SURRENDER

We have bakthi and devotion towards God but we do not surrender. We have love for God and the guru but do not surrender. When faced with a problem we stand before God for a solution. When things don't move according to our expectations we stand before God asking him to clear the obstacle. When someone dear falls sick we stand before him asking to be cured. When that someone dear is at the end of his or her life we stand before him again asking for an extension in life. We place prayers before God. We bribe him with goodies forgetting that whatever offerings we promise comes from him. Then we go back and check with him often if not daily why it hasn't happened. We modify or add on to our offerings and asking. After placing our prayers we go back and interfere in the process. This is not surrendering. This is not Saranam to his feet.

If and when we surrender all the above to him we should learn to step aside and not interfere. We should not go back to him intensifying our prayers. We should not intimidate God to carry out our wishes. We should not harass God. We should not send reminders to him. That would then not be total surrender unto him. To see through our wishes, we need to give him time and leeway and space to work. We should not determine the consequences or the results. We should not speak about it. We should not think about it. We should not meddle in it any further. That is total surrender.

Even as I had seen Tavayogi brush away the dangers and tell us that Agathiyar shall see to it, I realize that we each need to go through such experiences to learn a lesson. The events that unfolded over the past week taught me about surrender that I lack. But the divine was patient with our asking. First, they buy time by remaining silent. By remaining silent it does not mean that God is not listening. It does not mean that he has not listened to our prayers. It does not mean that he is not working on it. It is just that God does not advertise or take selfies and photos and post it on social medias to update us on the progress. He does it silently. Indeed just weeks ago Agathiyar told us that he shall work silently.

அமைதியாக அகத்தியன் செயல் படுவான். முதலில் உங்களை என்னிடம் ஒப்படையுங்கள். அன்றே என் குருநாதன் பலமுறை உங்களிடம் வந்து அமர்ந்து உங்களிடம் பலமுறை கேட்டான் சரணம் அடைந்து விடீர்களா?

Agathiyar reminded us why Lord Murugan came some time back to asked us to surrender. It is only when we surrender that the divine can work on us. It is only when the "I" that is thought to be the doer submits to the holy feet of the divine that the Atma that resides within us and has been watching silently can arise to lead us to greater heights, not to achieve more monetary gains but attain greater spiritual heights. The Atma shall show the way to God. This Jeevatma shall lead us to the Paramatma. The Paramatma shall come as a guru in a physical form or feed its thoughts to the Jeevatma residing within us and move us. Either way, it is the divine who then moves the chess pieces. 

When Arunagiri surrendered to Lord Murugan, he was asked to go within. After 12 years the Lord comes back to tell him that he had cried enough. During this time his Jeevatma had revealed all the wrongdoings he did in his lifetime and maybe the past lives too that made him shed tears and regret his actions. The score was now settled. He could move on with the rest of his life without carrying the past baggage. He could give himself completely to God now. Hence the reason it is very vital to settle our past karma before coming to the service of God. Hence the reason on the onset the Siddhas shows us our past karma and its remedies. Only then are we introduced to God anew. Only then is the bridge laid out before us.

If we fail to see our past flaws and faults and never move to rectify them, if we never look back on our past deeds and regret for our actions in this life span while still alive, death comes to us to remind us of our mistakes. Upon death, these are shown to us. We shall shed tears then and regret. But it would be too late to bring the necesary changes and corrections. We then have to wait for the others to end their lives too and join us before taking another birth together to settle the scores. We then have to linger around longer.

Agathiyar has explained to us who we are and our purpose. He had spoken about the 5 tenets too at the Tamil Sangam. We are all one Atma. One energy that has taken various forms. We are here to do God's work he says.

அனைத்தும் ஒரே ஆத்மா. ஒரே சக்தி கூடி செயல்படுகின்றோம்.  அவ்வளவுதான். இறைவனின் செயலைச் செலுத்துகிறோம். 

உங்கள் வடிவம் நாமம் மறைய வேண்டும். அந்த நான் மறைய வேண்டும். அப்போது மிஞ்சி இருப்பது பரிசுத்த ஆத்மா. அது என் ஆன்மா. அகத்தியனின் ஆத்மா. ஈசனின் ஆத்மா. சுப்பிரமணியனின் ஆத்மா. தவயோகியின் ஆத்மா. முருகனின் ஆத்மா. அன்னையின் ஆத்மா. விஷ்ணுவின் ஆத்மா. நாம் அனைவரும் கடவுளின் அம்சம். அவரின் வேலையைப் பார்ப்பத்திற்கு வந்திருக்கின்றோம்.

The "I" has to be erased. Only then shall the Atma surface. That is my Atma too. All is God's Atma (Paramatma). We are all part of God. We have come to do his work.

பல பிறப்பு எடுத்து விட்டோம். அப்போது நாம் காரியத்தைப் பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்தோம். இனியாவது இறைவனின் காரியத்தைப் பாப்போம். அகத்தியனிடம் கேளுங்கள் "நான் எதிர்க்கு வந்தேன்?" அவன் உணர்த்துவான். எதனை நீங்கள் செய்யணும் என்று, எதனை நீங்கள் செய்யலாகாது என்று, அவன் உணர்த்துவான்.

We have taken many births. But then we only attended to our work. At least begin to do God's work now. Ask Agathiyar what your purpose is in coming here. He shall make you realize. He shall guide you on what to do and what to let go.

