained further that many are here to fulfill their individual aspirations, desires, and wishes carried from the past or picked up later in this birth. Many others are here to pay off old debts and settle their scores. Lord Murugan as if reading my mind answered the moment I questioned him in my thoughts through the Nadi, telling me that it was true that there were temples for him but that I would do it differently. This made me sit, ponder and analyze what he meant. Today I understand that we at AVM had in fact handled many things differently. Our understanding of matters too is tangent to others. 

These I believe show how angry a person I am that warranted Agathiyar to come in the Nadi and speak on anger management for an hour in the past and recently asked me if he should take another class. Agathiyar told me that anger will affect my tavam. Ramalinga Adigal has said that anger will bring death to the cells in us as we boil over in anger. Again Agathiyar said that all the merits gained from austerities performed will go to waste if anger prevails. I guess anger has become a character that as the lyricist Vairamuthu implies in a wonderful song on death only death can burn it to ashes. 

On another note, in writing about my health, body, and changes within as Agathiyar had asked to share with readers, I am constipated for several days now. But there is no pain or discomfort. It seems like I cannot defecate though I am having my regular meals. It makes me wonder what is happening to all the waste products after digestion? I seem to have no stool. Similarly, in the past months, I hardly sleep waking up in the wee hours of the night drafting the subjects and ideas for this blog. But I never felt tired nor had the need to replace the hours of lost sleep later in the day. Then Agathiyar throws a pun "When did Siddhas ever sleep?" asking if they ever slept. 

SCALING THE LAST FRONTIER

In the early days of my search, I was angry with certain heads of missions and establishments affiliated with Agathiyar. For one I asked why did we need so many movements? Why could not they all come together unified under an umbrella? Soon traveling the path and knocking on several doors I saw that each started his movement after having a desire to serve and spread Agathiyar's fame. But indirectly they were building on their ego as heads there came fame and recognition, authority and power, etc. It would have been an entirely different thing if Agathiyar had directed them to do so. Then it would be his wish and desire and not ours. Tavayogi's plan to go into samadhi after his joint in meditating in the Sadhuragiri hills for four years having travelled the length and breadth of India was derailed by Agathiyar then in the late nineties. Tavayogi was commanded to look out for a place known as Agathiyar Vanam and put up an ashram. Later he was instructed to go to Malaysia and reach out to potential candidates in the path of the Siddhas. Hence, he made his maiden journey leaving the Indian subcontinent to arrive at our shores in 2004. I met him the following year. Soon he made several trips before his last in 2016. When he spoke about moving house or rather the ashram to another spot some two kilometers away from the old ashram at Kallar Thuripaalam or bridge, that came about through the contributions of several devotees, I asked him why the need to build a temple when he often spoke about coming out of devotion or Bakthi into Gnanam. He replied that it was not for him but rather for others. When Agathiyar and later Murugan asked me to build a temple I turned them down. The first mention of the temple was in my very first Nadi reading in 2002. Lord Murugan made the asking in 2018 again, this time a temple for him. He answered the question that arose in my mind at that moment reading the Jeeva Nadi as to why the need for another when his temple was spread all over the land, telling me that it would be different. I did not budge nor move. The following year to my surprise Agathiyar told me that he had tested me. I seemed to have passed his test. Lately Lord Murugan came and told me that they have dismissed the idea due to my age. They did not want me to go through the trouble of building one. 

Now I understand pretty well what Lord Murugan meant when he said that we shall be different. Indeed, when I started scouting for the method and way to worship the Siddhas, none of the existing establishments at that time in the year 2002 were into worship. This rather disappointed me as either they were fully into doing charity or had moved up the rung into the worship of Light. I started my home puja compiling the songs of praise to the Siddhas from numerous sources, books and online. Then came a time when the divine in coming through devotees to carry out the libation of Agathiyar in the bronze statue at AVM did it in a jiffy. We followed suit cutting the original puja from two hours to twenty-four minutes. When I spoke about it to two heads of a mission, they voiced their hesitation to do the same. One said that it was a three-hundred-year-old tradition that he had to uphold after taking on the post as the head. Another told me that she prefers to carry out what the guru did. While they preferred to be frozen in time, those above-mentioned establishments that I visited had, I realized, outgrown their initial purpose and having grown and evolved spiritually, had taken on other ways and paths though still retaining Agathiyar's name. Experience on the path showed me that nothing is wrong. I realized that my anger was uncalled for. Everything was happening for a purpose - the purpose being to educate and have us grow spiritually and enhance the soul power within us to carry out his task in later years. But sadly, many get attached to what is seen as lucrative and can never find themselves giving way to the younger generation. Today Agathiyar has asked us to hand over his bronze statue to Mahindren to carry on the rituals at his home, relieving me and my family of the tasks. This is how he gets us to let go of all our attachments, even those towards him as Thirumular sings in his Thirumanthiram.

