IN THE PATH OF THE

SIDHAS
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In The Path of the Sidhas
Revised Edition 2009

Agathiyan Production House

Cover

Photograph of Sivalingam in a temple built by a Scottish rubber tycoon William Kellie Smith in Batu Gajah, Perak,
Malaysia

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE ........................................................................................................................................ 7
The Human Birth.......................................................................................................................... 7
The Longing for Liberation ........................................................................................................... 9
Discipleship to an Illumined Teacher ..........................................................................................11
Be Grateful..................................................................................................................................14
INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................17
Sage Agathiyar ...........................................................................................................................17
On The Birth of Agathiyar ...................................................................................................18
Saint Ramalingam ......................................................................................................................20
A Vision of Dematerialization of Ramalinga’s Living Body .................................................21
Supramania Swami of Thiruvanamalai .......................................................................................24
Supramania Swami Sees the Light ....................................................................................24
Supramania Swami Attains Samadhi .................................................................................25
CHAPTER 1 ....................................................................................................................................27
Mysterious India..........................................................................................................................27
Reading the Nadi ........................................................................................................................27
Performing Atonements ..............................................................................................................28
My Maiden Pilgrimage to India....................................................................................................29
Departure ....................................................................................................................................29
Arrival in Chennai .......................................................................................................................30
Day 1 - Paying To See Lord Vengadasalapathi ..........................................................................30
Kalahasti ............................................................................................................................31
Day 2 - Lord Nadarajah Draws Me at Egambareswarar Temple ................................................31
Thirutani .............................................................................................................................31
Kanchipuram ......................................................................................................................32
Day 3 –Vadalur and Sathya Gnana Sabha .................................................................................33
Bhuvanagiri and the Birth Place of Saint Ragavendra .......................................................33
Chidambaram and the Temple Of Thillai Nadarajah ..........................................................33
Vaitheeswaram ..................................................................................................................34
Day 4 – Thiruvenkadu and the Temple Of Buddhan ...................................................................34
Keelaaperampalam and the Temple Of Kethu ...................................................................34
Mayil Aduthurai ..................................................................................................................34
Suryanar Temple................................................................................................................34
Thiruvidaimarutur ...............................................................................................................35
Kumbakonam-Swamimalai-Thiruvalanchuli .......................................................................35
Rajarajacholan’s Famed Breehadeshwarar Temple in Tanjore..........................................35
Trichi and My Parikaarams ................................................................................................35
Day 5 – Guided Tour At Thiruanaika From Hanuman? ...............................................................36
Samayapuram – Turaiyur...................................................................................................37
Meeting Rengaraja Desigar of Ongkara Kudil ....................................................................37
Brahmaharti and Sangkalpa ...............................................................................................38
Day 6 – Appeasing Saturn ..........................................................................................................38
Day 7 – Palani and Twilight Zone ...............................................................................................39
Day 8 – Revisiting My Roots .......................................................................................................40

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 Viralimalai ..........................................................................................................................40
Kundrakudi – Pillaiyaar Patti ..............................................................................................41
Vayalur ...............................................................................................................................41
Day 9 – The Pinnacle of My Journey ..........................................................................................41
Day 10 - A Chance Meeting with Supramania Swami Or Was It Ordained? ...............................43
Day 11 – Returning Home - A Satisfied Pilgrim ..........................................................................47
Day 12 – Departure Day .............................................................................................................47
CHAPTER 2 ....................................................................................................................................47
Sacred Moments With Gurus ......................................................................................................48
Sacred Moments with Swami Nithyananda of Dhyanapeetam, Bangalore .................................48
The Guru - Disciple Relationship ................................................................................................51
Meeting My Second Guru, Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal ..........................................................52
Reading the Nadi Again ..............................................................................................................61
Seeing Swami Nithyananda Again ..............................................................................................64
Tavayogi Visits My Home ...........................................................................................................66
CHAPTER 3 ....................................................................................................................................67
More Revelations in the Nadi ......................................................................................................67
Sage Agathiyar Brings Forward My Trip to India ........................................................................67
My Second Pilgrimage to India ...................................................................................................67
Day 1 – Starting the Pilgrimage with Saint Ragavendra’s Blessing ............................................67
Melmaruvathur Athi Parasakthi Temple .............................................................................67
Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s Samadhi And Ashram ...................................................................68
Supramania Swami’s Hermitage ........................................................................................68
Prayers with Supramania Swami .......................................................................................69
Day 2 – Girivalam - A Second Time ............................................................................................70
Thiruveragam Sri Ranganathar Temple .............................................................................70
My Second Girivalam .........................................................................................................70
Day 3 – Meeting Up With Tavayogi In Kallaru ............................................................................71
Day 4 - In The Midst Of the Sidhas .............................................................................................72
Sivan Malai and Sivavakiyar’s Cave ..................................................................................72
Uthiyur and Sage Konganar’s Cave ...................................................................................73
Chennimalai and Sage Punakeeswarar’s Cave .................................................................75
Day 5 – Meeting Other Swamis ..................................................................................................76
Day 6 – A Day in the Life of an Ashramite ..................................................................................77
Day 7 – A Day of Doing Charity ..................................................................................................78
Day 8 - The Actual Journey Begins ............................................................................................79
Day 9 - Sage Agathiyar Welcomes Us at Agastiyampalli ............................................................79
Sage Agathiyar Opens His Eyes ........................................................................................81
Back at Breehadeshwarar’s Temple and Sage Karuvurar’s Shrine....................................82
Saraswathi Mahal...............................................................................................................83
Day 10 - Pothigai and Courtallam ...............................................................................................83
Overnight In Sage Agathiyar’s Cave ..................................................................................85
Day 11 - Roaming the Jungles of Pothigai and Courtallam.........................................................86
Lord Dhaksana Murthi’s Cave ............................................................................................87
Saint Ramalingam’s Cave ..................................................................................................88
Sage Agathiyar Opens His Eyes Again ..............................................................................89
Day 12 - Palani Amazes Me Again .............................................................................................91

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 Marudamalai and Pampatti Sidha’s Cave ..........................................................................92
Back to Kallaru ...................................................................................................................92
Day 13 – Another Day of Doing Charity ......................................................................................93
Day 14 – Another Day with Supramania Swami .........................................................................95
Day 15 – Annamalaiyar Up Close ...............................................................................................96
Accompanying Supramania Swami to Yogi’s Ashram, Ramana Maharashi’s Ashram and
Seshadari Swami’s Ashram ...............................................................................................96
Day 16 – Returning Home From a Pilgrimage of a Different Kind ...............................................97
CHAPTER 4 ....................................................................................................................................98
After The Second Pilgrimage ......................................................................................................98
Further Surprises in the Nadi ......................................................................................................98
More Amazing Moments .............................................................................................................98
Tavayogi and Me ......................................................................................................................100
More Guidance through the Nadi ..............................................................................................102
Guru Pooja for Sage Agathiyar .................................................................................................102
Reading the Nadi Again ............................................................................................................103

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‘Now, there are many who may ask, "Why is there a need for these leaves and this
system in the first place?" Well, the Sages stated that by the time man evolved
himself to these modern times, his mind would have become so clouded by the
things of this world that he would have forgotten his true spiritual nature.
Consequently, this astrological system was created to bring people to a memory
and realization of their true, divine nature.’

‘The Sages also said, "That from the chaos of the modern times a yearning would
rise within the heart of man to seek beyond the supposed limitations of this world."
Thus, this system of truth was written by eighteen Sages for each individual soul
and shows the entire role of the soul from the beginning of time.’

‘Thus, whoever is destined to look into the leaves will find their way to a Nadi
reader of their own accord. The very word Nadi in Tamil means, destined to come
on own accord.’

‘Thus, the enlightened Sages were instrumental in chronicling spiritual information

onto these palm leaves for the benefit of humankind. Therefore, Nadi Astrology is
a means to show us where we went wrong in respect of our duties, why we are
experiencing the difficulties that we are having and offers a solution as to how to
resolve these problems.’

‘Furthermore, these ancient beings also set out to reveal a method by which each
soul could discover the existence of God in this diverse universe. They knew that a
Divine power existed, which was an infinite form of energy that existed in all
creation. Consequently, they set about putting into place the prescribed paths of
karma and devotion so that all human beings could have a guiding light to realize
their true spiritual natures.’

‘The Sages recognized the oneness of both science and spirituality! And just as
students of science today know that atoms are the basic unit of every substance,
the ancient Sages recognized that the Divine was present as the atom in the
microcosm and as the largest of the large in the macrocosm. Thus, they believed
that if you could understand this concept of the atom, you could in turn,
understand the unity within everything.’

From Nadi Astrology: The Secrets of Life Revealed! By Annette Merle

Cleveland

http://www.alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/Article6.html

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PREFACE
THE HUMAN BEING is considered the highest amongst all beings. In Adi Sankara’s words, he
says,

“Only through god's grace may we obtain the three rarest gifts:
human birth,
the longing for liberation, and
discipleship to an illumined teacher.”1

The Human Birth

One needs to understand the reason for his or her birth as a human being. He needs to know the
mission that he has to accomplish in this world. He needs to prepare this body so that god is
received into this body. God then resides in this body, in every cell and atom and brings changes to
this body. The changes take place internally, which slowly influences one’s outer appearances,
thoughts, and the way one sees things.

Swami Muktananda in his book WHERE ARE YOU GOING? - A GUIDE TO THE SPIRITUAL
JOURNEY, published by SYDA Foundation, 1989, says,

1 In an article that I read some time ago, the author mentions, Adi Sankara having said, “Only
through god’s grace may we obtain the three rarest gifts: human birth, the longing for liberation,
and discipleship to an illumined teacher (guru).” Sankara is probably the greatest intellectual India
has produced. Although a staunch defender of jnana as the only way of liberation, he composed
poems, prayers and songs to the gods, principally Shiva. Perhaps his loveliest prayer is this one,
“Forgive me Shiva, my three great sins. I came on a pilgrimage to Kashmir forgetting that you are
omnipresent; in thinking about you I forget that you are beyond thought, in praying to you I forget
that you are beyond words.”
In another article, the author says, ‘Shantideva, the eight century Indian saint wrote, these human
leisure, opportunities, and faculties are very rare to obtain and easily lost; if one squanders the
chance to fulfill the aim of human life, how will such an opportunity arise again? Human birth is a
rare gift for only as a human can you are devoted to god, the creator. The body is the vehicle for
longevity, while the spirit is the vehicle for immortality. The soul yearns to be free, and through our
becoming aware of this we undergo what the mystics call awakening where we then begin to
center our life on a high spiritual ideal. A new aspiration is born in the soul, which frees the need of
a larger draught of air, a more expansive horizon, and which desires direct contact with the
indefinite existence. In order to attain the highest illumination we all have to pass through a spiritual
birth. Man as a creature, brought into being out of nothing, certainly is at the mercy of his creator.
Man as a spirit, by becoming spiritually conscious he can control his destiny. The self is not known
through the study of the scriptures, or through the subtlest intellect, or through much learning; but
he who longs for him knows him. He makes us dead to our own existence and alive to his own.
God appears when the ego dies.’

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 ‘For so many years, you have been living in the awareness ‘I am an individual,’
and for this reason it is very difficult for you to immediately accept the awareness ‘I
am god’. You have been filling your mind with negative thoughts and feelings
about other people and about yourself, thinking that you are small, that you are
weak, that you are sinful. You have spent your life trapped in limited identification.
This is ego, the sense of limited individuality, which has trapped you for
innumerable lifetimes.’

The Swami in THE PERFECT RELATIONSHIP, published by SYDA Foundation, 1985, quotes
Poet Saint Kabir,

‘Kabir wrote, “As long as I was looking for you, I did not see you. I went from door
to door knocking, yet none of the doors was yours. I looked for you on so many
paths, yet none of them led to your court. However, when I received Ramananda’s
grace, when guru Ramananda erased me and I became completely pure, I saw
that you were behind me like my shadow. Wherever I went, you were there before
me.”’

Similarly, Sankara prays,

“Forgive me Siva, my three great sins.

I came on a pilgrimage to Kashmir forgetting that you are omnipresent;
In thinking about you, I forget that you are beyond thought;
In praying to you I forget that you are beyond words”.

In QUIET MIND, FEARLESS HEART - THE TAOIST PATH THROUGH STRESS & SPIRITUALITY
by Brian Luke Seaward, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken , New Jersey, 2005,
Teilhard de Chardin is quoted,

‘We are not humans having a spiritual experience. Instead, we are spirits having a
human experience. …..earthly existence is enshrouded in many veils of illusion. It
is a brave soul on a noble adventure who attempts to lift these veils. .... If you
recognize that you are indeed a spirit on a human path, then every situation that
you encounter will be a learning experience. This is how consciousness evolves.
The drive that inspires the human journey is a desire to have this view of life - a
clearer understanding of life’s mystery and role or purpose in it.’

In GEMS FROM BHAGAVAN published by Sri Ramanasramam, 2002, Bhagavan Ramana says to
a devotee, who was praying that she should have more frequent visions of Siva,

“Surrender to Him and abide by His Will, whether He appears or disappears; await
His pleasure. If you ask Him to do as you like, it is not surrender but command to
God. You cannot have Him obey you and yet think you have surrendered. He
knows what is best and when and how to do it. His is the burden. You have no
longer any cares. All your cares are His. Such is surrender. That is bhakti.”

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The Longing for Liberation

The body is needed to realize god. There is the common believe that the soul/ atma/ jivatma unites
with god or paramatma after death of this body. However, Saint Ramalingam of Vadalur, South
India (1823 -1874) says otherwise; there is no union with god after death. The union has to happen
right now in this body, in this very birth. The sidhas having experimented on themselves and with
the blessing and the guidance of god have proofed that this body of ours need not drop dead at the
end of its lifespan. Sidhas are believed to be living until this day. Now how did they do it?

This yearning for liberation which leads eventually to the yearning for god realization appears when
one starts to consider all that is being seen, sensed, heard, touched and felt is not permanent. One
then looks for THAT which is permanent. He then discovers from one, already on the path to god
realization that what he is searching for, that which is permanent, is the bliss that is derived through
devotion to god and eventually in realization of god.

So can we know the very existence of god or of his nature at least?

In REINCARNATION: THE SOUL’S SECRET JOURNEY – FROM ATMA – The Bhaktivedanta

Book Trust, The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, is written,

‘At the time of death the soul is considered to enter a new body either immediately
or after a lapse of time. Hindu texts mention that there are 840000 species of life
forms beginning with the aquatics and culminating in the human.’

‘All species are manifested in the early stages of cosmic creation, when the living
entities (souls) are impregnated within material nature. These indestructible and
eternal souls gradually evolve through the different species or types of material
bodies, beginning with microbes and amoebas, rising through the fish, plants,
insects, reptiles, birds and animals to the human and superhuman (demigods)
species. So the evolution process is really an evolution of consciousness.’

‘The different categories of material bodies (species) exist because there are
millions of categories of material desires. These different life forms are nothing
more than machines designed by the material energy to fulfill different material
desires.’

‘One has to remember and ponder over the blessedness that the human being has
gained for it is the human who is offered the chance to become free from the cycle
of birth and death and no other organism or living form. We should not fail to make
use of this human birth or human form to find ways to break this cycle of birth and
death and to achieve liberation.’

‘We have to appreciate this very birth and take steps to be liberated in this very
birth for we might not get another chance to be born as a human for years to
come. One could descend into the lower species.’

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 ‘Our entanglement in the material sphere is the result of an unending chain of
actions and reactions developed in this and previous human lives. This is known in
Sanskrit as karma, a law of nature analogous to the modern scientific principle of
action and reaction.’

‘Only the human species, however is subject to the subtle but exact law, for only in
the human form does one have advanced intelligence and freedom of choice. In
lower- than- human life forms the soul is covered by much grosser forms of mind
and body; therefore the living beings within such bodies are totally under the
control of nature. Because beasts, microbes, insects, and plants do nothing more
than automatically serve their instincts, they are not held responsible for their
activities. They do not incur karmic reactions.’

‘In one human life, we can create sufficient karma to keep ourselves entangled in
the cycle of birth and death for thousands of lives. As human beings, we also have
the rare opportunity to become spiritually enlightened with transcendental
knowledge and the chance to break the endless cycle of reincarnation. The term
reincarnation means that I am a spirit soul who has entered a body. However,
there will be suffering. These sufferings include birth, death, old age, and disease.
It can take many lives, or you can do it in one lifetime.’

In THE ULTIMATE ANTIMATERIAL PARTICLE - FROM ATMA – The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust,
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, is written,

‘The soul, known in Sanskrit as atma, being far more subtle than matter, endures
the death experience without being harmed or injured. Nor is it subject to the laws
of birth, growth, and deterioration.’

‘One personal form of god is the super soul dwelling within the hearts of all living
beings; witnessing every thought and action awarding the living beings the result
of their karma, arranging for them to accept an appropriate physical body lifetime
after lifetime.’

One needs to recognize the true path. The path of the sidhas is where one cares for this body to
realize this mission of receiving god in him or her and eventually merge with god. Therefore, for
one who dies a mortal death, he has not accomplished this mission successfully i.e. he has failed
in his mission. It is a sad day then. We should shed tears for him for not fulfilling gods wish. God
wishes everyone of his child to realize the truth that this body is immortal and take steps to prepare
it to unite with him while still alive in this body. For one who has achieved this union we can rejoice
at his or her achievement.

Saint Ramalingam goes away from the normal explanation given where the soul unites with god
upon death. It is usually thought that this union takes place eventually, with or without effort, the
time taken depending on the amount of effort directed towards it. However, Saint Ramalingam says
we have to bring god into us. That means preparing this body to receive god and eventually place
him permanently in the various organs itself. That is the only way to remain alive and overcome

10
death. If you do not drop death, you will not be born again. Saint Ramalingam did prove it by
dematerializing and merging with god.

Saint Ramalingam had achieved this feat. He had prepared himself. He had purified his thoughts,
and body. He had performed deeds that drove away ignorance and brought him merits. He had
yearned for god with utmost passion and god had to submit to him finally. God came into him; into
his body; into every cell and atom. Then changes started to take place in his body. Eventually he
dematerialized into LIGHT and merged with god. It is amazing to know that he made it happen right
here and as recent as in 1874.

Let us recall the message of the world’s great upanishadic Sages, retold by Swami
Satprakashananda in his book MEDITATION - ITS PROCESS, PRACTICE, AND CULMINATION,
published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai,

‘Death is not your final end.

Do not give way to despair.
You are not destined to be subject to this play of dualities forever.
There is the Supreme Being,
The very perfection of existence,
Which you can reach in this mortal life and where you can find life beyond death
and complete fulfillment of your ideal.
Therein is the culmination of your knowledge,
Therein is the consummation of your love,
Therein is complete rest and therein dwells unruffled peace.
There shines the light that never fails,
And there abides joy unbounded.
How can man reach that?
Through this very life,
By regulating this mortal life he can reach the immortal.’

Discipleship to an Illumined Teacher

In a biography of Yogi Ramsuratkumar, YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR, THE GODCHILD OF

TIRUVANNAMALAI by Truman Caylor Wadlington, 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.’

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Another paragraph in the same biography describes,

‘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.’

The rapport between guru and disciple is on a much subtler level indeed, as mentioned by the
author of the biography on the Yogi Ramsuratkumar, involving not so much principles of truth, but
the use of higher forces in this case the workings of the sidhas, in bringing about actual
transformation.

‘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.’

Swami Nithyananda of Dhyanapeetam, Bangalore 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.”

He adds,

“Spiritual knowledge is knowledge that is neither of the mind nor of the heart, but
of your Being! It is just a deep understanding beyond logic, which can neither be

12
 taught nor picked. It can simply happen out of a deep communion at the being
level.” 2

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? Do not cry. More is possible on the subtle than on the gross.”

