Someone had asked a friend to put before me a question after following this blog.
Dear Bala, could you ask Shanmugam *aiya if he is there, why Agasthiyar always instructs lighting a lamp as a way of seeking his grace? Is there a clear reason behind it? Asked by little niece who just received her 1st aasi and read to her on Wednesday.
I told him to answer her but he shied away. I replied, "Tell her "yen yetarkku yendru ketkaamal seithidavum. Athen artham pinnaalil teriyavarum. Yeduta maathirathil kelvi kethom aanaal yetanaiyum seiya tavari viduvom." I asked her to carry out what was told. The reasons will dawn later. If one starts questioning everything he will never get started or get anywhere.
Just days ago chatting with someone who reads my blog, we agreed that many when initiated into a mantra the first thing they ask is "How many times should I say it?", followed by the next question, "For how long?" Others might share it with others and come to realize that they have been given a slight variation of the mantra. They become disturbed and confused and begin to investigate further hence failing to get started on the mantra. I believe that I have come this far because I obeyed what was said by the Siddhas to the very word never investigating further. I get my answers in due time as they make it known to me later, at times after several years.
Another devotee and friend had asked me many years back why we need to praise God? I told him it was not for him but for us. Something subtle takes place when we praise another be it god or man. Coming back to the question about the reason behind lighting a lamp or singing their praise for that matter I believe we are blessed to be given all the organs of sense - eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin so that we use them to pay our respects to the divine. One of the Nayanmar, Thirunavukarasar did just that composing a Pathigam too. I remember learning this song and many others as a kid from an elderly man from Ceylon who gathered the kids and taught us Thevaram.
தலையே நீவணங்காய் - தலை
மாலை தலைக்கணிந்து
தலையா லேபலி தேருந் தலைவனைத்
தலையே நீவணங்காய். 1
கண்காள் காண்மின்களோ -
கடல் நஞ்சுண்ட கண்டன்றன்னை
எண்டோள் வீசிநின் றாடும் பிரான்றன்னைக்
கண்காள் காண்மின்களோ. 2
செவிகாள் கேண்மின்களோ -
சிவன் எம்மிறை செம்பவள எரிபோல்
மேனிப்பி ரான்றிறம் எப்போதுஞ்
செவிகாள் கேண்மின்களோ. 3
மூக்கே நீமுரலாய் -
முது காடுறை முக்கணனை வாக்கே
நோக்கிய மங்கை மணாளனை
மூக்கே நீமுரலாய். 4
வாயே வாழ்த்துகண்டாய் -
மத யானை யுரிபோர்த்துப் பேய்வாழ்
காட்டகத் தாடும் பிரான்றன்னை
வாயே வாழ்த்துகண்டாய். 5
நெஞ்சே நீநினையாய் -
நிமிர் புன்சடை நின்மலனை
மஞ்சா டும்மலை மங்கை மணாளனை
நெஞ்சே நீநினையாய். 6
கைகாள் கூப்பித்தொழீர் -
கடி மாமலர் தூவிநின்று
பைவாய்ப் பாம்பரை யார்த்த பரமனைக்
கைகாள் கூப்பித்தொழீர். 7
ஆக்கை யாற்பயனென் -
அரன் கோயில் வலம்வந்து பூக்கை
யாலட்டிப் போற்றி யென்னாதவிவ்
வாக்கை யாற்பயனென். 8
கால்க ளாற்பயனென் -
கறைக் கண்ட னுறைகோயில்
கோலக் கோபுரக் கோகர ணஞ்சூழாக்
கால்க ளாற்பயனென். 9
உற்றா ராருளரோ -
உயிர் கொண்டு போம்பொழுது
குற்றா லத்துறை கூத்தனல் லால்நமக்
குற்றார் ஆருளரோ. 10
இறுமாந் திருப்பன்கொலோ -
ஈசன் பல்கணத் தெண்ணப்பட்டுச் சிறுமா
னேந்திதன் சேவடிக் கீழ்ச்சென்றங்
கிறுமாந் திருப்பன்கொலோ. 11
தேடிக் கண்டுகொண்டேன் -
திரு மாலொடு நான்முகனுந் தேடித்
தேடொணாத் தேவனை என்னுளே
தேடிக் கண்டுகொண்டேன். 12
(Source: https://shaivam.org)
There you have it Appar spells out what each organ has to do, given this wonderful birth. We have seen how the Buddhist devotees make their way to holy places taking a few steps, raising their arms high before falling to the ground on their knees and stomachs and getting up to do the same all the way till they reach the holy spot. That is total devotion and surrender of the ego that brings on humbleness and piety.
As Thirunavukarasar sings
தேடிக் கண்டுகொண்டேன் -
திரு மாலொடு நான்முகனுந் தேடித்
தேடொணாத் தேவனை என்னுளே
தேடிக் கண்டுகொண்டேன்,
that he found God residing within him, we are knocking on the wrong door I believe. We are like sheep following the crowd. We fail to see that God might be in the places least expected. Yet we keep heading to the places we are told he resides or rather "established" by man. When Tavayogi and I arrived at the Big temple in Tanjavur in the heat of the day, Tavayogi spread his shawl on the ground under the shade of a tree and invited me to join him in taking a short nap while awaiting the doors to the temple to be opened at 4pm. But I opted to scout around. As I happened to come to the architect of this temple and Siddha Karuvurar's sannadhi and temple a priest who was there doing his chores preparing for the evening puja upon seeing me got up to show the flame and passed it to me. I returned to the spot Tavayogi was napping and lay down beside him. When the temple bells rang at 4pm Tavayogi got up and went behind the temple to Karuvurar's sannadhi instead of following the crowd that had assembled quickly upon hearing the bells sound to enter the main shrine. Tavayogi sat down to meditate at Karuvurar's shrine. I followed him. I then heard a loud conversation around me. Opening my eyes I saw a group of teens chatting noisily. The priest who was still around shooed them away pointing to Tavayogi and me and telling them that we were meditating. After connecting with Karuvurar Tavayogi began to leave the temple grounds. I called out if he wasn't going to go in into the main temple and shrine. He asks me "Do you want to go? Go then" and chose to remain outside. I went in and saw Abhisegam done for the huge linga. I came out and joined him in a jiffy. Similarly, he only stepped in into the inner sanctum of Goddess Madurai Meenakshi after I voiced my desire to see her. So did he walk straight to Pambatti Siddhar's cave instead of the main sanctum at Maruthamalai. Osho says that the energy is not in the inner sanctum but it is offset some distance away from it. If we are aware we would spot it either as a small shrine, samadhi, or even a God impersonating someone. True to his words as I recall now I realized that God indeed came as common people before us in all the temples we stepped in either saying something that would surprise us or jolt us or passing something into our hands unexpectedly. Read through these pages of the blog and you shall find that I have shared these many moments.
Just a couple of days ago as no one was around over the weekend, I was alone watching short films and listening to songs. Agathiyar was sitting as the murthy or statue just across the floor in his room. He too was alone. I invited him to sit with me and watch. I picked up his 18-kilo statue and placed him on the sofa beside me and we both watch and listened to what was playing. What was missing was the popcorn. As I became drowsy I told him that I shall send him back to his spot. When I picked him up he would not budge. He was suddenly pretty heavy. I knew he wasn't moving. I played more songs until I asked him shall we retire for the night. This time I could lift him. Sharing it with a friend and devotee he quipped jokingly that "Appa wanted to watch another movie" hence refusing to move. Another friend suggested I watch with him his movie "Agathiyar" so that he can authenticate the facts shown and depicted in it. As I wrote in the previous post the relationship with Agathiyar which started in awe, fear, and devotion, and that turned to respect and honor accepting him as a guru, and later seeing him as a fatherly and motherly figure and often quite unexpectedly turning into that of a friend and buddy, I laughed at myself thinking what took place.
Similarly during the last Sivarathri puja at AVM, as we waited for the 3am puja I played a collection of songs that I had compiled for the occasion, we were not aware of Yogi Ramsuratkumar's arrival and presence in a devotee until he placed his hand over my shoulder and hugged and spoke to me. When my wife stepped up to him next, he revealed himself as the beggar. She immediately recognized him as Yogi Ramsuratkumar for only he addresses himself as the beggar. Apparently, the Yogi had come the moment I started playing Sadhu Om's songs on Arunachala and Bhagawan Ramana, set to music and rendered by Sriram Parthasarathy. The Yogi told my wife "Can you play the song again" mentioning Sadhu Om's "Unadhu Thiruvarule". It is understandable that the Yogi sat and listened to these songs of Sadhu Om as like him, Sadhu Om was a disciple of Bhagawan too.
Though Andal, Meera, and Radha, the Nayanmars in the 6th to 8th centuries CE, and Ramalinga Adigal as recent as 200 years ago, have all expressed this love to the divine, who can we possibly fall back to now who exhibited this pure love than Bharathi who lived some 100 years ago. Bharathi's love for the divine whom he chose to name and call Kannama is boundless. Just listen to his songs and you shall sense this love run through you touching the very soul. This love and affection for the divine has blossomed into love as in lovers.
