THE IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING

I had written in an earlier post on 1 August 2019 that Agathiyar tasked us with numerous assignments that brought me and others to physically engage ourselves, giving ourselves to the service of God, family, and our ancestors, fellow humans, animals, plants, and mineral kingdoms. He asked me to carry out many tasks with others whom he sent to my home, never revealing its purpose or the fruits of our efforts till a later date. I only knew about their significance through reading a blog that I had bookmarked many years earlier only to read it then. It was a translation of a document of Agathiyar's disclosure of the secret of taking human birth to the seers and sages gathered at the Tamil Sangam. Agathiyar summed it up under 5 tenets that each human had to adapt and accomplish here on the face of the earth. It was Vashisht Vaid's post that revealed the purpose of man in taking birth. The document cleared the air and made me understand that we have arrived quite unknowingly to achieving our purpose and mission here.

Agathiyar presented the 5 tenets to mankind at the Tamil Sangam, so that mankind shall gain salvation. The Siddhas thrived to elevate the human species to that of the nature of the Gods. This is true of them for till this day they have never given up on us although we tend to give up on them in the face of adversities. Agathiyar is said to have initiated human societies of that era into the age-old cultural order known as the Siddhar Neri. He imparted wisdom to its people and passed on the knowledge of medicine to many. P.Karthigayan points out that the Siddhas could achieve much during their times as they were bestowed with the gift of "performing spiritual, medical, and scientific marvels". "They claimed their presence in all locations, interacting with people over various periods of time", made possible due to their long life spans, and a result of attaining immortality. P.Karthigayan says that the Gods, immortals, long-lived kings, and scholars "had chiseled and shaped the society then." In this era, they continue to chisel and shape individuals who are willing to listen.

Besides giving us tasks to carry out with other devotees, Agathiyar monitored my personal progress closely and gave me several Yogic practices through his Nadi over the years. I followed whatever he said just like we carried out the numerous tasks he gave to execute. His recent clarification on what transpired several weeks back over two consecutive days has made me understand that just in doing his tasks we had arrived unknowingly at the destination that is often spoken about in Yoga. Indeed just as Agathiyar gave us numerous tasks and revealed the impact of it on us much later, similarly he gave us Yogic practices and revealed the results much later. Each of the tasks and practice he gave was life-changing but we never knew it until later. Agathiyar doesn't get us excited over things first. He comes by and lays the task and practice before us casually. If we take it up he comes to confirm or educate us on its results. 

Agathiyar doesn't speak about the goal or destination but only gives directives. I followed them without questioning them. If I were to question and explore them I would never get started. That is what is amiss in many. Given a mantra for instance they delay its practice in trying to understand the mantra. A mantra is not to be understood but recited. Similarly, if a yogic practice is given it needs to be started immediately. Discipline is of utmost importance in seeing through these ventures. Sadly we lack the discipline to do things. 

When Patanjali came in the Nadi and set a routine and discipline in food intake I listened and followed. I was blessed to have a wife who prepared everything that I read in health books and Siddha books and that came by way of these Nadi readings.  

When Lord Shiva came in a dream and asked me to put off the questions I had for another time in 1988, I did just as told. I did not it take it as a mere dream. I got the answers coming in after I read the Nadi in 2002 where I came to know about karma. 

When my nephew came over to my home and delivered a message and the Vasudeva mantra in 2001, I did not question him but took up the mantra, chanting it the very same day. Later I came to know that the mantra was to clear one of the knots within, the Vishnu granthi. The other two knots are Brahma granthi and Rudra granthi. We are told that further practice of Pranayama would pierce these too and the six chakras. R Venu Gopalan in his book, "The Hidden Mysteries of Kundalini" wrote that "Continuous practice of meditation on this mantra helps purify the thinking process. It also helps in dissolving all the past karmic deeds for a better future." Only with the past karma out of the way can we expect results from all our endeavors. The following year Agathiyar reveals to me in my very first Nadi reading that my past karma stood in my way as obstacles depriving me of gaining the merits of my home puja and yoga practices till then.

I took up the calling by Agathiyar to come to the worship of the Siddhas that was made in my Nadi reading in 2002. I came to know later that Agathiyar had come much earlier to clear the path for me to have the reading. Though my nephew too told me not to question the source of the message, he came around again after some time and told me it was from Agathiyar. The message came through his Paramaguru Gopal Pillai who came through a devotee. The painting of Lord Dhakshanamurthi that my nephew handed me to be worshipped symbolized the coming of my guru. 

I took up Agathiyar's call and scouted around to know further about their worship but eventually settle to carry out the worship in my home using whatever little references I had collected then. If Agathiyar came as said as my Moola Guru, the following year I meet Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai in a strange encounter. The Swami who was also an astrologer surprised me by giving me a mantra initiation and taking me as a student after just 5 hours in his company.

When Supramania Swami requested that we help with the finances to build a temple for Lord Murugan, we went ahead to fulfill his 40-year desire. But before we could see the structure come up a stranger Siddha came along and questioned him why he was going back into bakti when he was already in Gnanam. Swami took it as the divine's word of disapproval and abandoned his venture. Before he left his mortal body to my surprise he passed on the merits of his tapas and tavam to me. I guess this gift of his catapulted me. I believe he is living in me wanting to see me progress further.

When Tavayogi told me to carry out the homam in my home, initially I voiced my fear telling him that it was something carried out by the priestly class. But Tavayogi erased the fear in me. Later Agathiyar tells me that it was not done for my personal gains but for the good of the Prapanjam. I carried on doing it with love.  

When Tavayogi came later and showed us Yoga asanas and Pranayama in 2008, I began doing them immediately. I did not even ask to know the names of the postures and techniques. It was not important to me. By doing it I got connected with my breath. I had taken my very first step in going within. Guiding me through his Nadi beginning in 2002, Agathiyar had me settle the scores with my past karma, brought me to the worship of the Siddhas, and showed me my gurus in physical forms, who taught me rituals and Yoga helping me polish what little I had previously picked up from books in the eighties. He used to come through the Nadi and guide me on Yoga at times weekly.

Mahakavi Bharathi wrote in one of his poems "Ninnai Charan Adainthen Kannama" that he began to see results only when he took up God's will. When he tried as much as he could to push through his will it always ended up in anguish and failure. I was made aware of the changes and progress within me after Agathiyar acknowledged them in the Nadi and these days in coming through his devotees. Listening to him paid off. Similarly, I never questioned Tavayogi too but followed whatever he said. Listening to the Gurus paid off. My effort was minimal but their grace was the driving force behind it. G.Vanmikanathan describes Ramalinga Adigal's final moment of union with the Lord in his PATHWAY TO GOD TROD BY SAINT RAMALINGAR, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay. "Our Swaamikal is now ready for the highest of all possible acts of grace, the crowning glory of the long years of thavam. The conferment of the Effulgence of Grace." 

Swami Saravanananda in his English rendering of the original in Tamil of Ramalinga  Adigal's "Arutperunjhoti  Agaval", published by the  Ramalinga  Mission, Madras wrote of the various boons conferred on  Ramalingam:  Zeal or great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective, discernment or the ability to judge well, radiant body, prosperity, liberated from countless births, freed from religious bigotry, removed doubt and misconception, freed from the clutches of religious scriptures, and made him pure. After having gained all the Siddhis and attained the highest possible state, a man of such stature, Ramalinga Adigal chose to stay away from the limelight but the Lord acts otherwise. Vanmikanthan writes,

"The Swaamikal was modesty incarnate. He did not like the limelight before which he was exposed to the world. He (God) spoke to Raamalinga Swaamikal who was the chosen Son of God in the nineteenth century to establish a universal brotherhood of man freed of all shackling fetters of castes and creeds, of rich and poor, of black or white, a universal brotherhood born of a sense of oneness in the eyes of God and based on compassion, on compassion alone. The Son of Man has become the Son of God, and he who was unknown and who did not want to be known was dragged much against his will to discharge his preordained mission on earth, to commence his ministry on earth, in order to establish the Pure Universal True Path to God, a path, a religion, based on compassion towards all creatures on earth, a religion based on intense and one-pointed love of God, a religion freed from the stifling influences of caste, country, race, language, conflicting creeds, petty cruel gods and inhuman sacrifices, freed from the dialectics of learned scriptures."

Soon going within one learns to listen to the inner voice. The Jeevatma, not satisfied in only knowing but in wanting to experience things separates from its parent the Paramatma bringing together the 5 elements and further tattvas to create a physical body and another 4 bodies in various stages of subtlety as vehicles. Soon it goes into hiding behind several curtains placed by the Paramatma. A play then begins. His Lila begins. The ego in us that emerges with this knowing and knowledge goes about fulfilling its desires adding on to them, and runs behind the pleasures that are apparent, ignorant of its true self in hiding. It takes a beating in life or the grace of the guru to bring him out of this ignorance that all things are permanent and everlasting. Coming to know the impermanence of life he heads out to seek true and lasting bliss. Having failed in his search outside he turns his sight within or is shown an insight of his oneness with the Divine residing in the deep reaches of the cave within him. Lord Kuga who resides in this cave comes in the form he desires to redeem his Atma. The salvation of the Atma is arrived at. The merger takes place. The marriage is concluded. Bliss prevails. 

