Fire of Devotion

FIRE OF DEVOTION A STUDY ON THE WORKINGS OF THE SIDDHAS

First Edition March 2013 Second Edition March 2013 (Illustrated) Revised Edition April 2013 Revised June 2013 Agathiyan Production House The author wrote this book solely for academic use and not for commercial purposes.

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FIRE OF DEVOTION A STUDY ON THE WORKINGS OF THE SIDDHAS

SHANMUGAM AVADAIYAPPA AGATHIYAN PRODUCTION HOUSE 2013

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CONTENTS CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 PREFACE .......................................................................................................................................................... 13 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................................. 16 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................... 18 PROLOGUE ..................................................................................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER 1 THE HUMAN BIRTH ........................................................................................................... 24 The Miracle of Human Birth ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 24 The Purpose of Taking a Human Birth .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 27 The Longing for God & Yearning for Liberation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 28 Can We Realize God? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 29 Can We Realize God? Know The Very Existence Of God? Alternatively, Of His Nature At Least? ....................................................................................................................... 29

CHAPTER 2 THE PATH OF THE SIDDHAS ........................................................................................ 32 The Path of the Siddhas or Siddha Margam ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Siddha Margam in Malaysia .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 49

CHAPTER 3 KARMA ..................................................................................................................................... 52 Karma ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 52 Categories of Karma .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 57 How Can We Work Out Karma? ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 58 How Does Devotion Help Remove Karma? ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 65 How Does Karma Work For One Who Is Realized? ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 67 How Does Karma Work For One Who Is Under The Care Of A Guru? ..................................................................................................................................................................... 68 What Happens When All The Karma Of All Past Lives Is Worked Out?..................................................................................................................................................................... 69

CHAPTER 4 THE NADI ............................................................................................................................... 76 Seeking the Siddhas and Their Nadi.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 76 Leafing Through Your Life .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 78 Akashic Energy ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 83 The Wandering Masters ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 87 The Kaanda Nadi ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 92 Nadi Reading 1 by Agathiyar - 14.12.2002 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 93 The Aasi Nadi......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 95 Nadi Reading 2 by Agathiyar - 15.8.2005 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 97 Nadi Reading 3 by Agathiyar - 18.8.2005 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 98 Nadi Reading 4 by Agathiyar - 19.8.2005 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 98 Nadi Reading 5 by Agathiyar - 20.12.2005 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 98 Nadi Reading 6 by Agathiyar - 9.9.2006 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 99 Nadi Reading 7 by Bhogar - 13.1.2007 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 99 Nadi Reading 8 by Sugabrahmar – 20.1.2007 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 99 Nadi Reading 9 by Bhirugumunivar – 27.1.2007 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 99 Nadi Reading 10 by Kagabujandar – 3.2.2007 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 99 Nadi Reading 11 by Agathiyar – 10.2.2007 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 100 Nadi Reading 12 by Agathiyar – 17.2.2007 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 100 Nadi Reading 13 by Kagabujandar – 24.2.2007 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 100 Nadi Reading 14 by Agathiyar – 4.3.2007......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 100 Nadi Reading 15 by Bhirugumunivar – 10.3.2007 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 100 Nadi Reading 16 by Kagabujandar – 23.4.2007 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 100 Nadi Reading 17 by Tirumoolar – 8.5.2007 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 100 Nadi Reading 18 by Agathiyar – 12.6.2007 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 100 Nadi Reading 19 by Agathiyar – 24.7.2007 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 101 Nadi Reading 20 by Tirumoolar – 23.9.2007 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 101 Nadi Reading 21 by Agathiyar – 13.10.2007 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 101

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Nadi Reading 22 by Agathiyar – 23.11.2007 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 101 Nadi Reading 23 by Agathiyar – 27.12.2007 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 101 Nadi Reading 24 by Agathiyar – 29.1.2008 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 101 Nadi Reading 25 by Agathiyar – 8.3.2008......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 102 Nadi Reading 26 by Agathiyar – 25.4.2008 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 102 Nadi Reading 27 by Pathanjali – 18.5.2008 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 102 Nadi Reading 28 by Agathiyar – 12.7.2008 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 102 Nadi Reading 29 by Agathiyar – 19.8.2008 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 102 Nadi Reading 30 by Agathiyar – 30.9.2008 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 102 Nadi Reading 31 by Agathiyar – 8.12.2008 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 102 Nadi Reading 32 by Agathiyar – 8.1.2009......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 103 Nadi Reading 33 by Agathiyar – 27.8.2009 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 103 Nadi Reading 34 by Agathiyar – 26.12.2009 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 103 Nadi Reading 35 by Agathiyar – 2.1.2010......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 103 Nadi Reading 36 by Agathiyar – 31.1.2010 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 103 Nadi Reading 37 by Agathiyar – 3.4.2010......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 103 Nadi Reading 38 by Agathiyar – 12.7.2010 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 104 Nadi Reading 39 by Agathiyar – 9.8.2010......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 104 Nadi Reading 40 by Agathiyar – 17.10.2010 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 104 Nadi Reading 41 by Agathiyar – 19.4.2011 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 105 Nadi Reading 42 by Agathiyar – 9.8.2011......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 105 Nadi Reading 43 by Agathiyar – 26.11.2011 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 105 Nadi Reading 44 by Agathiyar – 16.1.2012 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 105 Nadi Reading 45 by Agathiyar – 15.2.2013 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 105 What the Siddhas Say .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 105 The Siddhas Speak On: ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 106 On Siddha Margam: ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 106 On The Nadi ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 107 On Karma: ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 107 On Morality: ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 107 On Worship: ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 108 On Pilgrimages: .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 109 On Yoga: ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 109 On Food:............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 109 On Marriage:......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 109 The Jeeva Nadi ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 110 Case 1 The Case of the Vagabond Who Challenged Agathiyar ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 111 Case 2 The Case of the Hit men Who Turned over a New Leaf .................................................................................................................................................................................. 113 Case 3 The Case of the Devoted Devotee ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 116 Case 4 The Case of the Siddhas Who Came To the Aid of a Villager .......................................................................................................................................................................... 117 Case 5 The Case of the Jeeva Nadi Reader Having the Darshan of Sri Rama ............................................................................................................................................................ 118 Case 6 The Case of the Crooked Temple Official ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 119 Case 7 The Case of the Stolen Jeeva Nadi........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 120 Case 8 The Case of the Dacoit Brother and the Policeman ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 122 Case 9 The Case of the Engineer at Sea ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 122 Case 10 The Case of the Childless Couple ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 123 Case 11 The Case of the Arrogant Liar............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 125 Case 12 The Case of the Siddhas Who Come To the Aid of a Reluctant Seeker ........................................................................................................................................................ 127 Case 13 The Case of the Fake Seekers .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 128 Case 14 Another Case of a Childless Couple ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 130 Case 15 The Case of the Executive Who Escaped a Fire ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 131 Case 16 The Case of the Infants Who Were Switched ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 131 Case 17 The Case of the Drug Addict Who Was Rehabilitated .................................................................................................................................................................................... 132 Case 18 The Case of the Savior Son-In-Law.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 134 Case 19 The Case of the Seeker Who Was Shown His Past Birth ................................................................................................................................................................................ 135 Case 20 The Case of the Child Who Was Abducted and the Fraud ―Priest‖ .............................................................................................................................................................. 136 Case 21 The Case of the Student and the Muslim Healer .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 138 Case 22 The Case of the Man Who Began To Walk Again ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 140

CHAPTER 5 THE GURU ............................................................................................................................ 145 Who Is A Guru? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 145 The Secret of the Gurus ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 145

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The Need for a Guru........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 146 Searching For a Guru .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 148 Meeting the Guru ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 150 Recognizing the Guru ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 156 Connecting With the Guru ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 156 The Qualities of a Disciple ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 161 The Ideal Aspirant ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 162 The Guru Disciple Relationship ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 164 Discipleship to an Illumined Teacher ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 165 The Guru‘s Magical Touch ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 170 The Grace of the Guru ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 178

CHAPTER 6 A NEW BEGINNING ........................................................................................................ 182 The Start of a Journey ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 182

CHAPTER 7 PRELUDE TO THE JOURNEY ....................................................................................... 183 Prelude to the Journey ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 183

CHAPTER 8 THE FIRST MILE ................................................................................................................ 185 Receiving Sacred Mantra ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 185

CHAPTER 9 THE SECOND MILE .......................................................................................................... 187 Reading the Nadi ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 187

