MORE DIVINE LILAS

As there was a thunderstorm some hours ago, I shut the modem and my laptop and turned to reading a book. I picked up Osho's "The White Lotus". When I flipped open the book my eyes fell on a story waiting to be read. It was a Zen story of a Buddhist monk who was invited to the palace by the king after taking a liking for him had patronize him and his teachings. Though he invited him over, he expected the monk to turn down his invitation. But the monk to his surprise took up the invitation and demanded that he arrive at the palace in royal splendor. As days went by the monk began to live like a king to the dismay of the true king. Finally not able to stomach it anymore, the king asked him what was the difference between them now. In his mind, a monk should live like a monk with no possessions and never fall for the pleasures of the palace. The monk invited him for a walk telling him that he will answer then. But it was a long walk that brought them to the fringes of his kingdom. The king asked him how much longer was he going to withhold the answer as they approached his boundary. Standing on the boundary of the king's kingdom the monk asked the king if he wanted to come with him. The king was reluctant and gave all sorts of excuses. The monk told him that he was leaving and dropped his clothes and stood stark naked just as he had sat under the tree when the king met him the very first time. Only then did the monk reply to the king's question on the difference between them. "I am going and I shall not look back even once," he told the king. "I lived a kingly life thanks to you. When I was at your palace I lived with all kinds of possessions but I was not possessive. You are possessive. That is the difference. I am going", saying thus he turned to leave. The king realized his folly and fell at the monk's feet asking for forgiveness. Again the monk said, "The difference is not in possession. The difference is in possessiveness. A simple person is not one who possesses nothing. A single person is one who has no possessiveness, and who never looks back". The monk left the king and his kingdom for good.

The numerous events that took place over the past few weeks were a lesson for all of us too. When Agathiyar came among us during the Siddha puja carried out by my eldest daughter at her home with family and her friends on 30 April, Agathiyar told us that his statue was leaving AVM and moving to Mahindren's house. He said he will inform me when I was to hand over his statue to Mahindren. The moment I returned to AVM I started packing his luggage and things and stood on standby mode for his directive. Meanwhile, on 5 May, Agathiyar instructed another devotee to hand over his statue to be given to someone else later. But he could not bring himself to part with the statue giving all kinds of reasons. Since he had refused to part with the statue, Agathiyar who told us that he would leave AVM at year's end to Mahindren's house had to juggle a few things. He had me pass his statue at AVM to Sri Krishna instead of Mahindren and gave the statue in possession of Sri Krishna at his home Pothihai Dharma Chakkram (PTC) to the devotee waiting in line. Just as we were moving him out from AVM to PTC, Agathiyar told me just what Ramalinga Adigal and Arnold Schwarzenegger said in "Terminator", - "I shall be back!" This surprised us all as it was yet another spin to the story. I guess I had played my cards well, and Agathiyar was pleased or maybe he wanted to test all of us as well. I was willing to part with a statue in my possession for 13 years and Sri Krishna his statue of a few months while the other devotee could not part with his that has been with him for some three years. 

When he asked me to build a temple for him in my first Nadi reading in 2002, I became excited and overzealous thinking that I was the chosen one but Sivabalan who brought the Nadi reader from India and stood by me during the reading killed the kindled fire in me telling me that Agathiyar had mentioned this to fifty others. But the 24-year-old also told me that since none of them had carried out Agathiyar's wish he asked that I look into it. Though I tried very hard to get a space in existing temples to house Agathiyar, it never worked in my favor. I dropped the idea. In 2009 Agathiyar tells me that since I had desired to build the temple he had made arrangements with Thiru Arumugam who had promised a sweet spot in the temple he was building for saint Raghavendra. While awaiting the temple to be completed, Agathiyar's bronze statue that was commissioned in Swamimalai stayed in transit in my home. When the time came to move he chose to stay at AVM instead and had someone else buy a statue off the shelf and place him at the temple. Then Lord Murugan comes in the Nadi in 2018, asking me to build a temple for him. He also added that I shall do it differently. As I had no intention to proceed who should he send to convince me to do it but my guru Agathiyar. When Agathiyar mentioned the need for me to move house at the peak of activities carried out in my small home, citing that the home could not accommodate the growing crowd and that he had bigger plans for me, I did not take any initiative either as I was pretty satisfied with what I had. As I stood my ground Agathiyar told me that he shall do it. 18 months later Agathiyar tells me that he had tested me. I stood the test. He instead told me that I could renovate my home to create more space for the devotees to gather. Again I did not move. Then there was a time I was contemplating leaving the neighborhood as the din of the neighbors and the noise of traffic that bypassed the street that once was a dead-end, drove me crazy. Lord Siva too looking into my plea agreed that I had to move house. I used to joke with others that eventually after hearing all by pleas Agathiyar moved house instead leaving me in a quandary. As to the idea of expanding my backyard, I guess it won't be possible now as since my daughter started her vegetable and herbal plot Agathiyar came and endorsed it as Muligai Vanam or Herbal Garden.

The moral of the story in Agathiyar's fables is never to become overzealous when you are given a special task or receive a gift or a treasure from the Siddhas. It might be a test. Who can fathom the Siddhas and their lilas or play?

THE MYSTERIOUS SIDDHAS

Where have all the lost civilizations gone? Have they been erased from the map by the coming of newer events and changes? Are they still buried and submerged and kept hidden away from our eyes? Do time and space swallow things up? What we have now are remnants of these great civilizations and fossils of men and other creatures that point to their existence once upon a time.

The Siddhas will surely know for they know the past, present, and future. If they can spell out what is going to happen to a mere individual in the next moment, what is going on in his thought right this moment, and help him recount his past, they surely can picture all these secrets and fathom these mysteries. The Siddhas who themselves are shrouded in mystery are not telling us much. Just watching two episodes of "The Lost Room", reminds me of Palani and the "lesser-known Bhogar's samadhi", the inner sanctum at the Siva temple off the beaten path in Tiruvannamalai, and the portal at AVM. Science fiction in books and movies is appearing real these days. Anything is possible in this world of Maya or delusion. What we see is space. What we see in it is gross material put together and having forms. With energy given to it, it begins to move and operate. In this movement, we become aware of the wind, breeze, and air. In all these elements there is the life-sustaining water. These tattvas are continuously performing a dance. Everything is in movement. Imagine if we can bring ourselves to a standstill, both literally and within and without. Time and space freeze. We escape this Maya. I thought I had a brief moment and a brief encounter where I just was the expansion. I had given up trying to piece things together as I knew Agathiyar would sooner or later come to confirm these strange and mysterious happenings both within and without. True enough he said that was a very brief moment of touching the Prapanjam. He asked me to envision what it would be like to immerse completely in it. ஒரு நொடிக்கு பிரபஞ்சத்தில் இணைந்த நீ .... முழுதாய் இணையும் போது .....

Bharathi touched the Prapanjam and his Kannama was the Prapanjam.

OBEDIENCE TO THE GURU

When my niece asked me if she could have a young man she knew over at AVM to meet me as they had spoken much about the Siddhas previously, I said yes. When he came over I asked him to sit and meditate first which he did. When he ended his session, I asked him how long he has been on the path. He told me that his parents were on it for some time now. When I enquired what his parents did, whether they did Siddha Puja, Homam, and other rituals, whether they did Asana and Pranayama practices, etc, he stunned me by giving the reply that they read a lot. I hit the roof. Mere reading books on Siddhas does not qualify you to go around telling others that you are on the Siddha path. Similarly just going on pilgrimages and traveling to the places or abodes of the Siddhas to add to the number, of places visited and the number of times, does not make you a Siddha. Taking the stage or going on social media to talk about the Siddhas does not qualify one to be a Siddha. It is not about gathering around at the center or listening to another speak for hours on end about the Siddha or continually bombarding him with questions or sitting in on Satsang sessions. It is not enough to adorn the garb of a Siddha and claim oneself as following his path. It is not enough to allocate a particular time of the day or on particular days of the week and run wild the rest of the day and week. All these do not automatically elevate us into a Siddha. 

Agathiyar says one has to follow the Siddha Neri to its core. Goddess Ma told us that the Siddha path is all about learning lessons - not by attending classes or by correspondence but by going through the many experiences that we gain from events, tragedies, sufferings, exposure, relationships, etc that come by in our lives. All these maketh us into a man. Otherwise, we would just be around to eat and sleep. A man is only complete and considered wise if he has stories to tell, not that are borrowed but his own story. It is no point speaking about his guru and his experience if we do not have a story to tell about us, about how in coming to him our life changed, about how he molded us into what we are today. 

What then makes a Siddha? Adorning their teachings and living the life of a Siddha. Breathing the essence of the teachings of the Siddhas. 

But would not that be difficult to adhere to in this age? Yes. But the most compassionate Siddhas have simplified the worship, practice, methods, techniques, and their ways so that we too could hop on it. Just as a master says he can be a guru but if the student doesn't listen and follow, it is pointless. It is pointless to stop at numerous stations to collect initiations and move on like we collect prizes and trophies and awards in our lives to showcase our talents and achievements and showing around images taken with the gurus. Rather than going around the globe, and showing off his spiritual endeavors, one can go far by just staying at the feet of the guru, and dedicating his life to his guru, his teachings, and the path. Similarly rather than being proud of the statistics as in viewership, and numbers as in the followers, the guru has to mold and make another into his image and a guru too.

