UNDERSTANDING THE SIDDHAS & THEIR PATH

Revealing to me about my past karma and its effects on my present life, Agathiyar in a Nadi reading later told me to act accordingly having known its potential to either save us from plunging deeper or to be dragged further into a virtuous or vicious circle of birth and death.

Whenever people come up to Tavayogi and share their grievances, he would enlighten them that it was their "Vinai" or past deeds that were the cause of their troubles and provide a solution if they wanted to know further. The solution was to worship the Siddhas. In coming to worship these Siddhas we are brought to read the Nadi, which gives an account of our past mischiefs and deeds. The Siddhas show us the remedies too. Following in their way then, they bring us to lead a life according to the Siddha Neri Vazhkai Murai, one that is in accordance with the principles that they found and adapted in life. This often was in tandem and keeping with the natural laws of nature, the highest values, virtues, morals, and standards in life that would eventually lead us to their state of existence.

The Siddhas themselves are not magicians but they use their vast knowledge and their ability to look into the past, present, and future to extend a helping hand to bring a change in one's life if asked for. Otherwise, they let things me. They never change nature for that matter. Neither do they mess around with our lives. Man is free to use his will to maneuver through life or the narrow path that he has laid for himself given the obstacles and hindrances that he has brought onto himself as a result of his past karma. The Siddhas do not remove them but give them the necessary strength and will to maneuver these obstacles. One still has to face the music for his wrongs but with a lesser intensity. 

But generally having given remedies to soften the effects of karma, man sticks around for more in the way of seeking favors, and fulfillment of his desires and wishes. The Siddhas never want to be a partner in this. Instead, they would be pretty much happy to help him drop them. Only then can he move on. But man with his persistence thinks he can milk the cow for more. This is not the reason the Siddhas came to us. They are the light that shows the way out of this cycle of birth. They would never want to see us get entangled further in the web of Maya. But being the compassionate and loving souls that they are, they bless us in all our undertakings. It does not necessarily mean that we shall see success in all our endeavors henceforth. We have to reap what we sow. 

Rarely does one walk up to them asking to bring relief not from sufferings, illnesses, diseases, pain, poverty, hunger, and enemies but to ask to be delivered from this cycle of birth and death. For one to come to this state of asking he must first come to the realization that it is all an illusion. Not that it is not real for pain and suffering and misery are pretty much real, but that it is forever changing in intensity and form. This is "Maya, the ever-perpetuating dance of creation, preservation, and dissolution."

Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami at https://www.himalayanacademy.com/ has given a clear understanding of the term Maya.

"In common philosophical use, when you hear the word maya you think of illusion. That's because of dominant philosophy in the Hindu world is Shankara's maya-vadin philosophy in which Maya means it's unreal; doesn't really exist." 

"Maya in Saiva Siddhanta exists, it's just constantly changing. That's why Gurudeva writes "...the ever perpetuating dance." It's constantly changing; there's nothing permanent about it. So it's a reality but it's constantly changing."

So it looks like we have come to the Siddhas for all the wrong reasons. That is why Agathiyar in coming recently asked each of us why we came to the Siddhas and their path and what had we done all this while. No one could answer him for they do not know what they sought. They shift the goalpost. They equate Siddha worship to temple worship. If generally, we frequent the temples on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and on other auspicious days, coming to Siddha worship we gather at a center on Thursdays as it is a day for the guru. We sing their praises and leave to come back the next Thursday. This is not the idea of coming to the Siddha path. It does not end with these weekly puja and Satsang. There is more to Siddha Margam.

It is all explained in this blog. Take time to read and follow. Then the purpose of this blog would have been accomplished. I would have done my work to fulfill my purpose here. 

MEANS TO SALVATION

The gates to bliss were opened since yesterday morning. The ambrosia has been wetting the crown of my head and the rest of my body. I called over my wife and hugged her for I knew I had to share the bliss with her. It was complete attaining Puranam then as we were embraced in each other's arms as Shiva Sakti. The songs of Sadhu Om brought to life by Sriram Parthasarathy playing in the background added to the divine ambiance around us. The Prapanjam came within in torrents that were felt right to the tips of the fingers. The feeling was felt all day long till this moment as I pen this post. It is 4.50am on Friday 8 March 2024. 

Tonight devotees of Lord Shiva shall observe Sivarathri till the early morning hours of Saturday. It has been a year since Agathiyar in the form of the bronze statue left AVM for another devotee's home. If we had done homam and abhisegam to his murthy at 6pm, 9pm. 12 midnight, 3am and conclude the rituals at 6am, I wonder what I should do this time around in his absence in the form of a statue?

If the idol of God or guru delights the devotee and brings him to be centered acting as an object of focus, the aroma of incense brings one to become aware of his breath. The songs sung or played and heard bring the mind to settle and become composed. The rosary of beads rolled in the hand brings one to focus on touch. The mantra chanted binds the mind within. This is how all the senses are bonded in prayers.

The guru too gives initiation in any one of these methods. When Sadhu Om read about Bhagawan Ramana in Suddhananda Bharati’s book "Sri Ramana Vijayam", it drove him to want to meet the saint. He sat and joined the others in singing the Sri Arunachala Akshara Mana Malai at Janaki Mata home. "He was so attracted by the depth of the prayer, that he was thrilled and his yearning to visit Tiruvannamalai increased." On 6th July 1946, she brings him before Bhagawan Ramana. Bhagavan Ramana revealed His Nirguna Sath Swaroopa on his very first visit. "A couple of weeks later, he entered the dining hall, and seeing that Sri Bhagavan was eating there, he sat in front of Sri Bhagavan, and started eating. When Sri Bhagavan finished his breakfast, he got up from his seat. Seeing this, Sadhu Om also got up, although he had not finished eating. Sri Bhagavan looked at Sadhu Om and said, Vandha Velaiyaip Paar (Look after the business for which you have come). Sadhu Om then sat down, but since he had gotten up while eating, he was reluctant to continue eating. Sri Bhagavan, after washing his hands, was walking alongside the dining hall. Seeing that Sadhu Om was reluctant to eat, he repeated the words, Vandha Velaiyaip Paar. Hearing these words, Sadhu Om started eating again. As Sri Bhagavan went near the entrance and was about to pass over the threshold, Sadhu Om turned back and looked at Sri Bhagavan. Sri Bhagavan also looked at Sadhu Om and uttered the same words, Vandha Velaiyaip Paar, for the third time in succession." The words triggered a message within him. Sadhu Om realized that the words were Sri Bhagavan's upadesa for him. As Ramana Maharishi says, "... the spiritual energy of a master transforms the consciousness of men" Sadhu Om was transformed that day.

So did Swami Muktananda receive an upadesa from his guru Bhagawan Nityananda. Margaret Simpson writes in ‘A Perfect Life’, Siddha Yoga Publication, 1996, 

"That word (Guru Om), which I (Swami Muktananda) received after so many years, spread through my body from head to toe like wildfire carried by the wind. It produced in me both inner heat and the coolness of joy. Before meeting my guru I had practiced many different kinds of yoga, but it was I who had practiced them. However, that word activated a spontaneous yoga within me."

Like Bhagawan Ramana, Tavayogi had an upadesa for me too. It was "நமக்கு இது தேவை இல்லை மகனே" or "We don't need this." When I arrived at Kallar Ashram for the first time in 2005, Suresh and Vimalan from Tiruvannamalai and an old man were there, having stayed back after the monthly Pournami or Full Moon Puja. Suresh brought out a Rudraksha seed and asked if he could wear it. Tavayogi took it in his hands and seeing no flaws in it, gave him the green light to wear it, together with a few words of caution as to the manner of wearing it and the places to avoid bringing it to. I remained a spectator to this for it was all new to me. When Suresh left us Tavayogi turned to me and said, "நமக்கு இது தேவை இல்லை மகனே" or "We don't need this, son." Then I being a show-off, and wanting to impress him, showed him the gem-studded ring on my finger that Supramania Swami had told me would do some good. I then told him I was wearing a Rasamani or solidified purified mercury on me too, gifted by the late Dr. Krishnan, an astrologer, and Siddha practitioner. Seeing these Tavayogi answered the same, "நமக்கு இது தேவை இல்லை மகனே" or "We don't need this." This upadesa of his saved me from accepting many more gifts that came my way freeing me from being trapped further in the Maya's web of illusion. It made it easy for me to let go of my hold on possessions and positions.

Besides a word, initiation can come by means of a touch or look too. If these saints' lives changed after they met their gurus, many among us seemed to have not been touched for we still go around scouting for more initiations and upadesa. The search never ends. It is only when the search stops that the transformation within shall take place. Just as we have to wait for the flower to bloom and wither to transform into fruit and wait for it to ripen before we can eat it when all external activities that are meant to bring about the "fruition" of the soul or Atma stop, the "fruit" is ready to be offered to the divine. The Atma then draws aside the veil and appears before him to help navigate the rest of his life bringing salvation. 