It is only when we lift our foot and place it on another rung of the ladder that we can move up the ladder. In moving up we shall then have a better and clearer view and also be closer to the summit or peak. If we are to hold on and stand put on the same rung, we can never learn or experience new things. That is how like his verse in a song, Agathiyar had us start puja and stop it later or rather the singing stopped on its own as we could not bring ourselves to sing another line as bliss filled us in.  Even the practice of Vaasi stopped on its own as we progressed further. With Sariyai, Kriyai and Yogam left behind Agathiyar came to fill us in with Gnanam. He has asked us to remain silent and to reach out to the Prapanjam for all our needs including divine knowledge or Gnanam. 

GAINING SOUL EMPOWERMENT

Agathiyar in previously coming through the Nadi or coming before us through his devotees lately always gives us either a task, a practice, a teaching and an experience. He even speaks on the choice of a preferable diet and guided us on taking herbal preparations to bring some relieve whenever we are in pain or discomfort as a result of these practices. He had had at one time back then taken an hour in his Nadi asking me to manage my anger. We strongly belief they come to give us a hand in all the activities he asked to carry out as we never tire out during these moments. This is how he gave numerous Vaasi or breathing practices, and practices to help us stay focused on our meditation. So did he in bringing us to go within asked us to read up of Tavayogi's book "Andamum Pindamum" to understand the concept of the Tattvas. Ramalinga Adigal too comes along giving us reminders to read up. Lately Agathiyar asked me to research Ramalinga Adigal's amazing work that portrays his spiritual journey and his attainment in 1596 lines of the Thiru Arutpa Thiru Agaval. That is indeed a humongous task I understood. Ramalinga Adigal's works were nothing new to me as he had captured my heart and soul with his outpourings of bakti, yogam and gnanam in the nineties when a chief clerk at the office passed me several cassettes of his songs that someone had given him. I loved it the moment I heard those songs. As he had only passed a couple of cassettes from a collection, I looked for the rests of the collection at numerous music outlets. I found his collection at a music outlet in Kuala Lumpur. I purchased all that they carried. It was sheer bliss listening to Adigal's songs set to music. 

Listening to this collection I was driven to know more about the saint and his works. I purchased the complete volume of Ramalinga Adigal's Thiru Arutpa, two large volumes chronologically compiled by Ooran Adigal for the Samarasa Sanmarga Aaraichi Nilaiyam in Vadalur. When Ooran Adigal was invited to co-officiate the opening of the First World Conference of Siddha Philosophy in Malaysia with Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal in 2007, I was blessed to be given the opportunity to take care of their needs. I took this rare opportunity to have him autograph my copy of the Thiru Arutpa.

Reading through it I realized the cassette that carried the Agaval was not complete. I looked up the company that marketed the cassettes. A salesperson told me "No Chance" that it was not complete as they had the master tape with them. I had the book to proof. He seemed puzzled but could not help me further. Disappointed, I searched the net, bookstores and frequented ashrams and peedhams wanting to know more about the saint. I was 'hungry' for information on Ramalinga Adigal. That is when I came across the site VallalarSpace that had a link to vallalar.org which carried most of the saints songs set to music and sang beautifully in a link ThiruArutpa.org. Coming to know the admin of the site Thiru Siva based in Singapore, who initiated the Isai Amudham project audio downloads, he sent me CDs of the saint's songs. The effort of Dharmalinga Swamigal and his team in bringing together a vast collection of Adigal's songs, composing, singing and recording them, and making them available online was a divine gift for us. Through this massive and costly effort of theirs today we get to enjoy every bit of Adigal's divine experience put in words and that has come to be known as the Arutpa. The wonderful venture of these souls to bring Ramalinga Adigal's songs to the masses is indeed a great act of Dharmam. Thank you very much. But Thiru Siva shared that organizations carrying the name of the saint had since then downloaded the songs from the site and marketed these songs to the public at a cost that defeated his idea of making these songs available free. Hence, he had no choice but to bring down the high-quality songs and replace them with compressed versions. 