THE SIDDHAS AT PLAY

It is said that the greatest service after that towards our parents is towards the unfortunate in society. Usually, this is in the form of cash or kind and in feeding and providing groceries and items of clothing. For those in the shadow of their gurus, service towards the gurus is seen to be an outstanding act. Above all these is speaking of the greatness of the gurus. 

But the true guru would not want this. He would instead like to see his student become one at par with him. If a student qualifies and reaches this state the guru would have him sent away just like Guhai Namasivayar sent away Guru Namasivayar seeing his rise into becoming a Gnani. He would never settle for his student to forever remain a servant of his, serving him for eternity. He would like to see his student fit into his shoes. Hence begins a lineage. If we leave behind children a guru leaves behind his teachings that take the shape of his disciple. Rather than leave behind quotes, words, text, or books, he would leave behind a student who has applied his teachings in life and breathes his teachings. He sleeps soundly knowing that his teachings are in good hands and shall live on even after his departure. 

And so Agathiyar made me a guru several days ago to three new students whom he sent over to AVM. This caught me by surprise. When I was an apprentice under Tavayogi, I was blessed to learn Pranayama and Asanas from him. When I came to know Acharya Gurudasan of Bangalore who went by the name Gowri Varadhan then, I requested him to teach us Kriya Yoga which he did over a period of time. Then there was a time he asked me why I did not teach the practice I had learned from Tavayogi to others. I replied that Tavayogi taught me and several others that day in 2007 so that we would put it into practice and reap its benefits. He did not ask me to teach others. But he did ask me to speak about the Siddhas even when I was a new kid on the block just having known him for a year or so. He cornered me at an opening of a new branch of his Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in a house in Banting. I only knew what is available about the Siddhas in the public domain. I never had any personal experience or encounters with them. The only person I knew then who was on the path was Tavayogi. After saying a few words about him I cleverly switched to singing the Mahamantra Arutperunjothi. I was saved by the mantra that day. Then Agathiyar came along and took a liking to my writing and asked me to continue writing this blog. Then there was a time when Agathiyar had me stop writing about him and told me to write instead about the internal changes that were going on within me since the pandemic. It was during the endemic phase when some AVM family members began to show up at AVM again that he had me teach the Asanas and Pranayama I learned from Tavayogi to Mahindren. Mahindren in turn was asked to teach his comrades. So when these three youths turned up at AVM over the weekend Agathiyar asked me to teach them Vaasi techniques.

When he appointed me to the chair, I told him it was a big responsibility. He quipped that it was given since I could never sit still and was doing something all the time. That brought laughter to those gathered then. He added that I had asked for it. I was surprised again. I never asked for it nor had I wished for the post of a guru. So how is it that he says I had asked for it? When he asked me to build a temple for him back then in 2002 through my very first Nadi reading, yes I was elated and my ego grew immediately thinking that I was the selected one to take on such a massive task. But just as Tavayogi would kill my enthusiasm and joy in years to come, Sivabalan who brought in the Nadi readers and was accompanying me throughout the reading told me not to get excited for Agathiyar had mentioned this to fifty others. The bubble burst and I landed on my face. But asked me to go ahead if I had the resources and know-how telling me that none of the fifty seekers did it. So I set about looking for a spot to house Agathiyar's statue in existing temples but none of the committees were Siddha-friendly. They refused to give permission. I dropped the idea that was mooted by Agathiyar. In 2009 Agathiyar tells me that since I had wished to build his temple he had asked of Thiru Sundara Arumugam to provide a space in the temple hall that he was building for Saint Raghavendra in Ipoh. I commissioned Agathiyar's statue from Swamimalai just as Agathiyar directed. Agathiyar arrived in 2010 and was in transit in my home until the temple complex was ready. But at the eleventh hour, Agathiyar decided to stay put at Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM). He decided to move to Agathiyar Universal Mission (AUM) alias Pothihai Tharmma Chakra (PTC) just several days ago. 

Who can possibly fathom the lila or play of the Siddhas?

FINDING TIME TO ENGAGE

When is the right time to begin our spiritual journey? If I had a calling to see the Nadi that changed my life, having me step into the path of the Siddhas late in life only when I was 43 years of age, Ramalinga Adigal had consumed a soul as early as 29 years of age. But Agathiyar had to remind him that she had to settle her karma and responsibilities first before she could set out to do what Adigal intended. Agathiyar had the reader of ths blog start with Lord Ganapathy's mantra just as I was asked to in my first Nadi reading. Another young couple who were drawn to AVM too after reading this blog were asked to carry out Siddha Puja and given a Vaasi practice to follow for  start by Agathiyar. Then there were the thirty-odd youngsters in their late twenties and early thirties whom Agathiyar send over to my home that became Agathiyar Vanam with their arrival to learn Siddha Puja in 2013. After the pandemic ended and when we moved into the Endemic phase, the handful who remained were taught Yoga.

When I placed before Tavayogi my desire in wanting to see him become Jothi or Light, he told me that he had missed the boat. He was 69 back then in 2005. But Dhanvanthri and later Agathiyar told me that Tavayogi was in the form of Light and was with them doing their work in their realm respectively. In pointing out the need to start early Agathiyar said that since I was past my sixties, the body would have to endure pain and struggle in undergoing the spontaneous but necessary transformation that arises in us. Agathiyar pointed out that Jnana Jothiamma's body could not withstand the drastic change that was taking place as she too was in her sixties. She soon passed away. To another devotee in her fifties, Agathiyar told her that whatever changes desired had to take place before reaching fifty. To a teen, he told her that that was the right time for her to embark on the Yoga practice given, pointing out the fact that he had a tough time bending another youth in his thirties. Agathiyar pulled the brakes and told him he could continue when he is fifty.

So what is the right time to begin?

As Bakthi or devotion is harmless compared to the practice of Yoga, the Siddhas knowingly place devotion in the forefront and offered it to the masses. The later Padas of Yoga were only for selected souls that they deemed ready to take the journey within.

BKS Iyengar in revealing Patanjali's "Yoga Sutras", says that sage Patanjali listed ways to attain Yoga or union, beginning with the control and mastery of external issues and finally bringing one within.  The eight aspects or limbs of Yoga of which the first five namely, Yama or restraints and ethics of behavior; Niyama or observances; Asana or physical postures; Praṇayama or control of the prana (breath); and Pratyahara or withdrawal of the senses, are known as a forward journey, says Iyengar. Then Patanjali takes us on a reverse path, or a return journey now moving inwards, from the body towards the soul, that is termed as the true renunciation, contrary to the common belief and understanding of renouncing the world, says Iyengar. Knowing the seed of consciousness and having realized it Patanjali shows the way to Dharaṇa or concentration; Dhyana or meditation; and Samadhi or absorption.

BKS Iyengar in his "Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali", HarperCollins Publishers India, 1993, says Patanjali lists four padas namely:

Samadi pada, that "deals with the science of disciplining the fluctuations of consciousness. For this reason, it begins with the code of conduct",

Sadhana pada "gives detailed information regarding the practices",

Vibhuti pada "explains the hidden wealth which comes through these practices", and

Kaivalya pada "speaks about cultivating actions that cannot produce reactions so that consciousness may dissolve in the light of the soul for the very being." 

The common man is asked to visit the temple and pray before the deity first. This brings him to focus on the statue momentarily. He is momentarily engaged with the prayers conducted forgetting his surroundings for those brief moments. If our parents started us off with Samadhi pada which was devotion to the deities, the guru comes to bring us to carry out sadhanas in the Sadhana pada. By having us carry out rituals and practice yoga we build focus and concentration even before we sit in Puja. Having gathered all that we need to conduct the rituals for instance the homam, in repeating the names of the Siddhas we are focussed further on the chore or task on hand. We then step into the Vibhuti pada moving towards the inner quest (Antaranga sadhana). By having us go within on an internal journey, it gives insight into the very purpose we came for. Finally, "In Kaivalya pada we lose our identities and merge in the soul (emancipation)" says Iyengar. 

WHEN PRAPANJAM MEETS US

The purpose of life was revealed by Agathiyar in the Tamil Sangam of the past before the many sages and Rishis gathered before him. The first and foremost of the five tenets was to know our purpose here. How many among us actually ponder over it and yearn to find out. 

On one hand, there are those who lead a mundane life spiced by their seekings for pleasure that satisfies their five senses. According to Tavayogi, these souls came to fulfill their desires and wishes carried from earlier births. Dr. C. Srinivasan in his book "An Introduction to the Philosophy of Ramalinga Swami" describes them as human beings leading a mundane life without even a thought of their transient nature. Ramalinga Adigal in classifying the various stages of spiritual experiences names this as the state of Jeeva Sakiram or normal wakefulness. 