It is difficult being God I have come to realize. I sympathize with him. Poor God. Imagine he has to sit and watch all the stupid things we do, watch us miss our foot and fall, watch us fall for dubious characters and their words of promise, watch us miss the bus for an important appointment, etc, and yet not able to move or act. For how can he be in so many places at one time or can he? Then there are those who want it to rain while others want the sun to shine. Then there are those who decide on their love and life partner, decide on their businesses and investments having signed the contracts, and stand before him for his blessings. Of course, he blesses all our ventures. What else could we expect him to do at that juncture. Though he is all-knowing and not telling, we would never know if that was going to be good or bad for us. We have to understand that we have to face the consequences of all our actions.
Life is a butterfly effect where everything we do creates a ripple effect. Though he is a good listener don't expect him to grant our wishes for then he would have to change the whole course of events just to accommodate our wish. This is the understanding we had prior to believing in the Siddhas. If once we thought that life was rigid and fate and destiny were written in stone, coming to the Siddhas we have come to understand that it need not be the case. Fate can be rewritten. A new destiny can be charted together. While only the Siddha can change our fate we have an equal share in charting a new destiny with the Siddhas. It is as simple as following their dictates. Life then begins to flourish. Finally, we arrive at an acceptance of things knowing that "I am not this body. I am this expanse."
The relationship with Agathiyar which started in awe, fear, and devotion, and that turned to respect and honor accepting him as a guru, and later seeing him as a fatherly and motherly figure and often quite unexpectedly turning into that of a friend and buddy soon blossomed into love as in lovers. Sharing this with Acharya Gurudasan from Bangalore last night, he messaged me the following.
"Beautifully put, uncle. They're very playful...And they are happy to play any role in any kind of relationship with sincere disciples...And not just as a formal guru figure.
Watching the short film "Mumbai Varanasi Express" the lead actor writes a note to his children and leaves for Varanasi to await his death as his doctor had diagnosed him as having colon cancer and having the most only two months to live.
He writes, "I have not lived my life. I had only existed. Now I want to live it. Whatever time left I would like to devout to myself." A year passes by. He regains his health and heads back to Mumbai to save his failing business left in charge to his children.
Remembering the words of a co-passenger who alighted at the Surat station on his way to Varanasi back then, he decides to taste the delicacy that was said to be the best in town. Fate has it that he is knocked down and dies, not in Varanasi but in Surat.
This reminds me of a story told where on hearing a knock on his door a man who knew Lord Yama had come for him opens the door. But Lord Yama has a surprised look on his face and leaves without saying a thing. Some time later the man who is now in another country to attend to his business hears a knock on his door and opens it to find Lord Yama standing before him. His life is taken.
Do not rejoice that you have been given an extension or escaped death. It is just that you are not in the right place and time for it to happen as yet. We are a victim of time and space. The Siddhas are beyond both and live forever.
I used to frequent a Chinese vegetarian restaurant in town for my needs since some years back. It was only today that I asked the owner and chef if he was a full-time vegetarian. He replied "No. Only twice a month" which I knew was the night of the full moon and the night when the moon was not in sight. I was so pleased with him that I thanked him. Though he consumed meat on other days he was providing us with genuine vegetarian meals and noodles that are hard to come by these days. And he himself cooks it so tasty. If a vegetarian opens a vegetarian outlet it does not surprise us. But being a meat eater serving us vegetarians was a big deal for me. Then there is someone else who deserves to be praised too. When vegetarians are not given due respect as we see from the menu served where the same pitiful vegetarian dishes are served day in and day out and are there only for the sake of being an accompaniment to other meat dishes in most food outlets we came across someone who ran an outlet in another nearby town, though not completely vegetarian but who catered for vegetarians and only had meat and fish as side dishes in a small quantity and in a small corner of his shop. The Indian owner visits each table to chat and get to know his customers too. Here is a man who respects vegetarians.
We can give numerous reasons to turn into a vegetarian. Many asked me the reason to become one, whether it was for medical reasons or religious beliefs. I had no reason at all. In fact, I just decided to become one overnight. It is 25 years since I became a vegetarian. I am glad I did because I came to know the need to be one if we are to walk the path of the Siddhas and achieve Siddhahood. This was made known to Jnana Jothiamma in her Nadi reading by Agathiyar. As she was molded into one, Agathiyar told her that she had to bear the pain and suffering in expelling the toxin that was accumulated through the years of intake of meat. She was already in her sixties when she came to the path. But her love for Agathiyar and his way gave her strength and courage to go through the torment that resulted as the transformation in her body began to take place. For instance, she shared with me that she was vomiting as many as 32 times a day as her body began to purge and cleanse and purify itself. There was no other way to it. Neither was there any other escape route. So to those who seek to enter the path and reach the destination, it is important that they sustain a meatless diet for it is easier and faster to purify the body right until the very cells. The Asuddha Degam once purified becomes the Suddha Degam. When one is very well into the path and has reached its zenith he does not feed even on grains and greens then. His gross and physical body which itself is meat is transformed into a subtle body. This is the Pranava Degam. Here then we see compassion in its greatest form. As did Ramalinga Adigal's heart cry out seeing the crops wither in the heat of the sun, his compassion went beyond humans and animals and included the plant kingdom too.
Another factor that plays an important part in whether one achieves the desired transformation and state is one's age. If Tavayogi told me that he could not possibly transform his body into light as he was way past his sixties then in 2005, Agathiyar told me the same too that the body cannot bend to the strenuous regime of the transformation that takes place in old age. Hence he has begun to work on the younger generation. Telling a teen to take up yoga he pointed to the fact that he had to work extra hard on a young adult in his thirties to get him to bend his torso. Though the teens are the ideal age where the body is pliable, it is never too late to start as he had asked my father-in-law in his eighties to do the sun salutation pose daily. And turning to me, Agathiyar told me not to disappoint him as he had put in much work trying to get me there. I am grateful to him.
These days as I immerse in joy and bliss that comes on unannounced I wish I could share that with others too. I wish others can share their time doing what I do these days too.
If Andy Williams begins the theme song from the movie "Love Story" with
Where do I begin
To tell the story of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the love she brings to me
Where do I start
so too I ask myself where shall I start to tell the story of my love for Agathiyar?
Though he tells me that we have known each other in many previous lives, sadly I do not remember any. If only he would bring me to these places and have me recall my past births and our relationship then as Mahavatar Babaji showed Lahari Mahasaya. But he did mention them in my Nadi reading. In fact, my present family members were with me in a past birth at Papanasam. My wife and I were trading fruits. My daughter would place a fruit at Agathiyar's feet at this temple. So we are not strangers it seems. In this birth, knocking on my door, he came for me when I was 43 years of age through my very first Nadi reading. He had me knock on the door of Supramania Swami on the pretext of charting my daughter's horoscope and had me discover my first guru in a village some eight kilometers away from the town of Tiruvannamalai. Here too was a bond linked to a previous life and I had to serve Supramania Swami for the short time I knew him before his samadhi in 2007. Passing me a leaflet earlier in 2002 that would have me knock on the door of Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram when he visited Malaysia in 2005, Agathiyar brought us together. Tavayogi on the other hand instead of taking the limelight showed me to Agathiyar, starting a period of courtship of some eighteen years, that has ended in matrimony today.
The love affair goes on each day. We have become inseparable. His love for me overshadows mine. The only difference between our loves is that his love is all-compassing and without conditions, while mine is limited and comes with conditions. I do most of the fighting and tend to throw tantrums like a child most of the time. He on the other hand is very patient and bears all the stomping around that this spoilt kid does. He is a father, mother, guru, friend, wife, and lover. After a 21-year relationship and living in with me now, he tells me he wants to move out and live with Mahindren and his family. I was not saddened but overjoyed that he was now going to fill another devotee's heart and home with his love.
With her first hello
She gave new meaning to this empty world of mine
There'd never be another love, another time
She came into my life and made the living fine
She fills my heart
She fills my heart with very special things
With angels' songs, with wild imaginings
She fills my soul with so much love
That anywhere I go I'm never lonely
With her around, who could be lonely
I reach for her hand, it's always there
How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need her 'til the stars all burn away
And she'll be there
His love was so great that he forgives us for all our stupidity, ignorance, and arrogance. Indeed Agathiyar assured and comforted me that though he was going to move house he would be there for me.
Then a senior devotee tells me not to take his word seriously for he might decide to stay put pointing me to the moment when he decided to stay put in my home instead of leaving for the Raghavendra Mrithiga Brindavanam in Ipoh as originally planned in 2010.
I guess if my heart melted and I teared for him as Engelbert Humperdinck does in the song "A Man Without Love" he might remain at AVM.
I can remember when we walked together
Sharing a love I thought would last forever
Moonlight to show the way so we can follow
Waiting inside her eyes was my tomorrow
Then something changed her mind, her kisses told me
I had no lovin' arms to hold me
Every day I wake up, then I start to break up
Lonely is a man without love
Every day I start out, then I cry my heart out
Lonely is a man without love
Every day I wake up, then I start to break up
Knowing that it's cloudy above
Every day I start out, then I cry my heart out
Lonely is a man without love
I cannot face this world that's fallen down on me
So, if you see my girl, please send her home to me
Dr. Mandayam Kumar from the Siddha Medical Research Institute in Bangalore gives a short narrative about Agathiyar at http://www.tknsiddha.com/medicine/origin/
"Sage Agastya is stated to have been born nearly 5000 years prior to the commencement of Kali Yuga, at a place in Gujarat, as the son of Bhargava and Indumathi who followed the traditional Pasupatha cult which was widely prevalent at that time."