CHAPTER 10 THE THIRD MILE ............................................................................................................ 189 Journeying Through Mysterious India Seeking My First Guru ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 189 My Maiden Pilgrimage to India .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 189 Departure .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 189 Arrival in Chennai ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 189 Day 1 - Paying My Respects to Lord Vengadasalapathi ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 190 Kalahasti ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 190 Day 2 - Lord Nadaraja Draws Me into His Chambers at Egambareswarar Temple .................................................................................................................................................. 191 Tirutani .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 191 Kanchipuram ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 191 Day 3 –Vadalur and Satya Gnana Sabha .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 192 Bhuvanagiri and the Birth Place of Saint Raghavendra .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 193 Chidambaram and the Temple Of Tillai Nadaraja .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 193 Vaitheeswaram ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 194 Day 4 – Tiruvenkadu and the Temple Of Buddhan ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 194 Keelaaperampalam and the Temple Of Kethu ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 194 Mayil Aduthurai.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 194 Suryanar Temple .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 194 Tiruvidaimarutur .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 194 Kumbakonam-Swamimalai-Tiruvalanchuli ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 195 Rajarajacholan‘s Famed Breehadeshwarar Temple in Tanjore ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 195 Trichi and My Parikarams ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 195 Day 5 – Guided Tour At Tiru Aanaikaval From Hanuman? ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 195 Meeting Thavathiru Rangaraja Desiga Swamigal of Ongarakudil ................................................................................................................................................................................. 196 Brahmaharti and Sangkalpa ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 198 Day 6 – Appeasing Saturn .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 198 Day 7 – Palani and Twilight Zone ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 199 Day 8 – Revisiting My Roots .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 200 Viralimalai ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 200 Kundrakudi – Pillaiyaar Patti .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 200 Vayalur .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 200 Day 9 – The Pinnacle of My Journey ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 201 Tuesday, 9th September ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 201 Wednesday, 10th September .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 201 Day 10 - A Chance Meeting With Supramania Swami Or Was It Ordained? ............................................................................................................................................................. 202 Day 11 – Returning Home - A Satisfied Pilgrim ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 204 Day 12 – Departure Day ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 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CHAPTER 11 THE FORTH MILE ........................................................................................................... 206

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After The First Pilgrimage .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 206 Building a Kudil for Supramania Swami ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 206 Meeting My Second Guru ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 207

CHAPTER 12 THE FIFTH MILE ............................................................................................................. 220 My Second Pilgrimage to India .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 220 Day 1 – Starting the Pilgrimage with Saint Ragavendra‘s Blessing ................................................................................................................................................................................ 220 Melmaruvathur Athi Parasakthi Temple ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 220 Yogi Ramsuratkumar‘s Samadhi and Ashram .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 220 Supramania Swami‘s Hermitage ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 221 Prayers with Supramania Swami ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 221 Day 2 – Girivalam - A Second Time ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 222 Tiruveragam Sri Ranganathar Temple ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 224 My Second Girivalam .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 224 Day 3 – Meeting Up With Tavayogi in Kallar.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 224 Day 4 - In The Midst Of The Siddhas .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 225 Shivan Malai and Shivavaakiyar Cave ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 226 Uthiyore and Siddha Konganar‘s Cave ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 226 Chennimalai and Siddha Punakeeswarar‘s Cave .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 228 Day 5 – Meeting Other Swamis ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 228 Day 6 – A Day in the Life of an Ashramite ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 229 Day 7 – A Day of Doing Charity ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 231 Day 8 - The Actual Journey Begins ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 232 Day 9 - Agathiyar Welcomes Us at Agasthiyampalli ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 232 Agathiyar Opens His Eyes .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 235 Back at Breehadeshwarar Temple and Siddha Karuvurar‘s Shrine ............................................................................................................................................................................... 236 Saraswati Mahal .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 237 Day 10 - Pothigai and Courtalam ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 237 Overnight in Agathiyar‘s Cave ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 239 Day 11 - Roaming the Jungles of Pothigai and Courtalam............................................................................................................................................................................................. 241 Lord Dhaksana Murthi‘s Cave ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 242 Ramalinga Adigal‘s Cave ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 242 Agathiyar Opens His Eyes Again ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 244 Day 12 - Palani Amazes Me Again .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 246 Marudamalai and Pambatti Siddha‘s Cave ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 247 Back to Kallar ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 247 Day 13 – Another Day of Doing Charity ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 248 Day 14 – Another Day with Supramania Swami ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 251 Day 15 – Annamalaiyar Up Close...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 252 Yogi‘s Ashram, Ramana Maharishi‘s Ashram and Seshadari Swami‘s Ashram ........................................................................................................................................................... 253 Day 16 – Returning Home From a Pilgrimage of a Different Kind ............................................................................................................................................................................. 253

CHAPTER 13 THE SIXTH MILE ............................................................................................................. 254 After The Second Pilgrimage ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 254 The Breath ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 254 Pranayama ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 256 Asana ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 263

CHAPTER 14 THE SEVENTH MILE ..................................................................................................... 264 Agathiyar Seeks My Home ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 264

CHAPTER 15 THE EIGHTH MILE ........................................................................................................ 269 Abhisegam ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 269

CHAPTER 16 THE NINTH MILE ........................................................................................................... 270 Lighting the Sacrificial Fire ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 270

CHAPTER 17 THE TENTH MILE ........................................................................................................... 296 Beginning the Journey Within ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 296

CHAPTER 18 THE ELEVENTH MILE .................................................................................................. 310 On Gratitude, Surrender, Letting Go and Awaiting the Guru‘s Grace and God‘s Grace ......................................................................................................................................... 310 Gratitude ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 310 Surrender ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 319

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Letting Go............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 319 Awaiting the Guru‘s Grace and God‘s Grace .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 319

EPILOGUE ..................................................................................................................................................... 320 APPENDIX 1 LIFE & TIMES OF SIDDHAS ........................................................................................ 326 Agathiyar ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 326 Ramalinga Adigal ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 329 Jeganathar Swamigal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 338 Chitramuthu Adigal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 340 Gnana Pitha Shivananda Paramahansa ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 343

APPENDIX 2 FIRST ENCOUNTERS WITH THE MASTERS......................................................... 345 Swami Shivananda and Paramahansa Viswananda Saraswati ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 345 Swami Vishnudevananda and Swami Shivananda ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 346 Swami Muktananda and Bhagawan Nithyananda ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 347 Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 350 Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Totapuri .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 353 Sri Ramana Maharishi and Arunachala ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 355 Yogi Ramsuratkumar and Sri Ramana Maharshi ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 355 Swami Ramdas and Sri Ramana Maharishi ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 359 Swami Gnanananda Giri and Swami Shivaratna Giri ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 361 Adi Sankara and Lord Shiva ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 362 Paramahansa Yogananda and Sri Yukteswar.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 363 Lahiri Mahasaya and Babaji ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 364 Lama Surya Das and Lama Yeshe ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 367 Thavathiru Rangaraja Desiga Swamigal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 367 Supramania Swami ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 370 Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 373

APPENDIX 3 SIDDHAS AND MIRACLES ........................................................................................... 376 Miracles during My First and Second Pilgrimages to India ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 377 Miracle 1 A Switch for the Good ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 378 Miracle 2 A Siddha Gives Darshan. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 378 Miracle 3 Siddha Hanuman Gives Darshan. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 378 Miracle 4 Receiving Blessed Milk at Palani....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 378 Miracle 5 Yogi Ramsuratkumar Joins in Chant................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 379 Miracle 6 A Visitation from the Divine Forces? .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 379 Miracle 7 Vibhuti Appears Miraculously .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 379 Miracle 8 Tavayogi in Various Places at the Same Time? ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 380 Miracle 9 Agathiyar Opens His Eyes................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 380 Miracle 10 Agathiyar Opens His Eyes Again ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 382 Miracles In The Presence Of Supramania Swami............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 383 Miracle 11 Lord Shiva at Parvatha Malai?......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 383 Miracle 12 A Visitation from Yogi Ramsuratkumar........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 383 Miracle 13 A Siddha Intervenes. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 383 Miracles In The Presence Of Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 384 Miracle 14 A Siddha Saves Tavayogi‘s Life. ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 384 Miracle 15 Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi feed Tavayogi. ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 384 Miracle 16 A Visitation from Siddha Konganar? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 384 Miracle 17 Lime Appears Miraculously ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 384 Miracle 18 A Visitation from Lord Murugan? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 385 Miracle 19 A Visitation from Lopamudra? ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 385 Miracle 20 Agathiyar‘s Darshan ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 385 Miracles In The Presence Of Other Devotees................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 389 Miracle 21 Agathiyar Gives Darshan ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 389 Miracle 22 Did Lord Ayappa, Anjaneyar& Anjalai Give Darshan. ............................................................................................................................................................................... 389 Miracle 23 Receiving a Darshan of the Siddhas at Sathuragiri ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 392 Miracle 24 Agathiyar Shows His Presence At Kalyana Theertam ................................................................................................................................................................................. 393 Miracle 25 Agathiyar Grooms a Disciple for a Bigger Mission. .................................................................................................................................................................................... 394 Miracle 26 Supramania Swami‘s Darshan? ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 397 Miracle 27 Agathiyar Opens His Eyes .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 399