Then we have those who follow their parents and exhibit devotion and bhakti and come to realize or gain spiritual awareness of the momentary nature of life while staying conscious of the world and external objects and enjoying gross things. This according to Ramalinga Adigal is Sutha Sakiram or Perfect wakefulness. He is on the path of Sariyai and this is the first state of the soul he says. He has yet to experience the divine. 

G.Vanmikanathan, in his book "Pathway to God Trod by Saint Ramalingar" throws some light on "Shiva Gnana Siddhiyar", which elaborates further on the four paths. Sariyai, also known as Taatamaargam, is the path of a servant as in "sweeping the floor of Sankaran’s temple, scrubbing it with cow-dung water, plucking flowers and preparing many garlands and chaplets for the Lord, singing his praises, lighting lamps in the temple, maintaining a flower garden (for supplying flowers for the Lord's worship), and when coming across a person in the holy garb of a devotee of Civan, enquiring of him, “What is the service I can do for you, please command me”, and doing such services. In carrying out these services, he attains Salokyam which means gaining a Darshan of God, having a vision of him for a certain period, or being in the same world as God, just as a servant lives in a king's palace."

P. Thirugnanasambandhan in his "The Concept of Bhakti" published by the University of Madras, 1971, writes that "Starting from the first rung of the ladder, as the servant of God, the soul practices Carya, consisting of external duties such as cleaning and lighting God's temples, adorning the images of God with garlands, praising God and attending to the needs of devotees. For these deeds, the soul is rewarded with Saloka or dwelling in the region of God."

Then when one seeks to see the Lord and feels inseparable from him and untiringly searches for God he begins to see beyond the gross and enjoys the subtle things. This is Sutha Sorpanam or the state of Perfect dream. He walks the path of Kriyai. The soul has stepped into the second state. Kriyai is also known as Sarputramaargam or the path of the good son who brings fragrant flowers, incense, lamp, materials for the bath or libation, and offerings, goes to a suitable place, cleans the place by the five processes, places a seat (for the God), installs the image of God thereon, meditates on the form of God and the light that is God, invokes him to descend and occupy the image. He worships him with great devotion with flower offerings and songs and obeisance, performing with ardor the religious acts associated with the sacrificial fire. Those who do these acts daily will abide by the side of the Lord. He gets to come close or Saameepam to God in his audience chamber for a period."

P. Thirugnanasambandhan speaks on having been a servant in Sariyai, "the soul arriving in the Kriya stage becomes a son of God and renders more intimate service than before, such as invoking God's presence, serving him with love and praise and other acts of service like Sivapuja, besides attending to the burning of incense, collecting flowers, etc. the reward for service of this type is Samipya or dwelling near God."

Now he is madly in love with God. He has neither dreams nor desires of his own. The soul becomes temporarily one with Brahman and enjoys bliss. This is the state of Sudha Suluthi or Perfect ignorance (sound sleep or dreamless state). He treads the path of Yogam. This is the 3rd state of the soul. Yogam brings him to Sagamaargam, the path of companionship. Being engaged in the contemplation of the whole effulgence by the process of controlling the (five) senses, obstructing the flow of the two breaths and bringing it to a state of non-motion, gaining knowledge of the six centers (plexus) (in the body) and understanding their deep significance, passing through them to the top, partaking of the ambrosia from the region of the moon (within the human body) and storing it up to the fullest extent in the body, and other acts. Going through all the eight phases of Yoga he attains Saarupam, which means a pada-mukthi, or a graded Mukthi where the devotee gains for a period a similarity of form with God."

P. Thirugnanasambandhan brings us to "the next stage of Yoga, the Sakha Marga where the soul becomes the friend of God and thus is nearer God. Withdrawing its senses from the material objects, it concentrates on the contemplation of Siva. This is rewarded by Sarupya, which is to have the same form as Siva but not the essence."

"Shiva Gnana Siddhiyar"  now brings us to attaining Saayutchyam, or union with the Godhead via Sanmaargam.

Here now the grace of God descends and one's soul ascends in response. The veils covering the soul for generations are shed one after the other. The soul is cleansed by God whom Ramalinga Adigal knows only as Arutperunjhoti. The spontaneous impulse of love for God results in absolute union with Brahman. He now attains the state of Sudha Turiyam or gains the Perfect experience. He reaches the state of Supra-mental awareness where he experiences Supreme Grace or Arul Oliyal. His soul has attained the 4th stage. Ramalinga Adigal calls it Shiva Jnana Nilai.

P. Thirugnanasambandhan writes that the soul "progresses further in the Jnana Marga to reach the final goal of Sayujya from where there is no return. Sayujya is a state of the union of God and soul, a mysterious union of either so that God and soul exist with their respective attributes, the former as the source of bliss and the latter as the recipient of the same."

When he then enjoys the grace of the Lord and transcends normal consciousness going into a state of ecstasy, Ramalinga Adigal names it Para Sorpanam or Supra mental dream.

When the shackles are removed by Arutperunjhoti he gains heavenly experiences. Above this stage, God is un-manifested. 

Ramalinga Adigal goes on to describe this state as that of Para Suluthi or Higher ignorance or Supra mental unknowing. He defines it as stepping onto the first of the divine path or Sutha Sithantham.

Now he begins to taste God and sings the glory of Arutperunjhoti. Self-realization or Atma Tarisanam dawns as he realizes the soul is an atom as brilliant as the sun. The soul is charged with divine grace. He realizes the greatness of God's grace and his smallness. This is the state of Para Turiyam or Supra-mental perfection that brings on Ananda Nilai. This is the 2nd of the divine path called Sutha Vethantham.

When one perceives God in the form of light, the soul is saturated with compassion and love He gains the experience of divine life or Uyir Anubhavam. He attains a purified body or golden body. The extent of achievement is dependent on the grace of Arutperunjhoti. He begins to see divinity in all creatures. He sees God in the form he is ready to receive. He enjoys supreme grace or Arul Anubhavam.

Ramalinga Adigal states that these higher stages are heavenly stages and beyond human perception where the mind fails to conceive and all senses cease to function. Uyir Anubavam results from a transformation to a pure body. Universal love incarnates as he sees the spontaneous flow of God in him. This is Guru Sakiram or Shiva Sakiram the 3rd of the divine path now known as Sutha Nathantham.

When divinity descends in the individual it is Guru Sorpanam or Shiva Sorpanam or Supreme dream. This 4th rung of the divine path is called Sutha Kalantham.

When Supreme grace flows and prepares the aspirant for the next stage he settles in Guru Suluthi or Shiva Suzhuthi or Supreme tranquility, the 5th in the divine path namely Sutha Bothantham.

The body then transforms into Pranava Deham or body of grace and merges with Arutperunjhoti. He beats death. He stands at Guru Turiyam or ShivaTuriyam in the state of bliss, Anandha Nilai bringing on Periya Shiva Anubhavam. This now is the 6th on the divine path that Ramalinga Adigal terms as Samarasa Sutha Sanmaarga.

There are still higher stages that Ramalinga Adigal hesitates to express namely Sudha Shiva Sakiram or Absolute supreme consciousness, Sudha Shiva Sorpanam, Sudha Shiva Suluthi, Sudha Shiva Turiyam, Sudha Shiva Turiyateetam. 

Thus we understand that no two men are alike in their search and understanding though they might be in the company of each other as there are so many degrees of understanding that stem from their individual experiences. How far can we come walking this path? We ask ourselves if it is possible to travel the full length of this journey in spiritual transformation. Generally, we are made to understand that God is residing in temples. Hence we start our journey going on pilgrimages to temples and holy spots. When the guru comes along he points out to us the place where God truly resides for he has been there and back to tell us the story. Tavayogi in signing his autograph on my copy of his book "Andamum Pindamum" wrote and signed off that "Aandavan Uraigindra Edam Thangal Ullam, Athuve Payanathin Thodakkamum, Mudivum" when translated meant, "God lives in your heart, from where the journey starts and ends too." If our parents and other servants of God show us, God, externally in images and statues, the guru brings us very much closer to God showing him residing within us. Then the alliance takes place. Man does whatever Prapanjam is capable of too as he realizes that he is very much a part and parcel of it and that it too is in him. 

I guess this is how Idaikadar upon seeing the future saw a draught approaching. He fed his cattle Erukku or Calotropis, a weed. He mixed Samai or Little Millet in the wet soil and plastered them onto the walls of the mud houses. When the draught came as foreseen, while the other animals wasted away his cattle could still eat the weed as they had adapted to eating it. When the cattle began to scratch their bodies against the cottage walls, the Little Millet that was packed tight in soil fell to the ground. Idaikadar collected it. The controllers of the nine planets came to uncover the mystery of Idaikadar's survival and that of his cattle too. Idaikadar entertained them serving the Little Millet. As they were exhausted after eating they took a nap. This was the moment Idaikadar was waiting for. He moved the planets to be more favorable towards people and animals. It began to rain and the water bodies filled up. That was the might of Siddha Idaikadar. 