PREPARING TO LEAVE

The 2 1/2 years starting in December of 2019 when the dreaded virus was detected first, shut all businesses and affected the livelihood of many, crippling our freedom to move around. A couple of months before in September of 2019, Agathiyar had me wind up AVM and had me go within. When the lockdowns and other restrictions were lifted, and we began to move around as usual but with caution, I told myself that I had wasted some precious time doing nothing worthwhile during this period staying indoors for we had been used to carrying out puja and dharma all the years. But it turned out that I had time to turn in and let go of everything as pointed out by Mahindren later. It was a lesson in letting go. 

Then I watch how people find it difficult to let go. An uncle of a colleague back then in my working days tugged his hands into his pant pockets crying out that someone was picking his pocket lying on his deathbed. My mother was ready to leave having lived until the ripe old age of 96. She had kept aside money that her children gave and it was used to cover her funeral cost. She told us that she wanted to sleep on her deathbed. My father found a cozy spot to sit in a meditative pose and leave his body while my mother prepared him the coffee that he asked for. I guess some souls are ready to depart while many hold on to their lives and possessions. Even some among the religious and spiritual are not spared from this pull and the lure of worldly possessions and life I guess. A head of a Brindavan tells me that he finds it difficult to find another to take up his work. Another head tells me she too cannot find someone to take up the job. Another head of an Agasthiyar ashram tells me he cannot bring changes to the 300-year-old tradition. 

The Yogis tell us that we come with a certain number of breaths that we exhale during our lives engaging in various activities. Once it is exhausted and the breath that is expelled never returns death befalls. Science tells us that "Invitro experiments indicate that the body’s cells are programmed to undergo a finite number of divisions, after which time they lose their reproductive capacity." (Source: https://www.britannica.com/science/human-body/Basic-form-and-development). 

It is said that the saints know when they are to depart and prepare for that day. Jeganatha Swamigal was one. Supramania Swami too had informed me that we would leave the mortal frame when he was 76 when I saw him last in 2005 when he was 74. His son later told me that they located his diary where he had noted the exact day he passed on. I guess if we practice letting go, eventually in the face of death we would slip into that state easily. 

Agathiyar has this to say. He asks us what use is it to extend a person's life breath when his body can no longer contain the soul. Death is another doorway to another journey says Agathiyar. One who faces death boldly is indeed a Siddha he says. 

"மரணம் ஒன்றும் அல்ல. மற்றொரு பயணத்தின் கதவு. மரணபயம் வேண்டாம். எவன்  ஒருவன் மரணத்தை அன்போடு வரவேற்கின்றானோ அவன் சித்தன் ஆகின்றான்."

Agathiyar in a song to Lord Narayana reminds us to take hold of God's hand early in life rather than postpone it for a later date or another day. At that moment of inability, immobility, and gone senile, or with acute illness, he says he might not be able to utter the name of Lord Narayana, hence he reminds us to take the opportunity to sing the praise of the Lord and acquire merits or tokens or gold coins that can be exchanged for an extension in life later in life, right now at this very moment while we are hale and healthy, quite akin to saving for a raining day.

நாராயணா ஸ்ரீமத் நாராயணா

பத்ரி நாராயணா ஹரி நாராயணா

நாராயணா ஸத்ய நாராயணா

சூர்ய நாராயணா லக்ஷ்மி நாராயணா

நொந்துடலும் கிழமாகித் தளர்ந்தபின்

நோயில் நடுங்கிடும் போது – ஜீவ

நாடிகள் நைந்திடும் போது – மனம்

எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – இன்று

கசிந்துன்னைக் கூவுகின்றேன் 

அருள் செய்திடுவாய் ஹரி நாராயணா

நீடு கபம் கோழை ஈழை நெருக்கி – என்

நெஞ்சை அடைத்திடும் போது

நாவும் குழறியபோது – மனம் உன்னை

எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – நான்

அன்றுனைக் கூவிட இன்றழைத்தேன் எனை

ஆண்டருள்வாய் ஹரி நாராயணா

ஐம்பொறியும் கரணங்களும் வாயுவும்

ஆடி அடங்கிடும் போது – எந்தன்

ஆவி பிரிந்திடும்போது – மனம்

எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – இன்று

நம்பி உனைத் தொழுதே அழைத்தேன்

ஜகன் நாயகனே ஹரி நாராயணா

உற்றவர் பெற்றவர் மற்றவர் சுற்றமும்

ஒவென்று நின்றழும்போது – உயிர்

ஓசைகள் ஓய்ந்திடும்போது – மனம்

எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – இன்று

பற்றி உனைப் பணிந்தே அழைத்தேன் – ஆபத்

பாந்தவனே ஹரி நாராயணா

என்பொருள் என்மனை என்றதெல்லாம் இனி

இல்லை என்றாகிடும் போது – மனம்

எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – நீ

அன்று வரும் பொருட்டின்றழைத்தேன் அருள்

அச்சுதனே ஹரி நாராயணா

வந்தமெதூர் வளைத்து பிரித்தெனை

வாவென்றிழுத்திடும் போது – மனம்

எண்ணிடுமோ தெரியாது – அந்த

அந்தியம் நீ வர இன்றழைத்தேன்

ஸச்சிதானந்தனே ஹரி நாராயணா

ALL IS WELL

Prapanjam is God manifested. If we are part of the Prapanjam, then we are a part of God too right? If we are part of the Prapanjam we are under its governess, right? We must come under this universal law that governs all of Prapanjam right? Then there has to be no fault in the stars, right? All is well right? We should come to terms with it and accept whatever happens, takes place, and comes by, right? We should live in tandem with it, right. We should go with the flow, right? This would be the ideal thing to do, right? But is this happening? Man driven by his intelligence wants to have an upper hand in all things. He wants control of everything. He feels safe in a controlled environment and with things under his control. But when Prapanjam leases its wrath he shudders, he breaks under its weight. But he bounces back with new ideas and wit to counter nature. It is an ongoing game between man and nature. The Siddhas stand back and watch this gameplay. If man confronts nature, the Siddhas befriend it instead. No "blood" is shed. The Siddhas used nature for their purpose, not for their individual needs, but for the good of the Prapanjam. For instance, in asking me to light the Homam, Agathiyar told me it was not to enhance my footing but for the good of the Prapanjam. Lord Shiva in asking us to carry it out amid the pandemic told us it would assist the Prapanjam in cleaning up the terror that had unfolded. 

Bharathi wrote that the breath (Uyir) that keeps the flame (Jothi) alive and blazing, "உயிர்த்தீயினி லேவளர் சோதியே" in his song titled "காற்று வெளியிடைக் கண்ணம்மா, - நின்றன் காதலை யெண்ணிக் களிக்கின்றேன்".

This is what happens when we do Vaasi practice or Pranayama. Just as a blacksmith blows air with a pair of bellows to create a hot fire, the increase in the volume of breath inhaled during the practice keeps the tava kanal or fire that is a result of austerities done and the inherent Jothi that originally is a spark to burn magnificently. This heat, flame, and Jothi would eventually envelop and consume one bringing the transformation from gross to subtle as Ramalinga Adigal achieved. 

It is a known fact that when one dies the warmth of the body too leaves, leaving the body cold. We like animals and plants need the heat and warmth of the sun to survive too. We are connected with the Prapanjam in many ways. Likewise, she lives in us too. Let those who harm her be. But we shall do our part in caring for her. Look for ways to take care of her and she shall continue to feed and nurture us. Let us adopt the ways of the Siddhas who lived and cared for closely. 

Going by Sadhu Om's songs we understand clearly that all is well. We shall then settle in peace. But truly speaking it is tough indeed to come to work towards this understanding and accept this. No wonder Sadhu Om and others have attained sainthood and we are still struggling with the trivial and unreal. 

