Indian Heartbeat From My Travels in India

Reading The Nadi

Sivabalan remembers how as a six year old, he was dragged by his uncle to the Vaitheeswaran Temple in India to have his nadi read. When the readers refused to read for a young child of that age, his uncle insisted that they do so.

Sivabalan brought in Sentilkumar from India to read the nadi. On 27^th  November 2002, Sentilkumar searched for the nadi pertaining to events and personalities in my lifetime. There was one that I thought was mine. That nadi revealed the father's name, mother's name, having seven siblings, having a government job, another sibling having a government job too, and owning a home. But the wife’s name was read as Manohari. All other details except my wife’s name were true. It puzzled me. So was there another individual somewhere with these similar descriptions living with a wife called Manohari? After looking through three buddles, and questioning me for some time, Sentilkumar could not locate a reading that described me. I was asked to come back in two weeks time for Sentilkumar could only look through a maximum of three numbers of buddles at any one particular time.

On 11^th December 2002, going through the same pace and trend of questioning, he found the relevant, appropriate, and corresponding nadi in the first bundle. I was astonished the nadi could reveal my fathers name; mother had two names; I had seven siblings; had a government job related to a technical field; one of my sisters was also in the government; one of my brothers had bethrowed someone outside our religion. I agreed it was mine. I was told to come back for the full reading of the nadi another day.

On 14^th December 2002, the actual reading of that particular nadi took place. I was both apprehensive and eager not knowing what was in store for me. I sat in awe as the nadi was read to me. Four out of sixteen chapters were read out. They were the Podhu Kaandam, Karma Kaandam, Parikaara Kaandam, and Gnana Kaandam. I was told Sage Agathiyar wrote it.

The Podhu Kaandam mentioned about me, my family, my career, and what to expect until my last days.

According to the Karma Kaandam I was a Brahmin priests in Kerala, India in my former birth.[2]

I had hurt many people then, and as a result I had to take this birth. The Parikaara Kaandam told me to worship Lord Vinayagar for forty-eight days. Chanting the Lord’s Moola Mantra will help to reduce the evil effects of my karma. I was asked to worship the sidhas and Lord Siva too.

Generally the first (Pothu kaandam), 13^th  (karma kaandam) and 14^th (Parikaaran Kaandam) are read for all seekers. I requested to see the 9^th Kaandam, Gnana Kaandam too. I was told the Gnana Kaandam was not available to everyone. Sivabalan told me to give it a try. There was a Gnana Kaandam for me. I had this kaandam read to me. It dictated my spiritual path. According to the Gnana Kaandam reading, I had to worship Lord Siva, Lord Vinayagar, Sage Agathiyar, and the eighteen sidhas. According to the ancient writings in these palm leaves, I have the blessings of the eighteen sidhas, the rishis, and gnanis too.

The worship of sidhas was something new. I knew who Sage Agathiyar was, having seen the Tamil movie on him - Agathiyar. But who were the rests of the sidhas? I asked of Sentilkumar if he could elaborate on the prayers for these siddhars. He immediately gave me a booklet on the worship of sidhas ‘SIDDHAR POTRI PAADALGAL’[3] and Sivabalan gave me a painting of Sage Agathiyar to aid in my prayers.

Performing The ‘Parikaarams’

One of the parikaaram was nadiku dhaanam which was paying homage to the authors of the nadi – the sidhas.

On 19^th December 2002, I delivered the following to Sentilkumar: a vesti, tundu, saree, sweets, three varieties of flowers, and an amount of RM308 as was mentioned in the nadi. Sentilkumar performed archana to the 131 sidhas beginning with Sage Agathiyar with the flowers I had brought. Sentilkumar sang the hymns while I submitted flowers to Sage Agathiyar’s feet. Sentilkumar then blessed me with a verse from the 'Sivapuranam- Namashivaya Vazhga Naathanthan Vazhga Emai Poluthum Neengathan Thaal Vazhga'. He handed me a leaflet informing that his father and he were in the midst of building a temple for Sage Agathiyar in Kallaru near Ooti, South India in association with a saint named Taiveedu Thangarasan.[4]

I had to do parikaaram at a Siva temple and a Murugan temple. It was stipulated in the nadi the Siva temple had to be one on a hilltop. On 1^st Jan 2003 I went over to Jalan Gasing Siva temple. I did prayers and distributed food to the devotees. I presented three sets of offerings to the Brahmin priests at this temple.

A group from the Agathiyar Sanmarga Sangam in Dengkil, collecting donations, stopped me at the entrance to this temple as I stepped out. This society was affiliated to the one run by Tavatiru Rengaraaja Desigar of Ongkaara Kudil in Turaiyur, South India. I was given a VCD on the swami’s spiritual discourse at the grounds of the Siva temple.

On 29^th December 2002, I did prayers and lighted the ghee oil at the Murugan temple in Batu Caves.

MY MAIDEN PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA

I was asked to perform a pilgrimage to India by Sage Agathiyar. I was to conduct prayers and obligations at Utamar temple, Palur Sani temple, and Tiru Anaikaa temple, all in Trichy according to Karma Parikaara Kaandam.

I had to pray at the five elemental temples of Lord Siva, namely Kalahasti temple in Andhra Pradesh, Egambareswarar temple in Kanchipuram, Nadaraja temple in Chidambaram, Tiru Anaikaa temple in Trichy, and Arunachaleswarer temple in Tiruvanamalai. I was instructed to go around the sacred hill of Tiruvanamalai during a full moon.

I was also instructed to go to Palani Murugan temple. This was stipulated in the Gnana Kaandam. 

Prior to seeing the nadi I had neither idea nor intention to go to India.

Departure

I planned to go in December 2003 for the festival kartigai deepam but opted to go earlier, since the crowd would be tremendous during the Deepam festival. Then I planned to go in April, but my brother advised against it, as it would be hot then. Gowrisan from my office was back from India and confirmed it was hot during this season. So I planned for September as was suggested by my brother. I finally left for India on the 31^st August 2003. I was there from 31^st August to 13^th September 2003.

I checked in at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 10.30 pm on 31^st August 2003. The plane took off at 11.15 pm. Dhanu from Andhra whom I became acquainted with on board the plane sat beside me and started talking about his guru, Swami Ramachandra and his master’s master  or known as Paramaguru and his mission in Chennai. [5]

Arrival In Chennai

On arrival at Meenambakkam Airport in Chennai, Tamil Naadu, India, Devendran - my appointed driver - was waiting on me. He spotted me correctly. I spotted the name card he was carrying. He tells me later that Raji was to fetch and accompany me throughout my journey in India but he had taken ill suddenly.[6]

Dhaksanamurthy, my travel agent in Malaysia, was waiting for my arrival at the Sindoori Hotel. He told me Vinayagar Chaturthi, the day I traveled to India, was an auspicious day to travel, as it was customary for Indians to plan travel on this Vinayagar Chaturthi day.

Day 1 - Paying To See Lord Vengadasalapathy

I started the day having breakfast with Dhaksanamurthy opposite the hotel. After exchanging the currency I had brought, I dropped him off at the local bus depot at Egmore. I left for Tirumalai Vengadesa temple in Tirupati, Andra Pradesh at 9.30 am.

I reached the Andra border at 12 noon. As Deventhiran was getting the papers sorted at the security post to enter the state of Andra, a sadhu walked towards the car and stood by my open window. He began chanting Lord Murugan’s name. I gave him some money, which he happily accepted and walked back to a tent pitched up some distance away along the road. Further up a small group of devotees stopped our car and asked for donations for the Vinayagar Chathurthi celebrations. I gave them some money too. At the entrance to the Tirupathi temple at the foothill the security guards collected entrance fees to drive up to the top of the hill temple.

At 2.30 pm I was at Varasidhi Vinayagar Temple at the foothills of Tirumalai. I reached the hilltop temple at 3.10 pm. I paid 1000 Rs for the special passes that Devendran purchased to have a darshan of Tirupathy Vengadesa. What happens when you pay is that you cut the existing queue and waiting time. Yet I had to wait in a line for 1 ½ hours before I had a view of Lord Vengadesa. I was told if you don’t pay it could take days to see the Lord.[7] Devendran and I started queuing up at 3.30 pm and the Lord’s audience was over at 5 pm. It was a beautiful darshan although only for a few moments.

Kalahasti

I left for Kalahasti, also in Andra Pradesh at 6 pm reaching the hotel at 7.45 pm. After checking in I walked to the Kalahasteeswarer temple nearby. Devendran accompanied me. I did archana at Lord Siva & Goddess Parvathi’s shrine. This was one of the Pancha Bootha stalam of Lord Siva that I was asked to visit.

That night I broke down in tears at the hotel room. I suddenly felt alone. Here was I heeding Sage Agathiyar’s words and made this trip. So where was HE?[8]

I was also disturbed. Had I to pay at each and every temple for entrance fees, parking fees, fees for special queues, etc? Why did we need to pay to see the Gods? Only then did I realize how easy it was to pray at the temples in Malaysia. It was absolutely free of charge. Was this how it was going to be for the rests of my journey?

Day 2 - Lord Nadaraja Draws Me At Egambareswarar Temple

The next day, 2^nd September 2003, I visited the Kalahasteeswarer temple again, this time alone. I was there from 6 am to 8 am. I came round the temple complex a couple of times looking for the exit only to find one exit which was not similar to the one I had used to come in. I thought I had come in through another entrance. I asked the security guard but he told me this entrance was the only way in and out of the temple complex. Eventually as I stepped out into the open through that exit I realized he was right and that I was disorientated. It was almost 8 am now and Deventhiran had begun to worry about me, as he didn’t find me in my hotel room. In the daylight I noticed a flight of steps up a hill behind the temple and a shrine at the peak of this hillock. The hunter Vedan Kanappa had paid homage to Lord Siva throughout the night unknowingly throwing down onto the Sivalingam, leaves that he plucked off a tree he had perched on for the night. The hotel aid told me this was the spot where a king was driven ashore at the height of the great flood and was the starting point of humanity.

Tirutani

At 8.15 am I left for Tirutani reaching Tirutani Murugan temple at 10.20 am. Darshan was only possible at 11.10 am since the temple was closed to public for a special prayer. Devendran accompanied me in. We queued up and waited. I did vilva archana at Lord Murugan’s sanctum. Saint Ramalingam had sang numerous hymns on Lord Murugan in Tirutani.[9]

At 11.50 am I started for Kanchipuram reaching the town at 1 pm. Devendran convinced me to take a tour of the cottage industries of Kanchipuram. I witnessed how silk sarees were weaved while waiting for the temples to be reopened to the public.[10] Upon coming out from the shop we realized the car had a puncture. Deventiran got busy replacing the tyre.

Kanchipuram

Dhaksanamurthy and the local tour agent in India Mahendren came over to my hotel at 4.15 pm.

At 5.30 pm I was at the Kanchi Kamatchi temple with Dhaksanamurthy and Mahendren. There was a slight drizzle as we came round the temple grounds. I had a beautiful view of her. The Goddess was extremely beautiful.

Later Devendran and Mahendren dropped me at the Egambareswarar temple. This was another of the Pancha Stalam that I had to see. The main sanctum was packed with people doing special prayers and was extremely noisy. As I came round the temple there was a huge chamber on the left. As I stopped to have a look, there was a majestic statue of Lord Nadarajah in that chamber. A young priests who stood at its entrance ushered me into the chamber. As I stepped inside, it was an entirely different atmosphere and I could feel a strong vibration in here. The young priests lighted the camphor  and started prayers. I broke down in tears. I cried aloud. I had the Lord all to myself.

I was invited by an elderly couple conducting prayers to Goddess Kali to sit and watch the Abhisegam. I saw Abhisegam for Lord Egambareswarar too. I saw the famed 3000-year-old mango tree now completely hollow but with green leaves sprouting - on the grounds of the temple. I was at this temple from 6 pm to 7 pm.

