FAITH

Accounts of what happens when our dormant energies are awakened are flourishing on the net these days. Whether it is based on experience or reading and researching is another question. It is always best to be under the guidance of a teacher, master, or guru who has been there and has come back "alive" to teach.

The teachings of the Siddhas are pretty much "alive". These are not something written or transmitted in the past and left for us to interpret or assume. Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal in asking me to read and reread Tavayogi's "Andamum Pindamum" on the Tatwas told me that they shall come to clarify. Agathiyar too has told a devotee to read the original text of Manickavasagar and not to read the clarifications given by the authors. He told her that he would come to clarify. He had told me in the past to read Tirumoolar's "Tirumandhiram" and added that Tirumoolar would come to clarify.

Similarly, their practices are very much "alive" as they come to initiate a start and bring them to a halt later, dictating the do's and don'ts. It is not something taken from the past and carried out in the present following tradition rigidly. There would not be life in it. It would only be a ritual handed down and carried out through the ages. Speaking to Mahindren who came by last evening, we questioned why none of the temple priest who serve the Lord and perform pujas 6 times a day, do not cry in ecstasy and joy in conducting the rituals for the Lord. I guess it has become a profession to them that brings food to their dining table. We cannot but come to realize that most of the Siddha teachings and practices taken up by devotees become a profession for them eventually be it astrology, Siddha medicine, Nadi reading, and other sciences of the Siddhas.  

But things are different with us for the Siddhas come to modify, enhance, improve, shorten, or lengthen, these rituals and practices. Contrary to the common belief that the path already exists, the path is laid each moment by laying a slab each moment and watching if we take a step, and in which direction. We chart our own future, taking baby steps. Eventually looking back on the path, we would come to know if we had kept to fate and what it had outlined for us or created a new destiny holding the hands of the Siddhas. I understand now why Lord Murugan in a Nadi reading in 2018 told me that he had changed my fate. A new path and slabs were laid the moment we began to take heed and listen to the Siddhas or the inner voice or soul, the Jeevatma which is a part of the larger soul Paramatma. Agathiyar is known to test our obedience as any guru would before leading us into the new frontier that awaits us on the path or rather paving a path to travel on to the desired destination. But the moment we stop to think or postpone or delay or ignore his directives, he lets fate take its course. He shall bless our desires and watch us go through the experiences that come along with them. Eventually, we come to stand before him for a solution to the mess we created or when lost for ideas and solutions or lost, injured or hurt. 

What if Agathiyar came to you telling you that he was willing to give you three wishes as Genie told Alladin, what would you ask? We would either ask for more time to list all that we wanted and desired or ask for those things that are missing in our lives to make it complete in our eyes, right? So did Agathiyar ask a husband what he wanted seeing the couple's undeterred faith in him even as his wife lay bedridden after a traffic collision. When he spontaneously replied that he only wanted Agathiyar it put me to shame as I thought that he would have asked that his wife recover and start to walk and function as normal. Agathiyar came on his rounds asking each of us gathered before him sometime back. After the others asked for trivial things to be sorted or solved, I stood stunned as he asked me too. I was surprised that he asked me too knowing pretty well that I had nothing to ask and that my life was complete in every sense. I was contented doing his bidding. Only recently have we come to know that Agathiyar does test us much just as a goldsmith and trader in precious stones puts the gold and gems to the test. As he waited on me just as a waiter waits on the diners, my brain rushed to come up with something to ask. It did not occur to me to ask the same as the husband had asked, "Only him." After several minutes I figured that service to him was the only payback for all that he had given me. I put it to him that I would want to take numerous births and serve him just as I was doing then. He asked me "Is that what you want?" immediately reminding me of Tavayogi who would always say the same to everything I wanted or desired. I knew that that was not what was to be asked for. I thought that there must be something else that I was not aware of and hence I remained quiet. He moved on. Later discussing this with Mahindren over the phone we agreed that maybe we should ask for Gnanam which Tavayogi always speaks about as the ultimate state. Agathiyar must have eavesdropped on our telephone conversation for the next time he came he surprised me by saying that I desired Gnanam. I was stunned again. He went on to explain what Gnanam was and how it was to be attained by our efforts and not gifted as we had thought all this while. I also learned that of course he listens to all our conversations as he is Prapanjam and the Prapanjam is in him. We cannot hide from him nor anything from him.  

I guess I had failed as a devotee, seeker, student, aspirant, and sadhaka in not asking for him whole stock and barrel. I realize now that in asking for him all things are accommodated. We do not need to list our individual wishes and desires for in attaining him everything under the sky and beyond is ours too. Ramalinga Adigal in attaining Godhead sings that God stood aside for a moment and let him run the show that of creating, sustaining, destroying, veiling, and showering grace. When Agathiyar tells us that he was the Prapanjam and that the Prapanjam was in him, just as Lord Krishna was of the Prapanjam and the entire Prapanjam was in him, I should have been moved to ask only him and nothing else. I came around eventually asking this and then he gave me another blow by having me read Ruzbeh N Bharucha's book, "The Fakir - The Journey Continues". Baba comes to hit the nail on the head as I read the final few pages of "The Fakir - The Journey Continues". Although the book was given to me by a devotee some time back and though I had initially read several pages and kept it aside for reasons I cannot remember, I guess there was a reason I read it then. Baba's words in this book were the last straw that broke the camel's back. 

"One has to go beyond even the lure of the spirit world and keep moving towards the light. Yes, whoever one worshipped and was close to would be present to receive you, but eventually, each one of us has to move beyond the brilliance of the surroundings and know that there is only one reality to merge with the creator and to reunite with the source and to become the light. That is what the master wants and expects and demands out of each of us. We have to move beyond the illusion towards what is only real." 

Just as Betty J Eadie recalls Christ had shown her around heaven as she came back from a coma to reveal in her book "Embraced by the Light", Baba shows Rudra paradise and almost instantaneously brings him to sit among the filth. He tells him, "So we sat in paradise and now we sit in the bowels of filth. If your focus is your master, then neither will matter." 

Baba knocked some sense to me too as I too had chosen only the master - Agathiyar. In that case, we should learn to accept everything thrown at us and not be selective in what we want, be it trash or treasures, and be it joy or sorrow.

Baba reminds Rudra in the book and me too, that "If your priority is not your master and your spiritual growth, and you don't use your free will to move towards your master and the light then it will take eternity and beyond for you to ever move beyond the illusion and the weakness and merge with the light. It was all about your priority and using your free will. It was all about whether you loved your master more or yourself." He points out that though we love the master, we tend to love our weaknesses a little bit more, which is very true. At times we question ourselves if we are truly sincere in saying that we have surrendered and that we only want him in our lives. 

I learned my lesson that day that in asking for him everything comes to us without asking. Baba in asking Rudra the earth-shattering question shamed me too. "All my devotees pray and want to be with me, beta. Do they really want to be with me? All my children want to spend their eternity with me knowing well that being with me means being in the most sublime place in the spirit world or merging with the light. Would my lovers and children and all my devotees and disciples want to spend their eternity with me if I decide to work in a place of foulness?" Baba gave me the shivers as I read these lines. Indeed, as he says, "I am everywhere", he is in paradise and sits in the bowels of filth too. So why do we distinguish between paradise and filth? Baba made Rudra realize that "nothing mattered but being with his master. It did not matter where he was, as long as his master was by his side." Rudra's heaven was Baba and being by his side. He didn't want heaven if that heaven didn't have Baba around. 

I was truly surprised and taken back to see the husband and his children usher us into their home and bring us to his wife's bed where she embraced us with love and tenderness. I had wondered, being ardent and die-hard devotees of Agathiyar and Lord Shiva, what their state of mind was after the tragedy that took the life of his mother too. I had anticipated a different outcome thinking that they might curse God for the tragedy that had befallen them and turned atheists as I had seen several turn into in the past. But the husband's quest was truly genuine for when he replied that he only wanted Agathiyar, Agathiyar gave himself to them, calling on Bhogar to heal his wife and son who had a fractured leg. He and his other son and daughter escaped with light wounds and scars. As Baba says in giving ourselves completely to the divine we should accept paradise and filth, so did this couple and children accept their fate knowing that they had a better destiny waiting ahead that Agathiyar shall provide for. I have goosebumps as I type this piece and tears well in my eyes thinking of this exemplary family that places their entire faith and life in Agathiyar and Lord Shiva's hands. 

MAKING SENSE OF THE MYSTERIES

Though these posts seem to be recycled numerous times, each time new evidence surfaces or a new experience is gained I need to go back to the past posts to verify its standing. So please bear with me. I have to put into perspective what is learned anew or gained in the course of this journey and if the need arises drop my previous understanding of it. 

In trying to create a timeline of things that evolved around me and made me irresistible to the callings that came my way, that had me take the plunge, it has turned out to be a truly wonderful journey, fruitful and mindblowing at times. I am still wondering why I was one of many chosen to walk the path along with the Siddhas. Was it a desire of mine embedded in the deep recesses of time and space that I did not know of? Was it because someone had a wish for me to tag along? Was it that my ancestry had yearned for someone to come along and walk the path? Or was it to build a temple for Agathiyar as did my guru Tavayogi? Or to fulfill a similar desire of my guru Supramania Swami that was abandoned when the Divine put a halt to it? For as Tavayogi says I did not do anything to earn it, all my life all things were waiting for me. My career, my marriage, my children, my home, and the calling to the path - it all fell into place at the right time and moment. There was no one I met who objected or sabotaged all my efforts. Rather many cleared the path for me to progress speedily be it materialistically, religiously, or spiritually. I am deeply grateful to all these souls. Introducing me to new ventures along the way, I sort of picked up all the good things in life and made something out of it for myself and others. Bringing me to know many other souls, we made a breakthrough in our ventures that gained praise and laurels from the Siddhas. Bringing me to know and learn the finer points of Yoga, I guess I made a breakthrough in this venture too for I am told by Agathiyar that I am seeing the results now. But there was hardly any effort on my part. The enormous grace, compassion, and love that they had shown and showered on me did the magic. Considering all the blunders I had made in my life, it could have ruined my life in many ways. But somehow I was saved and am still saved by a hidden hand and a hidden power that has revealed itself as Agathiyar. 

