DON'T FORGET TO BREATH

Children are still connected with their homes, the source. They are divine in nature. The Buddha nature in them is very obvious. Agathiyar told us that they are connected with their breath and hence the reason they are considered Vaalai. It amazes me to recall how my granddaughter who is 7 now, had given me a lesson in purpose when she was much younger. During our play, she uttered that I do what I came for while she did what she had to do. This advice I came to know only recently was given by both Ramana Bhagawan and Yogi Ramsuratkumar too. How did this kid who knows not both these saints utter the same? What we adults need to do is to travel back to being a child. This lesson was taught by another granddaughter of mine. As she was 16 years of age but used to behave like her younger sister, her mother apprehended her. The teen replied, "Mother my sister cannot possibly come to my level, but I can surely go down to her level and play." The mother was stunned. She was also the one who tricked me into talking with her after I told her I wasn't going to, seeing her naughtiness. Knowing my weakness for Agathiyar, she, many years back as a kid told me that Agathiyar was in her house. Immediately I came out of my momentary silence and followed her. She took me to the room under the stairs and showed me the store, laughing loudly at having tricked me. When I asked why my grandchildren called me to play with them, they replied that it was because I went down to their level and played with them. I become their age going literally to the ground and becoming them be it at home or in public. 

This is how Agathiyar has come down for us too. Besides being a day of bringing the kids together Agathiyar took the opportunity to educate us the adults too. Agathiyar in coming to us tells couples to stick together and journey together. He in asking all those gathered why we came to the path, told us that the ideal was not about raising one's Kundalini but to know the breath. He reminded us numerous times that coming to the path was not to raise the Kundalini solely but to attain oneness with the breath that he initially defined as Uyir or life breath in a memo to us in 2020 and later as Vaalai recently and last evening revealed as Sivam itself, something that Tavayogi had told me in one of our walks together back then. Bhogar had us chant "Adhi Sivam, Jothi Sivam, Moola Sivam" when he came around some time back. 

Agathiyar is bent on getting everyone who comes over seeking him to go into meditation and not remain forever in rituals just as Tavayogi inspired us to move out of the devotion into Gnanam. To enable one to go into meditation he has to settle in his breath first. But before that, he has to become aware of his breath. Hence one has to take up Pranayama. Agathiyar is pushing the devotees who did not seriously take it up telling them that they wasted some 2 1/2 years of valuable time. 

While many can come up with numerous rosy and visually impressive definitions for meditation or Dhyanam, Agathiyar defines it in very simple terms telling us that following one's breath is Dhyanam. The breath would one day travel its way and we are told to tag along and immerse in it. That is Dhyanam.

நீயாய் சுவாசித்த பிராணவாயு இனி உன்னை கேட்காமல் உன்னுள் ஊடுருவும். எப்பொழுதெல்லாம்  அது ஊடுருவதை நீ உணறுகிறாயோ இருக்கும் இடம் அறிந்து அதனுள் பயணம் செய். கலந்து போ. அதனோடு நீ கலக்கும் தருணமே தியானம்.

Ramalinga Adigal came some time back to help us enhance the Jothi in us by asking us to travel with the breath. "Let the Jothi burn brightly within you. Put in the effort. To those who are aware, I shall come within." That is the only thing that they expect from us. It will bring us to merge in the Jothi.

உமது பிரணவத்தை கொண்டு செல்லு. முயற்சி செய். ஜோதி அதனைச் சுடர்விட செய்யுங்கள். ஜோதியோடு கலப்பாய். உன்னுள் ஜோதி எரியும்வரை நான் உன்னோடு வருவேன். ஆழ்ந்து இருப்போருடன் நான் சேர்ந்து இருக்கிறேன்.

Tavayogi wrote in his "Andamum Pindamum" that in the beginning, there was a light that enveloped all. That was Jothi. That was Sivan. From the passive Sivan came forth the dynamic Sivam. Sivam breathed life or Uyir into all his creation. 

ஆதியிலே வெட்டவெளியிலே தோன்றிய பிரகாசமே ஜோதி. எங்கும் வியாபித்து இருக்கக்கூடிய ஜோதியே சிவன். அந்த சிவன் என்ற ஜோதியிலே இருந்து சிவம் என்கிற ஆற்றல் உண்டானது.

A DAY OF REVELATION

It was yet another eventful day yesterday. The evening started with the AVM Kids lighting a small homam followed by the recitation of Agathiyar's name or Nama Japam led by Agathiyar. It gave us so much joy to see these children from a month old child to 10 years of age and the teens gather. After a break, Agathiyar came again and educated the small group he had called over on the importance of practice. He told them that they had whiled away some 2 1/2 years since he brought the shutters down on the AVM group, bringing a stop to doing puja and charity en-masse and having Mahindren teach them the Asana and Pranayama practice that Tavayogi showed us, and sent them on the way to do their individual practice. He reiterated again that if they had time for work and to eat and sleep why can't they allocate time for practice. There seemed to be a matter of urgency in Agathiyar bringing salvation to all those gathered and the few who did not turn up, whom he had me dial-up as he spoke to them. Agathiyar had to teach them the importance of the breath, which was the beginning and the end. He ended his two-hour session pointing out to us that the breath was Sivam. Period. He had Magindren show them again the Asana and Pranayama practice that was shown to us back then. 

Lord Murugan who was supposed to be at Batu Caves blessing his devotees gathered to celebrate Thaipusam took some time for us too. He had us sing some songs and took delight in it. After Agathiyar took all of us to task for our lackadaisical attitude to life, health, and the importance of practice, Lord Muruga brought some cheer and smile to us feeding us Pongal or sweet rice that was served to him. It reminded us of how Ramalinga Adigal came last Thaipusam and Lord Shiva came on Shivarathri to be with us while everyone else was at Vadalur and the abodes of Shiva respectively. 

The day ended on a happy note. The AVM Kids group was to turn up every first Sunday after Pornami to practice before Agathiyar. He was pretty serious about them keeping up with the practice. He finally had to draw down the shutters on puja at Pothihai Tharma Chakram. Agathiyar informed the host of his bronze statue formerly at AVM, and Lobama shall move to another residency soon. As for the charity arm that was registered as Persatuan Teman Setia (PTS) he asked that it too be dissolved so that they could move on from Sariyai and Kriyai to Yogam and Gnanam. 

This the the play or Lila that Agathiyar foretold us that he shall execute asking me to just observe and not interfere a day earlier.  Behind all the sternness shown by Agathiyar, he called up each and every one of us later and apologized for having to do so, reminding them of the importance of what was said. 

THE BIG DAY

We are told that the Gods and Goddesses too married and had spouses and these marriage ceremonies are reenacted in the temples annually as Tirukalyanam. We are told that the Siddhas too lived with their spouses. Today we stood witness to the Tirukalyanam of Agathiyar to Lobama. It was yet another day of excitement, filled with an element of surprise and the parting of more knowledge. As the "Magnificent Five" including the host and invitees gathered at Pothihai Tharma Chakram (PTC) this morning, we were surprised to have Bhogar introduce himself and inform us that he shall conduct the homam. In today's puja, Bhogar declared to us that Konganar and Theraiyar were present physically while Lord Siva and Agathiyar were in the subtle form. His recital was a brief praise of the qualities of the Siddhas and Erai in Tamil that were never heard before or found in texts. He then asked that we begin the marriage ceremony for Agathiyar and Lobama. The bathing ceremony or libation was followed by the Nalanggu ceremony and eventually the tying of the sacred thread that symbolizes the finale in a marriage ceremony. 

When Agathiyar came he told us that though he had done tapas and pujas he only attained the state of Puranam or completeness once Lobama came along. This brings us to the tale of Lord Siva who said the same to Agathiyar and had him betrothed to Lobama. When AVM posed a question asking as to the origin of Agathiyar, in a Nadi reading, he reminded us that it was not their nature to reveal their origin or parentage. But the most compassionate father went on to explain very very briefly his past. Agathiyar in his very first mortal birth, had the vision of Kailash at a very young age of 10. After the vision, he took up extreme tapas (tavam) including breath control. With the holy feet of the Sadguru forever in his thought, he reached a state of Nirmala at Kailash. Upon receiving theecha from Lord Kailai Shiva, he was blessed to be born a Siddha. It was a mystical birth. Agathiyar adds that it was not necessary to dwell on the source and the details (Rishimulam Nadhimulam). Born as a Siddha now and moving in the jungles, sustaining only on fruits, his thoughts fixed on Erai, having no attachment to the good or bad, he soon had the vision and grace of Goddess Vana Kali. Continuing with his seeking and search for realization, and upon accomplishment through further severe tavam, Lord Kailai Shiva shows him his vision in Pothigai. Merging with God, Agathiyar stayed on at Pothigai upon Lord Kailai Shiva's directive. While here he came to know about the medicinal benefits of various herbs and plants. Agathiyar received the names of Kudamuni, Kumbamuni, and other names from Lord Kailai Shiva. Going without food and remaining in silence, staying in the state of Vasi, adhering to the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga and performing extreme tapas, for the rest of the Yuga, gaining the Siddhi to travel through the air,  yet Lord Kailai Shiva told Agathiyar that there was something that he had failed to accomplish and do. When Agathiyar asked for further clarification, Lord Kailai Shiva laughed and looked him straight into his eyes, "Although you are an embodiment of Gnana, and those who hold on to your feet shall never face any disappointments, Gurumuni you do not have a companion as I do." Agathiyar was taken aback. He came to know that the Lord intended to get him engaged to the very representation of Mother Kaveri, and Kaberan's daughter, Lobamutrai. Hence in this Kali Yuga, his energy that was of Shiv Sakthi came to stay at Kalyana Theertam to bless all those who came seeking him and stood before him and Lobama, seeing them as a personification of Shiv Sakthi.