It was already night as we left for Kumara Kottam Murugan temple also in Kanchipuram. There is a marble statue of Saint Ramalingam here.

Day 3 –Vadalur And Sathya Gnana Sabha

At 5.30 am, on Wednesday, 3^rd September, we left for Melmaruvathur Athi Parasakthi temple. Dhaksanamurthy, had helped build this temple when he was in a college in India. He insisted that I visit this temple. We reached the temple at 7.30 am. Devendran and Mahendren dropped me at the temple. I was only given a minute or so at the Goddess sanctum by the attendants.

Then at 7.50 am we left for Vadalur reaching Satya Gnana Sabai at 10.30 am. Devendran and Mahendren waited on me. Saint Ramalingam had envisioned and built this structure. I was told that prayers were only conducted three times a day and lasted half an hour each time. I had to wait for the next prayer between 11.45 am and noon. The priests came in at 11.45 am and opened the door to expose a black curtain at the doorway. The flame from the camphor was shown to this curtain. I later came to know that all seven curtains in this temple were drawned aside to reveal the light (Jhoti) only on Thaipusam and Adi Amavasai each year. I told a lady devotee I intended to make a donation and she brought me to the administrative office.

I visited Sidhivalagam Tirumaligai in Mettukuppam a few kilometers away. Saint Ramalingam walked into a room in this building and had himself locked in from the outside by his disciples. When the government authorities questioned the disciples of the whereabout’s of the saint and insisted that they be allowed to enter the room, they found that the saint had disappear into thin air. I had very much wanted to be here. Marshall Govindan in his book BABAJI AND THE TRADITION OF THE 18 SIDHARS (Govindan, Marshall, Babaji and the eighteen siddha Kriya Yoga tradition , 1991,KRIYA YOGA PUBLICATIONS (REG), 196 Mountain Road, P.O.Box 90, Eastman, Quebec, Canada, JOE 1PO, http://www.babaji.ca/, reproduced with permission via e-mail),says:

“In 1867, Saint Ramalingam founded a house of charity to feed the poor and extend hospitality to travelers and indigent old persons in Vadalur. His mission in Vadalur has fed the poor on an extensive scale everyday for the past 132 years. The mission’s kitchen fire has not gone out since it was lighted in 1870.”

“In 1870 Saint Ramalingam moved into a small hut in the hamlet of Mettukuppam, about three miles south of Vadalur. This hut is known as ‘the Sacred Mansion of the Miracle’ (Sithivalagam Tirumaligai)”.

“In 1871, he requested his disciples to conduct ‘a temple of wisdom’ designed by him. They did it within six months. It was inaugurated on January 25, 1872. It has a unique design, which in its form explains symbolically the process of self realization as experienced by Ramalinga. Seven curtains representing human passion and ignorance conceal an eternal light and various inner spaces within. Beyond all these curtains stand a glass box, five feet high, representing the purity of the soul, and within it there burns an eternal flame, which represents the soul in its true splendor, merged with supreme grace light (Arutperumjhoti)”.

“Towards the end of 1873, he placed outside the door of his room (in Sithivalagam Tirumaligai) the oil lamp that Ramalinga had been using inside. He asked his disciples to worship it and keep it burning forever. He asked them to imagine the supreme grace light manifested in it and to pray to Him for grace. He issued instructions to his disciples that except for the burning of camphor, no ritual be performed. Devotees should pray silently, filled with love of god. And enter into ecstasy”.

“On the auspicious day of January 30, 1874 at the age of 50, Ramalinga wrote and released to his devotees the following statement: "My beloved ones! I have to be out of your sight for a time. Do not worry. Keep the light of the lamp (gnana deepam) burning forever. Imagine that god is there and worship the light. You will be amply rewarded. I am in the body now and after a while I shall enter into all the bodies of His creation. Close the door and lock it from outside. The room, if ordered to be opened, will only be void." Ramalinga then shut himself up in his room in the Mettukuppam hut. Later that night as the devotees outside the room were chanting suddenly a flash of violet light emanated from Ramalingam’s room, signaling the merger of Ramalinga into all the bodies of HIS creation. For when the room was eventually opened it was found to be empty. Ramalinga had disappeared without a trace”.

It is said that Saint Ramalingam on his final day had entered a room in Sidhivalagam, Methukupam. He asked that his followers lock the door from the outside. On opening the door, at the request of the government officials, the room was found to be empty. It is also said that the saint had become light (Jhoti). There was no witness to this incident. The saint too had mentioned to his followers that they would find nothing, as he would dematerialize into thin air and be in each and every being from that moment on.

An article by Gangadharan appears in Shobana's website at http://www.ramalinga.org/ where Mother Mira gives us an insight as to what took place at the moment in Sidhivalagam that night. The Mother mentions she had seen Saint Ramalingam disappear in her meditation.

A VISION OF DEMATERIALIZATION OF RAMALINGA'S LIVING BODY

By Gangadharan, a disciple of Mother Mira Alfassa (aid of Sri Aurobindo of Pondichery).

Mother Mira said that Saint Ramalinga had achieved the Mukti.

“On the first day of the Tamil month of Thai (14-1-1978) I had a continuous vision in my usual meditation in the night: the vision of dematerialization of the physical body of Swami Ramalinga into and as the Truth-Light of Supreme Grace which contains or possesses in itself Supreme Compassion and Bliss of Grace.

Though I have had occasions to ascend into and remain for sometime in the Truth-World of Grace-Light wherefrom I could see the earth as part of the universe, the said Vision came to me when my consciousness was on the earth itself.

To begin with I sensed an ineffable Silence and Peace prevailing everywhere and I heard continuously Para Nada, the mysterious divine Sound. Then the Vision broke out.

A small village was seen in its simple and beautiful surroundings. There was the concrete Presence of the Supreme and Universal Divine with the beautiful Truth-Light of Grace and Fragrance, which enriched the place all the more and enraptured my heart with ever increasing aspiration for Grace. At the center of the village was seen a small house. Sweet Fragrance of Grace radiated everywhere from the house.

Vallalar (Swami Ramalinga) was seen entering the house. His face was calm and peaceful. His whole body was radiating the Light of Grace. Besides, his body was of silken or light golden shining color. He stepped into his room and closed the doors and bolted inside. At that time there was the Concrete Presence of the Supreme and Universal Divine in the room. The Presence could be sensed even physically and even by the born-blind. There was also Silence, Peace, Fragrance and the Light of Grace due to the Presence.

Vallalar sat on a white cloth spread on a low wooden plank and began to concentrate. In that poise he was seen as a Mountain of Truth-Knowledge with the Truth-Light of Grace and Peace and Fire of Tapas. He was verily a supreme form of the Divine. Flood of Light was radiating from his pure and luminous body into all the directions.

Supreme Grace, Supreme Compassion and the Light of Grace are expressive of the secret truth that they hold the key for transformation of physical body into the deathless physical body of Grace in its eternal youthfulness. One has to live in the depth of the ocean of blissful Grace-Light for getting transformed into the divine nature and as the divine body.

The intensity of the flood of Light that radiated from his whole body was very powerful and one shall have the strength and capacity to bear and receive it. My whole body vibrated with a joy and pleasantness because of the Vision of Light of his body.

After sometime of concentration, he rose up and saw the physical sky. Full moon was shedding its blissful cool rays over the earth. A little distance away from the moon was seen a very bright dazzling star of Light. Ramalinga poured his concentrated gaze at it for sometime. He became enraptured with blissful joy in the heart, which radiated on his face. A little time thereafter, he again sat on the white seat of the plank and entered into deep concentration.

Though Ramalinga was inside the closed and bolted room, he could see clearly the whole universe with its tiers of many worlds of mind, life and the physical including the physical earth and sky with its moon, stars and clouds.

When he was thus absorbed in deep concentration, an effulgent Truth-Light of Grace broke out from his heart and with its unique Heat began to burn his radiant physical body very slowly, as at a snail's speed, and that in an upward direction, from the heart towards the head. The burning of the body may be somewhat likened to that of an incense-stick which however burns downwards by its inner heat of fire, forming ash-covering but without the falling down of the ash-form. When the upper part of his radiant body was burnt completely from heart to head, there was left in its place a form of pure white Substance, which also radiated its Light of Consciousness. The burnt part, however, showed all its features intact and clearly and even the burnt hair of his head was seen distinctly as luminous white hair. Then the Heat of the pure Light of Grace descended to burn the lower part.

After the whole body was thus burnt, Ramalinga was seen as a bodily form of pure white substance from head to foot, radiating its Light. The white form kept intact all the different kinds of cells of his body and all the distinctive features and formations of his interior an exterior body. His bodily form did not shrink in size after the burning. I saw no visible flame nor sensed its heat during the burning of his living body, nor smoke, nor any bad smell as of burnt tissues, nor heard any cracking noise as of burnt bones. But instead, there was a sweet Fragrance since the time his body began to burn and it spread everywhere. I sensed in my heart an ineffable Calmness and Silence, which gave me in turn a state of Bliss.

Now a second stage of burning began. The unique Heat of Grace-Light began to burn slowly Ramalinga's luminous Form of White Substance from head to foot downwards. When his white Substance-Form full of its radiating Light, was thus burnt completely, the white Substance became very fine sub-atomic conscious particles which permeated and pervaded the entire universe and the farther pure worlds of consciousness beyond. The fine, white and conscious particles with its radiating Light also entered into and got distributed everywhere in the earth and even in matter and in the Inconscient. After the universal pervasive distribution of the particles, they could be seen no more and disappeared from my sight. But now there pervaded everywhere the sweet, soft and fine Fragrance of Camphor which gave my body a blissful sensation and enraptured my heart as well.

Then I had the rare vision of Ramalinga's universal luminous golden Form. As a matter of fact the immensity of his golden form contained in it the whole universe. This form too disappeared from my view and was replaced by another vision in which I saw the Golden Light of Truth-Knowledge and Grace entering into all the directions more speedily than the lightning. It permeated and pervaded the whole universe and the farther pure worlds of Consciousness. It entered into our earth and all its crores of the physical forms of beings and objects and in the apparently insensible matter and even in the very dark realm of the vast in conscience. All the forms that were permeated by the Golden Light of Truth changed into golden forms of beings and objects. The Golden Light entered into my whole adhara including the physical body. My body felt in all the cells vibrations of ease and pleasantness.

Then I heard some words of Grace. But they were indistinctly heard and could not be deciphered, as I was absorbed in a rapture of Bliss due to the sublime vision and experiences. Thus the Vision lasted an hour of time and came to an end.

The visible physical light is the concrete symbol of the Vast Truth-Light of Grace, which is the source of all lights. Camphor is verily a solid form or symbol of that Light. Ramalinga's soul is inseparable from the conscious white particles of Substance, which he has become, and pervading distributed everywhere. When the Supreme Truth-consciousness manifests in the physical world, it becomes the golden Light of Grace. The golden Light of Grace will purify and transform man and the physical body too will become deathless physical Truth-body, and the Sanmarga of Truth, Purity and Goodness shall prevail on the earth. As Anma realizes the pure Spirits, the body too shall realize its truth as the true body of the Spirit”.

Bhuvanagiri And The Birth Place Of Saint Ragavendra

I dropped in at Bhuvanagiri, birthplace of Swami Ragavendra at 2.40 pm as my brother-in-law Arumugam and sister Ambi had requested I try to visit this shrine. Unfortunately the building was closed for renovation. I managed to steal a peek at the image of the saint through the grilled doorway

Chidambaram And The Temple Of Thillai Nadarajah

At 3 pm I reached Chidambaram town. The temple was closed. We adjourned to the Thillai Kali temple, which was some distance away. After praying at Thillai Kali temple at 4 pm we went back to Chidambaram temple. On my return to Malaysia, I read in the net that one should visit this Kali temple first before entering the Chidambam temple. So it happens I did the right thing.