Why should Idaikadar or Agathiyar for that matter take so much interest in uplifting us one might ask and how do they achieve what they do? They are in constant contact with the Prapanjam as they are it, in it, and of it. It is said that trees and plants bow to Agathiyar too. They share their wealth of knowledge with him. Hence that is how he comes to know the potency of each herb, its bark, root, leaves, and flowers. It is said that the very rocky hill that stood as a judge when King Ravana contested Agathiyar in a dual of music, melted as Agathiyar played the Veena. 

Thiru Velayutham Karthikeyan in writing about the Jeeva Nadi and its revelations, in possession of a great soul from Chennai, Hanumathdasan Aiya, on his blog Siththan Arul, I believe has brought many into the fold of the Siddhas, or at least to kindle their interest in having their Nadi read. I believe too that Agathiyar was waiting to reveal their purpose for many seekers. Many truths and secrets had been revealed by the great saint. Agathiyar has revealed how he personally brings the wishes and prayers of devotees to the attention of the parties concern for their actions. For instance, he relates how he carried the wishes of an ordinary devotee in present times to Guru Bhagawan. 

இன்றைய தினம் குரு வாரத்துக்காக இவன் போட்ட பிரார்த்தனைகள் அத்தனையையும், கூட்டாமல், குறையாமல், அலுங்காமல், சிதறாமல், அப்படியே கையினில் ஏந்தி, குருபகவான் சன்னதியில் வைத்துவிட்டேன். 

Agathiyar had served to remove the dosas and troubles of many including the heavenly beings too. We read from Siththan Arul the following revelation by Agathiyar. At one time in the way past, when Agathiyar was in deep meditation, an Arakan (Asura) with his family fell at his feet. Agathiyar through his wisdom eye, comes to know about him. He was Sukethu. He had to take birth as an Asura due to his past karma. Although born as an Asura, he was honest. He used to worship Lord Shiva all the time. As a result, the other Asuras gave him a lot of problems and disturbed his family and him. Agathiyar realized that conducting a Yagam or lighting the sacrificial fire was the only way to remove Sukethu's Dosa and confer on him the state of Mukthi, though Agathiyar knew that the rest of the Asuras would not allow him to carry it out. Agathiyar decided to conduct five kinds of Yagam, namely: Deva Yagam, Brahma Yagam, Bhoota Yagam, Pithur Yagam, Maanuda Yagam, and went ahead with it. But before that Agathiyar requests that Goddess Umaiyaal should ensure no harm comes from the Asuras during the duration of the yagam. As he had foreseen, the Asuras came to cause trouble and stop Agathiyar's Yagam, but Goddess Umaiyaal destroyed them all. Agathiyar victoriously completed the Panja Yagam and the Sathru Samhaara Yagam. Sukethu and his family members attained release from their curse.

When Tavayogi was admitted to a private medical center and was operated on Agathiyar and the Siddhas on hearing our plea to save him conducted a Yagam. Agathiyar revealed this in a Nadi reading to me later. Tavayogi survived to return to his ashram and hand over his duties and the Jeeva Nadi in his possession to his student Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar. Tavayogi went into samadhi a year later on 3rd July 2018. 

When Tavayogi and Mataji came to AVM in 2016, Mataji realized that the ground shook as we all sat to carry out a Yagam. Three days later, Agathiyar attested to it in the Jeeva Nadi reading that Tavayogi read for an AVM family member, that the Siddhas had joined us. Agathiyar added that their arrival was only made known to her and she had sensed the ground shake. 

I believe though Tavayogi never spoke about a similar ability he had changed many a thing in our midst. When his guru Chitramuthu Adigal voiced out to Agathiyar in the Jeeva Nadi reading in possession of Tavayogi read for a devotee from the AVM family, his wish to see a Siddha Puja conducted at the Thanneermalai Sri Thandayuthapani Alayam or temple in Taiping on a Thursday, we were saddened that we would not be able to fulfill our Paramaguru's wish, as none of us would be able to make it on the day. Tavayogi listened to our plight and gave us the green light to have it done on a Sunday when we are all available to travel some 265 km to this temple and fulfill Chitramuthu Adigal's wish. Similarly, when Agathiyar had asked that my daughter carry out Parikaram giving her a list of temples to visit in India that would cost a hefty sum too, I shared the Nadi reading with Tavayogi over the phone. Even before I could complete reading the list of temples and remedies he told me it was not needed. Now I was confused. Who should I follow? My Moola Guru or Guru in physical form? After a few moments of silence, as I contemplated what to do, I believe he sensed my silence and said to go ahead if it would make me happy. We never did them holding on to Tavayogi's words. Till today Agathiyar has not spoken about it to us. He still asks for her and hugs my daughter in his arms whenever he comes.

Just days ago amidst confusion as to which statue goes where, Agathiyar bent the rules and bent the hands of his devotees in the most gentle manner and delivered a statue to a devotee who carried him in his heart. He made the switch to move to Sri Krishna's home too. 

Now I understand how Abhirami Pattar switched the Tithi from Amavasai or a night of not sighting the moon to bring about a full moon into view. There are many other wonders the gurus do as they are connected to the Prapanjam. As the Siddhas are beyond time and space they are capable of doing wonders. Read about them in the pages of this blog. 

PAYING HOMAGE TO THE GURU

The student has to be patient and adhere to the master's teachings for some 12 years before the guru can promote him. Similarly, the guru leaves us or sends us off to continue and carry on his work after 12 years of tutelage under him. It took 12 years for Tavayogi to acknowledge me as his student. Similarly, he left us after 12 years of me coming under his tutelage. When I was over in Kallar ashram in 2005 for the very first time, Tavayogi invited me for his usual morning walk, the morning after my arrival. As we took a stroll through the neighboring village, he told me that Agathiyar had come the night before. That surprised me because he had never spoken about communicating with Agathiyar when he was in Malaysia. I asked him how he came. He replied in the form of light. He continued that Agathiyar had asked him what he was going to give me. When Tavayogi asked him back what he should give me, Agathiyar replied that he will let him know later. I do not know what transpired after that between them. Neither did I enquire further about the subject. But one thing I know is that besides Tavayogi showing me the rituals, asanas, and pranayama, I came to receive the biggest gift that one could ever receive. Tavayogi showed me to Agathiyar. After giving ourselves in total to him, I guess his statue was of little use to us now and he has moved on to the home of another devotee. Agathiyar who came to stay with us in the form of the bronze statue at AVM in 2010, left for Sri Krishna's home last evening, after 12 years. If originally, he had intended to move to Mahindren's home, he changed his mind at the eleventh hour, just as he, who was to go to the Jegathguru Sri Raghavendra Swamigal Miruthiga Brindavanam Ipoh, had stayed put in my home back then. Who can comprehend the ways of the Siddhas? Libation was carried out to Agathiyar by the Krishna family at their residence Pothihai Tharma Chakkram. He is in good hands.

As today is Guru Purnima, I pay my homage and gratitude to Agathiyar, Supramania Swami, and Tavayogi for looking after me and my family and friends, for nurturing us well, and all the other Upagurus who came by and guided us.

TAKING THE FIRST BABY STEP

When I read my Nadi for the very first time on 14.12.2002, besides pointing out my past karma and giving me remedies, Agathiyar called me to his path giving me clear and distinctive directives.

Telling me that I would see some advancement on the path of gaining Gnana, he added that gurus would come by for this purpose.

தவறில்லா ஞானத்தில் மேன்மை காண்பாய்.

குருமார்கள் உபதேசங்கள் தான்

இவருக்கு உண்டாகும் படி படியே.

But before that the body has to be cleansed (Dega Sutthi)

There is a need to carry or Vaasi practice (Pranayama)

It is best that the guru initiates us into it.

காண முன் தேக சுத்தி வேண்டும் அப்பா.

தவறாது வாசியின் பயற்சி செய்ய.

சிறப்புதான் குருமாரின் தீச்சை பெற்று

சுத்தமுடன் இயங்கிடவும் மேன்மை காட்டும்.

The guru will come by in the least expected manner.

தான் அவரும் எதிர்பாரா அமைய கிட்டும்.

This knowledge will come by way of the Nadi of the guru and Agathiyar

தான் உரைத்த நூல்கள் வழி அறிந்து தானே

தவறாது அகத்தியன் மூலமாக

Reciting the names of the Siddhas shall do much go.

சித்தர்கள் நாமம் தன்னை

சுகமுடனே செய்து தான்

சுகங்கள் காண சுகமுண்டு.

Clarity and the answers to mysteries are all within me.

சூட்சமமும் தெளிவுகளும் என்னில் உண்டு.

Carry on these practices and come before me again when you attain the age of 45.

தான் இருக்க பயிற்சிகளும் செய்து தானே

தவறாது நாற்பானை தன்னில் இருக்க

சற்றே உரைத்திடுவோம் ஆசி முற்றே.

I was then 43 years old. I did as told and Agathiyar showed me Supramania Swami. I carried out the recitation of the names of the Siddhas in my home until I met Tavayogi who initiated me officially in conducting the rituals for the Siddhas and initiated me officially into the practice of Vaasi (Pranayama) and Yoga Asanas too. 