எப்போது நீயறி வாயோ மனமே

அப்போதே சாந்தி யடைவாய்

இப்பாரி லெப்போதும் எல்லா மிறையருளால்

தப்பா தணுவளவுஞ் சரியாய் நடப்பதாக (எப்போது…)

முற்போது தர்மமென்றும் தற்போ ததர்மமென்றும்

முயன்றேசீர் திருத்திட முடியுமுன் னாலேயென்றும்

அற்பாகந் தைச்செருக்கால் அலையாம லேயடங்கி

ஆண்டவன் ஆட்சியில் அதர்மமே யில்லையென்றே (எப்போது…)

எழுந்தவுன் னெழுச்சியா லெண்ணம் செயல்சொல்லாக

இயற்றிய கர்மமெல்லாம் இறைவனை நீங்குவதே

அழுந்தி யகமூலத்தி லகந்தை யழிவதொன்றே

அரிய க்ருதக்ருத்திய ஆன்மானு பவமென்றே (எப்போது…)

இப்பாரி லெப்போதும் எல்லா மிறையருளால்

தப்பா தணுவளவுஞ் சரியாய் நடப்பதாக (எப்போது…)

When you realize, right then you shall attain peace

When you realize this, right then you shall attain peace, oh mind

That in this world everything happens ever by God’s Grace

With not a mistake down even to each atom perfectly

When you realize this, right then you shall attain peace

Imagining that then there was dharma and now there is adharma

And through your effort you can bring about a change

To not roam about with such arrogance of the puny ego

And surrender that there is no adharma in God’s dominion

When you realize this, right then you shall attain peace

Your rising up that becomes thought, word and deed

and all the karma thus created moves you away from God

To abide within the Heart source so the ego gets destroyed

Is the rarest deed worthy of pursuing, direct Self experience

When you realize, right then you shall attain peace

That in this world everything happens ever by God’s Grace

With not a mistake down even to each atom perfectly

When you realize this, right then you shall attain peace, oh mind

(Source: https://archive.arunachala.org/docs/sadhu-om/eppodhu-nee-arivaayo)

THE GURU

What would you want? To receive a book written by the guru, that is going to be kept tucked away neatly with your previous collections of books showcased in your personal library that gives an impression that you are learned in a myriad of subjects or to receive a single word that is going to change your life forever? I never received any books from Tavayogi but he spoke some words that though did not make much sense then were the gist or cream of his wanderings, searches, contemplation, and experiences. He condensed his knowledge, wisdom, and Gnanam in a nutshell and passed on this treasure chest in passing or in a quiet moment together. Though these moments were rare and apart, what with me living in Malaysia and he in India, those words spoken in those rare moments came back to me as I began to experience them too. His experiences and Gnanam became mine too. So is it with Agathiyar passing on his Gnanam and outlook and understanding of life to us coming through devotees after Tavayogi's samadhi. 

It is always that one word that triggers things be it a fight and flight or enlightenment and renunciation. 

Margaret Simpson in ‘A Perfect Life’, Siddha Yoga Publication, 1996, shares a moment from Swami Muktananda's life.

"That word (Guru Om), which I (Swami Muktananda) received after so many years, spread through my body from head to toe like wildfire carried by the wind. It produced in me both inner heat and the coolness of joy. Before meeting my guru I had practiced many different kinds of yoga, but it was I who had practiced them. However, that word activated a spontaneous yoga within me."

That one word ends the years of search and brings one to settle at the feet of his guru. Tavayogi whom I met in 2005 was not one to accept every Tom, Dick and Harry as a disciple. He never acknowledged any of us as his disciples until he visited Malaysia last in 2016. Seeing AVM flourish he acknowledged our work and was proud that the seed he had planted had grown and taken shape. But his dream was to have each home become AVM. This was also my dream and that of Agathiyar. Except for a handful it never took off with others. Just as he never wanted to create an attachment or draw attention to him, he had me drop all my hold on things then and even those desires that I might have carried in me but not seen the light of day. So it was pretty easy for me to let go of everything else thanks to his grooming. Just as I had written in an earlier post at https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2024/03/letting-go.html, letting go came easy to me after meeting him. The man was very simple just as Agathiyar now tells us that the path too was simple. Going over to see him after seeing his name published in adverts announcing the opening of a local peedham for Agathiyar in Batu Caves in 2005, he confirmed that the leaflet that I held in my hands given by the Nadi reader in 2002 after I read the Nadi for the very first time, and that I had kept with me was indeed his. This leaflet was the pigeon posts that brought me to him. Before this meeting, Agathiyar had told me that I would meet my guru unexpectedly. I met not one but two wonderful gurus, Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai and Tavayogi. I learned much from them. They nurtured and crafted me. They made me what I am today. I am indebted to them. Their experiences guided me in making decisions in my life. It meant I need not go through the same experiences for I had been passed the learnings and messages from them that resulted from their experiences. These were tokens given to me that fast-tracked my journey helping me skip various stages and proceed ahead without obstacles and hindrances. These tokens that were special passes too opened up numerous doors along the way that led to speedy progress. The biggest token was the merits of the 40 years of tavam that Supramania Swami gave away to me without a second thought skyrocketing me to where I am today. I too shall have to leave behind my merits, if there is any, to another before I leave. This is the cycle of life. Letting go right till the last breath. Yes, we have to let go of our hold on the last breath too. 

Whether we shall gain all the kinds of stuff and stages that spiritual masters or the books, websites, and blogs promise is a question that only time can answer. But the guru certainly prepares us for death. The guru comes to prepare us for this. Though we all die in the end, the guru prepares us to leave peacefully, leaving behind our material belongings and relationships, pride and ego, anger and envy, desires and wishes, and those closest to us the body, breath, and soul. While others struggle to willingly let go of the gross, how are they going to let go of these more subtle attachments? If in the event we skip death due to the grace of the Divine and the Guru, we might live to see all the great stuff foretold and promised earlier. We might even be around to share them with others. 

SHARING THE BLISS

From having us see stones and metal statues as gods in the temples and homes, he has brought us to see him in emptiness. From seeing him amidst all the religious festivities and celebrations he has brought us to see him within us and in silence. Giving us external aids and tools, methods, and practices, as in Sariyai, Kriyai, and Yoga which were crucial to undertake the journey from external to internal, he had us drop them in an instant and arrive at doing nothing. The mountain is back to being a mountain but with a difference, from a rock to a fiery mountain as Mount Arunachala stands out to be.

Ma Devaki brings us a message from Yogi Ramsuratkumar in the introduction to her book ‘Yogi Ramsuratkumar, The Divine Beggar’ published by Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram, 2008,

“I am infinite and so are you and so is everyone, my friend. But there is a veil. You can see only an infinitesimal part of me. But have faith - no one is isolated. No one is separate. This sun, moon, stars, the tree, the stone, you and I all are related. When a blade of grass is trampled upon, a distant star trembles. It is all one life, my friend, one life! ”

So there is no harm in worshipping stone, metal, picture, or all other forms. But one should learn to drop them as he matures spiritually. We board a bus to a Godly destination. But we fail to get off and choose to remain and stay onboard forever, in conversation, and debate with the copassengers. We end up going in circles staying on the same bus and forgetting to alight. Having boarded the bus we must learn to alight at the next stop and take on another journey that shall bring us to gain more experiences in walking towards enlightenment or Gnanam. The enlightened souls had all gained Gnanam or divine knowledge that shed light and removed ignorance. It is not about seeing forms and images but about reaching that waveform and vibration of the divine AUM. From https://www.ananda.org/yogapedia/aum/ we learn that "AUM is the vibration by which the Supreme Spirit brings all things into manifestation." As it is the source of all creation, the physical body resonates with these vibrations. It is about connecting and becoming the Prapanjam. To connect with the Prapanjam one has to rise to its state of vibration. It is a journey back home to the source.

In bhakti or devotion, as in visiting temples and participating in Vizhas or religious festivities, we sense an overwhelming emotion of love towards our Ista devata or favorite deity.  This brings on an intense gripping vibration within us. In bhakti or devotion towards one's guru, the same takes place. In the presence of the guru or sitting alone and contemplating on the God or Guru, we sense these vibrations within, though but much subtler now, becoming one with it. 

The Prapanjam that resonates with a much greater intensity can move things if willed. The Siddhas use her for their purposes for the good of all creation. This gift of tapping into the Prapanjam is a treasure that eventually comes within those who have been faithful to the Siddhas and their course. Call them mediums, tools, soothsayers, medicine men, shamans, or anything, but the reality is they bring some relief to souls who are hurt and in pain. It is mentioned that a "divine person", “By concentrating his spirit, he can protect creatures from sickness and plague and make the harvest plentiful.” (Chapter 1, tr. Watson 1968:33 source http://en.wikipedia.org/)

If Velayudham Kartikeyan Aiya of Sitthan Arul had written back then that the Siddhas wished to be of assistance to man to bring relief to their sufferings and bring them back home, days ago Agathiyar said the same that he was prepared to see Lord Shiva or Brahma for the matter if our desires or wishes were reasonable. The Siddhas never kept the joy and bliss within them. They wanted every single soul to feel it and reach their state. Hence the reason he was reviving AVM so that if once upon a time we had shared the joy and bliss in coming together in prayer and carrying out rituals and charity, now we shall share the bliss in just sitting together and listening to Agathiyar aka Dhakshamurthy speak (silently) within us. Agathiyar who came over to AVM over two days recently to dispense Gnanam, came over the phone to continue further. After speaking and sharing Gnanam he said he was slipping into a state of bliss similarly to the moments he has had in sitting alone in Dhyanam. I could feel that intense vibration that had me go within too for a few moments enjoying and partaking in the said bliss. It was sublime and peaceful.