Devendran and Mahendran dropped me off at the Thillai Nadarajah temple. I was here from 4.40 pm to 6.10 pm. To my disappointment I was asked if I could part with my wristwatch by a young priests here. He then asked 20Rs from me which I gave. Sadly, at every shrine there was a priests waiting with a receipt book asking for donations towards the temple fund and money to perform prayers. With no other option I stomached the ways of these priests and conducted the prayers at the Adi Lingam sanctum. I paid 50Rs here. Every God had a price here. Part with your money and you shall be shown ‘Chidambaram Ragasiyam’. I told myself I do not need to know the secret by buying my way into the sanctum. I walked out off this temple disgusted at the ways of these young Brahmins. I could only imagine them in their forties and fifties-how corrupted would they be? I was told later that this temple sustains on the donations from the public and tourists. It does not receive government aid. Now I could understand why the priests were asking for donations.

Vaitheeswaram

I continued to Vaitheeswaram where I checked in at the hotel within walking distance from the famed Vaitheeswaran temple. At 7.30 pm I walked to the temple. Devendran had warned me of locals who would approach as tourist guides for a fee. True enough as I approached the temple, a man spotted me, asking, “Tourist?” and walked alongside me. Each time I stopped in my tracks, he stopped too. Eventually I told him off, either to go ahead or walk behind me and I don’t need his assistance. At 8.40 pm the huge doors to the temple were closed for the night. I returned back to the hotel with the thought what if a tourist was locked inside the temple? Do the temple authorities go around to ascertain that everyone has left the temple complex before they lock up?

Tiruvengaadu And The Temple Of Buddhan

Thursday, 4^th

September 2003, I left for the Tiruvengaadu temple at 6.40 am. Shivabalan recommended that I include this temple in my tour of temples. He had directed me the kriyas to do at this temple. I followed his instructions. I dipped in the three tanks, Agni Theertam, Chandra Theertam, and Surya Theertam respectively. Devendran stepped into the tanks to ensure the steps were not slippery and the water was not deep before allowing me to go in. The first two tanks had some water but the last one had practically dried up. I lighted twenty-four oil lamps at the Buthan Temple. I prayed at the main temple of Lord Siva. There was a footprint under a tree in the compound of this temple. There was also a shrine of Lord Siva where I was told Lord Brahma had meditated.

At 9.25 am I left for the Kethu temple at Keelaaperampalam. Later I stopped at Mallava Rishilingam temple, also known as the Pathinathar Temple. Devendran accompanied me. There was a shrine for Sage Pathinathar here.

At 10.10 am I left for Mayil Aduthurai temple at Mayavaram.

Suryanar Temple

I arrived at the Suryanar temple in Mayil Aduthurai in the scorching heat of the afternoon, at exactly 12 noon. There was a central temple housing the Sun God and individual shrines around the main temple for the other planets. I had been advised against giving alms to the poor on this pilgrimage by my brother Kathi who had the bitter experience of having to ward off large groups of these beggars who turned up once they see a foreigner or visitor giving donations. Sivabalan had particularly mentioned to me to be wary of beggars in the guise of sadhu’s especially at this temple. So taking heed of their advice I left the grounds of the temple hurriedly when a woman came after me asking for alms followed by a disfigured man. This couple, as if they could read my mind, called out after me, “There is only two of us - please donate”. True enough no one was around in the immediate grounds of the temple. I dipped my hands into my pockets and handed whatever cash I had then to the lady who happily went away with her partner. [11]

I made it in the nick of time to pray at Tiruvidaimarutur Amman temple. The Siva temple though was already closed for the afternoon.

Kumbakonam-Swamimalai-Tiruvalanchuli

At 12.50 pm I left for Kumbakonam. We found our way to Thomas’s home. He is my neighbor in Malaysia. Devendran accompanied me. His mother greeted us as I introduced myself. She served lunch. Later her husband and son joined us. I was here from 1.30 pm to 5 pm after which we arrived at the Adi Kumbeshwarar temple.  I witnessed prayers conducted for Lord Nadarajah and Goddess Sakthi. I was here from 5.10 pm to 5.50 pm. We stopped at Swamimalai Murugan temple from 6.10 pm to 6.40 pm. I rushed up the flight of stairs to get a darshan of Lord Murugan. The temple was packed with devotees. It was night as we continued to Tiruvalanchuli Siva and Vinayagar temples. It was dark except for dim lighting from one streetlight at the entrance to the temple. The Lord Vinayagar’s statue - Suvetha Vinayagar - I am told is unique since he is made of sea froth. As I stepped out from the car onto the tar road and walked towards the temple, my feet sank into the ground. It felt like I was tredding on sand. But there was no sea around. Had the sea resided back over the ages? At 7.20 pm I started for Tanjore and checked in at a hotel.

7 am, 5^th September 2003, I visited the Breehadeshwarar temple in Tanjore. At this Siva temple was a huge nandhi and in the inner sanctum a gigantic lingam where the priests had to stand on raised platforms on either side to perform the abhisegam. Sadly the abhisegam was done behind the veil. Besides the main Siva sanctum there was a shrine for Sage Karuvurar located at the back of the temple. Sage Karuvurar was the architect for this temple and the guru of King Raja Raja Cholan. On the left wing there was a flight of steps leading up to  a shrine of Lord Dhashina Murthi.

I was off to Trichy at 9.15 am to perform the parikaaram. On the way, we stopped to watch how pottery was made by the villages on the insistence of Devendran. We continued at 11am for Utamar temple. We reached the temple at 12.50 pm. Devendran went in to enquire if there were any priests who could be of assistance in advising me on how to go about doing this parikaaram as the nadi did not stipulate in detail as to what I was to do and offer here. I had to make a donation to three  Brahmin priests at this temple. Then as if God sent, Devendran appears with a priest willing to help out at this temple and also at the Tiru Anaikaa Siva temple too. The priest told me we need to get to Tiru Anaikaa temple fast before they close for lunch break. I made an appointment to come back to Utamar temple at night for the parikaaram.

The priest took me to the Tiru Anaikaa temple. He advised me on what to purchase. He used his contacts at the temple to open doors that were closed. Lord Vinayagar’s chambers was closed after 12 noon, as was usual in most parts of India. He had it opened for me. He caught hold of an elderly priest to perform the prayers. “You are the want to do the prayer,” he said to the Brahmin man who was squatted at a corner. I had the priviledge to enter the main sanctum and be shown the lingam which was partially submerged in water. After the prayers, I fell at the feet of the elderly priest. As I picked myself up, I realised all those who followed me had also fell at the priest’s feet following my gesture. The priests from Utamar temple insisted this elderly priest should perform prayers at the Dhashana Murthi sanctum too. This priest then led us there. After the priests left, I broke down at Lord’s sanctum. I cried aloud here, to the amazement of my new friends, I suppose for the caretaker of the temple tried to console me. The priest from Utamar temple said, “Let him be, let him cry”. After a while I picked myself up and we adjourned to feed the poor, a cow and an elephant on the advise of this priest. I was literally pushed or shoved from one shrine to another, by these group performing each prayer to the utmost satisfaction. The priest whom we picked up at Utamar temple insisted that I dropped him off at a location that he chosed. He did not want me to send him back to the Utamar temple saying he had errands to run. After dropping him off and giving him a token of appreciation for his assistance we drove off.[12] I looked back and realized that we had dropped him off at a Hanuman temple.[13]

At 2.55 pm we droved to Turaiyur to meet Rendaraaja Desigar hoping to be back in time for the prayers at Utamar temple.

The food at Mani Aiyar was excellent. We stopped at Samayapuram Mariamman temple at 3.15 pm. Devendran accompanied me. As the sanctum was under renovation the idol of the Goddess was replaced with a painting.

Meeting Rengaraaja Desigar Of Ongkaara Kudil

We left for Turaiyur at 3.40 pm hoping to get a darshan and blessings of Swami Rengaraaja Desigar, founder and patron of the Agathiyar Sanmarga Sangam, at Ongkara Kudil, Turaiyur. I specifically wanted to come here. We reached his ashram at 5 pm. I was happily welcomed by Nadaraja. He was the one managing this establishment. On hearing that I was from Malaysia he was overjoyed. He had very high respects for Malaysians. He said, “All these is possible because of you Malaysians”, pointing to all the structures and facilities put up with donations from Malaysians. I enquired if I could see the Swami. I was told he would be coming in a short while for the evening prayers at 6.30 pm and that I could see him then. While I waited I was served tea. After a while Nadarajah, tells me Swami was coming down to meet a couple of businessmen. I was given the opportunity to meet the Swami after them. But before that he took me around to view all the facilities that they had at the ashram which helps feed the poor. As he ended the tour of the office, kitchen, and stores and other related buildings, he gasped aloud to find that the two visitors had left. He hurried me along to a building, praying that Swami should still be around to see me. There was Swami seated alone on the floor in one corner of that small room. There was an aid standing at the doorway to another room. I entered the room and prostrated in front of him. Devendran followed too. Nadarajah introduced me to Swami. Swami talked cheerfully about Kuala Lumpur and enquired from Devendran about my arrangement to tour India. I never expected to have an audience with Swami one to one. I asked that he bless me. He did not reply. Fearing he might not have heard me I asked him thrice.[14] Finally he replied that coming to Ongkara Kudil in itself was a blessing. I did not know how to receive his answer then[15]. Nadarajah invited me to stay overnight but I had to turn down his requests because of prior arrangements to do parikaaram back at the Utamar temple.

Upon returning back to Malaysia I narrated my visit to Ongkara Kudil and having the audience with Swami to the devotees at Agathiyar Sanmarga Sangam in Dengkil and they were surprised that I was allowed to see Swami that easily and in private too. I was told the organization had laid certain rules to restrict the inflow of devotees coming to see Swami, which was taking much of Swami’s time and hindering his meditation. Also those devotees were required to bring along fruits and flowers that were customary when visiting Swamis and cash of Rs1, 000. It did not occur to me to bring these offerings nor did Nadarajah enlighten me on the procedures. I suppose I was destined to meet the Swami.

‘Brahmaharti’ And ‘Sangkalpa’

I started back to Utamar temple at 5.45 pm to perform the next parikaaram – prayers to Brahma, Vishnu and Siva and donations to Brahmin priests. Devendran accompanied me. Sivabalan told me since I had done harm to Brahmins in my last birth I should ask to do Brahmaharti at Lord Vishnu’s shrine. I asked to do Brahmaharti at Lord Vishnu’s chamber as advised by Sivabalan. The priests chanted some mantra and splashed some water on my face.

Thinking I needed to do Brahmaharti at Siva’s chamber too, I mentioned to the other priests, at this chamber only to be told that he had done the Sangkalpa pooja that removes all my previous, present and the future karmas. I understood that I am a clean slate now. I have to ensure extreme precautions in whatever I do, say and think and to be totally aware so as not to create fresh and new karmas.

8 am, 6^th September 2003, and I am off to Paalur Navagraha temple to perform parikaaram at Sani Bhagavan’s sanctum. Devendran accompanied me. The uniqueness of this Navagraha temple is that all the planets are with their consorts here. On enquiring what I should do, the priests asks that I donate sesame oil and silk cloth for the nine planets. At 8.20 am, I am back at Trichy to purchase the items for the prayers as suggested by the priest. We rush back to the temple. Abhisegam was done at 10 am. The elderly priest mentions that his nephew was at the Palani Andavar temple and he asked me to look him up on arrival in Palani.