MAYA

When Ramalinga Adigal on charting out the many levels of the soul's journey and its spiritual experiences says that there are still higher stages that he hesitates to express I gather that the world around us shall look different to each person standing on a different level of experience, understanding and acceptance. Someone might settle for a particular understanding since he has had experience only until that stage. He would not comprehend what is beyond or above him or for that matter things subtler than what is visible to his eyes. A scientist sees more than what we see with the instruments at his disposal. An astronaut sees things that we never saw unless he shares them with us. Experience indeed maketh a man. And no two experiences shall be the same. This is true of miracles too. Some might see it while it is veiled from others. Some might choose to believe it while others might call it a hoax.

As we gain newer experiences and learnings, there is a need to revisit our earlier understanding from a different point of view or perspective. We shall surprise ourselves how life which is in constant change demands a constant need for re-evaluation of understanding as we take each step. In asking me what was happiness எது மகிழ்ச்சி என்று நீ கூறுகிறாய் Agathiyar drove the point home that whatever keeps changing is not real. நிலையற்றதே மகிழ்ச்சி. Indeed joy is prompt to change, changing to sadness the very next moment. Or the joy of owning something intensifies the moment we grab onto something larger and better. This applies to experience too. It is similar with learning too. It is as if the moment we think we have understood something another portal opens up as we dwell deeper into the subject or another object appears in the murky waters as we wade through it further in. It looks like there are no concrete answers to life's mysteries. Life simply mystifies us and baffles us at every step. We are told in the documentary "Samadhi" that all levels within the field of change are Maya. So here we have it. We are indeed living in Maya. Everything seems like a dream. It is like a flowing river. 

If whatever is subjected to change is Maya, now we tend to ask the question "What is that that never changes?" As Agathiyar says true bliss and happiness are in finding that which never changes, this is what we have to look for. He says that what we are in search of has no form, name or tattvas. Though he points us to it, it is still a mystery.  நீ தேடி செல்லும் ஒன்றுக்கு வடிவம் இருப்பதில்லை, நாமம் இருப்பதில்லை, தத்துவங்கள் இருப்பதில்லை. We arrive at the source then. From it evolved everything else that is prone to changes. 

Where was the embryo or pindam that was me? Where is the toddler that was me? Where is the teen that was me? What we have are photos and some memory. We need another to fill us in about ourselves at that age. Our memory too fails us eventually. Our eyesight, hearing, our limbs, and internal organs all shall fail us someday. We are changing every moment too. What is that in us that never changes? Even death is not permanent. Death is another doorway to another journey says Agathiyar. மரணம் ஒன்றும் அல்ல. மற்றொரு பயணத்தின் கதவு. From www.lionsroar.com we read that "In Buddhism generally, death isn’t death - it’s a staging area for further life." Time too doesn't stand still. "As soon as it occurs, it immediately falls into the past." "All conditioned things have the nature of vanishing,” the Buddha said. All conditioned things pass away. Nothing remains as it was. The body changes and weakens as it ages. In response to this, and to a lifetime’s experience, the mind changes as well. The way one thinks of, views, and feels about life and the world is different. Even the same thoughts one had in youth or midlife take on a different flavor when held in older age." (Source: www.lionsroar.com)

Agathiyar too has taken many forms according to our state of spiritual maturity and acceptance. In revealing himself, Agathiyar came as the words in the Nadi in 2002. Then he came with form and name as a painting. Then he came as a granite stone at Agasthiyampalli and Papanasam during my tour of India with Tavayogi in 2005, and a bronze statue at AVM in 2010. Tavayogi says  Agathiyar is the Vaasi or Breath during my third initiation from him at Kallar Ashram in 2005 and in asking us to observe it, brought us to step out of Sariyai and Kriyai into Yoga in 2008. Tavayogi tells us that Siva and Agathiyar are one when my family and I follow him to Nattadreeswar temple in Erode in 2013. Upon returning from our pilgrimage to India in 2016, the deity Aiya surprises us by revealing to us that Agathiyar was of the female gender, the lady whom we met and greeted at numerous spots on the pilgrimage. Then Agathiyar comes to us and says he is the sensation or Unarvu that we feel at certain times, during puja, and in doing charity. He later declares that he takes the form of vibration or Athirvu as in going within. To those who have worked their way up and are able to accept that he is beyond name and form, Agathiyar comes within as the Magnetic wave or Kaanta Alai. Tavayogi told me that Agathiyar had come to him as Jothi giving him this darshan in the Kallar hills just above his old ashram when I meet him at his Ashram in 2005. Agathiyar is Jothi. Dhanvantri came after Tavayogi went into samadhi in 2018 telling us he at attained Jothi too.

Following the manifestations of Agathiyar, it looks like he too has gone through numerous changes to adapt to our understanding. So is the worship of deities and Siddhas enveloped in Maya too? As this question arose in me it sent shivers down my back. I realized that we now stood at the threshold of Bhagavan Ramana's teachings - enquiry into the source of his being. So I go to Sri Ramanasramam at https://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/teachings/. Ramana greets me with the following quote of his. "Keep turning your attention within. One day the wheel of thought will slow down and an intuition will mysteriously arise. Follow that intuition, let your thinking stop, and it will eventually lead you to the goal." Then the realization dawned on me that this was exactly what Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal have been pushing us to do. 

SHARING

If I wrote that I was an introvert, one might ask why I had shared my Nadi readings that I consider very personal. The reason is as there were adverse opinions about the Nadi and condemnation of it back then. I thought I should come to the aid of the Siddhas in backing their Nadi. I am not a Nadi reader, neither do I possess one. I too like others had my reading done by professional Nadi readers from India who come by to Malaysia. I was fortunate to have my first Nadi that spoke about my past, present, and future journey read by Thiru Senthilkumar of Avinashi once. The rest of the Nadi readings came by way of Thiru T.Ramesh. I received a few messages read by Thiru Tamaraiselvan that appeared in the Nadi reading of friends. Tavayogi and Mataji too have read the Nadi for us. The late Amarar Taranibalan has read too. As these Nadi readings worked for me I had to come up with some sort of damage control measures to save the Siddhas and their medium of communication the Nadi because I love the Siddhas. They had always been with me. I had to come to their defense.

If at all what was said in the Nadi did not materialize, I told myself that I had only myself to blame. I reasoned that I had not put in sufficient effort or did not start the venture on time as told. In short, I did not listen to their words, hence it did not take place. Another reason could be that Agathiyar might be bargaining with Lord Brahma to make it happen. But if Lord Brahma refuses to move what can Agathiyar do? Many have shown their disappointment at Agathiyar for failing them after they come to him for blessings on their new purchases, businesses, their new ventures, marriage proposals, partners, etc. But they come to him only after they had visited these and shown some interest, made deals, or given their heart. The most compassionate father shall bless and send them off. When things go wrong they confront Agathiyar. It wasn't Agathiyar's will but our own will that was in play. Siddha and poet Mahakavi Bharathi says it beautifully in this verse of his song "Ninnai Charan Adainthen, Kannama." தன்செய லெண்ணித் தவிப்பது தீர்ந்திங்கு நின்செயல் செய்து நிறைவு பெறும்வண்ணம். Doing his heart's desire, and getting agitated that his endeavors kept failing, Bharathi surrendered to the Almighty and did Her asking instead, hence gaining utmost satisfaction and regaining his peace. If we fail to do God's will but go after our own desires, thoughts, and likings, then of course we have to accept failures and disappointments. At times a failure could be a blessing or a relief from something more disastrous. He could have saved us from a bigger tragedy or bigger losses. 

Though I had shared my Nadi readings of those portions where I thought readers could benefit and follow if they wished to such as on puja, I had kept other portions regarding the changes taking place within away from the public eye for I thought they were personal and might vary from person to person. We don't want others to have an expectation right? Tavayogi too might not approve of me sharing them for he never shared his experiences in public though he spoke about the Siddhas and their teachings to them at large. But recently Agathiyar wanted me to share my experiences in going within. Hence I began to post the readings from day one wherever there was mention of internal changes taking place for it is a long process and doesn't happen overnight or come on as a blast. It is a gradual process taking into consideration the mental and physical preparedness of the sadhaka or aspirant to avoid disastrous results. Most of the time I did not see the said changes happening. I might not have been paying attention or aware or it might be happening subtly. It could also be that it was a forecast. Or I might not be placing sufficient effort to warrant it to happen. I took all this in my stride, never upset that it did not happen or becoming frustrated. I never researched what was said or dwelt on it for long. I took their word as the Bible and followed whatever was told. I guess the Siddhas were happy as they continued guiding me through these Nadi until they began to come through devotees and speak to us. 