From the book DIVINE GRACE THROUGH TOTAL SELF-SURRENDER by D.C. Desai, Bhagavan
Ramana read out the following quotations by Paul Brunton,

‘Divine Grace is a manifestation of the cosmic free will in operation. It can alter the
course of events in a mysterious manner through its own unknown laws, which are
superior to all natural laws, and can modify the latter by interaction. It is the most
powerful force in the universe. It descends and acts only when it is invoked by total
self-surrender. It acts from within, because god resides in the Heart of all beings.
Its whisper can be heard only in a mind purified by self-surrender and prayer. It is
a descent of god into the soul’s zone of awareness. It is a visitation of force
unexpected and unpredictable. It is a voice spoken out of cosmic silence - It is
‘Cosmic Will which can perform authentic miracles under its own laws.’

‘In truth, god and the guru are not different. Just as the prey, which has fallen into
the jaws of a tiger, has no escape, so those who have come within the ambit of the
guru’s gracious look will be saved by the guru and will not get lost; yet, each one
should by his own effort pursue the path shown by god or guru and gain release.
Each seeker after god should be allowed to go his own way, the way for which he
alone may be built (meant). It will not do to convert him to another path by
violence. The guru will go with the disciple in his own path and then gradually turn
him onto the Supreme path at the ripe moment.’

Swami Muktananda in THE PERFECT RELATIONSHIP, published by SYDA Foundation, 1985,

says,

2 Jon Kabat-Zinn in his book ‘WHEREVER YOU GO THERE YOU ARE- MINDFULNESS
MEDITATION IN EVERYDAY LIFE’ narrates 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,’

13
‘You will never hear the guru criticize you. Instead, when you are in his company, you will
experience your own divinity. You will never be found guilty in the guru’s eyes. You will find in them
only the praise of your hidden inner god.’

Be Grateful

G. Valmikanathan in his book MAKERS OF INDIAN LITERATURE-RAMALINGAM, published by

Sahitya Akademi (e-book at http://www.vallalar.org) traces Saint Ramalingam’s journey on the
pathway to god dividing it into three portions,

journey on the purgative way,

journey on the illuminative way,
journey on the unitive way.

He explains further,

‘The purgative way is that part of the long path which, one treads towards the
godhead and in which one purges oneself of all desires and attachments, of all
imperfections, of all acts of commission and omission of shortcomings in
renunciation, of shortcomings in the total love of god in the passion for the
apprehension of the godhead.’

‘The illuminative way is that part of the path, which comes after the purgative way,
and in which one gains illumination, knowledge, and gnosis.’

‘The unitive way is that part of the pathway in which the pilgrim marches on with
buoyant and joyous steps, filled with hope and freed from doubt or misconception.
The journey is characterized by a sense of urgency. The pilgrim, in this part of his
journey, begins to walk fast, then breaks into a loping trot, finally, gallops on with
increasing tempo towards the beckoning smile and the outstretched arms, and is
soon locked in an eternal embrace with the beloved, the eternal being, the
godhead, the ground of all being. The journey on the unitive way is composed of
several factors of experience. Recollection and quiet, contemplation, ecstasy and
rapture, dark night of the soul, and unitive life.’

‘Of these three sections of the pathway, the first is painful and dolorous, the
second a strange mixture of sorrow and joy, the joy increasing in intensity as
ignorance is slowly replaced by illumination, and the last section of sheer delight,
of mounting bliss.’

In QUIET MIND, FEARLESS HEART- THE TAOIST PATH THROUGH STRESS & SPIRITUALITY
by Brian Luke Seaward, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, 2005,
Teilhard de Chardin says,

‘The path of human experience would be mighty crowded if everyone embarked at

the same time. Therefore, it makes sense that not only is there numerous paths,

14
 but we each move at a pace that is conducive for our own soul growth process.
Brian describes what he calls ‘seasons of the soul’ as follows.’

‘We begin the centering process (autumn), where we leave the known of the
external world and enter the unknown depths of the mind.’

‘Next comes the emptying process (winter), a time of clearing and a cleansing of
thoughts and feelings that no longer serve us: this may involve some grieving.’

‘As spring follows winter, so the grounding process follows the emptying process,
a period in which new insights is gained to improve our quality of life.’

‘The fourth season is the connecting process (summer), where we come back
home to share the wisdom we have learned and to celebrate the sacred
connectedness of life.’

SIX DAYS TO TOTAL TRANSFORMATION, published by Nithyananda Publishersion, 2004, is a

beautiful book. Swami Nithyananda has given explanations on the various chakras in the body in a
different perspective. Swami Nithyananda associates the chakras with emotions, beliefs, and
behavior rather than with deities, color, and mantras as was the normal explanations by others.
The emotions related to the chakras as described in his book are as follows:

Table 1: The Chakras and the Corresponding Emotions.

Chakra Locked By Unlocked By

Mulathara Imagination; Acceptance Of The Other;
Expectation; Acceptance Of Reality;
Fantasy [Drop your expectations of others]
Swathisthana Fear; Acceptance Of Death;
Especially Fear Of Death [Drop your fears]
Manipura Worry Think Positive;
[Drop your worries; Do not react]
Anahata Asking For Attention Selfless Love;
[Drop your want of acceptance and need for
approval]
Visudhi Comparison And Realizing You Uniqueness;
Jealousy [Drop comparison]
Ajna Seriousness Innocence And Simplicity;
[Drop your seriousness]
And Finally When Discontentment, Taking Gratitude and bliss
You Are At Sahasrara Life For Granted [Learn to show gratitude. This final stage is very
obvious in Saint Ramalingam’s ARUTPA where
he sings songs of gratitude to Lord
Arutperumjhoti]

15
Saint Ramalingam started worshipping Lord Murugan at the Kandasamy (Kandakottam) temple in
Chennai and Thirutani, Lord Siva in Otriyore, and Lord Nadarajah in Chidambaram. Later he
started the following establishments; the Sanmarga Sangam, the Sathya Dharma Salai where he
fed the poor, envisioned and built the Sathya Gnana Sabai in Vadalur where he worshipped god in
the form of LIGHT and called Him Arutperunjhoti. He finally settled in Sithivalagam in Mettukupam
where he dematerialized.

All his songs have been compiled as the Thiru Arutpa. When one reads the songs one would
realize the amount of gratitude the Saint had poured forth.

Be Grateful.

16
INTRODUCTION
Sage Agathiyar

The following is based on an article on Sage

Agathiyar –SAGE AGASTHYA – FOREMOST OF
THE SIDDHAS by Dr. Mandayam Kumar of the
Siddha Medical Research Institute, Bangalore.

Dr Mandayam Kumar says, it was possible to find out

details about Sage Agathiyar during the course of
literary research on the Siddha medical sciences in a
Tamil manuscript written on palm leaves about 3,000
years ago. The text is titled Prapancha Kaandam and
runs into several volumes mentions the Dr. It is
attributed to Lord Muruga. It was narrated by Sage
Agathiyar while recorded by Sage Pulasthiya. The
original Tamil manuscript is in the care of Pandit S.
Jayanari of Vellore says the Dr. The Dr provides
information extracted from this work.

A Painting of Sage Agathiyar

‘Agathiyar Muni is considered to be the embodiment of one of the nine celestial

intellectuals who came to this earth for enlightening human beings.’

‘Siddhars are those who have attained perfection in yogic practices to ultimately reach the
stage of immortality. Through higher-level yogic practices they attain a state of ultra
luminosity that results in invisibility; thus they remain impervious to ordinary vision.’

‘Such siddhars work incessantly for the propagation of knowledge and the evolution of
souls.’

‘The Prapancha Kaandam commences with explanations about the origin of the earth and
the entire solar system. The earth is believed to be a fragment of the sun blown into space
as a big ball of fire billions of years ago. This big fire globe, after spinning round and round
at a very high speed for innumerable length of time, began to cool on its surface.’

‘During the course of its voyage from the sun through different gaseous spheres of highly
energetic particles the earth being attracted and repelled by different planets of the solar
system, acquired the energetic potencies of all the planets.’

‘Later it gained a constant movement rotating on its own axis having its path around the
sun. It is stated that the earth took its origin 200 billion years ago.’

The Dr states that the world was not habitable having only land and water for half this period.

17
 ‘Gradually vegetation began to appear as the earliest form of life on earth. Subsequently
aquatic living creatures followed by insects, reptiles, birds and animals came upon; with
the last being humans.’

‘Each species had its own genetic origin and human beings are considered the sixth in the
order of original creation. It is stated that planet earth is the only place for the survival and
existence of life in the entire solar system. As life began to exist time began to be counted.’

‘The entire period was divided into yugas. The present Kali Yuga is stated to have started
from 3100 BC and may correspond to 14 March 3100 BC.’

On The Birth of Agathiyar

The Dr. reveals for the first time the parental heritage of the Sage.

Sage Agathiyar was said to have been born about 4573 years prior to the commencement of Kali
Yuga at a place in Gujarat, in the early hours of Tuesday, 14 of February 7673 BC.

Belonging to the early Aryan race, his father Bhargava was well learned while his mother Indumathi
was from Punjab. They were both devotees of the Pasupatha order of the Sage Rishabha Muni.

Agathiyar had his early education in Gujarat. As his thirst for knowledge in particular on philosophy,
yoga, medicine, and astronomy was immense, he traveled all over Kashmir, Tibet, China, Nepal,
and Kailas in Manchuria. Mount Kailas was deemed to be in Manchuria those days.

He became a disciple of Sage Nandi and Sage Dhanvantri. He then traveled towards the south to
Cambodia and Malaya. In Cambodia, he established the very first of his many educational
institutions for the propagation of philosophy and science.

After establishing a similar institution and hospital in Malaya, he crossed the sea to the continent of
Kumari Kandam. During Agathiyar’s time, Kumari Kandam occupied a vast area extending from the
present day Sri Lanka to the Antarctic. Ravana, a great devotee of Lord Siva, ruled this continent.
King Ravana gave away a portion of his kingdom to Agathiyar to establish more institutions. The
foremost of these institutions in this region was known as Arunodaya Giri or Meozone. Here
Agathiyar practiced yoga and taught it to his large following of disciples. He then went back north to
Malaya where he was betrothed to the king’s daughter. He then ruled the kingdom of Vijayapuri.

He returned to Kumari Kandam where he met Lord Murugan in the form of Sage Kandan or
Supramaniar at Trikona Malai, present day Trincomali. At the hill station called Kadari Kama or
Kadhirgama, Lord Murugan imparted spiritual knowledge to Agathiyar.

In his meditation, he could see into the future. He could see impending calamities. As a result, he
moved to the North Pole considering it to be a save place. This period of his move to the Arctic was
said to coincide with the end of the Dwapara Yuga placed at about 6580 BC. Just as he had seen
of an impending calamity and had decided to move north, a tremendous explosion in the planet,
Mars sends a piece of debris towards earth. This impact caused a great deluge on the earth.

18
Significant portions of Kumari Kandam submerged into the Indian Ocean. Continental drift resulted
in the present day arrangement of this region.

After the great flood Kailas was no more but instead the Himalayan mountain range had emerged
in North India.

Amidst all this geographical changes says the Dr, Sage Agathiyar went seeking for a place that
would not be affected by future calamities.

He located a mountain range in South India. This is the present day Courtallam. This spot is said to
be the safest place and free from any future catastrophes. Here Agathiyar met Lord Siva and Uma
in the form of Dhakshina Murthi and Shenbaga Devi. The spot where the meeting took place
between Dhakshina Murthi, Shenbaga Devi, Lord Murugan, and Agathiyar was Mahadeva Giri.
This meeting also signified the commencement of Kali Yuga.

Other Sages then started coming to Mahadeva Giri. Lord Dhakshina Murthi revived the knowledge
of the Vedas and instructed these Sages to propagate this knowledge at the appropriate manner
and time for the benefit of humanity. The imparting of this knowledge was said to have taken place
on the 21st day of the Tamil month of Kartigai, during the eleventh year, Eswara Samvatsara, of
Kali Yuga. Agathiyar gave much importance to this day. All his dating was reckoned from this day.

The Sages recorded their knowledge on palm leaves after extensive discussions held in Alagan
Kulam and presented them to Lord Dhakshina Murthi for his perusal. This included the 64 kinds of
learning, 18 Puranas, 96 Tatvas, and 48 branches of scientific knowledge. The entire literature in
Tamil came to be called Sidha Veda. It was then translated into the four existing languages of that
period vis Sanskrit, Greek, Hebrew, and Chinese.

Sage Agathiyar on the instruction of Lord Murugan originated the Tamil language. Sage Bhogar
from China, Sage Thaeraiyar from Malaya, Sage Yugimuni from Kerala, Sage Pulipani from Kantha
Malai, Sage Pulathiyan, and Sage Kapiyan all served Agathiyar. A conference of sidhas called
Sidhar Sabai was held during the 53rd year, Sidharti Samvatsara, of Kali Yuga at Courtallam.

An institution known as Sidhar Gnana Koodam was inaugurated by Lord Murugan and was headed
by Agathiyar. Sage Pulathiyan and Sage Kapiyan headed the literary section while Sage Pulipani
in research. Sage Thaeraiyar who was into surgery headed a medical research centre established
at Thorana Malai. Sage Yugimuni who was into herbal medicines headed an Ayurvedic hospital at
Paradesi Kundai. Sage Bhogar who was in charge of all scientific researches established an
alchemy research centre at Thiruparankundram. Sage Pambatti Sidhar was heading a team
researching venom at Marudamalai.

After having established these institutions Agathiyar again started on an extensive mission of
propagating the wealth of knowledge gained by these sidhas in Tibet, Manchuria, Egypt, Palestine,
Rome, America, Africa, Malaya and the Arab world.

After satisfactorily completing their mission of propagating the said teachings the Sages went into
Samadhi merging themselves into the cosmos. Sage Kandan went into Samadhi in Thorana Malai,

19
Sage Bhogar in Palani, Sage Thaeraiyar, Sage Pulipani and Sage Yugimuni in Kantha Malai, and
Sage Agathiyar himself choose to come back to Courtallam. He chose a spot called Dhakshina
Meru in the Pothigai Hills. This spot is also the abode of Lord Siva as Dhakshina Murthi.

Saint Ramalingam

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.’

Saint Ramalingam as depicted in the movie Arutperunjhoti

‘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 Thirumaligai).’

‘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
Thirumaligai) 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

20
 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 Sithivalagam 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 has been said that Saint Ramalingam on his final day had
entered a room in Sithivalagam in Mettukupam. He asked that his followers lock the door
from the outside. On opening the door, at the directive from government officials, the room
was found to be empty. It was also said that the Saint had become light (jhoti). The saint
had mentioned to his followers that they would find nothing, as he would dematerialize in
each being from that moment on.’

An article in the website http://www.ramalinga.com states that Mother Mira had seen, during her
meditation, the happenings that took place on that Friday night when Saint Ramalingam attained
the Jhoti in Sithivalagam. This is indeed a rare account of the mystery behind Saint Ramalinga's
disappearance.

A Vision of Dematerialization of Ramalinga’s Living Body

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

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, closed the doors, and bolted inside.

21
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 being 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
some time. 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 it’s 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 and
exterior body. His bodily form did not shrink in size after the burning. I saw no visible flame

22
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. 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. 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. In 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. However, 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 ended.’

‘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.’

23
Supramania Swami of Thiruvanamalai

Supramania Swami's grandfather, Thuraisamy Pillai

was born in Ladhavaram near Thiruvanamalai. He
worked as an Accountant at the Arunachaleswarar
Temple in Thiruvanamalai. His father, Jayaram was a
teacher in Reddi Kuppam, Anaikoyil. Swami was born
on Monday, 17 July 1943, at the Thirutani Murugan
temple grounds.

Swami lost his memory as a teenager and roamed the

streets curing the public of their illness, with vibhuti,
panjamirtham, and kunkumam that he produced out of
sand. During this period, he indicated the site where a
vel was buried. He kept that vel. Finally, a stranger
woman gave him milk and rice that eventually brought
him to his senses.

Swami sold flowers to devotees at Thiruchendur to earn

money to support his mother. For seven years, he
pulled the chariot of Lord Murugan at Thiruchendur
wearing spiked sandals and hooks on his back. He had
adorned the costume of Lord Murugan and acted out in
dance dramas too. Once when chopping down a kalli
tree, the milk from the tree got into his eyes and blinded
him. The politician MU.Karunanidhi who was
undergoing treatment in Madras at that time sponsored
towards the cost (Rs 950,000) of operation on Swami's
eyes. He was married at the age of 31. Swami who was
good in astrology predicted the future for those who
came in search.

Supramania Swami of Thiruvanamalai

Supramania Swami Sees the Light

I could not get through to Supramania Swami for some time now. This evening there was someone
trying to call me on my phone numerous times. However, each time we answered the line went
dead or disengaged. I then thought if it could be Swami trying to get through. When I called he
answered. Finally, I manage to get in touch with him after a long absence. “I have not forgotten
you,” he said. “How can I forget you; you have given me a place to stay, referring to the kudil that
we had built for him. You have been my son in the past birth,” he said. He asks that I meditate. He
blessed me. Then he said, “I am seeing the jhoti. At times, it stays on for half an hour. My time is
nearing. Ask Ramesh - referring to the nadi reader - to see when my day will come so that I can
send you word and you can be present.” I cried like a child.

24
He told me he wanted to start a fast where he would not speak to anyone and survive on fruits and
milk beginning on 31 January 2007 for a forty-eight day period. The day he chose to start the fast
would be the eve of the day that Saint Ramalingam vanished into light.

I called Swami on 3 February 2007. He was already observing the fast. However, he spoke to me.
When I apologized for calling him and making him break his fast, he replied, “No harm done. I shall
talk to you.” He told me he had started the fast on wheat porridge, chapatti, and milk since the last
full moon day, 1 February 2007 and would end his fast on Pangguni Uttiram day – a fast that would
last 60 days. He did not speak to anyone, only writing out on paper if required.

He told me I am letting loose of my senses. He asks me to meditate and be focused. He asks that I
gather some funds from Thayalan and his father so that he could feed a thousand devotees when
his fasts end on 1 April 2007.

Supramania Swami Attains Samadhi

8 February 2007 Mages calls me in office at 3.40 pm to inform she had received a call from
Thiruvanamalai. Supramania Swami’s wife was crying over the phone saying, “I have to tell
Swami’s wish that was not fulfilled". Mages asked me whether Swami had gone into Samadhi.

I called Thiruvanamalai. Swami’s wife broke down and cried. I consoled her that we should be
happy Swami had seen the Jhoti. Swami passed away at 10.20 am, 7 February 2007. On
complaining of chest pain, he was taken to the clinic and later referred to the general hospital. They
found nothing wrong with him and sent him home. Back at the kudil, he went into Samadhi and
passed away. His son, Ramajayam who was a driver to another Swami in Thiruvanamalai informed
his employer who arrived to assist. Twenty sadhus came forward to conduct Swami’s last rites. No
one cried. Only songs of praise to God were heard. The sadhus took his body to the vicinity of
Ramana Maharishi’s ashram and Easanya lingam where he was laid to rest the same day.

When I was with him in his kudil, he mentioned to me he would like to be laid to rests in the spot
where he had his altar in the kudil. Therefore, when I was informed by Ramajayam that he was laid
in another spot and not in the kudil that he longed for, I was disappointed.

That weekend Ramesh calls me over to have the nadi read. To my surprise, Sage Agathiyar
reveals that the spot chosen by the sadhus at the foothills of Thiruvanamalai for Supramania
Swami's burial was indeed a very auspicious spot. The Sage conforms that it was true Supramania
Swami had indeed gone into Samadhi. “He shall gain fame. Devotees will gain by visiting his
Samadhi, including you too,” the Sage tells me. The Sage adds further, “You have chosen a true
guru. This was the right moment for him to go into Samadhi.” The Sage instructs me, “When the
opportunity comes for you to travel to India, place a garland of flowers on his Samadhi. Do prayers,
and meditate and feed the poor too.”

Swami’s wish was to have him buried in a pit with specific dimensions, and filled with camphor and
vibhuthi as instructed to his son, all to be done within eight hours of his expiry, and have a small
temple erected above his Samadhi. Ramajayam wanted to put up a lingam and built a small shrine
but was advised against it by some sadhus.

