Looking at Ramalinga Adigal's approach and how he stands before God puts us to shame. As I was going through my photo collection of all the group prayers or puja at AVM from 2002 till 18 March 2020 when the lockdown came into effect here in Malaysia, I was astounded by the number of puja we did over the years, and the time spent in praising the Siddhas. Within minutes of this thought going through my mind, I realized the ego in me has began to set in. I guess that was the reason Agathiyar brought everything to an abrupt stop in 2020 to check our egos too. My wife too realizing this fact told me that we were beginning to get high in doing puja and charity back then. Agathiyar broke our steam.
Listening to Ramalinga Adigal's song திருவருள் வேட்கை just moments ago made me realize that just by submitting oneself to the Almighty was sufficient to take him to greater heights. In surrendering himself, Ramalinga Adigal surrendered his ego, yearnings, desires, wants, likes, thoughts, plans, ambitions, greed, anger, etc, and stood naked before him, as an empty vessel ready to be filled by the ambrosia, nectar, honey, and the effulgence, bliss and joy.
Now we realize what Lord Muruga meant when he came to us and asked each one gathered before him if they had surrendered some time back. He said he was to give us "something" but did not elaborate further on it. All he asked was for those who have surrendered to him to step before him. I took the first step and was chased away by him. He told me that he had nothing to give me and that Agathiyar shall give it to me. I stepped aside obediently giving way to the others. Even Ramalinga Adigal had told us numerous times to hold on to Agathiyar and he shall do what was proper for us. To some who did step up to Lord Murugan, they were told that they had not surrendered completely and in totality and sent away. To several others, he gave them further practices to carry out. Yet to others, he passed on his energy, blessings, and grace.
When some engage in worship and other practices and blow the pipe and horn and beat the drums, claiming able to perform all kinds of Siddhis, hence quickly acquiring a stand in society, and becoming instant celebrities in public and in the spiritual circle, Ramalinga Adigal spent his life in the company of his guru and God, holding tightly to His feet, not asking for favors nor instant recognition, Siddhis and powers, but instead pleading for His mercy, compassion, blessings, and grace. The most merciful and compassionate One chose to remove all traces of karma. His blessings cleared the vessel for His effulgence to come within. The most graceful one lifted Ramalinga Adigal to greater heights without his effort. All these were granted by the Supreme One in return for his love and devotion. When His grace is showered on Adigal all the doors open and Adigal steps within the realm of the Gods. All the Saktis and Saktargal and other heavenly beings begin to take notice of him and asked who is this who treads the path and has arrived in their forbidden land? Ramalinga Adigal later describes this journey in the song "ஆணிப்பொன்னம்பலக் காட்சி." Literally, the verses when translated describe a journey that Adigal took on both the physical and mystical planes. He describes coming upon a Hill, and a Path opening up to it. "As I walked on the Path, there was a Platform. I climbed the Platform. There was a Room. As I approached the Room, there was a 7-tier Hall above it. I cannot bring myself to narrate what I saw in these 7 tiers. In one tier, the silver Pearl transformed into Blue Sapphire (Neelam), in another tier, the Blue Sapphire became Coral (Pavalam). In another tier, the Emerald (Maragatham) became Ruby (Maanikkam). Yet in another tier, it became a Pearl, and back to Coral in another tier. Then on another tier, the gems became Gold. All these gems became Spadigams in yet another tier. Above these 7 tiers, there was a staff. Climbing the staff, what can I say of that which I saw? There were thousands of Sakthi's everywhere, who came to entice me but I remained undeterred and strong due to the Divine Grace." Buddha too was wooed by Mara with all kinds of distractions. The Rishis too had to battle Maya in disguise we are told.
"Due to his Grace, I saw the Jewel of the Crown. I saw a Peak atop the Crown, above this, there were 1008 Temples. As I entered through the Arch at the Temple without hesitation, within the Entrance there stood both Sakthi and Saktas in millions. They began to question who was this trespasser, as I moved on. At another Entrance there stood Five, the others showed the Way, yet to another Doorway. As I entered, a male and a female showed me to yet another Doorway. At the Doorway my Mother the Goddess Anandha Valli stood to welcome me. I saw her and submitted to her Grace, and partook in the Divine Nectar. With her grace, I saw my father's Abode. I stepped into his Abode. Who could possibly understand the Gift I was showered by my father Lord Nadarajah."
Here he mentions that though he had traveled far to reach God's kingdom it was the grace of Goddess Anandha Valli that he was able to reach his Father.
In "Makers of Indian Literature - Ramalingar" by S Vanmikanathan published by Sahitya Akademi, the author translates the finale very beautifully.
"At that sacred door, stood Aanandhavalli, my Mother, I beheld the Mother, Her grace I received, and ambrosia I partook of. By Her grace which held me up, I saw the presence of Natarajar; O mother, I saw the presence of Natarajar! The boon I received on going into His presence, God knows it, O mother, God knows it!"
He narrates precisely and in detail the visions he saw on the magnificent golden hall, in 32 stanzas of jubilant verse, all of which end with the refrain: "The sights I saw in the Hall of Prime Gold are wonderful sights, O mother, wonderful sights are they!" The refrains are evidence of the irrepressible joy bubbling in his heart.