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Miracle 28 Agathiyar Opens His Eyes Again ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 399 Miracle 29 Siddha Kuthambai‘s Darshan? ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 400 Miracle 30 Lord Murugan‘s Darshan? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 401 Miracle 31 Tavayogi‘s Darshan?......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 401 Miracle 32 A Siddha‘s Darshan? ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 402 Miracle 33 Another Siddha‘s Darshan? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 402 Miracle 34 Agathiyar Saves the Life of a Devotee by Giving His Breath..................................................................................................................................................................... 402 Miracle 35 Mysterious Appearance of ―An Autobiography of a Yogi‖ ........................................................................................................................................................................ 403 Miracle 36 Receiving Ramalinga Adigal‘s URAINADAI PAGUTHI .......................................................................................................................................................................... 403 Miracle 37 Receiving K.R. Shivakandhan‘s SIDDHARGAL THATHUVAMUM YOGA NERI MURAIGALUM – POONDI MAHAN VARALARU ......................... 404 Miracle 38 Receiving the TIRUARUTPA ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 404 Miracle 39 Receiving a Directive from Lord Muruga? .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 404 Miracle 40 Receiving a Directive from Lord Shiva? ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 405 Miracle 41 Agathiyar Saves My Daughter‘s Leg. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 405 Miracle 42 Agathiyar Decides the Time of Prayers for Him. ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 406

APPENDIX 4 HYMNS OF PRAISE TO SIDDHAS OR SIDDHAR POTRI THOGUPPU ......... 416 APPENDIX 5 THE KUDIL & THE PEEDHAM .................................................................................. 424 The Kudil ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 424 The Peedham .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 428

APPENDIX 6 THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN HINDU SPIRITUALISM .......................................... 442 The Wife as a Tapa Sakhi .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 442

APPENDIX 7 MAILS ................................................................................................................................... 444 Mail 1 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 444 Mail 2 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 444 Mail 3 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 444 Mail 4 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 445 Mail 5 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 445 Mail 6 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 445 Mail 7 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 445 Mail 8 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 445 Mail 9 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 446 Mail 10 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 446 Mail 11 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 446 Mail 12 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 446 Mail 13 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 446 Mail 14 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 447 Mail 15 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 447 Mail 16 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 447 Mail 17 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 447 Mail 18 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 448 Mail 19 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 448 Mail 20 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 448 Mail 21 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 448 Mail 22 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 448 Mail 23 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 448 Mail 24 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 449 Mail 25 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 449 Mail 26 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 449 Mail 27 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 450 Mail 28 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 450 Mail 29 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 450 Mail 30 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 450 Mail 31 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 450 Mail 32 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 450 Mail 33 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 451 Mail 34 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 451 Mail 35 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 451 Mail 36 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 451 Mail 37 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 451

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Mail 38 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 451 Mail 39 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 452 Mail 40 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 452 Mail 41 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 452 Mail 42 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 452 Mail 43 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 452 Mail 44 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 452 Mail 45 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 453 Mail 46 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 453 Mail 47 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 453 Mail 48 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 453 Mail 49 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 453 Mail 50 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 453 Mail 51 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 453 Mail 52 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 454 Mail 53 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 454 Mail 54 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 454 Mail 55 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 454 Mail 56 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 455 Mail 57 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 455 Mail 58 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 455 Mail 59 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 455 Mail 60 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 455

BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................................... 456 INDEX ............................................................................................................................................................. 459

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PREFACE My first venture into and attempt at writing was when I compiled the Siddhas hymns that I had been singing during prayers into a book of praise to Siddhas, SIDDHARGAL POTRI THOGUPPU. The hymns were from various sources: Thavathiru Rangaraja Desiga Swamigal1(of the Sri Agathiyar Sanmaarga Sangam, Ongarakudil, Turaiyur, Tamilnadu, India); Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigalaar2(of the Sri Agathiyar Sri Thava Murugar Gnana Peedham Thirukovil in Kallar, Kovai, Tamilnadu, India); and other publications. As I came across more hymns I included them too and the volume later expanded to become AGATHIYAR PUSAI or THE COMPLETE BOOK OF PRAISE TO AGATHIYAR now available at http://www.scribd.com/doc/93769534/AgathiyarPusai-The-Complete-Book-of-Praise-to-Agathiyar-Tamil-Transliteration-in-Englishor athttp://www.slideshare.net/shanmugamavadaiyappa/Agathiyar-pusai-march-2013. I had compiled the forty-six Nadi3readings (also known as suvadi or olai in Tamil) or revelations in dried palm leaves by Agathiyar and other Siddhas (until 15 February 2013). I had also kept a journal of my travels in India. I kept a spiritual diary too to monitor my progress. Initially these notes and jottings were for my personal reference only. When I came to know about Ramalinga Adigal4, Agathiyar5 and the Siddhas6; and came to meet

http://agathiar.org/

1

http://indianheartbeat.wix.com/tavayogi

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Nadi Astrology is a form of Hindu astrology practiced in Tamil Nadu, India. It is based on the belief that the past, present and the future lives of all humans were

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foreseen by Hindu Siddhas in ancient time. The texts are mainly written in Vatteluttu, which is an ancient Tamil script. There are different schools of thought as to the author of these leaves. They were written by a Tamil Siddha called Agathiyar who is said to have had divine revelations. This doctrine of astrology was made famous by astrologers around the Vaitheeswaran Temple in the state of Tamil Nadu. Based on the thumb impression, Nadi leaves are found. (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Arutprakasa Vallalar Chidambaram Ramalingam (5 October 1823 – 30 January 1874), whose pre-monastic name was Ramalingam, is commonly known in India and

4

across the world as Vallalar. He was one of the most famous Tamil Saints and also one of the greatest Tamil poets of the 19th century and belongs to a line of Tamil saints known as "gnana siddhars" (gnana means higher wisdom). The Samarasa Suddha Sanmarga Sathiya Sangam was spread and passed on by him not only in theory but mainly in practice by his own way of living which was itself inspiration for his followers. Through the notion of Suddha Sanmarga Sangam, the saint endeavored to eliminate the menace of caste. According to Suddha Sanmarga, the prime aspects of human life should be love connected with charity and divine practice leading to achievement of pure knowledge. (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Agastya (Also known as Father of Tamil Literature and siddha), is one of the Saptarishis (meaning "seven Siddhas") who are extolled at many places in the Vedas and a

5

revered Vedic Siddha who is also the author of Agastya Samhita [ref: Dharma Bharathi]. Agastya is a name of Shiva too. The word is sometimes written as Agasti and Agathiyar. A-ga means a mountain, and Asti means thrower. Agastya the Muni, son of Urvashi was born of both Gods, Mitra and Varuna. Agastya is also the Indian astronomical name of the star of Canopus, is said to be the 'cleanser of waters', since its rising coincides with the calming of the waters of the Indian Ocean. He is considered as the father of Tamil literature and compiled the first Tamil grammar called Agathiyam. In Tamil language the term 'Agam' means inside and 'iyar' means belong. One who belong inside (soul) is the Tamil meaning for Agathiyar.(Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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Thavathiru Rangaraja Desiga Swamigal, Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai, and Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal I wanted to give back something in return. These notes and jottings saw the light of the day through the numerous websites and blogs that I created: http://www.indianheartbeat.fws1.com, http://www.indianheartbeat.20m.com, http://www.tavayogi.webs.com, http://www.wix.com/tavayogi/agathiyan When I received positive reviews from readers, through their e-mails, phone calls and when face-to-face, I realized that what started as a means of my gratification to my Gurus and the Siddhas had in fact helped and benefited others too. The idea to compile these writings into a book took shape then. These books were made available online at http://www.scribd.com/indianheartbeat : SIDDHARGAL POTRI THOGUPPU (Tamil), AGATHIYAR POTRI PAADAL THOGUPPU (Tamil), AGATHIYA MAHA RISHI (Tamil), SAINT JEGANATHAR, CHITRAMUTHU ADIGAL & TAVAYOGI (Tamil), SIDDHA MARGAM-The Path of the Siddhas (English), IN SEARCH OF THE SIDDHAS (English), COMING TO THE PATH (English), IN THE PATH OF THE SIDDHAS (English), END OF THE PATH (English), SIDDHA POTRI - A Transliteration in English, ARUTPERUNJHOTI AGAVAL- A Transliteration in English, TEACHINGS OF THE SIDDHAS PART ONE -SIDDHA MARGAM - THE PATH OF THE SIDDHAS (English), TEACHINGS OF THE SIDDHAS PART 2 - KARMA (English), TEACHINGS OF THE SIDDHAS PART 3 -CONDUCT (English), TEACHINGS OF THE SIDDHAS PART 4 - THE BREATH (English), MILESTONES ON THE PATH OF THE SIDDHAS (English), THE SIDDHAS (English), SIDDHAS IN MALAYSIA (English),

Siddhar were spiritual adepts who possessed the ashta siddhis, or the eight supernatural powers. Siddha Agathiyar is considered the Guru of all Siddhars, and the Siddha