25
Swami being an astrologer told me when I visited him last in 2005 that he would pass away when
he was 65 years of age and that coincided with 2007. Ramajayam tells me later that they come
across Swami’s diary where he had written down the date and time of his demise. This entry was
done on 23 May 2005. Swami also had mentioned in the diary that he wanted his body to be buried
within eight hours of passing away. He had also written down how to attend to his body.

Supramania Swami went into Samadhi on 7 February 2007 at Thiruvanamalai. He leaves behind a
wife and four children. Swami's Samadhi is at the foothills of Thiruvanamalai adjacent to Bhagawan
Sri Ramana's Ashram. Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham, Kallaru is
establishing a Peedham for Sage Agathiyar in the kudil that was put up with donations by devotees
in Malaysia. Prayers, meditation, and yoga shall be held here in the future.

26
CHAPTER 1
Mysterious India

Reading the Nadi

Sivabalan of Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, 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.

Over the years his uncle who used to collect fingerprints of relatives and friends and have their
nadi read in India, decided to bring these nadi readers to Malaysia instead. Following in the
footsteps of his uncle Sivabalan brought in Sentilkumar from India to read the nadi.

On 27 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. However, 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 bundles, and
questioning me for a sometime, Sentilkumar could not locate a reading that described me. I was
asked to come back in two weeks time for he could only look through a maximum of three numbers
of bundles at any one particular time.3

On 11 December 2002, going through the same pace and trend of questioning, Sentilkumar found
the relevant, appropriate, and corresponding nadi in the very first bundle itself. I was astonished
the nadi could reveal the following: my father’s name, my mother who had two names, that I had
seven siblings, I had a government job related to a technical field, one of my sisters was also in the
government, and 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 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.

3 The readers have their codes and ethics too.

27
According to the Karma Kaandam, I was a Brahmin priests in Kerala, India in my former birth.4

The Sage mentions 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. I was told chanting the
Lord’s Moola Mantra would help reduce the evil effects of my karma. I was asked to worship the
sidhas and Lord Siva too.

Generally the first (Pothu Kaandam), 13th (Karma Kaandam) and 14th (Parikaaran Kaandam) are
read for all seekers. Sivabalan requested that I see the ninth 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. However, who were the rests of the sidhas? I asked of Sentilkumar if he
could elaborate on the prayers for these sidhas. He immediately gave me a booklet on the worship
of sidhas SRIDHAR POTRI PAADALGAL5.

Sivabalan gave me a painting of Sage Agathiyar to aid in my prayers.

Performing Atonements

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

On 19 December 2002, I delivered the following to Sentilkumar: a vesti, tundu, sari, 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

4 Astrologer Dr Krishnan did mention that I could possibly have been a priest or a medicine man in
the last birth.

5 When I invited my guru Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal 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 realize that Tavayogi had already come into my life much earlier in the form
of this booklet.

28
in the midst of building a temple for Sage Agathiyar in Kallaru near Ooti, South India in association
with a saint named Taiveedu Thangarasan.6

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 Jan 2003, I went over to Jalan Gasing Siva temple in
Petaling Jaya. 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, who where collecting donations,
stopped me at the entrance to this temple as I stepped out. This society was affiliated to the one
run by Tavatiru Rengaraja 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 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 Thiruanaika temple, all in Trichi 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, Nadarajah temple in Chidambaram,
Thiruanaika temple in Trichi, and Arunachaleswarer temple in Thiruvanamalai. I was instructed to
go around the sacred hill of Thiruvanamalai 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. Therefore, I planned for September as was suggested
by my brother. I finally left for India on 31 August 2003. I was there from 31 August to 13
September 2003.

6 Never did I imagine that I would be seeing the Swami in the leaflet – Tavayogi Thangarasan
Adigal – in the years to come and that, he would be my guru.

29
I checked in at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 10.30 pm on 31 August 2003. The plane
took off at 11.15 pm. Surprisingly, Dhanu from Andhra whom I became acquainted with on board
the plane sat beside me, started talking about his guru, Swami Ramachandra and his master’s
master or Paramaguru and his mission in Chennai.

We chat all the way to Chennai.

Arrival in Chennai

On arrival at Meenambakkam Airport in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 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 another driver Raji was to fetch and accompany me throughout my journey in
India but he had taken ill suddenly.7

Dhaksana Murthi, my travel agent in Malaysia, was waiting for my arrival at the Sindoori Hotel in
Chennai. He tells 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 Vengadasalapathi

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

I reached the Andra border at 12 noon. As Devendran was getting the papers sorted at the security
post to enter the state of Andra, I spotted a sadhu walking towards the car. On approaching me, he
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 along the road 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
Thirupati 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 Thirumalai. 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 Thirupathi 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 do not pay, it could take days to see the Lord. Devendran and I started queuing up

7 The switch was all for a purpose, for Devendran was destined to take me to meet my first guru,
Supramania Swami later.

30
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.8

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?

I was also disturbed. Had I to pay at each 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 free of charge. Was this how it was going to be for the rests
of my journey?

Day 2 - Lord Nadarajah Draws Me at Egambareswarar Temple

The next day, 2 September 2003, I visited the Kalahasteeswarer temple again, this time alone. I
was there from 6 am to 8 am. When I decided to return to the hotel, 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 was pretty sure 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 Devendran had begun to worry about me, as he did not 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 turned saint, Vedan Kanappa had paid homage to Lord Siva
throughout the night unknowingly throwing down petals of the Vilva tree, onto a Sivalingam; leaves
that he plucked off the 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.

Thirutani

At 8.15 am, I left for Thirutani reaching Thirutani 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. We queued up and

8 My nephew Thayalan who visited India later tells me he had to wait three hours to get the Lord’s
darshan.

31
waited. On opening, Devendran accompanied me into the temple. I did vilva archana at Lord
Murugan’s sanctum. Saint Ramalingam had sung numerous hymns on Lord Murugan in Thirutani.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 saris were weaved while
waiting for the temples to be reopened to the public at 4 pm.10

Upon coming out from the shop we realized the car had a puncture. Devendran got busy replacing
the tyre.

Kanchipuram

Dhaksana Murthy 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 Dhaksana Murthi and Mahendren. There
was a slight drizzle as we came round the temple grounds. I had a beautiful view of Her. She 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 my
left. As I stopped to have a look, there was a majestic statue of Lord Nadarajah in that chamber. A
young priest who stood at its entrance ushered me into the chamber. As I stepped inside, I felt I
had stepped into another environment. It was an entirely different atmosphere in here and I could
feel a strong vibration too. The young priests lighted the camphor and started chanting. I stood in
front of Lord Nadarajah, amazed and shaken up to see the size and beauty of my Lord. I broke
down in tears. I cried aloud. I had the Lord all to myself that moment.

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

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.

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Day 3 –Vadalur and Sathya Gnana Sabha

At 5.30 am, on Wednesday, 3 September, we left for Melmaruvathur Athi Parasakthi temple.
Dhaksana Murthi had helped build this temple when he was studying 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. The attendants only gave me a minute or so at the Goddess sanctum.

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 drawn aside to reveal the
light (Jhoti) only on Thaipusam and Adi Amavasai each year. I told a woman devotee I intended to
make a donation and she brought me to the administrative office.

I visited Sidhivalagam Thirumaligai 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 whereabouts of the saint and
insisted that they be allowed to enter the room, they found that the saint had disappeared into thin
air. I had very much wanted to be here.

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. Therefore, 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, a young priest here asked me if I could part with my
wristwatch. He then asked 20Rs from me which I gave. At every shrine there was a priest 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

33
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 do not need his
assistance. At 8.40 pm, the huge doors to the temple were closed for the night. I returned to the
hotel with the thought what if a tourist was locked inside the temple. Do the temple authorities go
around ascertaining that everyone has left the temple complex before they lock up for the night?

Day 4 – Thiruvenkadu and the Temple Of Buddhan

Thursday, 4 September 2003, I left for the Thiruvenkadu 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.

Keelaaperampalam and the Temple Of Kethu

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

Mayil Aduthurai

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 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 when he was in India earlier.
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

34
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 woman who happily went away with her partner.11

Thiruvidaimarutur

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

Kumbakonam-Swamimalai-Thiruvalanchuli

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 Thiruvalanchuli 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
treading on sand. However, 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.

Rajarajacholan’s Famed Breehadeshwarar Temple in Tanjore

Seven am, 5 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 I could not witness the
abhisegam as it 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 Dhakshina Murthi.

Trichi and My Parikaarams

I was off to Trichi 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 11 am for
Utamar temple. We reached the temple at 12.50 pm. Devendran went in to enquire if there were

11 Now who were these two people?

35
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 donate to
three Brahmin priests at this temple. Then as if God sent, Devendran appears with a priest willing
to help at this temple and at the Thiruanaika Siva temple too. The priest told me we need to get to
Thiruanaika temple fast before they close for lunch break. I made an appointment to come back to
Utamar temple at night for the parikaaram.

Day 5 – Guided Tour At Thiruanaika From Hanuman?

The priest took me to the Thiruanaika 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 were 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 one to do the prayer,” he said to the Brahmin
man who was squatted at a corner. I had the privilege 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 realized all those who followed me, the priests from Utamar temple,
the temple caretaker and Devendran, had also fell at the priest’s feet following my gesture. The
priests from Utamar temple insisted this elderly priest should conduct the prayers at the
Dhakshana 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 newfound 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 advice of this priest. I was literally pushed or shoved from one shrine to another, by
this 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 chose. 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. I looked back and realized that
we had dropped him off at a Hanuman temple! 12

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

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!
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 Thiruanaika 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?

36
Samayapuram – Turaiyur

The food at Mani Aiyar in Samayapuram 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 Rengaraja Desigar of Ongkara Kudil

We left for Turaiyur at 3.40 pm hoping to get a darshan and blessings of Swami Rengaraja
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. Nadarajah happily welcomed
me. 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 businesspersons. I was given
the opportunity to meet the Swami after them. However, before that he took me around to view all
the facilities that they had at the ashram. 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. And to our joy, 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 Swami. 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, again. There was no reply. I asked him thrice. Finally, he replied that coming to
Ongkara Kudil in itself was a blessing. I did not know how to receive his answer then 13.

13 When Swami Rengaraja 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 by 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 Murali 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 to my surprise, to refrain from blessing others. It
seems the strength of spiritual practice (tava valimai) would reduce by doing both. Finally, it
dawned on me as to why Swami Rengaraja Desigar refrained from blessing 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.
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.”

37
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 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. In addition, those devotees were required to bring along fruits
and flowers that were customary when visiting Swamis and cash of Rs1, 000. I understood later
upon reading the nadi revelations of the Swami published by this organization, that it was the
sidhas directive to lay down these instructions to aspiring devotees who wanted to have a darshan
of the Swami. 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 priest, 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 very aware so as not to create fresh and new
karmas.

Day 6 – Appeasing Saturn

Eight am, 6 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
ask that I donate sesame oil and silk cloth for the nine planets. At 8.20 am, I am back at Trichi 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
Murugan temple and he asked me to look him up on arrival in Palani.

Later Sage Agathiyar reveals in the nadi reading on 19 August 2008 the greatness of Swami
Rengaraja Desigar and tells me I was not ready for the meeting during my first visit to see him. The
Sage encourages me to see the Swami now.

38
Then I was off to Sri Rangam temple. It was just as crowded as Thirupati. Here Lord Vishnu as
Ranganathar is in a reclining pose.

I could not enter the main chamber to see Lord Ranganathar due to the crowd. 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.14

Two 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.

I shopped the streets of Trichi for books from four to five in the evening.

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.

Day 7 – Palani and Twilight Zone

5.30 am, 7 September 2003 I left for Palani a day earlier than 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 Thiruavinankudi temple 15.

After prayers at Thiruavinankudi temple, I started for the hill temple only to realize 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

14 So who was this person who appeared out of no where to bless me?

15 Tavayogi later told me when he accompanied me to Thiruavinankudi that this was THE temple
those days where Sage Bhogar had lived and meditated. 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 Thirumalai Vengadasalapathi temple in Thirupathi.

39
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. 16

Having regained my composure after some time, I stood up. I continued my way to Palani
Murugan’s chambers. I stood in row to have the darshan of the Lord 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.17

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 Trichi at 2.40 pm.

Day 8 – Revisiting My Roots

8th September 2003, I had a day without any activity as we had covered all there was to be seen
earlier than planned. Therefore, 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.

16 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?

17 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
to?
Sage Agathiyar reveals to me in the Aasi Kaandam nadi reading on 19 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?

40
Kundrakudi – Pillaiyaar Patti

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

11.40 am, 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 the night before. The crowd that we saw 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 through. I could not enter my father’s childhood home for lunch was been
served for the relatives of the deceased. For some reason I was not allowed to mend or meet up
with my relatives in India.

Vayalur

I returned to Trichi 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 6
pm.

Day 9 – The Pinnacle of My Journey

Six am, 9 September, I left for Thiruanaika temple again thinking I could take a dip in the tank.
However, there was hardly any water in the tanks.

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

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

This was the day of going around Mount Thiruvanamalai. According to the nadi, I was to go round
this hill on a full moon night.18

18 Any full moon night will do according to nadi reader Sentilkumar.

41
So here, I was on 9 September 2003 in Thiruvanamalai. Full moon started at 10.47 pm and lasted
until 10.48 pm the next day (10 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 September. I stopped over at
the following places of worship:

Tuesday, 9 September

9.45 pm Agni Lingam in the temple grounds

10.40 pm Seshadari ashram, Amman temple, Dhaskhina 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 Sankara Madam, Tank

Wednesday, 10 September

12.10 am Cemetery, Yama Lingam

12.20 am Mrityam Or Jaya Lingam, Ganesar temple

12.35 am Tank, Dhurvasa temple, Nandi temple

12.50 am Tank, Jhoti Vinayagar temple

1.20 am Vallalar temple, Annamalaiyar 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 Sidha Samadhi, Kautamar Rishi temple, Surya Lingam temple, Rama temple,
Varuna Lingam temple, Adi Arunachaleswarer temple

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

42
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, Annamalaiyar 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. However, I was not destined to
meet him until a later date.19

Day 10 - A Chance Meeting with Supramania Swami Or Was It

Ordained?

After lunch that day at 12 noon, I went back to Ramana Maharishi’s ashram and sat at his
Samadhi. Later I left for Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s ashram, which I did not get to visit earlier during
the Girivalam. Unfortunately, Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s ashram was closed for lunch.

Just before I left Malaysia for India, my wife reminded me that we had not consulted an astrologer
on the astrological chart for our second daughter. Since I was going to India, she asked me to
check it out once I was there. Since I had the rest of the day to myself, I decided to go eight
kilometers out of Thiruvanamalai to meet Devendran’s uncle who was an astrologer. 20

19 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.

20 When I left for India, Mages had asked me to check out the astrology chart of my younger
daughter, Vimala. My older daughter, Praba’s astrological chart had been written but not the
younger one. Therefore, I seized the opportunity to see Supramania Swami and have her future
forecast when Devendran mentioned that he (Supramania Swami) was an astrologer. What I did

43
 Supramania Swami with Arunachaleshwarar temple in the background

Devendran introduced me as a tourist from Malaysia who was there for his (my) daughter’s
astrological chart reading. I mentioned my name to Devendran’s uncle. He immediately took me
into his prayer room, lighted the camphor, hovered it in front of all the portraits of the deities in his
prayer room, and blessed me.21

We sat outside the house. I prepared myself to listen to the astrological revelation of my daughter’s
future. However, what he actually did was to talk about my future and me. The first thing he
mentioned was, “Now since you have arrived in Thiruvanamalai, all is over for you.” 22

I did not ask what he meant by that. He stressed this couple of times. He reminded me I had to put
effort on certain practices, which he elaborated later.23

I did not question him nor interrupt him. I just sat there listening, waiting for each word to break out
from his lips.

He mentioned that he had been going around Mount Thiruvanamalai on full moon days, for the
past thirty years now, but could not do it the night before due to ill health.24

not know was that seeing him over an astrological chart was only a reason to be with him. He was
waiting for me.
21 Why did he bring me to his prayer room and bless me immediately upon arrival?

22 Did he mean I am home? I came back home. I came back to the shadows of my Lord after
having strayed away for several births and 44 years of this lifetime.

23 Only later when I was back in Malaysia did it dawned on me that could this be the person I
wanted to meet on the Girivalam path.
24 Even though he did not go on Girivalam that night, I was brought to him.

44
He told me, I might have all the relations with me but would still be alone. The only company for me
is the company of Lord Siva. This he mentioned twice. He implied as did Saint Ramalingam that
there was no death for this body reassuring me that I was right with my stand that this body was
not meant to drop dead.

He mentioned his masters. He had had five of them. Amongst them was his own father, Jayaraman
Pillai, Pundi Mahan (Atru Swami), Sathanandha Swami of Salem25, Kolli Malai Swami and Yogi
Ramsuratkumar (Visiri Swami). He narrated an incident involving Yogi Ramsuratkumar. The Yogi,
he said had placed him under ‘house arrest’ once. Supramania Swami was asked to meditate at
the Yogi’s residence for five days. The Yogi had asked him to stay at his (Yogi’s) place but later
decided that he be with his family. Swami did mention another incident where once Yogi
Ramsuratkumar tapped the door of his home at 11 pm one night. Swami woke up to be given a
poster of the Yogi himself and the Yogi left laughing. He tried to keep up with the Yogi but the Yogi
disappeared into the darkness.26

Swami also narrated the story of Guhai Namasivaya and his disciple Guru Namasivaya, where
Guru Namasivaya drinks the vomit of his guru when his guru ask that Guru Namasivaya disposes
off the vomit in a place out of bounds of human.

Supramania Swami mentioned that the following activities have to be done in secrecy: prayers
(pooja), consuming food (bhojanam), and sex (maithunam). 27

Swami Nithyananda, refers to Saint Ramanujam, on food intake in his book SIX DAYS TO TOTAL
TRANSFORMATION published by Nithyananda Publishers, 2004,

‘Ramanujam writes that food can be contaminated in three ways [doshas]

Jaati dosha where the food itself is toxic by its very quality;

Food prepared unhygienic ally and contaminated with hair or dust has nimitta
dosha;

The person who cooks or handles food leaves the imprint of his thoughts upon it
thereby contaminating it with Aashraya dosha.

25 Sathanandha Swami authored the KANDAR GURU KAVASAM.

26 I had the privilege to chant with Supramania Swami where Yogi Ramsuratkumar (Visiri Swami)
joined us in spirit in 2005.

27 Now how did he know that I prayed loudly? I used to scream my head off when I sang prayers
at my altar.

45
Swami Nithyananda compares eating to a sacred religious rite. He says,

‘Just as we make offerings to the sacrificial fire in a ‘yagam’, we make this offering
of food to our inner fire, the digestive fire - jatar agni.’

Eating is equivalent to a yagam. Be careful what things we put into the sacrificial fire, which turns
into amirtham for the Devas [in the body].

Supramania Swami gave me mantra teecha to be recited, which was the guru upadesa. He asked
that I chant the mantra for half an hour each day. “Just as a silversmith polishes his wares we too
shall slowly work on IT till we achieve IT,” said Swami. Swami asked me to get a mat made of
tharbai grass for use as a seat during meditation.

As we sat there together Supramania Swami revealed new happenings that were about to take
place in my life. He could tell a number of intimate things about the life and mission I was to face.
As he was narrating all this happenings to be, I could not help but break down. I cried like a child. I
cried for blessings I had received from God until that very moment. I realized how much God loved
me then. As I, cried Supramania Swami added that I would be coming back repeatedly. Then he
surprised me further when he mentioned that I would build a temple right here in India - in
Thiruvanamalai; set up a Peedham and that I will have a place here too. I cried aloud again.28

“Take him back with you”, he said referring to Lord Annamalaiyar. Supramania Swami was by now
seated up erect, in a meditative state as those words crept from his lips. I did not ask for
clarifications.