Agathiyar, in another Nadi reading, goes on to mention that his form in the granite statue at Agasthiyampalli was not a depiction of the state of yoga or Gnana but that of a state of joy in him (Agathiyar) on having seen and had the vision and darshan of Lord Shiv and Sakthi Ma in their marriage attire after their marriage in Kailash. Hence so are the replicas of Agasthiyampalli Agathiyar that formerly were at AVM and presently in PTC, and at Eco City Agathiyar temple. 

PV Jagadisa Ayyar in his book "South Indian Customs", Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, 1985, writes,

"... that of the definite aim of performing religious rites in company with his wife or (her husband) for the spiritual evolution of both. In fact, a wife is said to be a Saha Dharma Charini which means the lady who performs the duty enjoined in company with her husband."

He says that observances of religious rites develop spirituality in the observers. Rituals are the first step to spirituality. No one can bypass this major life-transforming phase. 

Jayaram V at https://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_marriage.asp writes,

"According to Hinduism, marriage (vivaha) between two persons is a sacred relationship that is not limited to this life alone. It extends across seven or more lives, during which the couple helps each other progress spiritually."

The couple and hosts of today's puja have been together for the past 7 births as disclosed by Agathiyar. Agathiyar tells me that my wife and I were husband and wife in the last birth. Many of the couples in the AVM family were married to each other and were lovers in their past lives too. When my friend picked up a conversation with a girl waiting to have her Nadi reading, she hushed him for a while and became excited upon hearing her name mentioned to her male friend inside the room. When the boy was chatting with my friend and the girl was inside the room, he said that his name was being mentioned behind the closed door. They came as friends but left as a couple brought together in marriage by Agathiyar or rather their past.

PV Jagadisa Ayyar reiterates,

"Two souls come together and marry because their karmas are intertwined and they have to resolve many things together upon earth to ensure their mutual salvation. The relationship between a couple is essentially a relationship of the souls. Their gender roles don't need to be fixed forever. Sometimes they may switch roles and the husband may become the wife and the wife the husband. Sometimes they may also temporarily part their ways and come together again after one or two lives in a grand reunion."

When I told the priests in our neighborhood temple, that I did not match the horoscopes of my daughter and son-in-law to see if they were compatible or otherwise as they had chosen each other, the priests told me three things. If the couple liked each other there was no need to see the horoscopes. That itself was Mana Porutam or compatibility of the hearts. When two people come together in marriage it is the work of their combined karma or a karmic connection and it is fated. Finally, he told me to leave it to God to lead them on in their lives. His words brought me assurance then. Today, I have three wonderful grandchildren to run after and feed their inquisitive minds. 

The Siddhas never did shun marriage. Although they were immersed in austerities and worship, research, and discovery, absorbed in meditation, and chose solitude, they took on a wife as an aid towards their combined religious and spiritual accomplishments.

In the book on Kavyakantha Vasistha Ganapati Muni entitled "Nayana, A Biography of Kavyakantha Vasistha Ganapati Muni (from the original Telugu texts by Gunturu Lakshmikantam), Dr G Krishna mentions that Ganapati Muni had described his wife as a Tapa Sakhi, meaning comrade in Tapas just as Arundhati was the Tapa Sakhi of Vasistha and so were the wives of many of the Rishis.

"They never considered their wives as hindrances to Tapas."

Ganapati Muni advised that women should not be barred from any spiritual or religious chores when it was prevalent at that time that women were not considered fit to worship Agni, study the Vedas, and recite Vedic Mantra and were denied the benefits of Upayana. Ganapati Muni himself used to initiate women into Mantra Japa. Many were the women who were initiated into Gayathri Vidhya, which was considered exclusive to men. Visalakshi, wife of Ganapati Muni took to the worship of Agni whenever Ganapati Muni was out of station. 

"Visalakshi paid equal attention to housekeeping and Mantra Upasana. Ganapati did not share the belief that a woman was the source of sin and Maya. The study of scriptures had convinced him that the ancient rishis had practiced austerity and attained self-realization without giving up family life and responsibilities. Women were not treated as objects of pleasure by our ancient rishis. They were as qualified as men to discharge spiritual responsibilities. The ancient rishis by their exemplary behavior became spiritual preceptors to their wives and helped to establish a well-ordered society."

Looking towards Ramakrishna's life, we are shown that husband and wife can live together as spiritual companions.

"By his marriage, Sri Ramakrishna admitted the great value of marriage in man's spiritual evolution, and by adhering to his monastic vows he demonstrated the imperative necessity of self-control, purity, and continence, in the realization of God. By this unique spiritual relationship with his wife, he proved that husband and wife can live together as spiritual companions. Thus his life is a synthesis of the ways of life of the householder and the monk. (Source: http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/gospel/introduction/relation_with_wife.htm)

"Sri Ramakrishna turned his mind to the fulfillment of imparting religious and spiritual teachings to her. About the experience of this period Sarada Devi used to say afterwards: “ I felt as if a vessel full of divine bliss was permanently installed in my heart...I can not adequately describe the heavenly joy which filled my heart...!” (Source: https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/the-story-of-a-holy-wife)

Just like Ganapathi Muni and Ramakrishna, Lahari Mahasaya too was a householder. Lahiri Mahasaya’s wife Ma Kashi Moni shares the moment when she realized her husband was a realized soul.

"It was years before I came to realize the divine stature of my husband. One night, in this very room, I had a vivid dream. Glorious angels floated in unimaginable grace above me. So realistic was the sight that I awoke at once; the room was strangely enveloped in dazzling light. My husband, in lotus posture, was levitated in the center of the room, surrounded by angels who were worshiping him with the supplicating dignity of palm-folded hands. Astonished beyond measure, I was convinced that I was still dreaming."

“Woman,” Lahiri Mahasaya said, “you are not dreaming. Forsake your sleep forever and forever.” As he slowly descended to the floor, I prostrated myself at his feet.

“Master,” I cried, “again and again I bow before you! Will you pardon me for having considered you as my husband? I die with shame to realize that I have remained asleep in ignorance by the side of one who is divinely awakened. From this night, you are no longer my husband, but my guru. Will you accept my insignificant self as your disciple?”

The master touched me gently. “Sacred soul, arise. You are accepted.”

He motioned toward the angels. “Please bow in turn to each of these holy saints.”

"When I had finished my humble genuflections, the angelic voices sounded together, like a chorus from an ancient scripture."

“Consort of the Divine One, thou art blessed. We salute thee.” They bowed at my feet and lo! their refulgent forms vanished. The room darkened."

"My guru asked me to receive initiation into Kriya Yoga."

“Of course,” I responded. “I am sorry not to have had its blessing earlier in my life.”

“The time was not ripe.” Lahiri Mahasaya smiled consolingly. “Much of your karma I have silently helped you to work out. Now you are willing and ready.”

He touched my forehead. Masses of whirling light appeared; the radiance gradually formed itself into the opal-blue spiritual eye, ringed in gold and centered with a white pentagonal star."

“Penetrate your consciousness through the star into the kingdom of the Infinite.” My guru’s voice had a new note, soft like distant music."

"Vision after vision broke as oceanic surf on the shores of my soul. The panoramic spheres finally melted in a sea of bliss. I lost myself in ever-surging blessedness. When I returned hours later to awareness of this world, the master gave me the technique of Kriya Yoga."

(Source: https://www.lahiri-mahasaya.org)

The exchange of garlands in a marriage is a ceremonious representation of bestowing a portion of their spiritual force to their life partner. PV Jagadisa Ayyar writes,

"This is the main end and aim to attain which all the subsequent rites (in a marriage and beyond) are observed to be continued thereafter day after day till perfection in evolution is attained in both taking many births even if need be as husband and wife."