In another article of his, "Siddha Agastya – Foremost of the Siddhas", passed on to me by Nadi Nool Aasan T. Ramesh many years back, Dr. Mandayam gives more details. I have given a summary of it as follows.
The Dr mentions that it was possible to find out details about Agathiyar during the course of literary research on the Siddha medical sciences in a Tamil manuscript written on palm leaves about 3,000 years ago. The text attributed to Lord Muruga is titled "Prapancha Kaandam" and according to the Dr runs into several volumes. Agathiyar narrated the contents while his student Pulastyar recorded it.
The Dr. reveals for the first time the parental heritage of Agathiyar. Agathiyar was said to have been born about 4573 years prior to the commencement of Kali Yuga at a place in Gujarat, in the early hours of Tuesday, 14 February 7673 BC. Belonging to the early Aryan race, his father Bhargava was well-learned while his mother Indumathi was from Punjab. They were both devotees of the Pasupatha order of Rishabha Muni.
Agathiyar had his early education in Gujarat. As his thirst for knowledge in particular on philosophy, yoga, medicine, and astronomy was immense, he traveled all over Kashmir, Tibet, China, Nepal, and Kailas in Manchuria. (Mount Kailas was deemed to be in Manchuria during that time). He became a disciple of Nandi and Dhanvantri. He then traveled towards the south to Cambodia and Malaya (present-day Malaysia). In Cambodia, he established the very first of his many educational institutions for the propagation of philosophy and science. After establishing a similar institution and hospital in Malaya, he crossed the sea to the continent of Kumari Kandam (during Agathiyar’s time, Kumari Kandam occupied a vast area extending from present-day Sri Lanka to the Antarctic. King Ravana, a great devotee of Lord Shiva, who ruled this continent gave away a portion of his kingdom to Agathiyar to establish more institutions. The foremost of these institutions in this region was known as Arunodaya Giri or Meozone. Here Agathiyar practiced Yoga and taught it to his large following of disciples. Agathiyar then went back north to Malaya where he was betrothed to the king’s daughter. He then ruled the kingdom of Vijayapuri. He returned to Kumari Kandam where he met Lord Murugan in the form of Supramaniar at Trikona Malai (present-day Trincomali). At the hill station called Kadari Kama or Kadhirgama, Lord Murugan imparted spiritual knowledge to Agathiyar.
Dr. Mandayam Kumar says Agathiyar could see impending calamities take place in the future during his meditation. As a result, he moved to the North Pole considering it to be a safe place. This period of his move to the Arctic was said to coincide with the end of the Dwapara Yuga placed at about 6580 BC. Just as he had seen an impending calamity and had decided to move north, a tremendous explosion on the planet Mars sends a piece of debris toward Earth. This impact caused a great deluge on Earth. Significant portions of Kumari Kandam submerged into the Indian Ocean. Continental drift then resulted in the present-day arrangement of this region. After the great flood, the Himalayan mountain range emerged in North India.
Amidst all these geographical changes, says the Dr, Agathiyar went seeking a place that would not be affected by future calamities. He located a mountain range in South India. This is the present-day Courtalam. This spot is said to be the safest place and free from any future catastrophes. Agathiyar met Lord Dhakshinamurthi, Shenbaga Devi, and Lord Murugan, at Mahadeva Giri in Courtalam. This meeting also signified the commencement of Kali Yuga. Other Siddhas then started coming to Mahadeva Giri. Lord Dhakshinamurthi revived the knowledge of the Vedas and instructed these Siddhas to propagate this knowledge in the appropriate manner and time for the benefit of humanity. The imparting of this knowledge was said to have taken place on the 21st day of the Tamil month of Kartigai, during the eleventh year, Eswara Samvatsara, of Kali Yuga. Agathiyar gave much importance to this day. All his dating was reckoned from this day.
After extensive discussions held in Alagan Kulam, the Siddhas recorded their knowledge on palm leaves and presented them to Lord Dhakshinamurthi for his perusal. This included the 64 kinds of learning, 18 Puranas, 96 tattvas, and 48 branches of scientific knowledge. Agathiyar on the instruction of Lord Murugan originated the Tamil language. The entire literature in Tamil came to be called "Siddhaveda". It was then translated into the four existing languages of that period which were Sanskrit, Greek, Hebrew, and Chinese.
Bhogar from China (Agathiyar in the Jeeva Nadi revelation to Hanumathdasan of Chennai says Bhogar was from Mongolia), Thaeraiyar from Malaya, Yugimuni from Kerala, Pulipani from Kantha Malai, and Pulastyar, and Kapiyar all served Agathiyar. A conference of Siddhas called Siddhar Sabai was held during the 53rd year, Siddharti Samvatsara, of Kali Yuga at Courtalam. An institution known as Siddhar Gnana Koodam was inaugurated by Lord Murugan and was headed by Agathiyar. Pulastyar and Kapiyar headed the literary section while Pulipani headed research. Thaeraiyar an exponent in surgery headed a medical research center established at Thorana Malai. Yugimuni who was into herbal medicines headed an Ayurvedic hospital at Paradesi Kundai. Bhogar who was in charge of all scientific research established an alchemy research center at Tiruparankundram. Pambatti headed a team researching venom at Marudamalai. After having established these institutions Agathiyar again started on an extensive mission of propagating the wealth of knowledge gained by these Siddhas in Tibet, Manchuria, Egypt, Palestine, Rome, America, Africa, Malaya, and the Arab world.
After satisfactorily completing their mission of propagating the said teachings the Siddhas went into samadhi merging themselves into the cosmos. Supramaniar went into samadhi in Thorana Malai, Bhogar in Palani, Thaeraiyar, Pulipani, and Yugimuni in Kantha Malai and Agathiyar himself choose to come back to Courtalam. He chose a spot called Dhashina Meru in the Pothigai hills. This spot is also the abode of Dhakshinamurthi.
Pa. Kamalakannan in "Cittar Uruvil Shivaperuman", Vanathi Pathippakam, 2007 (Kamalakannan, 2007), says Agathiyar married Yasomadhi from Cambodia. Among his children who ruled the land, Yasovarma became a famous ruler.
P. Karthigayan in his "History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu", quotes Bhogar as having mentioned that Agathiyar was from a family of farmers. This little-known fact was mentioned too by Agathiyar in the Nadi reading for AVM.
P. Karthigayan writes Agathiyar had many mentors including (Lord) Siva and (Lord) Kumaran and an equal number of disciples. Agathiyar in his search for knowledge approached many people from various communities, finally picked up the yogic way, and excelled in it. On achieving the inner glow he took on the name Agathiyar. P. Karthigayan lists out an extensive list of Agathiyar's contributions towards the community and humanity, hence receiving the famed title Gurumuni or great mentor. P. Karthigayan dates Agathiyar's achievements accordingly as pre- and post-Sanga period, whence the establishment of the Sangam or literary academia took place. If during his pre-Sanga days, he was into yogic practices, after the establishment of the Sanga, in his post-Sanga years, he concentrated on medicine and science. He established more Sangams and monasteries, pioneered and promoted the Tamil script and Tamil grammar, collected and compiled the works of the Siddhas and published them, streamlined the Siva faith, and spread the Siddha Marga, and exposed the false teachings, in total bringing a Renaissance. His greatest achievement was his ability to live for four eons, at the time of mention in writing by Bhogar, and still lives among us in present times. Agathiyar is said to have "given rise to 48 generations."
M. Govindan in "Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga tradition", Kriya Yoga Publications, Quebec, Canada, 1991, details Agathiyar's journey as starting at Agastya Ashram near Nasik (Pancavati in ancient times), married King Vidarbha’s daughter Lobhamudra, (mentioned in the Mahabharata), and meet up with Rama. Then his pilgrimage takes him south where he has a residence at Malakuta near Badami (ancient Vatapi Puram or Dakshina Kasi) in the northern part of present-day Karnataka. He then comes further south to the Pothigai Hills. He moves on to the Indonesian islands, the islands of Borneo, and takes up residence in Maha Malaya hill in Malaya Dvipa. He enters Siam (present-day Thailand) and Cambodia where he marries Yasomadhi. They beget a young prince named Yasovarma. Agathiyar is reported to be living until the present day at Courtalam.
Pon. Govindaswamy in his book, "Sirsabaiyum Porsabaiyum", Bharath Book Bureau, 1985, mentions that Agathiyar took birth as Valluvar and gave us the "Tirukural" besides other texts. He mentions that Agathiyar took birth as Ramalinga Adigal in the 19th century and gave us the "Tiruarutpa".
When the south tip had raised after all the Gods and Goddesses, Devas and Devis, Siddhas, Rishis, Munis, and many more deities and divinities gathered at Kailash to witness Lord Shiva's marriage to Goddess Parvathi, Agathiyar was sent to the south to bring about a balance. Pon. Govindaswamy in his book, "Vallalarum Bramagnana Sangamum", Bharath Book Bureau, calls this event where the earth tilted a Mystical Occult Event. This event is mentioned by Tirumular in his Tirumanthiram.
There you have it, the many stories and versions of the origin and travels of Agathiyar according to ancient scrolls, masters, and scholars. Then when curiosity took hold of us and we wanted to know from the horse's mouth, Suren placed the question of Agathiyar's origin before the grandmaster himself in 2017. Agathiyar replied in the Nadi. The story goes as follows.