I had not cried as much as I did the first time I was in India while at the Tiruvanaikaval temple in Trichy, when the priest from Utamar temple who volunteered to accompany me there, brought me to Lord Dhakshanamurthy's sannadhi. I broke down and cried and cried and cried uncontrollably. It was akin to the pain of separation. I did not know why I broke down. I came to know only many years later that Lord Dhakshanamurthy was Agathiyar too. I did not understand why I cried aloud then but today I can safely say that it was not me, the person Shanmugam Avadaiyappa, but my soul, the Jeevatma, a part of him that was in me too, that cried initially in pain and later in joy having reunited with a long-lost father, mother, sibling, friend, guru, and God - Agathiyar. Surprisingly nobody from the public took notice of what took place as I laid sprawl on the temple floor crying, except for the priests from Utamar temple who told the senior priest at the temple who did the puja, the caretaker and watchman who opened up all the closed doors for us, and Deva who chauffeured me around, to let me be and cry my heart out. 

From thenceforth it was tears and cries of joy wherever I went. When I was at the Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram, I was ushered by a young priest sitting at the entrance to Lord Nadarajah's chamber where I shed tears of joy that came on automatically seeing the majesty and beauty of my Lord. Surprisingly nobody from the public walked in during this private moment that I had with my Lord. 

Then when I was in the presence of Supramania Swami in his village home Nachaannthal some 8 kilometers away from the town of Tiruvannamalai, I cried silently in thanksgiving to the Lord for the duration of our sitting, some 5 solid hours, till dusk, as he spoke about his gurus and my destiny without charting my horoscope though he was an astrologer. This time it was tears of joy and gratefulness to the divine for seeing me and all the blessings he had showered on me till that moment. Surprisingly nobody from the public walked in for an astrological reading during this private moment that I had with Supramania Swami who was to become my first guru that day. 

Two years later in 2005, the very first day I met Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal in Malaysia in private at a local Peedham, when he asked me not to fall at his feet but instead showed me the feet of Agathiyar - a pair of wooden sandals worshipped by devotees, I could not hold back my tears of joy and relief as I grasped his feet again after a long separation. Surprisingly nobody from the public walked in asking to see Tavayogi during this private moment that I had with Tavayogi who was to become my second guru that day. 

As I stood in line with the other devotees to get Tavayogi blessings at an affiliate Peedham of his in Seri Gombak on another visit of his in 2010, just as I got on my knees in front of him, there was a sudden burst of laughter and joy that overcame me. Simultaneously he went into a state of laughter and cry too. I did not understand either of our reactions. Surprisingly nobody took notice of what had just happened. Later as I drove him to Bukit Rotan to visit a new temple that was under construction, I asked him what had taken place that day. Looking back to the guide who was drowsing away in the back seat, he immediately hushed me. I never got to know the answer. 

Then these spontaneous cries interspersed with brief moments of joy became a regular thing as it happened in the places of worship that I visited like the Sri Jeganathar Sivalayam in Tapah, the Sivasubramaniam Alayam at Kampung Kepayang and the Sri Siva Shanmugar Temple in Sungai Siput both housed in a cave.

As I stood with my family at the Sri Jeganathar Sivalayam in Tapah, I cried for reasons I could not comprehend. Again surprisingly none of the disciples from the entourage of a vagabond Swamiji who were taking shelter in the temple took notice of what was taking place. It was as if a screen was drawn to separate us and block their view.

When my family and I stepped out of the Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple, Penang, enquiring about the direction to the hill temple, the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, a man pointed us to its temple tower that was visible from where we stood. I went into a state of frenzy and cried in joy upon seeing the tower. The man quipped at my family, "He has seen God."

When my family and I were led by the temple Gurukal of the Sri Siva Shanmugar Temple in Sungai Siput into the cave, I went into a spin and was thrown off balance and landed on my back in a ditch missing a boulder by inches. It happened the very moment the priest showed me and my family the spot where our Paramaguru Chitramuthu Adigal had meditated. This was the pinnacle of this show of energy.

When the AVM family went on a tour of spiritual places in Malaysia, I found myself crying in joy at Lord Murugan's Sannadhi at the Sivasubramaniam Alayam, Kampung Kepayang again. Revisiting Tiruvanaikaval again in 2013, this time with my family and Jnana Jhotiamma, I was overcome by an emotional outbreak of crying and joy that saw me sprawled again on the floor and crying. 

In 2016 as the AVM family that was making its way to join the festivities for Agathiyar's Guru Puja in Kallar, sat in the presence of Lord Dhakshanamurthy, Lord Ganesha, and Kuthambai Siddhar at the Mayuranathar temple in Mayiladuturai, I was overcome by a profuse energy that went through me and left me crying in joy. It refused to settle for a long time. 

A similar occurrence took place while sitting at the Sundarananthar Vallabha Siddhar Sannadhi at the Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Temple, in Madurai, while the rest of the AVM family recited the names of the Siddhas.

After these unexplained occurrences happened in the external world, things took a turn and began happening within, at times without my knowledge till it was revealed and explained by Agathiyar. I have been updating readers on these changes in several of my earlier posts as Agathiyar had requested I do so. My stools and urine still stink to this day. Sorry if I have to bring this up but it's a process that we have to talk about and mention.  I believe the day there is a pleasant aroma when I leave these deposits behind is the day the total transformation of the gross has taken place. A colleague in my former workplace had a Sufi master from Indonesia as a guru. He tells me each time his guru comes out of the washroom there is a pleasant odor. The running tap water this morning looked different for no apparent reason. It had consistency and seemed solid like a Quartz Crystal or Spadigam but fluid at the same time, running off the tap as my wife washed the dishes. 

In writing about his first encounter with his master Swami Sivananda, in ‘MY YEARS WITH THE MASTER’ at http://www.sivanandaonline.org, Swami Vishnudevananda, who found a small pamphlet in the trash basket called ‘SADHANA TATTVA’ that moved him to meet Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, wrote:

"Before leaving, I went down the Ganga where it was the custom of the Ashram to do Aarati (waving of lights) every evening. All the devotees and inmates of the Ashram assembled by the banks of the Ganga to watch Master perform this evening worship. I was skeptical. I was of a scientific temperament and knew that a river is only water, H2O-imagine worshipping H20!! But as I stood there and watched Master waving the lights, I saw the river become a mass of flowing lights. At that instant, the river assumed a divine flow, a manifestation of the Grace of the Lord. Master turned and looked at me and in my mind, I heard his message, “God pervades everything; this too is His Special Form.” This entirely changed my outlook on life."

If someone walks up to me asking to perform a miracle, I cannot do it for I am not a Miracleman. Neither have I gained Siddhis. But I can definitely show him the way and the method and the practice that shall bring about these miracles. There is no instant formula or instant noodles to brew or cook here either. One has to take a step at a time. Taking baby steps beginning with belief in the Siddhas and worshipping them, taking their hand one has to put into practice all the practices and tasks given. With close monitoring by the Siddhas, we shall see some advancement in our efforts. Once the blocks are removed by our efforts, they will tap the energies to arise within. Then the energies shall do their work. 

Each Sadhaka should keep an account of his journey to reflect on later and that might be of use to other aspiring Sadhakas who come by. I have always encouraged devotees to share their experiences by writing too, though some chose to do so through Satsang.  There is joy in sharing and giving. It is by no means an inflation of one's ego.

PRAPANJAM

I am up at 3.30am and typing this content. Prapanjam is listening for sure. I woke up to find that it had given assurance and removed the fear I had the day before. Just as Pooh Bear has rumblings in his tummy, I do self-talk frequently. These are the moments Prapanjam eavesdrops. Indeed our thoughts are registered as records in the Akasha or secret vault in the belly of the Prapanjam as Tavayogi says. It fulfills our reasonable wishes. It is ever attentive and watchful unlike us who are inattentive and bring misfortune upon ourselves by our own actions and find ourselves pleading for mercy later. Prapanjam that created, sustains, destroys, or rather self-destructs, has no enmity against anyone or anything. It is the source. 

So where is this source? It is within us. So where are we then? We are in it. It's the story of the chicken and egg. Just as there is a plant or tree in a seed; oil in a seed; yogurt and ghee in milk; a new life waiting to see the light of the day in every female child born, we are in it and it is in us. She veils and later comes to reveal with her touch and blessings. So it is of utmost importance to pray to her to keep us and all of her creation well and running. We could repay her kindness and hospitality by carrying out the Homam that reaches out to her and cleans up or rather suctions out the myriad number of negative thoughts, speeches viruses, and germs in the air as Tavayogi and Lord Shiva say. Since 2021, Prapanjam has been making contact or rather the Siddhas turned up to connect us with her. They brought in within us her energies that further nurtured the flame of devotion. Just as the rich can help the poor, it is only when one is energized or charged to the maximum that he can possibly uplift another. 