When Agathiyar asked me to research Ramalinga Adigal's Agaval, I was familiar with the song as it would take me and my family some two hours to sing it. But the essence of his experience that was shared in these lines were something beyond our reach and comprehension. So, when I mentioned to Agathiyar that only the saint can come to reveal what he actually meant in these lines, Agathiyar encouraged me to read telling me that I shall understand eventually. Playing the Agaval sang by Prabakar and Usha Raj, that was uploaded in numerous YouTube channels disappointed me. Again, the song was incomplete. They ended abruptly. I wonder if the admin even realized this. Going through my collection of audio cassettes, CDs and downloads I found a complete version of this song sang with passion, love and devotion. I told myself I was to upload this full version for the sincere and serious devotees of Ramalinga Adigal. Seeking to include visuals to accompany this wonderful song, I searched through my library of photos and videos. I came up with the theme lighting the flame externally that shall bring us to light it within enhancing the Self and the Soul. That was the intent of the saint too passing on the oil lamp that he had in his room at Siddhivalagam to his followers to worship. Ramalinga Adigal's last message to his devotees before he enters the room at Siddhivalagam at Metthukuppam was to assume the jhoti or light from the Agalvilakku (the light source from a lit earthen lamp) as Eraivan or God. He chose to call Him 'Arutperumjhoti'". Adigal worshipped God in the form of light and became light itself. Ramalinga Adigal showed us the way, in the simplest manner.

These footages were taken over three years beginning in 2015 when we set out to light oil lamps three years in a row in the temple grounds at Batu Caves and finally at the Sri Mayuranathar Srimath Pamban Swamigal Temple in Dengkil.

Initially I did not understand these songs and hence did not know the value of the saints works but later it dawned on me that what I had in my hands was a treasure house. From living in the world of Siva we are slowly brought to live with Siva and eventually arrive at realizing the state whereby Siva lives in us. This is merging with the Prapanjam or the source.

Ramalinga Adigal's prayer was Tavayogi's prayer too. Tavayogi sought the space where there is only the bliss of non-participation (summa eru).

இன்று வருமோ நாளைக்கே வருமோ

அல்லது மற்றென்று வருமோ

அறியேன் எங்கோவே

துன்று மல வெம்மாயை அற்று

வெளிக்குள் வெளி கடந்து

சும்மா இருக்கும் சுகம் 

That was the message to Arunagiri too by Lord Murugan, "Summa eru Sol Are." Tayumanavar too was asked to remain such by his guru Mauna Guru, "Be silent. Rest in peace. Keep quiet (Summa Eru). Have faith. You will reach the supreme state of Bliss".

Saint Nakkirar too prayed to Lord Vinayagar to create that space where the guru and disciple are absorbed in silent knowledge that reveals that both are one.  

மோனா ஞான முழுதும் அளித்து

சிற்பரிப் பூரண சிவத்தைக் காண

நற்சிவ நிட்கள நாட்டமுந் தந்து

குருவுஞ் சீடனுங் கூடிக் கலந்து

இருவரும் ஒரு தனியிடந் தனிற் சேர்ந்து

தானந்தமாகித் தற்பர வெளியில்

ஆனந்த போத அறிவைக் கலந்து

ஈசனிைணயடியிருத்தி

மனத்தே நீயே நானாய்

நானே நீயாய்க்

காயா புரியைக் கனவெனவுணா்ந்து

எல்லாமுன் செயலென்ேற உணர

நல்லா உன்னருள் நாட்டந் தருவாய்

காரண குருவே கற்பகத் களிேற

வாரணமுகத்து வள்ளலே போற்றி

Agathiyar who called me to worship the Siddhas in the Nadi in 2002, set me and others carry on a hive of activity beginning 2013 sending youths to reach out to the hungry, and bringing the home worship into the temples. He then disbanded the team in the fall of 2019 having us go our own ways carrying the tools and the method and in anticipation of the coming of the pandemic, he had us stay indoors and carry on with the worship in own homes. As for me he had me take up the Vaasi or breathing practice again. He had me let go of all my attachments too during the two years of the alternate partial and full lockdown just like the fourteen years he had me let go of all that I had read and discussed before taking up the call to come to the worship of the Siddhas through my very first Nadi reading in 2002. Now after my partial solitude in keeping to myself those two years he wants me to stop speaking too, leading I guess to a total shutdown. If there was anything to be said, he said, let it be through these writings. Just as there were obvious signs of the eventual closure of the AVM WhatsApp group, I guess these are signs of an eventual closure of AVM too. Just as a plant or a tree leaves behind its seeds to germinate elsewhere Agathiyar and Tavayogi want us to turn each home into an Agathiyar Vanam.