Agathiyar explains another facet of Dhyanam as follows in "Siththan Arul" at http://siththanarul.blogspot.com/2014/05/172.html)

அகத்தியர் இப்படி உரைத்தார்.

த்யானத்தில் உச்சநிலை ஆகும் பொழுது, அவரவர்கள், தன்னை மறந்து, முருகா என்றோ, அம்மா என்றோ, வேங்கடவா என்றோ அடி வயற்றிலிருந்து எழுப்புவது வழக்கம்.

In the height of Dhyanam, one forgets himself, and cries out the name of God.

உணர்ச்சிப் பெருக்கில், 7417 நரம்புகளும் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து, உணர்ச்சிகளும் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து, ரத்தமும், நரம்புகளும், எலும்புகளும் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து ஒடுங்கிப்போய், உச்சநிலையை அடைவதைத்தான் த்யானத்தின் உச்சகட்டம் என்று பெயர்.

Overcome by emotion, the 7417 nerves, his blood, and bones reaching a state of heightness, subdue eventually. This is indeed the height of Dhyanam. 

I had experienced this many times in temples and at home and even as I began to pen this post, but could not comprehend it much less associate it with Dhyanam. Our perception and understanding of Dhyanam is to sit and close our eyes, focusing on something to gain concentration and eventually slip into a meditative state. But it looks like there are many facets to it. 

ஒருவன் எப்பொழுது த்யானத்தின் உச்சகட்டத்தை அடைந்துவிட்டானோ, அப்பொழுதே. முற்றுமே இறைவனிடம் தன்னை ஒப்படைத்து விடுவான். இதை உடல் பொருள் ஆவி என்று அந்தக் காலத்திலேயே சொல்வார்கள்.

It is only when one reaches the height of Dhyanam that he truly has surrendered himself to the divine forces without reservation. His body, breath, and soul are one with the divine that instant. 

All external rituals, methods, and practices, are to eventually bring on an internal transformation in us. But sadly we are not willing to get off the bus as we have merged with the merry-making and merry-going crowd onboard and lost sight of a merrier divinity in us that is waiting to be awakened as Tavayogi says we are caught in SitrInbam and are ignorant of the PerInbam waiting around the corner. Let us go for the latter while there is still time. Take any tool on hand, break the barriers, and enter the divine kingdom within you. It takes a thief to gain his right to divinity again. It takes courage to take what is rightfully ours. Steal the heart of the divinity and have her locked up in your hearts forever. Love and cherish her till your last breath. Become one with her. As Swami Muktananda says he found his other half in his guru. Become whole again. Become Shiva Sakthi.

STAYING RELEVANT

We went with the flow, in all matters, having started puja and worship to the Siddhas in my home, initially alone, after Agathiyar called for it in my first nadi reading in 2002; and joined by my family in 2005 after meeting Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal and he called for the family to join in; coming as a bronze statue in 2010 that Agathiyar asked to commission and be made and subsequently bringing youths over to witness and participate the Pornami Puja beginning from 2013. Soon some seekers in the corporate fields came along and tried to sell their wares or ideas. But as all was well on our end, we did not buy it. We were pretty satisfied. They moved on to other groups to introduce these ideas. I too had many ideas in my days of searching for a group to dock with and learn Siddha puja. As none did puja to the Siddhas then and neither did they want to hear me out, I began to start on my own home puja. Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) evolved and flourished after Agathiyar sent some youths over to witness my home puja. We soon embarked on carrying out home pujas, Siddha pujas in temples, and doing charity and feeding the hungry till Agathiyar had us wind up the group in 2019. In bringing Agathiyar's bronze statue into the homes of devotees who invited him, I expected the worship to flourish in their homes too with each home becoming another AVM. This was also a desire of Tavayogi that was conveyed by Lord Murugan after Tavayogi's demise. Agathiyar too had this desire to see each home turn into his Vanam as he revealed recently. Sadly except for a handful, it never took place. A devotee from the Indian subcontinent who is currently working in Germany and who follows this blog and the events at AVM closely, having gained inspiration, has voiced his aspirations to begin an Agathiyar Vanam in Germany. It warms my heart to hear this.  

Why aren't devotees eager to turn their homes into temples and ashrams? When they can have relatives come over, and call over friends for drinks and a chat, why do they not call them over for puja too, and share the bliss? What is stopping them? Are they not prepared to take on the work that comes with preparation, attending to the puja and visitors, and finally in cleaning up? It somehow seems that they prefer to join in other's home puja. They seem to only want to be tagged as devotees in worship but do not want to make Siddhantham a way of life. They seem to replace temple worship which was a practice earlier with Siddha worship. It ends there. There is more to it than the worship of the Siddhas as one shall come to know reading this blog. 

I guess it all boils down to our purpose here. The Siddhas seek out souls who could be molded into their image and have them take on the role of presenting their teachings to others too. Identifying them, they begin work on him or her. Agathiyar is currently busy working on a young devotee to take these teachings to greater heights. As for now, the devotee has to remain hidden from the public eye. Similarly, he has delayed the journey of other devotees considering the scare and objections from their spouses and families and the responsibilities and duties on hand. It is on hold for them too till those around them give their consent and the green light or they can safely let go of their responsibilities as Agathiyar told us days ago it is not his intent to separate couples or break up families. He wants to give those who are still ignorant of the truth some time to truly come to an understanding of the path. Hence a reason he freed me from my captivity too. He has asked that I set myself as an example to others while he works wonders or Siddhis to allay their fear.

TIME TO SERVE OTHERS AGAIN

The Siddha path and its rewards have been sensationalized. When Agathiyar told me my journey had ended, I was surprised. Not that I was disappointed, on the contrary, I was delighted. Was this all to it, I asked myself. Then where did all the magical and mind-boggling things related to the Siddhas that we have read and heard emerge from? Why was it made to appear hard and difficult and almost impossible to achieve all this while by many quarters? Why were much of their practices kept in secrecy? 

Giving us a Nadi reading to know why we are here, the reason to be born again, they had us rectify our past sins and mistakes either directly or by other means. As for others who were spotless, they had to come to reap the rewards of their good actions too, hence taking on another birth. They extended an invitation to come to the worship of the Siddhas which with the coming of a guru in the physical form explained was to eradicate all the sins in all the births we took with the help and assistance of the Siddhas. The Siddhas who could see the past, present, and future could help us balance the score and reach the state of Mukthi, going back to the time before the need arose to take the very first birth when we were a clean slate, a pure soul. With karma taken care of it was time to get the physical body in shape and set the three Dosas right. The body had to be cleansed internally now. We had to work on our diet less we began to pollute the vehicle again which was now rid of impurities. Giving us specific Asanas and Pranayama techniques through the physical guru, they prepared the channels and networks within the subtle body to take on the surge of energy currents, that were to be released. The Siddhas stand by to monitor the internal transformation that follows, assisting in releasing the blockages and ensuring its continuous flow till it reaches the ocean of bliss at the Sahasrara.

Now all our efforts end. The Prapanjam begins its work flowing within as in osmosis, (the spontaneous passage or diffusion of water or other solvents through a semipermeable membrane -  https://www.britannica.com/) Here it was from the Prapanjam into the subtle body and bringing visible changes in the gross body too.

When I asked Agathiyar what further practice I should do, as Lao Tzu says to go with the flow, he answered to do nothing and that these energies shall do their work. It was time to reap the rewards of our devotion and practice. But more than that it was the result of their grace that saw the journey ending on a happy or rather blissful note.

In an article on Guhai Nama Shivaya in 'The Mountain Path', 1990,

“In Virasaivism it is the Guru’s job to cleanse the devotee of the threefold impurity that clings to the three bodies. This process would have been initiated by Guhai Nama Shivaya’s human Guru, but it was Arunachala-Shiva who completed the job.”

Agathiyar brought down the grace of Sivam. Sivam shall bring down the grace of Param. Param shall bring down the grace of Brahmam. As Paul Zweig says of Swami Muktananda in the introduction to Swami Muktananda’s "The Perfect Relationship', Syda Foundation, 1985, "He felt that the ‘secret’ resided with great beings, with saints; they were themselves the ‘secret’ and he could learn what they were by loving them and sitting at their feet", Agathiyar held the secret and has revealed it to us sitting at his feet. Agathiyar was now Dhakshanamurthy himself, dispensing Gnanam.

Swami Chidvilasananda in 'Inner Treasures', a Siddha Yoga Publication, 1995, writes,

"In the tradition of the Siddhas, the Guru is recognized as the embodiment of the grace of God, and therefore it is the Guru who oversees the Sadhaka’s transformation, infusing it with divine grace. In Sidhayoga, the Guru’s grace intensifies your longing for the vision of God. The Guru’s grace continually nudges you forward on the path towards oneness. The Guru’s grace draws you within the realm of divine peace. In that ultimate state, the only attachment you have left is to the Guru’s feet."