"In the plan laid down by the wise men of old that two souls drawn together by love and sincerity do not part till both reach the level at the same time. This idea is conveyed in the Hindu marriage ceremonials and the Hindu marriage itself is considered a sacrament and not a contract."

When I met Tavayogi for the first time, he asked me to bring my wife along to his talk that evening. He told me it was not enough that I came to the path or Marga but I needed to bring my family too. He mentioned the same too that I needed to bring my wife and children on this journey of evolution of the soul, growing in luminosity, from a mere spark to a gigantic flame that eventually envelopes the self, merging with the source. Devotion and compassion arise that bring down within us the grace of God which then clears the path for us to venture further into transforming the self into the image of God. This is what several Nayanmars achieved bringing their wives and kin to merge in the flame or Jothi in the inner sanctum of God's abode. The young Gnanasambandhar took his wife's hand in marriage and led all those who had gathered to witness their marriage into the Jothi and merged with it at Nallur.

PV Jagadisa Ayyar concludes on the marriage, "The final function is what is known as Asirvatham or blessing of the bridal pair."

The priest invokes the Gods to come down and be present, to be a witness in this Holy matrimony between two souls, then request them to bestow their blessings on the newlyweds, himself transmitting the blessings to the couple, after which family, relatives, and friends shall bestow their blessings for a good life. Marriage is a new beginning for a couple where the bride takes the groom's hand in the presence of kin and friends. Besides the families and friends, all the divine beings of the other world or plane, gods and goddesses, the lineage of gurus, and their ancestors gather together for this momentous moment in time. Tavayogi who graced my daughter's wedding told me later that all the Siddhas had come to bless our kids too. Later Agathiyar and Lord Muruga in their Nadi reading tell the newlywed that the Siddhas were witnesses to their marriage.

When a friend from Bangalore had too many obstacles in finding the right partner, I suggested he do a homam in his home daily, asking God to give him the boon of bestowing the right wife for him. He did as told and found results. They are married today.

Once married, the newly married couple and their family circle would look towards the couple begetting a child. Prayers are channeled towards God for a child to be born to them. Above and beyond our prayers, the Siddhas too are praying for a family in which these elevated souls could take birth and carry on God's mission. Tomorrow we shall celebrate these children coming into our lives and bringing cheer and happiness. Agathiyar today explained why children are compared to Vaalai. He also pointed out how we have misunderstood the worship of Vaalai, portraying her as a 10-year-old and worshipping her externally. How misguided could we possibly be? This is only one instance. What about all the rest? We wonder if there was any truth in them too? He told us that the truth of the matter was that it is the breath that is to be worshiped. He tells us that children are ever conscious of their breath and live in it. Hence they are equated to the breath that is Vaalai. 

Another drama and a divine play unfolded before us again. Agathiyar again tested the new hosts whether they were willing to end rituals, part with their statues, and move on to Gnanam. He had previously shocked them saying Agathiyar was leaving. But seeing their depth of devotion Agathiyar gave them time to come out of it. Today he asks them if they want to be with him or merge with him. He reiterated that the next phase would start once they are ready to let go of all attachments. He wanted everyone to enter the next phase that of Gnanam. He only wanted to see that at PTC too.

I was surprised that Agathiyar put forth the same question to me as to how to define and identify Gnanam that we had talked about some time back. I told him what he had taught us earlier which is that the experiences he gives take a turn and have us move on an internal journey that traverses the many chakras till it reaches the Sahasrara. This was Gnanam. He replied that I understood well but that others didn't. He asked me how was I going to teach this to others? He answered his own question telling me "In remaining quiet and observing the breath." I understood that he was asking me to bring them to the next level, from rituals and worship to an internal journey of traveling the chakras by sitting quietly and observing the breath. He gave us simple breathing techniques and the art of observing the breath to be carried out in the mornings and evenings. Then with deep concern, Agathiyar voiced his frustration in waking up these souls from their deep sleep of ignorance and indifference to the urgency of reforming immediately. Agathiyar said that when we don't give reasons to eat, sleep, or make a fortune, we sure do give reasons when asked to put in the practices. He said the effort is ours. They can only show the way and the practice. He also voiced out that if we do not take care of our health the mucus or Kapham if left unexpelled would obstruct air flow. He said that he would address these issues in tomorrow's sitting and asked us to remain calm and stay witness to what is to take place tomorrow. He told us that he shall see to it and through it. When Vaalai Ma told us yesterday that she would carry out the Vizha, I was puzzled how it was to be. But seeing Bhogar come and carry out today's homam I got an idea of how it works. Now I understand what Agathiyar meant in the Jeeva Nadi reading by Tavayogi at AVM in 2016 where he and Mataji came for my daughter's wedding, that Ganapathy Murthy conducted the day's puja.

Just as I eagerly looked forward to the day to dawn to witness the holy matrimony of Agathiyar to Lobama I look forward to tomorrow's Vizha with great anticipation. 

I shall update readers on the outcome of our encounters with the Siddhas, Agathiyar, and Vaalai tomorrow.

AGATHIYAR LOBAMA WEDDING

An interesting turn of events took place today. The couple Sri Krishna and Sri Deviy who are the new hosts of the Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) Agathiyar statue dropped by to invite us to their home Pothihai Tharma Chakram (PTC) to witness the wedding ceremony of Agathiyar to his spouse Lobama tomorrow. M Sankar Aiya who is the caretaker of Agathiyar Sannadhi at the famed Adhi Kumbeswar temple in Kumbakonam apparently had sent them an invite and notice of the wedding ceremony to be carried out by devotees in India too. I too had forwarded to them the invitation. This triggered the couple to want to carry out the wedding ceremony as Lobama had arrived at their home too and was keeping Agathiyar company now. When Agathiyar was at AVM he was a bachelor but after moving to PTC he had Lobama accompany him also as a bronze statue. 

Prapanjam Ma came followed by Lobama and finally Vaalai giving us a pleasant surprise. Prapanjam Ma spoke about the future that was in store for each of us. She asked us to receive her energy by holding hands. Lobama spoke regarding tomorrow's event and extended an invitation too. Vaalai Ma spoke about the Vizha or celebration for Agathiyar that will be held at AVM on Thaipusam day too. She told us to leave it to her. Just as Agathiyar told us she too said that she would come as the breath to bless all during that day. We were truly touched and brought to tears. We are truly blessed to have the divine come and address and guide us. We shall update readers after we return from the wedding.

100. பேறடைவு
pēṟaṭaivu

எழுசீர்க் கழிநெடிலடி ஆசிரிய விருத்தம்

திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்

• 1. மணம்புரி கடிகை இரண்டரை எனும்ஓர்
  வரையுள தாதலால் மகனே
  எணம்புரிந் துழலேல் சவுளம்ஆ தியசெய்
  தெழில்உறு மங்கலம் புனைந்தே
  குணம்புரிந் தெமது மகன்எனும் குறிப்பைக்
  கோலத்தால் காட்டுக எனவே
  வணம்புரி மணிமா மன்றில்என் தந்தை
  வாய்மலர்ந் தருளினர் மகிழ்ந்தே.
  
• 2. எம்பொருள் எனும்என் அன்புடை மகனே
  இரண்டரைக் கடிகையில் உனக்கே
  அம்புவி வானம் அறியமெய் அருளாம்
  அனங்கனை333 தனைமணம் புரிவித்
  தும்பரும் வியப்ப உயர்நிலை தருதும்
  உண்மைஈ தாதலால் உலகில்
  வெம்புறு துயர்தீர்ந் தணிந்துகொள் என்றார்
  மெய்ப்பொது நடத்திறை யவரே.
  
• 3. அன்புடை மகனே மெய்யருள் திருவை
  அண்டர்கள் வியப்புற நினக்கே
  இன்புடை உரிமை மணம்புரி விப்பாம்
  இரண்டரைக் கடிகையில் விரைந்தே
  துன்புடை யவைகள் முழுவதும் தவிர்ந்தே
  தூய்மைசேர் நன்மணக் கோலம்
  பொன்புடை விளங்கப் புனைந்துகொள் என்றார்
  பொதுநடம் புரிகின்றார் தாமே.
  
• 4. ஈதுகேள் மகனே மெய்யருள் திருவை
  இரண்டரைக் கடிகையில் நினக்கே
  ஊதியம் பெறவே மணம்புரி விப்பாம்
  உண்மைஈ தாதலால் இனிவீண்
  போதுபோக் காமல் மங்கலக் கோலம்
  புனைந்துளம் மகிழ்கநீ என்றார்
  தீதுதீர்த் தென்னை இளந்தையில் தானே
  தெருட்டிய சிற்சபை யவரே.
  