Agathiyar in the form of the bronze statue at AVM shall be leaving for Mahindren's home soon. As for me and my wife Agathiyar says we have to move on. He asked me to close the room then. Henceforth only those who chose to meditate shall enter his room, he pronounced. This reminds me of the room at the old Kallar ashram that was out of bounds to the general public except selected ones permitted to enter by Tavayogi. It housed the Aaru Aathaara Peedham or a six-tiered granite structure that had a lighted oil lamp on its summit. So did Ramalinga Adigal as he spoke his last words, on January 30th, 1874 at the age of 50, reveal "I am in the body now and after a while; I shall enter into all the bodies of his creation." He instructed further to "Close the door and lock it from outside. The room, if ordered to be opened, will only be void." That was true Samadhi indeed, merging with the Prapanjam or source.

In having us go within both Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal had us reach out to the Prapanjam. Often Agathiyar tells us that he was in the Prapanjam and that the Prapanjam was in him, and he was the Prapanjam. He revealed that only after bringing the Prapanjam down in its full stream and force shall he leave AVM for his new home. We are truly gifted and are speechless. But he has to prepare us further first to take the next leap he adds. Similarly, he has to prepare Mahindren too to receive him. 

When I took possession of his bronze statue on 2nd January 2010, Agathiyar directed us to recite his Nama Japam or name 100,000 times. My family and the handful of seekers only managed 45,000. But the most compassionate father accepted our effort. Over the weekend when a handful of us were gathered in the home of the lovely couple Sri Krishna and Sri Deviy, Agathiyar handed over a miniature bronze statue of his to another lovely couple and their children to be worshiped in their home. Agathiyar spared them the lengthy chanting as he asked of us at AVM back then but instead performed the libation or abhisegam to the statue himself and passed it to them, energizing it. Blessed are they. Another Agathiyar Vanam has sprouted. 

Just a little update on what is happening in me as Agathiyar had asked to share with readers. After a couple of days of constipation, and stomachache, the twist and the turns in my big and small intestines finally forced the trash out and is emptying the recycle bin, having me visit the toilet numerous times. The phlegm, wind and bile too are being rid off especially when I hit the sack. The coolness in my head is ongoing with a feeling of my head being drenched and wet. I guess I have made contact with the Prapanjam or rather by his grace the Prapanjam has slowly started to come within for at these moments it is sheer bliss that cannot be described except by the tears that well in my eyes. 

MULIGAI VANAM

As promised in a previous post at https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2023/05/from-agathiyar-vanam-to-muligai-vanam.html here are some visuals on the upcoming Muligai Vanam. Though nothing much to shout about as for now but it's a good start. It has captured the attention of Agathiyar as he keeps asking my daughter about the progress of the garden each time he comes.

AT PEACE WITH THE SELF

Just returned from a puja, the fourth in a row that came by after Lord Murugan conveyed Tavayogi's wish to see each home turn into Agathiyar Vanam. This time it was in the home of the devoted couple Sri Krishna and Sri Deviy. Today I saw for myself what Agathiyar had always mentioned about linking with the Prapanjam. When I complained to him about the din and noise from my neighbors at odd hours of the night and predawn, Ramalinga Adigal told me that it was to be endured and an experience and a lesson and learning on the path to Gnanam. Agathiyar too told me that even if I was to run away and retire in the deep woods there are what he terms as "Puluruvi" or irritations of other kinds there. As we live in the society, we have to bear with it. I used to wonder how Supramania Swami could sit in meditation with the din and noise coming from an automobile workshop that sprouted overnight next to his kudil in Tiruvannamalai. He told my colleague who was visiting him back then that it does not disturb him. This is exactly what Agathiyar told me too that when we link with the Prapanjam nothing matters, we are not irritated by noise and others. Today Agathiyar showed me by example. As the Homam that was lit during the puja died down and we ended the puja just as Agathiyar had told us earlier that it was an indication that the puja was accepted and not to fan it further or attempt to keep it alive, we all rushed out for cover or rather for a breath of fresh air as the smoke was thick and dense causing us to tear and cough. But Agathiyar who had come within a devotee sat throughout this, proving to us that once we engage with the Prapanjam nothing shall bother us. 

In consoling a devotee who had lost her father who was dear to us too, Agathiyar asked her to move on with her life. Every moment she thinks about him her health would deteriorate further. He has obviously taken birth again hence the need to let go. 

This reminds me of how Agathiyar had told the family of a famed Jeeva Nadi reader from Chennai to not to think about him and carry out the rituals. But as we are caught in society they carried on. Agathiyar told a close aid of the deceased that the soul was meditating in the hills of Pothigai and hence was not to be disturbed. The soul would then be caught between returning or to further its journey. 