Hence everything fell into place well. Today I understand what was told or described back then as experience and maturity in the field have taught us much. Since my gurus and the Siddhas have left something behind, I guess I can only leave this blog and the postings, the writings, and teachings of Agathiyar, Ramalinga Adigal, the Siddhas, Supramania Swami, and Tavayogi behind for someone out there to gain insight or further understanding. That is service to both mankind and guru I guess.

WHERE DO I STAND?

I wasn't one who went after publicity. I chose to stay out of the limelight. I was happy with my career and family. I didn't have any ambition. I did not join the race for everything. I preferred to watch rather than join the mad rush. But to my astonishment, everything fell into my lap. It is true what Ramalinga Adigal said, "Whenever you say it is enough you shall tend to gain more." போதும் என்ற மனமே பொன் செய்யும் மருந்து. நீ போதும் என்று சொல்லும் நிலை உன்னை அறியாமல் நீ பெற்றுக் கொண்டுதான் இருக்கிறாய். Indeed it has been this way all this while. The job I held for some 36 years came my way. My colleagues were gems. The house fell into my lap. My parents, wife, children, and grandchildren were god sent. Agathiyar sent his youthful children over to my home AVM to join me in Puja and I became a youth too. Playing with my grandchildren I became a child. I am grateful to the divine for taking care of me, my family, and my friends.

When Tavayogi took me on an exploration of the Siddhas caves and abodes in 2005 he turned to me and said, "Now the true journey begins." I did not understand then. Now I do. Tavayogi had me do charity and feeding beginning at his ashram which was a new experience too. For an introvert like me, I felt I was not knowledgeable enough to speak about the Siddhas when Tavayogi asked me to speak before others at an opening of his branch peedham in Banting in 2007. Moreover, I was a freshie on the path just having come to it 5 years back. But as he had announced it I had to say something. I spoke a few lines about him and continued with the recitation of the Maha Mantra Arutperunjothi. All those gathered followed suit. I had never lit a homam in our lives. He asked me over the phone to carry out a homam at my home simultaneously as he carried it out at his ashram at Kallar. He came over in 2010 and help me fine-tune it. In 2009, Agathiyar had a statue of him made and asked us to bathe him. We never bathe an idol before. I turned to Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar for some pointers. It was a new journey and a new experience indeed. If I was practicing Yoga with whatever little I picked up from books before I came to the path, Tavayogi officially showed us Yoga Asanas and Pranayama and many years later Acharya Gurudasan Years helped us polish the moves and postures and our breathing patterns. Agathiyar asked me to pass it on to Mahindren and later asked him to teach others at AVM. Both Agathiyar and Tavayogi kept creating openings for me to take the centre stage. When I was with my family at his ashram in 2013, Tavayogi asked us to carry out the Nitya puja or daily puja to the Siddhas. As by now we were proficient in singing the praises of the Siddhas and reciting their names, we saw it as an honor to sing at our Thai Veedu. Later when Tavayogi completed his new ashram and did the consecration ceremony in 2016, the AVM family was given the honor to lead in the singing of songs while the Yagam was lit. We saw it as an honor for us to be given the opportunity at Agathiyar's annual celebration. This is how they groomed me to take the lead. We always gave visitors to AVM the privilege to light the Homam and bath Agathiyar. When Tavayogi came to Malaysia with Mataji for the last time in 2016, we took the statue of Agathiyar at AVM to the homes of devotees who invited him over, we gave the host the opportunity to carry out libation and homam witnessed by Tavayogi and Mataji. After the pandemic became endemic devotees began to invite Agathiyar into their homes and carried out libation and lit the homam. My wife and I stand aside as witnesses these days. And so a new journey actually did begin for me, something that we never anticipated or dreamt of. 

Now Agathiyar and Ramalinga Adigal bring us on another phase of this journey that of going within. Agathiyar says, "All this while you saw to your needs in this world. Now you shall undertake an internal journey. All this while you have gained external knowledge or Ulaga Gnanam. Now you shall gain Gnanam that is going to serve you." இது நாள்வரை நீ கடந்து வந்தது இவ்வுலக வாழ்க்கையின் பயணம். இனி நீ கடக்க போவது உமது உள்பயணம். ஒருவன் தனக்குள் உள்வாங்கி அவனுள் பயணம் துவங்கும் நேரம் அப்பயணம் தரும் பாதிப்பே ஞானம். Ramalinga Adigal too comes to monitor our progress. "Have you understood the purpose of asking to go within? Do your experience changes within your body? This is only the start. You shall lay the stepping stones and progress at your pace. An effort is needed." " உன் உள் பயணத்தை அறிந்து கொண்டாயா? தேக மாற்றம் உணருகிறாயா? இதுவே துவக்கம். உனது முயற்சியே உனது படி."

Whatever experiences I am undergoing now within me are not because of my effort but by the grace of the divine too. I am asking myself if I deserve it. Intense and constant thought on the divine removes all the shackles that prevent and hold us from venturing further. We need his grace to break the shackles and free us. Indeed Agathiyar on 30.1. 2020 told me "You cannot possibly break the shackle alone. Hence follow the practices that I am to give you." "நீ உலக வாழ்க்கையில் நீர்தேங்கிறாய். இவ்கடிவாளத்தால் உம்மால் மீண்டு வர இயலாது. ஆகையால் யாம் சொல்லும் வழிமுறைகளைச் செய்து வா. That is the compassion of the guru who comes to our aid in times of need and trouble. Agathiyar pointed out to me in my first Nadi reading in 2002,  that none of my Yoga practice and puja saw results till I came to the Siddhas. My past karma stood in my way of gaining and reaping the benefits. The Siddhas helped me overcome my karma and obstacles. If I practiced Yoga by reading books in the past, the Siddhas through Nadi readings taught me the practices that they themselves had carried out and saw the results. They sent Tavayogi to show more asanas and pranayama techniques. Tavayogi showed me rituals carried out by the Siddhas too. That is the compassion of the guru who comes to show us the way. Though they showed me the way and the methods they also gave me full freedom to modify and change accordingly to the need of the moment. They gave us much leeway too. They gave us the freedom to explore. 

Just as Ramalinga Adigal told us it is a long journey, Dr.C.Srinivasan in his book AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF RAMALINGA SWAMI, mentions that "Ramalinga Adigal has tasted the bliss of all the sixteen stages contemplated by the Vedas by the permutation and combination of the four paths such as Devotion, Action, Meditation, and Wisdom one after another and attained higher and truer perfection with the aid of the Supreme Grace, besides the ultimate goal of all the six heavenly avenues Suddha Siddhanatham, Suddha Vedantham, Suddha Nadantham, Suddha Kalantham and Suddha Bhodantham leading to Divinity.  He has further given an exposition of his admittance into Sanmargam by the bounteous and boundless descent of the auspicious Supreme Being in him which has resulted in his immortality. It was perhaps miraculously easy for the Swami to be blessed with all these experiences." Ramalinga Adigal on charting out the many levels of the soul's journey and its spiritual experiences says that there are still higher stages that he hesitates to express. 