Agathiyar in listing helping another to raise his or her standard of living and helping to evolve further in his 5 tenets to mankind, provided an opportunity for us at AVM to fulfill this tenet too. He allowed us to peer into the world of the poor back then during the years 2013 to 2019 by having us feed and distribute clothing and groceries to the poor. It saddens me to see how they are struggling to stay alive. Poverty envelops all aspects of their lives, stunting their growth in many aspects till they are embroiled in petty matters. Their world appears dark with no promise of seeing even a ray of light much less a rainbow or a silver lining. Poverty can cause irreversible damage to some. While for some their spirits are low, and they lose their self-esteem, some others are determined never to give up and stay alive against all odds. Although our resources were limited and we could only provide the basics for their daily sustenance and survival, we could see considerable change for the better and upliftment in their lives by the time we were asked to step out of it by Agathiyar and move on with our own journey towards the light. 

The Siddhas thrived to elevate the human species to that of the nature of the Gods. Agathiyar presented the 5 tenets to mankind at the Tamil Sangam, so that mankind shall gain salvation. This is true of them for till this day they have never given up on us although we tend to give up on them in the face of adversities. Agathiyar is said to have initiated human societies of that era into the age-old cultural order known as the Siddhar Neri. He imparted wisdom to its people and passed on the knowledge of medicine to many. 

P.Karthigayan in his book "History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu", Notion Press, 2016, points out that the Siddhas could achieve much during their times as they were bestowed with the gift of "performing spiritual, medical, and scientific marvels". "They claimed their presence in all locations, interacting with people over various periods", made possible due to their long life spans, and a result of attaining immortality. P.Karthigayan says that the Gods, immortals, and long-lived kings, and scholars "had chiseled and shaped the society then." We now understand Agathiyar's disappointment on seeing the present society and lamenting to us that no one follows the Siddha way of living. 

In trying their very best to bring us into their fold, their path, and the way, they help to erase past karma through numerous means, escaping from its clutches, so that we break the cycle of birth and death, and permanently join these spiritual masters in carrying out the divine will. For one who carries out the divine will, no karma attaches. He is freed. And so as we progress on this path of evolution, it is expected of us and our responsibility to help those souls in the lower stages of evolution to attain the higher states too. 

It is truly difficult to chart a course. For instance, there are several options in every moment of our lives that demand either action or inaction. If we are to act what would be appropriate? There are a myriad of possibilities, repercussions, dangers, etc in choosing to act in a particular way. So it seems like we lay one stone at a time and take a further step. Similarly, Agathiyar too lays a stone at a time and watches our thoughts and reactions. If we take the bite and make the move, he moves to lay another. As there is no clear path and destination waiting for all of us, the path is created as and when a Sadhaka begins and takes another step. If we choose to ignore or sideline or halt or are distracted the journey changes accordingly. In this sense, I believe that all the sciences of predictions merely predict one of several possibilities. It is not cast in stone. Neither is it applicable for life. The many simple and small actions of ours do change and divert or strengthen the path as we walk along. 

How do we make contact with Prapanjam? First, we engage with her agents the Siddhas. Agathiyar had mentioned that he was in the Prapanjam and that the Prapanjam was in him. So what better way than to engage with him first through Puja. After 20 years he brought us to connect with her and took the backseat henceforth having her look after our affairs piloting us further into the inner realms besides caring for our simplest day-to-day affairs.

WORKING ON THE INNER BEAUTY

Ramalinga Adigal's transformation is an excellent example of a man becoming God-man and rising to the divine state at par or rather gaining the attributes of God himself. We look towards Swami Saravanananda's beautiful  English rendering of the original in Tamil of Ramalinga  Adigal's "Arutperunjhoti  Agaval", published by the  Ramalinga  Mission, Madras to get some hints at what and how Ramalinga Adigal transformed himself. With "zeal or great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective, discernment or the ability to judge well, freed from religious bigotry, and freed from the clutches of religious scriptures, freed of doubt and misconception, made him pure and radiant." We learn that there are "the various voids or spaces or spiritual planes which a soul has to pass through before attaining Godhead." We are told that these voids are not external to our being and can be realized within ourselves. We are told that the effulgence  (Jothi) abides in the inmost void. With a radiant body comes a radiant vision to pry into the secrets and mysteries of the nature of earth, water, fire, air, space, and creation of the human body, and the entire evolutionary process. 

This then is a journey in transforming the physical and gross material body into a pure and radiant body and traveling within through various voids and spaces or spiritual planes, removing curtains or veils that surround the soul and prevent it from having a clear vision of the great effulgence or Jothi rising up from one plane of consciousness to the next higher plane and finally arrive at the effulgence performing all its functions.

What a wonderful journey. Can each of us attain this state? Agathiyar told us that many can attain the state of a Siddha but none has been where Ramalinga Adigal dared to venture. I believe with our Effort, Discipline, and His Grace, it might be possible. This is what we see in Ramalinga Adigal's life too. 

As I am typing this piece the current is piercing the crown of my head. Each time it happens attention is forcefully diverted to it. It somehow subdues the breath bringing it to subside. My whole body draws me to remain still and observe and experience the moment.  I guess this is the state of Nishpati Avastha where Kevala Kumbhaka or Sahaja Kumbhaka which is "the holding of the breath" happens spontaneously. I have lost interest in speaking, reading, and watching others give talks and speak. I would rather watch my breath and the sensation in the crown. I guess I have to learn to prolong these moments that have become very regular. There is something to discover from these phenomena I believe. I guess the days of my struggle to meditate will be over soon. It would come on its own without my effort I believe going by what is happening currently. As a Sadhaka I try my level best to guide other Sadhakas too. I had replied to one such Sadhaka who questioned "Why should they say to include meditation _ the process of shutting down the external world maybe_ in our worship? Actually, does it do any good?" earlier.  I replied to her "It has to happen on its own ma. Comes spontaneously. True meditation happens when everything shuts down on its own and not in trying to keep them out." It is futile trying to tame the mind. It is a struggle to beat the temptations in life. We are part and parcel of this world and all its happenings. We are connected to each other. There is no escape but to live in this illusion or Maya. But the secret is to try and stay aloft. Take in the pleasures of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell but be prepared to let go any time the need arises. Take in the pleasures that money and wealth can buy but be prepared to let go too. Enjoy the privileges that come with position and authority but be prepared to let go. Live life with a purpose and to the fullest but be prepared to let go when the time comes.

Ramalinga Adigal speaks of spontaneous transformation within, where he says only the divine would know the nature and extent of the misery that came with it. He finally lets go of all his efforts letting the divine work its way through him. He sings, "We will not worry no more, neither will we attempt to slog or work towards it no further." 

இனித்துயர் படமாட்டேன் விட்டே னே
என்குரு மேல்ஆணை இட்டே னே.
இனிப்பாடு படமாட்டேன் விட்டே னே
என்னப்பன் மேல்ஆணை இட்டே னே.

Agathiyar too in coming to comfort me and my fear and ignorance on what transpired over two days in 2022, told me that there was no effort necessary henceforth and that the energies would do their work. We shall withdraw within and wait for the guru's grace to work its beauty in us. P. Karthigayan in his "History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu, Notion Press, 2016 beautifully summarizes the Siddha path. He writes, "The Siddha cult is initiated on one by fate, encouraged by his nature, kindled by god's will, endured by his aspiration and accomplished by his spontaneous knowledge." One could never come closer than this in describing the core elements that are needed if one were to come to the Siddha path. Even the handful of us who are relatively new to this path can advocate the truth in this. For instance, I was initiated into the path by fate too; encouraged by my nature to thoroughly learn everything that I laid my hands on; every act of mine was kindled by God's will, sustained by his grace, and halted at times out of his compassion and love; indeed I endured it all seeing his aspiration for me to see through his will, and finally I shall accomplish that by the gift of his spontaneous knowledge. 

JOTTINGS

At times I think ignorance might be bliss. Our forefathers were ignorant of many happenings and hence led a peaceful life. Just imagine what knowledge has done to us these days. If ignorance led our forefathers to live in fear of the unknown, knowledge has led us to live in fear of the known. We need to be cautious and remind ourselves of dangers lurking around the corner or at every bend, and keep indoors for fear of contracting diseases, illnesses, etc. Many things that were a mystery then when probed and known come to haunt us each second. I guess that is why Agathiyar often says not to probe the source and the end. I guess that is the reason all the ideas conceived from reading and learning from others were put on hold for some 14 years and replaced with experience that came by walking with the Siddhas. 

The net has replaced books these days though the die-hard still goes for the books. There is so much information about almost everything on the net these days. We seem to be drowning in news and information that comes from all sides, through the net, and speaking to others. Everyone is only too eager to spill what they know and their opinion about everything else. I too I suppose have joined the bandwagon. I think we need a break from all this onslaught of information. We need to find some time to be with ourselves, to be alone, to be sitting with ourselves, as a witness to whatever thought that arises in these moments of silence, and making sure not to pursue even that thought for it would be akin to an active mind engaged in external matters. We draw our attention to the breath that brings us to focus on the Agya chakra. The breathing stops momentarily on its own. The breath is still. There is stillness. When thought settles what could possibly remain? The Self. Dhakshanamurthy, the all knower. Everything shall dawn on us then. But sadly we including me can only engage with and remain in the source for these few moments only to continue the dance again. I too am desperately trying to prolong these moments. But the lure of the world is too strong. The lure of the flesh and its sensations, the lure of taste and its addictions, the lure of the sights, the lure of sound, the lure of smell, and the lure of our thoughts, seem too strong to break away. We have to admit that we are pretty weak. The day we are strong enough we shall break the ties and the cycle. Till then it would be partial attempts made to break away from both the circle and cycle.