Agathiyar in his very first mortal birth, had the vision of Kailash at a very young age of 10. After having the vision, he took up extreme tapas (tavam) including breath control. With the holy feet of the Sadguru forever in his thought, he reached a state of Nirmala at Kailash.
Upon receiving theecha from Lord Kailai Shiva, he was blessed to be born a Siddha. It was a mystical birth. Agathiyar adds that it was not necessary to dwell into the source and the details (Rishimulam Nadhimulam).
Born as a Siddha now and moving in the jungles, sustaining only on fruits, his thoughts were fixed on Erai. He soon had the vision and grace of Goddess Vana Kali.
Continuing with his seeking and search for realization and further severe tavam, in Pothigai, Agathiyar came to know about the medicinal benefits of various herbs and plants. Lord Kailai Shiva showed himself in a vision and conferred on him the names Gurumuni, Kudamuni, and Kumbamuni. Though he had merged with Erai, Agathiyar stayed on at Pothigai upon Lord Kailai Shiva's directive. Time went by as Agathiyar went without food, remained in silence, stayed in the state of Vasi, adhered to the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga, and performed extreme tapas for the rest of the Yuga. He gained the Siddhi to travel through the air. Having achieved so much, yet Lord Kailai Shiva told Agathiyar that there was something that he had failed to accomplish and do. When Agathiyar asked for further clarification, Lord Kailai Shiva laugh and looked him in the eye, and said, "Although you are an embodiment of Jnana, and those who hold on to your feet shall never face any disappointments, Gurumuni you do not have a companion as I do." Agathiyar was taken aback. He came to know that the Lord intended to get him engaged to the very representation of Mother Kaveri, and Kaberan's daughter, Lobamutrai. Hence in this Kali Yuga, his energy that was of Shiv Sakthi came to reside at Kalyana Theertam with the intention of blessing all those who saw him and Lobha Ma as a personification of Shiv Sakthi.
All these remind me of Dr. Bhani's speech at a local affiliate of Kallar Ashram. He mentioned a song by Avvai that had three different meanings to three different levels of people at three different periods in life. He shared how a song in praise of Lord Ganapathy that was an expression of love for the deity became a song laced with names of components to make a herbal Siddha concoction when read and understood by a Siddha practitioner. When the Dr. stepped onto the path of Jnana it took on a new meaning. His guru Yogi Ramaiah told him that it was entirely dealing with Jnana.
Similarly, S. Janarthanan in his book "Dhyana Yogam", published by Arulmigu Amman Pathipakkam, Chennai, 1990 mentions the Vinayagar Agaval composed by Auvaiyar as both a song of praise and a song on yoga.
The Tamil Guardian posts at https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/introduction-auvaiyar%E2%80%99s-vinayagar-agaval, carried the following piece that runs parallel to Dr. Bhani's experience and Janarthanan's observation too.
"Auvaiyar’s poem is a many-layered experience of philosophical concepts brought to life via devotional poetry. It begins with contemplation of the external form of God ... The Vinayagar Agaval swiftly moves beyond the contemplation of the feet to the adoration of the face and body of God. Auvaiyar now moves away from the contemplation of external form and the material universe into her metaphysical journey. The poetess explains further her experience of the physical yoga tradition, which is first mentioned in the circa 3000-year-old Rig Veda texts. She refers to the energy centers of the body and energy rivers (“Nadis”) such as the Ida and Pingala. She talks of awakening the “Kundalini” energy source... achieved through meditation and physical yoga, signifying spiritual awakening....leading to immortality and miraculous powers."
We are introduced to these Siddhis,
"The term Siddhanta is also connected to the term “Siddhi”, meaning miraculous gifts and so Siddhanta is the discipline of awakening these gifts. Hence the eight modes are thought to be the eight Siddhis or miraculous powers gained through the awakening of the Kundalini as described in the Tirumantiram text dated circa 500 AD. Auvaiyar’s poem remains in essence devotional, born out of her experience of the divine."
In https://www.alchemywebsite.com/vinayaga.html, Layne Little too equates the song as above.
"At first glance, the work seems conservative enough; as it begins with the traditional contemplation of the god from foot to crown. But it promptly veers off into the domain of the mystic as she invokes Ganesha as the embodiment of Turiya. Turiya, or "the Sleepless Sleep" is a state of deep yogic trance, where the aspirant sleeps to the illusionary and transient realm of gross sense phenomena and wakes to the infinitude of the inner realm."
Avvai accredits her advancement to Lord Vinayar, having moved from Bhakti to Yogam and Gnanam.
Just as the piece from The Tamil Guardian noted that Auvaiyar throughout her Agaval considered wisdom, clarity, bliss, and eternal life all as gifts of God rather than that which is acquired or earned, in https://truthdiveblog.wordpress.com/category/culturereligion/, we learn that, "Avvaiyar assigned everything to the lord as if She has done nothing."
"She (Avvai) proceeds to end the poem by coming back to Bakthi. This Bakthi is a total surrender since Avvaiyar dedicates each and every step she passes in yoga to Vinayagar."
Agathiyar too attained the highest state, that of becoming one with Erai through the grace of Lord Muruga. Continuing His(Story) we refer to Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar's book, "Potrinal Unathu Vinai Agalum Appa", which explains further, the process through which Agathiyar attained the highest state, that of becoming one with Erai. I shall run through a translation of his writing, originally in Tamil, briefly.
This state was granted to Agathiyar by his Guru Supramaniar (Lord Muruga) because Agathiyar had provided the space, shelter, and all comforts for Supramaniar to carry on with his penances (tapas) and austerities (tavam) in a past birth. Agathiyar was 60 years of age then when Supramaniar attained the body of Light through his tapas, thanks to Agathiyar looking after all of Supramaniar's needs. Supramaniar promised Agathiyar that they shall meet in a subsequent birth and that he shall return the favor. Agathiyar mentions that he learned the Siddha way from Supramaniar. Supramaniar granted Agathiyar the body of Light or Jhothi Nilai in a subsequent birth as an appreciation of Agathiyar's service rendered to him and for helping Supramaniar himself achieve his desire in attaining the Jhothi Nilai. In that birth, Agathiyar traveled in vain in search of his ideal guru. As foretold in the earlier birth, Agathiyar eventually met Supramaniar at Kodaikanal, where Supramaniar made him recall the past and as promised in return for all his services in the past birth, blessed Agathiyar and taught him secrets of attaining the state of Erai. This reminds us of how Mahavatar Babaji came for Lahiri Mahasaya to redeem him, showing him his past belongings to trigger his memory of his forgotten past.
Agathiyar began by performing puja to Supramaniar. By way of devotion to Supramaniar he began to realize that he had had the greatest gift which was the human birth, which comes by very rarely. Through Supramaniar he came to know himself and the divinity that resided in the physical body. He understood the very Nature that brought him forth and resided within him. With Supramaniar's guidance and blessings, Agathiyar relished the ambrosia or nectar that came about through his tapas. This removed the seven veils to reveal the Jhothi in him, hence attaining the body of Light. With this came Bliss, Siddhis, and the state of Deathless-ness. Agathiyar attained the five nature or Tanmai of Erai namely Creation, Sustenance, Destruction, Veiling, and Showering Grace. Supramaniar granted Agathiyar the title Gurumuni and Kumbamuni and sent him off to spread the Siddha way extensively all over the globe, bringing many into his fold. All the Siddhas soon looked upon Agathiyar as their Guru. Later at the Tamil Sangam Agathiyar presented before the assembly of Gods and Goddesses, the Sages, Siddhas, Rishis, and Munis, the Five Tenets that defined man's purpose in taking birth.
This is my 21st year of worship to Agathiyar. It is not much to shout about given the number of years of their lives others have devoted to his worship. But it gives me tremendous joy in having him at my side these days. What started off as fear and devotion towards him turned into that of respect to the guru. That too took a turn as he brought on a father-son relationship and soon that of a friend and buddy. How was this possible?
I began to immediately worship Agathiyar and the Siddhas in my home when asked to do so in my very first Nadi reading in 2002. I only knew them by name then reciting from a small booklet passed on to me by the Nadi reader Senthilkumar and a picture that I received from Sivabalan who hosted the Nadi readings in his home which is the present-day Agathiyar Shelter. Since 2005 when Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal came into my life as a Siddha guru in physical form, traveling with him on the path of the Siddhas, I began to see Agathiyar from his perspective too. When I asked him the day I arrived at his Kallar Ashram, how Agathiyar came to him, he revealed that it was in the form of Jothi or as a Light. Just before leaving his ashram and heading back home, he revealed that Agathiyar was the very breath or Vaasi in us. Later over the years when a devotee went into a state of coma and survived, Agathiyar told the devotee through a Nadi reading that he had saved the devotee by breathing into him. This reminds us of Genesis 2:7-22 - "Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."
When we stepped out of the famed Nattadreswar temple in the middle of the Kaveri River in 2013, Tavayogi turned to me and said that Agathiyar was (Lord) Siva.
Agathiyar tells us that usually, they do not dwell on the origin and source of their birth, brushing it aside as unimportant to us. True, but it's often the curiosity in us and the thirst to know, that prompts us for answers to life's mysteries. As I answered my cousin, who knew I was into the worship of Agathiyar and the Siddhas, asked me for confirmation on several stories about Agathiyar that he knew, I replied that it is of no importance to me as I know he is with us, guiding us and caring for us. We feel his presence often and he has worked out miracles in our lives. That is sufficient for now. In recent years as Agathiyar began to come to us through his devotees, he revealed that he was the Prapanjam and was the very vibration in all things. Indeed this strong energy and its vibration has been traversing through me continuously since this morning. Aum Agatheesaya Namaha.