Anyway, Agathiyar adds that he was living in her as she was a piece of her father. Agathiyar had earlier told us through a memo from a devotee that both our parents have contributed towards both our being and wellbeing. 

பஞ்சபூதம் ஆகிய நீர், நிலம், ஆகாயம், காற்று, நெருப்பு அனைத்தும் தாய் தந்தையின் உடலிலிருந்தே  எடுக்கப்பட்டு சிசுவின் உடலைப் பிறப்பிக்கின்றது.

The Pindam made of the elements derived from the Pancha Maha Bhutam in specific proportion takes a form that begins to reside in the womb. The five elements are taken from each parent's body to shape the body of the fetus. Agathiyar gives us the breakdown.

நிலத்தின் அளவு - 1/3

One portion of earth from the female and three portions from the male

நீரின் அளவு – 4/3

Four portions of water from the female and three from the male

நெருப்பின் அளவு – 5/6

Five portions of fire from the female and six from the male

காற்றின் அளவு – 8/2

Eight portions of air from the female and two from the male and finally

ஆகாயத்தின் அளவு – 1/8

One portion of Ether from the female and eight from the male go towards making a healthy constitution.

 

இவ்வாறு அதற்கென்று அளவுகள் பிரம்மதேவரால் கணக்கிட்டு உடலை உருவாக்கப்படுகிறது.

Since this proportion is regulated by Lord Brahma, hence we know him as the creator of lives.

Agathiyar reveals that when the Udal takes a form, that is a composite of the five tattvas, and again returns back to these tattvas, the Uyir meanwhile merges in the Atma and reaches Agathiyan as Jothi. When he says we shall reach him it has to be taken that we come to a realization that he and we are one. 

உடல் என்பது பஞ்ச பூதங்களில் உரு பெற்று மீண்டும் பஞ்ச பூதங்களிடம் சென்று விட்டால் உயிராகியது ஆன்மா வோடு கலந்து ஜோதிநிலையில் எம்மை வந்து அடையும். உடல் கூறு தத்துவமும் இதையே உமக்கு உணர்த்தும். 

Agathiyar shared his sadness that we are seeing a rise in illnesses. When I asked him the reason, he listed a few. The fast and furious nature of our current lifestyles, not giving due respect and refusing to pay attention to this sacred body that is capable of doing wonders and attaining higher reaches of spiritual evolution, and the diet that we consume.

He had told us earlier that this human birth is to be considered rare. We can only rid the karma that we had gathered throughout the numerous births by taking a human birth. We can never be assured that we shall take another human birth. Hence having taken one we are asked to fulfill its purpose. We are to seek Atma Vidutalai or release. Hence, we were not given this birth to live a mundane human life or to waste it by our lack of attention to it.

மனித பிறவி என்பது அபூர்வமானது. அது கிடைத்தது உங்களின் மனித வாழ்க்கையை வாழ்வதற்கு அல்ல. கோடான கோடி பிறவியில் நீங்கள் செய்த கர்மவினை மனிதபிறவி எடுக்கும்போது மட்டுமே கழிக்க முடியும். இப்பிறவியில் மனிதானாய் பிறந்தவன் மற்றொரு பிறவியில் மனிதனாய் பிறப்பான் என்பது ஊர்ஜிதமல்ல. எடுத்தபோதே அதனை நிறைவேற்றிக் கொள்ளுங்கள். ஆன்ம விடுதலை நோக்கிச் செல்லுங்கள் இல்லறவாழ்க்கை எப்போதுமே சுகமாய் இருக்கும். 

In telling us that he had arrived from Pothigai to be present with us during today's puja, he asked me a riddle; If he was at Pothigai hills and if the hills were him, what was he then? Luckily my otherwise murky mind was alert this time around and I answered - the Prapanjam. He gave me the kudos.  

It is all within us. What we have receive all this while is akin to fertilizers to help us grow spiritually. The tools and methods, the techniques and practice all help heighten our senses to receive the divine grace. Once the divine grace comes within it shall elevate us without any further effort on our part. 

First, we need to drop the baggage of karma that we bring along with us with each birth. Then we need to drop the knowledge acquired from bookish readings. Then we have to drop the tools, method and the way too.  The sequence can vary from person to person, but we all have to learn to let go. The Siddhas have invested heavily on us Agathiyar told my wife. Hence the need to be alert that we do not slip and fall. Even standing at the peak we need to be aware of Maya and her delusions. It is an ever-going battle with the dark forces. They are needed too for how else would we realize light? From duality he moves into the state of Yegan or singularity. The man who survives the onslaught of the evil forces will come to terms with them too. He is at peace with himself and the world around him. I wish I could reach that state. 