Margaret Simpson in ‘A Perfect Life’, Siddha Yoga Publication, 1996, says of Swami Muktananda's experiences,

"After the awakening of the Shakti, this process of yogic movements began to take place within my entire body. The pulsation of his ecstasy pervades my entire body like the movement of the wind. The Kriyas were his, the yoga was his, and meditation took place because of him. The final message that I received was from him. The power of his word permeates each of my blood cells; the fluids of my entire body are his. That is why I am joyful. Gurudev entered me and replaced all my bodily fluids with his. He evicted me and took up residence in me. He annihilated my ego. By making my individuality his, he became me. This is the guru’s compassion. Only when I lost myself in the ecstasy of Bhagawan Nithyananda did I realize who he was. Only the guru can know that delight and taste the elixir that arises in every pore of the body."

Swami Chidvilasananda in the 'Darshan' a Siddha Yoga Publication, May 1992, (Chidvilasananda, Darshan, 1992), writes,

“A true Guru wishes only the best for his disciple’s upliftment. The Guru totally sacrifices himself to redeem his beloved disciple. The Guru bears every pain to purify the disciple and have him experience the vision of God.”

Swami Chidvilasananda continues, 

“Grace comes from a master. Whatever brings you to the Guru, if you are really open to what the Guru has to give, unfailingly you do find relief and an experience of inner transformation. Grace has the power to cleanse us completely. When you have grace you have everything. Allow grace to function through your mind, your intellect, your body, your dreams, and your speech, and you continually live in grace rather than in the creations of the mind."

After having followed Sariyai which was introduced by our parents, we came to take up Kriyai with the coming of the guru, he brought us to Yogam and is now dispensing Gnanam. Having us go on pilgrimages and his abodes in Sariyai, he had us take up rituals in Kriyai. Taking up Yoga, he has us tap into the Prapanjam and filled us with its energies. 

If he had emptied me back then in 1988, asking me to take a break from asking questions that saw all my home puja, temple puja, Satsangs, and readings come to an end for the next 14 years, he came to fill me in with Siddha stuff after my Nadi reading in 2002. In 2019 he had me even drop all these in exchange for some years of sitting in solitary. He had us go within. Though I had never entered the state of intense meditation that is often spoken about by others and that we read and watch, Agathiyar tells me my journey has ended. Was this all to it, I kept asking myself in disbelief. I asked myself if there wasn't more to it, just as a story is told of a seeker and Babaji by Sriinaath Raghavan on fb.

"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 told 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."

But he has made it all too easy. No wonder Tavayogi told me that we had come this far quite easily. Then he reveals "You have been in touch with me for crores and crores of births." Enquiring again and again if there was anything I needed to do further, his answer was always "Do Nothing. Just be still." Now he has come to fill this vessel with Gnanam and freed me to move among others. He has tasked me to teach Yoga to others, taking on from where I left off learning from Kriya Babaji's lineage. I guess this is the purpose that he was talking about some time back. I guess he has meticulously worked on this soul all through the births, little by little, to become an image of him and bring his work to others. 

THE GURU

Srinath Raghavan posted the following on fb some time back.

"When with the touch of the Master from outside, the bubble breaks, That's when we will finally realize, how foolish and limited we were, To have accepted the truth that's known to us, as the Final Truth...Freedom is breaking the bubble and seeing and feeling the reality beyond your own."

The guru comes to set us free from our own limitations, from the opinion we have formed of him, or that we took on from others. But experience tells us otherwise. We are then freed. Agathiyar himself came to turn the tables on us for believing the most ridiculous stories about his existence.

"Agathiyan means he is trapped in statues (to many). What is this? I am like the wind. How can I be trapped (in a space)? I am in you. In her. In that flame. In all. This is Agathiyan. I am a stone to some. I am a child to some. I am a friend to some. I am God to some. I am a guru to some. I am deaf to some. Turn your home into an ashram. We will walk into your home then to bring the soul to attain Gnanam. You shall see an Agathiyan in each home then for when one reaches God, he shall realize that he is God himself."

Agathiyar comes to spill the beans and demystify the mysteries.

"Vallal (Ramalinga Adigal) saw Shivam back then. How? Chidambaram Ragasiyam. There is nothing to the mystery or secret at Chidambaram. (Chidambaram Ragasiyam). When you feel it within you, that is Chidambaram Ragasiyam. When you see it in all, that is Chidambaram Ragasiyam. When you are in all (of creation), that is Chidambaram Ragasiyam. When you live in all, that is Chidambaram Ragasiyam. Nothing more."

Sitting at his feet, Agathiyar showered us with Gnanam over two days and continued over the phone intercepting my call to a devotee. He shed light on many matters and removed our ignorance. He brought down the building that the ignorance in us built, and replaced it with one that Gnanam brought forth. He tore down ignorance and replaced it with Gnanam.

Ramana Maharishi says, "... the spiritual energy of a master transforms the consciousness of men."

Agathiyar ran through briefly the inherent and dormant energies within us and what they could do if initiated some time back. We are ignorant of these inherent energies he says. When these energies are released the body shall go through many transformations. The body should be able to withstand its onslaught though, he cautioned us. Only the Siddha knows if we are ready and if the body is prepared. The Siddha shall reveal them to us according to our readiness to receive, preparedness, the age factor, and our existing stock of karma. As it would not be the same for all he asked us not to compare with others for each shall have his own journey to travel. This is not a race to compete in and win, he adds.

பல சக்திகள் நம்மில் உறைந்து கொண்டு இருக்கிறது. அதை உணராமல் இருக்கின்றோம். இச்சக்திகள் வெளிப்படுவதால் உடலில் பெரும் மாற்றங்கள் ஏற்படும். அது உங்கள் உடம்பு தாங்கிக் கொள்ளுனும். சித்தன் அதைப் படி படியாக உணர்த்துவான். உங்கள் பக்குவத்திற்கு ஏற்ப வயதிற்கு ஏற்ப பாவ புண்ணியத்திற்கு ஏற்ப சித்தன் கைபிடித்து அழைத்துச் செல்வான். அது அனைவருக்கும் ஒரே மாதிரி ஆக அமையாது. அது வெவ்வேறு பயணமாக அமையும். அந்தக் கணக்கு சித்தனுக்கு மட்டும் தான் தெரியும். யாரையும் ஒப்பிடாதீர்கள். இது போட்டி அல்ல முந்தி அடித்துக் கொண்டு செல்வதற்கு.

Paul Zweig in the introduction to Swami Muktananda’s ‘The Perfect Relationship", SYDA Foundation, 1985, writes about the moment the master came into Muktananda's life.

"After almost twenty-five years he met Bhagawan Nithyananda who became his guru. In a flash of self-understanding, he knew that he had found his other half; that now he was whole again."

Swami Muktananda writes further on this in his book ‘Secret of the Siddhas’, Siddha Yoga Publication, 1980. His master gave him one word that completely transformed him. He also mentions he had to spend such a long time with Bhagawan Nithyananda to receive it.

Margaret Simpson in ‘A Perfect Life’, Siddha Yoga Publication, 1996, shares this.

"That word (Guru Om), which I (Swami Muktananda) received after so many years, spread through my body from head to toe like wildfire carried by the wind. It produced in me both inner heat and the coolness of joy. Before meeting my guru I had practiced many different kinds of yoga, but it was I who had practiced them. However, that word activated a spontaneous yoga within me. I was filled with amazement. After the awakening of the Shakti, this process of yogic movements began to take place within my entire body. The pulsation of his ecstasy pervades my entire body like the movement of the wind. The Kriyas were his, the yoga was his, and meditation took place because of him. The final message that I received was from him. The power of his word permeates each of my blood cells; the fluids of my entire body are his. That is why I am joyful. Gurudev entered me and replaced all my bodily fluids with his. He evicted me and took up residence in me. He annihilated my ego. By making my individuality his, he became me. This is the guru’s compassion. Only when I lost myself in the ecstasy of Bhagawan Nithyananda did I realize who he was. Only the guru can know that delight and taste the elixir that arises in every pore of the body.

Ramalinga Adigal sings the same.

"சந்நிதி யில்சென்று நான்பெற்ற பேறது, சாமி அறிவார டி - அம்மா, சாமி அறிவார டி."

Sadhu Natanananda quotes Sri Ramana Maharishi from ‘Sri Ramana Darsanam’, 

“I have seen God! I have seen him face to face! I am seeing God just as clearly as you are seeing me. Those who have seen the truth can also show it to others. There is no room for doubt in these revelations.”

Ramakrishna too voices the same experience. Richard Schiffman quotes Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa in his ‘Ramakrishna - A Prophet for the New Age’. 