உங்களுடைய ஆத்மா உங்களிடம் பேசும். எப்போது உங்களுடைய காரியத்தை விட்டு விடுகிறீர்கள் அன்றுதான் உங்களுடைய ஆத்மா வெளிவரும். அது தந்காரியத்தைப் பார்க்கும். அகத்தியன் உங்கள் ஆத்மாக்குள் செலுத்துவான். உங்கள் ஆத்மாவை தன்னுடன் கூட்டி செல்வான்.

Your Atma shall speak to you. Only when you drop your work shall your Atma arise. It will begin to do its work. Agathiyan shall drive your Atma and bring it with him.  

அது இறப்புக்கு பின்னர் இல்லை இப்போதே இத்தருணமே கூட்டி செல்வான். அது இறப்புக்கு சமம் இல்லை. இறப்புக்கு பின்னர்தான் அனைத்தும் நடக்கின்றது என்று எண்ணிக்கொண்டு பொன்னான காலங்களைப் போக்கி விடுகின்றனர். அனைத்துமே இப்போதே நடக்க வேண்டும். அனைவரும் என்னுடன் இப்போதே வந்து சேர வேண்டும். உங்களின் ஆத்மா என்னோடு இணைய வேண்டும். அனைத்தும் உயிருடன் இருக்கும் போதே நடந்தேற வேண்டும். உயிர் பிரிந்தபின் அது வெறும் சவம். யாருக்கும் பயன் அற்று அழுகி போகும். உயிர் இருக்கும் போதே அனைத்தையும் சாதித்து விடுங்கள்.

It shall not be after death but right now in the here. It is not death. Do not waste precious time by stalling. Everything should happen now in the present. It should all take place while you are alive. Once life leaves you you are just a corpse. It serves no purpose. Achieve it while alive.

முதலில் உங்களை என்னிடம் ஒப்படையுங்கள். அன்றே என் குருநாதன் பலமுறை உங்களிடம் வந்து அமர்ந்து உங்களிடம் பலமுறை கேட்டான் சரணம் அடைந்து விடீர்களா? அதற்க்கு இதுதான் அர்த்தம்.

"Surrender unto me. Lord Murugan had come earlier and reminded you of the need to surrender. This is the reason."

உயிர் இருக்கும் போதே சரண் அடைந்து விடுங்கள். இறப்புக்கு பின்னர் ஏதும் இல்லை. இறந்தவனுக்குத்தான் மாரு பிறப்பு. இறந்தவனுக்குத்தான் கர்மா தொடரும். இருக்கும் போதே சாதித்து விட்டால் மரணமும் இல்லை கர்மாவும் இல்லை.

Surrender when you are still alive. There is nothing to achieve after death. Karma shall follow the dead. If you achieve it while still alive there is no death. Neither is there karma.

RAMALINGA ADIGAL

 

MAN & HIS PURPOSE REVISITED

Man has to evolve. He then has to help others evolve too. Agathiyar in his 5 tenets revealed at the assembly of the sages and seers during the Tamil Sangam, listed the things to do to achieve this. Vashisht Vaid in his blog https://holysageagathiyar.com/ sheds some light by sharing the revelations of Agathiyar. Agathiyar addresses the soul's prime duty and reason to take on a physical body.

In reading through Vashisht Vaid's blog, we come to understand that the reason for taking human birth over and over is because of the yearning and desire of the soul to become liberated from the tie and bond it has with the physical body and the breath. The purpose of human incarnation is to gain the "maximum number of spiritual experiences." These experiences are beneficial and vital for the expansion of consciousness. This was echoed by Goddess Ma when she told us the path of the Siddha was one of learning from experiences (Padipinai).

We see the limitation imposed by humans on themselves and therefore remain at their current state of consciousness that they divine because of false pride and ego. This is where we hear Tavayogi classify man as peat, charcoal, and petrol while Bhagawan Ramana classifies them as wet coal, charcoal, and gunpowder. Annie Besant classifies man as one taking on "the coarser vibrations of the lower world and adapting to it" and the other taking on "a subtler nature and staying in front of evolution." In the documentary movie "Samadhi - The Pathless Path", we are told the same 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, practices to loosen the bonds of the self-structure to become free of samskaras."

What are these spiritual experiences that Agathiyar speaks of and how is that beneficial for an expansion of consciousness? 

Vashisht Vaid writes,

"There are also five types of main works, which should be dutifully performed upon daily basis, by the evolving humanity during the given term period of their incarnated lives, of which the number 1 work [prathma karma] is to find out the very reason, for which they came over to exist in this human form life on planet earth [prithvi greha]. They all can easily find out that basic reason [moola karanam], by dutifully sorting through their spiritual books of evolving human societies, which widely exist in the shape of various holy treatises, widely scattered and easily available since the ancient times [pracheen kaala], as well as by venerably asking relevant questions to their learned seers, sages, and prophets, etc., to help them find out the answer to this most important question. Upon knowing the reason to be here, he should choose the kind of "work [dainik karma]" as a livelihood, that which would also "greatly advance his reason [karanam] to be’’.

"The number 2 work [dvitiya karma] for a human being, is to devoutly meditate upon the one and only unknowable universal father lord, who apart from vitally creating his numbered soul [ankit atama], also gracefully provided him various quality attributes [gunas], to survive and righteously perform his various duties [dharma parayan kartavayas], toward the vital basis of manifested matrix [paripancha]."

I was surprised to learn that we are all given a number. This we saw in Disney's "Soul".

So here we are asked to give thanks to the divine. And so religion started.