Then I was off to Sri Rangam Temple. It was just as crowded as Tirupati. Here Lord Vishnu as Ranganathar is in a reclining pose.[16] I could not enter the main chamber to see Lord Ranganathar. Instead I  spent some time at the Ambal shrine where prayers were going on.

As I was about to get into the car and drive away from Sri Rangam a holy man with a long white beard, long hair that was tied up neatly, and dressed in a white vesti,  appeared from out of nowhere. He was fair, merry, and cheerful. He started blessing me, “You shall be fine”. He spoke fine English and Tamil. I bent to touch his feet, asked if he had eaten and gave him a token before I bid farewell to him.[17]

2.10 pm, I start back to the hotel that was in the outskirts of town. Feeling rather bored at the hotel, I woke up Devendran who was having an afternoon nap and ask that he drive me into town.

4 pm to 5 pm, I shopped the streets of Trichy for books.

Devendran accompanied me as we started climbing the flight of stairs up to the Rock Fort where the Uchipillaiyaar temple and Tayumana Swami temple is located. The electricity supply was interrupted in certain portions of this Rock Fort temple while I was here. It was an unusual experience; praying and moving around in the dark. It was a beautiful view from up here. I left for the hotel at 7.30 pm.

5.30 am, 7^th September 2003 I left for Palani a day earlier then scheduled. I reached the foot of the hillock at 8.50 am. After a brief drive around the hill Devendran dropped me off at the entrance to the Tiru Avinankudi temple [18]. After prayers at Tiru Avinankudi temple, I started for the hill temple only to realise later that I was moving away from it. Realizing this I asked for directions to the hill temple. I bought prayer items for the abhisegam and started up the hill. After having taken only a few steps I just could not move my legs any more. They were extremely heavy as if rooted to the ground. I had to force myself to lift my legs. The heart was pumping hard. I was gasping for air. I pushed myself determined to scale the hill. I had to break the climb though, stopping every few minutes. I eventually reached the top of the hill. On reaching the top, I was dizzy and had to sit. I dropped my belongings and leaned against the wall of one of the stalls that were lined up. As I sat there I was sweating profusely on the verge of fainting. The throat was extremely parched and dry. As I opened my eyes all was bright and white. I could hear the crowd and see silhouettes of people moving along. [19]

Having regained my composure after some time I stood up. I continued my way to Palani Andavar’s chambers. I stood in row to have the darshan of Palani Andavar and did archana here.

Leaving the Lord’s chambers I followed the crowd ahead of me. I then came upon another room where there were four Brahmin priests. I enquired if it was Sage  Bhogar’s samadhi and they nodded. I entered and stood in prayer while one of the priests showed the flame. One of the four priests, a young man, reached for a tumbler on top of a closet in the room and handed it to me saying it was abhisegam milk. I drank the milk. I took the opportunity to sit for a while here as there were no devotees around. Upon opening my eyes I noticed the priest was still there in front of me, this time holding some flowers and vibhuti in his hand. He gave them to me. I took leave thanking him silently. [20]

I came out of Sage Bhogar’s chamber in a daze, not comprehending what had just happened back there. I walked around the temple grounds still in a daze but with a heart that was full, brimming with joy. I finally left the premises and found my way to the car at the foothill at 11 am. I was back at the hotel in Trichy at 2.40 pm.

Day 8 – Revisiting My Roots

8^th September 2003, I had a day without any activity as we had covered all there was to be seen earlier then planned. So Devendran suggested I visit my late father’s village Kilsevalpatti in Putukkottai - Sivagangai district. I started for my father’s village at 7.20 am.

Viralimalai

We stopped at Viralimalai Murugan temple. Here I saw a spectacular sight - flocks of peacock roaming freely in the wild.

Kundrakudi – Pillaiyaar Patti

8.50 am, I was at Kundrakudi Shanmuganathar temple located on a small hillock.

11.40am, I was at Pillaiyaar Patti Karpaga Vinayagar temple. Here was one huge statue of Lord Vinayagar carved on the face of a huge boulder that had become a famous temple now.

12.30 pm, I stopped over at Kaala Bhairavar temple. A very tranquil place.

I left this temple at 1.20 pm for my late father's village. As we drove down a lane in between rows of houses there was a large gathering in front of a house. We stopped three doors away from the crowd and stepped into a house. An elderly man was seated at a corner. I introduced myself and enquired if he knew my late father. He tells me he was related too and informed me my cousin  had passed away last night. The crowd three doors away had gathered for the funeral. As I was on a pilgrimage I could not meet my relatives. I gathered whatever I could from this relative and snapped a few shots of the house my father was born and lived in and the street that he had walked. I could not enter my father’s childhood home for lunch was been served for the relatives of the deceased. So for some reason I was not allowed to mend or meet up with my relatives in India.

Vayalur

I returned to Trichy at 4.30 pm and continued to visit Kumara Vayalur Murugan temple. I was here at 5.30 pm. A huge statue of Kripananda Vaariyaar greeted me upon arrival. I left for the hotel at 6pm.

Day 9 – The Pinnacle Of My Journey

6 am, 9^th September, I left for Thiru Anaikaval temple again thinking I could take a dip in the tank. But there was hardly any water in the tanks.

7.15 am, I started for Tiruvanamalai stopping over at Viradeswarar Temple in Tirukovilur at 10.40 am. I continued my journey to Tiruvanamalai at 11 am.

I reached Tiruvanamalai temple at 1.15 pm. Devendran accompanied me. I was at the temple grounds till 1.50 pm. I had a beautiful darshan, and pretty close one too of Lord Annamalaiyaar and Goddess Unna Mulaiyal. I performed prayers here, at the Siva Parvathi Urchavamurthy and at Lord Murugan’s shrine. I saw the Patala Lingam where Ramana Maharishi had meditated. I left for the hotel at 2.30 pm.

This was the day of going around Mount Tiruvanamalai. According to the nadi I was to go round this hill on a full moon night.[21] So here I was on the 9^th September 2003 in Tiruvanamalai. Pornami started at 10.47 pm and lasted till 10.48 pm the next day (10^th September 2003). At 5.30 pm I walked to the temple from the hotel. I joined the long queue to get another darshan of the Lord before embarking on the Girivalam. It was a long queue indeed for I only saw the Lord at 9 pm. At 9.40 pm I started on the Girivalam path finishing back at the temple grounds at 6.30 am on 10^th September. I stopped over at the following places of worship:

Tuesday, 9^th September

9.45 pm Agni Lingam in the temple grounds

10.40 pm Seshadari ashram, Amman temple, Dhashina Murthi temple

10.45 pm Kali temple

11.30 pm Ramana ashram

11.40 pm turned back without visiting Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s (Visiri Swami) ashram as I thought the path was taking me away from the Girivalam route

11.55 pm Murugan temple, Sakthi temple, Adi Shankaracharyar Madam, Tank

Wednesday, 10^th September

12.10 am Cemetery, Yama Lingam

12.20 am Mrityam Or Jaya Lingam, Ganesar temple

12.35 am Tank, Dhurvasar temple, Nandi temple

12.50 am Tank, Jhoti Vinayagar temple

1.20 am Vallalar temple, Annamalaiyaar temple, Unna Mulaiyal temple

1.30 am Anjaneyar temple

1.40 am Palani Andavar temple, Raja Rajeswari temple, Nandi temple

1.50 am Adi Mudi Sidhar Samadhi, Kautamar Rishi temple, Surya Lingam temple, Ramar temple, Varuna Lingam temple, Adi Arunachaleswarer temple

2.45 am Manickavasagar temple, Ganesar temple, Sakthi temple, Sudhananda ashram

3.10 am Vayu Lingam temple

3.20 am Tank, Ramachandra Swami ashram

4.20 am Kubera Lingam temple

4.40 am Eduku Pillaiyaar temple, Panja Muka Darshan temple, Brahma Rishi temple, Esaki temple

5.00 am Arthanathiswarar temple

5.10 am Seenivasa Perumal temple, Cemetery, Ammani Ammal Peedham, Esanya Lingam temple

5.30 am Easanya samadhi, Annamalaiyaar temple

5.55 am Draupadi Amman temple

6 am Durga, Anjaneyar, and Perumal temples

Finally Erathai Vinayagar temple at 6.30 am ending the Girivalam at the eastern gopuram.

I was hoping to come face to face with my guru at this holy event. But I was not destined to meet him until a later date.[22]

Day 11 – Returning Home - A Satisfied Pilgrim

Thursday morning, 11^th September, I walked to Annamalaiyaar temple at 6.30 am to have HIS ‘darshan’ again. Today there was no crowd any longer. I took my time to pray and look around. I saw abhisegam being performed to Annamalaiyaar’s ‘feet’. I splashed myself with water from the tank (Indra Theertam). As I came around the temple grounds, a woman was standing alone against the wall opposite Lord Egambareswarar’s sanctum. She indicated by hand gestures that she was hungry. I gave her money. I then fell at her feet. [23]

I returned to the hotel after breakfast. Devendran turned up at 10 am.

I went over to Ramana Maharishi’s ashram to purchase some audio cassettes; then over to Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s ashram at 10.40 am and sat at his samadhi. No one was around then except for an employee from the ashram who was stationed to distribute prasadham to devotees at the entrance. It was beautiful here. The calmness away from the hectic atmospheres in most of the major temples that I had visited earlier.

I went over to Kubera Lingam at 11.30 pm. Devendran accompanied me. I followed Supramania Swami’s instructions and left for Chennai at 11.40 am.[24]

On the way I chanced to see Swami Ragavendra’s Brindavan at Vemandhi in Pelakuppam, Tindivanam.

Then I diverted to Tiruporur Kandasamy temple. I was there from 4 pm to 4.30 pm. I reached Chennai at 5.20 pm.

I had planned to see a few more temples in Chennai but it was not important any more. After Tiruvanamalai and the darshan of Supramania Swami nothing was important anymore. That night I ventured out of my hotel. Because I had much time on my hands, I dropped in at the Vinayagar temple next to my hotel.

Day 12 – Departure Day

I went again to the Vinayagara temple at 5.30 am,  12^th September  Then I went to the adjacent Vadapalani Murugan temple and a Siva temple. At 8 am I was back at the hotel; at 10 am I did some shopping in T Nagar returning to the hotel at 3 pm; at 8 pm I started for the airport. I took the flight back to Malaysia at 12.05 am on 13^th September 2003. It was a memorable journey and satisfying trip indeed.

More Revelations In The Nadi

19 August 2005, I called Ramesh. He asks that I see him for he has news from Sage Agathiyar’s  ‘Aasi Kaandam’. Sage Agathiyar assures me that I have the blessings of Lord Murugan, Saint Ramalingam (Vallalar), and him. He explains what happened at Palani when I was there in 2002. Now I have the answer.

Sage Agathiyar Brings Forward My Trip To India

On 26^th August 2005 I called Tavayogi on the phone at Kallaru. He recognized my voice immediately. I told him I am making arrangements to come to India and Kallaru. I continued, “I have to go to Palani…” But even before I could complete the sentence Tavayogi replied, “I shall take you wherever you want to go”. Then all of a sudden he put forward a question. He asked, “Are you coming next month”. I remained quite for a moment and said I have to arrange for finance etc. to which he said he understood. He was disappointed I think that I could not come in September. I could tell from his response to my answer. I told him I would try to come as requested.[25]

MY SECOND TRIP TO INDIA

Day 1 – Starting The Pilgrimage With Saint Ragavendra’s Blessing

I boarded the plane for India from Kuala Lumpur International Ai rport at 9.05 am on the 16^th September 2005 on a pilgrimage a day after my 46^th birthday. I had been directed to make this pilgrimage by  Sage Agathiyar through the nadi.