Various states of the soul.	The 16 stages and above of spiritual experiences.	Experiences (Nilai).	Stages.	Paths.
Human beings leading a mundane life without even a thought of its transient nature.	1. Jeeva Sakiram. Normal wakefulness.		1st stage.
	2. Jeeva Sorpanam. Normal dreaming.		2nd stage.
	3. Jeeva Suluthi. Normal ignorance.		3rd stage.
Spiritualist aware of momentary nature of life; conscious of the world and external objects; enjoys gross things.	4. Sutha Sakiram. Perfect wakefulness. 1st state of the soul.		1st stage.	Sariyai.
Seeking to see the Lord and feels inseparable; untiring search for God; enjoys subtle things.	5. Sutha Sorpanam. Perfect dream. 2nd state of the soul.		2nd stage.	Kriyai.
Only God; neither dreams nor desires; soul temporarily one with Brahman enjoys bliss.	6. Sudha Suluthi. Perfect ignorance or sound sleep or dreamless state. 3rd state of the soul.		3rd stage.	Yogam.
Lust & veil covering the soul for generations are shed one after the other; soul cleanse by Arutperunjhoti; spontaneous impulse of love for God; absolute union with Brahman.	7. Sudha Turiyam. Perfect experience. Supra-mental awareness. 4th stage of the soul.	Supreme grace. Arul Oliyal.	4th stage.	Shiva Jnana Nilai.
	8. Para Sakiram. Higher wakefulness.
Enjoys grace of Lord and ecstasy.	9. Para Sorpanam. Higher dream. Supra mental dream.
Shackles removed by Arutperunjhoti; heavenly experiences. Above this stage, God is un-manifested.	10. Para Suluthi. Higher ignorance. Supra mental unknowing.		1st stage.	1st divine path. Sithantham. Sutha Sithantham.
Tasting God; the glory of Arutperunjhoti; self-realization on the soul as an atom brilliant as the sun; soul charged with divine grace; aspirant realizes the greatness of God's grace and his smallness; self-realization or Atma Tarisanam.	11. Para Turiyam. Atma Tarisanam. Supra-mental perfection.	Ananda Nilai.	2nd stage.	2nd divine path. Vethantham. Sutha Vethantham.
Perceive God in the form of light; the soul is saturated with compassion & love; experience of divine life (Uyir Anubhavam); attains purified body or golden body (Sutha Degam); the extent of achievement is dependent on the grace of Arutperunjhoti; sees divinity in all creatures; sees God in the form the aspirant is ready to receive; enjoys supreme grace (Arul Anubhavam); higher stages are heavenly stages and beyond human perception where the mind fails to conceive and all senses cease to function; Uyir Anubavam in Sudha Degam; a transformation to the pure body; love incarnate; the universality of love in all fellow beings; oneness in life; sees the divine in all life forms; sees smallness of one and greatness of God; spontaneous flow of God in him.	12. Guru Sakiram or Shiva Sakiram.		3rd stage.	3rd divine path. Sutha Nathantham.
Descent of divinity in the individual.	13. Guru Sorpanam or Shiva Sorpanam. Supreme dream.		4th stage.	4th divine path. Sutha Kalantham.
Supreme grace flows and prepares the aspirant for the next stage.	14. Guru Suluthi or Shiva Suzhuthi. Supreme tranquility.		5th stage.	5th divine path. Sutha Bothantham.
The body transforms into Pranava Deham or body of grace; merges with Arutperunjhoti; deathlessness or conquest of death. Ramalinga Adigal mentions Muthuthandavar & Tathuvarayar as had attained this state.	15. Guru Turiyam or ShivaTuriyam.	Anandha Nilai. Periya Shiva Anubhavam.	6th stage.	6th divine path. Samarasa Sutha Sanmaarga.
There are still higher stages that Ramalinga Adigal hesitates to express.	16. Sudha Shiva Sakiram. Absolute supreme consciousness.
	Sudha Shiva Sorpanam.
	Sudha Shiva Suluthi.
	Sudha Shiva Turiyam.
	Sudha Shiva Turiyateetam.

(Source: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF RAMALINGA SWAMI by Dr C Srinivasan, published by Ilakkia Nilayam, Tiruchi, 1968 (Srinivasan).

I understand fully when Ramalinga Adigal says the journey is long. I look through the above table to see where I stand.  I tell myself that I am way down at the 4th state of experience Sutha Sakiram. When we cannot figure out and envision the many stages he has described before hitting that point that cannot be described, if we are struggling and attempting to conceive the inconceivable of these stages, how can we understand these higher levels. 

When Tavayogi repeats the same thing over and over again in all his sermons, he tells me that we are not listening, hence the need to keep repeating. When Agathiyar tells us that we have been taking numerous births, again and again, listing out some of this to us, he is telling us subtly that we did not listen before. 

THE JOURNEY IN GOING WITHIN 3

It is said that "the path of liberation is not about feeling better but about getting better at the feeling." Now I understand how the senses that become enhanced make for better absorption of the sights, smell, hearing, touch, and taste. The enjoyment derived from worldly affairs goes so deep to the cellular level these days. Let it be in breathing, eating, tasting, hearing, listening and watching, reading, touching, and in sex too, it is touching another level previously not known.

Agathiyar once told me that when the breath travels in both nostrils that is completeness or puranam in breathing. The breath that is accustomed to switching nostrils every two hours begins to travel in the Sushumna rather than either the Ida or Pingala. The breath travels within reaching the inner confines and every nook and cranny of the body right to the cells bringing on a fantastic sensation or Unarvu and creating a vibration or Athirvu. Tavayogi too told me once that breath or Vaasi was God. We know how people struggle to just take a breath often needing inhalers and machines to assist in their breathing. We are gifted if we can breathe well and fully. 

Similarly in taking food, if I had only appeased my hunger previously and if before this we tasted the food in the mouth and felt full when we eat, these days the whole body savors the food or rather the Prana in the food right down to the cells. I guess this is what Agathiyar means when we are told that he feeds the elements that reside in the body each time he cooks and serves food to others. This has resulted in my hunger and appetite being fulfilled after only a few mouthfuls. I now have become an outcast since I sit in silence enjoying the food that gives me thrills throughout my body while others engage in conversations over dinner.  

A technique to bring our awareness to the food we take is taught in the Buddhist tradition that Lama Surya Das writes about in his book, "Awakening the Buddha Within - Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World, Bantam Books, 1997. In his book, he teaches us "Eating meditation". "Eating meditation is a marvelous way of putting ourselves in touch with now-ness. It can really slow us down and make us more aware of compulsive behavior", he writes. This meditation does try one's patience to the limit he says. For instance, he says we are accustomed to eating raisins by the handful. Here we take it one at a time. But before we put it into our mouth we feel it, we look at it as if we have never seen it before. We are taught to direct our total attention to the raisin, which otherwise we hardly do. We are asked to examine it thoroughly. Smell it. Only then do we begin to chew it slowly, actually tasting it for the very first time. Chew till it becomes juice." 

Agathiyar in relating the origin of his temple at Agasthiyampalli to Dr. VN Jayapalan during meditation tells a story. King Kuberan's voracious appetite is satisfied by taking a handful of food prepared by a diseased old man who worshipped the statue of Agathiyar in a hut on the fringes of his kingdom. In taking the food the king takes on the old man's disease too and the old man regains his youth and health. Shortly after the king's karma stands before him and leaves him for good. The king regains his former form. Agathiyar told my wife to serve him cooked food for though it is food for him it shall be medicine for us.

So is it with listening and hearing. The songs that I have listened to all these years come alive with Prana and energy moving me and my emotions often bringing tears to my eyes. Watching movies too makes me shed tears and become emotional. I could not believe that the sense organs could connect with the sound heard and visuals seen over a video call until recently when Gowri Arumugam and her husband decided to stream their walkaround at Tavayogi's Kallar ashram. I could sense the energies at the ashram in Kallar standing in my living room in Malaysia. 

The world around me appears much brighter and more colorful in all its brilliant colors. It makes me appreciate the work of the divine more. Sex too hits a high touching the state of ecstasy. In teaching me the Yoga asanas Tavayogi told me that some of those postures would improve sexual life. Indeed it did. 

The sense of touch too is enhanced these days especially in hugging others. Agathiyar advocates that we hug each other. Now I understand why Mata Amritamayi does that. My skin too has become sensitive to the Prana all around us especially when the wind or breeze blows, during the rain showers, or standing in the warmth of the morning sun, touching the greenery, or looking at flowers and butterflies. Agathiyar says, "This is connecting and merging with Prapanjam." Agathiyar in explaining the many instances and forms where Lord Murugan appears in his song "Shanmuga Nayagan Thotram", describes the many ways that Lord Muruga is seen and felt. Among them, he is seen through the eyes as a vision, in the flower fields, when the mind settles, in the breeze that delivers Gnanam, in the chant of his name, in the untouched forest, in the places his devotees are, in the hill fortresses, amidst the crowd of devotees and their dance, in the places of worship, in the silence where the Atma attains bliss, in reaching out to the poor and in giving to them, in forgetting one's body in devotion and bakti, in those who have known the truth, in the gist of Vedanta, at Tiruchendur where the waves break, in Kundalini Yoga, in the merger of Paramatma and Jeevatma, in the service rendered by devotees, in showering him flowers, in the waters that fall, in seeing all as one, in seeing nature, in the winking stars, in seeing him on a peacock, in forgetting the body and watching the Jeevatma, in carrying out Sariyai, in poigai where the Ganges merge, in letting go of opinions and ego, in the rows of light, when Gnanam dawns and in Agathiyar's songs, and he goes on. It is clear that God's presence is very much in nature, all around us, and in all our activities.

