THE LEARNING

After the calling from Agathiyar to come to the worship of the Siddhas in my very first Nadi reading in 2002, I was given a painting of Agathiyar by Sivabalan who brought in the Nadi readers from India, and a booklet containing a long list of names of Siddhas given by the Nadi reader. Senthilkumar passed me a leaflet announcing the building of an ashram/temple at Kallar by one Thaaiveedu Thangarasan M.A. At that juncture in time, I had no notion that Thaaiveedu Thangarasan M.A @ Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal who compiled and published this booklet was to become my guru later. This was followed by a small puja or prayer conducted by the Nadi reader Senthilkumar as Agathiyar instructed in the Nadi. I was to pay homage to the Siddhas for first documenting my life, the past, present, and future, and for revealing it. Senthilkumar recited the names of the Siddhas as I placed flowers at the feet of the paintings of Siddhas at Sivabalan's altar. 

I began the worship of the Siddhas in my home the same day with the tools given to me. Wanting to know more about the Siddhas I sought out the establishments and movements associated with them. I opted to carry out my home puja rather than join the puja hosted by them at their centers. The following year brought me to India to carry out the remedies given by Agathiyar in the Nadi reading. On the last leg of my pilgrimage, I met Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai. He initiated with a Siva mantra and took me as his sole disciple. Till then I did not know where or when I would meet my guru as Agathiyar had foretold in my Nadi reading. I had not mentioned to him that Agathiyar in my first reading told me that I would meet my guru which was then. But he somehow knew the contents of my Nadi reading. A wonderful relationship between Guru and Disciple flourished till his passing on 7 February 2007.

In 2005 I made an appointment with the host who brought over Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal to Malaysia to officiate his Peedham. I told him Agathiyar had called me to worship the Siddhas in the Nadi. He was delighted and told me that I had come to the right place. He asked that I read the Gnana Kaandam of the Nadi and showed me to Nadi reader T.Ramesh who was in Malaysia then. I had not mentioned to Tavayogi that Agathiyar in my first reading told me he would see me again 3 years later which was then, until then. But he surprisingly asked that I see the Gnana Kaandam that I had read in my first reading again. 

In that reading, Agathiyar surprisingly asked that I get initiated by Tavayogi again. This surprised both Tavayogi and me since he had initiated me and my wife the day I met him bringing my wife along later in the evening as he requested. But he fulfilled Agathiyar's asking. There was a turning point in my life. The Nadi reading got erased mysteriously after I had the initiation again just as the tape-recorded message outlining the latest task for the Impossible Missions Force in "Mission Impossible" to tackle self-destructs. In a re-reading a day later, rather than have me patronize the local Peedham as Tavayogi requested earlier, Agathiyar linked me up directly to Tavayogi and his Kallar Ashram removing the need for another intermediary level. Hence started another wonderful relationship between Guru and Disciple that flourished till his passing on 3 July 2018.

What have we learned to date traveling the Siddha path with our gurus? We learned to conduct Siddha puja which includes chanting the initiation mantra and reciting the names of the Siddhas which served as a bridge that connected us with the Siddhas and the deities. We learned to conduct the Homam which was a lifeline for people in dire need and a portal for our offerings to reach the realm of the Siddhas and other deities. We learned the importance of lighting oil lamps that were a portal for the Siddhas and deities to descend. We learned to do abhisegam after Agathiyar came in the form of a bronze statue that cooled both Agathiyar and Mother Earth. All these rituals were extended to the temples too with the grace and blessings of the Siddhas where we were given the privilege to carry them out. We learned to give to others through the numerous charity programs that we conducted which brought out our love and compassion toward others. We learned Yoga officially from Tavayogi and Acharya Gurudasan which enhanced our health and prana. We became budding singers and lyricists for an audio album for Agathiyar titled "Agathiyar Geetham" after polishing our skills singing the songs of praise to the Siddhas. We learned about the abodes and caves of the Siddhas that were revealed to us through our gurus and Agathiyar in the Nadi and visited them. We learned about the benefits of healing as in Varma and Energy healing and were healed. We learned to be with nature and tap her pranic energy through outings in nature. As they say, pictures tell a thousand stories, just imagine how much more videos could say. Let these videos say our story.

 

After having us go through the above phases of discovering the path, the method, and the ways of the Siddhas, Agathiyar brought everything to a halt three months before the virus appeared in Wuhan, China. During this time we adhered to his directive to go within. The pandemic made it conducive as we could not go out during several phases of lockdowns. We did puja confined to the home and the family. Lord Shiva asked to do the Homam together with the recitation of the Mrityunjaya and Dhanvantri Mantras. 

As soon as we came out of the pandemic and moved into the endemic phase Agathiyar took up the invitation from a devotee to visit his home. Subsequently, another three devotees called him over too. Puja, abhisegam, and Homam were carried out. As for the present moment, a friend from Kerala describes beautifully the situation that we both are in.

"This is a peculiar phase for me.. lost many things. But didn't gain any. . Lost many interests and momentum. But gained nothing I think...  Like, waiting for god, I must be waiting for God (to do something). Some works do come up. Then Manipulating and playing with people's brains to bring them to Nadi center etc that too I do .. other than that am just lazing around. From childhood itself, I couldn't exist without reading. After Nadi, it became spiritual books only. But now, that's also gone... what next ... only appa knows."

When I told her that I too was going through the same phase, she replied, 

"It's so encouraging for me!! That I'm not alone.. sometimes I think like, _ am I disappointing appa. He's doing so much and I just take it all for granted. Then someone will ask something related to him or god or Nadi or life and there you're watching the lady arising from the ashes and talking non-stop. Then,  repeat the lazing around life"

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE

When most other paths are frozen in ice with sacred texts that are not to be questioned, the Siddha path is dynamic and fluid. When Tavayogi used to tell his audience to ask and to question, I realize now what he meant was to question the Siddha text. But people placed all sorts of personal questions before him except those related to their text. Like a river that flows and makes its way to the sea, the Siddha path too is pliable according to the lives and times of its followers. It is easily adaptable. It accommodates changes. The Siddha path is not a faith to be followed blindly. That is the reason Tavayogi did not lay rules and conditions. We were given ample freedom to practice it in whatsoever way that was comfortable to us. There is no hard and fast rule, no doctrine, codes of practice, etc. The practices he gave were merely a means to an end and could be dropped once proficiency in it was achieved and its results are seen. We were told to never be caught in the method and the way and never stagnate but to progress along the way as the river does. To ensure this they kept us on our feet giving us new tasks and practices. If Tavayogi chose to become a mendicant he did not lay the same rule on us. On the contrary, he asked me to bring my family into the fold too. Agathiyar too has on numerous occasions told us to reach him bringing the family along. 

When I drove Tavayogi to officiate an affiliate Peedham of his at a home of an individual who had gathered some 20 people for the purpose, Tavayogi told me to speak about the Siddhas. I told him how could I as I was new to the path too. But he cornered me to speak by announcing that I shall speak about them. When I told him that I had taken down the websites and the YouTube channel, he told me to let it be as people will benefit from it. When I thought of calling it a day and bringing the shutters down I received messages and emails from my readers and viewers telling me how they had benefited from reading and watching my post and videos. Agathiyar too has constantly told me to continue writing.

I am grateful to them. It is nice to know that you are wanted. They acknowledge your existence. They showed us a tiny part of their world and their practices, asking us to travel with them and put them into practice. We are grateful to be given a part in spreading the word and sharing our experiences. I guess this is my purpose here. For others, it might be something else. Find out and fulfill your purpose in coming here. Then you can return satisfied that you had done your job. 

NO COMMENT

Siddha and Samadhi are two words that are too common these days. There is much talk and coverage about them. Almost everyone equips himself with a camera and goes looking for one. The Tv networks are cashing in viewership ratings by airing anything that smells of Siddhas as if they were a commodity.

This too is a blog on the Siddhas. But I began to write on my own search for the Siddhas and not for any network or as a hobby or just to compete or close ranks with others. Neither did I fill my YouTube channel with footage of every Tom, Dick, and Harry who adorns the garb of a Siddha. I carried news and videos on our activities and visits. We did not dispense any teachings or doctrines. We shared what was told to us by the Siddhas and our gurus. Nothing more. 