I arrive in Chennai at 10 am IST. Jiva, the tour agent in India and Prem, my driver received me at the airport. I confirmed my return ticket at the Jet Airway’s counter before heading for the moneychangers in Saidapet. I changed the currency I had brought.

I called on Amman Satyanathan at Triplicane to collect herbs for my brother-in-law . Amman Satyanathan was a staunch devotee of Saint Raghavendra. He is an author and publisher of many books on the saint. I started my pilgrimage with a prayer at Saint Ragavendra’s Brindavan opposite Amman Satyanathan’s publishing company cum bookshop.

I had lunch at Hotel Saravanabhavan and I left for Tiruvanamalai at 1.20 pm.

Melmaruvathur Athi Parasakthi Temple

I stopped at Melmaruvathur Athi Parasakthi temple. This is the second time I was here. There was hardly any crowd this time around and I had the Goddess all to myself. Trying to find my way out of this temple complex I chanced upon a building that caught my attention. As I looked to see what was inside, an elderly gentlemen invited me in saying it was the meditation hall. The meditation hall had a large portrait of Bangaaroo Adigal. There was no one around. I sat to meditate. I saw an aura around the portrait of the saint and the altar.

After coming round the temple grounds a couple of times trying to find my way out, I finally find the exit. I was not the only one. There were some women too who asked me for directions to exit from the temple grounds. I left the temple at 3.15 pm. I reached the outskirts of Tiruvanamalai at 5 pm. I had the first view of the hill here. I went looking around for Supramania Swami’s kudil but eventually decided to call Swami’s son Ramajayam, over to Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s (Visiri Swami) ashram and have me taken to the kudil.

Visiri Swami’s ‘Samadhi’ And ‘Ashram’

While Prem tries to contact Ramajayam I prayed at Visiri Swami’s temple and samadhi. As I entered the temple complex prayer was going on. A small group of devotees were singing the Swami’s naamam ‘ Yogi Ramsuratkumara, Yogi Ramsuratkumara, Yogi Ramsuratkumara, Jaya Gururaya’ and going round the samadhi. I joined them. I was given prasadham that I eat and fed a dog that stood looking at me.

Supramania Swami’s ‘Kudil’

Ramajayam was already waiting as I came out of the ashram grounds. We hugged each other. He took me to Supramania Swami’s kudil. We stopped the car a short distance from the kudil and I hopped onto Ramajayam’s motorcycle as the path had narrowed down from here on. I saw the building that I had helped put up for Swami for the first time. It was thirty feet by eleven feet built on a small plot of land thirty feet by sixty feet. Swami’s wife greeted me at the door. She said I looked different.[26]

As I stepped into the kudil, Supramania Swami came out of the prayer room. On seeing me he backed away against the wall. He too said I looked different. I handed Swami the offering of flowers and fruits that I had bought and fell at his feet. I suddenly cried. Swami picked me up and ushered my into the prayer room. He handed over a dhoti (kaavi) to adorn and had me sit on the carpet. Ramajayam tells me Swami was waiting since morning for my arrival with excitement. 

Later Swami tells me that he heard the sound of Ongkaram and a loud blast as I arrived at the kudil. He told me I was ‘heavy’ as he tried to pick me up.

I could not help notice that he had covered an existing window with a gunny sack. When I enquired he told me he had closed up the window, which was in the living area directly opposite his bed, because he could not continue to see the hill any longer, as it was too ‘fiery’.

Swami and I spoke throughout the night and early morning. Swami’s wife had retired for the night sleeping in the kitchen of the kudil. Ramajayam had rode off to his home in the village where his family stayed. I finally called it a day at 2.40 am while Swami kept on with his chanting.

Day 2 – ‘Girivalam’ - A Second Time

17^th Sept 2005 - I woke up at 5 am. Today was the first Saturday of ‘Puratasi Sani’. Swami asked that we go to Lord Sri Ranganathar temple in Tiruveragam that morning. But he asked to delay the journey and  told me we should leave at 10.30 am after ‘Rahu Kaalam’. I thought why should Swami bother about ‘time’ having being a gnani?

I thought I should read my nadi to Swami while waiting, since he was the first guru I had met. Swami was excited when I talked about Sage Agathiyar and the nadi. He listened attentively. After listening to the nadi reading Swami mentioned to me why he had asked that we delay the trip to the temple. He had wanted me to share this reading, he said. That is when he narrates to me the incident that took place in the wee hours of that morning after I had gone to sleep. A mother and a child came into the kudil and  seated themselves beside me as I slept through that morning. Swami was watching from his bed and listening on their conversation. The mother was dressed in a rainbow colored saree and was carrying a feeding bottle also of the same color. The child was placing his hand on my belly button. Then the child told the mother, “Lets see if the oil lamp in the altar has sufficient oil”. He took her to the adjacent prayer room. “The mother and child had followed you to the kudil  and never came out of the prayer room”, said Swami. He cried at this juncture. I too cried.

Swami was so excited he too wanted to see his nadi.I gave him Ramesh’s contact number and told him I shall ask Ramesh to read Swami's nadi once Ramesh was back in India.

Tiruveragam Sri Ranganathar Temple

We left for Tiruveragam Sri Ranganathar Temple, a 500-year-old temple near Swami’s village. Only then did I notice how the few kilometers that we drove to Sri Ranganathar temple that morning, had taken its toll on him. I had requested Swami to follow me on my pilgrimage but then I figured whether it was wise to do so. He was not in good health to travel such a vast distance. Ramajayam too mentioned that Swami had recently returned from a trip to Palani only to be bedridden later. So I told Swami on the way back that I would go alone to which Swami agreed and added that he did not want to delay my trip in any way.

My Second Girivalam

It was a full moon day (Pornami) and I had planned to circle Annamalaiyaar with Swami but he was not fit and instead asked Ramajayam to accompany me. I got the blessings of Swami and his wife before I started on the Girivalam from Swami’s kudil at 6.40pm. Swami asked that we go next to Visiri Swami’s ashram before joining the Girivalam path. We did as requested. We prayed at Visiri Swami’s temple. We went in and out of all the temples and ashrams lined throughout the Girivalam route. Mysteriously at the entrance to Vallalar’s ashram and temple an old man hit me with herbs as I came alongside him. Later a young man popped up in front of us enquiring us as to where he could purchase books on Sage Agathiyar. We could easily show him the way because we had stopped over at that stall only a moment ago. At 1.40 am I was in front of the main temple. It was closed. I finished the Girivalam after having taken six hours to cover 14kms. On the first trip in 2003 it took me nine hours.

Day 3 – Meeting Up With Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal In Kallaru

18^th Sept 2005 - I am back at the kudil at two in the morning. Swami and his wife were awake waiting for Ramajayam and me to return.

I woke up at 5 am and l left for Kallaru at 7.40 am. Before I left Swami told me I will get Goddess Amman’s blessing. Swami added, “You will receive the blessings of sidhas where you are headed”. “You shall get the blessing of a sidha at a place where the waters from Lord Siva’s head meet this earth”, he added.[27]

He gave me a blanket to use in Kallaru. He prayed for my save journey. We hugged each other as I bid farewell.

We were headed for Coimbotore. We cut across a forest before reaching Salem at 11.15 am. I called Tavayogi to inform him I was coming over. We crossed the Kaveri River at Bhavani. There were lots of lorries and buses on this route, which leads one to Kerala too. We reached Methupalayam at 3 pm where I bought fruits and flowers as offerings to Tavayogi.

We reached Turipalam at 3.30 pm. Tavayogi had sent out his helpers and disciples to wait on me at the row of shops that lined this halt on the way up to Ooty. In fact I came to know from them that he had sent word about my arrival and asked his disciples in Madras , and Tiruvanamalai to offer all the assistance possible. They too had been waiting for me, I was told. Tavayogi was waiting for my arrival at his ashram steps. He greeted me just as a father would have received his son. He hugged me. Tavayogi pulled up a couple of chairs and offered me some fruits.

Some of his devotees had stayed back after the full moon prayers. These devotees come down to his Peedham just before full moon to hold prayers and help out with the feeding of the poor. He asked me if I would like to take a dip in the river or take a bath in the shed that was constructed at the Peedham grounds. I opted for the river. We had to come down a flight of steps onto a railway line serving Mettupalam and Ooty. After some distance we stepped into a path that took us down to a river were we took our bath. After prayers and meditation, we set off to the wholesale market at Methupalayam. I was told Methupalayam was where greens produce from the Ooty and Nilagiri hills where sold to retailers and dispensed throughout India. When we returned Nadaraja, Tavayogi’s faithful cook had already prepared dinner – idli and sambar. My nephew called while we were having dinner. As the Peedham did not have electricity supply, Tavayogi and I chat under the luminosity of a gas light for a while before retiring to bed at 8.15 pm. Tavayogi slept in the Peedham prayer room. He gave me the option whether I wanted to spent the night in the prayer room or with the others in the cabin. I chose to rough it out in the shed rather than intrude on Tavayogi’s privacy.

Day 5 – Meeting Other Swamis

20^th Sept 2005 - Tavayogi suggested we go to Ooti to drop in on some of the local living saints. With Suresh from Tiruvanamalai, who was at the peedham for the Pornami festivities, we went looking for Mani to take us to see these saints. We picked up Mani and his son-in-law too and headed for the first stop - Sargurunathar’s cave and ashram on the face of a cliff just along the Ooty - Methupalayam trunk road. Sage Agathiyar himself had blessed Sargurunathar. After his demise one Ramasamy Swami had taken over and done much charity in and around Ooti. On Ramasamy Swami’s demise last month, his disciple Suyam Jhoti Swami was now leading this organization. His ashram was in the slopes of Nilagiri Hills in Ooty in a place called Kasolai.  Tavayogi and he were engaged in a long conservation regarding their movements. We had lunch at his ashram. His disciples served us food. We were served simple food – rice and a soup cooked with lots of grains and nuts. Suyam Jhoti Swami took us to the prayer room and blessed us. I gave Tavayogi Rs 2,000, which Tavayogi handed to Suyan Jhoti Swami as donation for his ashram activities. The Swami gave us some books on songs about his parama guru written by him.

Then Mani took us to another priests who runs a Mariamman temple in the middle of a field. The priest conducted prayers, questioned us a lot, talked on his temple and festivities, and blessed me and our entourage, even Tavayogi, by applying kungumam on our foreheads. We had some bites here offered by the priest. His helpers served us.

The last stop was to Dayananda Swami who lived alone in his ashram in some woods in Ooty. A volunteer cum caretaker informed the swami of our arrival. Saint Adi Sankara’s Portrait in the hall of this house greeted us as we were lead into a room where the swami was cuddled on a bed in a corner of the room. He adorned a woolen cap on his head, a woolen shawl around his neck and a blanket wrapped around his body exposing only his feet to us. He asked lots of questions and also talked about Ooty - past and present. He told us he was going to leave the world and we shall see him as a star in the sky. Initially this saint did not allow me to photograph him but as we were having this conversation with him he eventually told me I could snap a picture or two. We were served hot tea, which brought relief in this cold weather.

Tavayogi had planned to return a visit by a swami who dropped by at Tavayogi’s Peedham sometime back. But as it was a cold and wet night out in the hills of Ooti and as it was already late  we decided to head back to the Peedham. Strong winds and drizzle prevailed throughout our journey.

On the way back Tavayogi explained to me the spiritual state of each of these Swamis.

Day 6 – A Day In The Life Of An Ashramite

21^st Sept 2005 - It was in Kallaru that I saw the moon extremely big and close with a very wide radiant circle around it. It was extremely beautiful. There was also a noise that woke me up in the early hours one morning. Upon lying in bed and paying attention to it, it sounded like the walk of heavily built person with a walking stick. I was not sure what it was. I narrated to Tavayogi that I heard sounds in the night. He in turn narrated stories where elephants used to walk right up to the Peedham and stand in the bushes; a leopard having come into the Peedham grounds and killed a dog that was tied up to a post; and numerous occasions where snakes were spotted in the grounds. During the time I was in Kallaru, I used to wake up each morning at 4 am and tried to meditate until sun break, which occurs early in India, around 5 am. I then picked the flowers for the morning prayer.

