Saturday 31 August 2013

KONGANAR'S CAVE

I came across an account of a journey by Bhushavali N to Konganar's cave at http://travel.bhushavali.com/2010/05/uthiyur-hills-aka-pon-uthiyur-konganar.html

Opening to Konganar's cave. Photo courtesy of http://travel.bhushavali.com/2010/05/uthiyur-hills-aka-pon-uthiyur-konganar.html

It brought back memories of my travels with Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal to these caves in 2005.

Kangayam
At 'base camp'. Salutations to Lord Ganapathy before we start of our journey.
A dilapidated temple on the route up to Konganar's cave
The path leading to Konganar's cave
In front of the huge boulders that form Konganar's cave
On the hilltop overlooking the path that we had just taken
The opening to the tiny space in the rocks where Tavayogi had meditated during the earlier years when he was still searching
Tavayogi in his own space
Tavayogi back 'home'
Tavayogi making his way into a small gap between two huge boulders where Konganar had meditated
Inside Konganar's cave
Tavayogi holding the vibhuti or sacred ash that materialize here
Tavayogi

SAINTS AND SAMADHIS

I came across a beautiful blog by Edwin and Litsa van Ouwerkerk which carries information and photos of saints and their samadhis. They have traveled extensively and posted all these wonderful pictures and news relating to swamis and gurus including the Jeeva samadhis of Siddhas. They have visited Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal at Kallar too. Heres Edwin's blog http://soonyata.home.xs4all.nl/sathuragiri.htm

Edwin with Agathiyar in the hills of Kallar
Agathiyar upon installation in the hills

Suren from Malaysia with Agathiyar in the hills
Click on the link http://soonyata.home.xs4all.nl/jeevasamadhi.htm to view a very comprehensive compilation of Sidha Samadhis. Edwin has done great service through his painstaking effort in traveling the extra mile and documenting this information and photos for progeny.

I have included some more samadhis and ashrams of gurus too.

Sadhu Krishnaveni Amma's hermitage at Kalyana Theertam in Tirunelveli
Supramania Swami's samadhi in Tiruvannamalai. He was my first guru.
Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai
Karuvurar's Sannadhi at Tanjore
Punnakeesar's samadhi at Chennimalai
Punnakeesar's samadhi
Tholuvur Velaayutha Muthalaiyar's samadhi 
Kalpattu Aiya's samadhi
Pattinathar's samadhi

THE MYSTICAL RUDRAKSHAM AT KALLAR

More blogs are carrying the story of the mystical rudraksha in the possession of Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal.
Photo courtesy of http://soonyata.home.xs4all.nl/rudrakshas.htm
Photo courtesy of http://soonyata.home.xs4all.nl/rudrakshas.htm
Photo courtesy of http://soonyata.home.xs4all.nl/rudrakshas.htm
Click the link below to see this rudraksha and others at http://soonyata.home.xs4all.nl/rudrakshas.htm

The administrator of the blog Edwin and Litsa van Ouwerkerk writes, "There is a place in the mountains between Coimbatore and Ooty where a very special ashram is located of a yogi by the name of Tavayogi. This is the place where you can find real Mukhi 1 Rudrakshas in small and very large sizes as shown below in his ashram. He speaks very well English so do not hesitate to contact him if you are interested in the Mukhi 1 rudraksha."

What you see above is the rudraksha already installed and worshipped as a Shivalinga. The photos below depict the rudraksha in its native and original state as delivered by the mysterious sadhu to Tavayogi.

Tavayogi holding up the rudraksha
The photo of the rudraksha taken minutes upon delivered to Tavayogi, wrapped in the silk cloth that you see here
A cut out of the rudraksha


Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyaar introduces Agathiyar and the Sidhas, the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham in Kallar, her guru Tavayogi, the mystical rudraksha, Agathiyar in the hills and the activities held in this ashram.

Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyaar walks us through the Sri Agathiyar Sri Murugar Gnana Peedham Thirukovil in Kallar. 

Tavayogi and Mataji reveal the mystery of the Mystical Rudraksham that was handed to Tavayogi in the early hours of dawn by a Sadhu from the north with explicit instructions to worship in as a Lingam. 

People now come to Kallar to witness and get the Darshan of the Shivalingam. 

Watch the above video clip and join us now on this mystical journey into the world of the Sidhas. 

Mataji Sarojini Ammaiyaar walks us through the Sri Agathiyar Sri Thava Murugar Gnana Peedham which is located at Kallar near Methupalaiyam. 

Kallar has been mentioned by Agathiyar in his work Agathiyar 12000 (5th Part, 331st stanza) as the hills where Agathiyar and Murugan with other Sidhas had lived, meditated and roamed and established peedhams. 

As such, Agathiyar has given his word to Tavayogi that whosoever shall come to Kallar will see their prayers answered. 

Just as Palani became famous because of Bhogar; Thirupathy because of Konganar; Pothigai because of Agathiyar; so too Kallar will be known to the public because of Tavayogi. 

Tavayogi heads this ashram, giving teechas and upadesa. 