What originally started as a documentation of my journey to India to carry out remedies, soon turned to write about my experiences in reading the Nadi. This was to counter the adverse views that many had about the Siddhas Nadi. I wanted to correct the prevailing negative views by explaining that it worked for me in my favor. Soon I began to share the wonderful moments I spent with my gurus Supramania Swami and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal. I shared the puja and charity events we carried out on the instructions of our gurus and the Siddhas. This was all we wrote, spoke, and showed. We were strictly told by Agathiyar in the Nadi to uphold the truth and behave in a manner that brings honor and respect to both us and them. He told me at the very beginning of my journey itself that "நீ பெருமையுடன் வாழ்ந்தால் நான் பெருமையுடன் வாழ்வேன்" which means my lifestyle will reflect on him. In speaking about them and worshipping them, we become emissaries of them. So there is a need to take extra care and go that extra mile to ensure that their prestige and honor are safeguarded and that we don't do damage to their name.

In calling us to his path Agathiyar sent Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal to guide us further. He had several upagurus come by at the right moment to teach or show us a thing or two. He stood by us watching us closely and had Lord Murugan occasionally check on us too. He had Ramalinga Adigal, Thirumular, Bhogar, Kagabujandar, Patanjali, Sugabrahmar and Bhrigu come by either in the Nadi and or speak to us through devotees. Such was his concern and care for us. Similarly, he expected us to do justice to their work. They would give us tasks as we traveled with them. They would monitor us and acknowledge our efforts. These Nadi readings kept us going. The guru kept us going. The miracles they showed us kept us going. Today we stand before them with pride just as they had wanted us to live with pride that we are the children of the Siddhas. So how can I leave my family and kin? How can I move into the streets? How can I beg for food? That is not what they desired for us. They don't even want us to serve them forever as an obedient servant and slave. They want us to move up the ranks and become their buddies and friend. Eventually, they want us to become one of them. They want us to join their ranks. We are trying our best to catch up with him. We are still travelers on the path. We don't know if we can complete the journey or drop out. We don't know if age and disease or illness catch up with us before we reach the finishing line. Most likely we would have to come back several times to work on it as Supramania Swami says we shall polish and keep polishing till it shines and Tavayogi says we will keep coming back till we get it right.

Writing this blog is a task that Agathiyar has given me. Even as I deactivated the blog and the YouTube channel, Tavayogi requested to let it be for someone shall benefit from it. Agathiyar keeps telling me to write. While he gives me the subject, the words, and sentences, I just type them in. I am surprised to read many of these posts later wondering if I had written them. Nay, it was him. That is the reason it sounds alien to me too. I am learning too by reading them. Reading it for myself I too wish I could follow whatever is written on these pages. I try to live by their conduct and wants. But it surely is difficult to upkeep their teachings, especially in these current times and in this society. I wish I could start a commune with like-minded devotees of Agathiyar living together. They could go to work and return home to this community. It would be so conducive for our worship and practice. We could gather and sing the praise of Agathiyar. Just imagine the air and the vibrancy that would prevail there. Osho's followers have done that in Oregon. My daughter asked me won't that become a cult then? As it is, it is tough living in a diverse society and trying to find peace and calm. No wonder the monks headed for the monasteries. The serene and peace that fills the monasteries is a privilege that we yearn for. Watching the documentary "India From Above", we are introduced to Mahant Bharatdas Darshandas, a 69-year-old priest of a temple that is "the only visible sign of human habitation for miles around" in Gir, Gujarat. He stays alone away from society "with only the wildlife as company." "His social interaction is limited to a house help and the occasional devotees who visit his forest temple bearing gifts. The priest's solitary is broken once every five years as he goes to vote."

The word Samadhi that is "Sama" with "Adhi" or merging with the source too has lost its sacredness. Looking around us we find gurus claiming to go into samadhi or their disciples making such a claim. Does samadhi happen after death? Should not it be achieved while living. Similarly we watch the Sivapuranam sung at funerals. Was that the intent of Manickavasagar? Aren't we suppose to sing and achieve the state of Sivagathi while still alive? Yoga to is taught freely skipping the need to worship the Siddhas. Just as we need to give a token as Guru Dhakshan after reading the Nadi, showing our gratefulness to the Siddhas for having written and revealing our fate and destiny, we need to thank them for any practice or teaching given or passed on to us. This can be in the form of a token of appreciation or puja or worship.

Before we engage with the Siddhas we need to respect the lesser deities in the pantheon of Hindu Gods and Goddesses too for they are guardians and angels of both man and the Siddhas. Before we venture into the jungles seeking the abodes of the Siddhas we need to show our respect to these deities for we are entering their realm. Brush it off as superstitions but we have seen the outcome of showing disrespect to them and their abodes. 

Hinduism a name given to Sanatana Dharma is a complex web of belief and faith strengthened by worship and rituals that has been kept alive for ages. No wonder it is considered the longest surviving religion. As it is closely related to nature hence we see its followers engaged in worshipping stones, trees, reptiles, birds, animals, etc. The logical mind shall tend to brush it off as hocus-pocus but you have to be an ardent believer and follower to understand and follow its rituals and ways.

THE MASTER PLAN

If Christy Beam wrote in her memoir, "Miracles from Heaven", "Standing in the light of all he's given us, in the light of all that's happened I can't not tell you our story", Neale Donald Walsch writes about his conversation with God that "I could have kept this latest dialogue private but everything within me shouted, don't you dare." He felt that he should share keeping a promise to God. Agathiyar too has kept me going by sharing his messages that come in multiple ways with those who chose to believe, read and continue reading this blog. The orthodox might tell us not to share our spiritual experiences, but what use would it be if I too kept it under wraps and bring it to my grave? Geetha Anand tells me that she was "privileged to be Agatthiyar Aiya's tool" when I told her that she was a catalyst and had kindled interest among seekers in Spain and Brazil to take up the path of the Siddhas after reading her numerous translations of the Siddha text.

"The Meijnana kaviyam that Amma initiated me to translate has opened the doors for so many souls with genuine thirst. Ashram Vettaveli in Spain brought out the publication... I was blessed to work on two more compositions, Saumya Sagaram (500 out of 1200 songs), Agatthiyar Antharangadeeksha vidhi. They have published these also. Agatthiyar has brought a big interest in Brazil. Around 50 students are learning about Tamil Siddhas, Agatthiyar and his compositions with Sri Sakti Sumanan.

When God works through man, he then has access to all the wisdom, information, tools, and method. As Neale says "As we are one with God we do have the ability to create alternate endings to any story", mankind working in unison with the divine forces can bring forth a favorable outcome. The pandemic is a classic example, where the the scientists, the frontliners, right to the public worked towards a favorable solution.

So it seems like we can indeed select the end to our story as we do in the Role Playing Games. Indeed life is a role-playing game too for us. Imagine the different number of roles we play each day. Imagine the different number of face masks we adorn each moment. Imagine the different number of tools we pick for our task. I do not remember my beginning. What I remember is the few years of life on this planet. Even those memories fade with time. I definitely cannot know the future. What I only have on hand to work with is the present. In making the present pleasant I guess the future will take care of itself as Tavayogi points out.

I use to tell Agathiyar "நீங்க இருக்கீங்க, ஆனால் அப்ப அப்ப கண்டுக்காம இருக்கீங்க". He is here with us but most of the time he looks the other way. Imagine if he was to monitor us 24/7 or breathe down our neck, we would be so tense that we shall ask him to leave, right? He only comes to the aid of those who have truly given up or in other words totally surrendered. Until we give up and surrender he only looks on for we are still in control of the steering or holding on to the mouse. It is only when we leave the scene that he moves in to do his magic. I remember the music director for our album "Agathiyar Geetham", Jey Raggaveindra telling me the story of how Agathiyar through his son completed the missing pieces to one of the songs from the album after in frustration he left to take a short break. Apparently, he took back this piece to his home to work on it further rather than try to finish it at his studio. In his absence, his 2-year-old son came down and fiddled with the piece and bravo what do you know! He completed the missing pieces that Jey was looking for!

Karma only has a hold as long as we believe we are in charge. Karma erodes the moment we accept that it's all God's doing and surrender to him. In acceptance, we surrender. Acceptance ends all suffering. Acceptance makes us accommodate everything. Acceptance makes us humble and lose our ego. By letting go a whole new set of experiences is given anew. A new dawn and an awakening then takes place. In "Conversation with God Book 4 - "Awaken the Species" Neale writes that God tells him that "Even when faced with death, accepting death removes the fear of it for death too is an ongoing evolutionary process." To the woman who came to Buddha to ask him to revive her child Buddha taught her that death cannot be evaded by asking her to seek alms from only homes that have never seen death take place. She found none. 

When the Siddhas speak of karma both personal and collective; when they share their grieving, watching man deviates from the path of righteousness, bringing about his downfall, and bringing onto him untold miseries; they use a chosen few as a tool to forewarn humanity before they throw in the towel and let natures law take its cause. The pandemic that we lived through if it was a result of collective karma, a price we paid for our negligence and arrogance, going by a Nadi reading shared with me in July, the most compassionate Siddhas did not let us down but told us that they are watching it closely doing their best to help contain it in the ways they know.