I spent the day at the ashram with Tavayogi, Vimalan, Suresh, and Nadaraja where I did some reading besides chatting with these folks. Tavayogi was with the local village headman sorting out allocation of the housing for the local aborigines that the government was building adjacent to the Peedham.

Tavayogi related to me the anxiety he had to go through trying to put up the ‘Aaru Aataare Peedham’. The Peedham was fashioned based on exact measurements and guidance given by Sage Agathiyar to Tavayogi. It was one massive piece of granite weighing 1,250kg that was cut into seven number of receding steps. It was made out of a solid piece of granite elsewhere and then transported by lorry to the foot of the small hillock where the Peedham was perched on. The Peedham had to be carried across the railway lines that were running from Coimbotore to Ooti passing the small village of Kallaru. When he was lost for ideas trying to bring the Peedham, all the way up the small hillock over the railway lines, Sage Agathiyar sends someone with an elephant to pull it up the hill slopes.

Tavayogi spoke about Arutprakasa Swami, Jaganathar Swami, and Chitramuthu Adigal all of whom followed Saint Ramalingam’s teaching. Chitramuthu Adigal was both Arutprakasa Swami’s and Tavayogi’s guru. Jaganathar Swami was Chitramuthu Adigal’s guru.

As I was sitting at the Peedham I had a thought that since the next day, being a Thursday, an auspicious day for Guru worship, I wanted Tavayogi to carry out a special prayer for Sage Agathiyar followed by serving food for the locals. I mentioned this wish to Tavayogi. Nadaraja and he were overjoyed. In the evening we went downtown to purchase groceries and vegetables for the feast.

Later that evening Tavayogi brought out bundles of nadi that were in his possession. They were of various sizes and lengths; some with very fine writings and others with big writings. He read to me some transcriptions of the nadi written in notebooks. He passed me the one on his daughter. In it Sage Agathiyar consoles Tavayogi’s daughter who was saddened since Tavayogi had left the family to become a monk. Sage Agathiyar says Tavayogi was a sidha and on his demise his soul would be lead away by Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi themselves in a craft called ‘puspavimaanam’.

Vimalan came over to me and whispered close to my ears that Suresh and Mani’s son-in-law were waiting at the village below and wondered if I would like to follow them into town. I excused myself from Tavayogi who did not stop me nor questioned me. I dressed up and we headed for Methupalayam in my car.

Only in the car did they mention they wanted to go to the famed Kil Tirupathy temple out of town. This temple was a miniature of Tirumalai Tirupathy temple of Andra. It was on a privately owned property in the middle of a mill. It was beautiful and well maintained. Vimalan had to leave his cell phone with the security. Once inside the temple they wanted to wait it out until closing time were the God and Goddess are put to sleep.

When we came back to the Peedham, Tavayogi was waiting up for us. Upon seeing the car he sent Nadaraja down with a torch. Nadaraja passed the torch without saying a word and went down to the village, apparently angry at us for turning up late. Tavayogi asked me why we were late. I told him we went to the temple. He asked why we did not call him. Vimalan replied he had surrendered the phone with the security. Tavayogi told us Nadaraja had prepared dinner and had waited on us. “The food has now gone cold. Help yourself”, he said. He watched us as we ate in silence feeling guilty for staying out late and not informing him. I could envision him as a father who was worried sick and nervously plying the room waiting for news of his children and looking out for signs of a car approaching with his children returning home.              

Day 7 – A Day Of Doing Charity

22^nd Sept 2005 – Suresh and Vimalan cooked the food with some assistance and supervision from Nadaraja. Word was passed on to the villagers that prayers would be conducted and free food would be served. Tavayogi conducted prayers at exactly 11 am followed by serving food at noon.

Nadaraja out of the blues commented that the day’s event was even greater than the usual feeding done on full moon days. He added that the day was also auspicious because it was Kritigai, a special day for Lord Murugan. Later Tavayogi tells me it was not Nadaraja who had made the statement. He indicated that the sidhas were communicating through Nadaraja and THEY were happy. I did ask Tavayogi if the sidhas were present at the altar in the Peedham to receive our prayers. Tavayogi questioned me back, “What! Do you think they are not around?”, since he must have thought I doubted their presence by asking each time if they were around, at the Peedham, in the caves and at the samadhi that we visited.

That night Tavayogi and myself sat done to plan over journey according to Sage Agathiyar’s Aasi Kaandam. My brother who was a journalist with a local English daily in Malaysia, was also in India having just arrived on September 17^th  for a convention cum visit to farms. He was reporting on methods of farming adopted in India. He was with a few other journalists and some farmers from Malaysia. We made arrangements to meet him in Trichy the next day.

Day 13 – Another Day Of Doing Charity

This morning I went for a bath at the river with Tavayogi, my brother and the local children while Mrs. Sarojini (now Mataji) and a local woman prepared food to feed the locals, sponsored by my brother. Back from the river, I cleaned and decorated the prayer room, which I took it upon myself to do as long as I was in Kallaru. My brother took the opportunity to show the transcription of his nadi that was read in Trichy some days back. I had very much wanted my brother to read the nadi because I feel he is someone special. Each time before the gods and saints appeared in my dream, my brother was always there. I did mention this to Supramania Swami. He interpreted my brother appearing in the dreams as Lord Vinayagar himself - the elder one. I had also mentioned to Tavayogi and requested Tavayogi to advise my brother to see his nadi when he was in Kallaru. In fact when I was in Kallaru Tavayogi did ask me if I wanted to read the nadi. He could make arrangements for people to come over from Avinasi to the Peedham. I declined because I had yet to go on the tour with Tavayogi as instructed by Sage Agathiyar. Once I had fulfilled the instructions in the latest reading of the nadi, I would consider seeing it again for further directions from the Sage.

Mrs. Sarojini told us much has been said in her nadi about Tavayogi to which Tavayogi stopped her from revealing more. Later when she came into the cabin that was our lodge I asked her to continue on Tavayogi and the nadi readings pertaining to him. She brought more transcriptions of the nadi on Tavayogi, on her, and some others kept in notebooks. She read to me the greatness of Tavayogi that was mentioned by the sidhas. She told me it was stated in her nadi that she could achieve enlightenment by serving Tavayogi.

That afternoon we had a prayer for Sage Agathiyar and the sidhas followed by free food for the locals. Then my brother on seeing the pitiful sight of the native Indians suggested to me if he should buy them clothings too. I told my brother we could try mentioning to Tavayogi. I was surprised when Tavayogi happily agreed. Tavayogi added that he was pondering as to how he was going to manage these children who would come around asking for new clothing since Deepavali was around the corner. Tavayogi surprised me. Only a couple of days ago when I had arrived in Kallar I put foreword my wish if I should get these children some shoes. I noticed they go to school bare footed. Tavayogi told me it was not necessary. His priority was getting them textbooks and stationeries. Anyway they would lose those shoes eventually, he added.

This event reminds me of an episode that I read in the book ‘FRAGRANT PETALS- A REPRESENTATIVE ANTHOLOGY ON SRI BHAGAVAN’ on Ramana Maharishi of Tiruvanamalai. TPR writes in “The Approach Through Songs’ in that book as follows:

‘Bhagawan turned to me and said: "He is Kanappa, the disciple of Vallimalai Swami. He sings beautifully, even better than his guru. He brings tears to one’s eyes". Bhagawan went on praising Kanappa, which was something quite unusual, so a real urge to hear him came over me, and I begged him to sing. He began to sing Tiruppugazh. I have never heard such a vibrant voice. He even brought tears to my eyes. For an hour or more we all listened spellbound. I went out of the hall just behind Bhagawan and he suddenly turned around and said to me, "All this is unnecessary. If you gave your mind to it, it will lead you astray- no use". This was a shock to me, as he had just been praising Kanappa sky high.

‘On another occasion, the famous singer Dilip Kumar Roy spoke as follows; "I know no meditation or samadhi and no sadhana to attain it. I follow the devotional approach of bakti. I worship god through my songs. By crying to Him I seek to attain Him Bhagawan, is this way right? Please guide me, master." Bhagawan looked graciously at him and said with immense love and compassion; "Yes, what you are doing is just what you have to do. Carry on and it will certainly lead you to your goal. Through devotion to god we discharge our emotions and that is a sure way to reach him." Again I went out to lunch just behind Bhagawan and again he turned to me. This time he said, "Tell Dilip that our Tamil saints have said that bakti is the mother of jnana. So bakti margam is supreme. The essence of bakti is in merging with the universal being through emotional devotion."

‘I was perplexed. The other day he had praised the singing of Kanappa but then advised me not to follow that way; and now again he was saying that the devotional and emotional way of bakti was the supreme and almost the only way to reach god. I pondered over it for a time, and then it flashed on me that he praised this way to Kanappa who was already following it under instructions from his guru but cautioned me against it and the caution applied only to me personally. And he alone can judge what path is right for me. Now again he was commending the bakti path as supreme because for Dilip it was supreme.’

The disciple eventually realized that Bhagavan’s reply and the advice he gave were meant solely for each individual and not to be generalized.

Osho too had on many occasions contradicted his own sayings. When questioned he would give an answer that was true and appropriate for that disciple and for that moment only.

Sadhu Natanananda in ‘SRI RAMANA DARSANAM’ has this to say,

‘In this case, and in all the other exchanges I have just given, the attitudes and assumptions of the devotees that manifested in Bhagawan’ presence determined the response.’

When Tavayogi told me it was not necessary to spend on clothing for the poor at Kallaru but when my brother proposed he readily agreed and appreciated the move to buy new clothing, I too realized that every word said by a saint or guru is meant only for that individual; only for him alone. This I realized again when I mentioned to Tavayogi that Appana had wanted me to be the secretary of the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham and that I had refused the offer. Tavayogi agreed I did the right thing in refusing to accept the offer. “It was not necessary for us. It might be appropriate for Seelalli, for he has a purpose that is to spread the greatness of the Tamil language”, he added.

In an article on the net;

‘Babaji and Mataji, in their own time,  melts all hearts, expand all minds and transforms the consciousness of each of their devotees. Babaji teaches that all paths are glorious and each is appropriate for the soul guided to follow it.’

And so we took along Mrs. Sarojini to shop for clothing at Methupalayam. We purchased some 39 pairs of clothing for Rs 4,200.00. The shop owner of Kumaran textiles was kind enough to give us a discount. My brother paid Rs 3,500.00 for the lot. Earlier we did enter a shop two doors away but picked up only two pairs as the shop owner after learning that the clothing were for the poor started to dump stained, old cloths on us saying he was giving us at a discounted price. Tavayogi walked out of the shop angry at the very mindset of the owner. On our return to the Peedham word went out that Tavayogi was giving away Deepavali clothing. The villager’s children crowded around Tavayogi and each received a pair of shirt and pant for the boys and dresses for the girls.

My Third Teecha From Tavayogi

That night we started packing to leave Kallaru first thing in the morning. Tavayogi handed some things to be delivered to the disciples back in Malaysia. He then called me into the prayer room at the Peedham saying he owes me something. He ask that  Mrs. Sarojini bring fruits on a tray and asked me to place some coins on it.

He then gave me a second teecha, which was in the form of a breathing exercise. The earlier teecha was a mantra.

Later Mrs. Sarojini and Tavayogi reminisces on their days together in the Patti Mantra team having spoken throughout Tamil Nadu and on various interesting topics. We listened attentively. 