A miracle took place recently where Tavayogi, as usual, was meditating between the hours of 4 am and 6 am when he heard someone knock his door. On opening the door to his meditation room he saw a sadhu standing in front of him with a package. The sadhu spoke in Kannada. 

The sadhu informs Tavayogi that he was from the north and that he was asked to seek out Tavayogi at Kallar and instructed to pass the treasure that he held in his hands. Tavayogi questions him about the contents of the package but he does not reveal. Tavayogi accepts the gift and requests the sadhu to have a seat while he prepared a drink. On returning back Tavayogi realizes that he was missing. The front gate was still latched and locked! 

Tavayogi failing to find the Sadhu returned to his meditation room to open the package. He was surprised to see a 1 1/2 foot Rudraksha weighing approximately 7 kilograms. 

Before leaving the sadhu had reminded Tavayogi to worship 'the treasure' given as a Shivalinga. 

Keeping that in mind Tavayogi set out to have a Shivalinga made using the Rudraksha and it was revealed recently on 31st January 2012 to the public and devotees who had gathered at Kallar to celebrate Agathiyar's Guru Puja and Jayanthi. 

The Rudrasha is a very rare one-faced Rudraksha. The mere size and weight of it deserves to attract the attention of the masses. People have been flowing to Kallar since then to get a Darshan of this magnificent Rudraksha that is now in the form of a Shivalinga. 

Tavayogi had recently installed a 3 feet granite statue of Agathiyar at the hills of Kallar just behind his ashram, a 3 km walk, where Agathiyar had given him Darshan on the instruction of Agathiyar himself. 

Mataji goes on to explain the merits and greatness of the Rudraksha. Mataji talks about the activities conducted at the Peedham, and singles out the greatness of performing the Yagna or Yagam on full moons. Mataji invites devotees to come and view this treasure that the Sidhas have delivered to Tavayogi. 

A video clip of prayers conducted by Tavayogi to the newly installed Shivalinga follows her speech. The final clip shows Tavayogi personally reveal how the Rudraksha came to him to the devotees gathered for the Sarva Dosa Nivarana Yagam recently.

Friday 30 August 2013

ABHISEGAM

Agathiyar asked me to perform Nava Abhisegam or the bathing ritual of his statue once he was delivered in Malaysia. I did manage to call over relatives and friends and perform this do. I had since then been doing Abhisegam to him on Full Moon (Purnima), New Moon (Amavasai) and Thursdays (Guru Naal) too. 

I did not realize the magnitude of this ritual that I was asked to perform until I read in Dr. Najan’s ALAYANGALUM AGAMANGALUM, where Dr speaks of the various Abhisegam conducted in temples. Originally, 25 in number, the kinds of Abhisegam practiced had dwindled to 16 and later to 12 kinds. 

Each Abhisegam supposedly shall bring upon the devotees certain aspects of a good life.

Water (good health),
Tender coconut water (riches),
Honey (pleasure, wealth, education, sangeetham),
Dairy milk (long life),
Yogurt (posterity),
Vibhuti (spiritual knowledge),
Sandhanam (prosperity),
Kunkumam (all goodness),
Rose water (overcomes fear),
Sesame oil (bliss)
Rice flour (helps clear dept),
Abhisegam kuthu (overcome disease),
Manjal pohdi (improves power to attract others),
Panjamirtham (purity),
Ghee (Moksham),
Sugarcane water (cures illnesses),
Brown sugar (overcome enemies),
Bananas (increase food)
Mangoes (children),
Passion fruit (overcome anger),
Oranges (truthfulness),
Lime (overcome fear of death), and
Cooked rice (creates empires).


I started with nine as originally requested by Agathiyar but expanded to 16 later. Then in one of the incidence, as narrated by Karthikeyan in his blog http://siththanarul.blogspot.com, I realized that I had somehow established the same number of Abhisegam as the Siddhas performed for Lord Shiva.


Thursday 29 August 2013

AGATHIYAR GNANA PEEDHAM KALLAR

The Peedham in earlier days had only thatched roof and walls
Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal in Malaysia (2005)
Tavayogi (from his book ANDAMUM PINDAMUM)
The Annual Sarva Dosa Nivarana Maha Yagam is conducted at the ashram grounds with participation from the devotees
The peacock that came mysteriously to Kallar. In the background is the 6 1/2 feet fiber statue of Agathiyar. In the glass casing is the Jeeva Nadi that is being read by Tavayogi
Present-day Peedham
The hills behind Kallar where Agathiyar is installed (See below)
The 6 feet tall fiber statue of Agathiyar at the Peedham
Thava Murugar in fiber
Agathiyar in the hills of Kallar
Tavayogi with the locals






The Peedham in the beginning years 
The Peedham then






















Tavayogi at present. Photo courtesy of http://soonyata.home.xs4all.nl/rudrakshas.htm
The Agathiyar Gnana Peedham is located at Kallar, Kovai, Tamilnadu. See its location at http://www.google.com/mapmaker?tab=MM