When Devendran did mention to Swami that it took me nine hours compared to three hours for
others to go around Mount Thiruvanamalai, Swami replied, “Of course it would take that long for he
(referring to me) had been stopping over at all the places of worship and ashrams.”29

As we left his home, he stood there, hands together in prayer for me. I in return stood there with my
palms in prayer to him too, not knowing what was appropriate for the moment.30

28 Sage Agathiyar had told me in the nadi reading that I would have to assists financially in the
construction of temples and after which I would have to build one for HIM. My confusion as to
where I should build the temple had been cleared when Supramania Swami told me it was to be in
Thiruvanamalai. Therefore, God has assigned the magnificent and majestic task of constructing a
temple for him and in the land of my ancestors– INDIA - the land where miracles happen every
moment. Andrew Harvey in HIDDEN JOURNEY-A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING says, “In India the
miraculous is commonplace.” However, how was I to go about its construction when I am residing
in Malaysia?

29 Now how did he know that?

30 Was I a stranger to him? Do we know each other? Had we met before?

46
He was praying for my safe journey. We left him as night fell over this small village known as
Nacha Ananthal. I reached the hotel at 8 pm.

Day 11 – Returning Home - A Satisfied Pilgrim

Thursday morning, 11 September, I walked to Annamalaiyar 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 Annamalaiyar’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.31

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 and over to Yogi
Ramsuratkumar’s ashram at 10.40 am. I 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.

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

Tindivanam.

Then I diverted to Thiruporur 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
Thiruvanamalai 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 Vinayagar temple at 5.30 am,12 September.Then I walked over to the adjacent
Vadapalani Murugan temple and a Siva temple. At 8 am, I was back at the hotel. At 10 am,
Devendran turned up at the hotel and 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
September 2003. It was a memorable journey and satisfying trip indeed.

31 Who was she and why did I fall at her feet? I do not know.

47
CHAPTER 2
Sacred Moments With Gurus

Sacred Moments with Swami Nithyananda of Dhyanapeetam,

Bangalore

While reading through a book entitled A GARLAND OF MEMORIES on Swami Nithyananda of

Thiruvanamalai by his devotees in my brother’s house, I happened to see a leaflet with the
program of his talks. A friend of my brother had passed the book to him to read.

I attended the talk given by the Swami at Bangi with my friend, Murali on 15 July 2005. It had been
raining that evening. We arrived early. While waiting for Swami’s arrival the organizers ran some
video clips of the Swami and his organization. We were given a free edition of the Tamil magazine
VAANAMPADI that carried the biography of Swami.32

Swami Nithyananda stepped into the hall at 7.40 pm. He was looking so divine, dressed in orange
robes with a headgear, young and handsome just like the photos of young Swami Vivekananda. I
could see that he was in bliss. Swami Nithyananda was only 28 years of age, tall and elegant, with
some feminine gestures. University and College students ushered him in as this event was being
held in an institute of higher learning. The swami stopped awhile when a few devotees fell at his
feet. No one stopped the devotees nor refrained them from doing so. He walked up the aisle to the
stage where he sat on a settee.

The talk was addressed specifically to teenagers. He talked on the problems faced by them and
linked it to the lack of spiritualism. He talked about the influence of television and movies on the
students. He says in his book, SIX DAYS TO TOTAL TRANSFORMATION, published by
Nithyananda Publishers, 2004, “Modern civilization can be psychologically classified into two ages;
the pre-TV age and the post-TV age. That is the importance given and influence of this ‘box’. Know
when to switch it off.” He also means the internal TV that is constantly playing in our minds.

He talked on the process leading from the senses to the subconscious (samskaras). “We need to
reduce this involvement of the subconciousness. One who depends solely on the subconscious
lives a live based on instinct. One who depends on the conscious rather than subconscious lives a
life based on intuition. When samskaras are reduced, buddhi sets in. Meditation is the only way for
samskaras to die a natural death.”

32 Rajasekaran was born to Arunachalam and Lokanayaki on January 1, 1978. On the tenth day
after his birth, an astrologer was summoned to cast his horoscope and he declared, "Arunachalam,
your family is honored! This boy will grow up to be a Raja Sannyasi (King among holy mendicants).
I am privileged to have been chosen to draw this horoscope. I cannot sully my hands by allowing
another horoscope to pass through them." So saying, he gladly retired from his profession.

48
Swami Nithyananda in his book, SIX DAYS TO TOTAL TRANSFORMATION published by
Nithyananda Publishers, 2004, he explains beautifully the meaning of subconscious,

‘Subconscious is nothing but the collective term for all the suppressed desires,
suppressed emotions [unfulfilled desires-samskaras]. When energy is not allowed
to flow, to take its natural course, it stagnates in your system. All these repressions
are stored in your subconscious, and ultimately they can destroy the being.
Whatever you suppress in the waking state appears strongly in your dream state.
When you really get fulfillment you do not store even the seed of the desire inside
anymore. However, we never get real fulfillment because we never enter into
anything fully. If we get into anything fully, we will be out of it.’

When thought arises, we suppress it. “You can’t give expression to the desire; nor should you
suppress it. Simply drop the desire,” he says.

He also mentioned, “Do not be born in a church and die in a church”.33

He was using the computer and a Power Point presentation as a medium of instruction. He was
practical, and down to earth and got his message across to the audience in an educational way.

At 9.15 pm, Swami Nithyananda started giving blessings. We were told Swami would autograph
books and posters purchased at the hall. I bought a book written by Swami SIX DAYS TO TOTAL
TRANSFORMATION and stood in line to get his blessing and autograph. Murali was right in front
of me.

Swami was seated in a settee on the stage in the hall. We were queuing up on the floor of the hall,
the line winding its way to the stage. When I came up to him, it was obvious that he was in bliss. I
saluted him with the Vanakam gesture and called out “Swami,” Immediately he became attentive
like as if he had come out of the bliss state he was in. I started again, “Let me experience the bliss
that you are experiencing now.” As I uttered the words in Tamil, he took his right hand and moved it
over my head. I closed my eyes. I could feel his hand on my head. Swami blessed me with these
words, “Your wish will come true. Meditate.” I opened my eyes and worshipped his feet. Then I
reached for his book that I had bought and handed it to him to be autographed. He took the book in
his hands, paused for a moment, and wrote on a blank page. He handed out a card to me. I
stepped back, my body was shaking, filled with joy. I walked away. I took a seat. Upon looking into
the book that he had autographed, it was signed as ‘L.M.’.34

33 Tavayogi too reminded us in his talks to come out of temple worship (bakti marga) and move up
into the path of knowledge (gnana marga).

34 One day as I was reading the book it dawned on me could that initial ‘L.M.’ mean Lahari
Mahasaya? Was Lahari Mahasaya guiding me? Was the mantra OM NAMOH BHAGAVATHEY
VASUDEVAYA NAMA, that Lahari Mahasaya revered with greatness, from him? Did he show his
presence and bless me through my nephew Thayalan?

49
The Swami was holding a two day meditation course – Ananda Spurana Program - on the 16th and
17th. Although he had asked me to do meditation when I approached him for his blessings, he had
not asked that I attend his classes. To attend the class one had to make a deposit and settle the
amount of RM400, which includes food and accommodation at the Gold Course Hotel in Klang. I
had only RM60.00 with me then. Although I did not sign up for the course, I did buy his book SIX
DAYS TO TOTAL TRANSFORMATION, which was about this course too. Murali and I stayed until
Swami left.

When Swami Nithyananda blessed me, he asked that I meditate; Supramania Swami always
reminded me to meditate; even Tavayogi who does not instruct told me once to meditate. Why was
so much importance given to meditation? Much has been written in books on meditation, but
Nithyananda puts it simply in his book, “If you don’t know how to look inward, the outer world will
reduce you to madness, sooner or later. We need meditation the way we need oxygen.”

Swami Muktananda in KUNDALINI - THE SECRET OF LIFE, published by the SYDA Foundation,
NY,1994,

‘Why should you meditate? Why should you awaken your inner Shakti? The
answer is, to see this Blue Pearl. This is the goal of your spiritual journey. It is the
Blue Pearl which puts an end to your bondage and makes you realize your own
perfection.’35

‘We do not meditate to attain God, because we have already attained him. We
meditate so that we can become aware of God manifest within us’.

Only when I reached home did I glance at the card that was handed out by Swami. In it was
written, ‘I want you to know the power of Bliss (Ananda) which liberates you from the dilemma of
the mind and depression of your Being, which gives tremendous freedom in the inner and outer
worlds – Swami Nithyananda’. I realized then that I had wished for the right thing - Bliss (Ananda)
when I approached the Swami and asked that he make me realize it too. He assured me it will be a
reality - provided I meditate.

SIX DAYS TO TOTAL TRANSFORMATION published by Nithyananda Publishers, 2004, was a

beautiful book. It was the first time a saint had given explanations on the various chakras in the
body in a different perspective, one more practical and feasible for one to follow and less
complicated. He associates the chakra with emotions, beliefs, and behavior rather than with
deities, color, and mantras as was the normal explanations by others. The emotions related to the
chakra as described in his book are as follows.

35 ‘The Blue Pearl is subtler than the subtlest. It is the size of a sesame seed. Yet even though it is
so tiny, it is very big, for the whole world of movable and immovable things is contained within it.
…Within the blue pearl are millions and millions of universes. The blue pearl contains the entire
cosmos’ – Swami Muktananda in KUNDALINI- THE SECRET OF LIFE.

50
Table 1: The Chakras and the Corresponding Emotions.

Chakra Locked By Unlocked By

Muladhara Imagination; Acceptance Of The Other;
Expectation; Acceptance Of Reality;
Fantasy [Drop your expectations of others]
Swadishthana Fear; Acceptance Of Death;
Especially Fear Of Death [Drop your fears]

Manipuraka Worry Think Positive;

[Drop your worries;
Do Not React]
Anahata Asking For Attention Selfless Love;
[Drop your want of acceptance and need for
approval]
Vishuddhi Comparison And Realizing You Uniqueness;
Jealousy [Drop Comparing]
Ajna Seriousness Innocence And Simplicity;
[Drop your seriousness]
And Finally When Discontentment, Taking Gratitude and bliss
You Are At Sahasrara Life For Granted [Learn to show gratitude. This final stage is very
obvious in Saint Ramalingam’s ARUTPA where
he sings songs of gratitude to the Lord
Arutperumjhoti]

The Swami teaches us to be punctual. “Just by being punctual- we are showing respect to each
other,” he says. “Come with a fresh mind. Listen without comparison. You will be able to receive
my message totally,” he adds further. When I met my gurus, Supramania Swami and Tavayogi, I
went with an open mind. I did not carry questions with me. Neither did I voice my opinions. I just
remained in their presence. They talked, I listened. Nithyananda says, “If you already have some
ideas, some understanding, those ideas are going to be confused with my own. Too much logic
and reason will come in the way of your receiving me into yourself.” He says, “When we talk, most
of us are just vomiting ideas.”

Swami Nithyananda currently runs an ashram in Bangalore. He can be contacted at

http://www.dhyanapeetam.org.

The Guru - Disciple Relationship

Supramania Swami always asks if I was meditating. He once told me, “Meditate my son, only then
will my meditation be realized.” Later when I saw the nadi in 2005, Sage Agathiyar says something
quite similar, “Live with pride my son, for then I too shall live in pride.” I did not understand these
statements then. Then Swami Nithyananda clears the air when he explains in his book SIX DAYS
TO TOTAL TRANSFORMATION published by Nithyananda Publishers, 2004, that the child has
given you the honorable status of a father.

51
I am the father because I have a child. When the child appears in the world, it gives birth to the
woman - ‘into motherhood’. Similarly, the wife has given you the status of a husband; the parents
have given you the status of son or daughter. Respect each of them. In a similar way, the disciple
raises the status of the guru too. Thotapuri and Ramakrishna helped each other. The guru and the
disciple pray to the higher energy, one illuminating the other. There is transformation both ways. I
have affected my gurus to a certain extent, and they have affected my life tremendously. As I left
Nacha Ananthal to return to Malaysia, Supramania Swami brought his hands to his chest in prayer.
He stood there, looking at me hands in prayer. I did not know what to do so I returned the gesture.
When I left the kudil on my return to Malaysia on my second trip, he did the same. Nithyananda
explains there is no ego at all in this relationship between the guru and disciple. He says, “There is
just a beautiful mutual respect.”

Meeting My Second Guru, Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal

I had happened to come across articles, consecutively over a few days in the local Tamil language
dailies, about the opening of an organization called the Sri Agathiyar Gyana Peedham.
Accompanying that article was a photograph of
Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal [16]of Kallaru,
India. I do not buy Tamil dailies but surprisingly
during this period my neighbor, Augustine sends
us a complimentary copy every day. I called
Perumal whose telephone number appeared in
the daily, and enquired about Tavayogi. I
mentioned to him I had a leaflet carrying
Tavayogi’s name that was given to me when I
read the nadi in 2002. He referred me to Appana
Nagappan for an appointment. I called Appana
and asked to see Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal.

I reached the Peedham in Batu Caves at 10.40

am, twenty minutes earlier then the appointed
time. Tavayogi, Appana, and Perumal we
already there at the office. Appana welcomed
me while Perumal introduced me to them saying
Tavayogi’s name was mentioned in my nadi (a
misinterpretation on the part of Perumal that I
did not care to correct).

Tavayogi - Photograph courtesy of The New Straits Times

Tavayogi was dressed in the traditional saffron colored cloth (kaavi) of saints and gurus. He was
bald with hair flowing on the back of his head, spotted a gray mustache and beard, and wore
glasses. Appana told us to go ahead as he had some office matters to settle with Perumal.

52
Tavayogi immediately lead me to the adjoining room and he sat down on the carpet. I followed him
into the room and settled in front of him. The first thing Tavayogi spoke was, “Son, I have no
connection with them – referring to Appana and the Peedham” 36.

I took out the leaflet, which had his name on it and told him I received it from Sentilkumar when he
read my nadi in 2002. I asked if he was the one mentioned in the leaflet. Tavayogi answered, “Its
mine.” The leaflet had mentioned plans for the construction of a temple cum ashram for Sage
Agathiyar in Kallaru, Coimbatore, South India. I asked if the temple in Kallaru was completed. He
answered “No. We are still looking for a proper site.” He did not elaborate further. Neither did I
dwell on the subject.37

I started narrating some portions of the nadi to Tavayogi: I told him that I was told in the nadi Sage
Agathiyar was my prime master (moola guru). I read certain portions and questioned what it meant.
Tavayogi asked me to read further. I continued. On listening to the nadi rendition, Tavayogi said
that I had come to the right place. “Sage Agathiyar has sent you here,” he said. I asked him how I
was to worship the sidhas. Tavayogi answered that I should frequent this Peedham where all that I
am yearning to know would be taught under the tutelage of Appana.38

I read a portion of the Gnana Kaandam of my nadi to Tavayogi. Tavayogi again reiterated that I
had come to the right place.

I told him about my trip to India in 2003, meeting with Supramania Swami, and engaging in building
the kudil for Supramania Swami in Thiruvanamalai. Tavayogi asked me if I came to Kallaru during
my first tour of India. I replied I did not, to which Tavayogi said, “I (He) didn’t know.” Later he tells
Appana, “We (Tavayogi and me) should have met in 2003”.

36 I still wonder why he said that when he had come all the way from India to officiate the opening
of this Peedham?

37 When I saw Sentilkumar in 2002, after the nadi reading he had shown me a leaflet asking for
donations to build a temple in Kallaru, which would be undertaken by Tavayogi Thangarasan
Adigal. Sentilkumar added that a nadi had indicated to see one millionaire in Chennai for donations
and this man had pledge he would finance the building of the temple in Kallaru. Therefore, I was
expecting the temple to be up and running by now. However, it was a puzzle to me when Tavayogi
told me that there was no temple yet.

38 Sage Agathiyar says in the nadi that Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal is the guru for me. Swami
Sivananda has this to say on the guru, “Let each man take the path according to his capacity,
temperament, and understanding. His Sadguru will meet him along the path. Listen to all, but follow
one. Respect all, but adore one. Gather knowledge from all, but adopt the teachings of one Master.
Then you will have rapid spiritual progress. Once you choose your Guru, implicitly follow him. God
will guide you through the Guru.”

53
I mentioned to him my visits to Rengaraja Desigar in Turaiyur, South India, Agathiyar Sanmarga
Sangam in Dengkil, and Agathiyar Sanmarga Kurukulam in Kampong Laksmana looking for
guidance on the worship of Sage Agathiyar; and quite recently meeting Swami Nithyananda.

He fetched into a pocket in his clothing, took out a packet of sacred ash (vibhuti) and blessed me
by applying the ash on my forehead, and gave me some. He took down my address and telephone
number too.

I told him I had been asked to see the nadi again but could not locate any reader in Malaysia then.
Tavayogi immediately gave me the telephone number of a nadi reader Ramesh.

Appana and Perumal joined us at that moment. When Appana and Perumal enquired of me about
the nadi, Tavayogi immediately replied that I was sent to learn breathing practices and told them
that he, (Tavayogi) shall give 'Teecha'. Appana briefs me on his meeting with Tavayogi, which was
destined and written, in his nadi. He talked about the Peedham that was newly set up.

Appana handed a portrait of Sage Agathiyar and another of all the Sidhas to Tavayogi to have it
blessed and given to me. I received THEM. Those were the same portraits that Appana had
enlarged and placed at the Peedham meditation hall.

I then noticed a pair of sandals placed on a pedestal in front of the portraits. I looked at Tavayogi
and Appana and looked back at the sandals. They must have understood me for they nodded. I
placed my hands on the ‘feet of my guru’ and grabbed on to them firmly. After that, I do not know
what came over me as I was in tears, crying aloud. This went on for a while. I had no control over
myself. The tears seem to pour on its own. Finally I moved away from the pedestal and lay flat on
the carpeted floor, faced down, showing my respect and salutations to the guru. I heard Tavayogi
mention to Appana, "We too did cry this way back then”.39

Andrew Harvey in HIDDEN JOURNEY-A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING, published by Penguin Books

USA Inc., 1992, writes on his meeting with Mother Meera.

‘As she said my name for the first time a sob arose in me and shook my entire
body. I tried to control it, but my whole being started to weep before her. The grief
of my life’s loneliness, guilt, and sexual pain seemed to seize me and pour itself
out at her feet. I wept for a long time. Slowly, in the huge and healing silence of
her presence, I began to feel calm.’

39 Later when I saw the nadi I was told that this Peedham is the place for me to learn about
spirituality. I was also told to see Tavayogi immediately the very same night and get teecha from
him. I could have brushed aside or delayed seeing Tavayogi. Instead, when I followed as instructed
and I went over to the Peedham and got Tavayogi’s blessing that night, the reading was
mysteriously ‘erased’. When the nadi was read to me, again there was no mention of the Peedham
anymore. I figured that the moment I surrendered to the guru there was no need for the
organization anymore.

54
 ‘I came before you with question. But now I understand I only wanted to weep
before you and sit with you.’

I asked Tavayogi if I had done much ‘karma’ since I only had to opportunity to know of the nadi and
Sage Agathiyar when I was 44 years of age. Tavayogi consoled me, “Be grateful that at least you
got the opportunity and came to this realization now at this age.” 40

Tavayogi asked that I drop the past and narrated the story of the guru-sisya on their journey where
they meet a young attractive girl who would not cross the river for fear of drowning. Therefore, the
guru lifted her on his shoulders and crossed the heavily swollen river with the disciple following
behind. On reaching the other shore, the guru left the girl behind and continued the journey. The
disciple who was very disturbed by what he had seen, eventually blurted out his uneasiness and
unhappiness at what the guru had done just some time ago. He questioned his guru. The guru
replied, “I had carried the burden on my shoulders and left it behind as soon as I had reached the
shores while you have been carrying it with you until now.”

I fell at the feet of Tavayogi to which Appana and Tavayogi told me I should only fall at the feet of
Sage Agathiyar and no one else. I asked Tavayogi to pardon me for doing so since I was ignorant
to which Tavayogi, replied, “Ignorance has left you. Body of Grace has replaced your Delusive
body.”

When Tavayogi mentioned those bodies, I went back to my collections of books for more
information as to what he meant. I knew Saint Ramalingam had sang on the various bodies but the
songs were incomprehensible. I looked towards translations of them.