கண்களினால் கண்டு பொற்றிடலாம், ஆனந்த மாமலர்ச் சோலையிலே, மன ஆட்டம் அடங்கிய வேளையிலே, ஞானமும் தரும் தென்றல் காற்றினிலே, எழும் நாம சங்கீர்த்தன உற்றினிலே, பக்குவமாம் திணைக் காட்டினிலே, அவன் பக்தர் நுழைந்திடும் வீட்டினிலே, மிக்குயர்வாம் மலைக் கோட்டினிலே, அருள் மேவும் அகத்தியன் பாட்டினிலே, தொண்டர் திரண்டெழும் கூட்டத்திலே, அவன் சுற்றிச் சுழன்றிடும் ஆட்டத்திலே, அண்டர் தினம் தோலும் வானத்திலே, தவ ஆன்ம சுகம் பெரும் மோனத்தில், எழைக் கிரங்கிடும் சித்தத்திலே, பொருள் ஈந்து மகிழ்ந்தவர் அத்தத்திலே, ஊளைக் கடப்பவர் பக்தியிலே, தெய்வ உண்மையைக் காண்பவர் சக்தியிலே, வேதாந்த தத்துவ சாரத்திலே, அலை வீசும் செந்தூரக் கடல் தீரத்திலே, ஆதார குண்டலி யோகத்திலே, பர மாத்ம ஜீவாத்ம வைபோகத்திலே, அன்பர்க்கியற்றிடும் சேவையிலே, உயிர் அர்ச்சனையாய் மலர் தூவையிலே, இன்ப பெரும் புனல் வீழ்ச்சியிலே, காணும் யாவும் ஒன்றென்றுணர் காஷியிலே, நண்ணும் இயற்கை அமைப்பிலே, ஒளி நக்ஷத்திரங்கள் இமைப்பினிலே, விண்ணில் விரிந்துள்ள நீலத்திலே, மயில்மேல் வரும் ஆனந்தக் கோலத்திலே, தேகவிசாரம் மறக்கையிலே, சிவ ஜீவ விசாரம் பிறக்கையிலே, ஆகும் அருட்பணி செய்கையிலே, கங்கை ஆறு கலந்திடும் பொய்கையிலே, மானாபிமானம் விடுக்கையிலே, தீப மங்கள ஜோதி எடுக்கையிலே, ஞானானுபூதி உதிக்கையிலே, குரு நாதனை நாடி துதிக்கையிலே, ...

Looking back at the many Nadi readings I had in the past I am overwhelmed to see his concern and interest in us just as the lecturer monitors a student's progress. Agathiyar had foreseen what was to take place, preparing us for the moment, and often forewarned me too. 

13.10.2007 Though I began to read the Nadi in 2002 this was the very first mention of Kundalini. Agathiyar surprised me by saying that my kundalini had risen. I was not aware of anything. Looking through my collection of books on Yoga I could not relate to the typical signs of kundalini awakening as written in these books. I did not pursue my search nor speak about it to another not even my guru. Tavayogi was not one to entertain talk on Kundalini. உண்டாகும் குண்டலினி சக்தி உனக்கு உயர்வதைக் கண்டு நாங்கள் வியந்தோம் அப்பா. 

18.5.2008 Patanjali came to guide me further in the Nadi reading. He said, "The many practices taught and shown and put into practice shall bring on excessive heat within and tire you out. Hence the need to take sattvic food that cools the body." For a start I was to refrain taking processed food once a week. He asked me to take natural food on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. He asked to refrain completly from taking salt, sugar, sour and pungent food. Patanjali tells me that this is his Yoga Suksmam. This is the second instance he spoke about the Kundalini. He said the colors of the aura and the chakras will enhance as a result of Kundalini awakening. ஒப்பிலா உடல் சூடும் தியானத்தால் உனக்குச் சோர்வு வந்திடும் இக்கணம் தன்னில். தான் நீயும் குளிர்ச்சி தரும் பண்டம் தவறாது ஏற்றிட வேண்டும் அப்பா. நிலைத்துத் தான் அங்கத் திடம் ஓங்கச் சிறப்பாக வாரம் ஓர் நாள் மட்டும் செயற்கை உணவு மட்டும் ஏற்கா. மட்டிலா செய், கரி, குரு நாள் தன்னில் மகத்தான மருத்துவத்தின் உணவும் ஏற்பாய் கட்டளைதான் உப்பு, புலி, காரம், இனிப்பும் கண்டிப்பாய் ஆகாது ஏற்க வேண்டாம். பதஞ்சலியின் யோக சூட்சம இதுதான் மைந்தா. வளமிருக்கும் வர்ணமும், ஆதாரமும் சித்தி கொண்டதோர் குண்டலினி ஓங்கும் பாரு. 

30.9.2008 Agathiyar surprises me by saying that the light from the third eye had emerged due to my tapas. But I was not doing much of a tapas in the real sense or according to what is written and read in those numerous books out there. He asks that I seduce and worship the breath or in other words manipulate my breath and learn to control it. "Bigger things lie within the breath," he said. "All the Siddhas passed the test through breath control. Lord Vinayagar and Gautama Buddha who were exponents of this art excelled in it. By gaining control over the breath one can extend his life span and defeat death. All the tapasi attained success in their tapas or tavam through control of the breath. I am sharing the truth with you of our practice and achievements", he concluded. நேர்மையான தவத்தாலே நெற்றிக் கண் ஒளியும், ஒளி அதுவும் உனக்குமே வெளிப்பட்டது இப்போ. கண்ணியமாய் வாசிதனை வசப்படுத்திக் கணக்காகப் புசிக்கச் சிறப்பு தானே. சிறப்புயெலாம் வாசியிலே அடங்கி இருக்கு. சித்தர் எல்லாம் வாசி வழி தேர்ச்சி கண்டார். சிறப்புமிக்க மூத்தோனும் புத்தனும் தான் சிறப்பான வாசிக்கே அதிபதி ஆவார். ஆனதொரு வாசி தன்னை அடக்கினாலே ஆயுளோடு மரணம் இல்லா பெரு வாழ்வு உண்டு. தவசியெல்லாம் வாசியாலே தவமும் பெற்றார். தான் அடைந்த உண்மையெல்லாம் உனக்கு உரைத்தோம். 

8.12.2008 Agathiyar threw more surprises at me. He said, "Through Vaasi practice, the Sulimunai and the top (of head) too has opened. We shall draw the 7 veils and have you see the Jothi. You shall become complete in all aspects. We will create a way for you to attain the Soruba state." All this was news to me. I just did not know what was being said by Agathiyar. Today I realize the reason I did not understand then. I needed the experience and the Arivu and subtle knowledge or Gnanam first before I could comprehend what was said.  வாசி பயிற்சியாலே சுழி திறந்து உச்சியும் திறக்கக் கண்டாய். ஏழுதிரை தன்னை நீக்கி வழுவாது சோதிதனை கான வைப்போம். வையகத்தில் பூர்த்தி நிலை அடையச் செய்வோம். சொரூப நிலை யாவும் பெற வழியும் செய்வோம். 

27.8.2009 Agathiyar gives further practice on Tava Suksmam to do for 2 Mandalas (48 x 2). He dictated, "Taking in the breath stay focused on the chakras above and below the nose. Do this twice aday." I was surprised to know that there were chakras too in the spots Agathiyar said. "It would strengthen the state of Gnana. It shall bring on clarity, power to the thoughts, and access to the Prapanjam." He reiterates again that these are practices they did and are sharing with us. வெற்றி நிலை மிகுந்து காணத் தவ சூச்சமம் தான் விவரிப்பேன். இரு மண்டலம் செய்வாய் நன்றாய். நெறி உடனே தினம் காலை மாலையும் தான் நாசியின் மேல் கீழ் சக்கரம் நோக்கி நோக்கியே தவம் பயிற்சி சில நாழிகை மட்டும் நாசியினுள் நீண்டவாறு வாசியை இழுத்து விட்டுப் பக்குவமாய் பயிற்சியும் செய்து  வரப் பலப்படும் ஞான நிலை பலவாறாக. பலவாறு தெளிவு திடம் சிந்தை கீர்த்தி பிரபஞ்சம் வசிய நிலை திண்ணம். உலகினிலே நாங்கள் செய்த பயிற்சிதான் உவந்து சொன்னோம் உனக்குமே சூச்சம். 

26.12.2009 Again Agathiyar surprises me saying I was on the fringe of attaining Gnanam and that the top has opened. He said "The third eye shall shine. I wanted to give you a treasure." He says that Tavayogi shall grant it. I was clueless as to what he was talking. ஞானத்தின் திறவுகோல் திறந்த பிள்ளை. உச்சியும்  திறந்த பிள்ளை. முக்கண்ணும் பிரகாசிக்கும். தர வேண்டும் போக்கிடங்கள் என்று நினைத்தோம். தவறாது யோகி வழி உனக்குக் கிட்டும். 

None of what was said turned my life around as we read in the books. Life went on as usual. I guess since I had a job and a family they did not want to disrupt my life in any manner. I figured that it all went on within me in a very subtle and gentle way so as not to disrupt my daily life and activities. 

THE JOURNEY IN GOING WITHIN 2

Just as Agathiyar said Ramalinga Adigal came on 14.5.2020 and guided me further. He asks me, "Have you understood the purpose of asking to go within? Do your experience changes within your body? This is only the start. You shall lay the stepping stones and progress at your pace. An effort is needed." I understand now that there are no stones laid out there for us to step on or rungs of the ladder to climb. We lay the stone and place the rung. If we had set our foot on the stepping stones laid out before us by someone else, a pioneer or explorer or master traveling the way before, now we pick up and lay the stones anew and step on it and lay another stone and step further or lay the rungs of the ladder according to our efforts and progress.