FROM AGATHIYAR VANAM TO MULIGAI VANAM

After finishing her higher studies and landing a job at the same place she did her internship and having settled comfortably in her new job for a year now, my second daughter has picked up gardening in the small plot of land in the front and at the back of our home. Flower plants adorn the front while herbal plants grace the backyard. Agathiyar surprised us all when he came some time back asking her how her garden was fairing naming it "Muligai Vanam" or Herbal Garden. Our home that was his home too, "Agathiyar Vanam" is now an herbal garden. Since then, each time he comes he asks her about her garden. Days ago, he said many more herbal plants shall find their way into her garden. Indeed, there are many species of flowering plants and herbal plants that just began to grow after I cleared both my front and backyard some years ago.

 I shall post the videos of our new garden once the plants begin to grow in size and numbers. 

FURTHER CLEANSING

It is 48 minutes after midnight. After a long break Agathiyar had me throw up bile (pittam) and phlegm (kapam) and expel wind (vaatam) all at a go, moments ago. It was as if a tap had been open. It was painful, bitter and distasteful. The dinner I took too came with it. Though disgusting to air and read I have to relate what goes on if we desire to move up the ladder as Agathiyar told me that my readers should be made aware of the changes that comes with the asking for Siddhahood. I recount Jnana Jothiamma telling me that she was vomiting as many as thirty-two times at times. I am spared that amount. After much exhaustion she would pull her bed to the door of her washroom and turn over to throw up.

While I threw up, I was laughing away as it was blissful as Agathiyar had pointed out some years back as I writhe in pain as the body spontaneously slithered like a snake. The body pain that came on during the day has vanished too after throwing up.

The swirling in the crown of the head comes on as it pleases without my effort. It drenches my brain to say. It cools my head. 

Just a day ago he had told me to hold on and not shift his bronze statue out of AVM as yet, as he still had to work on me. During the last two visits he asked me to continue the Vaasi breathing that Tavayogi taught us. I guess the desired Suddha deham is still much far away. 

VIBRATION

If Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal showed me to Agathiyar and stood back leaving me to learn from the supreme master, Agathiyar on his part has shown us to Prapanjam the mother of existence asking us to source everything from her. When he came a couple of days ago, I had so many questions that I wanted to ask him but could only manage a few. He answered them. He also added that if we could connect with the Prapanjam we could tap into all the secrets there is. She will feed us with the answers he said. He too like Tavayogi took a backstage asking me to link and sync with her. Earlier in 2022 Ramalinga Adigal in coming among us through a devotee, tapped into the Prapanjam and bath us with her energy, giving us just a sample of what to expect back then. Later each time he came he taught us to garner her energy and bring it within. Agathiyar along the way had me chant the Arutperunjothi mantra that he deemed as the Maha mantra. These days they get us to chant this mantra each time they are around us. This mantra serves to heal us too as witnessed by many. If in my younger days, the Chinese medium next door to my family home would write Chinese characters in red ink onto a yellow rice paper, burn it and collect its ash in a glass of water and have me drink it for my ailments, Lord Muruga came in the Nadi and simultaneously through a devotee and had those sitting around chant the Arutperunjothi mantra and have me drink the water to heal the excruciating pain in my lower back in 2018. Water is energized by these mantras and used to heal. These mantras that are prevalent around us as vibrations need to hitch a ride on one of the five elements or Tattvas to be of use to man. But if one were to connect with the Prapanjam he has direct access to her. The Siddhas have this access as Tavayogi explains in his speech in the video below.

Agathiyar who stopped all forms of rituals at AVM has asked me to bath his bronze statue each day until he leaves for Mahindren's house. Once there he said he would attend to the matters of the devotees who come seeking him at the new venue. As for me and my wife I guess he has promoted us to the delight of Tavayogi as Agathiyar says, to take on new challenges enroute to the path of Gnana. Tavayogi had always wanted us to move away from Bhakti to Gnana. The day has come. Agathiyar who called me to the worship of the Siddhas in my very first Nadi reading had me commission his bronze statue to be made at Swamimalai, Tamilnadu and started me and my family on doing libation for him brought the shutters down just months before the lockdown as a result of the pandemic came into force. That is when he asked us to revive doing the Pranayama and Asanas that Tavayogi had taught me in 2007 only to have Agathiyar ask me to stop in 2010 to allow my lower back to heal. He asks us to go within too. Several days ago, he asked me to zip up telling me to speak through this blog. He wants us to reach out to the Prapanjam for all the answers to the numerous queries we have. It is said that Paramahansa Yogananda wrote his "God Talks with Arjuna" sitting by an open window and looking towards the sky, was inspired most probably by the Prapanjam. Tavayogi too took some time off and took up a spot at the Sadhguru Sri Brahma Ashram, Yedapalli, Nilgiris (Ooty), Tamil Nadu to write his book "Andamum Pindamum" gaining inspiration from the Prapanjam.