Nothing happens overnight. Effort and patience are required in walking this path. The next reading came some three years later on 15.8.2005 as foretold by Agathiyar. But the contents of the audio recording on tape was mysteriously erased after I had my second initiation from Tavayogi as instructed by Agathiyar. A rereading on 8.8.2005 explained it all. 

He added that he shall be father, mother and guru and asked me to walk tall and with pride. 

பெருமையுடன் இவ் உலகில் நீயும் வாழ்ந்தால் 

பெருமையுடன் நான் வாழ முடியும் அப்பா. 

அப்பனாய், அன்னையாய், ஆசானாக 

அனுதினமும் துணை இருந்து காத்து கொள்வேன். 

A couple of days ago he came and said the same to others too. 

Agathiyar said that I should follow his path till my last days. 

என் மார்க்கம் தனிலே உந்தன் வாழ்வு. 

வாழ்வுதான் கடைநாளும் நிலைத்து நிற்கும். 

He then asked me to visit Tavayogi's ashram and learn a thing or too. I did as told and saw Siddha puja conducted. Tavayogi added a bonus package that I did not expect at all. He brought me to the abodes of the Siddhas in temples, caves and jungles. He also pointed out that Tavayogi was my true guru. He shall bring change in me. 

கல்லாறு ஆசிரமம் தன்னில் நீயும் இரு மூன்று நாட்கள் தங்கி தியானங்கள் பூசையும் ராசனோடு தான் அழகாய் உண்மைகளும் அறிந்திட வேண்டும். தரணியிலே தவயோகி தங்கராசன் உண்மையான குரு உனக்கு என்போம். தான் அவனால் மாற்ற நிலை பலவாறு உண்டு. தங்கராசன் எங்கள் சக்தி, அருளும் பெற்றோன். தரணியிலே அவன் மட்டும் குரு என்போம். குரு தீச்சை ஆசியும் இன்று இரவே குறித்தபடி பெருமையுடன் பெற்று விட்டால் மாற்றம் பல்வார். 

Saying thus he had me see him immediately for another Theecha or initiation that surprised both Tavayogi and me. But he gave me my second theecha (or rather the first as what I received either I guess was null and void as it was given in the company of seven others) that same night. After his absence in the physical form Agathiyar has come to officially initiate some in his path.

Though he had identified and assigned a guru to me he asked that I carry out the rituals and Vaasi practice. 

வழிபாடும், வாசி பூசை தீர்க்கமாய் செய்து வர சிறப்பு.

We still have to work towards it. I learned later that the magic only starts after 12 years of discipleship to the guru.

SIDDHA HEARTBEAT

Just as Stan Lee of Marvel comics says, "I don't want to sound like I'm the most moral guy in the world, but I always felt that there were some issues that ought to be addressed", hence the reason for writing the past few posts. I am devastated at seeing so many turn up at my door or whom I meet with issues that crop up with their spiritual practices. People in their eagerness to walk the spiritual path end up harming themselves without a genuine and true master or without proper supervision and monitoring by the gurus. As I sympathize with them, I cannot but regard myself lucky to have met both Supramania Swami and Tavayogi and of course Agathiyar without going in circles. I was led straight to Agathiyar and his Nadi through which I was given remedies to carry out to settle my past scores or karma, and pointed to the worship of the Siddhas, learned about my gurus, and learned rituals and practices, and learned the reasons for things to happen and take shape, and given remedies in the form of Siddha medicines, tutored and guided further besides the few rare moments of tutelage from my masters. 

There were many a times I felt sorry for Agathiyar too for he is trying so hard to save us and bring us back on track. How do we then please him or rather return the gratitude? I guess by listening to him. I for one listen and execute his commands and wishes though there were a few instances when I spoke my mind and reasoned with him, and he dropped them. He did not pursue on those matters. 

How I wish others can be guided by the Siddhas as we have been. What then is the stumbling block for others not to reach out to the Siddhas? How can I help others reach out to the Siddhas too? I guess one of the ways is through this blog hence the reason Agathiyar wants me to continue to write. He wants me to share my experiences and learning with readers. He gives me the subject and the words too. I just key them in. I guess he is speaking his mind through these pages. 

GOING THROUGH THE PHASES

Just as in assembling the puzzle pieces, we are amazed to see the puzzle take shape, we are amazed at the delivery system of the Siddhas as promised. Though not comparable with the many courier services that compete to deliver fast, their delivery system takes time and patience on our part. We have come to understand that each practice or directive of theirs is customized, studying one's health and past karma, and studying whether it was feasible to alter his or her fate and destine a new life in the company of the Siddhas.

The Siddha comes to claim us from our parents or life partner and brings us to walk the phase of Sariyai, looking after the ashram if there is one, or the home, keeping it tidy, and arranging for its rituals and puja. He then gets us to sit with him in conducting rituals and other Kriyas. He then introduces us to Yogam. He invites us to sit with him in contemplation. The Siddha initiates the dormant energies within in very subtle ways that do not jolt us or disrupt our daily affairs of the world and family if we are with the latter. He would monitor these energies and our progress daily. He would tell us when to begin and when to stop the rituals, puja, and yogic practices. The student will always be under the watchful eyes of the master who monitors him. From seeing him in temples, ashrams, and at our home altars, in the paintings and statues and the Yagam and Homam, and seeing him in others, man and animals, we are brought to see him in nature and the Prapanjam. We are shown to our own souls or Atma that guide us further in discovering Gnanam for ourselves. 

Agathiyar who came in the Nadi as words, and came as a statue, came as a guru. Just like Tavayogi handed us to Agathiyar, Agathiyar in parting his knowledge and practice, eventually handed us over to Prapanjam to take care of all our needs. Similarly, yesterday when I asked Ramalinga Adigal to bring us ashore he replied that Prapanjam shall care for us. 

If in the past the student is shut out from the outside world and begins to focus on the practice given within the ashram walls, is tutored and is himself transformed to the state of a guru and only then sent off to preach and share what was learned, having himself experienced the joy and bliss that comes with these practices and reached the state of enlightenment, in current times as information is accessible on the touch of a button or key, we tend to fill us up with all sorts of spiritual practices and knowledge that tend to create a conflict of energy paths in the former and contradict each other in the latter, and finally having us become confused or worse still turn cuckoo. 

A true guru would warn his student and teach him to ward off the dangers that lurk even in spiritual practices. He would have us wait and test us for some 12 years before imparting the final knowledge. If one has left earlier on his own accord or boasts a list of names of gurus just be cautious and careful. He might not be a full-fledged guru and might ruin your life. You have the right to test the guru just as he shall test you. Remember that we grow together both guru and disciple and are not at the mercy of either. Have a safe journey.

ON BECOMING A GNANI

Many have set out to learn a trick or two and perform them in public these days. If it was a show where it is purely entertainment it is acceptable. But when they begin to initiate, pass on energies, and teaching practices to the masses, that is what is going to endanger their lives. Just as Julius Caesar said that he came, he saw and he conquered, they come, initiate and leave. A 70-year-old lady desiring a good death and union with Siva was brought to an initiation session by her son who fell for the marketing strategies. Her son's idea of having her get an initiation was that she should attain Gnanam. One man cannot make another a Gnani says Agathiyar. It is one's own personal journey and depends on his own efforts. Gnanam is not gifted but has to be earned. We have to prove that we are worthy of it. Hence even the divine has its reservation when it comes to making Gnani of us. A Gnani is a rare commodity. It is a rare gem. Agathiyar reveals the dangers we face when these energies are raised late in life. I pray that both the guru and student are in touch after that for the guru has a responsibility towards each initiate of his. 

Even as I wished that I could share what I felt in those elated moments when I was in communion with these energies, I did not know the means. But the Siddhas came to fulfill this by having us join hands. Even then I wonder how many could engage and feel this energy traverse through them. But this transfer of energies is by the Siddhas, hence we know that it is monitored and would not harm the recipients. I knew that they were in safe hands. For instance, having learn yoga from books I was officially introduced to it by Tavayogi in 2007. Keeping at it, this set of practice had worked its wonders subtly in me without me realizing it, feeling it, or seeing these changes. It was later that year that Agathiyar told me that the serpent sleeping within had awakened, not abruptly but in a gentle manner, and that they were pleased. But as the energy did its work, clearing the house of filth accumulated over the years of living, I went into a state of pain and discomfort later in 2010. Even then I did not know it was a result of the movements of these energies until they revealed it. But the Siddhas kept monitoring me, revealing what was taking place in me and asking me to take certain herbs and do certain practices or rather halt them. They came in many ways to bring relief from the excruciating pain that I was enduring. But this is all part of the process. It would be easier on us if we have good health and adopted a sattvic menu. It would be easier on us if we were young. Then in asking us to go within Agathiyar asked me to revisit the yogic practice that Tavayogi taught, adapting it to the need of the moment. I could choose and pick the postures and techniques I wanted to do so that they would not hurt my back. Then in 2022, when these energies began to pond Agathiyar came to release the dam that resulted in certain abnormal experiences. But again Agathiyar was by our side monitoring and watching over us. As I began to see these changes in me too, I asked if there were any practices that I had to follow to which he replied, "No. It (the energy) shall do its work." Recently when he asked that I continue Pranayama I asked him if it would not hurt my back again. He replied, "Do it. I am with you." That is the compassion and love of a guru towards his disciple. Know that all these changes and developments took place after I started worshipping the Siddhas beginning in December of 2002 and these changes are still going on. It was all possible only after we had fallen in love with the divine. This love affair of some 21 years has blossomed from within as Ramalinga Adigal sings. It took that long to metamorphose. It was not a one-night stand where the guru dishes goodies and leaves never to be seen again. 