"What you are doing currently is wonderful. Continue with it. Watching your breath is right. You are changing its flow correctly. Continue with it. You are on the first step. Prana moving in you is itself Pranava Degam. When you sense the Pranavam you shall question yourself if the Pranam is traveling in you or vice versa, if you are hitching on it and traveling in it. When you reach that state you shall have the answer. That moment shall be one of extreme bliss. Go deep within this bliss. There is more. Whenever you say it is enough you shall tend to gain more. There is much to learn. You have my blessings. I shall travel with you till you reach the destination. I accompany those who go deep within. Follow your breath. Place the effort and you shall reach the destination." உன் உள் பயணத்தை அறிந்து கொண்டாயா? தேக மாற்றம் உணருகிறாயா? இதுவே துவக்கம். உனது முயற்சியே உனது படி. தற்போது நீ செய்து வரும் சிறப்பு. அதைத் தொடர்ந்து செய்து வா. சுவாசத்தை கவனித்துக் கொண்டிருப்பது சரியே. அதை நீ மாற்றிக் கொண்டு வருகிறாய். தொடர்ந்து செய்து வா. முதல் படியில் இருக்கிறாய். பிராண சக்தி ஊடுருவிச் செல்கிறதே அதுவே பிரணவ தேகம்.  பிரணவத்தின் சக்தி உணரும் தருணம் உன் பிரணவத்தால் ஊடுகிறாயா? அல்லது பிரணவம் உன்னுள் ஊடுகிறதா என்று தோன்றும். என்று அப்படியில் காலடி வைகிறாயோ அன்று உமக்கு விடை பிறக்கும். பிரணவத்தின் நீயே அதைக் காண்பாய். அது பேர் ஆனந்தம்.  இன்பத்தில் ஆழ்ந்து கொண்டு வா. இன்னும் இருக்கிறது. போதும் என்ற மனமே பொன் செய்யும் மருந்து. நீ போதும் என்று சொல்லும் நிலை உன்னை அறியாமல் நீ பெற்றுக் கொண்டுதான் இருக்கிறாய். நீ கற்பதற்கு இன்னும் இருக்கிறது. எனது பரிபூரண ஆசியோடு கற்பிப்பாய். உன்னுள் ஜோதி எரியும் வரை நான் உன்னோடு வருவேன். ஆழ்ந்து இருப்போருடன் நான் சேர்ந்து இருக்கிறேன். உமது பிரணவத்தை கொண்டு செல். ஜோதியோடு கலப்பாய்.

"Supramania Swami was the guru who led you to the path of worship to guru. He taught you guru bakti or devotion to the guru. You received the merits from his tapas. Tavayogi too in his light form, is trying to bring salvation to you. He is traveling with you. You traveled in his way and followed his teachings. You spread his fame and helped him attain the state of Jothi. He who is currently with you shall continue to travel with you." சுப்ரமணியன் உனக்கு வழிநடுத்திய குரு. குருவைத் தொடர்ந்திருக்கும் ஒரு சீடன் அக்குருவை எவ்வாறு நடத்த வேண்டும் என்று கல்வியை சுப்ரமணியன் உனக்குப் போதித்தான். அவன் தவ வலிமையை நீ பெற்றாய். தவயோகி ஆத்ம ஜோதியாய் உங்களை கரை தேர்த இன்னமும் முயற்சிக்கிறான். உங்களோடே பயணிக்கிறான். அவன் வழி நடந்து முழுமையாக கடைபிடித்து வரும் ஒரு சீடன் நீ. அவன் புகழை பரப்பிய உன் தவ வலிமையால் அவன் ஜோதி நிலை தொட்டு விட்டான். தற்பொழுது அவன் உங்களை வழி நடுத்த உங்கள் அருகில்தான் இருக்கிறான். இன்னும் இன்றும் உங்களோடு பயணிக்கிறான்.

"The noise around your neighborhood although obstacles but that is Gnanam. Be patient. Through your effort you shall conquer your senses. Till then these shall trouble you." அக்கம் பக்கம் சத்தம் அவைகளே உமக்கு இன்னல்கள். அவைகளே உமக்கு ஞானம். பொறுத்துக்கொள். உமது முயற்சியால் உமது ஐம் புலன்களை அடக்கிடுவாய். அது நடக்கும் வண்ணம் இவைகள் உமக்குத் தொந்திராவு வழங்கும்.

29.6.2020

Ramalinga Adigal surprised me by saying that "The lock to the hidden door between your eyebrows is open now." I had no idea what it was all about. உன் கண் புருவ பூட்டு திறந்து விட்டது.

22.8.2020

Ramalinga Adigal tells me "Use your breath to fan the Jothi. It shall travel through Sushumna and touch Ajna. Then the Jothi is seen. Carry out Nadi Sudhi to raise the Prana. It needs to travel in both nostrils. You shall then rests in completeness or Sudha Paripuranam. Dhyana will be yours then. You are one with the Prana. Pay attention to it. The changes in you is but discharges. It shall leave your body. Do not worry. What you are doing is tavam. Agathiyan has accepted and received it. Hence bath his statue once a week and please him. We shall continue working on your insides and from within." பிரணவத்தை கொண்டு ஜோதியை சுடர் விடச்செய். சுஷும்னா வழி சென்று ஆக்கினை தொடும். பின்னர் ஜோதி தெரியும். நாடி சுத்தி செய்து பிரணவத்தை உயர்த்தவும். இப்போது இரு நாசியில் செல்ல வில்லை. இரு நாசியில் செல்லும் கால் பிரணவம் இடகலை பிங்கலையில் சீராகச் செல்லும் தருணம் சுத்த பரிபூரணத்தில் நீ ஆழ்ந்து இருப்பாய். தியானம் என்பது உனது பரிபூரணம் ஆகும். உனது பிராணவத்தில் கலந்திருக்கிறாய். பிரணவத்தில் கவனம் செலுத்து. உன்னுள் ஏற்படும் மாற்றங்கள் யாவும் கழிவுகள். அகன்று போகும். கவலை வேண்டாம். நீ செய்தது யாவும் தவம். முயற்சி யாவும் அகத்தியன் பெற்று விட்டான். ஆகையால் வாரம் ஒரு முறை நீர் ஊற்றி ஆனந்தம் படுத்திவிடு. உள்ளிருந்து யாவும் நடத்துவோம்.

19.11.2020

Agathiyar in telling the others said that "He shall share his experiences." இவன் அனுபவத்தைப் பகிர்ந்து கொள்வான். 

12.12.2020

Agathiyar tells the others gathered, "Read his writings. They are my thoughts. In the coming days I shall speak a lot about the Atma." இவன் எழுதுக்களை படியுங்கள். அவை என் கருத்து. இனி ஆத்மாவைப் பற்றி நிறைய சொல்வேன்.

Weeks ago Agathiyar came and gave me more good news though its repercussions are affecting my body.

"The water that ponded over time has been discharged. Having the chakras activated in this age has its consequences towards the body. As the heat of the tapas increases the quantity of blood is affected that shall lead to cramps which shall then result in problems in the discharge of urine and faeces. Take the neccesary medicines. Do not worry." தேங்கி இருந்த நீர் வெளி கொண்டது. ஆனபோதும் முதிர்ந்த நிலையில் சக்கரங்கள் திறப்பதனால் உதிர வாட்டம் கொண்டுள்ளது. ஆகையால் எண்கள் மேரு பெறும். முதிர்ச்சியில் சக்கரங்கள் திறக்கும் போது அவ்வுடல் சில பாதிப்பினை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளும். உனது உடலில் உஷ்ணம் ஏற ஏற உதிரம் குறையும். உதிரம் குறைந்தால் உடல் மரத்துப் போகும். உடல் மரத்துப் போனால் சிறுநீர் கோளாறு கழிவில் கோளாறு ஏற்படும். மருத்துவம் கொண்டு அதைச் சீர் படுத்திக் கொள்ள நன்மையே தரும். கவலை வேண்டாம்.

Agathiyar gives me strength and courage. He says, "Do not be afraid of death. It is but another door to another journey. One who invites death is a Siddha. There is much I need to carry out through you. Enough of my praise. Write about your bodily experiences. Let your writings be about the changes taking place in your body. Let your readers know the changes that take place in the body if they come to worship the light and seek to merge with it. My wisdom shall be your experience. Experience first and I shall clarify the experiences later. Experience is knowledge to you. Nothing is beyond experience." மரணபயம் வேண்டாம்.  மரணம் ஒன்றும் அல்ல. மற்றொரு பயணத்தின் கதவு.  எவன் ஒருவன் மரணத்தை அன்போடு வரவேற்கின்றானோ அவன் சித்தன் ஆகின்றான். உன்னில் இருந்து நான் காரியங்கள் செய்வதற்கு இன்னும் நிறைய இருக்கிறது. எனது பெருமை போதும். இனி உன் எழுத்துக்கள் உடல் மாற்றங்கள் உடல் அனுபவம் பற்றியதாக இருக்கட்டும். ஜோதியினை வழிபட்டால் அதில் இணைய வேண்டும் என்றால் உடலில் எவ்வித மாற்றங்கள் ஏற்படும் என்று உன் வாசகர்களுக்குத் தெரிய படுத்து. உனது அனுபவம் எனது அறிவு. அனுபவமே உனக்கு அறிவு. அனுபவத்தைத் தாண்டி ஒன்றுமே இல்லை. நீ அனுபவம் கொண்டுவா, பின்னர் உரைக்கிறேன். 