After 10 years since his last conversation and book, Neale sat down to bring the train of dialogue he had with God in CWG Book 4. As Neale shares his sadness as to what was going around, telling God that "it feels like we're becoming less civil, less tolerant, less capable of controlling our indulgences, .." rolling out the current state of affairs, God asked him to pass on His third and final invitation, assuring him that there is nothing to worry about if he does what he was inwardly called to do. God gives him hope that we can actually "change things rather dramatically and tells him and reminds us too that this is both the perfect time to begin making these alterations and the perfect time for advancement. Our mission now is to awaken the species." But before that, we need to be awakened first. As God told Neale that "the fastest way to awaken more quickly was to be the cause of someone else's awakening", Agathiyar told us among the list of merits that come down to us as a result of our actions which were the worship of God and serving the guru; and performing charity and feeding the hungry; the most appreciated of the deeds was to spread the words and messages of the masters. We can revel in joy at having performed rituals to the command of our gurus; at having performed charity to the needy, feeding them and appeasing their hunger; and in bringing together devotees and those seeking to come to the fold of the Siddhas through these events. We are glad and proud that we have done our share, a small part towards the upliftment of humanity and all of God's creation. Everything is done for the growth of the spirit and soul. When people asked Yogi Ramsuratkumar why India had so many beggars the Yogi simply answered that India needed beggars. Do not despise them. They are placed there for our benefit. They provide us an avenue, allowing us opportunities to serve them. We gain these much-needed experiences that build on compassion in us. If only we could add love as an ingredient in all our dealings we have served and lived well, completing our purpose for taking birth.

Lay aside all the rational, logical thoughts and reasoning that come in the way preventing us from extending our arms to provide aid and do charity, says Agathiyar. By the simple act of feeding the unfortunate, the act itself trains us to see the spirit and soul that resides in the hungry and the poor. These people could be angels waiting to help us expedite the washing away of our karma. Know that he who comes to us for help or assistance, food or drink, or asking for other forms of aid neither with bonds attached nor a deal, could in fact be an angel seeking to help us rid or lessen our baggage of karma. Doing charity elevates us and elevates the other too. Showing kindness brings joy to both. Feeding another brings immense joy to both too. Bring the ecstasy of god into you. Touch all those who come into your lives with love. Be the light for those who live in the dark. Be the eyes of those who have lost their sight. Be the limp for those who have lost it.

If consciousness creates our experiences, collective consciousness creates the environment and the resulting experience for us. Thoughts are powerful indeed. And collective thoughts and prayers do deliver, doing wonders. When we come together and pray for a better world, a good leader arises to fulfill our wishes. An avatar might arise too. The collective yearning of souls seeking the teachings of the Siddhas brings forth a guru. Tavayogi desired to spread the teachings of the Siddhas. The Siddhas then came to his aid, providing the fertile ground, and prepared the seekers and aspirants on this path ahead so that he could sow the seed of knowledge in them. When we come together and put forth a righteous desire, consciousness moves accordingly and delivers our wish. Just as we have asked for the desired change to happen, similarly, if injustice or atrocities take place, we have allowed it to happen too. We have to remind ourselves that it is we who allow a saint or demon to materialize.

Life is just a process do not get caught up in the process but move on. Everybody is here to bring us an experience be it bitter or sweet. Here then is an opportunity for us to bring out the noble attitudes in us, like giving, sharing, showing kindness, being creative, gentle, patient, helpful, friendly, considerate, forgiving, compassionate, and loving. Just as the young soul sought to experience forgiving, many opportunities are created every moment of our lives so that we can bring out these values and experience the joy derived thereafter. During the course of cruising through life and what it has to offer, it would be desirable to see even the opponent as an angel, for it could be an angel come down to give us an experience, though bitter, and see how we would handle the situation. As Neale wrote in his "Conversations with God", learn to heal the hurt of others; quell the anxieties of the fearful; meet the needs of the impoverished; celebrate the magnificence of the accomplished, and see the vision of god in all. Eventually when we are spiritually matured and when we learn to see all things as unreal, an illusion or maya there would be no real suffering or real pain. That was what Agathiyar told me when he brushed aside the physical agony and intense pain that ran through my body, that had crippled me, limiting my movements and affecting the mobility that I went through for 2 1/2 years back then in 2011. When we come to know the impermanence of life and nature we come to a total understanding of all that is going on around us. Nature teaches us the impermanence of things if only we chose to look around. Everything is changing each instant, each moment, and each second. The path is also the destination, evolving and changing moment to moment. It is akin to carrying a mat rolled up and laying it along as we take each step. It is not something laid out in advance for us to walk on. It is we who determine our experiences. It is we who attract the company. Since it is we who asked for it, we are given the tools and company to experience it. Prapanjam comes to our aid and reveals itself, reveals its workings. Realize that the moment is pretty alive and full of joy and discovery.

We cannot certainly run away from illness but we sure can have the spirit in us heal us besides the medical attention given and the prayers put forward. God would not intervene in our lives unless we sent out an SOS, a prayer, or asked him for assistance. This healing begins with bringing the spirit of god within through constant prayers and service. In a classic case among many, Agathiyar saved a devotee from death by giving him his breath, bringing him out of his coma, and doing a wonder miracle where new arteries developed avoiding the need for further surgery. All he asked was that devotees gather and pray for the soul, which they did. Prayers and service then serve as a balm to the spirit and body. Agathiyar too mentions that the spirit has to be strengthened; we need to achieve Atma Balam.

The spirit having gods essence in it and being the medium that communicates with god takes charge of the mind and body. Having god come unto us, he then fulfills all our righteous desires too. The divine then works through us. He equips and prepares us to do his job. His knowledge pours into us so as to enable us to carry out his will. As an extension of this, we begin to see the light in god; we begin to see the light in us and we begin to see the light in others too. We begin to realize that all paths are precious and important. They are there and serve those who come along. As Betty says, very special people were placed all over the earth in all faiths so that they may touch the lives of others too, we need to join this category.

There is intelligence behind everything. This intelligence submits itself to god. Having taken a material body that is constantly in conflict with the spirit, the purpose now is to find harmony between the two. A strong spirit keeps both the body and mind under surveillance and control. The spirit in turn is governed by love. If only we could add love as an ingredient in all our dealings we have served and lived well, completing our purpose for taking birth.

Nobody can fathom or understand the play of god. But there is a reason for everything to take place. Acceptance is the key to surfing and sailing through this life. See everything that takes place positively. Each experience bitter or otherwise helps us grow spiritually. The soul that separated itself from its source, in need and in search of experiences, came down to earth. This is something we wanted in the past. While we came to learn new things, we also came to apply what we had learned earlier. Rather than cry out that we cannot take it any longer in the face of trial and tribulation and extreme tests, convert that sorrow into something productive, something useful, that would be of help or use to another. This would be our greatest triumph.

It seems like in addressing these calamities, the Siddhas only reveal a solution that saves our skins and not the world at large. Why are they indifferent to the happenings going around us, we might ask? Or are they concerned and working on it without our knowledge? When the tsunami of 2004 hit the shores of many nations and excessive rainfall did much damage in Ooty, Tavayogi took to modify the annual Yagam he had been carrying in conjunction with the Annual Jayanthi of Agathiyar at Kallar Ashram before 2004, expanding its purpose to include Sarva Dosa Nivaarana Maha Yagam. He had me carry out a smaller version of the Yagam, the Homam in my home on the same day and time taking into consideration the time difference between India and Malaysia. Agathiyar in wanting me to carry on the Homam that was initiated by Tavayogi at my home changed my perspective of the ritual. He told me that I was not doing it for myself but for the good of the world (உலக ஷேமம்). Only then could I accept and continue the tasks given. That was a purpose given to me too I understood later. When we have governments, NGOs, charitable organizations, and concerned citizens going to the ground to alleviate the sufferings of people, we do hear about saints in deep meditation praying for the well-being of society, mankind, and the world without moving a finger or moving places. 

Why is it that it is only now that we can associate with the dialogues, conversations, songs, or pleadings of the saints asking for forgiveness and salvation? It is because we got connected with them and their work. If previously they were just devotional songs to us, with the experience we see a similarity in our lives. God's message out of compassion, is always not for their individual self but for all of humanity. Their compassion towards all beings goes beyond words. Ramalinga Adigal's compassion went beyond the human race, the animal kingdom reaching the plant kingdom as he was saddened to see the plants wilt.