Is god for real or a figment of our imagination? If someone were to ask me if I had seen Agathiyar what would I say?
Though he has shown an Australian of Chinese origin and Gnana Jothiamma of his presence as a vision either standing tall till the ceiling height of my prayer room to the former or coming out of the room and walking by in the dead of the night to the latter, neither me nor my family has seen these miracles. Neither has Agathiyar whom we know as depicted come in my dreams.
So how can I say for sure that he is there? Why I am holding on to something that I have not seen nor touched, holding on to someone who is not in flesh and blood? I have no answers. The truth is that though he has not appeared in such form that he has been depicted in paintings and statues, I have seen his presence either coming through his Nadi as words of revelations, as speech coming through other individuals, as an energy both in me and others, as the breath and as the vibration in us. Today true to his words he comes as the Prapanjam touching the very core of our beings. If during our family visit to Doddabetta in Ooty in 2013, we were chilled to the bone as the cold wind blew, these days his very presence does the same. The top of the head or crown to be precise is chilled and cold and swirls. The sensation of a rod being pushed in is pretty obvious at times. As I look for answers to this phenomenon taking place, http://www.ramalinga.com sort of gives a possible hint.
"These great saints saw a Column of Light rising above the Sahasrara up to the Divinity, ... one must make an effort to ascend to the Divinity, ...... on having been settled in the Column of Light one does not need to continue doing this effort, but from this time the Divinity descends on oneself. The one in whom the Column of Light is settled enjoys the continual experience of the Divinity, who, on having descended, resides in one's own Heart (as shining Sun) and fills with Himself the whole Being gradually, even the physical body (which, cell by cell, is completely transmuted up to becoming divine). At first, the above-mentioned experience has not the same intensity all the time. Moved by His great Compassion, God takes the maximum care of the possible aftereffect in the physical body and that's why He is alternating the intensity to manifest Himself as Divine Light. Sometimes His resplendence is very soft whereas on other occasions It becomes the most intense, seeming that one is going to be melted in It. This experience of God fills the Self with Divine Love and Compassion, which overflow from the Heart like a river flowing endlessly toward other beings. Little by little, God is increasing by degrees the intensity of Light and one is becoming accustomed to it until the time comes when God manifests Himself wholly. Then the Column of Light shines from beginning to end with Its entire splendor. It isn’t visible, except on very rare occasions."
If we took food to appease hunger in the past, this very food gives extreme joy when consumed now. It goes beyond the taste buds to the very core of the cells. If having the food placed before us itself was fulfilling in the past, these days the invitation to have lunch or dinner itself brings on vibes and energy. The essence of the food is imbibed instantaneously. I guess this answers both my two-year and six-year-old granddaughters' question if god ate the food, served when they prepared food with their mother to offer to the gods recently. Similarly, I ask myself when I bathe Agathiyar each evening with water that has been kept outdoors in the sun, why am I drenched in coldness too.
The hearing too has deepened. I have become sensitive to the slightest sound. Every sound is amplified. I have begun to hear beyond closed doors, windows and walls which is quite disturbing too.
There was a moment back in time when I used to have a sudden fear come over me in the middle of the night that woke me up from sleep. Nothing I do helps to avert the fear. Finally, I go looking for my wife. Only when she places her arms around me will the fear subside and I can go back to sleep.
Much of what took place earlier has been shared in detail in my earlier postings including at http://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2023/03/kundalini.html?m=1
Agathiyar told me that there was nothing to do henceforth when I asked him earlier if there were any further practices to be adopted when he spoke about the changes and the state I was in. He referred me to Tavayogi asking if he did anything. From actively searching for answers to life's mysteries he sent me into hibernation for some 14 years. Having shed all means to understand the unfathomable he filled me up with new-found activities and knowledge of his picking and choice after his calling through the Nadi in 2002. In 2019 he brought an end to all these activities and knowledge too and brought us to experience the results and reap the benefits of the years of patronage of him and his ways.
If in the past, as the Siddhas hid it as paripasai in their songs, life's mysteries were indeed a well-kept secret and heads of missions and gurus too kept it a closely guarded secret only shared to deserving students, after the coming of Ramalinga Adigal it all came out into the open. The saint tells us that even the commoner could achieve unknown and previously unreachable heights through devotion and compassion. Agathiyar too in asking me to write about the changes taking place in me, what I would consider as measly and minute, in comparison to the many stories I read and hear, wants me to share with readers of this blog the possibilities out there on this journey of homecoming.
Elsewhere stories are told of saints and their conversations with god, not in their dreams, but in real-time. For instance, we read about Abhiramipattar whose devotion moved and made the Goddess Goddess Sri Abhirami alter the course of the events in a mysterious manner. It was the Tamil month of Thai, an Ammavasai night, or the night when the moon is not visible when King Sarobhoji, ruler of the kingdom of Tanjai on returning from Kaveripumpattinam stopped over at Thirukadavur to have a darshan of Lord Sri Amudhakadaysar and Goddess Sri Abhirami. Abhiramipattar was lost in deep meditation at the temple then. The king who noticed the devotion of Abhiramipattar inquired about him from the locals. They briefed the king about Abhiramipattar. The king entered the inner sanctum to offer his prayers. But the king could not bring himself to focus on his prayers as the image of Abhiramipattar stood in front of him. The king came out to the temple grounds and stood before Abhiramipattar. Wanting to test him, the king asked what was the tithi that day, knowing pretty well that it was Ammavasai. Abhiramipattar who was engrossed in the beauty of the Goddess shared what he saw. "A full moon" he replied. The king believed that Abhiramipattar was a lunatic just as the villagers saw him. He left the premises. Upon coming out of his tapas Abhiramipattar was informed of what had transpired earlier. Abhiramipattar regretted having lied to the king while in deep meditation. He believed this incident proved that indeed he was a lunatic in the eyes of the king and his subjects. He dug up a large pit and set a fire going. He hung precariously over the fire on a platform held by ropes. He prayed that the goddess should clear his name or he shall die in the flames. Abhiramipattar began singing the first verse of what was to become the Abhirami Andhathi, "உதிக்கின்ற". As he completed each verse he cut into the ropes that held him afloat. When he sang the 79th verse, "விழிக்கே", the Goddess appeared before him. She let afloat her Tadangam or earring into the sky. To everyone's amazement, it took the shape of a full moon. She spoke, "What you unknowingly uttered I have made materialize. Complete the Andhathi." Thus continued Abhiramipattar with "கூட்டிய வா". Abhiramipattar sang another twenty verses to complete the Abhirami Andhathi. The king and the locals realized that they had misjudged Abhiramipattar and asked for forgiveness. This story is based on his life story as written in The Little Flower Company's publication of the Sri Abhirami Andhathi in Tamil.
Another story is told of yet another saint from Tanjai, Nandanar who was obsessed with going to Chidambaram. When others ask him when he would visit Chidambaram, he would reply "Naalai" or tomorrow. Hence Thiru Naalai Pohvaar became his name in later years when he was seen as a saint. Giving in to his persistence one day his landlord commanded him to till the 40 acres of land before he was allowed to visit the Lord at Chidambaram the next day. How is that possible Nandanar asked of his master who never had the intention to see him go. In the movie of the same name, Nandanar is shown falling to the ground, weeping, and thinking over the impossible task imposed on him. Upon waking up he is surprised to see the feat done and what's more ready for harvest. He was granted permission to visit Chidambaram finally. Arriving at the temple he hesitated to enter it. Three days passed by. He had a dream where the Lord instructs him to walk over fire and at the same time the temple priests dream of his arrival. He was paraded through the streets and eventually vanished into the inner chamber.
How is it that inherent laws of nature are bent and logic is defeated in the case of saints? Is it the degree of devotion that they carry that breaks these rules? We do not have the answers. To answer them would shut the doors to other possibilities. That would become the norm and accepted truth henceforth. I guess that is the reason the Siddhas do not reveal much. Instead, they want us to experience. Only our own experience carries weight for we have been there, touched it, and came out unscathed and alive to tell the story. We have shared some of these miracles in the numerous posts of this blog for your perusal. This blog in fact is a telling of our stories.