Besides the good and positive the net is used to disperse hatred and enmity too. Hate speeches and accusations are hurled even by those professing that they follow a guru. I wonder how the guru does not stop this or maybe they are just following the guru or think that their actions might or would please him. 

At times it looks like we are using God for our desires and purpose. When one who claims that he is devoted and loves God, chooses to stay indifferent when God assigns a task or decrees a no-no, choosing to follow his or her heart, then walks up to him, reaching out to him or asking that God bless his or her efforts, what is God supposed to do but to bless our ventures or train of thoughts or our actions. If we had instead chosen to live his vision and see through his desires would not that be far way above devotion and love for him? Only in doing his work shall one see contentment and completeness. 

Just the other day I went over to the pharmacy to get something that could soothe my 3-year-old granddaughter who was coughing badly. The one who attended to me opened up that she has been doing Yoga for the past 2 years under the tutelage of a Yoga master running several centers. She was only 20. I was so delighted that she had started early. It was pretty obvious that she was seeing results. Take up a chore or task, service to God or others, puja or rituals, or Yoga and do it this instant. You shall see the transformation take place. 

When gurus are known to beat around the bush in revealing the source and we are told that these secrets are hidden as Paripaasai in the songs of Siddhas, Swami Vivekananda had no time for games. He confronted his guru Ramakrishna Paramahansa to show him God. A classic tale is told in "The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Introduction by Swami Nikhilananda", of how Ramakrishna gave Narendra @ Swami Vivekananda the experience of God rather than speaking about him or describing him.

"In a state of mental conflict and torture of soul, Narendra (Swami Vivekananda) came to Sri Ramakrishna at Dakshineswar. He was then eighteen years of age and had been in college for two years. He entered the Master's room accompanied by some light-hearted friends. At Sri Ramakrishna's request, he sang a few songs, pouring his whole soul into them, and the Master went into Samadhi. A few moments later Sri Ramakrishna suddenly left his seat, took Narendra by the hand, and led him to the screened verandah north of his room. They were alone. Addressing Narendra most tenderly, as if he were a friend of long acquaintance, the Master said: "Ah! You have come very late. Why have you been so unkind as to make me wait all these days? My ears are tired of hearing the futile words of worldly men. Oh, how I have longed to pour my spirit into the heart of someone fitted to receive my message!" Then, standing before Narendra with folded hands, he addressed him as Narayana, born on earth to remove the misery of humanity." Narendra was startled, "What is this I have come to see?" he said to himself. "He must be stark mad. Why, I am the son of Viswanath Dutta. How dare he speak this way to me?"

In answer to Narendra's question, "Sir, have you seen God?" the Master said: "Yes, I have seen God. I have seen Him more tangibly than I see you. I have talked to Him more intimately than I am talking to you." Narendra was amazed. These words he could not doubt. This was the first time he had ever heard a man saying that he had seen God. But he could not reconcile these words of the Master with the scene that had taken place on the verandah only a few moments before. He concluded that Sri Ramakrishna was a monomaniac, and returned home rather puzzled in mind.

During his second visit, about a month later, suddenly, at the touch of the Master, Narendra felt overwhelmed and saw the walls of the room and everything around him whirling and vanishing. "What are you doing to me?" he cried in terror. "I have father and mother at home." He saw his own ego and the whole universe was almost swallowed in a nameless void. With a laugh the Master easily restored him. Narendra thought he might have been hypnotized, but he could not understand how a monomaniac could cast a spell over the mind of a strong person like himself.

But during his third visit, Narendra fared no better. This time, at the Master's touch, he lost consciousness entirely. A few more meetings completely removed from Narendra's mind the last traces of the notion that Sri Ramakrishna might be a monomaniac or wily hypnotist. 

Narendra, because of his Brahmo upbringing, considered it wholly blasphemous to look at man as one with his Creator. One day at the temple garden he laughingly said to a friend: "How silly! This jug is God! This cup is God! Whatever we see is God! And we too are God! Nothing could be more absurd." Sri Ramakrishna came out of his room and gently touched him. Spellbound, he immediately perceived that everything in the world was indeed God. A new universe opened around him. Returning home in a dazed state, he found there too that the food, the plate, the eater himself, and the people around him, were all God. When he walked in the street, he saw that the cabs, the horses, the streams of people, the buildings, were all Brahman. It took him several days to recover his normal self. He had a foretaste of the great experiences yet to come and realized that the words of the Vedanta were true."

Later attaining the state of a guru himself, he wrote "I could preach you thousands of sermons but they would not make you religious until you practiced the method. These are the truths of the sages of all countries, of all ages, of men pure and unselfish, who had no motive but to do good to the world. In all religions, we find that the truths they teach are the results of the experiences of particular persons. Thus it is clear that all the religions of the world have been built upon that one universal and adamantine foundation of all our knowledge that is direct experience. The teachers all saw God, they all saw their own souls, they saw their future, they saw their eternity, and what they saw they preached." 

"To get the subtle perception we have to begin with the grosser perceptions. We have to get hold of that which is setting the whole engine in motion. That is the Prana, the most obvious manifestation of which is the breath. Then along with the breath, we shall slowly enter the body which will enable us to find out about the subtle forces, the nerve currents that are moving all over the body. As soon as we perceive and learn to feel them we shall begin to get control over them and over the body. The mind is also set in motion by these different nerve currents, so at last we shall reach the state of perfect control over the body and the mind making both our servants. The man who has discovered and learned how to manipulate the internal forces will get the whole of nature under his control. Very few people have the power to grasp the higher, fewer still the patience to attain it" 

My farewell message in the Amudha Surabhi group reflected the words of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda too.

Agathiyar took time to spell out the ways and means of saving our souls. Agathiyar surprises us with the message and assurance that all of us shall eventually reach the state of Jeevan Mukti. But we need to come out of Maya first. If all this while we have been working on the body that is only a sheath or covering, adorning it with cosmetics, clothing, and ornaments, bathing it, feeding it, and praising the self and each other and inflating the ego, now he wants us to work on the soul. He wants us to take responsibility for our actions, and change accordingly, only then the soul come out of Maya. The soul needs to grieve over the sufferings of others. Then compassion begins to well in us. It's only when the soul feels the pain of another that it shall come to and remain on the path of the Siddhas. We need to work on this. 

Bringing us to understand our role and true purpose in taking this birth, Agathiyar slowly brought us to understand the soul within and work on it too. We understood the soul to be the bridge that connected the body with the spirit. He brought us to strengthen the soul or gain Atma Balam by using the body as a tool. If initially we were told to gather merits or points by carrying out acts of dharma and service, leading to an accumulation of good karma that can be used to offset and balance those wrongs done intentionally or otherwise, slowly he brought us to realize that beyond and above collecting Bonus Link points that can be exchanged for gifts later on, these acts of charity serve the very purpose of dissolving the stone-hearted who never gave a second glance or look at the plight of the poor and hungry. If through worship the soul cried for the grace of the divine, his blessings, or arul and darshan or vision, now by doing charity, his soul now grieves for the pain and sufferings of a small section of society who are exposed to continuous suffering and misery. Then his glance falls on the sufferings and pain of animals too. Ramalinga Adigal went a step ahead and it pained him to see the plants and crops wither. Compassion arises in the hearts. Only when the soul griefs for the sufferings of others shall one come out of Maya says Agathiyar. The day we win over Maya and its grip and hold on us is the day we could possibly come to the fold of the Siddhas. The day compassion arises in us is the day we gain access to the Siddhas.

Hence the Siddha Margam is not for the masses as seen in Bakti and the temples, says Agathiyar strongly. It is definitely not for window shoppers and spectators. It is not for people who come to fulfill their material desires. I pointed out the need to serve through my blog writings revealing the reasons as told by Agathiyar. I have begged, pleaded, and came out harsh on those who chose to watch rather than help. Yet I could not melt those hearts. I could not trigger the compassion in them. My charm did not work on them. I dropped many from the group for their indifference to the plight of the poor and to my requests. 

I have failed in trying to bring more people to do service to our fellow mankind. My next course of action would be that of Ramalinga Adigal too, "Vanthen Kadai Virithen. Vanguvaar Illai. Selgindren. I came with my wares. Sadly there was no buyer. I shall leave." As Ramalinga Adigal locked the doors to Satya Nyana Sabai, I shall bring the shutters down on Amudha Surabhi. We are moving to Siddhivalagam. 

THE TOOLS

For those looking for a path and have come to accept that of the Siddhas, it is not enough that we gain bookish knowledge about them and take the stage to preach on the Siddhas. One has to travel with the Siddhas carrying out all that they did and still do. Before embarking on this journey we need to shed all that we brought with us, the baggage of karma, ideas and notions, views and perspectives, the readings and the listenings, and many more. The Siddhas shall guide us accordingly. Just as they had me carry out atonements and remedies for my past karma and instilled in me to be on the lookout forever so that we do not commit more horrible acts that bring on more misery in our lives, they shall have us carry out good deeds that shall accumulate merits to offset the demerit points that we had collected in the past. Once the score is balanced we can move on with our lives always cautious of the repercussions of all our actions. Just as they started me with their worship besides that of Lord Ganapathy and Lord Shiva one has to begin worshiping the Gods and the Siddhas. This will go a long way and come in handy and when most needed later on in this journey. The initiation mantra for a start is a link between both worlds. Once we are connected through the mantra the Gods and Siddhas are in constant touch and contact and within our reach though we might not be aware initially. The many pilgrimages and visits to the places pointed out by Siddhas further cement the bond between God and Man. Take this up too. The many rituals that are given to us to carry out draw the bridge between both worlds. Soon you shall see that they come down to us in numerous forms and means and make contact. Once connected through the mantra and the bridge is drawn down, they have access to our homes and our lives. We have invited them in. Then our lives take a turn for they then begin to dictate the course of our lives. We become a potential candidate to be molded in their ways. Their messages come to us and through us too. We travel together with others who are receptive to their ideas and practices. A congregation of souls starts. Then the solo journey begins where one has to take time away from others to work on his skills and polish them. While some might pursue further others might need to come back to continue in another birth. To those who are determined and disciplined they shall soon see the results of the practices given be it worship of higher beings, rituals like libation and homam, asanas and pranayama, and the higher limbs of Yoga. 