One who misuses his freedom and choices given and ends up harming others himself ends up having to be removed from society and put away, caged, or jailed. Imagine then what they are missing.

Simon Reeve visits inmates convicted when they were juveniles, some as young as 16, serving life sentences at a maximum-security prison in his show on "BBC Earth - North America with Simon Reeve." The prison authorities devise and initiate a mobile platform that gave the inmates everything that they have missed out on by putting them in virtual reality to simulate life situations on the outside. A convict talks about the benefit of the program, telling Simon that "I haven't seen the inside of a restaurant for so long. ... supermarket ... there are so many choices .. kind of overwhelming outside the prison walls. I have the chance to see myself in a virtual setting." "The program," says Simon, "prepares these convicts for a life on the outside that will make it possible for them someday to step out of the gate." I was reminded again to be grateful for being a free person. We ought to be grateful at this juncture that we are at liberty to travel free and far although the Covid pandemic has come to hinder much of our movement.

What is the price or value of freedom? We shall never know until... we lose it. The prisoner of war shall know its value. One counting his days to the gallows will know. We have taken freedom for granted. Treasure your freedom. The pandemic has to a large extent curtailed this freedom. The past year of restricted movement has placed a massive amount of stress on many. Being a pensioner, I too can feel the heat of seeing family, friends, and others battle with their lives, fearing for their lives, having lost income and jobs, and having to stomach more losses in many more ways. Pollution in major cities, and the pandemic that has forced us to wear facial masks outdoors remind us to cherish the gift of air. Similarly, life-sustaining waterways are equally polluted these days. Many have only a vague memory of the richness and goodness of clean healthy air and water that prevailed once upon a time. Clean air and water are a thing of the past.

Just as the heroes come to our aid in time of need in the comics and movies, we have real-life heroes doing their share and giving back to the community.

The StarMetro carried a story of a young 27-year-old individual who turned a capsule hotel into the Care Shelter Kuala Lumpur. "Adzarul Buqary Abu Bakar says the shelter gave the homeless an alternative place to stay compared to the ones run by the government authorities." It is great to know that the CIMB Foundation has come forward to fund its monthly expenses.

Sahaana Sankar writes on Hand in Hand India at https://www.ourbetterworld.org/, which "focuses on poverty alleviation through an integrated approach." They too start them young. "In line with this, we work with school children to train their mindsets towards sustainable decisions, keeping in mind their impact on the environment."

Just like them, there are many other individuals doing their small part to alleviate the sufferings of others as also organizations and societies that have a further reach and resources. Let us do our part in this major plan and play of his.

ELEMENTS - THE UNSUNG HEROES

In trying to understand why we suffer, we are pointed to each individual's karma. They tell us that we had brought it on ourselves by our past actions. We are to either go through it or find ways to overcome or rid of it if we choose so. Our past actions that gained merit too are a reason to be born again to reap the rewards in this life. We are told that vasanas or unfulfilled desires too are carried from previous births, another reason for our birth. Lately, we were shocked when Agathiyar told a couple that their karma was carried forward from previous Yugas! It looks like karma transcends time and space too. Then there are the curses that we brought onto ourselves from our past actions. I was one.

Neale Donald Walsch says that since the souls had a wish to experience emotions, they took birth. Neale who wrote a children's parable titled "The Little Soul and the Sun", adapted from his book 1 in the series "Conversations with God" (CWG), brings the essence and the message of life before birth, to the kids, in simple terms, which serves us equally well too. A story is narrated of a young soul who knew he was light but wanted to experience it. So he is given a choice to pick the desired action that he would like to do, from a list of many, once he is on earth. He chooses the act of forgiving. Another soul immediately steps up to join the soul in fulfilling its wish by being the perpetrator so that the young soul can then forgive him. They both come down to earth to live out their desire. As Neale wrote, knowing who we are was not enough; we needed to become "it". This desire triggers a chain of events, a learning process takes place and several experiences are recorded, whereby the soul becomes enriched through these experiences. We, being light in essence, for want of experiencing it, had darkness and all opposites created for us. As all the souls are perfect, many wanted and volunteered to come down to help us gain the experience. Thus we had all known each other earlier. We had planned to be together here. Those who needed a particular experience chose to come early while others remained behind to join later.

Fine we understand and accept and find ways to wipe away the karma that followed us. We attempt to "remove the stigma from one or other antisocial activity that multiplies until it becomes the norm that harms us and society." Agathiyar too gives us remedies through his Nadi readings after highlighting our past karma. So I leave to carry out these remedies accordingly. I believe my debt is settled. But how do you explain mass destruction as in forest fires, hurricanes and tornadoes, tsunamis, the pandemic, ethnic cleansing and mass migration, and wars and battles that come to affect us and the world at large? As we are part of this world anything happening elsewhere else will have a consequence on us too eventually right?

As Simon Reeve in the BBC series, "Incredible Journeys with Simon Reeve" who brings us to dangerous and life-threatening places and countries, in speaking about refugees fleeing conflict or persecution, says "I think we often talk about migration based on relatively selfish pros and cons. Are immigrants good or bad for us is often the tone? Very rarely do I hear people on the left or right of politics talking about the consequences for poor countries of millions of people hopping and leaving. When I go to those places and talk to people there, who often feel that they have been left behind, they complain about western countries pinching and poaching their university-educated through complicated immigration quotas. They think of it as being a brain drain often. I can understand why individuals leave, of course, I can. But collectively I do feel the consequences of mass migration can sometimes be countries that struggle to stand on their own two feet."

As he says we can understand if individuals chose to leave for better pasture or for other reasons, but how do we explain the exodus of people in large numbers from war or poverty-afflicted regions or places where Mother Nature herself has wiped out life and livelihood? Whose karma is it? Is there then such a thing as collective karma? So is there such thing as collective karma where the good too dies with the bad? If we believe that we are all buddhas and that we carry the light that is God within us, then whatever good or bad that comes to us is felt by others too provided they are receptive enough. Similarly whatever sufferings others undergo is felt by us. Neale says that God in addressing him is addressing others too. It is not him as a singular who has this conversation with God but rather all of us in the plural.  In "Conversation with God - Book 4", God tells him "An awakened species sees the unity of all life and lives into it." They know "experientially that there is only one thing and all things are part of the one. Because they exist in another dimension they can view the sub-molecular structure of all things. They observe that there is only one energy in the universe that is the source and force that mixes up the foundational elements of which it is comprised, adding and subtracting, creating all things in existence through alchemy, hence altering the vibrational frequency of these variously combined elements to generate differing expressions of the essential essence." We learn that "the elements are both conscious and make choices", in other words as Neale puts it, "consciousness exists at the elemental level." Could this be the reason why early man and even some remote civilizations today still pay respect and homage and worshipped nature and everything around them, both living and dead, solid or liquid, seen and unseen? Agathiyar is said to have fed "elements" in keeping creation or prapanjam alive. Could these elements be the Buthas or பூதம் that is said to reside and live in and of us?

From https://blog.good-will.ch/WordPress/2010/10/23/rishi-agastya-a-little-miracle-and-some-stories/ we read rather quite an interesting piece of information about how Agathiyar fed these elements by serving people food. 

"Last week I came across a transcription of a seminar given by Sri Kumar in the Nilagiri Hills in 1996 about Agastya, Master Jupiter. ..... (He) is often traveling with his disciples and loves to cook and serve. Through serving food he likes to spread himself into the people and thus adjust any imbalances in the mental, emotional, and physical bodies."

In Agathiyar's revelation to Dr. VM Jayapalan during his meditation, he spoke about the origin of his first temple at Agasthiyampalli. This temple of Agathiyar in Agasthiyampalli Vedaranyam is the first temple built in this Kali Yuga for Agathiyar by an Asura King who together with his subjects went hungry and had his karma removed as the dreaded leprosy cured after being fed and through chanting Agathiyar's Nama Japa AUM AGATHEESAAYA NAMA. This story was released by the Dr. as an audio CD entitled "Agathiyar Thiruvilaiyadal." I thank Dr. V.M. Jayapalan for permission to use portions of the narration. 

The first civilization at the beginning of the age of Kali or Kali Yuga started in a part of the world which was to become Kubera Nadu later, with the birth of a child who would later become its king. The Asuras were glad that one from their clan was chosen to take birth and lead the nation and celebrated the occasion. The child was born with Asuric nature (evil tendencies) though. He was blessed and groomed by the leader of the Asuras, Sukracharya. There were temples and places of worship and the main deity was their Guru Sukracharya. Only his name was chanted and heard in this kingdom. Those who defied the rule were put to death. The kingdom was blessed with riches. But evil took shape in this nation and as a consequence, the people had to face 12 years of drought and famine.