"The great sage Agathiyar added that since then all the human souls got permanently numbered, for the basic reason of equal opportunity for all human vital existences, according to their already attained spiritual experiences, which they all dutifully attained, while gradually evolving from the lower kingdoms [mineral, plant, animal etc.] of manifested matrix [paripancha], so that they all according to their given frequency numbers, could also gracefully play out their dutiful human life roles, during the incarnated cycles of their reoccurring cyclic lives [reincarnations], gracefully working as the different duties co-creators, to vitally aid all types of spiritual aspects, in this ongoing  established evolution, and also get benefited, by properly fulfilling their five main duties during their cyclic lives, in this ongoing evolution of planet earth, and get finally liberated [mukta] for their further ascensions in the invisible ethereal web [adrishya akasha jaal], through gradually increasing higher conscious states of time and space relationships, till they all themselves finally achieve the two highest universal worlds tapah loka [brahmanda vaikuntha loka] and satyam loka [brahmanda shiv loka] of this infinite universe [brahmanda], and thus get spiritually qualified to vitally carry out much higher conscious roles, in the unknowable and non-explainable worlds of para brahmanda [outfinite universe], during their distant brilliant future."

Ramalinga achieved a subtle body. So did the Siddhas and saints. Bhagawan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri and Yogi Ramsuratkumar told their followers and devotees that they could do more in the subtle form or "higher consciousness" without the limitation of the physical body.

"As all his family relationships and all of the works related to his physical form, are still a part and parcel of this ever-changing illusory matrix [maya paripancha], in which illusion [maya] some appears to be near and dear and some as enemies, while in the true reality of this universe no one is a friend or an enemy, as all such occurrences are pertaining to previous life’s various actions and reactions [karmas]." Here we can relate to Neale Donald Walsch's "The Little Soul and the Sun" where the souls agree to help each other experience the ways it can be special.

"Always at the end of a cyclic life, pertaining to the incarnated life cycle of all human beings [samastha manushya], the embodied vital consciousness [jeeva atama] of physical world form [bhautik sharira], by forcefully leaving behind all so-called life relation aspects of this dense matrix [bhautik paripancha], have no choice but to continue their forward journey’s, once again all alone, to move forward in the unknown and unchartered territories of higher or lower dimensional world’s [urdhava and adho lokas]."

This "embodied vital consciousness or jeeva atama" was explained to us by Agathiyar recently. The Atma keeps both the body or Udal and the breath or Uyir under its control in a secretive, subtle manner. This subtlety stays from 1 to 5 Varagai (an ancient time count) with the child before it's veiled. In revealing this fact Agathiyar says that he cannot as yet tell us the reason for it to be veiled. Nevertheless, the Atma will return unto him depending on his actions.

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.

"The number 3 work [tritiya karma] for a human being is to dutifully pay respects and obedience to this physical world dutiful caretaker’s, which all caretakers especially include their physical world parents and grandparents [lokik pitris], who tirelessly raised them right from their incarnated birth with unselfish love, and also to the lunar forefathers [soma pitris], whose angelic hierarchies gracefully created their vital bodies and physical forms in their mother’s womb, from their father’s living sperm [shukranu] and mother’s living egg [andakosha], and also pay respect to all invisible angelic and demonic hierarchies [adrishya sura evam asuras], who as an integral part of their prescribed duties upon this planet earth, also dutifully support various types of life aspects, invisibly working among all incarnated human beings [samastha manushya jatis], upon this physical plane world [bhu loka] of planet earth [prithvi greha]."

Here we see again a resemblance to these words spoken at the assembly narrated in present times by Agathiyar to us. Just as creation is a result of the Pancha Maha Bhutam namely water, earth, sky, air, fire coming together, the body too is a product of these five elements. The Pancha Butham are derived from both the parent's body to produce the body of the developing baby. When the proportions differ, there appear defects in the baby. Here is where many forces determine and at times hijack the formula, and manipulate it driven by our karma and that of those who lived before us. The body or Udal is a combination of the Nun Uyir in certain proportions, present in the five elements taking on the form of a Pindam in the womb. Now we understand that the Nun Uyir is the life present in "the father’s living sperm [shukranu] and mother’s living egg [andakosha]." Agathiyar in defining the caretakers, besides "the physical parents and grandparents [lokik pitris], who tirelessly raised them right from their incarnated birth with unselfish love," includes "the lunar forefather’s [soma pitris], whose angelic hierarchies gracefully created their vital bodies and physical forms in their mother’s womb." Here I remember Dayananda Swami of Ooty whom Tavayogi and I met in 2005, telling me that the next time I came he shall already be among the stars.

"It is an essential work for all human beings to also dutifully support the invisible co-existing angelic hierarchies [deva dals], through the prescribed offerings of fire sacrifices [yajna]." Besides that in doing "These fire sacrifice offerings [yajna] of various prescribed products, gracefully shared by oral and written down traditions, gracefully compiled by the inner mind wisdom [anahatha mansa jnana –vijnana] of the great seers and sages [maha rishis, maha munis], since the very ancient times [ati pracheen kaala] of planet earth, all of these offerings through the inherent fiery heat support of flaming frequencies, which all are a part and parcel of the material fire [brahma agni], vitally create changes in their embodying matter, and thus gradually release those elemental essences [tatva saara], from their embodying matter [bhautik padartha], to exist as the string type smoke appearances in the atmosphere of troposphere [bhu loka akasha], which elemental essences [tatva saara] vitally nourishes and thus willfully support the life cycles of all these co-existing invisible beings and entities [adrishya arupa pranis], whose vital existence is also of utmost importance for their own human survival, so that they all can widely continue without undesirable mutations, in their this current form of human existence, upon this significant planet earth [prithvi greha] of our solar universe [aditya mandla]."