6

medicine system is believed to have been handed over to him by Lord Muruga, son of the Hindu God Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Siddhars are the followers of Lord Shiva. Agathiyar is the first Siddhar. His disciples and other siddhars contributed thousands of texts on Siddhar litratures, including medicine and form the propounders of the system in this world.(Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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SEEKING THE SIDDHAS-AGATHIYAR& THE SIDDHAS (English), SEEKING THE SIDDHAS -RAMALINGA ADIGAL (English), BEING GRATEFUL- MIRACLES ON THE PATH OF THE SIDDHAS (English), THE NADI - KAANDA NADI & JEEVA NADI (English), AGATHIYAR‘S JAYANTHI &GURU PUJA (English), YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR (English)

I have since removed some websites, revamped existing ones and created new sites. Check out the following: http://facebook.com/shanmugam.avadaiyappa http://indianheartbeat.wix.com/agathiyan http://indianheartbeat.wix.com/tavayogi http://shanmugamavadaiyappa.wix.com/indian-heartbeat-songs http://www.youtube.com/user/siddhaheartbeat http://www.scribd.com/agathiyanproductions http://www.slideshare.net/shanmugamavadaiyappa/fire-of-devotion http://www.flickr.com/photos/agathiyar/ I have combined and revised the above books into a single edition that now you have in your hands. This book is a very small attempt at displaying the workings of the Siddhas. I have documented the life and times of my Gurus in this book. It carries eighteen chapters spanning ten years and incorporates the minuscule journey of mine on the expansive and ever evasive spiritual world. As Ramalinga Adigal reveals as he came to the end of his mortal life that his achievement or feat of deathlessness came when he was at the fifteen stage of spiritual experiences and that there was much more beyond that - that there were still higher stages that Ramalinga Adigal hesitates to express - I realize that I have a very long way to go! (Refer To Table 4 Various Stages of Spiritual Experiences) As I pen this book, I recall all the blessings that I had received towards the making of this book. When I went for an astrological reading in 1996, Dr Krishnan mentioned that I would write books. When I was accompanying Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal on his talks at various venues in Malaysia in 2007, he turned to me and told me that I should talk about Agathiyar (to promote and propagate Agathiyar and the Siddhas teachings). I replied that I am no authority to speak on the Siddhas. Similarly, when I went for the nadi reading later, Agathiyar mentions that I shall write books too. I did not have the faintest notion then to write but it has become a reality now thanks to the blessings of my Gurus and the Siddhas.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT It has been a mere ten years since I came to the path of the Siddhas. I consider myself still new to this path and still investigating it. I am grateful to the following people who had helped me on this journey of sheer amazement. 

My parents, Avadaiyappa Chettiar and Valliammai and my siblings who cared for me;



My daughter Vimala who brought me to the path of the Siddhas due to her connections with Agathiyar in the past birth;



My wife Mageswari, who has been supportive of me on this path and has helped me achieve this standing;



My daughter Praba who had faith in my words, and faith and belief on Agathiyar.



Kannan of Kelana Computer Service Center in Klang for passing me the Sakti Font that has made it possible for me to write in Tamil;



Dr Krishnan, friend, Siddha practitioner and astrologer who made me aware of the existence of the nadi;



My colleague Muralitharan Saminathan who spoke about his experience reading the nadi and pointed me to Shivabalan;



Shivabalan of the Agathians Shelter7 in Malaysia who had brought in Nadi Guru Senthilkumar from Avinasi in India;



Nadi Guru Senthilkumar who spent much time in locating my relevant nadi and who started me off on the path of the Siddha with prayers to the Siddhas;



Nadi Guru T. Ramesh of the Sri Agastiar Sugar Nadi Jothida Nilaiyam8 who has faithfully been delivering Agathiyar‘s message for me forty-five times;



Thavathiru Rangaraja Desiga Swamigal of the Sri Agathiyar Sanmaarga Sangam9 at Ongarakudil, in Turaiyur, Tamilnadu whose works aided and guided me when I started seeking literature on the Siddhas;



Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai, my first Guru, who revealed my mission and began working on me;



Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of the Sri Agathiyar Sri Thava Murugar Gnana Peedham Thirukovil10 in Kallar who took me in as a disciple and molded me further;

7

http://www.agathians.org/new/

8

Phone: 6016 3570527 (Malaysia)

9

http://agathiar.org/

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

Finally to the almighty Lord who choose to shower his grace on this person and send his missionaries Agathiyar, Ramalinga Adigal, Jeganathar and the Siddhas, to save him from plunging further into ignorance.

Shanmugam Avadaiyappa. Malaysia. June 2013

10

http://indianheartbeat.wix.com/agathiyan

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INTRODUCTION I was born in Taiping, Malaysia. My late father was from Kilaasevalpatti village in Shivagangai-Karaikudi district, South India. My mother, a Malaysian, told me that as a child, I used to fall sick often. Once when I was a few months old, I was purging badly. My parents had lost two children for the same reasons. Therefore, when the doctors could not bring relief to me, my parents took me to our neighbor of that time - a Chinese medium. The medium attended to me on condition that they give me away in adoption to the Gods. My parents agreed without hesitation so long as the medium could save me. Therefore, it was that the Gods saved me and I had a Godfather looking over my shoulders from then on. Since then until I was thirteen years of age, the medium treated me in the event I fell sick. The medium used to go into a trance in front of his altar, hitting his back with the blunt edge of a sword and would then dispense his medicine, which was a strip of yellow paper, written with certain Chinese characters. He would light up the strip of paper and drop the ashes into a glass of water and gave me the concoction to drink after which I was well. The first time I ever stepped into a government hospital was for treatment for a dog bite and fearing I could contract rabies, I went to the hospital. I grew up in a moderately religious family. As a youngster, I attended religious classes, with my brothers and friends at the home of an elderly Ceylonese man who taught us recitation of the devotional hymns, THEVARAM. I attended classes held in the Buddhist Vihara next to my home where I listened to stories and parables on Buddha‘s life. In my teens, I enrolled for a correspondence course in Christianity from a church based in Singapore where I read the BIBLE and answered tests papers to qualify for a certificate. Later while in college, I learnt about Islam through a Pakistani gardener at the college, who used to accompany me on the bus every morning. I was having a problem-free life as a kid where my siblings took care of the family since was the second youngest in a family of seven. Nobody expected much from me. On finishing college, I landed a job in the public sector. I frequented all the temples in those places that I had been posted. I was engaged in aggressive worship at home in the early hours of the morning and at sundown. This was the time where I had dreams upon dreams of Hindu Gods and Goddesses which most of the time I could not comprehend. I started frequenting more temples and prayed more rigorously at home in the wee morning hours. Then all these came to an abrupt stop!

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After a lapse of thirteen years (1988 to 2001) where I had entirely given up prayers and avoided temple worship, my nephew Thayalan Arumugam set me back on the path by passing me a mantra and a painting of Lord Dhakshinamurthi. I realized later that surprisingly even before reading the nadi, a mysterious hand prepared me for this journey. A year into offering prayers to Lord Dakshanamurthy, the subject of the nadi surfaced when my friend Muralitharan Saminathan shared his experience with a nadi reader in Malaysia. I had heard about the nadi the first time when Dr Krishnan, my friend and a prominent Siddha practitioner and astrologer, mentioned its existence to me in 1996. I had the sudden urge to see the nadi. I was in luck. Nadi Guru Senthilkumar from Avinasi, Tamilnadu was a guest of Shivabalan in Malaysia. He took my thumbprint and located my nadi. He told me Agathiyar wrote the predictions years ago. Senthilkumar read the Pothu Kaandam, Karma Kaandam, the Shaanthi Parikaara Kaandam, and Gnana Kaandam. Agathiyar revealed my past, including my past birth, the present and my future. Agathiyar told me that he would reveal further after three years when I was forty-five. What I did not know then was that I would eventually read the nadi forty-six times! After the latest reading on 15 February 2013, I believe I would not have another reading because Agathiyar had questioned the necessity for me to read the nadi.

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Dedicated to

Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai Who ignited,

Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Who nurtures,

Ramalinga Adigal of Vadalur Who guides,

And Agathiyar Who sustains

The

Fire of Devotion In me.

20

21

PROLOGUE When clients of Dr. Krishnan told me that his predictions based on the astrological charts came true, I was puzzled why none of his predictions for me materialized. Not that it bothered me, but I was curious as to know why a reading by a well renowned astrologer like Dr. Krishnan did not go well with me. So one fine day I asked the Dr., not referring to me though, if at all there was a possibility that whatever he predicted would not materialize. He answered, ―Yes, there is a possibility it won‘t materialize if you have a curse.‖ ―And how would we know if someone had cursed us?‖ I asked. ―Could you tell me if I am cursed, from reading my charts?‖ I continued. Dr. Krishnan explained to me that it was not possible to know if a curse had befallen someone from reading the astrological charts and that the only way to find out was through consulting the nadi. That was the first time I heard about the nadi and the Siddhas. That was in 1996. Dr. Krishnan had made it known to me of the existence of the nadi and that I could learn if someone had cursed me by locating a nadi reader and have my leaf read. However, back at that time neither did I give much serious thought to the nadi nor did I know of any nadi reader in Malaysia. I had no intention to go and seek the nadi in India. Eventually I forgot about it.