Agathiyar gives me confidence saying, "If going within is difficult think of it as a practice for you. Going within will bring you to merge with the Prapanjam. There is no easy way. What you go through is very much easier and milder that what I went through." உள் பயணம் சிரமமாக இருக்குமானால் அதுவே உமக்கு பயிற்சி. ஆழ்ந்து போவது நீங்கள் பிரபஞ்சத்தோடு இணைவதற்கு. இதற்கு சுலபமான வழி இல்லை. நான் கண்டதை விட நீங்கள் கண்டு வருவது மிகவும் சுலபமானது.

Agathiyar ends the note by telling me that there is no easier way to attain or merge with the breath, the sensation, the vibration, the magnetism, the Prapanjam, and the Jothi. With a little effort from us, the Siddhas shall aid us further. Then the energies will do the rest. The breath is akin to the river that turns the turbine machine in our case the chakras to produce electricity and energy. We have basically become a dynamo. The swirling sensation felt several weeks ago in the abdomen just below my navel is now regularly felt in the top of my head with a lesser intensity. I guess this is what Agathiyar meant when he said I shall feel a magnetic wave arise. The body is now a magnet that is attracting the effulgence from beyond. We understand that while we see lightning appear in the skies and strike things on the ground, there is a small amount of electricity that reaches out to it from the earth. The small amount of electricity meets the larger expanse that is God. A clear nostril is a highway for these energies to hitch on the breath and make their way swiftly to the depo at the top of the head. Over a couple of days it seems more like a flowering of petals and is blissful. Agathiyar previously reminded me not to allow anyone to touch my head. Soon the pandemic came and I never visited the barber till this day. As our journey is one, my wife cuts my hair. Recently when Dhanvantri came I fell before him. He reminded me not to fall at anyone's feet. When God himself restrains us from following this age-old tradition of honoring the elders, masters, and gurus, some refuse to enter the homes of their devotees or temples if Patha Puja or a ritual of cleansing the feet is not done for them. These masters seek and expect that respect is shown and given by way of conducting this ritual. When I invited Tavayogi into my home for the very first time, after I picked him up from the local peedham where he was staying during his duration of stay, upon alighting from the car, he walked briskly into my home. Seeing my daughter document his arrival, he told her to put aside the video camera as coverages were fit only for politicians. Although we had prepared a chair for him, he sat on the floor the moment we began to take our places on the mat. Tavayogi broke a lot of tradition just like Mahakavi Bharathi and the Siddhas. He allowed us to modify the Siddha puja and rituals. There was no hard and fast rule. When I placed several suggestions to the heads of Siddha Ashrams and Peedhams, they refused to alter the long-standing traditions that their masters and masters before them started and carried out.  Now I understand why Lord Murugan told me we were different. 

THE JOURNEY IN GOING WITHIN 1

Continuing the tradition from my parents I carried on home puja in my bachelor's home when I got a job away from my hometown. I visited all the temples in the vicinity regularly. I picked up and practiced Yoga too learning from books. This was between 1980 and 1988. Then there came a period of abstinence between 1988 and 1998 from all my former routines as directed by Lord Shiva in a dream. This was to put on hold all my questions and doubts that were raised on the very existence of the divine whom I saw only bringing down hailstones raining it on his poor devotees around me. People around me were suffering. Why did God who is said to be compassionate and merciful torture his devotees? It did not seem like the act of a compassionate and merciful God. That is when I had the dream asking me to lay off for a while till another day. That day came in 2001. Meanwhile, I was transferred back to my headquarters in Kuala Lumpur promptly. I started a family and only visited temples for their sake. In 1994 I receive a painting of Lord Shiva, the Autobiography of A Yogi (Yogananda), and a few words of advice from a parting colleague who decided to take up monkhood at Yogananda's Ranchi Ashram in India. If before this I only knew the Hindu pantheon of Gods, Yogananda's book exposed me to the existence of masters and gurus. Bringing my children to the National Library often I began to pick up some books on religion and spiritualism. I began to walk into bookshops looking for more books. I began to read again. In 2001 I receive a visitor who brings me God's message. My nephew was used as a vehicle to convey Agathiyar's instructions to me, though I was not told then it was from Agathiyar. This was the moment that Lord Shiva had spoken about in my dream I knew. I began to chant the Vasudeva mantra given to me and started puja to Goddess Ma throughout the days of Navaratri that followed. I was given a painting of Lord Dhakshanamurthy too to worship. I was told that I shall meet my guru soon. A year later I was drawn to read my Nadi. Looking through my past lives and my baggage of karma, Agathiyar sends me on a pilgrimage to carry out remedies besides getting me to conduct Mantra Japam or recitation of mantras of the conventional Gods and Goddesses in the Hindu pantheon. I was asked to pray to the Siddhas too and received a painting of Agathiyar and a small book carrying the names of the Siddhas. As this was new to me I went around looking for places where the Siddhas were worshiped. Looking around I returned home to carry out their worship with whatever little I learned. This is how I started the worship of the Siddhas. My maiden pilgrimage to India to carry out my Pariharam or remedies brought me to my guru, Supramania Swami once my baggage of karma was placed at the Holy Feet of the respective deities during this circuit of temple worship. Three years later they sent Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram to our shores where I met him. He took me under his wings after Agathiyar commanded me to get a second initiation from him after my second Nadi reading. I was officially accepted into their folds and came directly under his wings after Agathiyar redirected me to go to Tavayogi's Kallar peedham instead of patronizing a local peedham as directed earlier. Five years later Agathiyar had me commission his statue in bronze in the looks of his granite statue at Agasthiyampalli, India, to place him at the Sri Jagadguru Sri Raghavendra Mrithika Brindavanam in Ipoh but decided later to stay put in my home AVM. I realize that Agathiyar constantly watches events and our thoughts and the extent of our participation or actions and our commitment to his course and turns a game changer. With Tavayogi giving us tips and Agathiyar giving guidance in subsequent Nadi readings I journeyed with them. There were many practices given and at times I was cautioned too. It is all on these pages of the blog.

After Agathiyar's calling to come to the path, and having been introduced to Tavayogi, who showed us rituals, charity, and Yoga, and as we progressed from Sariyai to Kriyai and stood at Yoga, Agathiyar brought a stop to all external activities and had us go within. Just as Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra brings one to turn around and look within at one juncture, Agathiyar had us go within to tell us that it was enough. 

BKS Iyengar says that sage Patanjali listed ways to attain Yoga or union, beginning with the control and mastery of external issues and finally bringing one within. The eight aspects or limbs of Yoga of which the first five namely, Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, and Pratyahara are known as a forward journey from the body towards the soul, says Iyengar. Then Patanjali takes us on a reverse path, or a return journey now moving inwards, from the body towards the soul, that is termed as the true renunciation, contrary to the common belief and understanding of renouncing the world. Knowing the seed of consciousness and having realized it Patanjali shows the way to Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. Patanjali shows the way to how one can reach the abode of the soul forever so that all the actions he performs in the world, will not reflect any reaction, hence severing the fine thread of birth and rebirth.

Watching the documentary film "Samadhi - The Pathless Path", it is interesting to relate to and realize that getting to expand our energy or Sakthi as in carrying out Sariyai and Kriyai amounts to going on pilgrimages, doing rituals and puja, carrying out charity, etc they had led us on the Sakthi path. Today in asking us to go within they lead us to the Shiva path, which comprises non-involvement, remaining silent and indifferent to the world, only tending to the thought that arises and eventually subsides. Agathiyar told me recently that there is nothing greater than silence and asked me to adopt it. "Silence is the greatest teaching. The purest teaching. The purest teachings are transmitted in silence. One becomes equanimous with what is. Surrender to what is. Attentive to what is." In saying this the narrator of the documentary gives an account of Buddha's life. 

"Rather than giving a long Satsang or teaching with words, Buddha just let the students sit with a flower for the entire time. Only one student received the transmission. Only one student got it. To receive such a subtle transmission requires a subtle mind." Here the need for us to shift from the gross to the subtler arises. The Siddhas teach just that. We are told that Lord Dhakshanamurthi who had four disciples who sat with him and questioned him realized that there was no end to their questions. He stopped replying and remained silent. In that silence, they all attained Gnanam or enlightenment. 