In saying that "The material fire [brahma agni], vitally create changes in their embodying matter, and thus gradually release those elemental essences [tatva saara], from their embodying matter [bhautik padartha]", Agathiyar implies the subtle changes that the fire does within us, releasing essential oils and substances into the air, and taken within us, as we inhale the smoke. The heat of the fire too causes transformation within those who sit around it. If Tavayogi took up this ritual in his ashram grounds to please Mother Nature after the advent of the Tzunami in 2004, Agathiyar told me that this sacrificial fire shall heal the Prapanjam and also erase our past karma. "The release of elemental essences [tatva saara], from their embodying matter [bhautik padartha], nourishes and thus willfully supports the life cycles of all these co-existing invisible beings and entities [adrishya arupa pranis], whose vital existence is also of utmost importance for their own human survival, so that they all can widely continue without undesirable mutations, in their this current form of human existence.’’ It makes me wonder if the whole world had taken up this fire ritual, could it have made the dreaded virus stop its "undesirable mutations"? Lord Shiva after the advent of the pandemic, had asked us to carry it out saying that it shall cleanse the air around us. We are glad that Tavayogi initiated us to do this ritual at home. We soon ventured into the temples that were Siddha friendly taking up their invitation to perform Siddha Yagam. All these gave us further experiences in the field and arena that were exclusive to the priestly kind. It is now a tool in our hands that we can conduct as and when the need arises.

"The number 4 work [chatush karma] for a human being is to dutifully aid and help, the ongoing evolution of all co-existing human beings upon this planet earth, as all human races widely living in their differentiated aspects of sub and branch races, upon various continents [vibhinn khandams] of this physical world [bhu loka]."

Here we are told how humanity got separated into "sub and branch races, traditions [prathas], casts [jati, prajatis] and creed [pranalis]".

"They all actually got vitally separated in the ‘ancient agamic times’ [agam purana kaala], by the immense oceanic body having deep waters of the one great ocean [maha sagara], upon this planet earth, and thus since then vitally living and gradually evolving in their various traditions [prathas], casts [jati, prajatis] and creed [pranalis], upon the faraway places of this planet earth, which tradition got vitally established by the spiritual contemplations of their exalted conscious prophets, seers and sages, and dutiful works of god conscious avatars."

Here we are shown how the divine too broke up the "tradition that got vitally established by the spiritual contemplations of their exalted conscious prophets, seers and sages, and dutiful works of god conscious avatars" by natural calamities of majestic proportions. We can now accept fully why Agathiyar had us break up the AVM group and all associated activities too. It is all God's Lila and plays. The world is his stage and we are mere puppets in his hands. For one who realizes this in life, he shall learn to follow the dictates of the divine and the masters without question.

"The number 5 work [pancha karma] for a human being is to dutifully aid and help, the ongoing evolution of all co-existing beings and entities, who all vitally exist upon the lower levels of the evolutionary ladder, also dutifully support the manifested matrix [paripancha], and many of the lower kingdoms, vitally exist like the minerals having precious and semi-precious crystals, who also having basic aspects of vitality, also gradually evolve by increasing in their sizes, in correspondence to the vital energies of celestial organs of time and space relationships, and many of whom get gracefully embodied in various types of jewelry to be prestigiously borne as specific remedies by evolving humans, and also various types of living herbs and plants of the plant kingdom, especially the signature plants with magical and supernatural powers, get vitally planted gracefully in their houses and in their surrounding gardens, and various types of working and pet animals of the animal kingdom." Here we are asked to aid minerals, plants, and animals in its evolution too. Now we understand why we worship the stone, the plants and trees, and certain animals. Here we are to assist those from "other visible kingdoms [rupa pranis], who all during their own ascending evolution are upon this objectively manifested planet earth, finally, get vitally qualified to have a human tutorship, so that they all by being in close contact with the human race, being a part and parcel of the manifested matrix, can also learn about his evolutionary mind’s tonal frequencies, which gets vitally depicted to them through the tonal frequencies of their language sounds, and also through their vitally performed mental and physical actions – reactions, so that they all can also get qualified to become a human being, in some distant future evolutionary cycle, with the graceful attribute of an individualized mind and a numbered soul [ankita atama]. The number 5 work of incarnated human life, every incarnated human being of this planet earth, also unknowingly becomes a teacher [adhyapak] of some or many members of the co-existing lower kingdoms, who also being a part of the illusory matrix [maya paripancha], thus also vitally becomes a vital part of his evolutionary life upon this planet earth [prithvi greha]. Such a training from a member of the highest species upon this physical world [bhu loka], thus greatly help the vital consciousness of all lower kingdom species, upon this evolutionary planet earth of our solar universe [aditya mandla], whose lower species vital consciousness till then vitally exists in a non-individualized manner, only as a very tiny part of their collective consciousness group container [samahuit chetna kalsha]." 

"An incarnated human being [manushya] then vitally performs all these five works, then he gets a spiritual award of higher wisdom [rudra agni jnana – vijnana], which makes him vitally understand this basic fact [moola tathya], that in this flux matrix [chalaymaana paripancha] of physical world [bhu loka], a true love [satyam preeti] for any finite being or a material object cannot help him in his true goal of higher conscious ascensions, so his true love should only be vitally developed for the venerable grace of immortal controllers Lord Vasudeva Ishvara [Venkateshvara] and Rudra Maheshvara [Dakshina murthi], the two immortal lords of the two universal immortal worlds, widely known among all exalted conscious seers and sages as the highest universal worlds of tapah loka [para nirvana kshetra, vaikuntha dhaam, karam khandda], and the satyam loka [para param nirvana kshetra, shiva dhaam, sachcha khandda]."