• 5. விரைந்துகேள் மகனே உலகெலாம் களிக்க
  மெய்யருள் திருவினை நினக்கே
  வரைந்துநன் மணஞ்செய் தொருபெரு நிலையில்
  வைத்துவாழ் விக்கின்றோம் அதனால்
  இரைந்துளம் கவலேல் இரண்டரைக் கடிகை
  எல்லையுள் எழில்மணக் கோலம்
  நிரைந்துறப் புனைதி என்றுவாய் மலர்ந்தார்
  நிருத்தஞ்செய் ஒருத்தர்உள் உவந்தே.
  
• 6. களிப்பொடு மகனே அருள்ஒளித் திருவைக்
  கடிகைஓர் இரண்டரை அதனில்
  ஒளிப்பிலா துலகம் முழுவதும் அறிய
  உனக்குநன் மணம்புரி விப்பாம்
  அளிப்புறு மகிழ்வால் மங்கலக் கோலம்
  அணிபெறப் புனைகநீ விரைந்தே
  வெளிப்பட உரைத்தாம் என்றனர் மன்றில்
  விளங்குமெய்ப் பொருள்இறை யவரே.
  
• 7. கலங்கிடேல் மகனே அருள்ஒளித் திருவைக்
  களிப்பொடு மணம்புரி விப்பாம்
  விலங்கிடேல் வீணில் போதுபோக் காமல்
  விரைந்துநன் மங்கலக் கோலம்
  நலங்கொளப் புனைந்து மகிழ்கஇவ் வுலகர்
  நவிலும்அவ் வுலகவர் பிறரும்
  இலங்கநின் மணமே ஏத்துவர் என்றார்
  இயலுறு சிற்சபை யவரே.
  
• 8. ஐயுறேல் இதுநம் ஆணைநம் மகனே
  அருள்ஒளித் திருவைநின் தனக்கே
  மெய்யுறு மகிழ்வால் மணம்புரி விப்பாம்
  விரைந்திரண் டரைக்கடி கையிலே
  கையற வனைத்தும் தவிர்ந்துநீ மிகவும்
  களிப்பொடு மங்கலக் கோலம்
  வையமும் வானும் புகழ்ந்திடப் புனைக
  என்றனர் மன்றிறை யவரே.
  
• 9. தூங்கலை மகனே எழுகநீ விரைந்தே
  தூயநீர் ஆடுக துணிந்தே
  பாங்குற ஓங்கு மங்கலக் கோலம்
  பண்பொடு புனைந்துகொள் கடிகை
  ஈங்கிரண் டரையில் அருள்ஒளித் திருவை
  எழில்உற மணம்புரி விப்பாம்
  ஏங்கலை இதுநம் ஆணைகாண் என்றார்
  இயன்மணி மன்றிறை யவரே.
  
• 10. மயங்கிடேல் மகனே அருள்ஒளித் திருவை
  மணம்புரி விக்கின்றாம் இதுவே
  வயங்குநல் தருணக் காலைகாண் நீநன்
  மங்கலக் கோலமே விளங்க
  இயங்கொளப் புனைதி இரண்டரைக் கடிகை
  எல்லையுள் என்றுவாய் மலர்ந்தார்
  சயங்கொள எனக்கே தண்ணமு தளித்த
  தந்தையார் சிற்சபை யவரே.
• https://www.thiruarutpa.org/thirumurai/v/T338/tm/peerataivu
• 
  

AVM KIDS IS BORN

Sadhakas will come to a state where they begin to fall out or stagnate. All the blessings collected and accumulated from visiting spiritual masters and gurus and window shopping and going on our rounds scouting along for the right channel and outlet can only do so much as to open the first chakra in us and bring an awareness of what is up ahead and have us start our spiritual journey. One then has to place a concerted effort following the initiation. This too can only bring us thus far to the second chakra. Henceforth our further efforts lead us nowhere. We have to enlist the help of a personal God and a personal guru. Once his grace comes within, the bund is broken and the pent-up energies are released to flow as they please. The journey continues as the energies maneuver the rest of the chakras to reach the ocean, the Sahasrara. Changes take place naturally. These energies then create a great masterpiece in the image of God. 

This is what I am currently going through. The Muladhara was activated when I began to carry out the Asana and Pranayama techniques Tavayogi taught us in 2007, without my knowledge as there were no dramatic or significant signs of it being activated. I only came to know about it when Agathiyar spoke about it in subsequent Aasi Nadi readings. As was my nature I did not make a fuss of it and went on with my life. The years 2010 to 2012 saw me undergo extreme pain in my lower back that affected my mobility to a certain extent yet I went to work and carried on my daily routines. It was only a trivial morning routine where I coughed out phlegm while having my morning bath. A piercing pain in the middle of my lower back went down right to my right toes which forced me to squat in pain. I had to bear the mysterious pain akin to sciatica. Though I was given a clean slate by the doctors, they put me on physiotherapy. Agathiyar in the Nadi told me that it was a result of the activation. On his part, he recommended certain herbal medicines to be taken orally and applied. The pain went off just as it came on suddenly when the physiotherapist out of the blue asked me to carry out what she had taught me before her. I had only taken up the dog position and began to stretch my right leg when I felt something like a knot was undone. It brought immediate relief and I screamed in joy. The physiotherapist was puzzled as to why I screamed and asked if I was in pain. The pain left me that day. But wait....

It came back again in 2016 as a mild reminder but did not sabotage the wedding plans laid out for my daughter and our hospitality towards Tavayogi and Mataji who arrived for the wedding. Then in 2018 as I was crossing the street carrying some groceries, a sneeze came on that triggered the pain again and forced me to squat in the middle of the road. The Siddhas came to my aid sending a gym instructor who taught me various poses to ease the pain, and a medical doctor who gave me a jab on the spot that brought me relief. Finally, Lord Muruga came in the Nadi reading and simultaneously came through a devotee and used a peacock feather and the Maha Mantra Arutperunjothi to heal my pain. I am truly indebted to all these kind souls and the divine. As I had recovered, the inner energies too began to continue their journey. The Svadishthana chakra was activated, again without my knowledge. The energy stagnated and ponded at the Manipuraka chakra. It needed the divine hand to break the bund and release it. In 2022, a tug two fingers below the navel in the early morning released the latch and the dam waters were released over two days coursing and cruising through the remaining chakras to settle in the crown chakra. The initial whirlpool and swirling and churning of the ocean at the Manipuraka was felt in the crown but with less intensity and without the sense of nausea and wanting to pee and throw up. Soon it became a flowering of petals. At times it was a piercing sensation but blissful.

The energies shall do their work says Agathiyar. Our efforts shall die down. There is no empire to build, no land to conquer, nothing to achieve. There is no following, no congregation, no teachings. Just existence. We merely exist to do their work. We come to the realization that he is in charge. We settle down in knowing that it is all God's will. That everything is happening as ordained. That all is well. With this acceptance comes peace or Shanti. 

The ego has to die for God's grace to enter. Then again it is only when his grace comes within shall our ego die a natural death. It is akin to two schoolchildren fighting where one would say, "Drop the stone on my feet and I shall punch your face" and the other says, "Punch my face and I shall drop the stone on your feet". We watch with much amusement as to who would make the first move. Though the former is not that easy, the latter comes with ease if only the ego steps aside. All our spiritual efforts are towards taming the horse so that God can ride this horse that has strayed far away and far too long, back to his kingdom. God's grace comes to replace the ego which has surrendered. God takes the reins. 

And so did I let Agathiyar use me for his needs and purpose. He had me dissolve the very group that he brought together in 2013 in his name Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia to carry out worship and rituals for the good of all of creation and carry out charity that brought relief to many individuals and families. I sat alone in a corner of my living room one late afternoon in September 2019, happily laughing away like a madman as I began to remove the names from the WhatsApp group. My family had gone to do Deepavali shopping then. No one questioned me but I heard some heads roll for some days on. To this day nobody has asked to know the reason. The reason was to give everyone a break, which eventually became a long break as the pandemic set in and paraded the streets. As for me, letting go came pretty much easy. Agathiyar kept me in his sight and had me observe solitude. It was a time for contemplation. 

Today we are back at what we did but with a difference. A new star is born, AVM Kids, targeted at the upliftment of children. Just as the youths in their late 20s and early 30s were instrumental in the forming of Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) back in 2013, and took the lead in doing what Agathiyar tasks us, these children will take the lead in years to come. 