தோலெலாங் குழைந்திடச் சூழ்நரம் பனைத்தும்
மேலெலாங் கட்டவை விட்டுவிட் டியங்கிட
என்பெலா நெக்குநெக் கியலிடை நெகிழ்ந்திட
மென்புடைத் தசையெலா மெய்யுறத் தளர்ந்திட
இரத்த மனைத்துமுள் ளிறுகிடச் சுக்கிலம்
உரத்திடை பந்தித் தொருதிர ளாயிட

ஒண்ணுதல் வியர்த்திட வொளிமுக மலர்ந்திட

உண்ணகை தோற்றிட வுரோமம் பொடித்திடக்
கண்ணனீர் பெருகிக் கால்வழிந் தோடிட
வாய்துடித் தலறிட வளர்செவித் துணைகளிற்
கூயிசைப் பொறியெலாங் கும்மெனக் கொட்டிட
மெய்யெலாங் குளிர்ந்திட மென்மார் பசைந்திடக்
கையெலாங் குவிந்திடக் காலெலாஞ் சுலவிட

This love affair with the divine comes out into the open and is no more a secret as one shows these signs. If the above were initial and visible signs of changes in us, the following are subtle changes that take place in the innermost core of us, the Soul.

மடலெலா மூளை மலர்ந்திட வமுதம்
உடலெலா மூற்றெடுத் தோடி நிரம்பிட

தண்ணிய வுயிர்ப்பினிற் சாந்தந் ததும்பிட

மனங்கனிந் துருகிட மதிநிறைந் தொளிர்ந்திட
இனம்பெறு சித்த மியைந்து களித்திட
அகங்கார மாங்காங் கதிகரிப் பமைந்திடச்

சகங்காண வுள்ளந் தழைத்து மலர்ந்திட
அறிவுரு வனைத்து மானந்த மாயிடப்
பொறியுறு மான்மதற் போதமும் போயிடத்
தத்துவ மனைத்துந் தாமொருங் கொழிந்திடச்
சத்துவ மொன்றே தனித்துநின் றோங்கிட
உலகெலாம் விடய முளவெலா மறைந்திட
அலகிலா வருளி னாசைமேற் பொங்கிட
என்னுளத் தெழுந்துயி ரெல்லா மலர்ந்திட
என்னுளத் தோங்கிய என்றனி யன்பே

From Swami Saravanananda's explanation of Ramalinga Adigal’s “Arutperunjhoti Agaval” published by Ramalinga Mission, Madras, we can grasp the nature of the said transformation that took place in Ramalinga Adigal. 

"The skin has become supple; nerves function intermittently; bones have become soft and the tendons have lost their grip over the muscles; blood has congealed and semen has condensed into a solid ball;"

"The face glows and breath becomes peaceful; hairs rise on end and tears well up; mouth utters the name of the lord and the sound of OM pours into the ears; body becomes cooled and hands rise up in salutations;"

Those are external changes that are visible to the eye and others that the laboratory test might reveal. The following are deemed subtle changes that only the practitioner experiences. 

"Petals of the brain blossom and elixir fill up the body system; the mind ripens and melts and wisdom fills up the mental frame; the ever-pervading feeling has come to stay; egoism vanishes and the soul attains bliss; impurities get destroyed and purity alone remains; illusory tendency vanishes and a longing for god’s grace swells up…"

"Thus the process of transmutation being completed and perfected, the aspirant becomes the possessor of a golden body. This body with shrunken skin has become ever-youthful", an affirmation made by Ramalingam himself. It has shaken off sleep, hunger, thirst, and diseases from the system. It has been filled with divine light; it has developed immunity from all kinds of destructive forces."

From http://www.ramalinga.com, we read the same.

"Describing in an exquisite way the phases of the transformation of his body, Ramalinga says that the dermis and epidermis have become extremely soft; all the nerves, muscles, and tendons have slackened little by little; the bones, membranes, and cartilages have become very flexible; the blood has coagulated; the semen has concentrated being solidified;"

"The face glistens; the respiration is smooth and refreshing; from the tear glands abundant tears sprout; the mouth is half-opened tremulous and the ears are filled with sweet melodies. The entire body is refreshed and all its visible parts flourish in ecstasy. The heart swells palpitating Love. The ego vanishes, as the emotional and mental defects."

The subtle changes follow,

"The brain and all its parts have been opened like a bud. All over the body, an Elixir flows; A tender, loving, and compassionate quietude dominates the entire organism. The ardent desire to receive divine Grace overflows. The Supreme Love fills the body, which is the temple of the divine Life."

Swami Saravanananda writes further about these astounding bodily changes too.

"With the descent of sufficient Divine Light, the psychic head begins to emerge. According to Vallalar, this psychic head (a crown or diadem of light) is made up of a special and highly refined type of brain called Omkar brain. As soon as it emerges, it draws more cosmic light; the more the light the greater the growth of the psychic head. With the advent of the psychic head, more and more changes take place in the already purified body. 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 the Omkar or Pranava body."

"With this perfection comes perfect knowledge. He (Vallalar) also seemed to have been bestowed with the third eye, after his body had attained perfection. This third eye enabled him to gain knowledge of the whole universe and all the individual beings contained in it. He asserts that his knowledge penetrated and pervaded layer upon layer of the varied types of universes. With the functioning of the third eye, the transformation of the Pranava body is completed and the next and final stage of transformation into the Gnostic body (Gnana deham) starts. As explained by Vallalar, the person whose third eye is active is verily God Himself as he can perform the fivefold primordial functions."

As for me I always look within to find out what is the lesson for me in all such encounters for instance as mentioned in the opening paragraph. I realize that Agathiyar was showing me the greatness of Tavayogi who never initiated us directly into Kundalini, and who never even healed us with his touch and look. He would scorn those who came seeking the former and detest when asked to carry out the latter. He told us to wait 12 years. He always showed us to Agathiyar. Like Bhogar he only knew Agathiyar. He did not project himself as Agathiyar. 

Another lesson I learned is that like how Goddess Ma Kali told Swami Vivekananda that all was her work when he was angry watching the destruction of temples taking place, I guess the divine is educating us the same to watch and not interfere. Those who fall for frauds and end in an unholy alliance are fated I guess and have to go through the turmoil and danger. Though it might sound selfish those who have been shown the path I guess need only to focus on their agenda for the time being and not get distracted till they reach Siddhahood. Only then they can come back to assist these drowning souls as they are now authoritative figures and are themselves Siddhas. As G.Vanmikanathan wrote in his book "Pathway to God Trod by Saint Ramalingar", Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay,

"The Son of Man has become the Son of God, and he who was unknown and who did not want to be known was dragged much against his will to discharge his preordained mission on earth, to commence his ministry on earth, in order to establish the Pure Universal True Path to God, a path, a religion, based on compassion towards all creatures on earth, a religion based on intense and one-pointed love of God, a religion freed from the stifling influences of caste, country, race, language, conflicting creeds, petty cruel gods and inhuman sacrifices, freed from the dialectics of learned scriptures."

The safest bet is to have trust in the Siddhas and be patient for this flower to bloom from within as Ramalinga Adigal sings. In saying Siddhas I do not mean those who claim to be Siddhas but the Siddhas of the past who are still around and waiting for our call to enter our lives. Have a safe journey. 

A CHANGE IN THE RELATIONSHIP

From God that was introduced through Sariyai by our parents and their parents and ancestors before them, with an element of devotion and fear instilled, with the coming of the Guru we take things into our hands to correct and set right our lives with his guidance. The Siddhas for instance speak to us through the Nadi. Taking heed of their words when we start working to rectify and make good our past deeds, a journey of discovery of our purpose in taking birth and why we are here follows. They come as father and mother giving us direction and showing their affection respectively. They teach us the ways of the Siddhas, the path that they too took on to attain Siddhahood. Taking heed of the rituals and the yogic practices given, we sail through both these phases of Kriyai and Yogam smoothly without any hiccups and safely without any problems or danger. By this time we have been transformed from the Asudha Degam or impure nature to the Suddha Degam or pure nature, and into the Pranava Degam, or the nature of the Prapanjam. Finally, we stand before God to receive Gnana which results in Gnana Degam. The Siddha upon seeing one as having the potential to be molded into one of their kind, enters his life, then helps transform him and brings him before God. With their grace, the final phase of the journey starts. This is the stage of the merger into Oli Degam or Light. This is the "mystic union which is the goal of bridal mysticism" says G.Vanmikanathan in describing Ramalinga Adigal's final moment of union with the Lord in his book "Pathway to God Trod by Saint Ramalingar", Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay. 