We are feeling the heat literally speaking. What the worlds scientist had warned about has come to our shores too. The scorching heat at times has become unbearable. This is due to global warming and the melting of the ice elsewhere we are told. Dust too is everywhere and to think that we are inhaling it brings us shivers. Trash is thrown around indiscreetly that ends up in our rivers. When there are souls combating and addressing these issues giving a whole lifetime of theirs in saving this world others are blind to the outcome of their undesirable actions. Television networks and production companies have spent much time and money researching and filming and producing documentaries to educate us on where we are heading. But I wonder how many watch these wonderful films that bring awareness to us of the dangers that we have brought onto ourselves. I wonder if our politicians and lawmakers watch them too? At least they will learn a thing or two. Rather than saving this world, we have ventured to scout for other worlds that support life. A devotee told me that her movement was preparing to move to Mars. I asked myself "What for? To bring our bad habits along and pollute those worlds too?" The movie Avatar and its sequel depicts man's greed to mine and turn minerals into cash and his seek to venture to other worlds. In doing so he destroys the habitats and people living there. History tells us that the past empires too traveled to faraway lands and crossed the seas in search of treasures. Though many adopted the ways of the indigenous, many others brought destruction and wiped out the cultures and traditions, beliefs, and faith of the people of these lands that they conquered and ruled. But I guess at one point in time in their lives they did realize their mistakes and changed their ways and redressed the situation. If they did not their generations did heal the wound. So did Agathiyar reveal one of the many pasts births in my Nadi that of being a Namboothri priest in Kerala. I had hurt and tormented many but towards the end of my life, I regretted my actions and repented. Hence I took another birth. In addressing my deeds and actions in this life Agathiyar pardoned me saying that it was all his doing and that he wanted me to have those experiences too. When Goddess Ma came through a devotee at AVM the first time she surprised us by telling us that the Siddha path was one of learning from experience. I guess it is all a part of learning. Hence man finds himself learning throughout his life. The idea is to correct himself and move up further on the ladder of evolution. But sadly some neither change nor move up the ladder. Many live a mundane life hardly wondering what their purpose in life was. Is it only to fill our bellies and enjoy the pleasures of life? Is it only to care for the self and turn blind to the plight of others?
I too would like to lead a purposeful life. But even at 63 years of age, I am wondering what that is. Looking back I have traveled through all the usual run-of-the-mill phases in life. Nothing extraordinary. I had no ambitions or desires in life. Like many others, I never gave any thought to where I was heading. I was content with my job and family. I kept to myself and my hobbies most of the time. Though I had attempted to know certain facets of life like religion, custom, and tradition that posed numerous questions back then in the eighties, Lord Shiva in a dream ended my search for answers then. After a 14-year period of hibernation and letting go of all things learned from the books and through discussions, I was again an empty vessel ready to receive the practical ways of the Siddhas. Coming before the Nadi in 2002, I saw my life change. Agathiyar in going through my past lives, educated me on the subject of karma. Now I knew what was right and wrong or rather what brings on birth and rebirth and feeds the cycle of samsara. I had to be on the lookout totally aware of my actions now. I had to mend my ways lest I fall victim and prey to this vicious cycle. So then I learned that the idea of coming here was to break this cycle. Today as I listen to the songs of the saints the truth dawns, and the way to attain it is clearly shown by them. The ways are rather simple. It is because they are simple and easy to follow that man ignores them. He expects ways, means, and methods that are gargantuan, willing to spend money and time on them.
Ramalinga Adigal for instance promises a tried and tested way to end this cycle. He invites us all to step into his fold through his song "Gnana Sariyai".
....மரணமிலாப் பெருவாழ்வில் வாழ்ந்திடலாம் கண்டீர்
புனைந்துரையேன் பொய்புகலேன் சத்தியஞ்சொல் கின்றேன்
பொற்சபையில் சிற்சபையில் புகுந்தருணம் இதுவே.
Ramalinga Adigal flushes down the drain all our past learnings, knowing, seeing, tasting, and hearings, as wasteful matters. Knowing this he invites us to Chitrambalam the sacred chamber within our hearts.
This is an open invitation from the saint to join forces with him to combat illness and old age, He is willing to show us the way if only we lend an ear. First, we bring him into our homes after the phase of visiting him and seeing him as residing in the images in the temples. Once we begin to carry out home worship God comes to reside in our homes with us. Soon the external puja too subsides as we realize that he has moved in and within our hearts and soul. Ramalinga Adigal describes beautifully what happens when God comes within us.
... வரைந்துவரைந் தெல்லாஞ்செய் வல்லசித்தன் தானே
வருகின்ற தருணம்இது வரம்பெறலாம் நீவீர்
கரைந்துகரைந் துளம்உருகிக் கண்களின்நீர் பெருகிக்
கருணைநடக் கடவுளைஉட் கருதுமினோ களித்தே.
If rituals and puja draw the bridge to the other world and God steps into our homes, when God comes within he draws the bridge to experience the Prapanjam.
...ஆமயந்தீர்த் தியற்கைஇன்ப அனுபவமே மயமாய்
அம்பலத்தே விளங்குகின்ற அருட்பெருஞ்சோ தியைஓர்
ஓமயவான் வடிவுடையார் உள்ளகத்தே நிறைந்த
ஒருபொருளைப் பெருங்கருணை உடையபெரும் பதியை
நாமருவி இறவாத நலம்பெறலாம் உலகீர்
நல்லஒரு தருணம்இது வல்லைவம்மின் நீரே.
Ramalinga Adigal says he shares his divine experiences for our sake to see all unite with him.
Several of my friends were surprised to see that I was prepared to let Agathiyar in the form of the bronze statue at AVM go. Agathiyar had asked me to hand his statue over to Mahindren earlier. Meanwhile while awaiting the day he had asked that I bathe him daily with water. I have to thank my gurus who showed me by example the principle of non-attachment. Since day one when I met Tavayogi at a local affiliate Peedham of his he stopped me from falling at his feet and instead showed me to Agathiyar's feet. I took hold of Agathiyar's sandals and feet that were right by his side that day.
Inviting him over to my home as many others invited him to grace their homes, I was elated at the thought of having a sadhu step into my home. I never had a visitation from any sages, saints, gurus, or masters until then. As I was immersed in extreme joy and verbally exhibited it, to my disappointment he doused the flame outright. It was a blow to me. I did not understand what had happened. What did I do wrong I asked myself. But I stood by him as Agathiyar had told me in my Nadi that he was my guru in the physical form. I am glad I stayed and never left. I am glad I heeded Agathiyar's words. It has paid in the long run. Tavayogi stopped me from worshipping his mortal form and frame and instead showed me to Agathiyar.
Inviting me to his ashram and following Agathiyar's directive to spend a few days with him indeed as Agathiyar mentioned in the Nadi I learned to let go. It was my first lesson in letting go and in giving instead. When Suresh from Tiruvannamalai asked him about the Rudraksha bead that he had with him, Tavayogi gave his consent to wear it on him. Later turning to me he told me "We do not need them, my son". When he saw me wear a nine gem-studded gold ring on my finger he told me the same. Now revealing to him that I was also wearing a Rasamani on me he told the same that we did not need it. He broke my hold on my attachment to all accessories that I adored.
When I got word of my first guru Supramania Swami's demise, I asked Tavayogi what I should do as a disciple of his, he told me to do nothing, and just to pray that his soul is placed in an elevated state. Agathiyar came in the Nadi later that week and revealed that it was true that Supramania Swami had attained samadhi and was placed in the right spot on the Girivalam route in Tiruvannamalai instead of his wish to be buried at his kudil. When Tavayogi and later my mother passed away it was pretty easy to let them go as I was prepared well by Tavayogi to let go of my hold and attachments even on my gurus and mother. I understood that the Siddhas break us first and reassemble us later.
So when Agathiyar tells me that he has to move house to work his wonders in Mahindren's home and attend to those who shall drop by there I was happy and accepted his wish to continue to serve his devotees further. I immediately packed his things and awaited his directive. He came and asked me what was the hurry. He tells me that he has to prepare both me and Mahindren first and asked me to be patient. When I told him that I was ready to leave too, he tells me that he has to execute certain things through me and asked that I be patient. Though the Siddhas are beyond time-space there is very little they can do for us but to have us wait its course as we are caught in the web of time and space and everything has its time and place.
We need to know why we are here. We need to understand the game here. All that we are and see are made of Tattvas. It is by way of these tattvas that we gain insight into the truth of our being and the reason to be here. From the gross, we move back into the subtle from whence we came forth. I have come to understand that this is the true journey as hinted by Tavayogi to me when I took my very first step following him places, though I thought it was the external journey and pilgrimage that he meant then. Many years later Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal came to ask that I read up on the tattvas that Tavayogi had written about in his book "Andamum Pindamum". In understanding these tattvas that give form to all of creation we are brought to understand the subtler breath and energies that traverse through the gross. Eventually, the inner journey takes us to come face to face with our soul. But the play of the divine is such that besides creating, sustaining, and destroying all of his creation he does veil them too and have us seek and search and comes to draw the veil aside with his grace later. If earlier we saw his creation and later saw him in all of creation when His grace falls on us we merge in him. From the many, we arrive at The One. To come to this realization the physical body has to serve the soul through acts of high virtue that add on merits, and avoid the vices, to garner a better and higher birth in the scheme of evolution.
Manickavasagar in his திருவாசகம்/போற்றித் திருவகவல், sings that there are unseen energies that veil us (ஆறு கோடி மாயா சக்திகள் வேறு வேறு தம் மாயைகள் தொடங்கின). Once this veil is drawn aside by the grace of God one realizes that all that he believed existed were false and that they only seemed real in this realm of illusion or maya, just as a dream would seem real to us in sleep. On coming face to face with truth, reaching the source that is Sivan, we settle back into our original potential state until an unexhausted desire or vasana carried over has to see the light of the day and justifies another birth. When the partnering associates come together and agree upon that it is then time to reincarnate in the world to see through the fruition of these desires, we are born in this world again in another body and take on another journey walking through the maze of life.
As Agathiyar brought us to release our hold on Sariyai and Kriyai and slowly led us to go within, he told me that there was a need to learn about the உடற்கூறு தத்துவம் first, before we could step into Yogam, asking me to refer to Tavayogi's "Andamum Pindamum" and "Atma Gnanam".