He says:
There appeared a mountain of effulgence
and on that was a street.
I went along that street
and in its center, there was a platform.
I climbed onto that platform
and on that platform, there was a hall.
When I approached the hall,
on top of that hall I saw a seven-storeyed tower.
What shall I say of the wonders?
that was on the seven stories?
On top of the seven stories,
there was a golden pillar.
When I beheld the pillar and climbed on it,
what shall I say of the novelties I saw!
It is not within my capacity to describe
what met me as I climbed on.
At the several stages,
Sakthi-s, in thousands and thousands, came,
They came and tried to bewitch me,
but, that I may not be bewitched,
I gained the power of grace.
With that power I climbed up that pillar
and spied the jeweled crest.
On top of the crest there stood a dome, that I saw.
On top of that dome, there was a temple
of one thousand and eight-carat gold.
On seeing the temple,
I went unhesitatingly inside the portal
in the tower.
At the portal in the tower,
there were Sakthi's-s and Saakthaa-s in crores.
Their hues were white, red, and scarlet.
There, all of them asked, “Who is this man?”,
but I went past them.
I went past them,
and there, at a sacred doorway,
were five persons.
With them showing me the way,
I went to a jeweled doorway farther up.
At that doorway, which I remember well,
there stood two, a man and a woman.
With them pointing it out to me,
I beheld with love welling up in me
the private sacred entrance
(which leads to the sacred presence of Lord Civan).
At that sacred door,
stood Aanandhavalli, my Mother.
I beheld the Mother, Her grace I received,
and ambrosia I partook of.
By Her Grace which held me up,
I saw the presence of Natarajar,
O, mother, I saw the presence of Natarajar!
The boon I received
on going into His presence,
God knows it,
O, mother, God knows it.
In the Hall of prime gold,
the sights I saw,
wonderful sights they are,
Oh mother, wonderful sights they are.
I remember the precise moment I stepped into Lord Natarajar's chamber at Egambareshwar temple after a "young priest" escorted me in, when I saw the magnificent statue of Lord Natarajar hovering above me up close, I sensed his presence as electrical currents that flowed through me bringing on tears of joy and gratitude. In that brief moment of silence I connected with him I suppose. Just as Adigal sings, "The boon I received on going into His presence, God knows it, O mother, God knows it!", indeed it was a boon to be in his presence. Prior to this amazing moment, I was disgusted and angry that there was so much din and noise before the inner sanctum as a family was performing some rituals carried out by the priest. But I had to do Archana here according to Agathiyar in my Nadi. Staying around for some time, I finally told myself that it was not possible to do it, not under these circumstances, and left the place. That is when as I came around the temple I stumbled onto Lord Natarajar's chamber. Suddenly out of nowhere the young priest picked himself up and invited me in. I had a personal audience with God that day.
Adigal's journey reminds us of the mystical doors that give way to the abode of the Gods and Goddesses in the devotional or Purana films.
About this journey, Tavayogi told me it was an inner journey. He told me it was a journey through the Chakras and stopped at that. We soon realized the truth in Tavayogi's words, that these songs of anubhuti or personal spiritual experiences of saints do trigger a similar effect on us, bringing us to experience all that they went through. Traveling on this path, adopting these renditions of their anubhutis and singing them, we too can sense and visualize the sensations and visions that took place in them and that which they saw, respectively.
Ramalinga Adigal's "Thiruarutpa" is practically a compilation of his conversations with God. It is one man's personal experience with his beloved guru and God. Ma came one day during puja and surprised us by speaking about the Siddha path. She told us that the Siddha path was one of gaining and learning lessons from the myriad experiences that we come across daily which then transforms itself into wisdom. Ramalinga Adigal too told me that the disturbances I faced, in a timely manner when just as I was told to go within by Agathiyar, disrupted my peace and calm, and my numerous attempts at meditation, would all add up to and result in me gaining Gnanam. He asked to bear with it. We are here for these experiences.
The blog administrator at http://agatthiyarjnanam.blogspot.com/2014/01/agatthiyar-meijnana-kaviyam-1.html, Geetha Anand writes confirming what was told to us too by Ma, Aiya, and Agathiyar.
"Siddha marga is an experiential path, not a dry jnana marga. It is a path where experience and knowledge go together. Experience is always correct. When one tries to verbalize an experience, mistakes and shortcomings occur. These mistakes can be corrected only by re-experiencing the original experience. This is possible only by Divine grace."
We learn the secret to creation as revealed by Agathiyar.
"When the completely unmanifested Divine took up a manifested form, due to the limitations it imposed on itself, some contradictions emerged. The Divine corrected these mistakes by providing its experience. Hence, Agatthiyar says that the Divine corrected the sastra. Also, the various incarnations of the Divine are said to occur to correct the mistakes that had crept into the scriptures and in their practices. Siva's Divine play or Tiruvilaiadal are episodes that occurred for this purpose."
"The primary cause for the manifested universe is Suddha Maya. This Maya emerges from Siva and Sakti principles. This Maya leads to manifestation starting from Sadasiva." Agathiyar says "the Divine supported the manifested world, represented by the various lifeforms."
Ramalinga Adigal saw through this veil of Maya and pierced it with the Vel of and Gnana gifted by Lord Muruga. He took his place with God.