"In a span of about fifteen years, what was unrelieved misery had become metamorphosed into joy. This is not the effect of the passage of time which dulls the edge of misery, but a genuine change in the outlook on what seemed like misery. This is the result of the affinity - a spiritual rapport between Raamalinga Swaamikal and the Godhead, which has grown stronger and stronger with the years, a rapport that has grown into the relationship of bride and bridegroom."

Though it might seem as if I was in a hurry to kick him out of the house after Agathiyar told me that he was moving house, by immediately packing his clothes and things, and calling Mahindren over, it was in view of my greed upon hearing his promise to bestow me first before leaving. Was I wrong then in wanting something of that degree immediately? But G.Vanmikanathan too writes the same. Ramalinga Adigal now in his 35th year sets out to Thillai... "the royal road to union with the Godhead."

"Our Swaamikal declares that he is freed from misery. Secondly, he states that he has received a great boon. Thirdly, he, declares that he has reached a great state of grace."

"The Swaamikal shifts the blame from himself to the Lord Whom he accuses of delaying the bestowal of grace. Our Swaamikal will very soon be leaving the Illuminative Way and will be crossing the threshold of the Unitive Way where God with name and form will disappear and where ultimately the worshiper and the worshiped, the seeker and the sought, the soul and the Godhead, will merge into each other,.."

"We see the budding of the concept of Arut-perum-jothi, the Great Effulgence of Grace, for the first time in our Swaamikal’s spiritual life. .... this is the first gleam of the concept of the rare great effulgence which will burst forth in a paean of praise of 1596 lines when our Swaamikal steps on to the last lap of the journey on the Unitive Way."

"Our Swaamikal is now ready for the highest of all possible acts of grace, the crowning glory of the long years of thavam. The conferment of the Effulgence of Grace. The Lord, out of His munificent grace, bestowed on our Swaamikal the very power by which He Himself exercised sovereignty over all the worlds. That power is the Great Effulgence of Grace.... that of being given by the Lord the power to exercise the five functions of creation, sustenance, destruction, concealing, and bestowing mukthi."

After having gained all the Siddhis and attained the highest possible state, a man of such stature, Ramalinga Adigal chose to stay away from the limelight but the Lord acts otherwise.

"The Son of Man has become the Son of God, and he who was unknown and who did not want to be known was dragged much against his will to discharge his preordained mission on earth, to commence his ministry on earth, in order to establish the Pure Universal True Path to God, a path, a religion, based on compassion towards all creatures on earth, a religion based on intense and one-pointed love of God, a religion freed from the stifling influences of caste, country, race, language, conflicting creeds, petty cruel gods and inhuman sacrifices, freed from the dialectics of learned scriptures."

In his "Satthiya Arivippu sung on the 30th January 1874, and concluded just sixty minutes before our Swaamikal vanished forever from the ken of mankind, he sings:

My Sire, my Monseigneur,

the Lord of my soul,

comes today and takes seat

at the place where I am.

In the two and a half naazhikai-s which follow,

He will blend with my grand body

and will abide in my heart

without ever departing therefrom.

By the strength of my great thavam,

I proclaim with full knowledge of what I am saying

“This is the truth, the truth indeed!”

Oh damsel with waist which resembles lightning,

my words will become clear to you

when two and a half naazhikai-s are past!"

THE LOVING FATHER

Just as Andy Williams sings the lines, "That anywhere I go I'm never lonely, With her around, who could be lonely," in the song "Where Do I Begin", Agathiyar came a couple of days ago and said the same to me as I shared my loneliness on this journey with him.

Since the beginning I had kept to myself, minding my business, keeping with only the students from my town while schooling. It was in the upper secondary that I initiated and made myself President of the newly formed Indian Club at school. Soon I came to meet students from all over the country who took up an engineering course in college with me in 1977. Settling in a new job in 1980, I began to work with senior people and people from all walks of life. When I began my search to know Agathiyar after I was introduced to his Nadi in 2002, my circle of friends expanded to include those who followed Agathiyar too. Agathiyar send some thirty youths over to my home, which became AVM, in 2013 to watch me and my family conduct Siddha puja. When I took optional retirement in 2016, I guess I had made many acquaintances in my life by then. Then in 2019 in a timely manner, as the world was to go into a state of lockdown in numerous places, Agathiyar locked us in before that ending the puja and charity programs and drawing the shutters down at AVM. Again I kept to myself communicating with others only by phone and social media. After the lockdowns were lifted and we moved into the Endemic phase, Agathiyar in the form of the bronze statue at AVM visited several homes. Lately, after Lord Murugan conveyed Tavayogi's wish to see each home become AVM he was invited again. Except for these rare occasions of puja and the occasional visits by a handful of devotees of his, I spent my time alone again. Over the weekend as I felt extremely lonely and fear crept into me, I picked up his statue and placed him on the sofa and watched some short films and listened to some of my favorite songs. 

Agathiyar came to comfort me a couple of days later. Agathiyar surprised me by inviting me to sit with him in meditation that day. As I knelt close before him, he held out his hands and held them. ஷண்முக வா. என்னோடு தியானம் செய்.

Then he spoke about moving to Mahindren's home again. When my wife asked him the reason he replied that rituals have to continue to his statue. Since he had halted all forms of worship at AVM and since my wife and I had to move on he would not be able to lead us there if we continued doing these rituals. 

விக்கிரஹம் என்று இருந்தால் அதற்கான பூஜைகள் செய்யவேண்டும் 

இங்கு நீங்கள் பூஜைகள் தொடர்ந்து செய்து கொண்டே இருந்தால் 

உங்கள் இலக்குக்கு நான் இட்டு செல்ல முடியாது 

When he came some time back I had asked him what I was to do since he had brought a stop to all things. He replied, "Do Nothing!" pointing out to me that Tavayogi too did nothing. The energies inherent in us and activated by the years of puja to the Siddhas will do their work. He complimented us for our devotion all these years and then asked how it felt to be doing nothing. சும்மா இருக்கும் சுகத்தை அனுபவிக்கின்றாயா?

When I told him about the sudden fear that arises in these moments of solitude, he surprised me by listing the reasons to drop my unknown fear.

You kept me by your side. 

என்னை அருகில் அமரவைத்தாய் 

Why worry when you speak my name the whole day long?

நாள் தோறும் என் நாமம் சொல்லி கொண்டு இருக்கும் போது என்ன கவலை?

Why the loneliness when my daughter (my wife) is with you?

என் மகள் உன்னோடு இருக்கும் போது என்ன தனிமை?

Why the loneliness when the Prapanjam is with you?

பிரபஞ்சமே உன்னோடு இருக்கும் போது என்ன தனிமை?

Why do you fear loneliness?

நீ ஏன் தனிமையை கண்டு பயப்படுகின்றாய்?

That is the love of our father who comes to us to assure us that all is well and he is with us.

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

TARGET, EFFORT & GRACE

Just as television networks compete to gain viewers, YouTubers seek more views, and bloggers' eye readership counts, it is all about numbers and means and ways to achieve the given or desired or competed targets. If only we would target the same in our spiritual ventures. Many believe that there is a standard time to venture into this pool that comes with age. The many child saints though have proved us wrong. When I met Tavayogi I asked why I had only come to know the Siddhas late in life at the age of 43. Rather than give soothing answers he told me to be grateful that it happened then. I came to understand later that many never get to see or get a glimpse of this life. 

Today Agathiyar tells me that though he was placing all the efforts to bring about a transformation in me, due to my age I shall have to bear the consequences of raising the energies in old age. Similarly, both Agathiyar and Bhogar told another devotee in her sixties that she will have to go through the pain and discomfort. So did the Siddhas work on Jnana Jothiamma too but Agathiyar told me after her demise that her body could not take it. But as Tavayogi told us that we shall come again and again and work on it and Supramania Swami told us that we shall polish it till it shines, it is a long journey back home unless the divine comes to our aid and hastens the journey. 

Here is where the grace of the divine is essential to place the ladder in our home ground and catapult us to higher levels bypassing the number of years if we were to walk on foot as in the game of snakes and ladders. But often on our journey, we tend to stop at numerous places and bridges or arrive at crossroads where we stand and stare and contemplate if we should make the jump, take the leap, or plunge but leave it for another moment as in this clip of a game.

Then again if we were to plan our spiritual undertaking we shall never get started. We have to be swept off our feet by his grace. For that to happen we have to implore and beg of him to come. This is indeed the meaning of carrying out prayers, not asking for our individual needs and desires to be fulfilled, but to have him come and take ownership of us and lead us back to his kingdom. Otherwise, we would spend years roaming and searching for the way that leads us there.

AASAI

If there was one guru whom we came to know never touched money it was Chitramuthu Adigal. Tavayogi who spoke about him and Jeganathar in 2005, shared this when he visited us in 2016. 