Then a man riddled with leprosy appears one day at the doorstep of the king's palace asking to see the king. The minister meets him and tries to shoo him away but the old man is adamant that he meets the king to convey his message personally. He is eventually led to the king. The old man offers food to the king. The king ridicules him and drives him away. But the man before leaving, says that in the event there arises a need for food, the king is invited to his humble hut on the outskirts of the kingdom. Just as he had predicted, the king develops hunger pangs that no amount of food could satisfy. His guru Sukracharya then directs his disciple, the king to the old man. Only the old man can satisfy his hunger, he is told by his guru.

Upon arriving at the old man's hut in disguise, the king sees his citizens being fed by him. The only condition he laid was that they chant the name of Agathiyar. For each chant, they were given a morsel of food. He sees his subjects now chanting Agathiyar's name and not that of Sukracharya. He sits amongst his subjects and watches the prayers where his subjects join in. This was soon to become the first sessions of Kutu Prathanai or joint prayers that we have come to adopt now. Then something happens. The king takes on the dreaded disease, leprosy from the old man while the old man turns into a young, hale, and healthy being. He feeds the hideous king as the king sings the praise of Agathiyar. The disease together with his karma leaves the body of the king and stands aloft in an Asuric form. The king is surprised to learn that he had carried that much karma with him which was now mocking him in the Asuric form. He turns into a divine being. Agathiyar grants him moksha. To show his gratitude the king builds the very first temple for Agathiyar in his kingdom, Kubera Naadu which later came to be known as Vada Naadu and in present times is known as Vedaranyam. Over the years, a devotee of Agathiyar settled at this temple and cared for Agathiyar. The then Chozha king a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva tried to oust the Agathiyar's devotees from the temple after having debated on who was more superior: Lord Shiva or Agathiyar. To prove to the king that they were one, Lord Shiva and Agathiyar appeared together to the Chozha king at this temple of Agathiyar.

Agathiyar in the Nadi, had asked me to come over to his temple at Agasthiyampalli. On my second pilgrimage to India in 2005, I included Agasthiyampalli on my itinerary. I had mentioned to Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Agathiyar's directive and my wish to be there and he happily agreed to take me there. There he startled me by opening his left eye in the granite statue of his just like he had told me in the Nadi that he would. In 2009 he had me commission a bronze replica of this statue at Agasthiyampalli and worship in my home. In 2013, he opened both his eyes in this statue at my home during Jnana Jothiamma's visit.

In the scriptures, there is the story that once a group of disciples in the Himalayas had the question of who is the one fasting most, and Maitreya told them, “It is Agastya, he never eats.” They wanted to see Agastya and went to him. Agastya said: "Observe me for three days.” They were very surprised to see him cooking, eating, and serving. He was not missing any meal, and every meal was from our standpoint very excessive in its quantity. After three days the group asked: "We have not understood your way of fasting.” He answered: "In so far as you don’t feel that you are eating, it is fasting.” He does not think he is eating. He lives in tune with the universal consciousness and in such a tune-up the food is given to all the elementals around him with himself as the channel."

In CWG we learn further that "the elemental level is consciousness in action. Every cell in our body acts with intelligence or awareness of its inherent function." Similarly "every element of the universe is imbued with this foundational intelligence. Every ounce of this life be it the cell, the particle, or the sub-molecular element, is embued with foundational intelligence. The element itself is this intelligence in particle form." Amazing. This explains the secret of nature and the body in healing itself.

We see a relationship between the story Agathiyar told to Dr. V.N.Jayapalan and what we read in the blog "Circle of Good Will" with what Agathiyar told my wife recently. Agathiyar recently in asking my wife to serve him food daily, told her that while it was food for him, it was medicine for us. Just as the Yagam and Homam we conduct have far-reaching results the food offered to the deities too comes back to us as prasad and blessings. Now we understand that whatever rituals carried out to the gods in the temples are not hocus-pocus but have a deeper meaning to them. 

Just as we feed ourselves, we came to learn that the lighting of the sacred fire or Yagam or its smaller version the Homam too is said to feed and appease the Gods and Goddesses and all the beings of the other realms and worlds. We are told that however devastating a wildfire could be to man, forest fires are surprisingly compared with a Yagam. Is it then nature's (the general realm of living plants and animals, and in some cases to the processes associated with inanimate objects) way of correcting and bringing a balance to the eco-system (that particular types of things exist and change on their own accord, such as the weather and geology of the Earth)? Is nature feeding the elements in the absence of man observing the age-old tradition of lighting the sacrificial fire? Similarly, does this mean that if nature and the body have its chemistry in healing from within, when one's self-esteem is low another could help him by "lending" his spirit or "fire" for a faster recovery? Words of encouragement, support groups, group prayers, evangelism, a simple talisman given, or a dash of the sacred ash, together with help from the invisible hand of the divine and its angels, go a long way in building up their spirit to battle the illness. Agathiyar told us that upon hearing our pleading to safe Tavayogi from the impending danger to his life, gathered the Siddhas and held a Yagam. Tavayogi survived the ordeal. Later upon surrendering the running of the ashram and the Jeeva Nadi to Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyar he surrendered himself to the recurring ordeal and went into samadhi.

We are told that "thoughts are cells communicating with each other." We are brought to understand that the energy of our thoughts has an influence over the cells of our body. We now fully understand why Agathiyar asks the next of kin and relatives of a dying man to keep reminding him to lift his spirits while his family went ahead to carry our remedies that Agathiyar stipulated in the Nadi. Sadly the man who was bed-ridden for some five years gave up on himself. He surrendered and lost the battle. All the remedies and Agathiyar's grace could not help because he had given up the spirit and fire to live. While the remedies to a certain extent could move the "matrix", it was his spirit's and his soul's desire to live that could bring about a total recovery in him. In another instance, Agathiyar, upon speaking to the soul of my mother-in-law who was ill, in turn, asked her to talk to her soul and reply whether it wanted to live or leave. He gave her an extension of life.

LOOKING UP TO THE DIVINE FOR HOLY GUIDANCE

It hurts to see the many documentaries on poverty, the homeless, the slums, the suffering, the mentally ill, sex trafficking, drug abuse, and lately scammers. Though we had reached out to a sector of the homeless and less fortunate in the past through Agathiyar Vanam Malaysia (AVM) and its charity arm Amudha Surabhi (AS), Agathiyar Universal Mission and their charity arm Pothihai Tharmanyaana Chakkram (PTC), and Thondu Seivom (TS) that was registered later as Persatuan Teman Setia (PTS) things weren't this bad down here. 

What has gone wrong? The many Nadi readings posted on numerous blogs and websites and shared on social media too do not paint a good picture bringing on fear in us further that mankind is doomed though the gods promise that their devotees shall be saved. But should not they save everyone immaterial if they are believers or have faith, pray or worship them? A mother loves all her children, right?

We are told that we had brought it on ourselves and they show us karma. Right, we have made a mistake in the past and as a result, we suffer now. But can't we come out of this situation? Going by the many interviews people simply are caught in a web and can't seem to free themselves. It hurts to see the sufferings that fellow man goes through daily. 

Just days ago, when a Sri Lankan national told me he was returning home, I enquired about the situation in his homeland. He painted a grim picture. We passed the hat around and handed the collection to him asking him to see how he can help the hungry back home. How much can an individual do to bring a change? The Ngo's can only do so much without the resources and the authority to bring a change, implement programs, etc. The governing bodies don't seem to care much or are doing very little. God too seems to be sitting aloft and just watching. 

We have to acknowledge the work of many individuals, societies, organizations, and many more who have taken upon themselves what the governing bodies and people in authority fail to do, to reach out to these people and provide them assistance and aid and a shoulder to cry on. With whatever limited resources sourced from good samaritans from among us, they seem to put together programs that deliver rather than wait for the politicians to deliver a talk and governments to pass on rules and allocations that need to go through the bureaucracy and red tape associated with the process.

We can opt to look the other side and not take notice. But when something like the pandemic appears and envelops all of humanity, we are forced to act, right? Because we are caught in it too, we find ways and means to save ourselves and our dear ones. 

But what choice do we have but to believe and have faith in the Gods to deliver us out of all the troubles that we had brought on to ourselves? It brought joy to hear that the teachings of Ramalinga Adigal had been picked up well in the west. Now Geetha Anand who has written several blogs and books on the Siddhas teachings tells me that the Siddha path is well received in Spain and Brazil too. 