After working on our karma, our actions, the physical and gross body is nurtured and strengthened to receive divine grace that comes through the hidden energies in the potential state in us waiting to be aroused by the divine hand that gives a hand to all our previous efforts. We are skylifted literally to receive the blessings and their energies that come in torrents and as torrential falls, drenching us to the very cell in bliss. Our efforts stop while theirs starts. The possibilities are limitless says Ramalinga Adigal. 

Dr.C.Srinivasan in his "The Philosophy of Ramalinga Swami", Ilakkia Nilayam, Tiruchi (1968), mentions that Ramalinga Adigal "says that he has tasted the bliss of all the sixteen stages contemplated by the Vedas by the permutation and combination of the four paths such as Devotion, Action, Meditation, and Wisdom one after another, and attained higher and truer perfection with the aid of the Supreme Grace, besides the ultimate goal of all the six heavenly avenues such as Vedantham, Siddhantham and so on, (Suddha Siddhanatham, Suddha Vedantham, Suddha Nadantham, Suddha Kalantham, and Suddha Bhodantham) leading to Divinity.  He has further given an exposition of his admittance into Sanmargam by the bounteous and boundless descent of the auspicious Supreme Being in him which has resulted in his immortality. He has specifically defined and repeatedly sworn that his path is Sanmargam in which the aspirant becomes immortal."

This should be our ideal and dream. Even if we do not make it in this lifetime at least we can start now and sow the seed, water it, and wait for another birth where it shall grow and give us the results of our efforts, harvesting and enjoying the fruits of our labor. Let us jump on the bandwagon and head into town. 

I feel duty-bound to share some of the tools that came in handy on my journey with readers. Hopefully, it would be of some help to seekers, aspirants, and sadhakas like me. Joy is in sharing, right? 

LOOKING FOR A PATH?

Can one become a Siddha by mere reading of Siddha texts? Can one become a Siddha by researching and writing about them? Can one become a Siddha by reading their Nadi for himself and others? All these shall provide knowledge about the Siddhas and make one well-versed in the subject of Siddhas. That is all that it does. One has to walk the path. What is then the path of the Siddhas? Do we need to bring changes to our present lifestyle and times and begin to lead a life like them as they did in ancient times? If yes what was life back then? So what did Agathiyar mean when he told me to come to the path of the Siddhas in my very first Nadi reading? Besides worshiping Lord Ganapathy and Lord Shiva, he told me to worship him (Agathiyar) and the Siddhas too. I was familiar with the former two Gods but worship of the Siddhas was something new and unheard of back then when I was 43 in 2002. Accompanying me throughout my reading was the 24-year-old Sivabalan who brought in the Nadi reader Sentilkumar of Avinashi following the tradition that his parents and uncle Sivamani had set. He immediately gave me or rather sold me a painting of Agathiyar for RM11. So I bought Agathiyar paying a price and brought him home. When I completed paying homage to the Nadi and the Siddhas for documenting my life in these dried palm leaves, called Nadikku Dhaanam, I learned the ritual of worshiping the Siddhas with flowers and gifts and reciting their names. Thus my journey began in worshipping the Siddhas in the privacy and comfort of my home. The first place I headed for to learn more about Agathiyar was the local affiliate of the parent Agathiyar Sanmarga Sangam (Ongaarakudil) as I remembered them collecting donations on the streets. I headed for Dengkil and learned about the movement and its guru Thavathiru Rengarajah Desigar, from Anbarasan, Vasanthi, and Manivannan. I purchased VCD's of talks given by their guru and books in print.  In 2005, I came before Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Agathiyar Gnana Peedham (of Kallar) who was here to officiate an affiliate body of his Peedham. Now I had a guru who officially initiated me into the path. I followed him a month later to India where he took me places and showed me miracles. He brings me to include my family too in the puja. I had a guru who helped me polish my skills in Yoga practice in 2007 picked up from books, fine-tuned the rituals including the Homam that he had initiated over the phone, and introduced new practices and rituals to enhance and uplift my standing. In 2013 my family and I traveled to Kallar ashram after Agathiyar sounded an alarm in the Nadi. Agathiyar sent youths to my home after their Nadi reading the same year to watch and participate in our home puja. I guess I was an accomplished Sadhaka then who could show others the path too.  Agathiyar initiated us to carry out charity giving us the numbers of volunteers needed for this task and showing us to the recipients of these aid. 

Then it was time to turn our attention inward. He had me wind up the WhatsApp groups Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) and its charity arm Amudha Surabhi which kept us updated on puja and charity in 2019. After Tavayogi officially initiated us into Yoga showing us some Asanas and Pranayama techniques, these practices triggered energies, in the Muladara chakra, awakening the sleeping giant unknowingly, that saw the body go through pain and discomfort. But Agathiyar was by my side assuring me that it was all part of the process. Seeing the pain come on in 2010 and leave in 2012 only to make a comeback in 2016 and later in 2018, it left me completely in 2020 after the energies that had ponded in the Manipuraka chakra burst its banks and made their way in a jiffy to the Saharara chakra where it dwells till this moment reminding me of its presence by giving me sensations of a whirlpool and petals flowering at times and a piercing or rather stabbing or probing sensation at other times. After Sariyai, Kriyai, and Yogam, Agathiyar had us know the nuances of the many possibilities in Yoga that were identified as the 8 limbs or Ashtanga Yoga. 

This is how I have arrived to where I am today taking up Agathiyar's call in the Nadi to come to his path. Though the paths and experiences are many, those who do not have any inkling of where to start may follow what I did and pray that Agathiyar and the Siddhas will guide you further. Have a safe journey.

BECOMING LIGHT

When I accompanied Tavayogi on his morning walk after I arrived at his Kallar ashram a day before in 2005, he told me that Agathiyar had come the night before. I asked him how he came (appeared). He told me in the form of a light. When he sent me and my family to worship Agathiyar in a granite statue that he had placed in the Kallar hills behind his ashram, he told me that he had installed the statue in the exact spot where Agathiyar appeared to him as light. Whenever he gives his speeches preaching about the Siddhas he mentions that they are still with us in the form of light, quoting several Siddha songs. We are told that Ramalinga Adigal and his disciple Jeganatha Swamigal too attained the said state. Days before Supramania Swami went into Samadhi in 2007, he told me over the phone that he had seen the light. When Tavayogi went into Samadhi in 2018, Dhavanthri came to us through a devotee and told us that Tavayogi was now in the form of light too. 

What is Light? Oxford Languages defines light as similar to illumination, brightness, luminescence, luminosity, shining, gleaming, gleam, brilliance, radiance, lustre, glowing, glow, blaze, glare, dazzle, incandescence, phosphorescence, sunlight, moonlight, starlight, lamplight, firelight, electric light, gaslight, ray of light, shaft of light, beam of light, effulgence, refulgence, lambency, fulguration, daylight, light of day, natural light, daylight hours, daytime, day, hours of sunlight. Its opposite or lack of it brings on darkness, night-time. Light too is "an expression in someone's eyes indicating a particular emotion or mood." Light is also an "understanding of a problem or mystery; enlightenment." Light is "an area of something brighter or paler than its surroundings." Light is also "a device used to produce a flame or spark." Light is "a window or opening to let light in." Light is also "a person eminent in a particular sphere of activity." Light is to "provide with light or lighting; illuminate." Light means to "make (something) start burning; ignite." Light is to "have a considerable or sufficient amount of natural light; not dark." Light is also (of a colour) pale.

What is this light in religious and spiritual terms? When I had a doubt if the fire from the sun, a forest fire, a matchstick, a gas burner or stove, or a homam were all one and could be worshipped as light, Tavayogi took me to my prayer room and closed the door and drew the curtains close. There was the oil lamp that I had kept lit and burning 24/7. He told me that the fire at the end of the wick was Sudar. The light or Jothi was the orange-red light that filled and lit up the entire room.  

How then do these Siddhas transform their gross bodies into light particles? Ramalinga Adigal in attaining the state came back to reveal the mystery in his songs the Arutpa. The final closure to his life chapter was shown in meditation to Mother Mira Alfassa who related it to Gangadharan. The article "A Vision of Dematerialization of Ramalinga's Living Body" was carried in the now-defunct website http://www.ramalinga.com. 

Even before he attained the state on the eve of Thaipusam on 30.1.1874, his guru knew Ramalingam's state as Gnana Bharathi writes in his “Tamil Mannin Thanthai”. Drawn by the divine and having worshiped him since young, at 12 years of age Ramalingam followed a guru and traveled the hills and the plains to the abodes of the Siddhas. Coming to know that there was indeed a way to remain immortal he sat in tapas for 12 years under the tutelage of his guru. At the end of the 12-year tapas, his body glittered like gold and his guru himself could not bring himself to see Ramalingam as he shone with a blinding brightness. Could this be the reason Ramalinga Adigal covered himself or rather draped himself in cloth from head to toe in later years? This reminds me of Supramani Swami who left a window and opening so that he could watch the Arunachala hill sitting in the living area of his kudil, soon was forced to close the opening as he said that he could not bring himself to look at the fiery hill where Siddhas and Rishis went on with their chores. 