“God can be seen and spoken to just as surely as I am seeing you and speaking to you. If anyone really wants to see God and if he calls upon Him - God will reveal himself. That’s for certain.”

Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal in replying to my wish to see God and his Messengers, answered, “It is possible to see Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal," but continued with a question, "But is that what you want?”

Agathiyar too says God can be seen. But he adds asking, "Have you worked hard enough to be eligible to see me?" He goes on to ask us "Have you put in the hours of austerities (or Tavam)?" He says "I can come as Light before you. I can come as a flame. Can your eyes withstand this intensity? Do you have the strength to see me in this form? Are you ready for it?" In asking us to learn to enjoy everything and learn to cherish each moment he points out God as "In the skies. In a beautiful atmosphere. When breathing in the air. This is Godliness. It is all with us and in us. Where are you searching? Step out from the darkness into the light. You need to see its brilliance."

Swami Muktananda explains why one needs a master in 'Kundalini - The Secret of Life', Siddha Yoga Publication, 1994, 

“If he tries to discover a path by himself, he will simply go around in circles, walking for a long time but never reaching his goal. The Guru has found everything you are seeking; that which you want has become the Guru’s wealth. The difference between you and the Guru is that you are the seed and the Guru is the full-grown tree; you are the beginning, and he is the end.”

Swami Muktananda proclaims that the Masters themselves were the secret! Paul Zweig in the introduction to Swami Muktananda’s "The Perfect Relationship', Syda Foundation, 1985, writes,

“He (Swami Muktananda) felt that God's ‘secret’ was not contained in any Sanskrit formula, ancient ritual, or technique of meditation; that severe austerities and physical deprivation would not reveal it. He felt that the ‘secret’ resided with great beings, with saints; they were themselves the ‘secret’ and he could learn what they were by loving them and sitting at their feet."

Bhagawan Nithyananda too spoke of the importance of a Guru. He told Muktananda, “Meditation on the Guru gives you life. All knowledge is in meditation on the Guru.” These words were like a Mantra to Muktananda.

Just as Swami Muktananda writes, “Meeting the Siddha Guru, we receive the blessings of all the perfected ones,” Siddha Konganar in a prayer to Agathiyar mentions that the mere mention of Agathiyar’s name, one has the entire Siddhas attention and glance on him.

"Chant Agathiyar’s name, For he shall gift to you all the eight Siddhis, He shall present you the mendicant’s attire, Then all Siddhas will converge and salute, No one will be deprived of witnessing the Jothi or light, Agathiyar was a yogi born of fire, This truth shall prevail throughout the 1008 worlds."

அகத்திய மாரிஷி நமா என்றென்றோது,

அஷ்ட சித்து தனை ஈவார் குளிகை ஈவார்,

அகத்தியரே காஷாய வேடமீவார்,

அப்போது சித்தரெல்லாம் கைக் கொள்வார்கள்,

அகத்தியரைத் தெண்டனிட்டு மேரு செல்ல,

யாருக்குந தடையில்லை அரசே யென்பார்,

அகத்தியர் தாம் எக்கியத்தில் பிறந்த யோகி,

ஆயிரத் தெட்டு அண்டமெல்லாம் ஆணையாச்சே.

Gordon Matthews in his translation of Meykanda Devar’s 'Shivagnana Botham' writes,

“When the soul in association with the senses and intellectual faculties is immersed in earthly experience, it knows the non-real through the non-real, but it does not know itself or God. However, when God comes as a Guru and teaches the soul, the soul is made to see that the world of experience, evolved from Maya, is non-real. It ceases then to identify itself with the non-real and to depend upon it; and in so doing it discovers its oneness with God. By reason of the soul’s virtue in previous births, God, who has been immanent in the soul, making it know, now vouchsafing to take the form of a Guru, initiates the soul in the Saiva mysteries, saying, “O thou son of a king, fallen among savages, the senses, and brought up by them, thou hast been ignorant of thy true greatness and hast wandered in ignorance." The primal one himself teaches these souls as a Guru: for in the form of consciousness, he is in union (with him). When because of the soul’s meritorious practices the primal one enlightens the soul as a Guru…”

Agathiyar says that the Atma that has firm control over the Udal and Uyir stays with the child for some 1 to 5 varahai, that is a count of time in ancient days before it is veiled for reasons that only the divine knows (and is not revealing at this present moment in time). When the time is ripe the Atma reappears in our lives, knocking on our door, jolting our memory, driving us to pick a path, finally rekindling the flame. Once karma has cleared the search to know the Atma intensifies. His search for his selfish gain loses its intensity. His seeking would be solely on knowing the Atma (Agathiyar) and reaching him. If we are aware of this sudden nudge from within, we become aware of a vibration that is felt momentarily during these moments. If we could prolong that feeling of vibration we merge in it and arrive at Erai and Agathiyan. 

ஆன்மா உடலையும் உயிரையும் தனது கட்டுப்பாட்டுக்குள் வைத்துக் கொள்ளும் ஒரு சூச்சமம். இந்தச் சூச்சமத்தை பிறந்த குழந்தைகள் 1  முதல் 5 வராகை வரையிலும் உடன் இருந்து மறையும். மறைத்தலின் காரணம் இன்னதென்று இப்போது உனக்குச் சொல்ல இயலாது. ஆனபோதிலும் ஆன்ம ஒருவரின் செயலைப் பொறுத்தே மீண்டும் அவனை வந்து சேரும். ஆன்மா உனது கர்ம வினையைச் சரிசெய்வதற்கு உதவி புரியும். கர்மவை சரி செய்த பின், ஆன்மாவின் தேடல் அதிகமாகி மனிதனின் அன்றாட தேடல் தீர்ந்து போகும். அவன் தேடல் முழுதாய் என்னையே தேடி வர முயற்சி செய்யும். ஆன்மா உன்னோடு இருந்து உன்னை ஒரு பாதைக்கு இழுத்து செல்லும். அப்போது நீ அதனை உணர்ந்தாள், உன்னில் அதிர்வாய் தோன்றி மறையும். அந்த அதிர்வினை நீ உனக்குள் நீடிக்கப் பழகினால் உன்னால் ஆன்மா என்னும் உனது அதிர்வுகளில் ஊடுருவி என்னுள் (இறை/ அகத்தியன்) வந்து சேர ஒரு வழி. 

Swami Chidvilasananda talks about the grace of the master in the 'Darshan' a Siddha Yoga Publication, May 1992, (Chidvilasananda, Darshan, 1992),

“Grace has the power to cleanse us completely. Allow grace to function through your mind, your intellect, your body, your dreams, and your speech, and you continually live in grace rather than in the creations of the mind. Grace comes from a master. When you have grace you have everything. Whatever brings you to the Guru, if you are really open to what the Guru has to give, unfailingly you do find relief and an experience of inner transformation."

The Guru will go to any length for the disciple, she says,

“A true Guru wishes only the best for his disciple’s upliftment. The Guru totally sacrifices himself to redeem his beloved disciple. The Guru bears every pain to purify the disciple and have him experience the vision of God.”

Swami Chidvilasananda in 'Inner Treasures', a Siddha Yoga Publication, 1995, writes,

"In the tradition of the Siddhas, the Guru is recognized as the embodiment of the grace of God, and therefore it is the Guru who oversees the Sadhaka’s transformation, infusing it with divine grace. In Sidhayoga, the Guru’s grace intensifies your longing for the vision of God. The Guru’s grace continually nudges you forward on the path towards oneness. The Guru’s grace draws you within the realm of divine peace. In that ultimate state, the only attachment you have left is to the Guru’s feet."

In an article on Guhai Nama Shivaya in 'The Mountain Path', 1990,

“Taking into my heart as my Guru the red mountain Lord (Arunachala), who now stands formless before me, I have put to flight the unutterable arrogance of my good and evil deeds, my soul's indissoluble threefold impurity and my unparalleled accumulation of Karma.” - Guhai Nama Shivaya’s 'Venba Tirathu.

“In Virasaivism it is the Guru’s job to cleanse the devotee of the threefold impurity that clings to the three bodies. This process would have been initiated by Guhai Nama Shivaya’s human Guru, but as the above verse  clearly states, it was Arunachala-Shiva who completed the job.”

Swami Muktananda in 'The Perfect Relationship', published by Syda Foundation, 1985, quotes poet Saint Kabir,

"Kabir wrote, “As long as I was looking for you, I did not see you. I went from door to door knocking, yet none of the doors was yours. I looked for you on so many paths, yet none of them led to your court. However, when I received Ramananda’s grace, when Guru Ramananda erased me and I became completely pure, I saw that you were behind me like my shadow. Wherever I went, you were there before me.”’