FINDING TIME

I do wonder how deep our Bakthi or devotion is at times. If on one hand a devotee tells me he shall bring his kids and wife, who needs a wheelchair to move around, to join us in celebrating Agathiyar's Vizha this Thursday, I wonder why some others find reasons not to join. I welcomed those who chose to celebrate in their own homes with their familes. As for the rest they seem to postpone everything to another moment. So is it with salvation of our soul. The regime and routine of life has taken such a strong hold on us that we cannot find time for God much less allocate a specific time. God who created us, sustains us and eventually receives us back into his home has become secondary to everything else. 

So to those who reply they can't find time to celebrate I shall say find the time first, which would never happen, and then let us celebrate Agathiyar's big day. In other words let us switch his date to the day we are free. But that is possible too as did Tavayogi reconsider our request to do it on a weekend when everyone was free to travel the distance to Taiping to fulfill his Guru Chitramuthu Adigal's wish that we hold a Siddha puja that originally fell on a working day. But that was Tavayogi. Similarly Goddess Adhi Parashakthi switched the night sky that was dark to become lighted for the sake of her devotee Abhirami Pattar who in his deep meditation had uttered to the king who came by that it was a full moon. But then again that was Abhirami Pattar. 

Another devotee is forced to work to pay for the many conveniences that he had accumulated in life till his sleep routine is affected and he finds no time for his family much less for God. To him I asks if he is going to drop dead while at work? We should learn to let go. I opted to retire earlier for I did not want to die in office. My needs were small hence I could manage with my little pay in the days of working. But the mistake we make is we dig a deep hole and find it difficult to cover it up. Rather than live within our budget now we work more and longer hours to sustain our lifestyle.

But knowing that we are here for the experiences and life is a great teacher, we can only do so much as to advice. 

God today has become a matter of convenience if and when we have time. Agathiyar reminds us that a task done at the specified moment will bring the expected results. This is because everything is conducive and favorable then.  I guess there can only be one Agathiyar, one Ramalinga Adigal, one Supramania Swami and one Tavayogi. We can never match to their excellence. 

THE JOY OF LETTING GO

It is a joy to let go. When we begin to practice letting go of material possessions now and here, it is easy for us to let go and depart with this physical body that we took later. Otherwise, the soul will be embattled in a war. A colleague's aged uncle was telling those standing around his deathbed that someone was pocketing his money even as he breathed his last. He struggled with life till his last moments. My 96-year-old mother who had no attachments and desires told us that she wanted to sleep and passed off peacefully. My 76-year-old father who was a philanthropist sat in a corner of our home in a padmasana pose and breathed his last dying a peaceful death. It was easy for them to leave. I dread to think how the souls shall depart in their last moments if they are attached to their possessions like homes, cars, jewelry and positions, authority, respect, etc that bind and bond them to the physical body. It seems like while living life to the fullest we must prepare ourselves for death too. Though it seems an irony it saves us a lot of trouble later. There was no enmity between us siblings since my father did not leave anything be it money or property behind. He had donated everything he earned, accumulated, and possessed to charity in his later years. That is the reason we are all hale and healthy to this day. We are not in debt, not under strain and stress. Life is easy and kind to us because of our parents' actions. Similarly, what is the greatest gift a guru can give his disciple? Showing the way perhaps? But Supramania Swami gave his entire merit gained from years of austerities without a second thought. Supramania Swami told me that one had to leave even his well-earned merits behind and as such handed me his 40 years of accumulated merits in carrying out tapas. Maybe that is the reason my spiritual journey took off without any hindrances and saw speedy progress as vouched by Tavayogi. 

Just as one leaves his wealth and property behind to his children does he also leave behind a portion of his karma too? If it applies to merits gained through doing tapas it sure does apply to everything else too, right? As we are living as a family, a community, and as a society our karma,  both good and bad, tends to rub on others too, and vice versa. A story is told that Agathiyar who never wanted to marry and have children, was haunted by the vision of his ancestors hanging upside down over a bottomless abyss. There they would stay, they howled, until he married, fathered children, and helped them be reborn. He had to come along and remove a curse that was thrown on 21 generations of his. (https://devdutt.com/articles/the-sage-who-went-south/). On another note having attained the highest standing, Lord Siva told him that he had one more accomplishment to make as he was yet incomplete. He told Agathiyar that he had to find a wife for himself to gain Puranam or completeness. It is also said that one who takes up monkhood will have 21 generations of karma dissolve. For one who succeeds in bridging the gap, and meets up with the divine, it is generally claimed that 21 of his generations gain moksha. They rejoice in seeing their kin make it to the tallest peak in spirituality hence bringing a close to the karma of 21 generations of his. Manusmriti 3:37 claims that "A son who performs meritorious acts, absolves the sins of 21 generations; he liberates ten generations of his ancestors, ten generations of his descendants, and his current generation."

Similarly, the reason Agathiyar I believe in roping everyone with kids together to celebrate his Vizha on Thursday is to have them leave something behind for their kids - the merits gained from doing puja to the Siddhas. There is so much hype surrounding the Siddhas. We are brought to believe that it is an entirely different way of living and apart from that of a householder. If it could be true in the way, way past that we do not know for sure, it certainly is not true in present times. If it was said that Siddhas chose to stay away from society, and lived in caves and jungles in the past, it is otherwise in present times. Just as Tavayogi aspired to see each home become Agathiyar Vanam, the place where he put up his first dwelling, ashram, and temple for Agathiyar after finishing his years of travels and meditation, Agathiyar wants each home to become a Siddha home. If he had started on youths in their late 20s and early 30s in 2013 at Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia, today he has switched his focus to children. He wants to start them young. 

MY WISH

My wish is I do not want to die ignorant. I want to go off enlightened. I want to know why I am here. I want to know who I truly am. I want to know all the secrets of creation and existence. And in knowing it I want to become it.

The beauty in Agathiyar is he forsakes none. Be it a meat eater, a criminal, a scoundrel, a thief, a sinner, an atheist or nonbeliever, or a devotee, he hugs them all. Ain't God supposed to be so. If he is going to be biased, or racist, then what difference is there between man and him? If man has all these characteristics and perceptions he has to drop them and move to the state of God which is beyond divisions, which is also God's true nature. God hugs and embraces all of his creation. Would God abandon his own child just because of his nature or attitude, race, religion, faith, and beliefs? If he does then what difference is there between him and man? If Godmen segregate people it only shows that they too are caught in this world of limitation, boundaries, and illusion. If God's messengers set codes and rules and lay do's and don'ts then they too are disillusioned.  

Agathiyar only sees the souls. He wants to redeem these souls and bring them back to God's kingdom. We have strayed away from our home for far too long. Lord Shiva has sent Agathiyar to herd us back into his pen. Initially one at home with him, for want of experiences we moved out seeking them. It is time we headed back home and realized that all knowledge is at the feet of our Holy Father. When he came yesterday I did ask him who he was for he has showered so much love and compassion on us. What was our relationship? Why did he need to care? I realize that it is because we are one. His pain is our pain. His joy is our joy. He can sense our pain and joy, or sufferings and pleasures, all from where he sits under the shade of the Banyan Tree. He is the all-knower Dhakshanamurthy aka Agathiyar. It is just that he is in the subtle and energy plane and we are caught in the gross and physical. He has come to redeem us to his state. We shall then be one again. 

A JOURNEY OF MIRACLE

The past two days were miraculous. My son-in-law had a stent placed in his artery last night. The events leading to and after are truly a miracle. When he had chest pain he was rushed to the emergency unit. They performed several tests and did not discover any problems. The test results were clean. However, the hospital staff did try to reach out to the specialist. He had just left the premises. He returned to the emergency unit. Although he was a clean sheet, his complaints triggered the specialist to go ahead with the procedure while awaiting the second test results. But he was used to having a 7 member team to carry out the procedure. They too had left. Eventually not wanting to delay he managed to pool 4 of them and went ahead. He was amazed at his own achievements. Though understaffed, the procedure went smoothly taking an hour. When the result came in it did show that there was indeed a problem. The specialist had acted proactively and saved the day. My daughter only informed me late morning today. Agathiyar intercepted the line and assured her that he would take care. Agathiyar told her I would attend puja and not be at the hospital. Moments later Mahindren in his meditation passes me a memo from Agathiyar regarding the upcoming Vizha on Thaipusam. As he read out the memo over the phone, Agathiyar intercepted our conversation and told me that all shall be well with my son-in-law.

Regarding the Vizha, he told us that this was both his and Vaalai's fest or Vizha. He was aware of our discussions about how to go about it. He said they shall take the lead and guide us on that day. Indeed we are all too familiar and know that they shall change the course then. 

After returning from the hospital visit I briefed Mahindren. Agathiyar intercepted the call again. He told me "Did not I say I shall take care of matters?" This reminded me of Tavayogi in the face of adversity would brush it off telling us that Agathiyar shall take care of matters. Indeed he was around and is with us every second. He told me that he would fill in the details when he comes before us on Thaipusam day. 