When one gains illumination of effulgence (Arutperunjhothi) his body becomes a pure or golden
body. Swami Saravanananda in his English translation of Saint Ramalingam’s
ARUTPERUNJHOTI AGAVAL published by Ramalinga Mission, Madras, says,

‘At whatever age the aspirant gains illumination or the effulgence enters in him or
emanates from within, some remarkable changes take place in the body-frame.
The Divine Light seems to change the very cell of the body, with the result, that
they seem to function in the opposite direction. Consequently, the old body

40 Tavayogi had officially introduced me to Sage Agathiyar that day! It is mentioned in the
Autobiography Of A Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda published by Self-Realization Fellowship,
1990, ‘It was not until the disciple (Lahari Mahasaya) had reached his thirty-third year that Babaji
deemed the time ripe for reestablishing openly the never-severed link. After the brief meeting near
Ranikhet, the selfless guru did not keep the beloved disciple by his side, but released Lahari
Mahasaya for an outward world mission.’ Sage Agathiyar too waited till I was forty-three to reveal
the nadi. Did Sage Agathiyar call me over to India so that I could see his greatness for myself and
released me to return to Malaysia assuring me, “My son, I shall come whenever you need me?”

55
 becomes middle aged, then to youth of eighteen years, to twelve years (pure
body), to eight years and finally five years (Pranava body). After five years the
body grows to the size of the universe to become casual body or a body of gnosis
(Gnana deham) which is the natural abode of the soul.’

‘With the descent of sufficient Divine Light the psychic head begins to emerge.
According to Vallalar, this psychic head (a crown or diadem of light) is made up of
a special and highly refined type of brain called Omkar brain. As soon as it
emerges, it draws more cosmic light; the more the light the greater the growth of
the psychic head. With the advent of psychic head, more and more changes take
place in the already purified body. The cells and thence the whole body begins to
transcend the limits imposed on them by impure Maya (the grosser principle of
nature) and try to break one more of its veils. The cells undergo alternate
condensation and expansion for an unspecified period and the body slowly
emerges out of its bondage and begins to grow. This expanding and ever
prospering body, is called the subtle body or the body of Omkar or Pranava body.’

Swami Saravanananda adds,

‘With this perfection comes perfect knowledge. He (Vallalar) also seemed to have
been bestowed with the third eye, after his body had attained perfection. This third
eye enabled him to gain knowledge of the whole universe and all the individual
beings contained in it. He assets that his knowledge penetrated and pervaded
layer upon layer of the varied types of universes. , With the functioning of the third
eye, the transformation of the Pranava body is completed and the next and final
stage of transformation into the Gnostic body (Gnana deham) starts. As explained
by Vallalar, the person whose third eye is active is verily God Himself because he
can raise the dead into life and perform the fivefold primordial functions.’

‘According to Vallalar, it takes a long time to perfect the Pranava body; the
minimum period required is twelve years and the maximum is 108 years,’ writes
Swami Saravanananda.

‘The transformation of the Pranava body into a Gnostic body begins with the
functioning of the third eye. With the advent of this eye, the body sheds whatever
subtle impurities it possesses; consequently, it becomes nearly invisible. The third
eye enabled Vallalar to have tier upon tier of divine experiences.’

‘Slowly his body through the intensity of concentration of the mind begins to
generate the flame of lapses, popularly known as psychic heat. Slowly the quantity
of psychic heat is increased due to intense meditation and concentration on the
universal effulgence. The extreme heat generated in the body produces smoke at
first; this smoke gathers up in volume and escapes through the junction of the
parietal bones of the skull (Brahma Randhra). During this period, the body and
mind undergoes untold stress. Vallalar often mentions about the sufferings that he
had undergone since he was twelve years old. The psychic smoke clears off and

56
 enhanced illumination results. This light (Tegas) is also called as the aura or
nimbus.’

Marshall Govindan in his book BABAJI AND THE 18 SIDDHARS KRIYA YOGA TRADITION
(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,
reproduced with permission via e-mail), says,

‘Ramalinga (Saint Ramalingam) described several successive transformations:

The transformation of the mortal human body into the perfect body (suddha
deham), achieved by universal spiritual communion and devotion to god;

The transformation of perfect body (sudha deham) into the body of grace and light
(pranava deham);

In addition, the transformation into the body of wisdom (Gnana deham) and into
the body of god supreme.

In many verse [in the Thiru Arutpa] Ramalinga sings of how his ‘impure body’ of
‘impure elements’ was transformed into a pure body of pure elements, called a
golden body of immeasurable carats (swarna deham). He sings that one has to
think incessantly, until he feels and melts with love for god. In such a melting mood
one bursts into tears and sings praise of god and soothing warmth is produced in
the aspirant. When this universal love and sacred warmth develops, the body as
well as the soul became prepared for the descent of the grace, in the form of light.
When this occurs, the material body of impure elements is transformed into a
‘body of pure light’, emitting a golden hue. This ‘golden body’ appears to be about
twelve years of age. The body of grace (pranava deham) according to him can be
seen visually but it cannot be touched. It appears to be a heavenly child of about
five to eight years of age. The ultimate and greatest transformation in human
evolution: a transmutation into the godhead, which he referred to as merging with
the body of supreme wisdom- the body of god supreme (Gnana deham).’

In the foreword to Kumara Devar in Marshall Govindan’s BABAJI AND THE 18 SIDDHARS KRIYA
YOGA TRADITION (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), it was stated
again,

‘This saint, Kumara Devar, [the author of Sudha Sadhagam], has sung of the
progressive transformation of the darkness abounding human body (Irul deham)
into delusive body (Marul deham) then into the Pranava Deham which could be
seen and felt. In an advanced state it is transformed into body off grace (Arul
deham), which could only be seen as a mirage or a rainbow, but with his grace, it
merges with Shiva and enjoys eternal bliss in shivadvaita union.’

57
Dr C Srinivasan, in his foreword to Ramalingam Swami, in the same book says,

‘Accordingly, the impure human body, susceptible to disease and death, can, by
the grace of god, be transformed into a pure and perfect body of love, then into a
celestial body of grace and ultimately into an invisible body of bliss and merge with
god supreme.’

In the foreword to AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF SAINT RAMALINGAM by Dr

C Srinivasan, Rao Saheb K. Kothandapani Pillai BA says:

‘These transformations occur in the body of the aspirant according to the intensity
of spiritual warmth produced in him. The body is deprived of all its dross or
impurities and made pure, fit for divine absorption (sudha deham). These are the
practical transformation, which came over the body of the swami stage by stage
on the way to union with the absolute. Not only did he preach this science of
deathlessness (sudha sanmarga) but actually attained this deathless state. None
of the four saints, [Appar, Sundarar, Thirugnanasambanthar, and Manickavasagar]
dropped their bodies on the earth nor was buried or burnt. They bodily vanished
into the ether or into the lord divine. Conquest of death by imbibing supreme grace
is the quintessence of his philosophy. The more he ascended in his holy pursuit
the more was the descent of divinity in him.’

Table 2: The Various Bodies As Explained By Saint Ramalingam And The Experiences Gained.

Types Of Bodies Experiences Gain Through

Equivalent In English In Tamil Also Known As This Body
Body Of Love Sudha Deham Anbu Uru Uyir Anubhavam
Body Of Grace Pranava Arul Uru Arul Anubhavam
Deham
Body Of Bliss Gnana Deham Enba Uru Siva Anubhavam

Swami Nithyananda says we have seven bodies, which corresponds to seven chakras. The dream
body (suksma shareera) and causal body (kaarana shareera) meet the physical body at seven
points or chakras along the length of the physical body.

In an article in the net, the author of the article says,

‘As an individual begins to be liberated from the influence of the mind-stuff, the
divine attributes of the atman or self manifest in the very subtle sheath of bliss
(anandamaya kosham) that surrounds the soul (atman.). When the transformation
of that very subtle part of the being has been given fully to the divine, the
individual becomes literally a beacon of bliss-light. Simply being in the presence of
such a being is uplifting. Such an elevated individual is often acknowledged as a
saint.’

58
 ‘Anyone whose spiritual practices have thus resulted in the awareness of the
divine working through them has already begun the transformational process and
surrendering of the sheath of the intellect (vinjnanamaya kosham). “When the
analytical or intellectual component of the being is fully informed by the divine light
attributes we may through the divine grace be in a position to recognize such a
being as the Sage that they are. Such an individual is truly a muni or one who has
had their accumulated experiences and knowledge enlightened by the higher
deeper aspects of self. Such Sage has digested and integrated the informed
divine light into the analytical aspects of the being.’

‘As the intellect undergoes this transformation, the mental sheath (manomaya
kosham), associated with the senses, and is similarly transformed. Of course, this
individual is fully aware of the Divine as the prime mover. Since the ego has been
given to the divine, every action related to the senses is observed and understood
to be none other than the indwelling god or goddess doing the experiencing and
enjoying. Such a buddha can enjoy all the senses without fear of confusion or
being lost spiritually in them. For the great tantrics who have attained to this state,
conventional rules which guide and provide stability, safety, and structure are
irrelevant.’

‘As the divine light descends into the sheath of energy (pranayama kosham) the
entity becomes a siddha in the truest sense of the word. As defined in the
Upanishads, a siddha is one who has progressed from the exalted ‘state of freed
while living’ (jivanmukta) to ‘supremely free with full power over death’ (para
mukta). This state is referred to in siddhantha literature as soruba mukti or soruba
Samadhi. This para mukta will rarely retain the transformed physical frame and
when so, remains as an avatar. The physical body of the siddha glows with the fire
of immortality.’

G. Vanmikanathan in his English translation of the TIRUVACAGAM published by Amudha Nilayam,

Chennai, 2002, says,

‘The temple has usually five prahaarams i.e. courtyards separated by high walls
and inter-connected by entrances, four in number, on the East, West, North and
South in the outermost wall, and only one on each of the other walls, usually on
the eastern section thereof.’

‘These five courtyards represent the five sheaths of a human body viz., the
annamaya kola, the pranamaya kosa, the manomaya kosa the vignanamaya kosa
and the anandamaya kosa.’

Tavayogi then lead me outside and showed me photos of his hut cum ashram in the mountain
region of Kallaru near Ooti in Coimbatore, India. Tavayogi was running the mission at Kallaru,
feeding the aboriginal children who had settled at the surrounding spot.

59
Tavayogi began to mention a list of things to be acquired for teecha when Perumal interrupted that
he would get everything ready for that evening. Perumal told me I need only be present. Perumal
asked me to dress in a light color so that I could absorb the full benefit of the teecha when
receiving it. Tavayogi asked me to come back in the evening with the family.

I went back to the Peedham at 5 pm with my wife and children. When Tavayogi joined us I asked
him why we do not remember our last birth for would not that be helpful for us to pick up from
where we left in the previous life. Tavayogi said the reason we forget is due to Maya. Only those
who are in the way of meditation will know their past. Children often remember said Tavayogi.
However, they lose all trace of memory of the past life, as the thin piece of skull on top of the head
grows thicker and closes up as years go by.

Tavayogi then told us his past. In his past life, he was a Sheppard boy looking after goats in India.
He had the opportunity to meet Sage Agathiyar and was assisting the Sage. As a result, the Sage
gave him a Mantra. This boy, who wanted to test the effectiveness of this mantra, tried it on two
horses. These horses were burnt to ashes. When Sage Agathiyar enquired what had happened,
the lad lied that he had been doing 'Yagam' and had sacrificed the horses in the fire pit. Because of
this karma, Tavayogi was temporarily blinded in the present life. During this period, he stayed at a
Mariamman temple near Mettupalayam and eventually regained his sight after a year.

Tavayogi asked me which Kaandam of the nadi I saw earlier. I replied, Podhu Kaandam, Karma
Kaandam, Teecha Kaandam, and Gnana Kaandam. He asked what was mentioned in the Gnana
Kaandam. I told him I was to worship Sage Agathiyar, Lord Siva and the Sidhas. Tavayogi tells me
the ninth Kaandam mentions about the guru. Tavayogi said he had received numerous nadis from
people where his named was mentioned in these nadis. I asked if we could keep the nadi after
each reading and Tavayogi replied, “Yes, if the whole life’s prediction has been said.” If the reading
was not complete, or if you were told to see again at some other time or to continue the reading
later, then the nadi would not be returned. He showed me a nadi that was destined for the
Agathiyar Gnana Peedham kept at the present premises in a glass case. This is the kind of respect
that is given to these nadis. They are revered as the spoken words of the Sages.41

I told Tavayogi my daughter, Vimala, seven years of age, had asked me a rather difficult question. I
asked my daughter to repeat the question to Tavayogi. Her question was, “Why the soul kills the
body.” Tavayogi was surprised and commented how many of us actually ponder this question?
Tavayogi asked her if she wants to retain this body and see God or drop this body and the soul
goes to God. She replied she wants to live.

My wife narrated her dream where she saw Saint Ramalingam and Sage Agathiyar. Saint
Ramalingam said in the dream, “We (THEY) are here”. Tavayogi explained to Mages, “The saints
are ever protecting you and they have brought your husband to the worship of sidhas and are
convincing you too of their existence.

41 Sage Agathiyar mentions to me in my nadi reading on 24 July 2007 that the nadi predictions are
sacred and not to belittle them or the authors of these nadi - the sidhas.

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By this time, other devotees started to trickle in for the evening prayers and talk.42

Tavayogi gave Kara teecha to my wife and me that evening. Mages did not need much coaxing, as
Tavayogi only wanted her to refrain from taking meat, which she agreed to adhere too. There were
about ten of us in the room. All of them were women except me. The teecha was given behind
closed doors. All those who did not have reason to be there were asked to leave by Perumal.
Perumal handed each one of us a slip of paper on which was written a mantra to be recited and
meditated on. I was surprised to see the 'moola mantra' of Sage Agathiyar written on the paper. I
had received this mantra from astrologer Krishnan back in November 2004. We had to take an
oath of promise to Sage Agathiyar we would not reveal this mantra to anyone and refrain from
taking meat from that moment on. As I approached Tavayogi last after all the women got the
teecha, he blessed me by touching my shoulders in a peculiar way. He then blessed us all with a
good future.

Tavayogi during his stay at the Peedham mentioned on numerous occasions, to let things be.
Swami Nithyananda too says, “Tell yourself nothing can be done about it. Do not allow yourself to
react. Drop your resistance, drop your negativity, and drop your reaction”

Tavayogi invited us to the opening of Agathiyar Gnana Peedham on Saturday, 23 July 2005.

Reading the Nadi Again

I called Ramesh -the nadi reader Tavayogi had asked me to contact. I introduced myself and said I
wanted to have my nadi read. I told him it had been 2 ½ years since I last saw the nadi with
Sentilkumar. I told him Tavayogi had asked to see him. He said Tavayogi had called in the morning
and mentioned I would be coming in to see the nadi. He said he shall call me later to inform of a
date when I could see the nadi.43

Murali who had also seen the nadi came over to my house immediately after seeing his nadi. He
played the recording of the reading on tape for me. He had the blessings of Sage Agathiyar and

42 Tavayogi was holding a series of talks at the Peedham at the request of Appana. Appana after
meeting Tavayogi at Kallaru took him as a guru. He invited Tavayogi over for the inaugural opening
of the Peedham that he had started in Batu Caves. Appana had very much wanted to head an
organization. Sage Agathiyar made his wish come true by setting up of this Peedham. This was
mentioned in Appana’s nadi.

43 I waited for Ramesh to call. I had asked for a date to see the nadi as soon as Tavayogi told me
to see him. He had said he would call me. It was already 27 days since I called him. There was no
reply from him and Tavayogi was leaving for India at 4 am on Saturday morning, 19 August 2005. I
had to see the nadi before Tavayogi leaves.

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sidhas. To our surprise, Sage Agathiyar mentions Murali taking teecha the day before from
Tavayogi Thangarasan, in his nadi reading.44

Since there was no call from Ramesh, I called him again on 13 August 2005. He apologized for not
calling earlier. He gave me an appointment on Monday evening at 6 pm.

I arrived early in Brickfields at 5.20 pm. I went over to the Sithi Vinayagar temple after which I stood
in front of Ramesh’s apartment door. I waited for Ramesh to appear. After awhile Ramesh came
out from one of the rooms and crossed the hall. That is when he stopped suddenly. He looked at
me and he appeared startled. He asked if I was Shanmugam and let me in. As he was serving a
client at that moment, I waited at the living room. When his client left, he called me into the room.

He apologized a couple of times for not calling me to fix an appointment. He asked if I was mad or
angry. I told him I had surrendered to the lord. I will see the nadi when HE wants me to see.
However, I added that I also wanted to see the nadi before Tavayogi leaves for India that weekend.

We talked about half an hour on various matters related to Tavayogi Thangarasan, Appana, and
the Peedham. He played the earlier reading of my nadi that was recorded on tape by Sentilkumar.
When I saw Sentilkumar, he took my thumbprint to enable him to find my nadi. However, Ramesh
did not do so, this time around. He played back the end portion of the last reading on the tape. He
asked for my date of birth and time and lagna. Then he went out of the room into an adjacent room
to get my nadi. He asked if he should transcribe the reading. I told him to do as he wished. He then
taped the whole session without transcribing. Throughout the reading, I was in tears. Sage
Agathiyar was so kind and generous to me. HE pardoned me for the past mistakes, removed the
guilt I had, saying all was HIS doing and he added that I needed those experiences too. HE
accepted me into HIS circle and blessed me for a better future.

Andrew Harvey writes in HIDDEN JOURNEY – A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING published by Penguin

Books USA Inc., 1992,

‘Over and over, with dazzling variations and images, the voice said” You cannot
transform what you have not blessed. You can never transform what first you have
not accepted and blessed.’

I could never repay Sage Agathiyar’s kindness. HE was extremely pleased with me. Moreover, as
promised HE was delivering this reading.45

44 This incident and the incident where my cassette recording of the nadi got erased made me
realized that the nadi is being re-written at precisely the very moment based on whether we are
adhering to the instructions stipulated in the nadi by the sidhas.

45 The last reading was in 2002 and the Sage had promised another reading when I was in my
forty-fifth year.

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I had performed the prayers well said the Sage. The sidhas are pleased. I had the blessings of
Lord Supramaniam and Saint Ramalingam too. I was to make a trip to India within the next year. I
was to spend three days at Tavayogi’s hermitage in Kallaru. Then I was to go to Palani. I had to
see Tavayogi for another Kara teecha and ask him to accept me as his disciple that very night
itself.

Ramesh did not want money. Upon insisting he agreed, only to accept the cost of the cassette he
provided. Ramesh asked me to call Tavayogi immediately and inform that I was on the way to see
him. I did just that.

Prayers were going on for Lord Vinayagar at the adjacent temple as I stepped into the temple
again.

I left the temple at 8.30 pm to get some fruits and flowers and made my way to the Peedham. I
reached the Peedham at 9.15 pm. Tavayogi was in the midst of a discussion subject with the other
devotees in the living area. I entered the meditation hall and waited to see Tavayogi in private.

When Tavayogi stepped into the hall, he asked, “Son, what is the matter you wanted to see me
immediately.” I handed over the flower garland and fruits. I told him I had just seen the nadi and
asked of him to take me as his disciple to which he replied, “I had already taken you in the other
day.” I told him Sage Agathiyar wanted me to see him and receive kara teecha again. He looked at
me and said, “Hmm... Right…. I have clearly understood. Have you understood?” I nodded my
head.

He picked up the flower garland that I had brought and placed it around my neck. Tavayogi gave
me teecha again. He asked what was said in the nadi. I told him ‘lots of things’. However, at that
moment I only told him that I was asked to go over to his hermitage in Kallaru. He also asked if
there were parikaarams mentioned in the nadi reading. There was no mention of any parikarams.
He said I would have to rough it out for he could not give me the pleasures I was used to right now.

I asked Tavayogi what I should do now. He asked me to attend Appana’s classes and he
(Tavayogi) would guide me too. I later thanked Appana for bringing Tavayogi to Malaysia and
giving us an opportunity to be with him. I was back home at 10.15 pm. That eventful day was 15
August 2005.