Gnana Bharathi writes that Ramalingam had attained a body that could not be affected by the five elements and could not be brought down by any other factors. His body was to know no hunger and thirst too, said his guru. His guru blessed him to teach the path to others so that they too could defeat death. Ramalingam was 24 then. 

Ramalingam came back to the society. What he saw disturbed him a lot. He felt the sufferings of the innocent people who were being manipulated by certain quarters in all ways possible. Ramalingam began to teach people to worship the Jothi. If before these we were shown god as having many forms, he brought us to the worship of light. From form to no form. For one who had abstained from naming his guru, he abstained from giving God a form too. It is said that numerous attempts were made to take his photo but surprisingly his image could never be caught on film. Could the reason his photo could not be taken - be to ensure that no one would deviate and be sidetracked in worshiping him instead of the formless God he was talking about? 

Coming back to the society of the day, he fought the problems that had cropped up and infiltrated society during his absence and years of seclusion. Besides discrimination based on caste and the multitude of religions that had arisen, he saw other faiths moving in and encroaching on the locals who were in a dire state of disarray. He began a journey of propagating his newfound path, the worship of light. Beginning from Chennai his journey brought him to Thiruvotriyur and Tirutani. Moving to Pondicherry and then later to Chidambaram, Sirgazhi, and Vaitheeswaram, he moved south to Madurai, Thiruvathavur, Thiruperunturai, and Karunkuzhi. He briefly goes back to Madurai, before settling at Karunkuzhi from where he used to frequent Chidambaram. The locals at Vadalur donated a piece of land some 80 acres in size. He started the Dharma Salai to feed the hungry; the Sanmarga Sangam to bring together his followers and the Sanmarga Bhotini Padasalai to educate them in divine knowledge or jnanam. Staying at Karunguzhi he began to supervise and direct the construction of all these buildings. 

Before he entered the room at Sittivalagam Thirumaligai in 1874 and merged with God he told those who had gathered that although he would be out of sight, he would be around another 42,000 years as a Gnana Siddhar and after that take on the form of a Pranava Degi or the Pranava Degam. Gnana Bharathi ends his book by mentioning that Ramalinga Adigal went into a Peranandha Nittirai or the sleep of joy. 

The rest is told by Mother Mira Alfassa.

He was verily a supreme form of the divine. A flood of light radiated from his pure and luminous body in all directions. The intensity of the flood of light that radiated from his whole body was very powerful and one shall have the strength and capacity to bear and receive it. My (Mother Mira Alfassa) whole body vibrated with joy and pleasantness because of the vision of the light of his body.

After some time of concentration, he rose up and saw the physical sky. The full moon was shedding its blissful cool rays over the earth. A little distance away from the moon was seen a very bright dazzling star of light. Vallalar poured his concentrated gaze at it for some time. He became enraptured with blissful joy in his heart, which radiated on his face. A little time thereafter, he again sat on the white seat of the plank and entered into deep concentration.

Though Vallalar was inside the closed and bolted room, he could see clearly the whole universe with its tiers of many worlds of mind, life, and the physical including the physical earth and sky with its moon, stars, and clouds.

When he was thus absorbed in deep concentration, an effulgent truth-light of grace broke out from his heart and with its unique heat began to burn his radiant physical body very slowly, as at a snail's speed, and that in an upward direction, from the heart towards the head. The burning of the body may be somewhat likened to that of an incense stick which however burns downwards by its inner heat of fire, forming ash covering but without the falling down of the ash-form. 

When the upper part of his radiant body was burnt completely from heart to head, there was left in its place a form of pure white substance, which also radiated its light of consciousness. The burnt part, however, showed all its features intact and clearly, and even the burnt hair of his head was seen distinctly as luminous white hair. 

Then the heat of the pure light of grace descended to burn the lower part.

After the whole body was thus burnt, Vallalar was seen as a bodily form of pure white substance from head to foot, radiating its light. The white form kept intact all the different kinds of cells of his body and all the distinctive features and formations of his interior and exterior body. His bodily form did not shrink in size after the burning. I saw no visible flame nor sensed its heat during the burning of his living body, nor smoke, nor any bad smell as of burnt tissues, nor heard any cracking noise as of burnt bones. Instead, there was a sweet fragrance since the time his body began to burn and it spread everywhere. I sensed in my heart an ineffable calmness and silence, which gave me in turn a state of bliss.

Now a second stage of burning began. The unique heat of grace light began to burn slowly Valalalar's luminous form of white substance from head to foot downwards. When his white substance full of its radiating light, was thus burnt completely, the white substance became very fine sub-atomic conscious particles, which permeated and pervaded the entire universe and the farther pure worlds of consciousness beyond. The fine, white, and conscious particles with their radiating light also entered into and got distributed everywhere on the earth and even in matter. After the universal pervasive distribution of the particles, they could be seen no more and disappeared from my sight. Now there pervaded everywhere the sweet, soft, and fine fragrance of camphor which gave my body a blissful sensation and enraptured my heart as well.

Then I had the rare vision of Vallalar's universal luminous golden form. In fact, the immensity of his golden form is contained in the whole universe. This form too disappeared from my view and was replaced by another vision in which I saw the golden light of truth-knowledge and grace entering into all the directions more speedily than the lightning. It permeated and pervaded the whole universe and the farther pure worlds of consciousness. It entered into our earth and all its crores of the physical forms of beings and objects and in the apparently insensible matter and even in the very dark realm of the vast in conscience. All the forms that were permeated by the golden light of truth changed into golden forms of beings and objects. The golden light entered my whole Adhara including the physical body. My body felt in all the cells vibrations of ease and pleasantness. Then I heard some words of grace. However, they were indistinctly heard and could not be deciphered, as I was absorbed in a rapture of bliss due to the sublime vision and experiences. Thus, the vision lasted an hour and ended.

Agathiyar in coming to bless the couple who are playing host to Agathiyar's statue formally at AVM, for their tireless efforts walking the path told them that it was easy to join the Pantheon of Siddhas but there could only be one Ramalinga Adigal. He told them that walking the path, adoring the paintings and idols of Siddhas, and worshipping them, they now have to reach out to the Prapanjam and show them the way too just as Ramalinga Adigal came to show us back then. He said that eventually they shall be led towards the light. This is the light that Tavayogi reveals of the Siddhas' appearance and the vibration that accompanies it as Agathiyar tells us was his true form. In asking me to share the internal changes and transformation taking place in me Agathiyar said that it would be a guide to others wanting to take on the journey in reaching this state. Stopping over at the morning market to buy breakfast this morning after sending my daughter to work, I met a fishmonger after many years. He too must have noticed the change in me for he kept telling me I had gone through a transformation. An elderly devotee at a recent prayer highlighted this too to me. Agathiyar himself came and brushed my hair telling me "This is the result of the internal transformation". My hair was turning black something that I had noticed but was unsure of. Yesterday looking into the mirror to comb my hair, I saw new black hair growth in my beard too.

Mahatma Gandhi was known to walk briskly. So did I in all my days except during the 2 1/2 year period when a pain in my lower back that ran through to my toes held me back and I had to keep pace with my family. When Agathiyar sent the youths over to my home in 2013 to watch our home puja, participate in it, and carry out charity I was equally energetic going to the ground and participating in all the activities that we drew up. The company of these youths kept me alive. When I asked my grandchildren why they wanted me around, they told me it was because I played with them. I go down to their level and engage in play as a kid of 6, 4, and 3 would. The company of these children keeps me alive. And so when Agathiyar asked that we start back our annual puja that coincides with the Thaipusam festivities held all over, and since he, Ramalinga Adigal, and Vaalai herself asked to invite her, I decided to invite all the children and their parents to come together and celebrate with the 10-year-old Vaalai this time around. 

In calling me to the path, through my very first Nadi reading, the option and choice were there for me to take up the call or look the other way. I took up the call. I was given a painting of Agathiyar and a book containing the names of the Siddhas immediately. I dread to think how my life would have turned up if I had turned a deaf ear then and walked out. Worshipping solo initially, Agathiyar sent me Tavayogi to refine and fine-tune the worship. Tavayogi had me open up my puja to include my family too. Agathiyar had me open my doors to youths who came in droves after learning about the puja held in my home, from reading the Nadi, and from their friends who frequented my home. The time has come to open our doors to the children too and have them worship the Siddhas and carry out the rituals. I guess if I had named my home Agathiyar's Garden or Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) back then for easy identification, sharing of location and to carry updates on puja and charity, this time around it would be named AVM Kids. 

REJOICING IN DIVINITY

Today is Pongal or the harvest festival. A day to rejoice. I was surprised to find my beard too has begun to turn black. It is said that if one lives till the age of 120 a new set of teeth would replace those that had fallen. Indeed the body is an amazing instrument that is both useful in this material world and making a leap into the spiritual too. No wonder the saints have said that human birth is rare. Rather than spend this birth exploring the external they took a trip within to explore the inner reaches of the mysterious realms and planes rarely seen by others. These experiences came forth as numerous songs and outpourings of these saints. They brought forth the immense treasures that they gathered on the way in these verses. Though it has come to us through many means and forms, one tends to question if they have been tampered with, adulterated, simplified, modified, or expanded. There are two schools of thought we come to discover. One is that of the Vedhanti who drops the material or gross body considering it as filth and an obstacle to higher spiritual achievements. The other is as in the Siddhas' philosophy where one works meticulously to care for and strengthen the physical and gross to use it to achieve the higher states. In the latter, we can strengthen each sheath or Kosas with certain practices and tapas. We could reverse its nature bringing it to a finer and purer state where the divine descends. For this to take place one has to walk the three phases namely the journey on the purgative way, the journey on the illuminative way, and the journey on the unitive way. G. Valmikanathan summarizes these phases in his book "Makers of Indian Literature - Ramalingam", published by Sahitya Akademi (e-book at http://www.vallalar.org). The purgative way as the name suggests is purging oneself of all desires and attachments, of all imperfections, while the illuminative way which comes after the purgative way, is where one gains illumination, knowledge, and gnosis. The unitive way is where one "gallops towards the beckoning smile and the outstretched arms and is soon locked in an eternal embrace with the beloved, the eternal being, the Godhead, the ground of all beings." 