It amazes me even now to think how my life took a turnaround after I saw the nadi. The nadi showed me the path I was to take - the path of the Siddhas. I made a pilgrimage to India in 2003, performing atonements or parikaram at the places mentioned in the nadi. Subsequently I had the blessings of two wonderful Gurus. My seeking a Guru brought me to Supramania Swami in Tiruvannamalai. The Swami and I started on a venture to build a temple, only to drop it while in the midst of construction, after a Siddha intervenes. After two years under the tutelage and guidance of Supramania Swami, I met my present Guru, Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham Thirukovil, Kallar, Kovai, Tamilnadu in Malaysia in 2005.

22

I made another pilgrimage to India the same year on the instruction of Agathiyar and at the invitation of Tavayogi. Both pilgrimages were memorable. Then Agathiyar chose to come to my home in the form of a bronze statue in January of 2010. I started performing rituals – Abhisegam11 on the instructions of Agathiyar, and lighting the sacrificial fire or Homam12 on the instruction of Tavayogi. When I read the nadi for a remedy for my daughter‘s medical problems and later for my health problems, Agathiyar gave assurance, guidance, remedies through the nadi and performed miracles. Miracles are still taking place to this day (See APPENDIX 3 SIDDHAS AND MIRACLES).

Abhisheka, also called Abhishekam, is conducted by priests, by pouring libations on the image of the deity being worshipped, amidst the chanting of mantras. Usually,

11

offerings such as milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, Panchaamrutam, sesame oil, rosewater, sandalwoodpaste may be poured among other offerings depending on the type of abhishekam being performed. This ritual is routinely performed in some Hindu and Jain temples. (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Homa (also known as homam or havan) is a Sanskrit word which refers to any ritual in which making offerings into a consecrated fire is the primary action. Its practice

12

by "Rishis" in ancient time refers close to the Vedic era. At present, the words homa/homam and havan are interchangeable with the word Yajna.Homas are an important religious practice in Hinduism, where they part of most of the Sanskar ceremonies, Buddhism(particularly the Tibetan and Japanese Vajrayana traditions) and Jainism. (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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CHAPTER 1 THE HUMAN BIRTH The Miracle of Human Birth Many a saint has often mentioned the human birth as the highest amongst all births. As Sankara13says, ―Only through God‘s grace may we obtain the three rarest gifts: Human birth; the longing for liberation; and discipleship to an illumined teacher.‖ Swami Muktananda 14 quotes Saint Sundardas in WHERE ARE YOU GOING. - A GUIDE TO THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY, published by Syda Foundation, 1989, (Muktananda, Where Are You Going? - A Guide To The Spiritual Journey, 1989) ―The great Saint Sundardas wrote, ―You have attained this human body through God‘s grace. You cannot attain it repeatedly. This human body is a priceless jewel. Do not throw it away.‖ Swami Chidvilasananda15 in INNER TREASURES, A Siddha Yoga Publication, 1995, (Chidvilasananda, Inner Treasures, 1995)mirrors Sankara‘s thoughts. ―The Indian scriptures teach that earth is the place where you come to work out all your karma, the consequences of your actions, both good and bad. This is where you have the opportunity to learn the greatest lessons and ascend to the highest awareness. Even celestial beings want to take birth in this place. It is the

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

13

songs to the Gods, principally Shiva. Adi Shankara (789 CE), also known as Adi Sankaracari, Sankara Bhagavatpadacarya and Adi Sankaracarya was an Indian philosopher from Kaladi in present day Eranakulam district, Kerala who consolidated the doctrine ofadvaita vedānta. His teachings are based on the unity of the atman and brahman— non-dual brahman, in which brahman is viewed as nirguna brahman, brahman without attributes. Shankara travelled across the Indian subcontinent to propagate his philosophy through discourses and debates with other thinkers. He is reputed to have founded four mathas ("monasteries"), which helped in the historical development, revival and spread of Advaita Vedanta of which he is known as the greatest revivalist. Adi Shankara is believed to be the organizer of the Dashanami monastic order and the founder of the Shanmata tradition of worship. (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Swami Muktananda (16 May 1908 – 2 October 1982) is the monastic name of an Indian Hindu Guru and disciple of Bhagavan Nityananda. Swami Muktananda was

14

the founder of Siddha Yoga. (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Gurumayi Chidvilasananda (or Swami Chidvilasananda) is the monastic name of Malti Shetty (Mumbai, India, June 24, 1955), who is the current Guru of the Siddha

15

Yoga lineage. The Siddha Yoga lineage (parampara) was established by Bhagawan Nityananda, whose disciple Swami Muktananda was Gurumayi's Guru. (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

24

work of the Saints to awaken people from samsara, the world of the wandering, from this chakra, this wheel, the cycle of birth and death.‘‘ Shantideva16, a Buddhist master from the monastic University of Nalanda, India, too describes human birth as a rare gift. He says, ―Only as a human can you be devoted to God, the creator. ―He reminds us not to waste a rare opportunity to devote oneself to God. He says, ―These human leisure, opportunities, and faculties are very rare to obtain and easily lost.‖ He questions us, ―If one squanders the chance to fulfill the aim of human life, how will such an opportunity arise again?‖ The Siddhas too regard this birth as very auspicious and rare. Siddha Avvai17 says, ―Rare indeed is to take a human birth, rarer than that is to be born with a perfect human form, sight, hearing and speech. Amongst them, it is rare to see one who does austerities and charity. When one does austerities and charity the gates to Godhead is opened.‖ Another Siddha, Manikavachagar18, amply expounds in his THIRUVACHAKAM-SHIVAPURAANAM that, ―Having taken all these life forms to achieve his present state that is being born as grass, worm, trees, various animals, stones, rocks and pebbles, various creatures, Asuras19, and Devas20, and having exhausted myself in doing so, I found the truth to exist under your feet and thus I entered your home, my Lord.‖

Shantideva was an 8th-century Indian Buddhist scholar at Nalanda University and an adherent of the Madhyamaka philosophy of Nagarjuna. (Source: Wikipedia, the

16

free encyclopedia) The Avvaiyars"respectable women" was the title of more than one poet who was active during different periods of Tamil literature. The Avvaiyar were some of the

17

most famous and important female poets of the Tamil canon. Among them, Avvaiyar I lived during the Sangam period (c. 1st and 2nd century CE) and had cordial relation

with

the

Tamil

chieftains Paari and Athiyaman.

She

wrote

59

poems

in

the PURANANURU.

Avvaiyar

II

lived

during

the

period

of Kambar and Ottakoothar during the reign of the Chola dynasty in the 13th century. She is often imagined as an old and intelligent lady by Tamil people. She wrote many of the poems that remain very popular even now. These books include a list of dos and don'ts, useful for daily life, arranged in simple and short sentences. (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Manikkavacakar was a Tamil poet who wrote Tiruvasakam, a book of Shaiva hymns. Manikkavasakar was one of the main authors of Saivite Tirumurai: his work forms

18

one volume of the Tirumurai, the key religious text of Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta. A minister to the Pandya king Varagunavarman II (c. 862 C.E. – 885 C.E.), he lived in Madurai. His work is a poetic expression of the joy of God-experience, the anguish of being separated from God. (Source :Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) In Hinduism, the Asuras are non-suras, a different group of power-seeking deities besides the suras, sometimes considered naturalists, or nature-beings. They are the

19

forces of chaos that are in constant battle with Devas. (Source :Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

25

Hindu texts mention that there are 840,000 species of life forms beginning with the aquatics, and culminating in the human being. ―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.‖ 21 ―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.‖22 ―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 karma23, a law of nature analogous to the modern scientific principle of action and reaction.‖24 ―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. It can take many lives, or you can do it in one lifetime.‖25

Deva is the Sanskrit word for deity, its related feminine term is devi. In modernHinduism, it can be loosely interpreted as any benevolent supernatural beings. The

20

devas in Hinduism, also called Suras, are often juxtaposed to the Asuras, their half brothers. Devas are also the maintainers of the realms as ordained by the Trimurti. They are often warring with their equally powerful counterparts, the Asuras. (Source :Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) ―Reincarnation: The Soul‘s Secret Journey‖ (ATMA) – From ―Atma‖ – The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. The International Society For Krishna Consciousness.

21

―Reincarnation: The Soul‘s Secret Journey‖ (ATMA) – From ―Atma‖ – The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. The International Society For Krishna Consciousness.

22

Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect (i.e., the cycle called samsara)

23

originating in ancient India and treated in the Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh religions. (Source :Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) ―Reincarnation: The Soul‘s Secret Journey‖ (ATMA) – From ―Atma‖ – The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. The International Society For Krishna Consciousness.

24

―Reincarnation: The Soul‘s Secret Journey‖ (ATMA) – From ―Atma‖ – The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. The International Society For Krishna Consciousness.