On reaching home, I played back the cassette recording of the nadi reading. To my surprise after a
few minutes into the recording, nothing was heard except for the loud hiss of the audiotape. All that
was heard was the crackling sound of the tape. How could that be? I was puzzled since Ramesh
had recorded a small portion and did rewind the tape and played it back to ascertain that the
recorder was functioning and the audio level was acceptable. Even after taking such care and
caution, the recording ended blank. I called Ramesh to inform him and he was equally puzzled and
asks that I bring the cassette back to him.46

46 Ramesh had taken precaution by reading out a small portion, rewinding the tape to ascertain it
had recorded and the volume was set correctly. So how was it the tape was empty now?

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I saw Ramesh again two days later. Ramesh played the cassette and was baffled. He made a
transcribe of the nadi this time and read it out to me again. To my surprise, this time around the
reading included more instructions. I was to visit additional pilgrimage spots now. Besides Kallaru
and Palani, which was mentioned earlier, now I had to go to Thiruvanamalai, Vetharanyam,
Pothigai and Courtallam hills too. The Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in Batu Caves was not
mentioned any more. In the earlier reading, it was mentioned that this Peedham was the place for
me to learn about spirituality. I was told in the reading the problems that I had to face in office
(which was highlighted earlier) would vanish.

Seeing Swami Nithyananda Again

My friend asked me to accompany him to collect the book SIX DAYS TO TOTAL
TRANSFORMATION from Sam in Shah Alam. He was hoping he could get another darshan of
Swami Nithyananda as the Swami was conducting a class for healers before leaving for Bangalore
that afternoon. Upon reaching Shah Alam we were told that Sam and Swami too where at the Gold
Coast Hotel in Klang. We rushed to Klang. We arrived at 12 noon. Swami was conducting a close
door session for healers who had taken ASP and NSP with him, on the eighth floor of the hotel. His
bags were being brought down and we were told he had to leave at 2 pm to the airport to catch the
flight at 4 pm. We bought a red sandal rosary each to have it blessed by Swami. His assistants told
us they would assist in getting us an audience with Swami and have the rosary blessed.

At 1.45 pm, Swami came out of the hall. He was looking down as if in deep thought. He started
walking towards the lift bay immediately. We were astonished that Swami did not look up at the
devotees who had gathered there to have his darshan. The devotees, seven of us I think, started
following him in silence and hoping he would turn around and stop to bless us. However, Swami
went up to the lifts and stood there facing the lifts. None of his assistants was around to introduce
us to him. I was pondering whether it was right to approach the Swami afraid if we might intrude on
him. Surprisingly I found myself edging slowly to the lift bays. I finally stood towards his left at the
other end of the lift bay. There were three lifts. Swami was standing at the far right lift and I stood at
the far left lift. Slowly Swami moved towards the center lift and I paced towards him with my rosary
beads in my hands. That is when Swami looked up and saw me. His gaze moved towards my
upheld hands. Immediately he approached me as I too start walking towards him. He picked the
beads out of my open palms with his right hand and placed it over my head and my neck. I closed
my eyes. I heard him say, “Be Blissful.”

Upon opening my eyes, I saw my friend already on the floor in front of the Swami and was picking
himself up. Then the thought ran in my mind that I too should fall at Swami’s feet. I fell at his feet.
By the time I picked myself up, he was blessing the others, a couple of women, another woman, a
couple, and Rajandran whom we met while waiting for Swami. He exchanged a few words to the
two elderly women, one of whom had a neck support. Then the crowd dispersed just as it had
gathered, and Swami was left alone for a moment or two, and he stated moving slowly away from
the lifts, turned a corner, and disappeared.

We were overwhelmed. The couple that had the darshan and blessing of Swami were in disbelief
and practically in tears. The woman approached me saying, “He saw us!” They exclaimed in

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excitement, “Swami blessed us.” They cried in disbelief. I replied, “Not only that he blessed us with
bliss.”

Rajandran asked us to follow him down to the lobby of the hotel as Swami was leaving for the
airport. We told him to go ahead and we shall join him shortly. We turned back towards the seminar
room looking for Sam. We could not meet Sam as the participants were still in the room. We then
decided to go down to the lobby and catch up with Swami. We stood at the same lift bay that
Swami was standing earlier to take us down to the lobby. The lift opened and two Indian men came
out asking if Swami had left. We told them he had just gone down to the hotel lobby and we were
going down to see him off. The men told us that those three lifts do not go down to the lobby of the
hotel. Those lifts took one from the eighth floor to higher floors. It does not go down.47

They told us we had to take the lift around the corner and lead us to it. We followed the two men
around the corner where Swami disappeared. There was a single lift going down to the lobby. This
was the lift Swami took after blessing us. Swami had already settled in the front passenger seat of
a four-wheel drive by the time we reached the entrance to the hotel. After his disciples packed the
luggage into a couple of cars, the entourage left. Swami raised his hands to us as he was driven
by. We walked back to Murali’s car feeling joy at having got another moment with him. This was on
18 July 2005.

After receiving Swami’s darshan and blessing, I was pondering as to what actually took place. I
was still in a daze as to what transpired that day. The next day I asked Murali to narrate what
actually took place. He told me we were all worried that Swami would walk away without blessing
us. He thanked me for stepping in front of Swami, after which Swami started to bless all those
present. He told me after Swami had placed the rosary around my neck, he placed his hand on my
head saying, “Be Blissful.” According to my friend, Swami and I were both smiling away, looking at
each other as if in communion. My friend was getting impatient, he told me, since I was taking too
much time with Swami. He was afraid that the lifts would open and Swami would step into it even
before he (Murali) had a chance to be blessed. Then it seems I fell at Swami’s feet and that is
when Swami turned his attention to Murali. Did I take up so much time? I do not remember a thing.
I realized now that I had lost a few moments there. I do not remember Swami touching my head
nor me falling down at his feet. I only came to my senses when Swami said ‘Be Blissful’ to Murali
and he fell at Swami’s feet. That is when I came to my senses and fell at Swami’s feet AGAIN!

47 Now if this lift did not go down to the lobby of the hotel, why did Swami Nithyananda walk up to
it? Why should he stand in front of these lifts? He was staying in this hotel during his duration of
stay in Malaysia and was conducting ASP classes the past two days on that floor. Did not he know
by now which lift to take to go down to the lobby? Did he purposely wait upon us then, hoping we
would build up sufficient courage to approach him?

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Tavayogi Visits My Home

31 July 2005 - I prepared to receive Tavayogi at my home. I did spring-cleaning and kept the home
spotless to receive Tavayogi. Appana had informed me that no one was to fall at Tavayogi’s feet.
Neither were we allowed to do Patha Pooja-the customary ceremony where the feet of the holy one
is washed in milk before he steps into any home. Tavayogi does not approve of these I was told.

I left with my nephew behind the wheels to fetch Tavayogi at Appana’s house in Kampong
Laksmana, Batu Caves at 10.45 am. Appana could not come. We picked Perumal on the way from
the Peedham. I told Tavayogi how glad and happy I was that he agreed to come to my home. I had
never had the opportunity arise where a swami visited my home and Tavayogi was the first one. I
mentioned this to him. Tavayogi replied, “You are caught in Maya, my son. You think this saffron
clothed swami has got something hidden within his cloths. There is nothing in me.”

My brother, my sister-in-law, their son, Murali and his family had all gather at my house waiting in
anticipation for Tavayogi. I had requested each family to prepare some food so that they too got
the privilege of serving food to Tavayogi.

Tavayogi got down from the car and walked briskly into my home. I had asked my daughter to
shoot the arrival of Tavayogi on video. When Tavayogi saw her he said this was only for politicians
and he does not need this much coverage. I had placed a white sheet of cloth on one of the chairs
for Tavayogi to sit on but he chose to sit on another chair. He then requested the others to take a
seat. When my family and friends began to sit on the floor, immediately Tavayogi got up from the
chair and sat on the cold floor too. My mother came down from upstairs. Seeing my mother,
Tavayogi said, “Only now I am seeing my mother.” I invited Tavayogi to the prayer room to start the
prayers for Sage Agathiyar. Tavayogi took water and circled thrice the offerings.48

He then showered the portraits I had at my altar with flowers. He sang five songs while lighting the
camphor and holding the flame at the altar. He held it out to all those who had gathered around the
room too.

My wife, Mages and I wept. She suddenly swayed to the side. My nephew’s wife, Easwari had to
hold her. Tavayogi asked Mages if Sage Agathiyar had appeared. Tavayogi knelt at the altar and
worshiped the painting of Sage Agathiyar. Mages later tells me all she remembers was seeing the
picture of Sage Agathiyar swirling round and round.

Then food was served. Tavayogi enjoyed the food asking for more helpings. My brother asked
Tavayogi to explain some verses from the GNANA KOVAI. Tavayogi immediately took him to the
prayer room where he started explaining to him. Murali, my brother and I gave Tavayogi a small
token together with fruits and flowers as was customary when one invites a guru to the home. On
the way back I asked him, if all was satisfying. He answered, “Yes.”.

48 Swami Nithyananda says this is done to energize the food.

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CHAPTER 3
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 and him. He explains what happened at Palani when I was there in 2002.

Sage Agathiyar Brings Forward My Trip to India

On 26 August 2005, I called Tavayogi on the phone at Kallaru. He recognized my voice

immediately. I told him I am arranging to come to India and Kallaru. I continued, “I have to go to
Palani…” However, 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 quiet 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.

My Second Pilgrimage to India

Day 1 – Starting the Pilgrimage with Saint Ragavendra’s Blessing

I boarded the plane for India from Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 9.05 am on 16 September
2005 on a pilgrimage a day after my 46th 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 Ragavendra. 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 Thiruvanamalai 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 men 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.

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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 Thiruvanamalai 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.

Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s Samadhi And Ashram

While Prem tries to contact Ramajayam, I prayed at Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s temple and Samadhi.
As I entered the temple complex prayer was going on. A small group of devotees were chanting
the Yogi’s name 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 Hermitage

Supramania Swami’s kudil with Thiruvanamalai in the background

Ramajayam was already waiting as I came out of the ashram grounds. We hugged each other. He
took me to Supramania Swami’s hermitage or 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

68
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.

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 gunnysack. 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’.

Prayers with Supramania Swami

Later that night at 7.30 pm, Supramania Swami led me

on a prayer in his kudil. The Swami started chanting his
guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar's (Visiri Swami) name. The
chant went Yogi Ramsuratkumara, Yogi
Ramsuratkumara, Yogi Ramsuratkumara, Jaya
Gururaya.

After about a few minutes into the chant, I heard

another voice - that of a male chanting together. I could
hear Swami’s voice. I could hear mine too. Therefore,
who was this third person chanting with us? There was
no one else then in the kudil. Swami's wife and son had
gone out. I did not open my eyes. Eventually after about
twenty minutes of chanting, Swami ended the chant and
the voice was not heard again. I had wanted to ask him
about this third voice but completely forgot.49

Supramania Swami in his village home

49 Swami initiated me into the repetition of the Yogi’s mantra, Yogi Ramsuratkumara Yogi
Ramsuratkumara Yogi Ramsuratkumara Jaya Gururaya. Swami tells me later it was his guru Yogi
Ramsuratkumar (Visiri Swami). Swami almost immediately brings down the guru whose name was
chanted from his throne to sit together and chant with this aspirant. How marvelous?

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His wife and granddaughter were already asleep as we talked into the early hours of the morning.
They had stayed back at the kudil while Ramajayam went back to the village that night.

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 ridden off to his home in the village where his
family stayed. I finally retired for the day at 2.40 am while Swami kept on with his chanting.

Day 2 – Girivalam - A Second Time

17 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 Thiruveragam that morning. However, he asked to delay
the journey and told me we should leave at 10.30 am after Rahu Kaalam. I was asking myself why
Swami should 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. According to
Swami, 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 sari and was carrying a feeding bottle of the same color.
The child was placing his hand on my belly button. After a while 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. I too cried.

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

Thiruveragam Sri Ranganathar Temple

We left for Thiruveragam 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
was questioning myself if 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. Therefore, 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 and I had planned to circle Mount Thiruvanamalai 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 6.40 pm. Swami asked that we go next to
Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s (Visiri Swami) ashram before joining the Girivalam path. We did as

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requested. We prayed at the Yogi’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. Surprisingly and sadly, it was closed. I finished the Girivalam after having taken
six hours to cover 14 kilometers. On the first trip in 2003, it took me nine hours.

Day 3 – Meeting Up With Tavayogi In Kallaru

18 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. After exchanging a few words we retired for the day.

I woke up at 5 am and l left for Kallaru at 7.40 am. Before I left Swami told me I would get Goddess
Amman’s blessing adding, “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 gave me a blanket to use in Kallaru. He prayed for my save journey. We hugged each other as
I bid farewell.

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

I reached Turipalam, a halt 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 Ooti. In fact, I came to know from them
that he had sent word about my arrival and asked his disciples in Madras, and Thiruvanamalai 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 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 Mettupalayam and Ooti. 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 Ooti and Nilagiri hills
where sold to retailers and dispensed throughout India. When we returned Nadarajah, Tavayogi’s
faithful cook had already prepared dinner – idli and sambar. My nephew, Thayalan 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

71
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 4 - In The Midst Of the Sidhas

19 Sept 2005 - I woke up at 4.40 am. Nadarajah was sound asleep on the concrete bench outside
the Peedham. I sat to meditate. Eventually one by one each disciple woke up. Tavayogi and I were
served milk. Throughout my stay at Kallaru, I Nadarajah, prepare two tumblers of milk in the
mornings and the evenings before bed and served it to Tavayogi and me. I felt odd that he should
ignore the rests but did not question him. Tavayogi invited me along on his usual morning walks
and bath at the river. He threw his shawl over to me asking me to cover my body, as it was a cold
morning. We came down the slope onto a railway track, stepped on a path that took us to a road
before passing some homes in this small village known as Agathiyar Vanam. This road led us to
the Ooti-Methupalayam road. Tavayogi pointed to me the place where he met Sage Pampatti
Sidha on one of his regular morning walks. The Sage had talked to him about an hour in Telugu
before eventually revealing himself. We walked up until the Forest Rangers posts and turned back
to the ashram. We then collected our clothing and headed down the railway track again for the
river for our morning bath. On the way to the river Tavayogi told me Sage Agathiyar appeared to
him the night before and asked what he (Tavayogi) was going to do for me? Tavayogi in return
asks of the Sage what he was supposed to do, to which the Sage replied he would let Tavayogi
know the day after.

At the river, we placed our sandals aside and stepped into the river to wash our cloths. After having
our bath and drying ourselves, Tavayogi decided that we take another route back to the Peedham.
He went back across the river for my sandals even though I told him I shall get them myself. Along
the way back, Tavayogi showed the spot on the riverbanks where elephants had come for a drink.
The tracks were still fresh on the riverbank. He showed me an inscription on a wall officiating the
opening of a clinic with the words Agathiyar Vanam on it. Tavayogi apparently during his days of
wandering was told in his nadi to set up his ashram at a spot where he would find this inscription.
Tavayogi went in search of this place that eventually brought him to this village. He has since then
been in Kallaru for the past five years. The aborigines settled here later. The Indian Government is
currently in the process of building homes for theses aborigines beside the Peedham. (These
homes are now completed)

Prayers at the Peedham were simple. Tavayogi lighted camphor and started singing a couple of
hymns on the sidhas, followed by the rests of the disciples singing the sidha potri hymns. After
prayers, the ever-faithful Nadarajah served breakfast consisting of idli and sambar.

Later in private, I showed Tavayogi my written copy of the nadi reading. He read it. He pondered
on the places that I had to go as mentioned in the nadi. He then said, “We shall think about it.”

Sivan Malai and Sivavakiyar’s Cave

That morning, the first day of my stay in Kallaru, Tavayogi asked if I wanted to go to Ooti or Sivan
Malai. I chose Sivan Malai. An elderly man who had come to the ashram for the full moon prayers
and had stayed back, wanted to follow us. We left for Sivan Malai in Kangayam at 10 am, passing

72
through Tavayogi’s hometown Thirupur. We reached Sivan Malai and had Lord Murugan’s
darshan. Sage Sivavakiyar had meditated in a cave beside the temple on this hill. The temple
authorities have sealed off the entrance to the cave. We meditated at this entrance, which was
adjacent to the main shrine of Lord Murugan. Very strong winds prevailed at this locality as we
circled the temple, which was atop one of the numerous hills in Coimbatore and we were practically
blown off our feet. We left at 1.45 pm. We passed Vathamalai Vinayagar temple. Tavayogi told me
Pothigai, Courtallam, Kallaru, and Sathuragiri were places where Sage Agathiyar had set his foot
before. We stopped for lunch at Kangayam.

Uthiyur and Sage Konganar’s Cave

Tavayogi at the steps leading to Konganar’s cave

We came to Uthiyur where we walked up a flight of stairs to a deserted Murugan temple. We

crossed the hills passing through undergrowth, treading the rocky terrain to the cave where Sage
Konganar had meditated. Tavayogi told me Sage Konganar installed the deity at the present day
site of the famous Vengadasalapathi temple in Thirupathi. Strong winds blew as we scaled the
mountain on our way to Sage Konganar’s cave with Tavayogi saying, “Right, hold one, we are
coming” and turning around to me he added, “They are inviting us”, referring to the sidhas. After
climbing a couple of hillocks, we stood at an opening to a cave formed by several huge boulders.

There were a few compartments in this cave. We crawled into an opening that turned out to be just
large enough for both Tavayogi and me to sit. Tavayogi told me he occupied this cave during his
earlier days of search, when he was roaming the length and breadth of India in search of answers.

73
 Tavayogi meditating in a
cave he used to occupy
during his earlier days of
searching for the truth

Tavayogi entering an
opening to Konganar’s
cave

Tavayogi broke down in tears as he started to sing some hymns on Sage Agathiyar. I cried too.
Then Tavayogi took me to the adjacent cave where Sage Konganar had sat in meditation.

He slides down a small opening between several boulders to reach a large cave followed by the
elderly man and me. Here as elsewhere Tavayogi sang a couple of hymns on Sage Agathiyar. He
then asked us both to recite the Sidha Potri hymn. The elderly man was well versed in singing this
hymn and was reciting it at a fast beat track. As I could not keep up with him, I chose to let him sing
alone while I closed my eyes in meditation. Upon opening my eyes, Tavayogi was holding the

74
sacred ash in a piece of paper in front of me. He applied the ash on my forehead and the old man
and gave us some to bring back with us.

Tavayogi meditating at
Konganar’s cave

After a photography
session, we prepared to
leave. That is when I
asked Tavayogi why he
was leaving behind the
sacred ash. He
questioned me if I had
brought the ash along. I
answered in the
negative. We both looked
at the old man who
accompanied us from the
Peedham. He answered
he did not bring it along either. That was puzzling. If we did not bring it along, from where did it
appear? I was sure it was not there when we stepped into the cave. What we saw on arrival was a
photo of Lord Rama and Sita and remnants of charred firewood and bricks. Then Tavayogi reveals,
“The Sidhas had come. They had blessed us, by showering flowers on us. They were extremely
happy,” he added. He then asked me, “Do you now understand the reason for your journey?”
Although I nodded my head to his question, I was still puzzled. We started back the trail into a
small township where Prem was waiting and drove towards our next destination, Chennimalai.

Chennimalai and Sage Punakeeswarar’s Cave

Tavayogi in front of the

entrance to
Punakeeswarar’s cave

Chennimalai was where

the Samadhi of Sage
Punakeeswarar is
situated. We passed
through a temple ground
to reach the Samadhi on
top of the hill behind this
temple. There was a
narrow opening in the
rock face, which
Tavayogi tried to enter
but could not. It was pitch
dark inside and we

75
decided we would sit outside the opening and meditate. On the way down the hill, we had to come
around the temple as the temple was closed for the night. Monkeys had begun to gather here for
the night. Later I came to understand that the Kanda Shasti Kavacham was first offered to the
world in this temple by Balan Devaraya Swami. The sun had already set as I returned to Kallaru in
joy after having seen the Samadhi of the sidhas, thanks to Tavayogi.