Ram Dass in 'Paths to God – Living the Bhagavadgita', Harmony Books, 2004, writes,

“… the relationship with the Guru is totally an internal matter. The essence of a relationship with a Guru is love, the Guru is a being who awakens incredible love in us and then uses our love to awaken us out of the illusion of duality. Once the awakening begins, you can’t help but feel a profound love for all beings that have helped you along the way.”

The Guru or the Master shows man God - his creator. That is the gift of a Guru to his disciples. Swami Shivananda says, “He alone can show you the path to attain God, who is the Guru of Gurus, and obviate the snares and pitfalls on your path.” Agathiyar is one such Guru.

RECOGNITION

One can be in the Siddha Marga for umpteen years but how has he contributed to its sustenance and upbringing amid others? Is it sufficient that we keep attending the weekly prayers and Satsangs we joined years ago at a center? Is it sufficient that we continue doing charity that we began years ago? Is this the goal of coming to the Siddha path? The general definition given of Siddhas is "the perfected ones". In what ways are they perfect? Aren't we to follow suit? How can we achieve this state of perfection? These questions seem to be of least interest to many on this path.

They are pretty satisfied with the above routines organized by others. When are they going to open up their homes to the Siddhas and other seekers? I guess it is too much work for them. Hence the reason to avoid. But there is this bliss in accommodating genuine seekers and souls intending to know and walk the path. Agathiyar too in reviving AVM asked me if only my family should see the joy and bliss in walking this path? He says "Out of ten who arrive out of curiosity, one shall come within the fold. That one might be the camphor that lights up instantaneously, taking up the practice and the ways of the Siddhas." We are to leave the door open for that soul. He tells me that it is wrong to keep Gnanam to oneself. He reminded me that the one who whispers Gnanam in our ears is not a guru. It should be made available to all just as the wind is available to all of creation. 

If Agathiyar sent several youths over to participate in my family puja beginning in 2013 and had me pass on Tavayogi's Vaasi or Pranayama techniques to a handful in 2019, I guess we are now qualified to take on the role and task of sharing whatever little Gnanam we have gained over the last 22 years. It has been a beautiful transition from Sariyai and temple worship to Kriyai and home worship to Yoga and now Gnanam. 

He explains each phase we went through all these years. "When you chanted mantras and did puja, you centered your mind. By doing these you showed love towards the guru. You began to know your Self. Knowing it all, when I was firmly settled in your mind, it was immaterial whether the statue was there or not. In passing through this journey, you gained clarity and understanding. You shall come to see me in everything. This is the zenith of Siddhantham (the path). This is the truth. 

Just like Ramalinga Adigal blew the horns on his achievements or rather the grace of Arutperunjothi Andavar that brought him to a state of a Siddha and beyond, and invited everyone to join him gain His grace, Agathiyar wants us to take pride in our achievements or rather show others to the means to gain the grace by the Siddhas too. He says that the Siddhas shall then show them Sivam. Sivam in turn shall show them Param. 

"You have acquired immense experience. Announce proudly that the show has come to an end. Announce you have seen the bliss of Param or ParamAnandham. Announce you have seen Chidambaram. Announce you have reached this state. You saw with your eyes. You felt it. What more?"

I stood by humbled to the core when he said all these. I still cannot come out of the state of wonder and disbelief. Was he actually talking about me, I asked myself. Then I saw myself in the mirror. I knew there was truth in his words. I stood under the open skies. I knew there was truth in his words. As he asked, what more could a student ask for. I am deeply indebted to Agathiyar and the other Siddhas, and my gurus in the physical form and their lineages. I guess we have made them proud. 

WHERE DO WE STAND?

When Tavayogi spoke about the receptiveness of people to certain teachings, he classified them as having the nature of petrol, charcoal, and peat. Petrol catches fire easily. Charcoal if fanned will catch on and burn well. Peat fires smolder underground for great lengths of time. If Tavayogi spoke about the three kinds of people namely those who ignite immediately; those who catch fire when fanned and those who turn away, I was surprised to learn that Bhagawan Ramana too has distinguished them similarly. He associates them with gunpowder, charcoal, and wet coal. We learn this from, "Be As You Are. The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi" compiled by David Godman, (Compass) Paperback.

"Sri Ramana occasionally indicated that there were three classes of spiritual aspirants. The most advanced realize the Self as soon as they are told about its real nature. Those in the second class need to reflect on it for some time before Self-awareness becomes firmly established. Those in the third category are less fortunate since they usually need many years of intensive spiritual practice to achieve the goal of Self-realization."

"Sri Ramana sometimes used a metaphor of combustion to describe the three levels: gunpowder ignites with a single spark, charcoal needs the application of heat for a short time, and wet coal needs to dry out and heat up over a long period of time before it will begin to burn."

I came across this distinction in the documentary movie "Samadhi - The Pathless Path", too.

"Some like dry wood need just a spark to light up. Others require more preparation as in wet wood that needs some time to dry out before they ignite. They need teachings, and practices to loosen the bonds of the self-structure to become free of samskaras."

Swami  Saravanananda wrote in his  English rendering of the  Arutperunjhoti  Agaval by  Ramalinga  Swami published by the  Ramalinga  Mission, Madras, "The cosmic space is beginningless and is full of atoms of souls called Atmas. The atoms in cosmic space are of 3 types (immature, transitional, and mature). Due to the differences in the levels of will,  wisdom, and action  (karma)  that are found in the cosmic space,  Atmas have come to possess threefold bodies (Karmic, Pranava, Gnana)"

Annie Besant in her talks on "The Laws of the Higher Life", the Theosophical Publishing House, 1903, draws two distinct divisions to people and their brains. The coarser vibrations of the lower world and those adapted to it are one. The others are those who are in the front of evolution and of a subtler nature.

Agathiyar in coming to us recently speaks about this too.

மாணவன் என்பவன் கற்பூரம் போல் இருக்க வேண்டும்.

A disciple has to be like a camphor.

"இதோ வருகிறேன்", அவன் மாணவன்.

"Here I come", He then is a disciple.

கூறியவுடன் வருகிறான் அல்லவா....அவன் கற்பூரம்.

The one who comes that instant ....is camphor.

குரு பேச்சுக்கு எதிர் பேச்சு இருக்க கூடாது. மறு பேச்சு இல்லை. காரணம் கூற கூடாது.

He should not dispute the guru's speech. No talking back. Not giving reasons.

"இல்லை குரு, பார்க்கிறேன், யோசிக்கிறேன்", நீ மாணவன் அல்ல. வெறும் வாழை தண்டு.

"No guru, I shall see, I shall think over it", You are not a disciple then. Just a banana trunk.

"அவகாசம் கொடுங்கள்", அவன் கரி கட்டை. ஊதி வரவைத்து விடலாம்.

"Give me time, please", He is charcoal. We can blow (as in fanning the flame) and bring him (to us).

Where do we stand? We need to ask ourselves.

GNANAM

Agathiyar in coming to us days before spoke much on Gnanam. Just as I had wondered how Sadhu Om gained so much knowledge and divine wisdom sitting at the feet of Bhagawan Ramana, I had a glimpse of it talking to Agathiyar who intercepted my telephone call to a devotee last night. He continued passing on Gnanam over the phone. Before leaving he mentioned that he was in a state of bliss that was akin to the bliss attained in the moment of silence or Maunam and told me that he was going into it leaving me with an intense feeling of bliss too. I cut the conversation with the devotee who was waiting to hear from me. I too slipped into it for a few rare moments. 

It is a wonder indeed. Going by his songs on Ramana and his teachings, we are immersed both in bliss and deep contemplation of the essence and meanings of Sadhu Om's lyrics. This is amplified further by Sriram Parthasarathy's rendition and musical scores. It is simply divine. 

LETTING GO

Looking back letting go had come easy for me somehow from day one. I had picked up many things, practices, habits, etc, and had equally let it go when asked for or at a certain time in life. Let us start from my bachelor days. I took up the first job that was offered to me at the age of 20 in 1980. I remained in that field for some 36 years. I could have worked another 4 years reaching the age of pension at 60. But I opted out earlier at 56 in 2016. I did not want to die working. It was easy as I had learned to let go. Agathiyar gave me his blessings to carry on doing his work. I was now employed under Agathiyar. 

Before I came to Agathiyar I had all the deities line up at my altar in my bachelor home. I did worship to them at dawn and dusk. I read much and discussed religion with senior colleagues. I could not contain the pain and sorrow of seeing many close to me suffer. I did not understand the reason for their suffering then. Lord Shiva relieved me of my suffering coming in a dream asking me to hold all my questions to another day. I left all home puja and temple worship, reading, and Satsangs that very moment. It was easy as I had learned to let go. The day that Lord Shiva mentioned came some 14 years later when I read the Nadi written by Agathiyar and got my answers. The events leading to that day are pretty interesting and were not my doing.