Henry Wei in his book "The Guiding Light of Lao Tzu, Synergy Books International, speaks about this mystic union.

"The mystic union represents the unique experience stemming from "the flight of the alone to the Alone" as the famous mystic Plotinus has so well expressed. Unfortunately, it cannot be easily attained much less isolated and measured and experimented upon in the laboratory. Its actuality is entirely based on the experience and confession of the mystic themselves who were completely convinced of its authenticity."

So it looks like it is impossible to dissect, prob, and understand mystic union. One has to accept it at face value. Henry Wei writes "Some skeptics have maintained that the mystics are victims of hallucination or self-hypnosis."

Henry Wei writes of those experiencing this mystic union: "Their scale of values changes radically; their attitude towards life changes too; their health improves; they have a sharper and deeper understanding and a clear spiritual vision."

Henri Wei brings what is regarded as impossible within our reach: "In all these, man is understood as being capable of attaining union with the mysterious cosmic influence or cosmic spirit or divine being." 

The Journey on the unitive way is where we see results. The transformation takes place rapidly without our doing. The Divine gifts us a body that can sustain his majestic presence. He personally sees through the necessary transformation to become him. Ramalinga Adigal affirms that the most impure body will become a body pure and imperishable. 

"The material body constituted of impure elements is transformed into a “Body of Pure Light” that emits a golden brightness. Then the Divinity descends and settles in the disciple's Heart, who becomes entirely filled by Him. Captivated by the "Ardent Fire" of the Divine Essence, the disciple stops thinking, feeling, acting, and even existing. He has become pure Love and Compassion, and this is what he spills on all the beings." (Source: http://www.ramalinga.com)

One crosses "the threshold of the Unitive Way where God with name and form will disappear and ultimately the worshiper and the worshiped, the seeker and the sought, the soul and the Godhead, will merge into each other. 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 exercised sovereignty over all the worlds. That power is the Great Effulgence of Grace." (Source: G.Vanmikanathan in his "Pathway to God Trod by Saint Ramalingar", Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay.)

"Divine Grace is a manifestation of the cosmic free will in operation. It can alter the course of events in a mysterious manner through its own unknown laws, which are superior to all natural laws and can modify the latter by interaction. It is the most powerful force in the universe. It descends and acts only when it is invoked by total self-surrender. It acts from within because god resides in the Heart of all beings. Its whisper can be heard only in a mind purified by self-surrender and prayer. It is a descent of god into the soul’s zone of awareness. It is a visitation of force unexpected and unpredictable. It is a voice spoken out of cosmic silence - It is ‘Cosmic Will which can perform authentic miracles under its own laws". (Source: Paul Brunton, ‘Divine Grace Through Total Self-Surrender’ by D.C. Desai)

"Discrimination of the Real from the unreal is the keynote of the journey on the Purgative Way; the travel from darkness to Light is the journey on the Illuminative Way; the resurrection from death to a life of deathlessness, to amritvam, is the journey on the Unitive Way." (Source: "Makers of Indian Literature - Ramalingar" by G.Vanmikanathan, published by Sahitya Akademi.) 

The Siddhas regard this birth as very auspicious and rare. Many other saints too have reminded us that it was a rare commodity and not to be wasted. The great grand old lady Avvai who was a saint and poet told us of the rarity of gaining birth.

“Rare indeed is to take human birth, rarer than that is to be born with a perfect human form, sight, hearing, and speech. Amongst them, it is rare to see one who does austerities and charity. When one does austerities and charity the gates to Godhead are opened.” 

Agathiyar came to the couple who are currently taking care of his bronze statue and that of Lobha Ma this afternoon and said the same and promised them a place too. A new chapter in their lives is to unfold too.

THE SIDDHA'S TOUCH

Speaking to a pharmacist friend and devotee we agreed that it seems odd that whatever is aged and traditional has come to be swept under the carpet and substituted by scientific findings that deliver proof, verification, and certification of test results, having these practices go through various stages of tests in the laboratory and on test subjects. The irony is that traditional medicine for instance has withstood time and has been dispensed for ages by traditional practitioners to hundreds, in their villages and has seen the test of time and seen positive results. So why do they need further certification from external bodies? We are made to understand toxicity-related issues and major safety concerns have to be addressed. We can understand the concern. 

"The use of herbal medicinal products and supplements has increased tremendously over the past three decades with not less than 80% of people worldwide relying on them for some part of primary healthcare. Although therapies involving these agents have shown promising potential with the efficacy of a good number of herbal products clearly established, many of them remain untested, and their use is either poorly monitored or not even monitored at all. The consequence of this is an inadequate knowledge of their mode of action, potential adverse reactions, contraindications, and interactions with existing orthodox pharmaceuticals and functional foods to promote both the safe and rational use of these agents. Since safety continues to be a major issue with the use of herbal remedies, it becomes imperative, therefore, that relevant regulatory authorities put in place appropriate measures to protect public health by ensuring that all herbal medicines are safe and of suitable quality." (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)

From https://www.bbc.co.uk/, we learn that there are three main stages of testing new drugs.

"The drugs are tested using computer models and skin cells grown using human stem cells in the laboratory. This allows the efficacy and possible side effects to be tested. Many substances fail this first test of a preclinical drug trial because they damage cells or do not seem to work. Drugs that pass the first stage are tested on animals in the second part of a preclinical drug trial. A typical test involves giving a known amount of the substance to the animals and then monitoring them carefully for any side effects. Drugs that have passed animal tests are used in human clinical trials. They are tested on healthy volunteers to check that they are safe. The substances are then tested on people with the illness to ensure that they are safe and that they work. Low drug doses are used initially, and if this is safe the dosage increases until the optimum dosage is identified."

A cardiologist friend in India shared the following some time back.

"(W)holistic medicine is the answer to health issues of the people. Allopathy reveals the effects of a particular treatment, both good and bad. We mostly know what to expect. Other systems refrain from revealing the same. I am open to using other systems. My good friend is a homeopath and we use his services often. I have found profound effects on skin and joint problems. I only wish the practitioners of other systems don't have a prejudice against allopathy, and join hands for the common good."

Cyndi Dale writes in her book, "New Chakras Healing - The Revolutionary 32 Center Energy System", Llewellyn Publications, 2003, 

"A physician will try his best to save a life but will tell us too that drugs only work sometimes, tests only reveal so much, and treatments only help some people. Even spiritualists will warn that faith can only take you so far."

Both the physician and the spiritualists will eventually tell us to pray for a miracle to happen. Albert Einstein says "There are only two ways to live your life: as though nothing is a miracle, or as though everything is a miracle." Miracles are everywhere. Miracles are taking place every moment. Just as the flowers open up with the sun, and its honey entices and invites the bees and birds, just as hot air rises and cools and condenses into clouds, leading to precipitation and rain, just looking around us we see magic each moment. It is just that a veil screens it from our sight. Removing that veil exposes us to these miracles and their workings. It is just whether we want to see it. Ask and it shall be shown. 

Similarly, we are all Buddhas and enlightened. So why do we need certification from others and external bodies? One simply knows when he has arrived there. The changes become obvious too. A psychologist walked up to me at a temple fest and asked me if my conversations with Agathiyar were a hallucination after following this blog. Why do we not realize that we are each Buddhas? The reason is that we are covered in, call it veils, sheets, sheaths, curtains, and layers, that prevent us from looking within and seeing our true selves. There is no other way to know the true self but to live, engage, and interact with the exterior world, initially. As what is external is easily drawn aside and brought down, but how do we draw these obstructions that are within aside? Here comes the guru, the one who has been there and has the key, the solution, and the answers. He shows us the paths, means, and methods that are needed and are in place to make the dive within. He makes us realize our true selves. It needs a guru to point it out or show us. When Tavayogi led me on a journey he told me "Only now the true journey begins my son". Though I could not comprehend what he meant, I followed him. We visited temples, jungles, and caves. Agathiyar as promised in my Nadi reading showed me numerous miracles. He showed me the magic in the air and in the stone that was already there but that we failed to see earlier. Tavayogi pointed to the sky and told me that the Siddhas were showering flower petals on us and ushering us into the jungles and hills. He told me that Agathiyar was opening his eyes and looking at us in his aged and worn-out granite statue from the era of King Kuberan at his shrine at the Agasthiyampalli temple. Having shown us all things external, only later did he bring us on an internal journey where the magic unfolded within. 