25

26

―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, much grosser forms of mind and body cover the soul; 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.‖26 ―The soul, known in Sanskrit as Atma 27 , 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.‖28 ―One personal form of God is the super soul dwelling within the hearts of all living beings; witnessing every thought and action and awarding the living beings the result of their karma, arranging for them to accept an appropriate physical body lifetime after lifetime.‖29 (Are these the Siddhas? - Ed) The Purpose of Taking a Human Birth In the book YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR - THE MYSTERY OF BECOMING GOD by Olga Ammann published by Yogi Ramsuratkumar Bhavan, Mauritius, 2008, (Ammann, Yogi Ramsuratkumar - The Mystery of Becoming God, 2008)the author states, ―The meaning and the aim of existence must be the search for the divine. One that enables the individual to take the supreme decision of his or her life: to leave all behind and go in search of God.‖

―The Ultimate Antimaterial Particle‖ (ATMA, The Ultimate Antimaterial Particle)- From ―Atma‖ – The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. The International Society For Krishna Consciousness. 26

Atman is a Sanskrit word that means 'self'. In Hindu philosophy, especially in the Vedanta school ofHinduism, Atman is the first principle, the true self of an individual

27

beyond identification with phenomena, the essence of an individual. In order to attain salvation (liberation), a human being must acquire self-knowledge (atma jnana), which is to realize that one's true self (Ātman) is identical with the transcendent self Brahman.(Source :Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) ―The Ultimate Antimaterial Particle‖ (ATMA, The Ultimate Antimaterial Particle) - From ―Atma‖ – The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. The International Society For Krishna Consciousness. 28

―The Ultimate Antimaterial Particle‖ (ATMA, Reincarnation: The Soul's Secret Journey) - From ―Atma‖ – The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. The International Society For Krishna Consciousness. 29

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In Hans-Ulrich Rieker‘s translation and commentary of the HATHA YOGA PRADIPIKA OF SVATMARAMA, The Aquarian Press 1992, (Rieker, Hatha Yoga Pradipika of Svatmarama, 1992) B K S Iyengar writes, ―….the real goal of a yogi is to become a Siddha. A Siddha, a person in possession of siddhis, has developed powers that can readily be called supernatural. There are eight siddhis, the highest of which is nirvana, the great liberation. The siddhis are signposts on his way to the final goal, liberation.‖ Now since we understand that this birth is a precious gift and to be born a human is a great and very rare gift we must now turn our attention towards making this birth into a meaningful one. We have to remember and ponder over the blessedness that we humans have gained for only the human has the chance to become free from the cycle of birth and death and no other organism or living form. As Shantideva mentioned, 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 special gift of birth and take steps to attain liberation in this very birth for we might not get another chance to be born as a human for years to come. We could descend into the lower species where it would then not be possible to worship God and attain God realization and enlightenment. The Longing for God & Yearning for Liberation In QUIET MIND, FEARLESS HEART - THE TAOIST PATH THROUGH STRESS & SPIRITUALITY, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, 2005, Brian Luke Seaward quotes Teilhard De Chardin (Seaward, 2005), ―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.‖ Shantideva says, ―The human body is the vehicle for longevity, while the spirit is the vehicle for immortality.‖ He wrote on the results of yearning for liberation. ―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

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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.‖ Swami Muktananda in THE PERFECT RELATIONSHIP, published by Syda Foundation, 1985, (Muktananda, The Perfect Relationship, 1985) writes, ―When the virtues of many lifetimes have accumulated, one is filled with a burning longing to know that, and this great fortune makes one set out in search of a Guru. Through the grace of the Satguru30, a person comes to know his own self and is transformed.‖ This yearning for liberation which leads one to the master or Guru, who makes him realize and bring him to the understanding that all that is being seen, sensed, heard, touched and felt is not permanent. He then must look for ‗that which is permanent‘. He then discovers that that which is permanent is the bliss derived through devotion to God. Can We Realize God? Can We Realize God? Know The Very Existence Of God? Alternatively, Of His Nature At Least? Shantideva says study of the scriptures does not bring man to the realization of God. ―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.‖ We need the physical body to realize God. Although the believe that the soul/spirit/Atma/jivatma unites with God after death of this body is held by many, saints have proved otherwise. Ramalinga Adigal says there is no union with God after death. The union has to happen right now in this body, in this very birth. Ramalinga Adigal had achieved this feat. He had prepared himself; he had purified his thoughts and body. He had

Satguru, or sadguru, does not merely mean true guru. The term is distinguished from other forms of gurus, such as musical instructors, scriptural teachers, parents, and

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so on. The satguru is a title given specifically only to an enlightened rishi/sant whose life's purpose is to guide initiated shishya along the spiritual path, the summation of which is the realization of the Self through realization ofGod, who is omnipresent. A Satguru has some special characteristics that are not found in any other types of Spiritual Guru. (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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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 unto him, into his body, into every cell and atom. Then changes started to take place in his body. Eventually he dematerialized into light merging with God. He made it happen right here and as recent as 1874. God‘s grace is of utmost importance on this path to realization. With his grace (Arul) comes his blessing (Aasi) and his guidance. His grace falls on us only when the ego dies. As Shantideva says, ―God appears when the ego dies.‖ Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya in the preface to his book, THE LIFE BEYOND PHYSICAL DEATH (Acharya, The Life Beyond Physical Death) writes, ―Life is eternal. Considering ―death‖ - the cessation of functions of physical body, as the end of life is a great delusion. The soul (Atma), which is the beholder of bio-energy in the physical body, is ageless, timeless and indestructible. The fear of ―death‖ ensues from the misconception that with the end of physical existence, the individual loses its identity in totality.‖ Let us recall the message of the world‘s great upanishadic Siddhas, retold by Swami Satprakashananda in his book MEDITATION - ITS PROCESS, PRACTICE, AND CULMINATION, (Satprakashananda)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, In addition, there abides joy unbounded. How can man reach that? Through this very life, By regulating this mortal life he can reach the immortal.‖

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The Siddhas having experimented on themselves have proofed that the body of ours need not drop dead at the end of its lifespan. Siddhas are believed to be alive even today. So should not we walk the Path of the Siddhas who knew the secret and had transformed themselves to live forever?

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CHAPTER 2 THE PATH OF THE SIDDHAS The Path of the Siddhas or Siddha Margam

Photo 1 Agathiyar sitting majestically in the home of the author

Paul Zweig in the introduction to Swami Muktananda‘s the PERFECT RELATIONSHIP, published by Syda Foundation, 1985, (Muktananda, The Perfect Relationship, 1985)writes, ―Siddha yoga is an ancient path, as old as human nature itself. .... Siddha yoga comes to us from Siddhas, perfect beings, beings who are so completely rooted

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in their own selfhood, in their inner God, that they see that God everywhere and can transmit their own experience to other people.‖ An author on the net, (Source not identified – Ed) refers to the Upanishads, ―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).‖ As we saw earlier, B K S Iyengar statement, (Rieker, Hatha Yoga Pradipika of Svatmarama, 1992), ―….the real goal of a yogi is to become a Siddha. A Siddha, a person in possession of siddhis, has developed powers that can readily be called supernatural. There are eight siddhis, the highest of which is nirvana, the great liberation. The siddhis are signposts on his way to the final goal, liberation.‖ M. Govindan in BABAJI AND THE 18 SIDDHA KRIYA YOGA TRADITION, Kriyayoga Publications, Quebec, Canada, 1991, (Govindan, 1991) wrote, ―After experiencing union or yoga with God or ultimate reality in the spiritual plane, the Tamil Yoga Siddhas experienced a progressive transformation of their intellectual, mental, vital and ultimately, physical bodies. In attaining such an integral realization they have manifested a divine transformation of their entire human nature.‖ M. Govindan adds that their attainment is a result of the techniques used to prepare their bodies for the descent of divinity. M. Govindan says it is important to know the Siddhas and their path, ―Their story is important to modern man because it speaks of a means of self transformation which is accessible to everyone, in all walks of life using a series of techniques known as Kriyayoga.‖

Although the Siddhas have been around for ages, only certain quarters speak about them. The subject of Siddhas is shrouded in mystery. Although works of Siddhas are now available in print, it is not fully possible to decipher these works. Agathiyar has mentioned Siddhas who made it to his stature. They are Karuvurar, Konganar, Bhogar, Sattamuni, Kamalamuni, Machamuni, Tirumoolar, Nandisar, Sundaranandhar, Korakar and Purushamiruga Yogi.