Here finally we are taught to let go of all that we did earlier and settle in the Lord, with him and within him.

"When such a true understanding [satyam jnana] of true love [satyam preeti] gets vitally embedded and firmly rooted in the gradually evolving soul consciousness [chetna vriddhi atama chetna], through his very tiny investment of personality consciousness [jeevatama chetna], in this nursery school of spiritual learning [adhyatamic shishu pathshala], which is also the most dense physical world [ati bhautik sthool prakriti bhu loka], of the three worlds schools [triloka pathshala], vitally established for spiritual learnings [adhyatamic chetna pathshalas], in the segment of righteousness [dharam khandda], then the evolutionary soul [chetna vriddhi atama], after gracefully gaining the desired liberation [mukti], does not any more desire for salvation [moksha] in the next great world of enlightening wisdom [bodhi loka, maha loka, nirvana kshetra, gyaan khandda], which solar plane world of higher wisdom vitally corresponds to the universal world of intuitive wisdom [brahmanda maha loka, brahmanda bodhi or nirvana loka, brahmanda gyaan khandda] in our infinite universe [brahmanda], but instead want to quickly proceed further with an undiluted aim, and non failing attitude, first towards the next higher world of brahma loka [maha nirvana kshetra, jna loka, shramma khandda], which directly corresponds to the universal world of tree of life brahma loka [brahmanda jna loka,  maha nirvana kshetra, sharamma khandda], and then faithfully still proceed further towards the next higher solar world of radiant heat [tapah loka, param nirvana kshetra, karam khandda], which also directly corresponds to the universal immortal world of vaikuntha loka [brahmanda tapah loka, param nirvana kshetra, karam khandda], and if possible then to also gracefully attain the highest solar plane world of satyam loka [shiva loka], which also directly corresponds to the universal immortal world of absolute truth [brahmanda satyam loka, para param nirvana kshetra, sachcha khandda, shiva loka], where he can gracefully receive all of the needed teachings, about the otherwise unknowable outfinite universe [para brahmanda]. "

Phew! It seems like the learning never ends. Agathiyar tells us that we are in a nursery school of spiritual learning which is also the densest physical world. Ramalinga Adigal in having traveled and traversed far, abd who speaks of numerous worlds, too says that there are numerous other levels of spiritual evolution that words cannot describe. Indeed we realize as we take baby steps that we know nothing of ourselves and the world around us. Just as the bank change as the rivers' waters pass by, our perception and perspective of things keep changing continuously cheating us and teaching us that we shall never know the real. What we need to do further is to build "the radiant heat [tejas tapah] of these spiritual experiences greatly expanding the holding sack of causal body [karanam sharira], making it possible for a quick release [mukti] of the bound soul [bandhit atama]."

THE NEED TO DOCUMENT

In recalling and narrating about how we met, I was taken aback as someone explained it. I knew it was not the way we met. Someone else in writing many years later an account of an earlier incident disappointed me for I knew it was not so as I stood witness to it too as I was there too. I guess age catches up and we lose the memory of the past as it took place exactly. I wonder how many stories that are going on are authentic now, without important components dropped, without treachery in manipulating these stories for their own advantage, without dilution, or without adding on to impress and garner viewers and listeners, etc. This applies in the spiritual context too. We need to tread carefully sieving through all the information that is flooded all around us. With social media and the tools on our hands it is even more important that we authenticate the news first before sharing blindly.

Norman Rockwell's artistic piece “The Gossips” is a classic representation of how a message ends totally change after it passes through word of mouth to many.

Courtesy of The New York Times

Let's face it the memory fails us eventually. The best bet would be to document instantly in writing, less we forget the details later. That is how I took notes of all my travels in India and later locally. So today you get to read about my travels and I get to go back in time whenever I read them for myself. 

David Christian in his piece for https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/big-history-project/agriculture-civilization/first-cities-appear/a/recordkeeping-and-history writes the following,

"All living things carry “memories” of the past. Animals need to be able to keep track of the seasons so they know when to hibernate, when to hunt, and when to have children. Many rodents and birds store nuts and other food in special hiding places, and they need to remember where they stashed them so they can find them months later. Wolves leave their marks on the perimeters of their turf, creating a sort of record that says to other wolf packs..... "Keep out!” Even plants seem to record the passing of time. If you slice through a tree, particularly in a region with lots of seasonal changes, you’ll see “growth rings.” Every year a new layer grows just under the bark.... each ring represents one year of growth. Wet seasons typically produce thicker rings than dry seasons, so dendrochronologists — the scientists who study growth rings — can frequently figure out the exact year in which each layer was formed. They can also see evidence of climatic events such as droughts or forest fires."

An important fact is brought to our attention that places the human species above all other by David Christian.

"But “tracking the past” isn’t the same as having a “memory” of the past. A tree ring might record the date of a major fire, but the tree wouldn’t respond if I asked, “Do you remember the great fire of 1730?” Only humans can share their knowledge of the past because only humans have a communication system powerful enough to share what they know and learn."

Though this is known to be true and standing for now, we have read of Agathiyar tutored on the medicinal properties of herbs and plants by them in the past.

"Although many species note the passing of time, only our own species, Homo sapiens, is capable of sharing accounts, or memories, of past events and turning these into stories or “histories.” As humans discovered ever more precise ways of keeping track of time, so we have also developed more accurate ways of keeping records and recording history."