Though we can run through the rituals on familiar grounds blindfolded, when it comes to starting something new we do tend to get jitters. When Tavayogi asked that I carry out Homam, I was reluctant stating that it was the proprietary of the priests. But he convinced me to do it. Later Agathiyar boosted my spirits when he told me that I wasn't doing it for myself but for the good of all creation. Only then did I do it full-heartedly. Similarly, when I received messages, directives, and instructions from all corners asking me to carry out Vaalai puja that was new to me I had similar hesitation. But Agathiyar and Vaalai came to convince me giving directions.  This is how it has been since day one. The Siddhas in asking us to carry out something do not stand afar and watch but participate actively. At times they come earlier than the time announced and start off the puja. At other times they shorten it to spend more time talking to us. So puja at AVM has always been unpredictable. There is no standard regime to adhere to, no standard and fixed procedures too. It just takes shape and flows along and at the end of the day, everyone is happy, especially the Siddhas. For this time around he asked to keep the crowd small. I supposed he dictates who should come or should not. The invitation is out let us see.

Vaalai had sent out signals and signs of her entry into our lives many years before. When the AVM family went to India in 2016 to participate in the inauguration of Tavayogi's new temple complex for Agathiyar, we stopped over at several places.  At Palamuthircholai, Dyalen comes out of meditation to reveal that Vaalai came to bless us as we sang the Siddhar Potri. Even before leaving for India, Karupanasamy told these youths that we would be blessed to meet Agathiyar in the very first temple we went to. It was up to us to identify him. Can 10 sets of eyes miss him? We saw him as an elderly woman at Sri Rangam, dressed in a green-blue peacock-shade saree. Soon we saw him in all the temples as a lady in green. Returning home Karupanasamy asked us if we thought Agathiyar was a male. He told us that Agathiyar was a woman and surprised us all. 

Mataji had a vague memory of a recurring dream where Vaalai was circling a home asking to be invited. It did look like our home AVM she said. She mentioned this to us on her visit to Malaysia in 2021. On her recent visit last year, as she came out of a brief meditation at AVM, she mentioned that the Siddhas were hinting at starting 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. When Agathiyar came in the Jeeva Nadi reading for my daughter moments later, he asked us to start Vaalai puja. Ramalinga Adigal came through a devotee moments later asking that we start the worship. As I had held on to the Siddhas firmly and asked that they guide us till the end, I was hesitating to shift to the worship of Vaalai. Ramalinga Adigal told me all the Siddhas including him eventually held the hand of Vaalai to reach Siddhahood. 

So in his memo to us today, Agathiyar reaffirms that Vaalai is the breath or Vaasi. We understand now why he never mentioned rituals or singing songs for Vaalai but instead only asked to recite the 108 names of the Siddhas and carry out a homam. He told me to sit in his room and he shall enlighten me on what to do further. So is it with writing these blog posts. The moment I settle to sit in my prayer room he gives me a subject and content to write. I have to leave and begin writing for if I delay the sentences and words fly past me and it takes some time to recall or retrieve them or it is lost if I delay putting them into writing.

THE TRUE SEEKER & THE NADI

When one comes before a Kaanda Nadi reading, the Siddhas just give a reading. They just reveal what is fated for us written in the way past. That is all. They do not interpret, explain further, expand on it, agree with, or disagree with the contents of the reading. It is the Nadi reader who elaborates on the reading fearing one would not understand the language and since clarification is often sought by seekers. The reader attempts to explain the contents based on his competency and years of experience reading Nadis. If at all the reading is misconstrued it is the fault of the reader and the seeker and never the Siddha. As for me I only take the words of the Siddhas and follow to the very word and not the explanation given. These are not something written or transmitted in the past and left for us to interpret or assume. So is it with the sacred texts of the Siddhas and their songs. 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. When Suren and I met up with Dr.V.N.Jayapalan of Bangalore in Malaysia I wanted to know more about his account of the origin of Agasthiyar's temple at Agasthiyampalli, which he had released as Cd's. But he "disappointed" me telling me that all there was to say was already in the CD and there was nothing much to say further and moved on to the topic of Siddha medicine as he was a practitioner and Siddha physician. Now I know the reason he did not explain further or elaborate on it. He said what came through his moment of meditation and that was all. He did not want to manipulate the facts. 

The Kaanda Nadi is read in its entirety once we agree that the preliminary rounds of questioning with the intent to pick up the correct leaf, are descriptive of us. If things do not go as predicted, we are to blame for perhaps we were not attentive and picked the wrong leaf. For instance, after going through the question and answer session and after flipping through two bundles, I thought that we had jointly located my Nadi in the third bundle. My name, that of my parents, my number of siblings, my career, property were mentioned correctly. When it came to the name of my wife, it was something else. We both agreed that it wasn't mine. If I was not attentive and had agreed that it was mine, the readings would have predicted another outcome. 

The subsequent chapters or Cantos of the Nadi shall list out one of the many possibilities out there at the time of reading. Know that at its core it is a prediction. Predictions take place when we take the initiative to work on them or existing events move us towards fulfilling them. Nadis are not written in stone. A wonderful example would be how Agathiyar erased an Aasi reading and substituted it with another the moment I followed his asking. He had told me to receive another initiation from Tavayogi immediately. It was after 8 at night. The Nadi reader asked that I call Tavayogi and inform him that I was coming over. I did as told. I headed to the streets of Brickfields to purchase fruits, sweets, and flower garlands as Agathiyar listed in the reading. It was a Guru Dakshina or homage paid to the guru. I had to drive some 16 kilometers to where Tavayogi was waiting for me, at a local peedham which he had come to officiate in Batu Caves. He led me into the adjacent room and enquired why I wanted to see him this late at night. I told him what had transpired and the directive from Agathiyar. Though he was equally surprised as he had initiated me and my wife with six others the day I met him, he did listen to Agathiyar. If earlier Agathiyar's mantra was written out on pieces of paper and passed on to us to recite, this time around he just touched my shoulders and that was about that. I left thanking him. 

Sriinaath Raghavan who is known to give us gems on Fb brings us this wonderful and relevant story.

"There was an ardent practitioner of Kriya Yoga who would go to the Mountains often to meditate. On one such trip, he unexpectedly happened to meet the Eternal Yogi, called Babaji. He fell at Babaji's feet, and told the great Saint, how he always wished to see him and receive Deeksha. The Saint however kept silent and listened with a patient ear, because all of them who happened to meet, more or less tell the same thing. After the Seeker finished talking, Babaji asked him to follow through a dense jungle, winding their way across many slopes, till they finally reached a cave, where the Saint lived. They sat inside and Babaji offered the Seeker a drink of something plain like water, but one that refreshed him to the core. Then the Seeker settling himself down asked, "Can you initiate me into the practice of Kriya Yoga?"

Babaji gently nodded his head in approval and imparted the highest wisdom of Kriya to the Seeker. 

The Seeker after receiving the teachings felt uncommonly dejected and turning towards the Master complained, "Master this was not how it was mentioned on the website, it was far more complex with a lot of Mudras and Bandhas?"

Babaji once again nodded his head gently and vanished from sight. 

It is said that this Seeker still roams the Mountains in search of Babaji, who is yet to confirm which one is right, He the Master of the Kriya or the Website. Alas! No matter what, we can never look beyond the book because we are hooked."

Imagine if I had been like the practitioner in the story above and thought "What! That's about that! Is this the reason I came all the way and immediately to be just touched by you? Doesn't an initiation involve some kind of elaborate ritual. "It was far more complex" in the books and the net?" 

We think everything is complex but in reality, it is pretty simple. A simple word from Supramania Swami asking the lady who cried her heart out to him as her husband was abusing her to "Let Go" brought instant bliss and joy in her and she left laughing all the way till out of sight. A couple of devotees whose business partnership went wrong regained their joy, happiness, and life after they severed and ended it, taking the cue from the Siddhas. 

One has to trust his guru. His guru knows best. Trust is the cement that bonds the disciple-guru relationship. Although Tavayogi stunned me by telling me that I do not need to carry out the remedies Agathiyar gave my daughter to be carried out in India, and I remained silent for several moments asking myself who should I follow, my guru or Agathiyar, Tavayogi sensing my thoughts came back on the line and told me that if it would satisfy me to go ahead. I never did them opting to listen to Tavayogi. Agathiyar never questioned us nor brought up the subject again.

Arriving home after getting "initiated", I wanted to go through the recording on the cassette. To my surprise just minutes after the opening introduction by the Nadi reader, all else was replaced by the hiss of the cassette tape till the end. It was mysteriously erased. Going back to the reader, and reading the Nadi again, some of the things mentioned in the earlier reading were not there and many new things surfaced in the current Nadi. The moment I took heed of his words and went back to Tavayogi for another initiation parts of the earlier reading became irrelevant and a new chapter and destiny emerged. 