By leading us through Kriyai, a step beyond Sariyai that was shown by our parents, Agathiyar and Tavayogi taught us to take rituals and bhakti into our own hands. With Tavayogi teaching us Yoga and Agathiyar and the other Siddhas chipping in whenever necessary giving new tips and practices through the Nadi readings, they taught us to care for our body. Giving us herbal preparations made available by Siddha physicians whom they pointed out, the Asudha Deham or impure body was slowly rid of its impurities, arriving at the Suddha Deham. The next goal shall be attaining the Pranava Deham and eventually the Gnana Deham and Oli Deham. Phew what a long journey it has been, and we have yet a long way to go. In my impatience to pack and have him leave for Mahindren's home he tells me with a laughter to wait a while longer for he has to work further in me and Mahindren's home. 

When many are questioning who a Siddha is, and questioning the directives that they give them, we chose not to see the master but his message and followed all his instructions to the letter. Hence, they came to us and are today living among us and with us. Tavayogi in one of his talks during Agathiyar's Jayanthi Vizha at Kallar describes the Siddhas and how they are here to help us. 

Chatting with Thiru Velayudham Karthikeyan, the former administrator of the blog "Sitthan Arul", several times on Google + in the past was an eye opener besides reading his blog that carried stories upon stories of how Agathiyar helped thousands of people who sought to know from Agathiyar answers in the Jeeva Nadi in the possession of Hanumathdasan Aiya of Chennai. 

He shared some of his experiences with me.

"After following Agathiyar, I realized something. In his play, he decides which role is appropriate for whom and showers his grace accordingly. And things happen accordingly."

"அகத்தியரை தொடர்ந்தது முதல் ஒரு விஷயத்தை புரிந்து கொண்டேன். அவர் நடத்தும் நாடகத்தில், எந்த பாத்திரம் யாருக்கு சேரும் என்று அறிந்தே அருளுகிறார். அதற்கேற்றார் போல் தான் நிகழ்ச்சிகளும் நடக்கிறது." 

"Being a servant of Agathiyar means it does not end with this birth. Also coming to Agathiyar means having to take many births serving him." 

"அகத்தியருக்கு அடியவர் என்றால் அது இந்த ஜென்மத்துடன் முடிவதல்ல. எத்தனையோ ஜென்மங்கள் தொடர்பு இருந்தால் தான் அவரிடம் இருக்க முடியும்."

"Even though Agathiyar has not specifically mentioned about it, in overall manner when we see he insists Gnana path as guidance. 

Here we see too Tavayogi's insistence that we move on to the next stage. 

Agathiyar often tells us that he is the very vibration that prevails around and in us. In answering a devotee as to his true form Agathiyar asked her pointing to the puja and dharma that she and her family does, what does she feel? She replied the feeling of joy and bliss. "I am that", he replied.

When I asked him a couple of days ago as to where Tavayogi, he, his guru Lord Muruga, Lord Shiva are, Agathiyar touches my chest pointing within me. He says that they all live in us just as Tavayogi points out in his speech in the video above. Tavayogi in autographing my copy of his book "Andamum Pindamum' back then wrote the following verse, "Aandavan Uraigindra Edam Thangal Ullam, Athuve Payanathin Thodakkamum, Mudivum" when translated meant, "Erai lives in your heart, from where the journey starts and ends too."

Agathiyar tells me further that they live in our very thoughts. I understood that if we chose to see God in the stone and metal figurines and idols, they materialize in them. If we chose to see them in the temples, they materialize there. If we chose to see them in our home puja they are there. Finally, if we choose to see them within, they come within too. He tells me further that he is the vibration and asks me to state a particular place, venue or spot. I understood that he is all over just as all of existence is in a state of vibratory being. From the element of earth and metal used to make images of God, to the water that is worship as sacred rivers and lakes, to the element of fire that is lit in the Homam and Yagam, to the element of air that we breath in finally we step into the space of vibrations and see God in it. 