"Ashram Vettaveli in Spain brought out the publication (Agathiyar Mei Gnanam at http://agatthiyarjnanam.blogspot.my/) ...  I was blessed to work on two more compositions, Saumya Sagaram (500 out of 1200 songs), Agatthiyar Antharangadeeksha vidhi. They have published these also.  Agatthiyar has brought a big interest in Brazil.  Around 50 students are learning about Tamil Siddhas, Agatthiyar, and his compositions with Sri Sakti Sumanan. (https://srishaktisumanan.org/institute.php). The Meijnana kaviyam that Amma (Jnana Jothiamma) initiated me to translate has opened the doors for so many souls with genuine thirst."

See her other works at https://www.scribd.com/user/199052719/Geetha-Anand

http://lyricsoftheliberated.blogspot.my/

She published her first research paper on Tirumandiram in the International Journal of Dharma Studies which we carried too at https://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2017/01/body-self-and-consciousness-according.html

She wrote a brief note accompanying this copy of her work, relating how she came to write this piece.

Thanks to JJ amma's (Jnana Jhothi Amma) blessings I was introduced to Agatthiyar Aiya who held my hand and guided me in this endeavor. Many were the moments when I threw in the towel crying I cannot do this. I do not have the capacity to understand this. At every such moment, Agatthiyar Aiya was there consoling me, motivating me, and providing me with the energy and mental clarity required for this experience. In fact, the paper should have his name as the author, not mine. It was like avan arulal avan thaal vanangi. Thank you Agatthiyar Aiya and all his children whose silent prayers have made this possible. It (this work) is an example of how Siddhas use a simpleton as a pen and convey their message to the world. You would not believe how this came through. ….

All through these steps, it was Agatthiyar Aiya and Tirumular holding my hand and taking me through the process, letting me enjoy their love and care. Honestly, I do not even remember the contents as much as I remember this feeling. It was a true blessing. I can see Agatthiyar Aiya in your puja smiling!

IN SILENCE SHALL I SPEAK 2

What if Agathiyar were to speak in those private moments of intimate silence? What would he have to say? What would he share?

It was one of the quietest moments, a rare moment itself in the outskirts of the city. The hustle and bustle of traffic that flowed through the main road that cuts across the small housing scheme had died down. The dogs that barked the whole day long and that were supposed to keep watch in the night too had retired for the day together with their masters. The continuous chirping of the birds in the day was momentarily substituted by the occasional outburst of the cricket, known as the night singer. The moon shone brightly in the sky, a scene missed by most of the city dwellers who had to turn in early to wake up early for another day of stressful work. The fireflies flew from one street lamp to the other and finally disappeared out of view. I too entered my prayer room to spend some precious time with my Guru Agathiyar. As the silence became more intense blocking out entirely all the remaining noise of the neighbors' air conditioners, only the sound of my breath was obvious. Soon even that was no more obvious to my hearing. In that moment of deep silence, I felt Agathiyar's presence. I opened my eyes. His bronze statue shone in the dark of the room, lighted only by the oil lamp that kept burning 24/7. 

I closed my eyes again. I heard him sigh. I opened my eyes again. There was no visible movement whatsoever. I asked him in silence what was the matter. He remained quiet. Then he spoke.

"I am disappointed with my children." I was taken aback. I listened on without interrupting. He continued. "They think of me only as an astrologer. They think of me only as a shaman. They think of me only as a mediator. They think about me only when in trouble. They come to me asking to settle their debts. They come running to me for a solution or cure most times. At other times they do not care to remember me."

At this juncture, my mind raced back to 2005 when I had heard a similar lament from both my previous gurus. Supramania Swami lamented that they never asked what he wanted but instead desired their needs to be fulfilled. Tavayogi lamented that they came for material gains and not Gnana.

Agathiyar continued. "I am their conscience. Why did not they listen to me speak through their conscience then? It is sad that they buried me long ago. They act without conscience today."

"As they came to see all things external, so too have I had the need to build temples externally to bring them to face their conscience externally. They come before me and stand in prayer asking for guidance there. They leave their problems at my feet and return home relieved. They do tiny bits of charity while at these places of worship. But the practice or worship soon evolved into fear for me, instilled by those who took advantage of these poor souls. Instead of love and devotion in worship towards me they did things out of fear, lest they should earn the wrath of the Gods, they were told. The element of fear was instilled in them instead of love for their creator."

"Then there came a time they lost even that remaining fear. They stopped believing that I was the stone and the rock in the temple. They stopped patronizing my abodes. Soon there was no means of sustaining these temples just as there was no means to end their troubles. The priests who had a full-time job of taking care of me and my abode had no income. They had to seek other means of survival. The temples were deserted. Charity lost its grounds. True devotees were hard to come by. I had to move too as they say to greener pastures, into the homes and the hearts of my devotees who were yearning for me. I had been traveling a lot since, seeking the homes and hearts of my devotees."

"Soon man began seeking self-made godman for remedies. As a result, they found themselves loose hefty sums in finding remedies and solutions to their problems. I have sung about these in my Gnana Nool."

"Today I can only watch in sadness as man moves on with his life indifferent to my existence. I would sit in a corner and watch the world go by. Lobamitra would observe me from a distance not wanting to disturb my thoughts. Occasionally she would walk up to me and enquire about my silence and what was in my thoughts. I would share with her my observation. She would listen intently not saying a word. Finally, she would distract my thoughts pulling me away from falling deeper and further into the world of the mortals. I would then return to my tapas."

"I am in tapas in your home too. If the need arises to be in Kallar or Pothigai or Kailash I leave immediately. Otherwise, I prefer to be here in your humble dwelling." And so saying the Mahamuni went back within into a state of silence.

I thanked him from the bottom of my heart with tears of joy running down both my cheeks. No audible words came out from my lips, except for the tears that kept flowing endlessly like the Ganges. A sense of coolness crept into me. It was as if I was drenched in bliss. Some energy traversed throughout me. It would have lifted me from the floor if I did not forcibly force myself to be grounded. A broad smile broke out on my face involuntarily which soon turned to a loud burst of laughter from within, that was beyond my control. Was this bliss I wondered, later? We both remained silent for some time. He broke the silence again.

"I have told my children about the importance of several practices through your writings. But it seems it does not register well with them. Except for a few who have started heeding your words, that are my words, the rest think it is of no immediate urgency. They think it can wait. Let me tell them that there is no moment more precious than the present; there is no life more precious than the present. It is now or never. If you do not do it at this moment, the much-awaited moment never comes. You will never find another appropriate moment other than now. You have to create that moment. You are partnered in creation with me. Besides us, you too are given the gift of creation, sustenance, and that of wrecking and destroying. Sadly man is prone to postponing or delaying his own plans. But the divine plan takes place as scheduled. Death comes as scheduled. Do not postpone the rare appointment given to you to meet Me. You might never get another moment with Me."

"You understand very well and have made it known in your writings numerous times. I am available to my devotees through the good gestures you and your wife have done and the facilities built and made available around you. You have provided them with access to me in your home through the many years of your worship. I come because of you. I make myself present to all because of your worship. I want them to worship me just as you worshipped me all these years. I too want to move into their homes. I too want to move into their hearts. I want to be constantly with them 24/7. But they have to invite me in first. Only if they invite me with an open heart can I visit and settle in their homes and hearts."

Then he moved on to mention the infighting his devotees had amongst them which again caught me by surprise. I guess he was opening up to me just as I had all these years. Our moments of engagement in the talk have stopped being a monologue as in the past; instead, it has evolved into a dialogue. He had literally spoken to me and we had a conversation in 2018. He spoke to the rest of his devotees too at his temple at Carey Island. That was amazing having the Mahamuni address us through a person, to our knowledge, for the very first time. He was apparently not happy with his children fighting among themselves. He wanted it all to end. He said he had summoned some of them. But only two of his dearest children turned up not because of fear but out of love for him. I felt sad too. I listened quietly. He went into a state of silence again something he does often only to come out of it to say what needed to be said, often returning to his domain. I knew he had moved on to attend to his numerous duties and other matters. The silence was prolonged. I moved away from the room - his room, to let him be with his thoughts.

Sitting with Agathiyar reminded me of the few but valuable days I sat at the feet of Supramania Swami and Tavayogi. Both my gurus taught me by example that both Guru and God are accessible to us without the need for mediators. The problem with us is we want to follow every guru on the face of the earth and follow every teaching available out there. Hence the confusion arises. I have sat with Tavayogi watching many devotees of Agathiyar who go on questioning him for hours, comparing what another guru had said, and asking his opinion about it. They come to him so full of religious and spiritual knowledge and vomit them to him, in most possibly a show of their greatness at having read and heard so much. I used to think if they knew so much why are they there in the first place? What can they possibly gain that other gurus haven't given them?