Just as the Aasi reading was erased and substituted, when my predictions by Dr.Krishnan did not materialize and I came to know from him that it might be because of a curse in my past lives.  After six years as I sat before Agathiyar, he confirmed and explained that it had hindered me from receiving the benefits of my puja and yoga practices. Agathiyar read out my planetary positions as documented in the Nadi. Returning home and referring to my previous astrological charts and the one by Dr. Krishnan it seemed quite different. I went back to the dear doctor. He too was taken aback and tried to work back my time of birth according to Agathiyar's revelation. If I was told and my birth certificate noted the time of birth as 3.53am on a Tuesday morning, Agathiyar stated it as 9.25am. That would be daybreak when I was told that I was born at dawn. The doctor told me to listen to Agathiyar and follow that. Since then I never consulted astrology knowing that my life was not in my hands and that they were determining the outcome. It was only in 2018 that Lord Muruga came in a Jeeva Nadi reading and told me that he had changed my fate. 

We have choices and free will to chart our path although it is fated. We can change our fate. If for instance, Agathiyar predicts that we would harm someone either physically or through speech or writing, it is something this soul has come to do and gain the experiences that shall come with it. This can also be misconstrued as that the Siddhas want us to do this act of physically hurting others or tarnishing their name. The seeker can become overjoyed thinking that this is his purpose in life. Any act that we do now has its cause either in the present life or in previous lives. But good sense will tell us that it is wrong to harm another. One should plead that the Siddhas change their fate. By coming to worship them the grace of the divine shall work on our fate and turn it around. A new destiny is charted with the Siddhas taking the steering. 

The Siddhas never intended to create a sense of fear or force us to obey their wills. But instead, they gave us the right to use our free will to navigate through life. It is only when we come against a wall or are lost for answers that we consult the Nadi looking for answers to our dilemma. I guess this is the reason a fellow seeker at the local Peedham that Tavayogi officiated and that I frequented asked me if I had any problems. We do not go to a reading to test its authenticity, prove it wrong, a hoax, or a scam. If we do the Siddhas knowing our intentions play us out. If it was purely intended to squeeze money out of us, the Nadi readers I encountered would have milked me some 56 times. But they never took my money. I placed a token at their altar and left. The only time I gave a specific amount was when Agathiyar in the Nadi told me to pay homage to the Siddhas for documenting my Kaanda Nadi and its associated Cantos the very first time I went for a reading. The late Dr.Krishnan, an astrologer and Siddha physician who later became a friend and an upaguru never took more than that which covered his cost. For instance, he could have earned RM75 that day in the nineties for three readings, me, my wife, and my daughter. But he told us that it would suffice to read only mine for their predictions would be covered in mine. 

A true seeker will be led to genuine people and shall not be conned. If at all you should land with them, know that it was fated that you lose your money then. A true seeker who goes looking for the Siddhas to get to the bottom of issues and troubles will get the answers he seeks and shown ways to come out of his unfavorable current state of affairs.

But for some selected souls that already have had a strong bond and connection with them in past births, they knock on the door or give a reminder call to them. Or these souls might be chosen to do their work hence they come around to visit them when the time is right revealing their purpose. Just as a bread factory can supply bread to appease the hunger of many, a charitable group can help uplift the standard of living of many, these souls can uplift the souls of fellow humans to realize their true selves. They are the gurus. That is about all that they do. To make us realize who and why we are here and have us walk our own path of discovery. Eventually, this seeker too shall take up a cause and a purpose and bring others to the fold. One bad apple can ruin the entire lineage and the other gurus that he came in contact with. I guess this is the reason the guru shall have us under his custody, nurture, monitor, and test our eligibility for some 12 years before setting us off to preach and practice on our own. 

But sadly spirituality and yoga are sold as a commodity these days. One can purchase initiations, practices, and wares to help uplift oneself "instantaneously", becoming a guru himself. I guess this was the reason the Siddha tradition was shrouded in mystery and kept under lock and key by the masters, fearing misuse, manipulation, fraud and to prevent the ignorant few from unleashing dormant energies that could ruin their lives and cause misery and sorrow to close ones if kept unchecked and without supervision. Though I picked up Yoga officially from Tavayogi I never taught it to others unless I was instructed to do so. I know that if Agathiyar asked that I teach it to someone, he would continue from there to monitor and supervise the practice. As I had refused many gifts and treasures that others would envy and seek, such as the rare opportunity to build a temple for him and Lord Murugan, the Nadi for my use and others, and Siddhis that cure and heal others, and even the role of a guru, Agathiyar respected my wishes. I asked that he let me be free to do nothing. That is what I am currently doing. The only task he gave me was to continue writing which I am beginning to enjoy for it is akin to the internal flowering in the crown that is taking place currently. As knowledge of the unknown dawns, it enlightens us. I had always told him that I did not want to end this life without knowing anything. Whether we achieve the higher states that are spoken about is immaterial as of now. At least we can pass away in peace telling ourselves that we had at least attempted. 

COMPASSION & DEVOTION

Does writing this blog and sharing my experiences boost my ego, or was it a sure means to bring fame to me, I asked Mahindren last evening when he dropped in on me. Formerly I used to ask Surendran who was an ardent reader of this blog back then if I was revealing too much. He told me that I was only sharing my journeys and experiences gained from these external journeys. Mahindren too relayed the same answer, though this time around it was the sharing of experiences taking place internally and nothing more. Now since Agathiyar asked that I share the experiences taking place internally, I was worried that it would be tantamount to blowing one's horns. But Ramalinga Adigal in professing what he had attained and his many conversations with God in his songs, did beat the drum. Recently in coming to us, he asked that we beat the drum and announce his arrival and that he will begin to speak publicly henceforth. But for reasons I am not at liberty to reveal it has been put on hold, though he shall address a small group in a small and much unknown place that is Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM). Agathiyar too had told me that he never wished for me to be in the limelight. He said that he would not expose me. It shall all be done without publicity. I guess the reason Agathiyar broke up AVM was to prevent a following in later years, though I never intended to hold on to the devotees and never expected them to turn up for every puja at AVM but instead to begin these pujas in their own homes with their family, relatives, neighbors, and friends so that the path shall grow and flourish. Tavayogi too had relayed his wish through Lord Murugan who told us that Tavayogi had desired to see each home turn into Agathiyar Vanam. But I guess as it was not moving at the pace and regularity that they had expected they had me restart my Pornami Puja at AVM and invite others. He said that he too shall bring others over. 

When I uploaded videos of these blog posts on YouTube recently a devotee told me that she preferred to read the text rather than listen to an audiobook in this case audio posts. She added that everyone else was talking and giving speeches and uploading them and didn't want me to follow suit. I shall respect the concern of these true devotees. 

One has to keep in check his ego at all times. The ego taints the soul and derails our true objectives, purpose, and mission. In doing charity too there is a possibility of empowering the ego thinking that we are the doer and it is our money. 

In "The Soul of Man", published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Madras, Swami Ramakrishnananda, writes of the ego, which resides in the three lower centers or chakras as man, when brought to be seated in its true seat in one's heart chamber, realizes itself as the soul and makes room for God to come within and share the seat. Coming into the heart chakra he opens up to the needs of others and the call of the divine that takes an equal seat with him in his heart's chambers. Overcoming the senses, the ego that maketh the man now realizes itself to be the soul." 

When the "I" is lost, the Atma or soul is revealed. The website, http://www.ramalinga.com, sheds more light on this.

"He (Ramalinga Adigal) described a “Principle of Light” that is the unique one capable of producing this first transformation. This Principle has two important aspects: Compassion toward all the beings (paropakaram) and devotional Meditation (satvicharam). According to Ramalinga, the first of these aspects was the most important; if is acquired, the Grace will come easily. Hence the reason we are asked to be compassionate. By showing compassion to another, the grace of Erai is acquired easily, bringing us to the illuminative way instantly.

My wife told me that we were getting "high" doing charity and feeding. I guess that was the reason Agathiyar brought even that to a halt. Instead, he had us go within. 

Swami Ramakrishnananda writes,

"Thus the man of charity gives up all his philanthropists works as he detects his blind ego behind all his actions, he dives deeper and deeper within himself in search of the lord of infinite love, and never stops till he realizes him in the region of his heart."