"All modern foraging societies tell stories about the past, many focused on ancestors, but also on the creation of what’s around us. Indeed, most humans tell “origin stories,” and origin stories count as history because they share ideas about the world."

So how did our ancients go about documenting events? Stories were told relying on memory, carried through oral tradition, carved into rocks, and painted in caves. We learn that the Siddhas etched into dried palm leaves stories of individuals, nations and events.

"Today, though, we expect proper history writing to be based not on the memory of the historian, but on evidence, and mostly on written evidence."

"As societies became more interconnected and people began to compare different accounts of the past, they became more concerned with a crucial question: Which version is truest?"

"Today, all professional historians understand that their first task is to get the history right. That means checking all the details against hard evidence, and preferably against written documents."

For those whose roots are from the Indian subcontinent, we are told of Shruti and Smriti as in https://pediaa.com/what-is-shruti-and-smriti/,

"Shruti is a word in Sanskrit that literally means what is heard. On the other hand, Smriti comprises that part of Vedic literature that is remembered. Text contained in Shruti is what has been revealed by God himself. Thus, it is not open to judgment or evaluation. Sacred text that is called Shruti is unquestionable and canonical in nature. Whereas Shruti are considered authorless and eternal in nature, Smriti are the creations of ancient seers and sages."

So readers pick up that pen and start taking notes of important life-changing events in your lives now and leave them for others to read and learn about you and the times you lived in.

AGATHIYAR

Back in 2017, the question that I feared most did crop up when a cousin of mine who came to know I was in the worship of Agathiyar, brought up a couple of episodes from Agathiyar's life that he had knowledge about, asking me for confirmation. I replied to him that I had no idea and was not an authority on it, but I told him that I pretty much knew he was with us, guiding us and caring for us. I had felt his presence often and he had worked out miracles in our lives. That was all I knew about him. It did not matter if I did not know about his origin and his story as I knew he was there for me in my hour of need. That put a stop to that conversation that day.

Indeed, since I took up the calling by Agathiyar to join his fold, come to his path, and worship of the Siddhas, he has been a constant companion on my new journey. Prior to this, I had looked up to the temples and carried out home puja to the pantheon of Hindu deities. I never sought out a guru. Agathiyar came as the guru and showed me to two wonderful gurus in physical form, Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar ashram. The former was a family man while the latter a mendicant who left his family life. But both were yogis. I learned devotion to a guru from Supramania Swami while Tavayogi showed me to Agathiyar. If Supramania Swami had five gurus, his own father Jayaram Pillai, Sadhanantha Swami, Kollimalai Swami, Pundi Mahan, and finally Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Tavayogi had Chitramuthu Adigal for a physical guru. With this entourage of guru lineage looking over our shoulders, what could we ask for further? Furthermore, as a baby, I was saved from death after the Chinese gods had intervened and asked my parents to give me up for adoption to them. I am truly blessed. I can never repay their kindness. The only way I know of now is to speak and write about them.

Looking through the many books on Agathiyar and social media, much has been written and said by writers, vloggers, and others on the man. But these did not satisfy us. But what has he to say about himself? We wanted to know from the horse's mouth. So we moved Suren to ask about Agathiyar's origin during his rounds of Nadi reading. Agathiyar answered our query in 2017, and also seemed to answer my cousin's earlier questions too. Although Agathiyar told Suren that it was not necessary to dwell on the source and the details (Rishimulam Nadhimulam), the most compassionate one consented to dwell on it briefly for our sake. A translation follows.

"In his very first mortal birth, Agathiyar 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. Born as a Siddha he moved in the jungles, sustaining only on fruits. Now with his thoughts fixed on Erai, and 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 accomplishing further severe tavam, Lord Kailai Shiva appeared before Agathiyar at Pothigai. Merging with Erai, Agathiyar stayed behind at Pothigai upon Lord Kailai Shiva's directive. While at Pothigai, he came to know about the medicinal benefits of various herbs and plants."

It is said that the plant kingdom would bow to him and reveal their properties and medicinal value to him.

"In going without food and remaining in silence, staying in the state of Vasi, adhering to the eight limbs of Asthanga Yoga, and performing extreme tapas, for the rest of the Yuga, Agathiyar gained the Siddhi to travel through the air. Yet with all these achievements, Lord Kailai Shiva told Agathiyar that there was something amiss, that he had failed to accomplish and do. When Agathiyar asked for further clarification, Lord Kailai Shiva laugh and looked him straight into his eyes, "Although you are an embodiment of Jnana, and those who hold on to your feet shall never face any disappointments, Gurumuni you do not have a companion as I do." Agathiyar was taken aback. He came to know that the Lord intended him to get engaged to the very representation of Mother Kaveri, and Kaberan's daughter, Lobhamitra. Hence in this Kali Yuga, his energy that was from Shiv Sakthi personified as Agathiyar and Lobha Ma at Kalyana Theertam with the intention of blessing all those who came seeking him and stood before them."

"Agathiyar received the names Kudamuni, Kumbamuni, and other names from Lord Kailai Shiva."

Since Agathiyar stopped revealing at that, we turn to one of his foremost disciples who spread Agathiyar's fame both within India and throughout the world and continues to do so to this day. Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar in his book, "POTRINAL UNATHU VINAI AGALUM APPA", explains further, the process through which Agathiyar attained the highest state, that of becoming one with Erai. This state was granted to Agathiyar by his Guru Supramaniar (Lord Muruga). I shall run through a translation of his writing, originally in Tamil, briefly.