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In another Siddha song, Agathiyar mentions the following names of Siddhas: Manikavachagar, Avvai, Nalyugi, Tirumoolar, Gnanasambandhar, Karuvurar, Tiruvalluvar, Kausigar, Vasistha, Pambatti, Appar, Sundarar, Sugabrahmar, Karkaipujandhar, Thanvanthari, and Shivayogamamunivar. Siddha Romarishi mentions in one of his writings the names of some of these Siddhas. They are Karuvurar, Bhogar, Agathiyar, Sathainathar, Konganar, Brahmasiddha, Machamuni, Nandhithevar, Korakar, Pathanjali, Edaikadar, Chandikesar, Vasamuni and Kamalamuni. Korakar goes on to mention sixty-four Siddhas who started missions or Madams and headed them. The list is as follows. (Information sourced from SIDDHARGAL KANDA AHVIGALAI VIRATHUM MULIGAI RAGASIYANGAL by Jegatha).They are: Table 1 Sixty-Four Siddhas Who Started Madams and Headed Them Sixty-Four Siddhas Who Started Madams And Headed Them Agathiyar

Karuvanandhar

Sandigamamunivar

Siddharishi

Yathithamunivar

Viswamunimaindhar

Aghoramunivar

Kalanandhar

SadhaShivamamunivar

Siddhanandhar

Yegarishi

Viswarishi

Amuthavanandhar

Kuruvanandhar

Sadhanandhar

Shivamunivar

Yogarishi

Viswanandhar

Athimunivar

Kurmanandhar

Sathiyanandhar

Shivanandhar

Rudrarishi

Vishnumunivar

Anandhamunivar

Kauthamunivar

Samaiyavanandhar

Sinmaiyanandhar

Logava nandhar

Vidhanandhar

Rasamunivar

Korakar

Saruga nandhar

Sugarishi

Vasamuni

Viyasarishi

Kamalanandhar

Sachuthanandhar

Saruvanandhar

Sukiramunivar

Thuruvanandharmurthi

Brahmandhar

Karunaiyanandhar

Sattaimunivar

Sisuvanandhar

Suthanandhar

Nandiyanandhar

Pulastyar

Sundaranandhar

Brahmamunivar

Muthanandhar

Valaiyanandhar

Pathanjalimamunivar

Puranavanandhar

Suriyanandhar

Brahmarishi

Mularishi

Vanendramahamuni

Paramanandhar

Purananandhar

Saithanyamunivar

Shiruvanandhar

Maunamunivar

Machamunivar

Elsewhere there is mention of Athimula Navanadha Siddhas: Anathinadhar, Athinadhar @ VethandaSiddhar, Gajendranadhar @ VilaiyathuSiddhar, Korakar, Sathoganadhar @ Yoga Siddhar, Sathiyanadhar @ GnanaSiddhar, Mathanganadhar, Machendranadhar @ NondhiSiddhar, and Vegulinadhar @ MaunaSiddhar. There is mention of Saptarishis too: Agathiyar, Angirasar, Kasipar, Gauthamar, Pulastyar, Markandar and Vasisthar. Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of the Sri Agathiyar Sri Thava Murugar Gnana Peedham Thirukovil has compiled and given an extensive list of names of Siddhas. See APPENDIX 4 HYMNS OF PRAISE TO SIDDHAS OR SIDDHAR POTRI THOGUPPU. He tells me the names listed by him are those of authentic Siddhas and have had references in other Siddha works and writings. He tells me it was sufficient to recite these names and when done diligently and without fail one shall have their (Siddhas) grace immediately. They are as follows:

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Table 2 List of Names of Siddhas Compiled By Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal List of Names of Siddhas Compiled by Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal Agathiyar

Katyamagarishi

Sundaramurthi

Pampatisiddhar

Agapaisiddhar

Kabalamagarishi

Sutamunivar

Bagadevamagarishi

Asuvinitdevar

Kakeyamagarishi

Suriyananthar

Parvathamagarishi

Athirimagarishi

Kartikeyamagarishi

Sulamunivar

Bhaskaramagarishi

Ambigananthar

Kalavamagarishi

Saykilar

Pingalamunivar

Arunagirinathar

Kalinganathamagarishi

Sethumunivar

Pidinakisar

Arulnanthishivachariyar

Kalamagarishi

Sorubananthar

Bhirugumagarishi

Allamapirabu

Kanbamagarishi

Somagamagarishi

Brahmamunivar

Alukannisiddhar

Kinthamagarishi

Saunagamagarishi

Pirunjakamunivar

Asidevamagarishi

Kiruthumagarishi

Jambumagarishi

Pirungumagarishi

Alagananthar

Kusarishi

Janagar

Pipalamagarishi

Arithamagarishi

Kutsagarishi

Janantanar

Punnakeesar

Anjanadeva

Kugainama Shivayar

Janatanar

Pulatisar

Atchayadevarishi

Kurunama Shivayar

Janakumarar

Pulippanisiddhar

Atithamagarishi

Kutambaisiddhar

Jabalimagarishi

Pundarigamagarishi

Aritsamagarishi

Kumaragurubarar

Jeganathar

Purukothamagarishi

Atreyamagarishi

Gurudhaksanamurthy

Jeyamunivar

Punaikannar

Asavalayanamagarishi

Gururajar

Gnanasiddhar

Bhogamagarishi

Ananthasiddhar

Kurumbaisiddhar

Damarananthar

Machamunivar

Edaikadar

Kurmananthar

Danvanthiri

Mayuraysa

Ramalingaadigal

Konganamagarishi

Tayumanar

Manikavasaga

Ramadevar

Korakar

Tananthar

Markandayar

Ramananthar

Kausigar

Tatisimagarishi

Malangan

Umabathishivachariyar

Kautamar

Tambamagarishi

Matangamagarishi

Ubamanyumagarishi

Sangarshanamagarishi

Talapiyamagarishi

Manurishi

Usanamagarishi

Satumugamagarishi

Tathuvagnanasiddhar

Marisamagarishi

Uthayagirisiddhar

Satananthamagarishi

Trikonasiddhar

Mandavyamagarishi

Avvaiyar

Sangumagarishi

Thirugnanasambanthar

Mukthananthar

Kanjamalaisiddhar

Sanatanamagarishi

Thirunavukarasar

Mutkalamagarishi

Kadaipillaisiddhar

Chandirakulamagarishi

Thirumaligaidevar

Meikandadevar

Kaduvelisiddhar

Savitiramagarishi

Thiruvaluvar

Maunachsiddhar

Kannananthar

Sangiyayanamagarishi

Tirunabindhumagarishi

Megasanchararishi

Kannisiddhar

Sandilyamagarishi

Dhurvasamunivar

Maitrayemagarishi

Kanabathidasar

Santirayanamagarishi

Teraiyar

Mrityunjaya

Kananathar

Saratvanthumagarishi

Tevatattamagarishi

Yakgnadevamagarishi

Katambamagarishi

Salihotramagarishi

Tevalamagarishi

Yuhgimunivar

Kabilar

Satvikadevamagarishi

Tevaratamagarishi

Yogasiddhar

Kamalamunivar

Sangamunisiddhar

Nanthanar

Yogananthar

Karuvurdevar

Sangaramagarishi

Nanthisvarar

Rohmarishi

Kallulisiddhar

Sangilisiddhar

Nathanthasiddhar

Raipriyamagarishi

Kalaicoathumunivar

Satchithananthar

Narathar

Vasudevamagarishi

Kaubalasiddhar

Sattanathar

Nagaradevamagarishi

Vamadevar

Kanaramar

Sandikehsar

Nondisiddhar

Valakilyamagarishi

Kagabujandar

Sathyananthar

Pandrimalaisiddhar

Vasisthamagarishi

Kasibar

Chitramuktar

Pattinathar

Varatarishi

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Kalanginathar

Shivayogamamunivar

Pathragiriyar

Vararishi

Kanvamagarishi

Shivananthar

Patanjaliyar

Varagimigi

Karkamagarishi

Sirungimagarishi

Paratuvasar

Valmigi

Kausamagarishi

Shivayambuvamanumagarishi

Paramananthar

Vedamagarishi

Kanagamagarishi

Sugabrahmar

Parasarishi

Vyakramar

Thavathiru Rangaraja Desiga Swamigal of Sri Agathiar Sanmaarga Charitable Trust Ongarakudil, Turaiyur lists out 131 names of Siddhas in his SIDDHARGAL POTRI THOGUPPU. Veeramanidhasan 31 has compiled 773 lists of names in his GURU PUJAI - SRI SIDDHARGAL POTRI MANTHIRA MALAI (Swamigal, 2005). Rajkumar Swamigal32 of Brammarishi Hills lists 210 names.

In Hans-Ulrich Rieker‘s translation of the HATHA YOGA PRADIPIKA OF SVATMARAMA, the Aquarian Press 1992, (Rieker, Hatha Yoga Pradipika Of Svatmarama, 1992), ―Since there is a path to liberation, there also must exist the means to pursue it to the end. And all the means that we require to reach our ultimate goal, however high it may be, lie within us. The problem is only how to release them.‖

The path of the Siddhas is known as the Siddha Margam in Tamil. Siddhas had taken birth as humans and eventually through research into the mysteries of the body and soul, evolved themselves into the ultimate. The Siddhas strived to achieve Godhead by means of performing austerities together with living a life of discipline. The Siddhas had searched the nooks and corners of this universe for God and finally realized God in them. Towards this, they perfected means to enable the body to remain alive for generations and eons and to this date are believed to be living amongst us. They then taught their disciples this path. Together they then laid them out in writings for the future generations to cherish and follow. It is wonderful indeed of the Siddhas that they had documented every finding and discovery and till this day guide humans through their writings and the nadi. Having achieved deathlessness, they render their knowledge to humanity encouraging them to follow suit.