STARTING ANEW

After coming to know Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram at a local affiliate of his in Batu Caves in 2005, I frequented the center when he was there, and even after he left for India. A fellow seeker one day walked up to me and asked me what was my problem. I was taken aback. Then he explained that seekers almost always came with problems. He thought that I too might have one or several. I had no problems. The good Lord had kept me well in all ways. The reason I was there was I looked Tavayogi up after an advert in the local Tamil dailies carried the news that he was here to officiate this center. I received a leaflet several years back in 2002 my first Kaanda Nadi reading that carried his name and the news that he was building a temple for Agathiyar in Kallar hills. After he verified that it was him in the leaflet a bond and relationship between student and master bloomed and blossomed. 

I saw the Kaanda Nadi in 2002 after the talk cropped up as I and my colleague sat at the office. He had seen his Nadi two years back. It triggered the thought of the Nadi mentioned by Dr.Krishnan in the late nineties when I frequented him seeking to see the horoscope for me and my family. When I asked if it was possible that predictions might not materialize, facing the fact that when everyone praised him for the accuracy of his predictions, nothing he predicted for me materialized, he answered "Yes" and that if one was cursed. Asking to look into my charts to see if I had earned any, he pointed me to the Siddhas and their Nadi. Only they could tell he said. But as it was not important at that time I left it at it. When I read my Kaanda Nadi eventually in 2002, Agathiyar confirmed the curses and set me off to make my bed and he showed me to my guru Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai.  Taking up his call to come to his path he showed me to my second guru Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram. They were both my wings in flight lifting me, and the baggage I brought with me, and having me stay afloat in the air, making sure that I did not fall. But they never had me become dependent on them but instead brought me under the custody of the gurus in their lineage and the Siddhas. I came under the watchful eye of the parent eagle - Agathiyar. 

The Siddhas attempt to make another Siddha of us. This is their target. Just as we are often speaking about them literally and in our thoughts, Agathiyar tells us that we are forever in their thoughts and speech. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras define the core path to be taken. The case examples in the lives of saints are seen as garnishing to the dish. We could add to it. Nothing is written in stone but on the contrary is fluid and workable as in children's play dough. The Siddhas mold us into another Siddha. Hence we see the reason there are so many Siddhas with numerous names and forms. Agathiyar told us that though they were one there was a need to take these names and forms for specific purposes. 

Velayutham Karthikeyan Aiya's post in Tamil in his blog SITHTHAN ARUL at http://siththanarul.blogspot.com on the origin of the Jeeva Nadi shows the extent of love and compassion they had towards humanity that they sought to plead with the Almighty whom they prefer to call Erai to save the whole of humanity. The Siddhas had wished that whoever seeks them for solutions to their problems and surrenders, shall be pardoned for their past deeds, however bad and evil they may be, and shall not be put through trials and tribulations and made to face the consequences but instead be saved. Erai granted the Siddhas their wish. The next instant the Siddhas wrote down; the reasons for each individual’s sufferings; listed out solutions and remedies; and showed ways and means to overcome or end the seeker's problems, sins, diseases, illnesses, and sufferings. They wrote them in Tamil prose on dried palm leaves. These writings came to be known as the Kaanda Nadi and several more. 

Annette Merle Cleveland, who was interviewed by Discovery Channel, on the Nadi, wrote in her blog, NADI ASTROLOGY THE SECRETS OF LIFE REVEALED, 

“Now, there are many who may ask, “Why is there a need for these leaves and this system in the first place?” Well, the Siddhas stated that by the time man evolved to these modern times, his mind would have become so clouded by the things of this world that he would have forgotten his true spiritual nature. Consequently, this astrological system was created to bring people to memory and realization of their true, divine nature.” 

“The Siddhas also said, “That from the chaos of the modern times a yearning would rise within the heart of man to seek beyond the supposed limitations of this world.” Thus, this system of truth was written by eighteen Siddhas for each individual soul and shows the entire role of the soul from the beginning of time.” 

“Thus, whoever is destined to look into the leaves will find their way to a Nadi reader of their own accord. The very word Nadi in Tamil means, destined to come on own accord.” 

“Thus, the enlightened Siddhas were instrumental in chronicling spiritual information on these palm leaves for the benefit of humankind. Therefore, Nadi astrology is a means to show us where we went wrong in respect of our duties, why we are experiencing the difficulties that we are having, and offers a solution as to how to resolve these problems.” 

“Furthermore, these ancient beings also set out to reveal a method by which each soul could discover the existence of God in this diverse universe. They knew that a divine power existed, which was an infinite form of energy that existed in all creation. Consequently, they set about putting into place the prescribed paths of Karma and devotion so that all human beings could have a guiding light to realize their true spiritual natures.” 

Once the atonement for one’s sins is performed, a new leaf starts. If we surrender unto them, they take hold of us and lead us according to their vision and mission and henceforth start a new chapter in our lives. Further revelations are made if one sincerely and faithfully follows the instructions to the very word. All those who come in search of the Kaanda Nadi, and adopt what is said have their blessings that come in the form of further Nadi readings called Aasi readings.  The Siddhas start to guide us through this series of manuals or handouts. The Siddhas give instructions and practices through the Aasi Nadi. It is a means of communication between the Siddha and the disciple. The Aasi Nadi in a way was a Guru and a guide too. I had mine come through these too. I came to know much about life and how to live it fruitfully from the Aasi Nadi. The Aasi Nadi reading made known the possibilities in the spiritual realization that was open and available to me. The choice was also given to me, whether to pursue in the direction laid out in those Nadi readings. For instance, when I decided to see Tavayogi the night of the reading as instructed in the Aasi Nadi, I found to my amazement that the reading that appeared just hours ago was erased mysteriously and was subsequently replaced with another with new contents added. The second reading revealed much more because I decided to listen and heed the first. I could have turned a deaf ear and gone my way. The Aasi Nadi for me has been: revealed my purpose here; a guide to fulfilling this mission; has advice, teachings, and practices from the Siddhas who have tread the path and carried them all out themselves; reveals and narrates ways to reduce and remove further karma that is revealed initially in the Kaanda Nadi; and forewarns and holds us back from creating more Karma. It has been a good tool for motivation and is a means of communication with the Siddhas. Not only did Agathiyar have a reading for me each time I was called over, but he was so gracious to invite other Siddhas to bless this soul. Therefore, it was that I had readings from Bhogar, Sugabrahmar, Bhrigu, Kagabujandar, Pathanjali, and Tirumoolar. I still wonder what I had done to deserve these Siddha’s blessings. 

But the Siddhas do not make us dependent on their Nadi entirely and forever. In a reading on 15 February 2013 that was a joint reading for both my wife and me, Agathiyar questioned the need for reading for me. Tavayogi when he was in Malaysia for the very last time in 2016, questioned the need for us to read the Jeeva Nadi he had in his possession. Now Lord Murugan took the stage coming to us to guide us further through Jeeva Nadi readings in 2018. The Aasi and Jeeva Nadi readings ended in September of 2019 just months before the pandemic set in and the Nadi readers returned to India taking the very first flight available home. 

The Siddhas then brought down their grace as a token of appreciation for the years of discipleship. D.C. Desai quotes Paul Brunton in DIVINE GRACE THROUGH TOTAL SELF-SURRENDER, 

“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.” 

This is the Prapanjam that is much spoken about. Now coming through devotees as energies, they connected us with the Prapanjam. Rather than connecting with it, sadly the world eyes the byproducts of all Yogic practices and seeks hard to raise the Kundalini and gain Siddhis. Just as we all come under the umbrella, but the one who holds it dictates the course and we follow, so too should we reach out and hold on to her rather than expect her to provide shelter forever. Though it is said that the Siddhas can move the world, they refrain from interfering in nature's cause and laws. They refrain from moving even when wars erupt or Mother Nature's wrath befalls us. It is not that there is inaction on their part but they chose to avoid direct confrontation in the former and prefer to work subtly in the latter. As for individuals who sincerely surrender their hearts, souls, spirits, and lives to them, they go all the way out to bring obvious and drastic changes, provided they are willing to listen.

After having us go through the 4 phases of Sariyai, Kriyai, Yogam and currently ascending the ladder to Gnanam, Agathiyar who sent me off on retirement by bringing closure to all our activities including puja, charity, and Satsang under the umbrella of AVM in 2019, I guess wants me to come out of retirement, telling me that much has he instructed to many but none seem to take the cue and moved. Praising me for following all his dictates and wishes, he has asked that I reboot the Pornami Puja held at AVM, besides inviting Vaalai into our home. I guess the gathering on Thaipusam Day will be the start of many Pornami Pujas to come with these kids. He wants to work on these young souls or are they young one wonders considering the Gnanam they came with? Maybe they are here to finish off the act that they played out in the many earlier births for we see that these children are no ordinary children. Agathiyar, Lord Muruga, and Ma too have attested to their wits and Gnanam and asked their parents to take extra care of them. Agathiyar too told me to now guide them on. I guess this is the job and task he had for me that he told me he would reveal in the future some time back.