Day 14 – Another Day With Supramania Swami

29^th Sept 2005 - I woke up early. Mrs. Sarojini heated up the water for our bath as it was too early and dark to have a bath in the river. She prepared breakfast too. My brother and I bid farewell to Tavayogi and Mrs. Sarojini. We left Kallaru for Tiruvanamalai at 6.00 am.

We reached Tiruvanamalai at 2.30 pm. I introduced my brother to Supramania Swami. Supramania Swami then asked me, “Did you see your Guru?” I was simply amazed at this man who knew from my nadi that I had to accept Tavayogi as a guru, did not feel deleted nor discourage me nor stop me from visiting him. He then asked, “Did you hear the voice?”, triggering my memory back to the first day at the kudil. Suddenly I remembered that I had actually heard a third person chant along with us the first night I spent in this kudil upon arriving in India. I asked Swami who it was? He answered with a laugh, “That was Visiri Matai” referring to his guru Visiri Swami (Yogi Ramsuratkumar). He also said, “You have undertaken this pilgrimage for me”. I had the sidha’s blessing and Sage Agathiyar’s too, he added. He had a few predictions for Kathi. He handed Kathi a five-faced rosary that he had been using and asked us to split into two. I told him to give it all to Kathi without breaking it up. Ramajayam drove Kathi to Chennai at 4.00 pm in a four-wheel drive that Kathi hired.

That evening I took Swami to his village, Nachaananthal, eight kilometers from Tiruvanamalai town. We returned the same night. That night I contacted Vimalan whom I met in Kallaru. He dropped in at the kudil. I introduced him to Swami asking him to look into Swami’s needs since Vimalan and Suresh were locals. Vimalan wanted to take us to a few temples the next day, including that of Arunachaleswarer.

Day 15 – Annamalaiyaar Up Close

At 8.00 am Vimalan comes to the kudil to take us to two small temples run by  Suresh and him around Tiruvanamalai. The first was where Esaki Sidha pulled the caretaker of this temple through a crack in the wall of the inner shrine of Lord Siva. There was a bright light on the other side of the crack in the wall. The caretaker panicked and let go off Esaki’s hand. The caretaker and his friends invited Swami and me for Pradosham prayers that evening.

The second was a temple where numerous statues including a Lingam and that of Goddess Amman were unearthed.

Both these temples were being rebuilt.

We went over to Lord Arunachaleswarer temple, lead by Vimalan and one of his friends from the first temple. Suresh joined us at the temple with the local flower dealer. I had a pretty good and close look at Lord Annamalaiyaar thanks to this locals.

We returned to the kudil after packing lunch at 11.00 am. Suresh, Vimalan and his entourage bid farewell asking Swami and me to go over to the first temple for Pradosham prayers at 5.00 pm. Later when we were alone Swami asked me if we had to go over to that temple? I sensed he was not keen on going over to that temple so I suggested we go to Visiri Swami’s ashram, Ramana’s ashram, and Seshadari’s ashram instead, to which he gladly agreed.

Accompanying Supramania Swami To Visiri Swami’s  Ashram: Ramana Maharashi’s And Seshadari Swami’s Ashrams Too

The Pradosham prayers was being conducted at Visiri Swami’s ashram that evening. Supramania Swami sat and watched the ‘Abhisegam’ to the Lingam and Nandi silently without even moving an inch. We spent an hour and a half at Visiri Swami’s ashram.

As we came out of the temple the chanting of Visiri Swami's name was being played at a booth selling books and cassettes at the ashram. I bought but Supramania Swami paid for the cassette.

It was night now as we moved on to Ramana’s ashram were Bhajans was being sung at the Maharishi’s samadhi.  We sat for a while and moved along to Seshadari Swami’s Ashram were Supramania Swami paid for the book on Seshadari Swami’s biography and his photo that I picked up.

We went back to the kudil, packed over bags, and started for Supramania Swami’s village. I put up a night with Swami in his village home.        

Day 16 – Returning Home From A Pilgrimage Of A Different Kind

Preparations were done to conduct a prayer in Supramania Swami’s home in his village. As the women folk were preparing the dishes Swami charted my astrological chart. He was eager to know why I had made this trip at this moment in time. It seems that the planets were favorable for this travel overseas to see my guru. I had to make this trip according to the charts and Swami also foretold that there is a possibility I will be back in India before February 2006. [28]

He mentioned an eight year period when Kethu buddhi sets in, when I would be 71 years of age. This period would be extremely favorable period for me and I will see spiritual advancement.

Today was the third Saturday in the Tamil month of Puratasi. Swami conducted the prayers to Lord Narayanan. His family prepared lots of food and offered it to the Gods after which they gave me the honor of distributing the food to all those present. After prayers and lunch I bid farewell to Swami and his family. I left for Chennai at 12.00 pm. Swami’s wife accompanied us till Chennai were she would visit her second daughter. I was taken to the tour agent’s office in Kodambakam, as it was only 4.30 pm. I had Tiffin with Jeeva, the tour agent. Prem sent me to the Meenambakkam Airport at 7.00 pm. I took the flight back to Malaysia at 11.00 pm.

I arrived in Malaysia at 5.30 am and took a cab home. I reached my home at 7 am. It was yet another memorable pilgrimage.

AFTER THE SECOND PILGRIMAGE

Further Suprises In The Nadi

19^th December 2005 - Ramesh, the nadi reader, told me he had news for me from Sage Agathiyar’s Aasi Kandam. Before I went to India I was informed in the nadi what to expect. It was unbelievable at that moment. I am still wondering why me? Do I deserve it? Could it be a mistaken identity? Could the nadi be for someone else? So then I leave for India following the directions given in the nadi. Whatever stated in the nadi did take place. Now upon returning back to Malaysia, Sage Agathiyar lays bare all those incidents that took place in India as if to confirm and tell me it was for real. It was truly amazing.

25^th December 2005 - Maran, a friend of my nephew calls me to say he had just seen Ramesh that morning. Maran tells me my name appeared in his nadi. I was to brief him on my experiences and sights that Sage Agathiyar had given me while on my trip to India recently. I was amazed to hear Sage Agathiyar mention this in Maran’s nadi. I asked Maran to meet me at my nephew’s home that evening. I told Maran all that I had seen and had been shown and asked him to make the trip too as soon as possible.

27^th  December 2005 - I called Ramesh stating my surprise that my name had been mentioned in Maran’s nadi. He repeated the reading in Maran’s nadi to me: “I have shown certain sights and visions to my son Shanmugam. You should come. I will show you too”.

More Amazing Moments

I called Tavayogi on the 28^th May 2006. The first thing he asked was if Sage Agathiyar came? Tavayogi again assured me Sage Agathiyar was with us. Later I pondered as to why Tavayogi should ask if Sage Agathiyar came unless Sage Agathiyar did actually come! I asked my family members if they saw Sage Agathiyar or dreamt about him. My children didn’t see. My wife replied she could have seen him but quickly added she wasn’t sure. Then she narrated the incident. I was doing the Ammavasai Pooja while my wife was meditating outside the prayer room. Suddenly she saw a light. For a moment she did not hear Praba and me singing hymns in the prayer room. She was lead away to this source of light. When her thoughts deviated from the source it was forcefully brought back and she saw the light again. She thought she saw a figure in the light that she could not make out. Could that be Sage Agathiyar, we asked ourselves? To confirm I called Tavayogi again and Mages spoke to him. She had not even gone into the details when Tavayogi assured her Sage Agathiyar came and she saw him. Blessed is she to have seen Sage Agathiyar.

2^nd June 2006 - My family and I were at prayer at 6 pm. We started singing Vinayagar Agaval, Tiru Arutpa Agaval and Kandha Guru Kavasam. Midway through Kandar Guru Kavasam I broke down in tears but managed to complete the song. Later my wife asked us if she had laughed during prayer. We didn’t hear her laugh. She tells me someone was laughing in her. It was a male voice and he was overjoyed. This was just before I stopped the song midway, she says. Sathanandha Swami authored the KANDAR GURU KAVASAM. One of Supramania Swami’s guru was also Sathanandha Swami.[29] Could they be the same person? Did my guru’s guru author that song?

6^th June 2006 - I called Supramania Swami. He was on his way back from Annamalaiyaar temple with his wife. He had performed ‘archana’ for me at the temple. I cried when he said, “You shall be fine”. He asked me not to cry and added, “No harm will befall you. Why should you cry? I am here. You are my child. I prayed to Arunachaleswarer to take care of you. One’s past doings might give problems. I shall not leave you alone to fight this battle”.  

Jayaseelan had an appointment with astrologer Dr. Krishnan. He asked that I follow. Krishnan on seeing me asked if Sage Agathiyar came? I replied, “Yes” and thanked him again for the ‘yantra’ and ‘mantra’ that he gave me. He answered, “It was time for you to know him”. He went on to describe Sage Agathiyar. According to him the Sage was not the short hermit that he was portrayed in most paintings. The Sage was of medium height, fair and beautiful. The Sage had taken the form of a short hermit for a mission. The full moon day (Pornami) was auspicious for the worship of the Sage.

Tavayogi too had told me the closest representation of the Sage was in one painting released by the Sage Agathiyar Gnana Peedham. This painting and another of the other siddhars was given to me by Appana and blessed by Tavayogi earlier at the Peedham in Batu Caves. Sage Kunangkudi Masthan has described Sage Agathiyar in a song: Sage Agathiyar of reasonable height, fair adorns a ‘Kridam’ over the head and he wears a garland of flowers. [30]

Tavayogi And Me

19^th June 2006 - Tavayogi mentions in a letter to me that among all his disciples, he has a special spot in his heart for me. I am blessed indeed. He also says the website that I created and hosted on the Peedham had attracted the attention of a Canadian. In one of the e-mails to me a Caucasian wrote that he was ill and crippled and was on his way to India seeking treatment. He asked if Tavayogi could help. I replied I have not personally seen Tavayogi heal people but he could try meeting Tavayogi. He could see Supramania Swami too. Otherwise he could meet Swami Nithyananda of Bangalore and I prayed he would be healed. This man eventually turned up at Tavayogi’s Peedham. But Tavayogi later told me he could not help him.

When I read a biography of Yogi Ramsuratkumar in the net recently, I could see the resemblance to the relationship between Tavayogi and me perfectly. The author writes,

‘The master (Swami Ramdas) knew the Truth and the Way and knew as well that there was nothing he could say to provide a short cut for the disciple (Yogi Ramsuratkumar). By the law of occult causation all progress on the path must be won by the individual through personal effort. Thus one who knows the way cannot speak; understanding that the aspirant constructs the path much like the spider spins its web out of its own being. In the relationship established between Yogi Ramsuratkumar and Swami Ramdas, there was little philosophical thought or practical guidance given. The rapport between the master and the disciple was on much subtler levels involving not so much principles of truth as the use of higher forces in bringing about actual transformation.’

Tavayogi did mention I was hasty in my journey to know God. He did not ask that I sit in front of him and lecture me for hours on spiritualism. Neither did I question him on those subjects. What he gave me was practical guidance. He did not preach much but instead got me on the path of the sidhas. I was taken to the jungles of Kangayam, Pothigai, and Courtalam. I had the rare opportunity to visit these spots and stay overnight in some of these caves, which I would not have done if I were touring on my own. I was taken back in time to places where modern means of transport could not reach, where there were no facilities such as in the modern world. This was one experience of going back in time to live in hamlets where there was no water supply and electricity. I realised the rapport between guru and disciple was on a much subtler level indeed, as mentioned by the author of the biography on Yogi Ramsuratkumar, by the use of higher forces, in this case the workings of the sidhas, in bringing about actual transformation.