மனிதனான ஜீவனிடம் அனுபவமும் சிந்தனையும் கூடி அறிவு பெருக்கம் ஏற்பட்டு தன் காரண நிலை நாடி ஆராயும் போது புறநிலை நாடி ஆராயும் பொது அந்நிலையில் தத்துவ விளக்கம் ஏற்படுகிறது, wrote Tavayogi. Translated it means that with sufficient experiences and inquisition comes a flood of knowledge. Researching the subtle unseen causes and their effects that are visibly seen in the external, clarification of the tattvas arises.
பரமாணுவினால் பஞ்சபூதம் உண்டானது. இவ்வுலகம் ஐம் பெரும் பூத அணுக்களால் ஆனது. இந்த ஐம்பூத அணுக்களில் உள்ள ஒவ்வொரு அணுவிலும் 96 தத்துவங்கள் அமைந்துள்ளன. இந்த தத்துவங்களே மனித சரீரத்தில் செயல்படுகின்றன. From the first atom, the Paramanu, the Panchabhutam, or 5 others, came forth, writes Tavayogi. The world emerged from these 5 atoms coming together. Each atom carried 96 Tatvas. These Tatvas function in our bodies too.
The Siddhas are known to have recorded their knowledge of the 64 kinds of learning, 18 Puranas, 48 branches of scientific knowledge and the said 96 tattvas naming it Siddhaveda, after extensive discussions held amongst them at Alagan Kulam and presenting their work to Lord Dhakshinamurthi for his perusal says P.Karthigayan in his well-researched book, "History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu", Notion Press, 2016.
He mentions that these 96 principles tattvas animate us on life's stage, eventually ending their act, leaving and going their way at the end of the divine play. While Karthigayan classifies these 96 principles as being divided into internal and external or as the soul and the body, with 36 in the former and 60 in the latter, Tavayogi classifies them into three distinct groups, first 30, second 30, and last 36, grand total 96.
As the body is relative to the universe around us, a study of the former will justify a study of the cosmos too. Tavayogi gives us an idea of how creation took place in his "Andamum Pindamum" and "Atma Thathuvam". He quotes Supramaniar Gnanam 32 where it is revealed that at the beginning there was Sivan. From it emerged a sound. The vibration that resulted was Sakti. This first vibration created from the first sound was known as Akaaram. The vibratory waves that sustained this first sound came to be called Ukaaram. Maakaaram was the field that helped contain these vibratory sounds. The three came together as "that", which was to become the source of all creation, known as AUM. From that sound emerged Sivam or a spark, light, (or the divine spirit, says Karthigayan), neither with a form nor formless.
From https://www.ananda.org/yogapedia/aum/ we learn the same that "AUM is the vibration by which the Supreme Spirit brings all things into manifestation. Paramhansa Yogananda has explained that everything - all matter, all energy, all thoughts - exists in AUM." We read further that "AUM, therefore, encompasses the three vibratory energies required to create, preserve, and destroy, and each of these energies vibrates at a different frequency. The three letters of AUM represent these three vibrations inherent in creation.
In the context of Yogam, it is interesting to note that Akaaram is linked to the left eye and Ukaaram to the right. Tavayogi explains that the breath that flows through the left nostril is known as Akaaram and that running through the right nostril is Ukaaram, creating vibrations in Edakala and Pingala respectively. These Nadis vibrate creating further ripple-like vibrations, called Maakaaram, in the midst of the head. The spot where these three sounds and their related vibrations congregate is known as Suzhumunai. Agathiyar tells us to hold our breath in Kumbakam just sufficiently long enough to chant the first Diksa mantra.
If Tavayogi uses the terms Sivan, Sivam, and Sakti and Akaaram, Ukaaram, and Maakaaram, KR Sivakanthan in his "Sittargal Tathuvamum Yoga Neri Muraigalum", Tirunelveli Then India, Saiva Sitthantha Noor Pathippu Kazhagam, Chennai, 2003, in writes that all the above came forth from the Paraparam and Param. He speaks about the many other manifestations of the source. Creation began in Paraparam from which Param emerged. From Param came forth Sivan. Sakti emerged from it later, followed by Naatham. Vinthu emerged from Naatham subsequently. Sadasivam arosed from Vinthu, and Maheswaran from Sadasivam. Uruthiran emerged from Maheswaran, while Vishnu from Uruthiran, and Brahmam from Vishnu. Brahmam gave birth to the Panchabhootas, which came about or evolved from each other. The five elements saw their beginning from the sky, from which came forth the element air. This gave rise to fire. Water emerged from the fire, and earth from water. Finally, man, animals, birds, plants, mountains, and rivers rose from the earth. The reverse takes place at the end of the cycle, all returning to the form from which they came forth. Hence the body too is a product of these five elements made in the ratio 1 1/2 part earth; 1 1/4 water; 1 part fire; 3/4 air; and 1/2 sky totaling 5 in any given circumstances. The body that is a composite of these five elements in their respective and ideal ratios sustains itself and remains in good health if we take heed of this ratio. The Siddhas remind us to ensure the ratio of these elements is maintained well to prevent ailment and in the worst case - death. In the absence of water, the earth will fill its space; in the absence of fire the water will take its place; in the absence of air, the fire will consume its place; and in the absence of sky, the air will occupy its space, creating chaos in the body. When the sky is replaced with a vacuum, death occurs. All our aspirations and desires including that of merging with the divine are only possible with the aid of this body. Hence we can understand the determined efforts of the Siddhas to preserve the body and attain immortality.
An opportunity is given for us to make good the present life and change our ways while alive, failing which we pay for it or enjoy the perks in the afterlife in the astral planes, and come back to repent and rectify the remaining faults or exhaust the vasanas and desires that take on a new appearance known as karma, fate, and destiny in yet another birth.
How can then one watch 24/7 over these tattvas? Through watching the breath, say the Siddhas. For this purpose, they delivered Astanga Yoga and delivered the means to Kaya Siddhi, or physical immortality or the deathless physical state. Here then is the secret remedy to keep away death, for as long as we are aware of this ratio and maintain it, death that is only at arm's length can only watch us. The late Dr.Krishnan once told me that the body had the ability to heal itself. For others, they need assistance from the Prapanjam. Similarly, the Prapanjam too seeks our aid to renew itself as Lord Shiva and Prapanjam herself requested of us in the troubled times of the recent pandemic. Further possibilities are shown in the movie "Avatar" and "Avatar - The Way of Water."
The body becomes a receptacle for cosmic energy just as it stores physical energy that is called on when the need arises. Karthigayan writes, "They (the Siddhas) devised a systematic method for storing these physical and cosmic energies by attaining an appropriate body first and then attracting the cosmic force into it with the help of the mind."
As we are part of the universe too, the physical body resonates with these vibrations, functioning effectively. Agathiyar tells us that he is this very vibration. To connect with the Prapanjam one has to rise to this state of vibration. It is a journey back home to the source. Since one formula would not work out for all of humanity the wise of the olden days had us engage in Sariyai, Kriyai, and Yogam to arrive finally at the state of Gnanam. Gnanam is the dawn of divine knowledge that burns all our earlier readings and false knowledge to ashes, recreating truth from these ashes. The tattvas are the bridge to this knowledge. Once we reach the other shore the bridge is burned down. But the saints do land a hand to us to cross this river of ignorance and bring us ashore to the kingdom of truth.
Every guru in present times has a flaw, a weakness, a sin, or a secret I suppose. But the divine for lack of vessels makes do with what he has. Every genuine saint has admitted to their shortfalls before the all-knowing almighty who sets aside these flaws and sees the bigger picture. In wanting to make me one too, one of their kind, the kind and compassionate Agathiyar was willing to forego all my faults in the stars and redeemed me to carry out his tasks. I know pretty well what I have done in all the years I walked this earth but yet he took on the blame telling me that it was his doing and that I needed the experiences from those distasteful episodes in my life. He was prepared to forgive me asking me to forgive myself first. That is the magnitude of love and compassion of the divine.
Even as he prepares me I tell him that I do not want it. Since day one I never lusted for the treasures that he wanted to bestow on me. I knew I was not worthy to receive them. I had flaws in me that shall one day take on a Viswarupam or emerge to destroy the very fortress that the Siddhas have helped shape. I had to be truly pure in all ways before receiving their gift of position and the authority that comes with it. I had to have divine wisdom and knowledge before I step into their shoes. I cannot possibly take on the role without enhancing my true nature. I need to know about the body, the breath, and the soul and all the tattwas associated with them.
At present, I fall out in many ways. I can never meditate to this day. I have never had out-of-this-world visits and visions as many have reportedly had in times of meditation. I have no experience of astral travel. I do not even know my own soul. I am still caught in the realm of tattwas. I have to free myself from the grips of the five tattwas earth, fire, water, air, and space. I have to have the divine knowledge of creation and my role and purpose in it.
Only after knowing all these and more can I possibly take on the role and responsibilities that come with it. Only when I am flawless can I not be felled for then I shall be a representative, apostle, messenger, and conduit of theirs.