"All the knowledge to attain the state was made available to Agathiyar by Supramaniar because Agathiyar had facilitated the mendicant Supramaniar who passed by Agathiyar's home one day. Agathiyar provided the space and shelter and provided for Supramaniar's needs to carry on with his penances (tapas) and austerities (tavam). Eventually, Supramaniar attained the body of Light through his tapas. As Agathiyar was 60 years of age then Supramaniar promised Agathiyar that they shall meet in a subsequent birth and that he shall return the favor."

When I voiced out my wish to Tavayogi to see him attain the state of Light too, he told me he had missed the boat as he had passed the age of 60. He said that he was only eligible for Sahaja Samadhi. After going into samadhi on 3.7.2018, Dhanvantri came and surprised us by saying that contrary to the denial of Tavayogi that he had indeed attained the state of Light and was still guiding us. Agathiyar made us feel proud and worthy of us telling us that we had a small role in Tavayogi's achievement due to our prayers and devotion to the guru. Tavayogi never acknowledged us as his disciple till his last visit to Malaysia in 2016 when in a private gathering with the AVM family he disclosed openly that he was proud to see the seed that he planted in the soils of Malaysia had germinated. Earlier in 2013, when my family and I visited him at Kallar ashram, he told us the same after he opened the stage for my family to sing the praises to the Siddhas during puja. In 2016 after Tavayogi returned to India, we followed behind to participate in the consecration of his new ashram/ temple complex some 2 km away from his old ashram. The AVM family was given the honor to sing the songs of praise to the Siddhas.

We continue with Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar's writings.

"In the succeeding birth, Agathiyar traveled in vain in search of his ideal guru. He eventually met Supramaniar at Kodaikanal, where Supramaniar made him recall the past and as promised in return for all his services in the past birth, blessed Agathiyar and taught him secrets of attaining the state of Erai."

We learn the same as having taken place in Lahiri Mahasaya's life where he is made to recall the past by Babaji Nagaraj. An account of Lahiri Mahasaya’s (Shama Churn Lahiree) first encounter with his guru Babaji is narrated by Lahiri’s grandson Satya Charan Lahiree to Dr. Ashoke Kumar Chatterjee in ‘PURANA PURUSHA YOGIRAJ SRI SHAMA CHURN LAHIREE’.

"On 23rd November 1868, Shama Churn received the order for his transfer to Ranikhet. Leaving his family behind, he set out for Ranikhet which is situated in the Himalayas in northern India. One day Shama Churn, accompanied by armed guards and orderlies proceeding along the solitary hill path carrying official cash with him suddenly heard someone calling him by his name, “Shama Churn, come here.” The voice echoed in the mountain and reverberated in the ears of Shama Churn and he was amazed that who might call him by his name in this mountainous region filled with forests. Then he saw a Sanyasin at the top of the mountain calling his name. He proceeded towards the Sanyasin spellbound to find him bear a gentle smile on his face with fatherly affection in his eyes. The Sanyasin hastily came down the hilltop and stood before him. The Sanyasin said, “Shama Churn, do not be afraid, I knew you would be coming by this path, I have been waiting for you. Complete your office task quickly and come to my hermitage at the top of the hill”.

"Shama Churn brooded over this after his office work was done and at last decided to meet the Sanyasin. He walked along the lonely mountain path to find the hermitage after an exhaustive travel along the forest. Shama Churn bowed to the Sanyasin. The Sanyasin asked him, “How strange Shama Churn, can’t you recognize me? Can you recollect having come here before? Can’t you recognize this tiger skin, this ascetic’s bowl also? Have you forgotten everything?” Shama Churn failed to remember any of them and said, “I have never come here before. I cannot recognize them; they must belong to somebody else.”

"The Sanyasin stated, “Listen Shama Churn, all these are the play of illusion. It is this illusion which has made you forget all these things.” Saying this the Sanyasin lightly touched Shama Churn. An electric current traversed throughout his body. The whole universe evanescence from Shama Churn. This caused him to recollect his previous life of Sadhana and understood the great Sanyasin as his Guru in his previous birth. With tearful eyes, Shama Churn prostrated at the feet of the Sanyasin for he now retrieved the nearest one of all his births and rebirths."

The Sanyasin continued, “You have practiced yoga Sadhana in your previous birth here. I have preserved your things with utmost care. Your life ended here and you were born as Gourmohan’s son and since then I have been observing all your aspects. I have arranged for your transfer here to impart initiation into yoga to you. I have been waiting for you here for the last 40 years.” After this the great Sanyasin initiated him into Kriyayoga. Shama Churn attained the state of non-dynamism and became engrossed in Samadhi. A golden era of yoga culture in India commenced the very moment Shama Churn’s initiation into yoga occurred and this initiation roused His latent spiritual faculties and powers.

Thavathiru Rengaraja Desigar wrote further on Agathiyar.

"Agathiyar mentions that he learned the Siddha way from Supramaniar. Supramaniar granted Agathiyar the body of Light or Jhothi Nilai in the following birth as an appreciation of Agathiyar's service rendered to him and helping Supramaniar himself achieve his desire in attaining the Jhothi Nilai. Agathiyar began with performing puja to Supramaniar. By way of devotion to Supramaniar he began to realize that he had had the greatest gift that was the human birth, which comes by very rarely. Through Supramaniar he came to know himself and the divinity that resided in the physical body. He understood the very Nature that brought him forth and resided within him. With Supramaniar's guidance and blessings, Agathiyar relished the ambrosia or nectar that came about through his tapas. This removed the seven veils to reveal the Jhothi in him, hence attaining the body of Light."