When many masters, gurus, and heads of missions sought donations, and when donations flow in, besides cash, gifts from devotees and followers, that at times turn out to be posh vehicles too, are accepted. I wonder why can't they ask that the latter be converted into cash that would go a long way to maintain the running of their establishments, ensure continued puja is carried out and can feed thousands who turn up. There is a song "Kambeduththaal Aadum Kuranggu" lyric that questions why devotees keep dumping gifts at the feet of Lord Muruga of Palani when he stands only in a loincloth having shed all likes and dislikes for material things. Watch from 13.15 minutes.

... பழனிமலையில் கோவணம் தவிர எது இருந்தது, 

தெய்வமே ஆசையை துறந்து மண்ணில் எழுந்தது, 

வேண்டுதல் காணிக்கை சுமையோ வந்து குவிந்தது ...

God leaves the temple when fight for power and authority emerges among its committee. Goddess Ma who came through a devotee told another that she was no more residing in the temple but would appear when a sincere soul comes to worship. Similarly, our Paramaguru too told us that he was not in his abode and samadhi as we understand that it was an invasion of his privacy by others. But he added that he would appear before his true devotees. He also revealed that he was residing elsewhere now. Goddess Ma told Jnana Jothiamma that the divine has left a guru when he deviated in his ways. When she was asked why people still thronged his place, Ma replied they could not possibly know of her absence as the guru keeps them believing that she comes within him and is in him. Agathiyar too stopped appearing before another when falsehood raised its hood. Divinity leaves the moment injustice and dishonesty creep in. 

I believe we should only talk about the greatness of God, the divine, the gurus, and others and lead them, if and only when we have adopted their teachings and put them to the test, emulate their ways, and gained the same experiences that they went through. Otherwise, it is just a research paper that we keep delivering and we have not lived it to verify their experiences. It would be akin to vomiting whatever we heard and read. 

The greatest gift a disciple awaits from the guru is the words coming from his lips that we are his best student. No other gift or Siddhi can equal these words of endorsement that we are on the right track. When gurus need to watch over us and remind us to stay on track, a disciple who heeds the guru's words never steps out of line. He works to see through the wishes of his master. He takes care that he does not taint nor mar his master's name and image in all his actions.

LET US DO GOD'S WORK

We are always expecting something from God, the divine, the guru, or another. Seldom do we come across true devotion or selfless service. We start a group, society, movement, or organization in their name and begin to host programs thinking that we are doing service to and in the name of God, the divine, the guru, or another. But never for a moment have we asked what God, the divine, the guru, or another want. Bharathi sings beautifully in his song "Ninnai Saran Adaithen Kannama" that all misery that aroused from expecting results for his efforts came to an end when he took up God's work and became satisfied.

தன்செய லெண்ணித் தவிப்பது தீர்ந்திங்கு
நின்செயல் செய்து நிறைவு பெறும்வண்ணம்
நின்னை சரணடைந்தேன், கண்ணம்மா
நின்னை சரணடைந்தேன்

We are like sheep following others, duplicating things. The needs differ according to time and place. Hence the approach too should differ. It is alright to trend the time-tested ways but what if it was a waste of time and effort and energy in present times. Would not it be a challenge to pioneer and engineer new ways and approaches? Then again would not it be better to carry out God's work as Bharathi did and arrive at a state of Puranam or completeness and satisfaction. 

Finding Shiva & Discovering Devi

When one finds and discovers "the love of their life" there is no way they would stay home or return to their old shed respectively. Expression of love for God comes in many ways. Some might sing of the charm and beauty of the divine before them. Others might pour their deep feelings of ecstasy that overcome them in these moments of encounter. Yet others might dance in rhythm with the energy flow that they get acquainted with. 

GIVING DUE RESPECT

When Agathiyar came last evening, he revealed the reason he was moving house. He told us that every murthy or statue of Gods and Gurus has to be worshipped and rituals done. As he had brought a stop to all forms of rituals at AVM, these rituals shall henceforth be continued at Mahindren's house. Hence the reason for this move.

When Agathiyar came in this form in 2010 to my home he directed us in the Nadi to recite his name 100,000 times and conduct libation for him using nine items, telling me that we have to give (breath) life to (into) it.

When a group of devotees initiated the move and placed a bronze statue of Agathiyar at a temple in the city, Agathiyar asked the one who placed him there in the Nadi if it was enough that he place it there and not do the rituals. Now an annual celebration is held here.

Just some weeks back he spoke to the host about the need to recite or chant the name of the gurus if we decide to have their pictures, paintings or photos at the altar too. 

Many years back he asked someone who placed a painting of the Siddhas on the wall of his living room whether it was a decorative item. 

Statues, paintings, photos and pictures of Gods and Gurus are not decorative items that adorn and beautify the home. We have to respect and pay homage by way of conducting rituals or reciting or chanting their names. 

Many years back during my search to learn more about the Siddhas through reading books on them, I walked into a bookshop that also sold statues of Gods. Sadly these were placed on the floor where we tend to accidentally walk into them. I told the salesperson that we should pay respect to our deities, although they are only mere granite stones until the proper rituals are done to energize and bring life to it. On a later visit I was happy to see that they had renovated the shop and had a room exclusively alocated to place all the statues. Nothing was on the floor now. 

KNOWING ONE'S GURU

I had a young couple drop by my home last afternoon. He used to read the blog. He had been doing some meditation practice handed over by a well-known guru from a well-known lineage of past gurus that leads to Agathiyar and Bhogar. He told me that he was contemplating taking up an initiation from another. His question was how do we know who is our guru? 

I told him that Dattatreya was said to have 24 gurus. Though he said that "the Atman alone was his Guru, yet, he had learned wisdom from 24 individuals, who were, therefore, his Gurus too. They were namely: 1. Earth, 2. Water, 3. Air, 4. Fire, 5. Sky, 6. Moon, 7. Sun, 8. Pigeon, 9. Python, 10. Ocean, 11. Moth, 12. Bee, 13. Honey-gatherer, 14. Elephant, 15. Deer, 16. Fish, 17. Dancing-girl Pingala, 18. Raven, 19. Child, 20. Maiden, 21.Serpent, 22. An arrow-maker, 23. Spider and 24. Beetle." (Source: https://sivanandayogafarm.org/)

But unlike Dattatreya, we might settle for one or two as I did. I believe there was a call from Agathiyar for me to see my Nadi in 2002. He initiated the conversation I had with my colleague as my colleague started sharing his experience reading the Nadi two years earlier. I had heard about the Nadi mentioned earlier in 1996 when I frequented Dr. Krishnan, a Siddha physician, and Astrologer. The Dr. had asked me to see mine since I wanted to know if I was cursed in some past birth. The Dr. had mentioned that a curse might stand in our way to reap and attain the good that was to come our way as predicted in our horoscopes. Only the Siddhas and their Nadi could reveal if we were cursed he added. True to what he said Agathiyar spoke about my past karma and curses that deprived me of the benefits of all my attempts and efforts in life and career, religious and spiritual ventures, and yogic practices too. They were a stumbling block and I was told to carry out remedies to overcome them. After I carried them out as dictated, and was about to leave India back to Malaysia, the door opened mysteriously. I was brought to meet my first guru Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai. Although Agathiyar had revealed that he was my Moola Guru in my Nadi reading, he told that I would meet my physical guru soon too. He brought me to Supramania Swami in the flesh because I believe I had to meet him, again in this birth, to fulfill his forty-year desire to see a temple built. As we set upon carrying out the venture a Siddha came around to stop him from continuing. 

Three years on Agathiyar initiates me mysteriously to call and enquire about a visiting swami who had come to officiate an affiliate branch of his Kallar Ashram in India. I brought a leaflet seeking donations to build a temple for Agathiyar in Kallar that was passed to me during my Nadi reading in 2002 to Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal asking if he was the one in the leaflet. And so the bond was rekindled between guru and disciple. Agathiyar again showed me, my guru. 

Prior to these two meetings, I had never been in search of masters or gurus though I would stand in line with others to receive blessings from visiting saints and sadhus who dropped by at the local temples in places I stayed in. Even after coming to accept Supramania Swami and Tavayogi as my physical gurus, Agathiyar kept asking me to visit other holy men and gurus and places of importance to them, but I put my feet down and told him that I was not going anywhere anymore. I told him that I had Supramania Swami, Tavayogi, and him. That was enough. If at all he wanted to give me something let that happen within the four walls of my home. He stopped speaking about it further. 

Today I believe that they have settled in comfortably in my heart and home. I believe that I too have settled in comfortably with them and I believe that I have a place in their hearts as well. Agathiyar revealed that just as we sat and spoke about them all the time they too used to speak about us. We are deeply indebted for their love and care. I am grateful that Agathiyar initiated me to see his Nadi that had come to reveal my gurus and him. 

But what about those who had not seen their Nadi or it is not mentioned? Where do they go for guidance? Before I could answer his question his fiance told me that he was in a hurry. I told him that that was the divine's answer that was relayed through here. I too told him to be patient and that the divine will show the way and the path and lead them to their guru. I believe that the divine will show them the way just as they where brought to AVM after reading this blog.