I came to know much later that the reason I came to the Siddhas was because of my second daughter. She, my wife, and I were a family in Papanasam in a former birth. We had served fruits that we sold as petty traders to Agathiyar before starting the day. She used to feed the granite statue of Agathiyar in the temple. When she was born I turned vegetarian for no reason at all.

Going back some 4 years earlier in 1994, a colleague who resigned from his job to become a monk at Paramahansa Yogananda's Ranchi Ashram passed me his book, "An Autobiography of a Yogi" and a painting of Lord Shiva. That book introduced me to the existence of Godmen or gurus. I lined the wall in my puja room with paintings and photos of gurus beside the deities. Both my wife and I had dreams upon dreams of these saints and deities then. I began to frequent the temples for the sake of my children. 

In 2001, my nephew brought me a message and a mantra relayed by his Paramaguru Gopal Pillai. I was soon to find out a year later that it was from Agathiyar. I read the Nadi and came to the worship of Siddhas as requested by Agathiyar. Agathiyar joined the array of pictures at my altar. But soon I made a brave move to remove all and only have his painting and the oil lamp. It was easy as I had learned to let go.

In 2010, Agathiyar came as a bronze statue commissioned in Swamimalai under his orders in the Nadi. He was meant to go over to the Sri Raghavendra Mritiga Brindavanam in Ipoh that my brother-in-law was building. Meanwhile, he stayed in my home. Upon completion of the temple complex, Agathiyar chose to stay with us. Beginning in 2013 he had many seekers turn up at my home to join in our family puja. We opened our doors to them. Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) was born. We included charity and service too as we had the required numbers and funds. Come 2019, he had me wind it up just in time for the pandemic that froze our lives for some 2 1/2 years.  It was easy as I had learned to let go. Now he tells me that he intends to revive the group.

In 2023 he asked that I move him to another devotee's home. I did as requested. I just have the oil lamp now. It was easy as I had learned to let go. Now he tells me that he is coming back home with his life partner Lobama on Guru Purnima in July of this year to stay put forever.

When my mother left us a year ago, I could let her go. She too was prepared mentally having lived 96 years. She saved for the day, collecting whatever money her children gave her, that took care of her funeral expenses. On her deathbed, she told us that she wanted to sleep hinting that she was going to sleep long. 

Giving his message through Gopal Pillai, coming through the Nadi, and coming as Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal, my guru in physical form, in the form of the bronze statue, Agathiyar started coming within devotees later. After some 22 years, Agathiyar came and sat with us as a family over two days sharing his sorrows on seeing us humans waste our lives away and soon regained his composure and shared hours of Gnanam or divine wisdom. It is all in the previous posts. 

This journey is indeed beyond our dreams and imagination. Or maybe it all is a dream as Bharathi counters life. But what is the purpose of this dream then? Just as we or rather our souls momentarily part with this body during sleep when our senses too, go to sleep, leaving the vital organs to run the show, and we awake to see another day, maybe each day is another new life to be cherished. But since it has become routine we tend to miss its importance and see life as a gift. The ego that rules convinces us that we shall live to see another day. But what if it ends in our sleep? 

Swami Vivekananda says to cherish each day as a new life. Awake to a new order each day. Awake with a purpose each day. Pick something that you love to do not for yourself but for others, besides going through the daily regime that has become a part of our lives. 

Over the last few days, Agathiyar has made us cherish the gift of life and a family. He has made us share the joy, happiness, and bliss with others. 

If I thought I could let go of all things, I found it rather difficult to let go of my lust and temper. Agathiyar had to come in the Nadi reading and conduct an hour-long class on anger management and literally took up his staff to give me a knock on my head. Basically, we are all Sakalar having come with three Malas or impurities namely: Maayai, Kanmam, and Aanavam. The saints in dropping Maayai, evolve into Rishis and are known as Piralayaakalar. In dropping Maayai and Kanmam, they evolve into Maha Rishis and are called Vignanakalar. 

கட்டுப்பட்ட உயிர்களை தளை நீக்கி (மாயை, கன்மம், ஆணவம்), தன்னைப்போல் அகண்டாகார பரிபூரண வஸ்துவாக மாற்றுவதே ஈஸ்வரனின் சங்கல்பம் ஆகும். (Source: "Thiruchitrabalam Yendra Sirsabaiyum Porsabaiyum Avaniyin Antaranga Arul Arasu Chidambara Ragasiyam" and "Vallalarum Brahma Jnana Sangamum" published by Bharath Book Bureau Chennai.)

"Maya in Saiva Siddhanta exists, it's just constantly changing. That's why Gurudeva writes "...the ever perpetuating dance." It's constantly changing; there's nothing permanent about it. So it's a reality but it's constantly changing. "Maya, the ever-perpetuating dance of creation, preservation, and dissolution." 

"Gurudeva clarifies Karma as our Prarabdha karma, brought with us to face in this life, along with the karma we are creating now and will cause in the future."

"Anava is when we tend to forget, we identify and we think of ourselves as a separate being rather than being just the One Being." (Source: Talks by Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami at https://www.himalayanacademy.com/ )

When Anavam is dropped we lose the sense of separation and become Yegan or the One. As Pon Govindasamy mentions souls are riddled, locked, and chained by Maayai, Kanmam, and Aanavam, and we have to find our way back, ridding these three, bringing us to the state of purity, that of God, I have to work on them too. I am working on it. The Siddhas are helping me subdue them. One day I shall lose even these and maybe join their ranks. Or maybe this is what is holding me back for a reason. But even if I do not break the chain I can always come back as my first guru Supramania Swami said we shall polish till it shines; and later Tavayogi said we shall come back and continue and as Agathiyar told me recently, we pick up from where we left, referring to my past live indulging in Yoga and going back even further, mentioning "You have been in touch with me for crores and crores of births." My journey was fast-tracked thanks to Supramania Swami passing me the merits of his 40 years of Tavam or austerities and the unspoken word and practical guidance from Tavayogi who led me on this journey. I am forever indebted to them.

A RECAP

A recap of the week's lessons on Gnanam by Agathiyar and the rest of the Siddhas is appropriate at this moment for they have taken time to be with us and educate us to move forward and if possible to team up with them in the future or some other future birth.

Maybe a recap of the entire journey is necessary to picture the phases that we went through to arrive here and now at the courtyard of Gnanam dispensed by the guru Agathiyar.

Bringing us to see the Nadi in 2002 we moved on to Sariyai and later Kriyai with the coming of Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal in 2005. In learning rituals and conducting them we bridged both worlds that of the Siddhas and ours, the gross and the subtle. In learning Yoga in 2007 from him, we bridged the body with the breath. Again the gross and the subtle. In going within in 2019, we bridged the body, breath, and soul. Today in a matter of 22 years, they come among us to bridge us to the Param or the source of all life and forms. 

The Siddhas having seen the magnificence of creation and its creator want us to have a firsthand look too rather than learn, read and hear about it elsewhere. They want to give us the experience. Words read in a book can bring us into the era spoken of or the place described because we can relate to our world. But what about the wonders beyond our imagination both in the Pindam and Andam. No amount of words can describe vividly these worlds and experiences. 

Hence God placed the Siddhas to bring us there. It is only one who has seen it can show us the route, means, and way to it. For this to take place one needs to begin with their worship. It is a means to shed our ego and follow the captain. Nothing more. They take the lead and we follow. After taking baby steps, just as the parent lets go of our hands, they let us explore giving us the tools, methods, and practice. But they always keep an eye on us should we need some assistance. Only the strong-willed make it on this journey. The pampered and spoilt lose out in the game. 

Agathiyar tells me that I had to leave my mortal body in a past birth having exercised Yoga. He says we continue where we left off. So he has directed me to teach it to others too. Another soul who had stepped into Gnanam in the past birth shall continue passing on Gnanam in this birth too. And so it goes on. 

Agathiyar who sees into the past, present, and future has guided me well in adapting to the blueprint of my life. This was possible because I chose to listen. Because I listened he brought up this blueprint and the target for me to achieve in this birth replacing an earlier provision of me that would have been entirely different. Our lives are not written in a single slab of stone. It is written in blueprints that the divine chooses to bring up with the passing of time. It is not one journey pegged for life but is studied and replaced at certain phases of our lives. We are actually living bits and pieces from these various blueprints. It is quite similar to the many Role Playing Games we have played. Hence our destiny is shaped as time goes on. Though our fate is written in these numerous blueprints, it is overwritten as and when necessary depending on our efforts, sincerity, and eagerness, and the aspirations, desires, and wishes of the divine. All these shapes a "new you". The "new you" is then showered with their grace. 

What a wonderful journey it has been as Agathiyar too acknowledges. But it does not end here as I am told. Now having seen it we are in a position to guide others too. He wants us to pass it on to others beginning with the family. That is the very essence of life. Agathiyar's 5 tenets for mankind express this wonderfully.