This is the age of social media where we raise our kids and also the kundalini watching videos and learning from books and the net. Gone are the days when we had our grandparents staying with us or vice versa to pass on their wisdom and knowledge. Similarly for lack of genuine gurus, the false and unbaked have mushroomed overnight to fill their places. Everybody wants to have a say or voice an opinion in social gatherings these days. Everybody is a doctor now too dishing out advice whether it is called for or not. But who shall take ownership of any disaster that arises from our advice? The world around us is filled with so much information for it is the age of information too. It is for us to vet through and relate the signs to our personal experiences before following further. All this information cannot possibly replace a guru or mentor as who do we seek if things go wrong? A guru or mentor too has to be available at all times and be around when we need him. A guru has to be accessible at all times. He cannot possibly initiate a student and leave for the Himalayas for where or who would the student turn to in times of confusion or danger arising from the advice or practices? Similarly, the student should not receive initiation from visiting gurus or masters or those passing by for the same reasons.
Though I "happen" to land at the doorstep of my very first guru Supramania Swami not knowing that he was to be my guru until I left his humble cottage in a small village some eight kilometers away from the town of Tiruvannamalai towards my hotel in town, I figured later that he was the guru that Agathiyar had hinted I shall meet in my very first Nadi reading read months earlier. There was no formal initiation during the five hours I spent with him though he spoke about his five gurus and revealed my life without looking into the horoscopes or charts. Today I understand pretty well the nature and how he could reveal my life then. He connected with the Prapanjam and tapped into the future. Today Agathiyar tells me to connect with the Prapanjam too, for all knowledge is available in it he says. A wonderful relationship and bond were created that day in 2003 that is still intact even after Supramania Swami left his mortal frame in 2006. Meanwhile, Agathiyar sent a guru to our shores in 2005 whom I recognized from a leaflet that I had received from the Nadi reader and kept with me since 2002. Yet another wonderful relationship blossomed between a guru and a student. Upon initiating me and my wife and others into the path of the Siddhas, I followed behind him to his ashram in Kallar upon his invitation and Agathiyar's command in the Nadi. Tavayogi did not pass on techniques or bookish knowledge but instead led me on an adventure that I had never dreamed of till then. If Agathiyar had me leave my daily regime of family and work to take my maiden flight to India on the pretext of carrying out parikaram or atonement for my wrong deeds through carrying out rituals and pilgrimages of temples in 2003, he had Tavayogi take me to his abodes and sacred places exposing me to an entirely new facet of life that of the Siddhas. It was only after two years of apprenticeship that Tavayogi passed on, in the words of Agathiyar, a treasure in the form of asanas and pranayama techniques to follow. Tavayogi saw himself only as a tool in the hands of the Siddhas and never proclaimed himself a guru. He had doused off the fire and flame that began to arise in me the day he stepped into my home after I invited him for the first time. He gave me a thrashing for looking up to him as a guru. Instead, he showed me to Agathiyar and asked me to hold on to him. Indeed in the times and days when I had to endure bodily pains, Agathiyar was there for me dishing out advice and remedies through his Nadi. Agathiyar and the other Siddhas guided me with diet and further practices. Tavayogi stepped aside leaving the Siddhas to attend to me. These were all only possible by connecting with them through rituals, worship, and puja. The bridge was laid for the Siddhas to travel into our homes and lives through worship of the Siddhas. Today even after the passing of both my gurus the Siddhas look after our affairs. Imagine if I had held on to Tavayogi's physical form and adored and worshipped him, I would have been lost after his demise as many find themselves in this predicament after the death of their gurus.
Just as Donkey keeps asking Shrek and Fiona in the movie Shrek 2, "Are we there yet" and is told "No, Donkey! Not yet" numerous times and told that they were heading for "The Kingdom of Far, Far Away" and told again that "That's where we're going. Far, far away!", and similarly just like little Tuk in "Avatar - The Way of Water", asks Jake Sully and Neytiri, who leave their kind to seek refuge with the reef people, the Metkayina clan, "Are we there yet?" as it took so long a journey, I too have asked Agathiyar if "I was there yet?" He replied "Not yet" but added that I shall eventually reach the destination. That is the compassion and love of Agathiyar to one who though blind to the ways of the Siddhas, the flame in us is kept alive by him. Meanwhile, while awaiting the day when he shall bring the full force of the Prapanjam down he has tasked me to bathe him daily. Only then shall he move house and no sooner, he told. Is his kingdom "The Kingdom of Far, Far Away" then? So where is this kingdom then? For the matter where is the realm of those who pass away? I believe it is very close, just a step away. Just a call away.
Mataji Sarojini who is heading the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham now after Tavayogi left his mortal frame, was sitting at his samadhi in the ashram grounds. She was asking him why he left her such a huge responsibility and wished that he was around. That is when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to look. No one was in sight. Almost immediately she heard the voice of Tavayogi reassuring her that he was with her.
Dhanvantri too in coming to address us after Tavayogi went into samadhi told us that he was with us in the form of light. Tavayogi himself has addressed us several times coming through devotees.
When he passed on, a devotee in South Africa, had a dream. Lord Shiva was ferrying Tavayogi and several others clad in white across the waters heading for land where stood a majestic hill. Atop the hill, sages were going on doing their chores.
It was reported that Bhagawan Ramana entered the holy hill of Arunachala and witness a spectacular world within it. His description of this world was portrayed closely in the movie "Baba". Bhagawan later had the entrance to this sanctuary closed.
Agathiyar revealed of the Siddhas staying in the ground several feet down in the Nadi of the famed Jeeva Nadi guru from Chennai, Hanumathdasan.
If we had seen saints from India taking the leap into a portal to the other world in the likes of Manikavasar, Sambandar, Sundarar, and many others in the past, in recent times a tale is told of how Esakhi Siddhar of Tiruvannamalai held on to the hands of a lad, invited him to his world. Both Vimalan and Suresh who had attended the Pornami puja at Kallar invited me to their hometown of Tiruvannamalai during my visit to India in 2005. Once there I called them over to Supramania Swami's kudil. They invited Swami and me to a Sivan temple. There they introduced me to this lad. It seems he had come upon the dilapidated temple and taken up the task of cleaning it and lighting a lamp. He stayed back to become its priest and caretaker. Once a man appeared and after picking up a conversation, took him by the hand to the back of the Shivalingam and place his finger into a crack in the wall. Before the lad knew it the man's body had passed through the crack. What was left was the remaining portion of his lower right arm and hand that had a good hold on him. He asked if the lad wanted to follow him. The lad panicked and let go of the man's hand. The man disappeared into the crack that shone brightly. Before disappearing into the gap the man managed to reveal himself as Esakhi.
Another story unfolds at Kallar Old Ashram. Tavayogi called me excitedly and told me my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew had been blessed with Lord Muruga's darshan. A young lad in pants and shirt walked up the small hill on which the old ashram was perched, taking a few steps and then bringing his hands to his hips would look around and continue walking up. When he reached the top, as it was lunchtime and everyone was having their lunch, Tavayogi invited him to join. The lad replied that he had taken it. The lad behaved quite strangely, speaking nonsense, things that did not make any sense to those gathered there. In between this senseless talk, he would mention that he was in Kataragamam. Then he continued with the nonsensical talk. He would pause to mention Thiruchendur. He continued. He stopped to mention Palani. Then he says that he came to Kallar as he heard there were good souls there. All the places he mention were abodes of Lord Muruga. Only then did it dawn on Tavayogi that it was Lord Muruga who had come. When he showed signs of recognition, the lad hushed him and entered the Dyana Peedham. Everyone followed him. The lad blessed them and asked my brother if he wanted to follow him. Tavayogi quickly intervened saying that he would send my brother later. The lad left the way, just as he had come.
Once the deity Karupanasamy came on a cousin of my friend as he went to ease himself after having a session of beer. Karupanasamy commanded my friend to send him back to his abode telling him to follow the light of an oil lamp lit at a temple several streets away. Upon arrival at the temple, Karupanasamy left the body of my friend's cousin.
In 2005, as Tavayogi, my brother and me stood in line for the gates to Lord Murugan's chamber in Palani to be opened for the day I felt elated that this time around I was seeing Lord Muruga at Palani accompanied by my guru Tavayogi. But again I do not remember a single thing while there. We came away from his chamber into the open and crossed a courtyard to Bhogar's sannadhi. We moved into a corridor that was painted with murals depicting events in Bhogar's life. Now I was asking myself if this was Bhogar's sannadhi then where was I the first time I came to Palani in 2003? The route to Bhogar's sannadhi was different then. As I turned to walk out of Lord Murugan's sannadhi back then I passed through a door into a dark alley. On just taking a few steps I was before another chamber on my right. I looked in. There were four Brahmin priests in attendance. I asked the one closest to the door if it was Bhogar’s Samadhi and he nodded. I entered the room and stood in prayer while he showed the flame or arati. The priest pointed out the opening where Bhogar is believed to be in samadhi. He pointed out the yantra, the jade lingam, and other items of worship that Bhogar had with him. So where was I then?
The Siddhas are in our world as much as they are in theirs. There is only a very fine line separating both. Just as it took Esakhi Siddhar to pass through a tiny crack in the wall back to his world; just as it took a short drive for Karupanasamy to go home; and just as it took me a few steps to turn a corner that brought me to the mystic plane where Bhogar rests in Samadhi, a place quite different from what was envisioned by others; their world seems pretty close and approximate to ours, almost running on parallel planes.
As Michael Palin wrote in his "Himalaya", The Book People Ltd, St Helens, 2004, "The India-Myanmar border slices right down the middle of the chief's hut, so he can walk between the two countries without ever leaving home", so it seems with the Siddhas.