Swami Nithyananda too says, "No communication will happen here - only a deep communion between you and me". The saints in Nithyananda’s words: "Speak about something which cannot be spoken about".

On the subject of subtle forces, it was said that:

Bhagawan Nithyananda of Ganeshpuri made a similar statement towards the end of his life. It appears that there were many signs of his impending passing but his devotees were mostly unaware of them. One woman devotee properly interpreted some of the signs and was distraught to learn of his plans to depart. He said to her, "Why are you crying? Don't cry. More is possible on the subtle than on the gross"

Tavayogi was living in the dark moving with the aid of hurricane lights, torchlight and the moonlight.[31] One had to ease in the bushes although in Kallaru we had a latrine put up especially for foreign devotees-the locals don’t use it preferring to go into the open, bathing in the streams and falls.

Another paragraph in the same biography of the Yogi, describes the exact state I am in:

‘After lifetimes of seeking out worldly experiences, and understanding, a man turns him back to the phenomenal worlds, and begins to search his inmost being in an effort to realize the source of spirit from whence he sprang and to which he must return. Gradually through the constant impact of dull and unadventurous lives he becomes insensitive to the vibrations of the outer physical worlds, within which he is a functioning entity. He becomes aware of the interior spiritual vibrations and proceeds to journey inward to the kingdom of the soul. The outer world loses its desirability whereas the formless spirit nature assumes paramount importance. The individual reoriented himself to the higher mind and thus begins to touch upon greater awareness. Yet with his sensitivity still in but an embryonic state, spiritual struggle, hardships, and merciless trials of endurance assail him. The waters of purification crash down upon him, and threaten to carry him deep beneath the surface of the waves. But with the advent of soul consciousness, he stabilizes himself in spiritual life wherein he is responsive to the vibration of the subtler realms and directed by the purposes of the soul’

Just as it happened to the Yogi, as narrated above I underwent this same emotions too.

‘Ramsuratkumar once explained that some days all was clear to him, and he felt as if he was standing in the highest heaven, and he knew he was a son of god. While at other times he was dragged down from pure ecstasy into the depths of abysmal gloom’

After coming back from my second trip to India I could not fit into society anymore, my family and friends. Suddenly we did not have anything in common. There was hardly any conversation. I tended to stay away from functions, gatherings, and the crowd. I wanted to be alone. I felt miserable that the people should fall further into this chaotic order of the world. I sympathized with them. I prayed that they too should realized there were bigger things in life just as Bharathi had begged of the Divine Mother, “Mother! Please release me from this petty things in life’.

More Guidance Through The Nadi 

Ramesh called me on Friday, 11^th August 2006 immediately upon his arrival in Malaysia, telling me he had news and he would call later to fix an appointment once he finds a place to rent. He told me, “You shall cry in joy on hearing what Sage Agathiyar has to say in these nadi”.

Finally Ramesh asked me to go over for the nadi reading on Saturday 9^th September 2006. The Aasi Kandam was read. Ramesh took some time to make a transcription of the nadi into a notebook in my presence. While I waited I burst weeping as I saw Sage Agathiyar's portrait and Saint Ramalingam’s portrait. Ramesh who was writing stopped writing for a moment and read out the line that he had just copied. To my amazement the Sage was watching me. The Sage revealed my thoughts in the nadi in real time. Now I was convinced even further that the nadi was not written way back in time but was being written even at this very moment. It was truly amazing. I cried further as Ramesh started reading the full text of the nadi. To my amazement again the Sage Agathiyar asked me stop crying, “Cry no more, for if you were to cry further my son, than I too would have to cry”. I stopped crying since then. [32]  

Guru pooja  For Sage Agathiyar

7^th January 2007 -  I conducted Guru Pooja or Jayanthi for Sage Agathiyar in my home. I had been asking around when was Agathiyar’s Jayanthi since reading the nadi in 2002. But sadly no one could help. Then Tavayogi tells me in 2006 that the Jayanthi will fall on Ahilya Natchathiram in the Tamil month of Margazhi and that was on 6^th and 7^th January 2007. He wanted to celebrate it in a big way. In January Tavayogi sent me the program of the celebrations in Kallaru. I invited my brother's family, my nephew’s family and my friends’s family. My wife broke down during the prayers. I cried but eventually turned to laughter. My nephew sang a couple of songs. Tavayogi told me he would conduct the prayers at exactly 8.20 am on the 7^th and asked that I start prayers exactly 2 ½ hours later allowing for the time difference. I started at 10.50 am. We then served food.

Reading The Nadi Again

11^th January 2007 - I called Ramesh. He had just arrived from India that morning. He told me he has the nadi prediction of Sage Bhrigu and Lord Murugan and asked that I come over on Saturday to have it read out to me. He was surprised to see its contents, he told me, and that I would be overjoyed too.

13^th January 2007 - I was with Ramesh. But today it was Sage Bhogar’s Aasi Kaandam that carried the message for me. I realise the messages in the nadi are in a state of fluid, ever evolving such as we are from day to day. In my opinion the nadi is being written there and then in our presence. The sidhas talk about the state of mind at that very moment. It sounds eerie doesn’t it? It is frightening to know there is someone reading over minds right at this moment. The sidhas are around us this very moment. The key word here is to have faith in them. BELIEF!

20^th January 2007 - I headed for Ramesh’s place to have my nadi read again as I was instructed to come in every week to have a reading. Each of the sidhars would predict what was in store for me as instructed to them by Sage Agathiyar. Today it was Sage Sugabrahma who blessed me through the nadi.

27^th January 2007 - I was sad that I would miss this weeks reading of the nadi because I had to be in Ipoh over the weekend for my nieces wedding. Surprisingly when I called Ramesh to inform him I would not be seeing him, he tells me he was also in Ipoh and asks me to come around. Sage Bhrugu Munivar delivered the nadi .

Subsequently I went to see the nadi a total of 28 times to date (4^th August 2008). Besides Sage Agathiyar, Sage Bhogar, Sage Bhrugu Munivar, Sage Sugabrahmar, Sage Kagabujandar, Sage Patanjali and Sage Tirumular too have blessed me through the nadi. What have I done to deserve THEIR blessings, I still wonder?

[3] When I invited Tavayogi to my home in 2005, Tavayogi read a few songs from a similar booklet and he mentioned that he had compiled the songs and published them. Only then did I realized that Tavayogi had already come into my life much earlier in the form of this booklet.

[4] Never did I imagine that I would be seeing the Swami in the leaflet– Tavayogi – in the years to come and that he would be my guru.

[5] So why did he start the conversation? 

[6] The switch was all for a purpose, for Devendran was destined to take me to Supramania Swami later.

[7] Thayalan who came to India later tells me he had to wait three hours to get the Lord’s darshan.

[8] Jon Kabat-Zinn in his book ‘WHEREVER YOU GO THERE YOU ARE- MINDFULNESS MEDITATION IN EVERYDAY LIFE’ narates a fairy tale – The Water Of Life- from the Grimm Brothers collection and points out as follows: ‘The point here is simply that it is useful at times to admit to yourself that you don’t know your way and to be open to help from unexpected places. Doing this makes available to you inner and outer energies and allies that arise out of your own soulfulness and selflessness’. 

[9] This temple grounds was the place of birth of my guru, Supramania Swami.

[10] Temples in India are closed from 12 noon to 4 pm.

[11] Now who were these two people? Was it the Lord and Goddess?

[12] I handed him the first of three offerings I had to give away at Utamar temple. I did not see him again at Utamar temple that evening when I was there performing the parikaaram!

[13] Why did he get down at the Hanuman temple? Who did come in the guise of the Brahmin priest and showed me around? Was it Lord Hanuman who accompanied me at Tiru Anaikaval and with that much speed and velocity practically shoving me from one shrine to another? Who else but the son of Vayu could perform such a feat?

[14] When Swami Rengaraaja Desigar did not bless me as did the other gurus I felt sad and was confused. This incident had been troubling me. I began to question myself if I was not good enough to receive his blessings. I had high regards for the swami as his nadi, which was published my his followers for the public, carried praises for the swami from the sidhas. He was said to be the avatar of Saint Ramalingam. I had mentioned to Ramesh that I had yet to receive an answer as to why I did not receive the swami’s blessing. Later my friend who listens to the radio on his way to the office everyday mentions about Saint Avaiyar’s Kural that came on the air. It seems Saint Avaiyar had cautioned those who were doing meditation to refrain from cursing others; and two: to my surprise, to refrain from blessing others. It seems the strenght of spiritual practise (tava valimai) would reduce by doing both. Finally it dawned on me as to why Swami Rengaraja Desigar refrained from blesssing me that day at Turaiyur. He was already nearing the end of his tavam. He was in his 27th year, with another three years to go.

[15] Some time later I realized the meaning of Swami’s answer when I read a book by Andrew Harvey where he (Andrew Harvey) asks Mother Meera (His Guru) “Can I receive your light?” and she replies “You are receiving it. One day you will see it.”

[16] I was fortunate to be shown Sri Ranganathar at Vishnu Sannadhi in Utamar Temple.

[17] So who was this person? It only occurred to me as I am putting down these thoughts that could that be Sage Agathiyar himself?

[18] Tavayogi later told me when he accompanied me to this temple that Tiru Avinankudi was THE temple those days where Sage Bhogar had meditated and lived. Sage Bhogar only moved to the hill temple later. He also mentioned that Sage Konganar had prayed and meditated on Lord Murugan in the present day Tirumalai Vengadasalapathy temple in Tirupathy.

[19] I had no problem climbing the 272 steps at Batu Caves. Neither did I have problem climbing the numerous steps in the Gua Tempurung Caves back home prior to this trip. So why could not I climb Palani Hill, which was only a small hillock?

[20] I was alone with these four priests at Sage  Bhogar’s samadhi for some time without any disturbances from the public. Now where did all the people in front of me and those behind me go? Sage Agathiyar reveals to me in the Aasi Kaandam nadi reading on Pornami day, 19^th August 2005 that it was Lord Murugan who gave me the milk at the Sage’s request. What did I do to deserve such grace from the Lord?

[21] Any full moon night will do according to Sentilkumar.

[22] I was told in the nadi that I would meet up with my guru in an unexpected way and in an unexpected place soon. He would guide me with further instructions for spiritual advancement. When I did not meet the said guru, I consoled myself it may be another moment, and another place.

[23] Who was she and why did I fall at her feet? I do not know?

[24] I finally met up with my guru, Supramania Swami in a village 8 kilometers from Tiruvanamalai.

[25] I do make the trip as requested by Tavayogi. Later Sage Agathiyar reveals in his nadi that he had to call me over to India immediately so that I could get to know more about HIM.

[26] When did she see me? I wondered. I did not meet her the last time I saw Swami. Maybe she was comparing to the photo that I had taken with Swami on my first trip.

[27] I do meet a sadhu unexpectedly at Shenbaga Devi Amman Temple in Courtalam.

[28] This did not take place. Later in Malaysia Astrologer Dr Krishnan tells me I will make a trip to India in May or June of 2006. The occasion arises as said in the form of the fifth Anniversary celebrations at the Sage Agathiyar Gnana Peedham at Kallaru. Tavayogi extended an invitation to me over the phone and later by posting a card. But I could not go due to financial constrains.

[29] Supramania Swami had his father Jayaram Pillai for a guru. Then there was Sri La Sri Pundi Mahan (Atru Swami), Yogi Ramsuratkumar (Visiri Swami), Sathananda Swami and Kolli Malai Swami.

[30] How could Tavayogi and these sidhas describe the Sage unless they had seen HIM?

[31] Only recently the Peedham was connected with electricity and water.

[32] In the earlier reading the Sage had mentioned that I  should ‘walk tall’ so that he too could walk tall. Supramania Swami had mention that I should do ‘tavam’ so that he could gain ‘mukti’.