Albert Einstein says that “Everything in life is vibration” in line with what Agathiyar told me.

Abraham-Hicks says “As you think, you vibrate. As you vibrate, you attract." Again, we see this truth mentioned by Tavayogi in his speech. 

Agathiyar is set to show us the source of all creation having us see him as a form in the painting and statues by mortals, as a sound as in the chanting and mention of his name, as the breath that gave life to us and sustains and some day will leave us to rot, as the Jothi that is seen when we light flames and lamps, now he shows us that he is the vibration that is prevalent in all these mediums. It is said that Agathiyar sourced all his knowledge on the plants from the plants revealing to him their medicine properties. His source of all knowledge was from the Prapanjam. Aren't' we Yegan or one then?

MORE CLARIFICATIONS

Yesterday was Wesak day that amazingly marks the birth, the day of enlightenment and also the passing away of Lord Buddha. I grew up next to the Wat Bhodhiyaram Buddhist Temple in Taiping often having food there and attending the classes conducted on Sundays. Buddha's life intrigued me since those days. Tavayogi spoke about how the most compassionate Buddha pardoned an evil being during his visit in 2016. Agathiyar had mentioned in my Nadi that both Lord Vinayagar and Buddha were exponents in Vaasi or Pranayama and asked me to carry out the enhanced practices that he gave through his Nadi many years back. When I hurt my back in 2010, he had me stop it. So, when he asked me to continue yesterday, I questioned him if the pain would not recur. He replied that if it did, he would heal it. Earlier he had asked me to recite and know the essence of Ramalinga Adigal's "Agaval". I did try but could not comprehend. Yesterday I conveyed my failure to him. He replied asking me to place the effort to comprehend and not give up. He justified that man gives up but not the Siddhas. Indeed, he has been working on us trying to make us into Siddhas. But sadly, we are looking elsewhere. My granddaughter would ask her younger sister who follows all she does, in speech and actions but often is distracted by other things and moves away to attend to it, "Sister, what are you doing" in her song. Similarly, I ask you what are you doing? 

While the Gods went to war, surprisingly the gurus taught us to show compassion to others. For instance, why did Mother Goddess Mahishasuramardini and Lord Muruga go to war with Mahishasuran and Surapadman respectively? I had been pondering over this for some time now. I soon found the answer. When evil threatens the good God comes to take arms and end the trauma that has befallen the good. But instead of wiping the evil beings in its entirety or burning them to ashes, God defeats them, resurrects and pardons them again and keeps them with him. And so, I thought I had figured out the answer. But when Agathiyar came through a devotee yesterday evening I asked him the reason for the Gods to go to war. He replied that the war was within us. We have to beat and conquer our evil thoughts. But man has held on to the puranas and stories instead. Indeed, Paramahansa Yogananda in writing his "God Talks with Arjuna" published by Yogada Satsanga Society of India gives us a spiritual symbolism of the Mahabharata story. It is a story of returning back to the source. 

Tavayogi told me that Ramalinga Adigal's description of a mystical journey in his song "Aanipon Ambalathil Kanda Thiru Kaatchi Yellam" was the journey of the Kundalini.

It would surprise us to know that evil can raise its hood even in the home of the divine sage. Surapadman was a son of the sage Kashyapa Muni and a shakti named Maya. He waged war against the devas by invading Devaloka with his massive army and was defeated by Lord Muruga, and turned into his vehicle or vahana, the peacock. I guess that way Lord Murugan can keep an eye on him always. 

We have read in the puranas that the rishis performing the rituals were often disturbed by Asuras and they had to seek the help of the Gods. When Tavayogi asks me to conduct the homam over the phone, I did as told. When he came over to Malaysia in 2010, he fine-tuned the ritual. He asked to place a Kumbam and slices of lime on all sides of the Homa Kundam or vessel and the four corners of my home before proceeding with the puja, something I had no knowledge and did not do previously. When Lord Shiva came during the last Shivarathri puja he asked me to split a lime and place it in each corner of my home although I had split two pieces of lime into halves and placed them in the corners earlier. When we were asked to carry out Chitramuthu Adigal's wish to conduct a Siddha puja at the Thanneermalai Sri Thandayuthapani Temple, in Taiping, Tavayogi asked me to fetch some water to bath the granite statue of Lord Ganesa before the start of the Yagam. He surprised me when he asked me not to go alone but to bring someone along explaining that the evil forces wait to sabotage us. When Agathiyar came to my home in the form of the bronze statue he too surprised me saying that many had stopped him from coming but he broke through the barriers and crawled into my home.  How do we explain all these?