Ramalinga Adigal has established the above-mentioned seven veils as curtains that are drawn aside to reveal the Jhothi at his Satya Gnana Sabai for the commoner to understand the process of transformation of this body of meat into that of Light.

"With this came Bliss, Siddhis, and the state of Deathless-ness. Agathiyar attained the five tanmai or nature of Erai namely Creation, Sustenance, Destruction, Veiling, and Showering Grace. Supramaniar granted Agathiyar the title Gurumuni and Kumbamuni and sent him off to spread the Siddha way extensively all over the globe, bringing many into his fold. All the Siddhas soon looked upon Agathiyar as their Guru."

TAVAYOGI THANGARASAN ADIGAL

T.K Thangarajan was a successful businessperson managing his cotton industry in Tiruppur in Coimbatore. He was into politics and a movie producer too. He read the works of Ramalinga Adigal and hosted gatherings every Wednesday at his home. He became a disciple of Chitramuthu Adigal and came to be known as Thaaiveedu Thangarasan. He became a devout follower of Agathiyar and the Siddhas. Tavayogi saw the worst of times when his business collapsed as a result of politics in India in that period of time. He had to hit the streets with his family; became blind overnight, and was on the verge of jumping onto the railway track when a voice told him to have faith in Agathiyar. He formed a determined resolve to belief in Agathiyar and let Agathiyar rule his life as he (Agathiyar) pleases. He regained his sight. His life picked up and he regained his lost treasures only to leave them all behind voluntarily when he turned 50. He walked out of his family and all the luxuries he had accumulated in this time becoming a traveling mendicant. His travels saw him reach Rishikesh. Soon he spent years in the caves of Kutralam, Pon Uthiyur, and finally at Sathuragiri. After spending 8 years in Sathuragiri he was directed by Agathiyar to seek a place known as Agathiyar Vanam and start an ashram. He located it at Kallar. Soon Agathiyar directed him to Malaysia where both his guru Chitramuthu Adigal and Paramaguru Jeganatha Swamigal had been. He took up the dictate of Agathiyar in 2004 following an Indian citizen working in Malaysia. But he found himself left stranded on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Tavayogi contacted the only reference he had in Malaysia, one Soundarajan. Soundarajan took him in. Tavayogi found his way to Lord Perumal’s temple in Puchong where he gave his first talk on the Siddhas in Malaysia. After meeting Appana Nagappan in Kallar, Tavayogi traveled again to Malaysia in 2005 at his invitation to officiate the opening of an affiliate of Tavayogi's, the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham at Wisma Keringat in Batu Caves, Malaysia. I met Tavayogi for the first time at this premise. When the Tamil dailies carried news about the opening of the Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in Malaysia by one Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal daily, the name Thangarasan appeared familiar to me. I recalled seeing that name on a leaflet given to me during my very first Nadi reading by Nadi Guru Senthilkumar some 4 years back. I had kept the leaflet with me. I looked for it and headed to the local peedham after calling them up. Tavayogi confirmed the leaflet was his. Tavayogi accepted me as his disciple the same day and initiated me and my wife officially into the worship and path of the Siddhas. Thus began a beautiful relationship between a guru and a disciple.

I am indebted to him for showing me to Agathiyar, and bringing me to all the caves, samadhis, temples and abodes of the Siddhas. In bringing me to these places he officially showed me Sariyai that I had picked up from my parents. Introducing me to Kriyai, he got me started on doing the homam or fire ceremony. He started me on doing charity, beginning with my first Annadhanam at his Kallar ashram. He officially showed me Yoga that I had previously picked from books. He officially led us into Gnanam by passing us two of his books that are acclaimed by both Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal - "Andamum Pindamum" and "Atma Darisanam". What else could one ask of his guru?

A NOTE OF THANKS

Just as Siddha Heartbeat got a new facelift giving way to Siddha Heartbeat 2.0, my home too had a facelift in just a day and it all happened on its own, or rather the divine had a hand in it I believe. If only man lets the divine come into his life things change for the good. The divine plans and he executes bringing everything and everybody together in moving things the way he wants it. We just need to step back and watch. If others await an answer from us we need only nod our heads in agreement. There is no reason to think or ponder over it. All shall be well by the divine touch. I have seen many such moments in my life where the divine stepped in and moved the course of actions. We only need to let go. If only man lets go everything will fall into its place. 

We must learn to let go of our children once they are capable of making decisions. We must learn to let go of the bitter past and its memories. We must learn to let go of even the teachings and practices once we understand and gain a new perspective and experience. Suren told me it needs guts to let go of Siddha Heartbeat which has carried 2764 posts to date and had garnered 1,722,585 all-time views. I guess I have become adept at letting go thanks to Tavayogi who groomed me from day one not to place attachment on material things and thanks to Agathiyar who asked me to give up even the spiritual gains. 

A NEW NORM

As we step into the twentieth year of worship to the Siddhas in following their path, we began to get insights and new perspectives and understanding of many subjects taught and followed by the Siddhas over those  years. Our understanding, approach, practices and even the tools have changed. Much of what was written except the biographies has been corrected, modified or made to drop by Agathiyar. Looking at the readership pattern very few follow the current postings keeping up to date with these changes. Many go back to review previous postings or might have dropped in on these past postings in their search for answers on the net. I fear that they then shall read and understand and belief and adopt that as the gists and substance of the matter when it has gone through and adopted many changes.

Hence there is a need to bury the earlier and past understanding and arise anew. So it is necessary to bury my Siddha Heartbeat blog and continue the journey with this blog Siddha Heartbeat 2.0. I await an opening number from Agathiyar to post shortly. Thank you for following us all these years.