Veeramani Dasan is an Indian singer of devotional songs. Earlier Dasan had a light music troupe, Sruti Laya. But now it is devotional singing most of the way. He has

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sung for a couple of films too. Having sung more than 3,500 songs this singer who travels extensively for concerts is at home in Kannada and Telugu devotionals too. (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) http://brammarishihills.wordpress.com/siddhas/

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However, not everybody can realize God in them immediately. The Siddhas realized that each person is an individual in his known right having gained experiences through several births and advancing spiritually at their own pace. Understanding this, the Siddhas drafted four stages on the path of the soul‘s evolution. Therefore, the Siddhas paved the path where one would have to go through the four divisions of yoga towards god realization in a systematic way. They are namely: Sariyai, Kriyai, Yogam and Gnanam. Man confirms to any one of this stage according to his temperament and nature; beliefs and thoughts; and upbringing and faith. The four divisions or paths to Sivahood or Godhead are revealed in verses 270 to 274 of the SHIVAGNANA SIDDHIYAR SUPAKKAM.

mofla;fjfjlf mjla;fjfjlf mtfHkfks; la;fjfjlf kakla;fjfjlf WofTlf m_fj;do FdgPlf nofla;fjfjlf nauf Fdikalf ]aolf epajlf ntfjs;spa m;sdp Wo nistfTiKlf wmpfi;f mofla;fjfj Lkfksjyf maeuajfjsp malqhfhsp ma=hfhsp maPmfmsplf WofT mK;f isklalf Lofla;fjfj ]apkfkauf WpfKlf Lkfks LxI Wofh;f coftsOjfJlf Lkfkshklf Wofh;f ―The journey in attaining Shiva consists of four paths. Sanmaargam, Sagamaargam, Sarputramaargam, Taatamaargam, these four Maargam are paths to Shiva. Jnanam, Yoga, Kriya, Sariyai, those devoted to it, shall attain Sanmaargam Mukti vis Salokyam, Saameepam, Saarupam, and Saayutchyam.‖

The first path Taatamaargam (Sariyai), or living in the world of Shiva, is also known as the path of the servant.

kakla;fjfjlf matftsuf m_fj;ofkof ejapsuf kulf FuJ SgfG SuJ ks: wl{jfJlf makfkshf ehaKjYlf wjapfK ^nf ka;fladu jbfbs HosktfJhf hu mdlkfKhf Hj[fnfK hax kqK Suf ks: isyjfJ SgfG ks:nnfkioLlf wmpfK ks: eig_f jbfgauf Fxepof wmpfiK paK hbspq;f WofT hbsnfK Fi;fklf hbsPlf SptfTiK Smfm;sdp wmpfeia;f Qmof DuJ S:hfh;f ―In the temples of Shiva, cleaning the floors, decoration with flower wreaths and garlands, cooking many victuals for God and devotees, chanting the glories of Shiva, lighting the sacred lamps, tending the sacred gardens and flower beds, serving the visiting devotees of Shiva and attending to their needs are the path of

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Taatamaargam. They who perform these acts live in the world of Shiva. When the ascetics smeared in ash carrying a staff and other accouterments of the ascetics visit the temple, the devotee must say to them, ―I am the servant at your feet, what can I do for you?‖ Thus one should lower one‘s head and in humility perform the assigned work to serve the ascetic.‖

Next, Sarputramaargam (Kriyai) or the ritual worship of Shiva is known as the path of the son.

Hkfks; la;fjfj jlHjusof Hkspisd;hf ehaK Hdj Vys l]fmolf FLK Lkuf wjabfG RnfK Mkfks wmpfK Amolf c;fkfks c;fkfks laoalf emaksdpPlf haiskfK AiajskfK Mkfk hkfkspsoauf F:mfmskfK h;ishf ehatftshf h;siswoaG W;spsuf i:ja;spLlf hbfbs nskfkUlf Sjfjs;sdppsdo SptfTeia;fjyf nsofluof kof F:js:hfh;f nsdoP_f jaeu ―Fresh-smelling flowers, incense, sacred lamp, articles for ritual ablution of the idol, food offerings to God, five part purification, seat for the deity, invocation of the God in the form of light and of life into the idol, invitation of the deity, worship by pure devotion, eulogizing God with love, offering flowers, keeping alive the sacrificial fire, doing all these ritual acts daily. By these acts the devotees abide very close to ninmalan (Shiva with no impurities).‖

The third path, Sagamaargam (Yogam) or attaining the form of Shiva is also known as the path of companionship.

mjla;fjfjlf Huof VGjfjskf kGkfKiys S;bfGlf mushfH FtfT LmfmK; Lkuf Aka;_fjyf Fjla;fjfjlf FtsnfK Fitftsof F:lfwha:yfjyf Db;fnfK F_fJ FdbnfKehapf eluf Ets Fu;flks lbfgukfksof Lj la;fjfj FLK Dgulf Lgfgkf ekjfjs L{mfemaks nsdonfks:kfkuf Lkuaj isdojyf Dj la;fjfj Fgfga_fj epaj LtfTlf D[kfkuf D[nfki;f msiof kof D:ikfdkhf whTi;f ―Control of the senses; regulating the two breaths (in-breath and out-breath); realizing the essence of the six adhara kundalini chakras with triangles and squares; worshipping the presiding deities of each chakra; ascending to

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BrahmaRandhra and inducing the lotus bud to blossom; stimulating the sun mandala there and helping the resulting ambrosia spread all through the body; worshipping and meditating the effulgent Shiva without remissness; and observing the ashtanga Yogam. These devotees will get the form of Shiva.‖

The final path, Sanmaargam (Jnanam) is also known as the true path.

mofla;fjfjlf mjujdu H;ab eiklf makfks;_fjyf mlp_fjyf kalf huIlf Db;fnfK hof la;fjfjhf wha:yf huIlf jq[aj elualf hks hM hamlf wk;skfKhf h; msidojf jagfGlf nof la;fjfj ]aokfdk nax ]ao e]pwlaG ]aks:Ilf naga ibfblf hsof la;fjfjmf msiOgoalf whtfts ]aohf wh:dl Ddgepa;f msidohf whTi;f kaeo ―Wisdom from all Puranas, Sastras and sacred texts of all external religions; elucidation of all and rejecting the falsehood as untruth; knowledge of God, soul and fetters; acquisition of true knowledge of the righteous path for attaining Shiva; and merger with Shiva without any differentiation among knowledge, knower and the object of knowledge. People in this just path acquire greatness and attain Shiva.‖

The Siddha Sugabramar in the GNANA SUTHIRAM mentions these four divisions too.

nufuwka: h;lJ: infk kaeu nuLyfy masdp i[s laafjfjnf ekaBlf wlufuei masdp i[s ngnfkapaoauf ish;lkapfjf jsasdp i[s isd;isuf ekaofTlf iufuwka: jsasdp i[s jbfghsofH dlnfkeo epaj i[s wkysiapfkf wkaofTlf wmufuwka: epaj i[s ngnfkapaoauf kstdlPy ]ao i[s wkasPlf hae;

―When the Parama Guru arrives, The path of Sariyai shall arise, Slowly when the path of Sariyai is trod,

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Kriyai path shall arise shortly, Upon walking the path of Kriyai, Son, the Yogam path will clearly arise, Walking the path of Yogam, The Jnanam path shall appear.‖ The SiddhaShivavaakiyar too mentions these four divisions.

wkysnfk ntf masdpkofosuf wmofT maeuajlfwhTlf wkysnfk ntf jsasdp^dm em;ualf malqhel wkysnfk nufu epajlf kofosuf em;uaJlf ma=hlf wkysnfk ]aolf naofjsUlf em;uaJlf maPmfpel ―Upon entering Sariyai, Salokyam shall one receive, Through Kriyai, Saameepam shall he reach, In yoga, Saarupam shall be attained, Jnanam, these four, Saayutchyam shall one attain.‖ The Siddha Kunangkudi Masthan Sahib who sings the praise of Agathiyarin theAGASTHIYAR SATAGAM pleads of Agathiyarfor the experience of all these divisions in the 52nd verse.

cuhf hs;abdomf mbffg la:klf Wo L[_fj isgfG F:yf HaspIlf Llflbfgu_fjYlf LgfGlf hxjfJ F_fjs cgfx dikfK F:yf HaspIlf elualf hk_fjagfG wlpf]f]ao Nzeubs eleutfts F:yf HaspIlf elUlf eluao naualf hx jgkfks wlof elUlf WojfJ F:yf HaspIlf

maeuaj malqh ma=h maPmfp mnfkaolf F:yf HaspIlf maMik mlfhf;kapkfekaG mka ns`fdg maafnfksgtfJ F:yf HaspIlf ladu Fbs laafheo ki;a