Just as Tavayogi pointed out the miracles that are already all out there, Agathiyar has been pointing out the changes that are taking place within me. Then he has me land on reading books and materials that further clarify the changes and have me share it with my readers. They show us that it is possible to extend our life span by taking in Prana that comes with the air we breathe in, which in turn fuels the fire that arises from the austerities, tapas, and chanting to bring on an internal transformation that is both chemical and electrical revealing the results externally too. He pointed out to the tingling sensation in the crown of my head telling me it was all progressing fine. The Siddhas are showing us that it is possible to reverse aging. Agathiyar pointed out to my hair which was turning black. Coming back from my eye doctor yesterday he was overjoyed to see both my eyes and my daughter faring well. He told me that I did not need the glasses that were prescribed after my cataract surgery anymore. As for my daughter who had surgery for Retina Detachment all was well he added. 

Science is now beginning to prove our age-old practices as having substance. The documentary "The Field" is one show that speaks about mass prayers or Koothu Prathanai, the Aura and healing that comes with chanting, the magical power of sound and water, and all other elements. It is all about energies and vibrations as science has come to acknowledge too in this documentary. 

My cardiologist friend who receives messages from his guru Krishnaveni Amma of Kalyana Theertam shared her message back then regarding the bodily changes one undergoes in having taken up tapas or austerities and shared his own experiences too that did not strike me back then. But as I go through the internal changes it makes pretty good sense now and explains the arrival of Vaalai now just in time to give me a hand to move on to the next phase. 

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

And it all started with the coming of the guru to enlighten and guide us to the Light. Tavayogi summarized the Siddha path and gave us the gist and cream of it year in and year out in his talk during the annual Jayanthi celebrations at his Kallar Ashram. I wonder how many understood? I too have only begun to understand the truth that he kept on revealing to the masses taking the stage. I guess only experience will trigger us to recognize the messages that the gurus pass on to us. 

VAALAI'S ARRIVAL

We have stepped into the next phase of inviting Vaalai and carrying out worship to her that would complete our journey physically traveling the path of the Siddhas that previously brought us to visit their abodes, conduct Siddha puja, perform the Homam, carry out charity, and feed the hungry which abruptly stopped as the pandemic entered the scene. To bring to a closure this raptured cycle, and tie the loose ends, Agathiyar has asked that we begin the worship of Vaalai. Although we became accustomed to the 10-year-old deity Vaalai, whom a devotee couple and AVM family member used to worship personally and whom Agathiyar had her bring the worship into the temples later after having read her Nadi, and whom the Nadi reader Tamaraiselvam himself worshipped having built a temple for her in India, the first mention of Vaalai was made in a Nadi reading for us at AVM sometime back in January of 2017 when Suren approached the latter in Chennai for a reading. The message was conveyed to us at AVM through him. Agathiyar instructed us to include hymns for Vaalai Thaai during our prayers. I began to compile some songs on her to be recited during our home puja. 

The next instance of her name mentioned to us was by Mataji who visited us some years back. She had a persistent dream where Vaalai was circling a home asking to be invited.  She did mention that it looked like it was our home AVM that she saw in her dream. Since she had the dream we thought the message was for her to start Vaalai puja at her Kallar Ashram and as Agathiyar had stopped all the rituals then at AVM we did not give it its due consideration. 

On her recent visit as she came out of a brief meditation she mentioned the same that the Siddhas were hinting to start Vaalai puja. As we had refrained from rituals and as I mentioned this to her, she enlightened us that Vaalai was also the breath. I could then accept to worship the breath. As Agathiyar came in the Nadi reading for my daughter moments later, he asked us to start Vaalai puja too. When Ramalinga Adigal came through a devotee moments later he too asked that we start the worship adding that he and all the Siddhas eventually held the hand of Vaalai to reach Siddhahood. 

I got the picture and began to read verses of Vaalai accompanied by lighting the Homam that was asked of Agathiyar to subdue the rising numbers of Covid cases. But I could not bring myself to go back to rituals. I would leave abruptly after several minutes into the worship. 

Then as I was talking over the phone to a devotee who was in quarantine as she had picked up the virus too, she told me that Agathiyar had given her a magic portion to be brewed and inhaled to clear the lungs. I asked that she share so that I could pass it on to those in need. Almost immediately Agathiyar entered our conversation telling me to post the formula so that readers could benefit too. I had posted the formula in an earlier post but for the benefit of those who happen to read this post here it is.

Agathiyar has given us a list of 7 items to be purchased and brought to a boil. The final ingredient the 8th, is to be placed in the bowl before inhaling the steam. It shall bring relief and clear the lungs. 

• Manjal or Haldi (Turmeric)
• Thulasi or Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum, commonly known as Holy Basil)
• Karpooravalli or Karpuravalli, Omavalli, Doddapatre, or Panikoorka (Indian Borage) 
• Neem (Azadirachta indica, commonly known as Margosa or Indian lilac) 
• Tippili or Thippili (Long pepper)
• Black pepper (Piper nigrum) 
• Sukku (Dried Ginger) is all brought to a boil and placed in a bowl. 
• The final ingredient Paccai karpooram (Edible Camphor) is then placed in the bowl and the steam is inhaled.

He then went on to tell me to start back the Full moon prayer (Pournami Puja) that I had done in the past. He asked that I invite others over and told me that he too on his part shall bring devotees over just as in the good old days. As he was talking Vaalai herself intervened like a child that comes into two adults' conversation. Just as a child would beg asking us to bring him or her to her favorite spot, Vaalai asked me to invite her into my home. She kept talking fast and rapidly with so much excitement just as any other child would, asking for a green dress (Pachai Paavadai) and a sweet (Semiya Payasam) telling me that the former was her favorite color and the latter her favorite sweet.

Since the next Full moon shall fall coinciding with the Thaipusam festival and since Agathiyar had switched his annual puja for AVM to this day several years back, we were looking forward to hosting the event. But out of the blue, a couple and devotee who had not kept in touch for some time suddenly told us that they decided to come over after numerous intentions to do so failed. They told us that they would come with their 10-month-old daughter. Does that ring a bell? It sure did to us. We rushed to get the dress and the ingredients to make the sweets. We adorn her in the dress and fed her. As I held her close to my chest a gust of energy penetrated my chest and brought on bliss and tears in me. I knew that the rather impatient child Goddess had arrived taking on our invitation, not willing to wait till Thaipusam day. 

THE FIELD

One cannot bring oneself to read or watch the news these days. It is saddening. If the press has to abide by certain courtesy and respect in reporting, many on social media, where there are no borders, are spilling hatred and fear. Similarly one cannot have a decent and fruitful conversation with another without throwing in abuses at others.

I guess the good among the bad and ugly have to go into hiding. But is there any safe place these days? I guess the only safe place is at the feet of God. But man has divided God too. So which door should we enter to gain asylum and refuge? I guess we have to start creating a safe world for ourselves amidst this chaos. 

The older generation would always end up speaking about the good times as they grew up. I guess the reason is that they were protected in many ways from receiving instant updates and news. There was the mountain ranch that had to be conquered before coming upon another settlement. One had to travel miles and for days to reach the next community. One had to depend on snail mail as in the movie "The Call of the Wild". Their only source of information was the newspapers as in the movie "News of the World" and only later the radio and television stations. These days we are bombarded from all sides with both authentic and false news, and opinions and comments both constructive and damaging. I guess it all rests in our hands now, whether to turn on the television, flip through the papers, or browse through the net. 

The thought that I could also be adding to the amount of information already out there, which is already choking and suffocating, and breaking the limits, and breaking news uploaded each second, gives me the shivers. The thought that I am making claims equally as many others are doing brings on a fever. I shudder to think of the outcome if I were to reveal more if Agathiyar and Lord Shiva had not tied my hands and zipped my mouth at least for the moment. 

The Siddhas are aware of every happening but choose to withdraw and let fate execute and do its work. Just as parents are ever watchful of their children's movements, whereabouts, and interests, if they come to know that one has a yearning to break free from this mess that man has brought onto himself and the world he lives in, they knock on his door bringing him the message. 

In https://www.the1field.com/home, Kryon Lee Caroll speaks of the "Field as a benevolent harmonious vibration and if you harmonize with it with your consciousness you activate your cellular structure." Ramalinga Adigal came several times and tried to get us connected to the field what we call the Prapanjam or Arutperunjothi. "Those who can totally and completely harmonize with the Field can control physics." The Siddhas did.

If man had only one rule in the past that of Nature's law that worked well with all of creation, rules and laws enacted by man have hindered the expansion of his Self and evolvement. Man has lost his freedom to choose his path and discover for himself the truth as it all is dictated and forced upon him. We are told that children up to the age of 3 are pretty sensitive to the Field and the pulse it generates. But we and the surroundings tend to condition them. "I am big. You are small. I am smart. You are stupid." The adult coming with a standard script always conditions these children into their own mold and manner making them their clones. Tavayogi once said that the soul should never be caged but left to explore.

The producers and all those who were involved in this spiritual and scientific venture, rather than separating science from spirituality asked themselves "What if we marry these two?" and the result is this wonderful documentary. Watch for yourself at https://youtu.be/-7m2jsKcZa4. I am watching it too. 

The benefits of mass prayers are extolled in this movie. This is what we gather to do too. It is called Koothu Prathanai where a number of us come together at AVM in prayer for a specific purpose. We did it when Lord Shiva told us to conduct the Homam in our individual homes since there was a lockdown at the height of the pandemic. Prapanjam herself asked us to do a similar puja when there were signs of the virus reappearing and menacing. Agathiyar in the Nadi told some to come together so that his devotee could live to continue to bring many to read the Nadi. The Siddhas listened to our plea and came together lighting a Yagam so that Tavayogi too would be spared. That is the extent and wonder of connecting with Prapanjam in unison which does wonders for the good of all. Agathiyar convinced me to carry out Homam for this reason too. Now with Vaalai knocking on my door, he has asked that we start puja and homam again.