The above conversation was originally posted on Wednesday, 17 August 2022.

Sriinaath Raghavan wrote on Fb,

 

"The Ego is just as small as a Shrew, but the process of taming it is herculean to its core. There are many who come wanting to know but are enslaved by what they already know. So when you share with them what they don't know, they immediately compare it with what they know. When you tell them that they already know so much, so what's the need of knowing more, they reply, "I know that I know, but I don't know, what to do with what I know; so I keep wanting to know more?"

Ah! The first step of knowing is, "I don't know?" and so is the last step of knowing, "I don't know!"

IN SILENCE SHALL I SPEAK 1

Having journeyed some 20 years in getting to learn and know the Siddhas and their path, finally, I am told that nothing is greater than the joy of silence. But before reaching this point on the path Agathiyar called me over through a Nadi reading, spoke about my past karma, had me worship the Siddhas, gave me remedies, had me travel to India on a pilgrimage, and showed me my first guru Supramania Swami, initiated me officially into the path by sending Tavayogi to my shores, having me taken to their abodes in the hills, jungles, and caves and have Tavayogi officially teach me Yoga Asanas and Pranayama. He had Tavayogi officially start the ritual of lighting the sacrificial fire too. Tavayogi set me off on doing charity beginning at his ashram that expanded further to the streets of Kuala Lumpur with the aid of Mr. and Mrs. Sri Krishna and moving into the homes of the poor that was shown by Agathiyar. After all these activities reached a peak, he had us lay down these tools and sit in the confines of our homes for the virus was lurking outside. This was the prequel to what was to come later. If the past 2 1/2 years of the pandemic he had made us drop all the activities that we carried out at AVM and its charity arm Amudha Surabhi, now he wants me to zip up I guess. 

Tavayogi like Sri Ramakrishna was clear about his role as a guru.

Richard Schiffman wrote in his "Sri Ramakrishna – A Prophet for the New Age", Paragon House, 1989, 

"He prayed continually to Kali to grant his spiritual children ecstatic love for God. When divine love comes, it comes as a pure gift. It comes as a miracle. Ramakrishna rejoiced at seeing his disciples grow in spirit with Kali's special grace on them. He only helped to fan it. He knew too well that the best efforts towards attaining this ecstatic state, count very little, only as much as helping to clear the way for love's descent. What was required was the grace and love of the divine."

The guru brings changes either knowingly or unknowingly to the disciple and whoever comes into contact. Schiffman summarizes the role of God and Guru beautifully: Ramakrishna considered the guru as "a torch in the hands of god and a conduit for his grace." He also taught his disciples that god was the sole guru and the teacher in the physical form, his instrument.

Tavayogi stood aside showing us to Agathiyar who was his guru too. He showed us the rituals in the Siddha puja and had us follow them concurrently as he conducted these at his Kallar ashram. He never gave a discourse unless he took the stage at events. His teaching at other times came as a brief statement or observation that he left behind as he passed us or took us on his walks or visits. Today we understand pretty well all that he said after gaining similar experiences. He never spoke about the destination but gave us the means and the ways and the method and practices. It is only when we put them into practice that we can progress another step. He would watch and observe and add another rung to the ladder seeing our progress. The Siddhas never gave us the ladder to climb knowing pretty well that we shall never use it. Rather they would have us build one, rung by rung as we follow their teaching. 

Ramakrishna reminded his followers sternly, "Learn from me as much as I have told you. But if you want to know more, you must pray to God in solitude", writes Schiffman. Ramakrishna used to question, "How can a mere mortal enlighten another? The guru is only a pure and clear channel for God's healing and guiding energy." It is so clear now. The guru who has been commissioned to bring to shore the lost souls, his children who had drifted far and apart, cannot be contented with mere teaching. Theirs is a forceful and direct approach, practically pulling us off the ground where we were rooted deep and anchored, for ages. Indeed Agathiyar comes on forcefully on devotees telling them what he wanted them to do. 

Lord Muruga asked me to sit in silence and go within some time back. So what is the significance of remaining and maintaining silence?

Schiffman writes about the significance and depth of silence. Silence is potent. In silence the walls that separate the guru and disciple seizes to exist, he adds. Both their hearts meet. In silence, there is neither giving nor receiving. Just being in each other's presence. The most important works are accomplished in silence we are told. This statement is confirmed by the poet sage Nakkirar in his prayer to Lord Vinayagar, "The Vinayagar Thiruagaval." 

மோனா ஞான முழுதும் அளித்து
சிற்பரிப் பூரண சிவத்தைக் காண
நற்சிவ நிட்கள நாட்டமுந் தந்து
குருவுஞ் சீடனுங் கூடிக் கலந்து
இருவரும் ஒரு தனியிடந் தனிற் சேர்ந்து
தானந்தமாகித் தற்பர வெளியில்
ஆனந்த போத அறிவைக் கலந்து
ஈசனிைணயடியிருத்தி
மனத்தே நீயே நானாய்
நானே நீயாய்க்
காயா புரியைக் கனவெனவுணா்ந்து
எல்லாமுன் செயலென்ேற உணர
நல்லா உன்னருள் நாட்டந் தருவாய்
காரண குருவே கற்பகத் களிேற

வாரணமுகத்து வள்ளலே போற்றி

If reciting the names of the Siddhas in puja bridged both our worlds, the above verses created the space for both guru and student to spend some quality time. If in singing the verses, அகத்தீசா உனது சீடர்களாகிய ஒன்பது கோடி பேரும் என்னைச் சூழ்ந்திருந்து நான் விரும்பியதெல்லாம் முடித்து வைப்பதோடு மட்டுமல்லாது உன்னுடைய மலையாகிய பொதிகைக்கு என்னை அழைத்துவர என்னைச் சீடனாக நீ ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். நான் உய்வதற்கு அருள் புரிய வேண்டும். உனது அருள் பூரணமாகப் பெற்றல் வேண்டும் brought Tavayogi to take us on long walks to the abodes of the Siddhas, Lord Vinayagar created the space and the much-needed silence for me to contemplate in the comfort of my home where the guru and disciple could sit in silence and merge in similar thoughts; focusing on the feet of Shiva, the one becoming the other and understanding that all is a dream and that it is all his play.

Schiffman writes of these Godmen, The guru's heart is alive in God, making one feel the presence of the living God. Living in the world of God, the true disciple lives out the dream of God."

This should be our dream too. To live out the dream of God. Poet Bharathiyar realized this too and sang தன்செய லெண்ணித் தவிப்பது தீர்ந்திங்கு நின்செயல் செய்து நிறைவுபெறும் வண்ணம் நின்னைச் சரணடைந்தேன் — கண்ணம்மா. நின்னைச் சரணடைந்தேன்.

We learn from Ruzbeh Bharucha's writings that sitting in silence has the tendency to bring one to be filled with more Param Akash Tatva. The causal body is made of Param Akash Tatwa or Prime Ether, Param Vayu Tatwa or Prime Air, and Param Agni Tatwa or Prime Fire. We have all the more reason then to sit in silence. For one seeking and working towards his goals of attaining the Divine state, there is a more urgent need to focus on silence because Vairagya Vruti, or disenchantment sets in as we delve deeper and deeper into a state of silence says Ruzbeh. Since both the Param Vayu Tatva and Param Agni Tatva pull us away from this state of disenchantment leading us into Maya or illusion and getting us entangled more and more with the body and its relationship, we have all the reason now to just sit in silence.

Soon having been accustomed daily to the place and mood created, the self settles on its own nudging wonderfully into its domain - that of silence. In these hours of silence, the "self" speaks with the "higher self" whom we have given numerous names and forms.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

I was living in my own world. The divine kept me well. I had a secure job, family, and a roof over our heads. I appreciated it and was grateful. Then he brought his devotees to my home after their Nadi readings. Some came of their own accord after they learned about my home puja. They brought their problems with them. Only then did I begin to see how complicated the lives of others are. They thought Agathiyar would listen to me convey their problems and bring them out of their misery. Others thought my puja and prayers could save the lives of those close and dear to them. Then both Tavayogi and Agathiyar set us on doing dharma or charity. This opened our eyes to the immediate surroundings further. If I had walked past a dying man or one living on the streets, I soon became aware of poverty and its grip on many. I shed tears silently as I fed the hungry and starving. And they were living in our midst, not on a distant planet. Then they brought out the compassion in us that extended borders and countries as did the pandemic expand its wings throughout the entire world. Relatives and friends became victims of this dreaded virus. I gave an ear though I knew that I was helpless except to pray that they recover. Lord Shiva out of mercy gave us the Mrityunjaya and Dhanvantri mantra to be recited as we perform the Homam. He did not say that the virus shall go away but told us that it shall keep us safe. 