On the way back we stopped at a Mariamman temple near Methupalayam where Tavayogi had
taken shelter when he lost his eyesight earlier in life.[1] The temple was closed for the night. This
temple was famous because the Goddess here had cured devotees who had lost their eyesight
including Tavayogi.

Day 5 – Meeting Other Swamis

20 Sept 2005 - Tavayogi suggested we go to Ooti to drop in on some of the local living saints. With
Suresh from Thiruvanamalai, who was at the Peedham for the full moon 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 Ooti -
Methupalayam trunk road. Sage Agathiyar himself had blessed Sargurunathar. After
Sargurunathar’s 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 Ooti in a place called
Kasolai. Tavayogi and he were engaged in a long conservation regarding their movements. We
had lunch at this ashram. Suyam Jhoti Swami’s 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, Sargurunathar, written by him (Suyan Jhoti Swami).

Then Mani took us to another priest 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 our
entourage, even Tavayogi, and me 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 Ooti. A
volunteer cum caretaker informed the swami of our arrival. 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 many questions and also talked
about Ooti - past and present. He told us he was going to leave the world and we shall see him as
a star in the sky soon. 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 some relief in this cold weather.

Tavayogi had planned to return a visit by a swami who dropped by at Tavayogi’s Peedham
sometime back. However, as it was a cold and wet night out in the hills of Ooti and as it was

76
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

The Sri Agathiyar Gnana

Peedham built by Tavayogi in
Kallaru

21 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. A noise 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 then narrated stories where elephants
used to walk right up to the Peedham and stand in the bushes watching; 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 Nadarajah 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 Aatare Peedham
and his hermitage. The Peedham was fashioned based on exact measurements and guidance
given by Sage Agathiyar to Tavayogi. It was one massive piece of granite weighing 1,250 kg that
was cut into seven numbers 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 hermitage was
perched on. The Aaru Aatare Peedham had to be carried across the railway lines that were running
from Coimbatore to Ooti passing the small village of Kallaru. When he was lost for ideas trying to
bring the Aaru Aatare Peedham, all the way up the small hillock over the railway lines, Sage
Agathiyar appears to him asking Tavayogi not to worry and sends someone with an elephant to
pull the Aaru Aatare Peedham up the hill slopes.

77
Tavayogi spoke about Arutprakasa Swami, Jeganatha Swami, and Chitramuthu Adigal all of whom
followed Saint Ramalingam’s teaching. Chitramuthu Adigal was both Arutprakasa Swami’s and
Tavayogi’s guru. Jeganatha 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. Nadarajah and
Tavayogi 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 transcribes 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 rented car.

Only in the car did they mention they wanted to go to the famed Kil Thirupathi temple out of town.
This temple was a miniature of Thirumalai Thirupathi 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 times where
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 Nadarajah down with a torch. Nadarajah passed the torch without saying a word and went
down to the village, apparently angry with 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 Nadarajah 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 Sept 2005 – Suresh and Vimalan cooked the food with some assistance and supervision from
Nadarajah. 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.

78
Nadarajah 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 Nadarajah who had
made the statement. He indicated that the sidhas were communicating through Nadarajah 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 our 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 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
arranged to meet him in Trichi the
next day.

Feeding the poor at Kallaru

Day 8 - The Actual Journey Begins

23 Sept 2005 - “Only now our actual journey begins,” said Tavayogi with a big grin on his face and
a twinkle in his eyes, as we left on the second leg of our tour. We were headed for Agasthiyampalli
in Vedharanyam, Pothigai, Courtallam, and Palani as instructed in my nadi. He was just as excited
as I was too. We reached Trichi at 2.00 pm where we had lunch. Then we went over to the hotel
where my brother was staying. Tavayogi excused himself to visit his friend in Trichi while my
brother and I went to a book fair. Tavayogi returned shortly to the hotel. Subarao, Mano and others
who accompanied my brother for a seminar in India met Tavayogi and exchanged views. Tavayogi
and I wanted to find accommodation in the same hotel but we were told all rooms were taken up.
On the way to the adjacent hotel, the local organizer of the seminar insisted that he would arrange
for all of us to stay in the same hotel.

Day 9 - Sage Agathiyar Welcomes Us at Agastiyampalli

24 Sept 2005 - Tavayogi and I left Trichi for Vedharanyam at 6.00 am. We stopped over at Tanjore
at 7.30 am for breakfast. We saw the salt lakes where Mohandas K Gandhi had carried out his
famous salt walk. We also saw the places where the tsunami wave had hit on 26 December 2004.

We reached Agastiyampalli, Vedharanyam at 10.30 am. A temple priest who was sitting with two
other locals at the entrance of the temple, on seeing us alight from the car, came forward to greet

79
and usher us into the temple grounds. He took us straight to Sage Agathiyar’s shrine. This shrine
was on the left of the entrance and was facing the main temple of Lord Siva. He lighted camphor
and showed the flame. Tavayogi and I sat on the floor. Tavayogi started singing the hymns as
usual.

Tavayogi meditating at Agathiyar’s shrine

The priests interrupted him, asking us to go

around the temple ground and then to the
main temple first. He insisted we prayed at
Lord Siva’s shrine first as he was going away
to another temple to conduct prayers. 50

He gave instructions on how to go around the

temple grounds. Tavayogi told me, "Lets
oblige him.” Tavayogi and I came round the
temple grounds as the priests had instructed.
We stepped into Lord Siva’s shrine where the
priest was waiting for us. He showed the
flame. He explained that this was the very
temple where Sage Agathiyar pressed his
thumb into the ground to balance the earth
that had tilted due to the Devas, Gods, and
Goddesses converging in the Himalayas for
Lord Siva-Goddess Parvathy’s wedding.

Marshall Govindan in ‘BABAJI AND THE 18 SIDHA KRIYA YOGA TRADITIONS’(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 ), explains this episode:

‘At the time of Siva’s marriage to Parvathi on Mount Kailas, the assemblage of
gods and goddesses was so great that the equilibrium of the planet was disturbed.
The north sank low under the weight of the crowding celestials while the south
rose up. To restore a balance, Siva asked Agastiyar to travel from Mount Kailash
to southern India. The most famous ashram site in the Tirunelvely district near the
Courtallam waterfalls in the Pothigai mountains of southern Tamil Nadu, is where
he is reported to be living to this day.’

50 It was almost noon and temples would be closed in the afternoons. So why was he in a hurry to
go to another temple for prayers? Later in the nadi reading Sage Agathiyar tells me HE was the
one on hand to greet us cheerfully at Agastiyampalli that day.

80
 After praying at Lord Siva’s shrine, we came back to
Sage Agathiyar’s shrine. Tavayogi picked up singing the
hymns from where he had left. I continued with the Potri
songs as usual. As I started reciting the Pranavam-AUM,
at Sage Agathiyar’s shrine I could hear and feel the
Pranavam reverberate, and bounce off the granite walls. I
felt a cool breeze sweep over me even as I was sweating
away at the shrine. As I uttered the last line of the Potri
song, OM MAA SIDDHARGALE POTRI, I broke down in
tears. I cried and cried. I asked Sage Agathiyar to open
his eyes and see me.51

He did not respond. I shut my eyes as I wept. I opened

my eyes after some time. Tavayogi who was earlier
seated opposite me was not there anymore. I turned
towards the entrance. He had moved to the open air and
was standing there observing.

The author in front of Agathiyar’s shrine

Sage Agathiyar Opens His Eyes

As I got up, he ushered me to his side and told me, Sage Agathiyar had opened his eyes twice.
“There is the aroma of sandalwood in the air too,” he added. He asked that I stand at the same
spot he had stood. “Concentrate looking at the Sage's eyes,” he said. I peered at the granite statue
of Sage Agathiyar but I could hardly make out his face much less see him open and close his eyes.
The shrine was dark. I could sense Tavayogi’s disappointment that I could not see the Sage open
his eyes. This I knew from the tone of his voice when he consoled me, “Never mind, son. Let’s
snap some photographs, shall we?”

I entered Sage Agathiyar’s shrine again and was about to sit when Tavayogi motioned me to sit
with Sage Agathiyar in the inner sanctum sanctorum saying, “Go in and sit at Sage Agathiyar’s feet
at the inner sanctum. He is our father. Who dares object?” That is when Tavayogi throws his shawl
over to me asking me to lay it on the floor to sit on as the floor had oil spills. As I laid his shawl and
sat, I glanced at Sage Agathiyar’s face and what do I see? The Sage is observing me with an eye
open. I looked hard in disbelieve. Only a moment ago I had seen him with both eyes shut. The
eyes were engraved into the granite and I was sure they were engraved shut as I entered his
shrine this morning. I was overcome with joy seeing Sage Agathiyar look at me and I called out to
Tavayogi, “Swami…” Even before I could complete my sentence, Tavayogi understood and told
me, “Right! he has seen you, has he, come! They will show (themselves) you only for a moment.”
Even as I came out from his shrine the Sage was looking at me with one eye shut, grinning away.

51 Sage Agathiyar had promised to open his eyes and see me at Agastiyampalli in the nadi
reading.

81
We left Agastiyampalli at 11.15 am. Tavayogi tells me it has been ten years since he came to
Agastiyampalli. In the nadi prediction, Sage Agathiyar had promised that he would look at me when
I came here. I was convinced the vision I had was possible only with the help that I got from my
guru Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal. Only after he had thrown his shawl over to me to sit on did this
miracle take place.

Back at Breehadeshwarar’s Temple and Sage Karuvurar’s Shrine

Tavayogi at Breehadeshwarar temple

We had lunch at Tanjore and proceeded to

Breehadeshwarar temple at 3.00 pm. As the
temples in India are closed from 1.00 pm to
4.00 pm, Tavayogi took the opportunity to take
a nap in front of the huge Nandi at the temple
grounds while I went around snapping some
photos of the temple. I walked up the flight of
steps to Lord Dhakshina Murthi’s shrine. Then
I walked to the back of the temple grounds
where Sage Karuvurar’s shrine was located.
The caretaker who was cleaning the oil lamps
got up, called me in, lighted the camphor,
showed the flame, and gave me the sacred
ash. 52

I came back to the spot Tavayogi was

napping. He invited me to share his shawl that
he had spread on the ground to lie down.

At 4.00 pm when the temple doors were

opened to the public, Tavayogi went straight to
Sage Karuvurar’s shrine and the same man
who attended to me earlier attended to
Tavayogi too. Tavayogi sat at the shrine in meditation. I followed suit. Some pilgrims who had
taken shelter away from the scorching sun at Sage Karuvurar’s shrine were conversing loudly. The

52 Marshall Govindan in his book BABAJI AND THE 18 SIDHAR TRADITION (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: ‘During the construction of the
Breehadeshwarar Siva temple in Tanjore, around 900 AD Boganathar advised its builders as to
how to raise the eighty ton capstone to the top of the temple, more than two hundred feet high.
This was done through his disciple Karuvoorar. About this time he also advised the king of Tanjore
to build a small shrine dedicated to Karuvoorar behind the Breehadeshwarar Siva temple.’

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caretaker drove them away saying there were people meditating, referring to us, and creating a
peaceful environment for us to meditate.53

As we came around the temple complex, Tavayogi must have sensed my yearning to see Lord
Siva for he told me to go ahead while he stood in the shade of the temple structure. I rushed up the
flight of stairs to the inner sanctum of the temple where was housed the largest Sivalingam.

I joined Tavayogi shortly and we left the temple complex.

Saraswathi Mahal

Tavayogi suggested we visit the Saraswathy Mahal hoping to show me some old scripts and
collections of King Sarobhoji. It was 5.00 pm as we got into the car and rushed to the museum
before they closed for the day. Tavayogi purchased a couple of tickets and we entered the
museum. The palace of King Sarobhoji was now converted into a museum that houses his vast
collection of English books, portraits, and old writings. Tavayogi was saddened that most of the
writings that were kept here earlier were no more to be seen now.

We returned to Trichi. Tavayogi still insisted on sleeping on the floor although he relented to accept
a blanket to be spread on the cold floor and a pillow under his head.

Day 10 - Pothigai and Courtallam

25 Sept 2005 - My brother checked out of the hotel. His visit to India to participate and cover a
seminar had ended and he had extended his visit to follow us. Tavayogi, my brother, and I left for
Pothigai Hills at 6 am. We had breakfast in Tanjore and lunch on arrival at Papanasam, Pothigai.
Here was the famous Agathiyar Falls. This place was packed with holidaymakers, as it was a
Sunday. Tavayogi and I washed our cloths in the stream and laid them out to dry on the rocks.

We took a bath under the falls, dried ourselves, and started our climb up a long flight of stairs to a
lake known as the Kalyana Theertam. On the way, we passed a house built into the cliffs where a
woman saint, Krishnaveni Ammal was staying. I was told she has been staying in solitude since
coming up to this spot following a sidha when she was barely thirteen years of age. She never
went back. Tavayogi stopped to enquire if she was around only to be told that she was having her

53 Why did Tavayogi wait until 4.00 pm if he only wanted to visit Sage Karuvurar’s shrine and not
the main temple? Only the main temple was closed between 12 noon and 4.00 pm. Sage
Karuvurar’s shrine was accessible to the public anytime of the day.

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afternoon nap. Tavayogi told us we could try our luck on our way down. Further up perched on a
cliff was a Siva temple. There was a shrine for Sage Agathiyar too.54

Tavayogi meditated at this spot. Tavayogi tells us this was the spot were Sage Agathiyar himself
had meditated and attained Mukti. I was told this was also the spot where the sidhas come down in
the form of light after 11.00 pm daily. Impressed by the talk that one could see sidhas in light form
in this spot, I requested Tavayogi that we stay overnight to watch them but Tavayogi preferred to
stay in the caves of Courtallam for the night.

Swami Saravanananda in his preface to his English translation of the ARUTPERUNJHOTHI

AGAVAL published by Ramalinga Mission, Madras does mention about these lights.

‘A vivid description of the phenomenon of floating lights has been given by John
Blofeld in the 'Wheel of Life', who had spent months on the sacred mountain Wee
Tai Shan in China.’

‘Shortly after midnight, a monk, carrying a lantern, stepped into our room and
cried;”The bodhisattvas have appeared!” There in the great open space beyond
the window apparently not more than one or two hundred yards away,
innumerable balls of fire floated majestically past. Fluffy balls of orange colored
fire, moving through space, unhurried and majestic, truly a fitting manifestation of
divinity!’

Swami Saravanananda himself says he was fortunate enough to have had the darshan of these
balls of light. The first vision he had was when he was meditating in a dry riverbed.

‘At about midnight, he would see balls of fire of the size of the headlight of a car,
balls of varied hues and also of pure white. They moved majestically here and
there and sometimes seem to be playing with each other. At other times, they
hovered around the meditator (Swami Saravanananda) and came towards him
within ten feet where he was sitting and then retreated. Infrequently, they stood
above his head and seemed to be watching his thoughts. He had a similar
experience though less spectacular than the previous of witnessing the balls of fire
while he was keeping night vigils in Pothigai hills, the abode of Sage Agastiyar.’

As we started on our way down and approached Krishnaveni Amma’s ashram, the ashram door
was still closed. Tavayogi did not want to disturb her and lead us away from there. Then we
stopped at a large temple dedicated to Sage Agathiyar further down. Here Sage Agathiyar was
enshrined in the form of a granite statue sitting in a similar pose to that of Ayappa Swami in Kerala.

54 Maran tells me the statue of Sage Agathiyar was not there when he visited the temple recently
in 2006. My nephew who had spent a night here only saw the statue of the Sage the next day. So
was the Sage playing games with them?

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Then we returned to Agathiyar Falls where there is a large and old Sivan temple. It was closed. We
waited for the temple to open at 4.00 pm. We then left for Courtallam.

We had tea at Courtallam and later purchased a candle and torchlight as we were going to stay in
the caves overnight.

Overnight In Sage Agathiyar’s Cave

Tavayogi stops at one of numerous houses lined up in this small town and enquires about the
caretaker of the caves. We are told she was at the temple in the hills. Prem drops us at the famed
Courtallam picnic spot. I
picked up my bundle of
laundry that was still wet. I
took along my bag of fresh
clothing and blanket and we
rushed to the caves on foot,
as it was almost nightfall.
Strong winds blew again as
we hiked up the hill behind
the Courtallam Falls. It was a
three km walk uphill to Sage
Agathiyar’s cave. Eventually
the night set in. We trotted in
the dark with Tavayogi
leading the way with the aid
of torchlight.

At Agathiyar’s cave

It was pitch dark as we reached the Shenbaga Devi Amman temple, which was in total darkness
except for a light inside the Devi's shrine. Tavayogi calls out in the dark through the metal grills. I
see some movement on the floor of the temple.

Apparently, some folks were sleeping in the temple. He introduces himself and they seem to know
him. He asked them to open up Sage Agathiyar’s cave, which they obliged readily. A man led the
way while we followed. It was pitch dark and I could not make out the surroundings although I knew
we were walking on the banks of a lake and could hear the roar of a waterfall nearby.

The caretakers were three elderly women. Their brother Supramaniam who was from out of town
was the one who showed us to the cave. He unlocked the iron grills to the cave. He lit the
hurricane lamp, tidied the place so that it was conducive to spend the night, and even prepared hot
tea for us in the cave. The drink was a blessing in that cold weather.

There were a few statues including a statue of Sage Agathiyar, pictures and the Vaasikol that
Sage Agathiyar used. The Vaasikol is placed under ones arms to retain the flow of the breath
through a particular nostril. Tavayogi told us there was even Sage Agathiyar’s sandals earlier but

85
now was missing. The caretaker woman drops in to check if all was conducive for our night out in
this cave. They then leave.

We could hardly stand up in this cave. It was small, cozy, and warm in here. The adjacent
compartment of the cave, which was empty except for an oil lamp burning, was where Sage
Agathiyar had meditated. We entered this chamber and seated ourselves. Tavayogi was sad to
notice that a portion of this cave had now become a store filled with pots and pans. Tavayogi was
also saddened that the cave had now been named Avaiyar’s cave when in actuality it was Sage
Agathiyar’s cave. As usual, Tavayogi sang the hymns, which I have now become familiar with,
followed by me singing the Potri. Tavayogi then left my brother and me to continue with the prayers
and retired for the day. I dried my
cloths outside the cave and
locked up the grilled door to the
cave entrance before retiring for
the day. We laid blankets on the
ground and used our bags and
clothing as a pillow. We were so
exhausted that the moment we
laid our heads on the ground we
had dozed off. I did wake in the
middle of the night though and
saw rats scurrying away in the
crevices and sides of the cave. I
had a good night’s sleep and was
refreshed the next day.

The author with Tavayogi at Agathiyar’s cave

Day 11 - Roaming the Jungles of Pothigai and Courtallam

26 Sept 2005 - I woke up early as usual and came out of the cave to realize that we were next to a
huge waterfall and a lake. In the early morning sunlight, I could make out some movements in the
surrounding jungles. I sat and watched the day begin. As the day dawned and there was more
light, I noticed it was monkeys that had been perching on the cliffs and trees. Tavayogi woke up
shortly. Supramaniam and the caretaker woman turned up early to prepare tea for us. We took our
bath at the falls under the watchful eyes of Tavayogi. He cautioned us to be careful, as the rocks
were slippery and asked that we hold on to the railings that had been put up. I washed and dried
my cloths again!

After drying my cloths, I came up the steps to the cave. I was taken aback to see a sadhu squatting
at the entrance to the cave and having tea. He resembled the photograph of Sri La Sri Pundi
Mahaan Aatru Swami who was one of Supramania Swami's guru. He had long matted hair and
was beaming a smile. He invited me in. I gestured Vanakam to him and sat down beside him. I had

86
my tea. He remained quiet as Tavayogi talked with the caretakers. This sadhu then tells me he
would be at the temple below and leaves the cave.55

Lord Dhaksana Murthi’s Cave

The author with Tavayogi at Dhakshina Murthi’s cave

Tavayogi suggested we go over to Dhakshina Murthi’s and Saint Ramalingam’s cave. He asked
me to get the blessings of the elderly women and give a small contribution to her, which I did.