On 30.1. 2020 Agathiyar gives further instructions to be followed. These practices shall take you further he said after he, through the Nadi, and Tavayogi guided me over the years. He told me that I shall come to know what is right and what went wrong. Both shall be lessons I learn. Whatever is initiated immediately and promptly shall bring on success. He says, "All this while you saw to your needs in this world. Now you shall undertake an internal journey. I shall relate what needs to be done to realize your purpose in coming here." He said I had stagnated. He continued, "You cannot possibly break the shackle alone. Hence follow the practices that I am to give you." நீ செய்தவையில் எது சரி தவறு என்று நீ கண்டறிவாய். அனைத்தும் உனக்குப் பாடம். குறித்த காலத்தில் நீ செய்த அனைத்தும் உமக்கு நன்மை தந்தது. இது நாள்வரை நீ கடந்து வந்தது இவ்வுலக வாழ்க்கையின் பயணம். இனி நீ கடக்க போவது உமது உள்பயணம். அதாவது நீ பிறந்ததின் நோக்கம் அறிவதற்கு நீ செய்யக்கூடிய வழிமுறைகள் யாம் கூற இருக்கிறோம். இதன் மூலம் உமது பிறவி பலனை அதன் நோக்கம் நீ அறிவாய். நீ உலக வாழ்க்கையில் நீர்தேங்கிறாய். இவ்கடிவாளத்தால் உம்மால் மீண்டு வர இயலாது. ஆகையால் யாம் சொல்லும் வழிமுறைகளைச் செய்து வா.

He said further, "Reduce your involvement in outside activities. Sit before me and meditate. During this moment carry out the cleansing breath as taught by your guru. Just the important ones. You shall sense a coolness within. Remain silent in these moments. Focus on your breath. Your breath shall touch the Sulimunai and swirl. Travel along your 7 chakras. That journey shall awaken your chakras. After travesing these chakras when it touches the seventh you shall know your purpose here. This is the right time to start this practice." வெளி உலக பயணம் சற்று குறைத்துக் கொள். தினமும் காலையில் குளித்து வெறும் வேஷ்டி அணிந்து என் முன் அமர்ந்து தியானம் செய்து வா. தியான முறையின் பொது உமது குரு கூறிய சுவாச சுத்திகரிப்பு பயிற்சியினை செய்து வா. அனைத்தும் வேண்டாம். மூல பயிற்சி மட்டும் போதும். அதை நீ செய்து வர உனக்குள் ஒரு தனி குளிர்ச்சி ஏற்படும். அந்நிலையில் நீ அமைதி கோல். உனது மூச்சில் கவனம் கோல். உமது மூச்சு உமது சுழிமுனை தோட்டு சூழும். உமது ஏழு சக்கரங்களில் பயணம் செய். அப்பயணம் உமது சக்கரங்கள் ஒவ்வொன்றாய் பூர்த்தி செய்யும். மூலாதாரம், ஸ்வாதிஷ்டானம், மணிபூரகம், அனாகதம், விசுத்தி, ஆக்கினையென ஏழாவது சக்கரம் தொடும் நிலையில் நீ உனது பிறவிக்கான பலனை அறிவாய். இத்தருணம் மான் மூச்சு குளத்தில் இருக்கிறது. அவை திறக்கும் தருணம் வந்தது. இப்பொழுதுதான் நீ உமது பயிற்சியினை தொடங்க வேண்டும். இந்நிலையில் அச்சக்கரம் முற்றும் திறந்து விடும். 

Agathiyar continued on the changes to be expected, "You shall witness many changes taking place within you. Do not fear. Due to the activation of the chakras your body shall emit foul smell. You shall have constipation. You shall urinate often. Take lots of warm water.  The Agathiyar Kuzhambu you took did help in expelling the 3 dosas. But there still is. It shall be expelled in due time. Carry out the said practice." உடலில் பல மாற்றங்கள் கண்டறிவாய். பயம் கொள்ள வேண்டாம். இச்சக்கரங்கள் புணர்ச்சியால் உன் உடலில் ஏற்படும் மாற்றங்கள், துர்நாற்றம் வீசும், மல சிக்கல் ஏற்படும், கழிவு ஆகும், சிறுநீர் அதிகம் வெளியேறும். வெந்நீர் அதிகம் அருந்து. அன்று நீ உண்ட குழம்பினாள் உன் உடலிலிருந்து வாத, பித்த, கபம் சற்றே அகன்றது. இன்னும் இருக்கிறது. அவை அகலும். இப்பயிற்சியினை மேற்கோள்.

Agathiyar enlightens us further. "When one starts the journey in going within, the result is Gnanam. But it shall vary among people. Hence I cannot say exactly what shall take place. All this while you have gained external knowledge or Ulaga Gnana. Now you shall gain Gnana that is going to serve you." ஒருவன் தனக்குள் உள்வாங்கி அவனுள் பயணம் துவங்கும் நேரம் அப்பயணம் தரும் பாதிப்பே ஞானம். அவை ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் மாற்றம் பெரும். ஆகையால் அவை நான் இதுதான் என்று சொல்ல இயலாது. நீ இதுவரையில் கண்ட ஞானம் உலக வாழ்க்கை ஞானம். இனி காணப்போவது உனக்கான ஞானம். 

He spoke about his devotees who frequent AVM. "Get those who keep coming over to AVM to sit in meditation. When their external thoughts leave them Gnanam shall dawn on them and they shall take up the path of Gnanam." தவறாமல் வருபவர்கள் கூற வேண்டும் என்றால் அவர்களை அமைதி காத்து தியானம் மேற்கொள்ளச் சொல். அவர்களின் எண்ணம் எப்போ அவர்களை விட்டு விலகுகிறது அப்போ அவர்கள் ஞானம் கைகூடி அவர்கள் ஞான பாதையில் அடி வைப்பார்கள்.

He answered my yearning to pull the shutters down. "You need not go into solitude now. You need to share many things with others. I shall tell you when is the right time to do so. Start this practice first. It shall lead you one further." இன்றைய கணம் நீ தனிமை படுத்திக்க வேண்டாம். நீ பகிர்வது இன்னும் சிலருக்கு தேவை படுகிறது. நான் சொல்லும் நேரம் நீ அதனைத் தொடங்கலாம். இப்பயிற்சியினை முதலில் மேற்கோள். அவை உன்னை வழிநடத்தும். 

He went on to ask me to prepare a concoction and reminded me that it was not to be shared with others. இவ்கமண்டலம் போல் ...... அந்நீர் உமக்கு மட்டுமே. யாரிடமும் பகிர வேண்டாம்.

"Sleep here in the prayer room from now on." உமது  படுகையினை இனி இவ்வறையில் வைத்துக்கொள். நீ படுக்கும் திசையில் உமது சிரசு என் நிலையை நோக்க உன்பாதம் அவ்வினை நோக்க வேண்டும். நீண்டிருக்க உமது வசதிக்கு ஏற்ப படுத்துக்கொள். 

I was overjoyed to hear that Vallal (Ramalinga Adigal) shall aid me too with my practice. "When you realize yourself completely and realize that everything around you is impermanent you shall stand apart from it all. That is to be motionless in all manner or Summa Eruppathu. To arrive at that state increase your Soul Power or gain Atma Balam." உமது பயிற்சியில் வள்ளலும் உமக்கு வழிநடுத்துவான். உன்னை நீ முழுதும் அறிந்து உன்னைச் சுற்றி இருக்கும் கணங்கள் அறிந்து எதுவும் நிலை அற்றது என்று நீ அறியும் அத்தருணம் வெளிக்குள் நீயே வெளி கடப்பாய். அத்தருணமே சும்மா இருப்பது. அது கிடைக்க உமது ஆத்ம பலத்தை நீ கூட்டிக்கொல். 

Agathiyar then throws in a word of caution. "Let go of your anger otherwise you shall not attain Gnanam because your anger in touching the chakras will weaken them. When in anger the blood shall intercept and change the motion of these chakras. When its motion changes the strength of your breath will diminish. Whatever your troubles, leave it to me.  Just carry out the breathing practices. Nothing else is necesary. When you reach the said state an energy or sakti shall enter you. That is Sulimunai." ஒன்று கவனம். இப்பயிற்சி உனது சினம் இறங்க வேண்டும். சினம் இருந்தால் உமக்கு ஞானம் கிட்டாது. ஏன் என்றால் உன் சினம் சிரசை தொட அச்சக்கரங்கள் பலம் இழந்து போகும். நீ சினம் கொள்ளும்போது உன்னை அறியாது உன் உடம்பில் இருக்கும் உதிரங்கள் அதன் சுழற்ச்சியினை மாற்றும். அச்சுழல்சியின் மாற்றங்கள் உமது சிரசின் மூச்சு காற்றின் சக்தி குறைந்து விடும். எதுவாகினும் எம்மிடம் விட்டு விடு. மூச்சு பயிற்சியின் மட்டும் மேற்கோள், மற்ற பயிற்சிகள் ஏதும் வேண்டாம். எனது நிலையை நீ தொடும்போது உன்னை அறியாது உன்னை நோக்கி ஒரு சக்தி உன்னுள் இறங்கும். அதுவே சுழிமுனை.

I remember how he gave me an hour-long lecture on Anger Management in the Nadi back in those days. I immediately knew my mother had reached out to him and he was conveying her worry as I was known to be an angry person.