War, poverty, and suffering have been in existence, just that we were not aware of them in the past as in the times of yore we did not know what was beyond the hills and mountains and did not have access to media. With the coming of satellites beaming in images and drones showing us a bigger view, and the internet bringing these images into our living rooms, we are shown the extent of suffering that mankind goes through. 

Seeking answers, Agathiyar tells us that they had brought down on them the unfavorable actions from their previous lives. As to why others were having a jolly good time, he tells us that they had earned it, again from their past actions. But they were crooks down to the core and they are living well someone lamented. He hushes us up telling us that we would not understand the long link and chain of actions and reactions that form the web of karma. We were asked not to question the blueprint on the socioeconomic status of humankind either. Tavayogi too told us that life was not a math problem to be solved but one that had to be lived and seen through. We had come for these experiences too writes Neale Donald Walsch in his series of books titled "Conversation with God." Though we were not to question the reasons for a man's fate, Agathiyar through his 5 tenets to mankind asked that we help another be it man, animal, plant, or mineral to rise in the chain of evolution. We could make a difference. But then how much do we involve to change the fate and destiny of another? 

If we are told that it is rare to have a human birth that even the gods are yearning for, what went wrong with those who had a chance to come back? Have we forgotten our purpose here and become distracted by the lure of Maya?

But Maya or illusion is so real. It is so real that we fall for it. It brings us to act. Every action then starts a reaction. Though it never ends once we reach the spot we come to know that it was merely a mirage. When seen from afar its lure pulls us to it. But arriving there we realized that it does not exist. It was a deception. I believe no effort on our part can break the hold of our former actions but only with the grace of the divine. But before that, we are called to surrender to him all our present actions. Before we can bring ourselves to truly surrender to the divine we need to know him first. Hence the reason we are asked to believe first and have faith in him. With belief and faith, we shall seek to find ways to engage and communicate with him. Devotion begins to grow then. Devotion opens up compassion within. With compassion comes love. With love comes his grace. With his grace, we can battle on or rather the obstacles are cleared and the veil disappears. Maya loses its hold or grip on us. We see the truth. 

I think all the world's problems will not end overnight. The only way to escape is to opt out of this world. We each have to leave or escape from its clutches. Even the saints could not find solutions or an end to man's troubles. The saints found salvation for themselves. Having failed in convincing man of coming out of the ways they left to seek solace and peace at the feet of the divine. Even Ramalinga Adigal could go as much as built the Satya Dharma Salai and feed the hunger and speak about compassion. He realized that he could not move the people around him. Disappointed he shut his door and left. How many of his followers managed to keep up with him in his dream and eventual journey of realization? They were keener on taking over his establishments and writings. We can never turn around the world. We can only turn around ourselves and look for the escape route. This is what the saints did too. When others refused to toe the line, they left them behind. Agathiyar too at one juncture told us to move on and not wait for others to catch up for then our journey shall be delayed he said. 

I guess the hold of Maya is so great on us that we cannot come out of it on our own. We need his grace to break the chain that keeps us chained. His grace comes with the yearning to be with him and do his work. I guess we need the divine to put all of us to sleep instantaneously and concurrently and find ourselves awaken to a new world. This was what was predicted would happen in 2012 and postponed to 2018. But it did not take place. Who can decipher the workings of the divine? Who can fathom his lila or play?

Indeed it is all a play. For want of answers to our sufferings, we are told that we had brought it on ourselves. Then we are shown means and ways to shed the hold of our past actions that brings us places and meet more people. We start to add on good actions that bring on good merits. The scale is then balanced. What next we ask? Does that end the cycle we ask? But it appeases only one of our past births we are told. What about the actions of the numerous other births? Then we are told about our actions that span Yugas. It is mind-boggling. No wonder Tavayogi says not to approach life as a math question. No wonder the Siddhas say never enquire the beginning and the end. Indeed no one knows when shall all these end too. For one who has answers to all these shall have left the face of the earth.

Agathiyar in his Agathiyar Gnanam sings that it is all Lord Shiva's play. Just as from confusion arises clarity we are expected to come out of it clean just like the budding lotus. So does Sivavakiyar attempts to bring us out of state. But it is still so vague to us. I guess we need their grace to fully understand these songs of the Siddhas.

What did Ramalinga Adigal mean when he mentions the verse the dead shall arise or "செத்தார் எழுவார்" numerous times in his songs. "செத்தார் எழுவார்" is not adorning a robe and taking on a new name but bringing on a change in the very molecular level in us. There comes a stage where our body undergoes a transformation and changes within the body, nay within the very cells where decoding or "perception or interpretation of messages" takes place first and some of the earlier data is erased and encoding or "creation of new text with specific messages" that replace them and finally recoding or "appropriation and application of these messages" take place. If previously the vibrations and the prana from the chants and the pranayama practices respectively cleansed the external and internals including the mind, a cleansing of the molecular level takes place at this stage. The body oozes out bodily fluids creating a stench. It resembles the stench of a dead body left exposed for days. Certain alterations to the body become visible and become a subject of conversation among the ignorant. I guess this is the reason the saints went into hiding, often some 12 years long until it all subsides. They then appear in public again. So one dies and arises again while living - not literally dead and buried and coming back to life, but undergoes this process of decay and springing back to life. 

When I put forward the question to Tavayogi he replied that he did not know. I realize now that it is not that he did not know but wanted us to have the experience first. If he were to have explained in detail the process we would be looking toward the outcome. He wanted us to focus on the journey and not on the destination. This is how the Siddhas guide us a step at a time rather than hand over the blueprint to us. What possibly can we understand from the blueprint without their guidance?

RAT RACE

My 5-year-old granddaughter surprised me yesterday as we drove to the neighboring park for our evening walk. She asked me why I chose to own a small car and a small house. I replied to her that they served my purpose and that I was satisfied. She kept quiet. Her question rekindled a story I read just days ago at https://tomaslau.com/blog/everything-is-relative. Tomas Laurinavicius shares the story "The Mexican Fisherman and the American Investment Banker" in his blog. 

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, “only a little while.”

The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish.

The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, and stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”

The American scoffed. “I have an MBA from Harvard, and can help you,” he said. “You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, and eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middle-man, you could sell directly to the processor, eventually opening up your own cannery. You could control the product, processing, and distribution,” he said. “Of course, you would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles, and eventually to New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?” To which the American replied, “Oh, 15 to 20 years or so.”

“But what then?” asked the Mexican.

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time was right, you would announce an IPO, sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions!”

“Millions – then what?”

The American said, “Then you could retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.”

That was what the Mexican fisherman was currently doing! So why go through the rat race to arrive at the same spot we are today? 

MORE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

We leave our print everywhere. We brush off our habits onto our children and grandchildren. We even connect with our cars and other belongings as we read at https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/08/stick-shift-manual-transmission-cars/671078/

We raise our children often to become another clone of us. We teach them morals and ethics. We teach them right and wrong. But Agathiyar tells us that there is no right or wrong. John Vampatella writes at https://www.cru.org/sg/en/train-and-grow/share-the-gospel/obstacles-to-faith/is-everything-relative.html,

"What may be right in one place and time may be wrong in another place and time. Or, what may be right in one culture at one time may be wrong in that same culture a short time later. It is up to the individual and/or society to determine the “rightness” or “wrongness” of something, and that can, and does, change from time to time."

Indeed as he says, "there is no absolute gauge of what is morally right or wrong, .." Everything is relative to one another. 

Agathiyar tells us not to judge another for we shall never know the full story. At times these stories can go back to several past lives and even Yugas as we came to know them recently. 

We are told that this world is an illusion. If this world is an illusion or maya then why is so much importance and detail given to material seeking and also one's spiritual seekings? We work so hard to accumulate wealth in the former and merits and siddhis in the latter. 

We are asked to surrender to the divine so that he can execute his work without interference from us. Total surrender means accepting everything that comes along without interfering. It means going with the flow. Can we just watch a horror or crime take place right before our eyes? Can we turn away from looking at others' plight and suffering? It broke my heart watching the following visuals at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT80uJtOE2sGejGX16zQGoA/featured, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nvTgSW2L8Q

Then we have some good samaritans take on the responsibility of looking out for their fellow mates in trouble - what should be the responsibility of the governing bodies at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxbGmqfmfBE

I read through the blog https://tomaslau.com/blog/everything-is-relative and asked myself if I could ever remain indifferent to challenges and the surrounding. I guess we will only understand live fully on our deathbed for nothing can change further for good or for bad after death, can it?