We came down the hill to Shenbaga Devi Amman’s temple.56

I saw the sadhu again. He was at the temple just as he had promised. I told him I was going to the
caves and asked if he would like to follow. He jumped down from his seat he was perched on
immediately and led the way to Lord Dhaskhina Murthi’s cave. He opened up the grilled gates to
the cave entrance for us. He lighted the oil lamp inside the cave. The sadhu having lighted the
place for us, went out and sat on a rock outside the cave. We entered the cave, which was large
enough to allow us to stand. There were statues of Sage Agathiyar, his wife Lobamuthirai and
Sage Visvamitra in this cave. In the inner chamber was a statue of Lord Dhakshina Murthi. We sat
in meditation for a while.

55 Who was he and why did he need to tell me that?

56 Yogi S A A Ramaiah in his book BABAJI GITA says, this shrine is built on the exact spot where
Sage Agathiyar initiated Baba Nagaraj into Kriya Kundalini Pranayam.

87
Saint Ramalingam’s Cave

A painting of Saint Ramalingam superimposed on a photograph of the cave he had occupied

during his travels

The sadhu closed the grilled gates to Lord Dhakshina Murthi’s cave as we came out. Tavayogi
then lead us to Saint Ramalingam’s cave. The sadhu followed us some distance but eventually
turned onto another path. I caught up with him to thank him. He gave me a wink.57

I turned to join Tavayogi and my brother who were already some distance ahead. Tavayogi left us
at a spot to check out the route to the saint’s cave. He reappeared from the opposite direction and
led us away from the spot.

The entrance to the saint’s cave was secured with metal grills too. Tavayogi told me it was locked. I
inspected the door and tried to unlatch it. Surprisingly the latch gave way and I could slide the
grilled door aside quite easily. It was pitch dark inside. We had to light up the candle. The outer
chamber was large enough to stand around. Tavayogi and I crawled into the inner chamber, which
was rather small. I grasped Tavayogi’s hand. Tears ran down my cheeks. I was grateful and
appreciated Tavayogi for having guided me to these auspicious spots and places. I would not have

57 What was that wink for? Was this the sidha that Supramania Swami told I would meet on my
journey?

88
seen and experienced this much if I had undertaken this journey alone. We closed the grill to the
caves and headed back for Sage Agathiyar’s cave.

We prayed at the Shenbaga Devi Amman temple on our way back. This temple was where Maha
Avatar Babaji had sat for days in meditation. His guru Sage Bhogar had instructed him to go to the
Pothigai hills to meet Sage Agathiyar. Babaji left Kadhirgamam in Ceylon for the Pothigai Hills.
Babaji adamantly went into penance until Sage Agathiyar appeared in front of him.

M. Govindan in BABAJI AND THE 18 SIDDHAR KRIYA YOGA TRADITION, (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 ), narrates this episode,

‘Boganathar inspired his disciple, Babaji, to seek this objective of Siddhanta Yoga,
and so directed him to seek initiation into Kriya Kundalini Pranayama or Vaasi
Yogam from the legendary Siddhar Agastiyar at Courtallam in the Pothigai hills of
Tamil Nadu. Babaji traveled on foot to Courtallam and on arriving there at the
Shakti Peedham, one of the sixty-four shrines throughout India dedicated to god
as the divine mother, he made a solemn vow to remain at that spot until Agastiyar
would initiate him into the secrets of yoga. On the forty-eight day, when Babaji was
on the verge of complete collapse, with great longing, he simply repeated over and
over again the name ”Agastiyar.” Suddenly the eminent Siddhar stepped out of the
nearby forest and came up to where Babaji was sitting in prayer.'

‘Agastiyar emphasized the strict conditions under which it was to be practiced and
its potential for awakening the higher levels of consciousness, spiritual
enlightenment and ultimately the transformation of all five bodies. He then directed
Babaji to go to Badrinath. Babaji made the long pilgrimage to Badrinath and then
spent eighteen “long, lonely months” practicing intensively all the yogic kriya
taught to him by his gurus Agastiyar and Boganathar.’

We bid farewell to all the caretakers who had gathered at the temple. Tavayogi again insisted on
carrying my bundle of damp cloths. We started down the mountain to the spot where Prem left us
the day before. Prem had been worried sick having no idea about our whereabouts in the jungles
of Courtallam. He had been calling Tavayogi on the cell phone but there was no signal in the
mountains. He was relieved to see me, as he was answerable to his agency on my safety and well-
being. We then continued on our journey to Palani.

Sage Agathiyar Opens His Eyes Again

Before we left Courtallam Tavayogi took us to a Sivan temple, Lord Kutralanathar in town. At the
Siva temple was a shrine for Sage Agathiyar. Tavayogi narrated an incident that took place here
during his travels through India. He was at Sage Agathiyar’s shrine at the spot we stood today. He
heard a melodious hymn. On tracing the source of that hymn, he chanced upon
Somasundareswarar Swami who was standing at a shrine of Lord Siva. Later Tavayogi met

89
Somasundareswarar Swami often at Shenbaga Devi Amman temple. Somasundareswarar Swami
maintained Sage Agathiyar’s cave and the surrounding caves until his demise.

We sat at Sage Agathiyar’s shrine in this temple and Tavayogi started singing hymns. Tavayogi
broke down as he sang Saint Ramalingam’s ‘Indru varumoh naalaiku varumoh allathu mathendru
varumoh.’ That is when I thought I saw Sage Agathiyar open and shut both his eyes. I got up to
move closer, to get a better view and to confirm what I had seen. True enough there was Sage
Agathiyar opening and closing, both his eyes, which were very human. Back at Agastiyampalli the
sculptured granite figure of the Sage had both eyes sculptured closed. However, as I left his shrine
his left eye was wide open watching me. At Courtallam, the Sage's eyes were sculptured wide
open. Now human eyes were watching me. I stood still, amazed, my sight fixed on the Sage's
eyes. That is when Tavayogi called out to us saying, “You have seen, have you? Come on lets
leave.” 58

Andrew Harvey in his book HIDDEN JOURNEY-A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING, published by

Penguin Books USA Inc., 1992, has the following conversation with Mother Meera, which I can
relate to Tavayogi hurrying us away each time a miracle takes place.

“You have come to give the Light to all people, so all can awaken in whatever way
they choose, in whatever situation or society or religious discipline they find
themselves.”

“Yes.”

“You do not want disciples in the old sense.”

“No. If people want to come to me, I can give them the light. If they want to be
taught by me inwardly, I will teach them. If they want to take my light and be taught
by someone else, they can.”

“Daniel said a beautiful thing yesterday,” I went on. “He said you never treat any of
our visions of you or the light as special, because you never want us to rest at any
stage or state.”

“Yes,” Ma said. “There is always more. Always. Even for the greatest of yogis,
even for Sri Aurobindo, there is always more. You must go on and on aspiring,
praying for more and more light.”

58 Tavayogi again hurried us out of the temple having witnessed that spectacular event. He never
gives us a moment to dwell on the mystical. I presume he does not want us to be stuck with those
images and be at that stage or level forever. Adi Sankara was always afraid that the devotee or the
yogi might become so infatuated with his God that he would never get to the Reality behind the
Gods.

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 “Realization is not, you have been showing me, one marvelous moment. It is a
Process.”

“Yes. A journey without end. There are different stages in the journey, but the
journey has no end.”

“The great danger for me,” I said, “is that the ego will seize what the soul is
learning for itself, to make itself proud.”

“It will try. However, the soul’s joy will break it down, no? The divine will not use
you unless you are humble. My power passes through those who are clear. Keep
yourself clear at all times. If they work with the light, it will transform them and give
them the power to change themselves and so change the world.”

It was nightfall when we checked in at a hotel in Palani. Tavayogi told us we shall climb Palani Hill
first thing in the morning. He again insisted on sleeping on the floor.

Day 12 - Palani Amazes Me Again

This was the second time I was invited to Palani by Sage Agathiyar through the nadi reading. At
5.00 in the morning, we started for the Palani temple. The streets were quiet. Shops were still
closed. We walked from the hotel in town to the temple on the hillock. We had to wait in queue, as
the temple was still closed. At 6.00 am, we were allowed to enter. We stood in front of Palani
Murugan and offered our prayers. I still cannot recall what I saw here just as I cannot recall what I
saw the first time I was in this temple in 2003. We went down some steps to the open and crossed
over to another temple structure, which housed Sage Bhogar’s shrine. Palani had puzzled me
earlier in 2003. I wanted some answers then. Now it was clear to me. This was definitely not the
route I took to Sage Bhogar’s shrine in 2003. In my earlier visit, I walked along a passage from
Palani Murugan’s shrine to Sage Bhogar’s shrine. There was no necessity to go into the open air.
The shrine walls now were beautifully painted with murals depicting episodes from Bhogar’s life in
color. In 2003, there were no paintings on the wall.

Tavayogi sat along the corridor outside Sage Bhogar's shrine in meditation. I wept in silent. When
he came out of meditation, we entered Sage Bhogar’s shrine. There were four temple priests when
we stepped into the chamber. One of them showed the flame in front of the Maragatha Lingam and
another figurine of Goddess Bhuvaneswari that Sage Bhogar had worshipped, both placed on a
raised dais. The priests then pointed out the opening where Sage Bhogar had entered and is still
believed to be in Samadhi. They narrated the history of the temple to Tavayogi and my brother. I
cried again here. After gaining control of myself, I moved to a spot in the room to sit for a while as
the three priests continued filling in Tavayogi and my brother on the temple’s history. The fourth
priest who was very much younger than the rests was standing in attendance observing the others
and me without uttering a word.

As we came out of this chamber, this young priest intercepted us at the corridor away from the
others. He passed a tumbler that he was holding to Tavayogi who was right in front, saying,
“Abhisega Paal”. I was overjoyed. I told myself, “My God it was happening again. I am being given

91
the abhisega paal again.” I was given a tumbler of milk on my visit here in 2003. Today I was
receiving it again. Tavayogi drank a portion and passed the tumbler to my brother who was behind
him. My brother drank a portion and in turn passed the tumbler to me. I emptied the tumbler and
gratefully handed it over to the priests who look pleased. Surprisingly no one questioned him nor
did he say anything further. 59

As we came down the steps into the open again, Tavayogi stopped and turned back to look at me.
He questioned me, “What is it, my son.” I went up to him and placed my head on his chests. Tears
quelled in my eyes. He had this twinkle in his eyes and gave me a broad smile. I remained silent as
we walked around the temple grounds. We left the temple premises. Later we checked out of the
hotel.

Marudamalai and Pampatti Sidha’s Cave

On the way back to Kallaru, Tavayogi took us to Marudamalai Murugan temple where Pampatti
Sidha had meditated at an adjacent cave. We had to leave the car behind at the base of the hill
because renovation works were being done in and around the hill temple. We hopped onto a bus
that took us to the top of the hill. This was my first ride on a bus in India. We stood all the way to
the top as the bus was packed. We had a quick darshan of Lord Murugan. The temple priests
brought two garlands of flower and placed them around Tavayogi and my brother. Tavayogi
removed his garland and placed it around my neck. We went down a flight of steps to the cave of
Pampatti Sidha. Here the temple priests explained to us about Pampatti Sidha and his penance at
this spot. We sat for a while. Tavayogi meditated. Some of the devotees and the tourists come over
to Tavayogi for the sacred ash. This was the first time I saw the Indian public approach Tavayogi
for his blessings in public. We took the bus back down the hill.

Back to Kallaru

As I was coming to the end of my tour, I realized I needed something more than the sights and
sounds that were shown to me. I pondered a lot on the way back to Kallaru about this fabulous tour
of religious spots and places. I was extremely blessed to have Tavayogi escort and show me
around. Many miracles had taken place since I was here in India on my second trip just as Sage
Agathiyar had promised me in the nadi reading. Yes it was fine for me to return to Malaysia and tell
my family and friends that Yogi Ramsuratkumar had joined Supramania Swami and me in chanting
his name; that Sage Agathiyar had opened his eyes to see me - first one eye at Agastiyampalli,
then later both eyes at Courtallam; I cherished all that I had seen and heard on this pilgrimage. I
could talk about them for some time but eventually talk would have to end too. What next after I
reached the shores of Malaysia? Do I go back to my routine life?

This journey should not be a mere tour of pilgrimage spots. I needed something that I could take
back with me besides these memories. Therefore, I told Tavayogi, as we had tea, on our way back
to Kallaru, I did not want the journey of mine to end just like any other tour of India. I wanted

59 I had the gift of receiving this milk when I was on my pilgrimage to this temple in 2003. I came
out of Sage Bhogar’s shrine in a state of bliss then has I did now.

92
something more out of this journey. Something that could bring me advancement in my spiritual
path. He looked at me for a moment and then asked if I had been chanting the mantra that was
given to me by him at the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham back in Malaysia. I told him that I had
received that mantra of Sage Agathiyar way back in November of 2004 and I have been chanting it
since then. Tavayogi asks me from whom I received it. I mentioned I got it from Astrologer Dr.
Krishnan. Tavayogi tells me briefly there are other practices and mantras that need to be
undertaken and mentioned some of them.

Day 13 – Another Day of Doing Charity

At dawn 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 transcribe of his nadi
that he saw in Trichi 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 arrange 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 transcribes 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 just by serving Tavayogi.

That afternoon we had a prayer for Sage Agathiyar and the sidhas, followed by serving 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 clothing 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 the children who would come around asking for new clothing since Deepavali was
around the corner. Only a couple of days ago when I had arrived in Kallaru I put forward 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 published by Sri Ramanasramam, 2005,
Thiruvanamalai. TPR writes in the chapter, The Approach through Songs in this book as follows,

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 ‘Bhagawan turned to me and said: "He is Kanappa, the disciple of Vallimalai
Swami. He sings beautifully, even better than his guru does. 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 Thiruppugazh. 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. Therefore, 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.
Moreover, 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 published by Sri Ramanasramam, 2002, 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

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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, who accepted the post, 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, melt all hearts, expand all minds, and
transform 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.’

Therefore, 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.

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 asks 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 reminisce 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 Sept 2005 - After a night's rest in Kallaru, 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 Thiruvanamalai at 6.00
am. We reached Thiruvanamalai 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

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Visiri Matai” referring to his guru Yogi Ramsuratkumar (Visiri Swami). 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 my brother. Swami handed him a five-faced rosary that he had been
using and asked us to split into two. I told him to give it all to my brother without breaking it up.
Ramajayam drove my brother to Chennai at 4.00 pm in a four-wheel drive that my brother hired.

That evening I took Swami to his village, Nacha Ananthal, eight kilometers from Thiruvanamalai
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 – Annamalaiyar Up Close

At 8.00 am, Vimalan comes to the kudil to take us to two small temples run by Suresh and he
around Thiruvanamalai. 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 Annamalaiyar thanks to these 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 the Yogi’s (Visiri Swami) ashram,
Ramana’s ashram, and Seshadari’s ashram instead, to which he gladly agreed.

Accompanying Supramania Swami to Yogi’s Ashram, Ramana

Maharashi’s Ashram and Seshadari Swami’s Ashram

The Pradosham prayers were being conducted at the Yogi’s ashram that evening. Supramania
Swami sat and watched the Abhisegam to the Lingam and Nandi silently without even moving an
eyelid nor an inch. We spent an hour and a half at the Yogi’s ashram.

As we came out of the temple the chanting of the Yogi’s name was being played at a booth selling
books and cassettes at the ashram. I bought the cassette but Swami insisted he paid for it.

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It was night now as we moved on to Ramana’s ashram where 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 particular 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
foretold that there is a possibility I will be back in India before February 2006.

He mentioned an eight-year period when Kethu buddhi sets in, when I would be 71 years of age,
where 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 until 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.

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CHAPTER 4
After The Second Pilgrimage

Further Surprises in the Nadi

The nadi reading made known the possibilities in spiritual realization that was open and available
for me. The choice was also given to me, whether to pursue in the direction laid out in those nadi
readings, or I could turn a deaf ear and go my way. When I decided to see Tavayogi that night as
instructed in the nadi, the previous reading was erased mysteriously. The second reading revealed
much more and there was reference to the earlier reading too. I was slowly made aware of the plan
and purpose of my birth through the nadi.

19 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 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 December 2005 - Maran, a friend of my nephew, Thayalan 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 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 had adopted the prayers by Tavatiru Rengaraja Desigar and Sage Kunangkudi Masthan Sahib
while conducting my prayers to Sage Agathiyar. Rengarajar says you have to ask the Lord for your
needs. Some might argue saying, “Does not the Almighty know our needs.”

Andrew Harvey quotes Mother Meera’s reply to Adhilakshmi in a book she (Adhilakshmi) was
writing: ‘Ma replies: “Ask for everything, everything. Do not stop at peace of mind or purity of heart
or surrender. Demand everything. Do not be satisfied with anything less than everything does. Our
Yoga is the transformation of human life into Divine Life here on earth. For those who ask shall be
given; for those who dare to be hungry the Food will be brought. In burning with love for Her I will
be burned with the Fire I have been calling for constantly all my life”

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Kunangkudi Masthan Sahib asked of Sage Agathiyar that his (the Sage) disciples should
accompany him (Masthan) to the Sage’s abode in the Pothigai hills and the Sage should accept
Masthan as a disciple too. I used to repeat this prayer each time I sat at prayers in front of Sage
Agathiyar. Later in the nadi reading, the Sage asks of me to come to Pothigai. Who should
accompany me but my guru himself - Tavayogi. My prayers were answered.

I called Tavayogi on 28 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 did not see. My wife replied she could have
seen him but quickly added she was not 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 June 2006 - My family and I were at prayer at 6 pm. We started singing Vinayagar Agaval, Thiru
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 did not 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.

6 June 2006 - I called Supramania Swami. He was on his way back from Annamalaiyar 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 had given me. He answered, “It was time for you to know him (Sage Agathiyar).” He
went on to describe Sage Agathiyar. According to him, the Sage was not the short hermit that he is
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 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 sidhas 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.

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Tavayogi and Me

19 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.

When Tavayogi a great saint picked my sandals and we crossed the river at Kallaru; carried my
dirty linen at pothigai; and of course the sack of vegetables on his shoulders back from the market,
his ego died. He was god. He was showing me by example how a saint should live.

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. However, Tavayogi later told me he could
not help him.

When I read a biography of Yogi Ramsuratkumar, YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR, THE GODCHILD

OF TIRUVANNAMALAI by Truman Caylor Wadlington on 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 Courtallam. 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 realized 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,

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 “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? Do not 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. One had to ease in the bushes although in Kallaru, we had a latrine put up especially for
foreign devotees-the locals do not use it preferring to go into the open, bathing in the streams and
falls.60

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.’

60 Only recently, the Peedham was connected with electricity and water.

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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 these petty things in life”.

More Guidance through the Nadi

Ramesh called me on Friday, 11 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 September 2006. The
Aasi Kandam was read. Ramesh took some time to make a transcribe 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
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.61

Guru Pooja for Sage Agathiyar

7 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. However,
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 and 7 January 2007. He wanted
to celebrate it in a big way. Tavayogi sent me the program of
the celebrations in Kallaru. I invited my brother's family,
Thayalan’s family and Murali’s family. Mages broke down during
the prayers. I cried but eventually turned to laughter. Thayalan
sang a couple of songs. Tavayogi told me he would conduct the
prayers at exactly 8.20 am on the seventh 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.

The painting of Agathiyar at the author’s altar

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

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Reading the Nadi Again

11 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 January 2007 - I was with Ramesh. However, today Sage Bhogar’s Aasi Kaandam carried the
message for me. I realize 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 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 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 sidhas would predict what was in store for me
as instructed to them by Sage Agathiyar. Today Sage Sugabrahma blessed me through the nadi.

27 January 2007 - I was sad that I would miss this week’s 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 31 times, the last reading was on 8 January 2009. Besides
Sage Agathiyar, Sage Bhogar, Sage Bhrugu Munivar, Sage Sugabrahmar, Sage Kagabujandar,
Sage Patanjali, and Sage Thirumular too have blessed me through the nadi. What have I done to
deserve THEIR blessings, I still wonder?

This Journey Will Continue

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