What I have found is that I, like many modern humans, was living a busy life, filled with plenty of ways to ignore myself and slap on a façade of joy and happiness. I found that I had been doing any and everything possible to avoid sitting down for five minutes and communicating with my own mind. I had lost touch with who I identified as my self. And in the process had lost a connection with my own humanity and heart. By having no other option but to sit, in a prison bed or in an isolated back road, I had an opportunity to understand my most deep pains and to begin healing them. It is this healing that will help bring our species back in alignment with the planet and its inhabitants.
The above is an excerpt from the upcoming book “The Conscious Resistance: Reflections on Anarchy and Spirituality” by Derrick Broze and John Vibes out in 2015. (http://earthweareone.com/the-importance-of-solitude-on-your-path-to-liberation/)
Beautifully said. Moving into solitude can come voluntarily, under instruction, forcefully, as a result of circumstances or due to fate and destiny. Just as the author reminiscences his life in his upcoming book, many saints have been instructed to go into solitude. Arunagiri was told by Lord Murugan to remain silent, "Sol Ara, Summa Eru". He sat in solitude for the next 12 years. After coming out of this austerity he was instructed to go places by Lord Murugan. He left Thiruvannamalai for many places including Palamuthircholai, Nimbapuram, Vada thirumullaivaayil, Palani, Siruvai, Kondruthoraadal, Thiruchendur, Thiruchiraapalli, Thiruvaavinankudi, Thirumayilai, Thiruvarunai, Thiruthanigai, Vayalur, Kanagagiri, Thiruparangkundram, Vayiravivanam, Periyamadam, Thirukurankaaduthurai, Vallimalai, Valliyur, Chidambaram, Thirumuruganpoondi, Thiruveragam (Swamimalai), Thirumayilai, Kanchipuram, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Thiruvanaika, Thiruchenkodu, Thirumaanthurai, Thirunaakechuram, Oothimalai, Kodainagar, Devanur, Madurai, Thiruvaanjiyam, Thiruvarunai, Thirupaandikodumudi, Thirupanthanai nallur, Avinaasi, Aaru thirupathy, Kathirkaamam, Vaitheeswarankoyil, Viraalimalai, Seerkazhi, Thiruvaadaanai, Kandhankudi, Thiruveezhimizhalai, Thirukazhukundram, Konganagiri, Sri sailam, Somanaathanmadam, Yettukudi, Nagapattinam, Someechuram, Thiruvakarai, Sri musnam, Thirutavathurai (Laalkudi), Thiruvaanmiyur, Sri thirakovai, Mayilam, Yenkan, Maduraanthagam, Vinayagamalai, Thiruvengadam, Maayaapuri (Harithuvaaram), Thirukaalathi, Thiruporur, Uttaramerur, Vedaranyam, Kodainagar, Karuvur, Kuntalur, Vazhuvur, perur, Kayilaimalai, Virinjipuram, Kuratti, Perainagar, Thiruvidaikazhi, Thirupukozhiyur, Thirunallaaru, Rathnagiri, Theerthamalai, Sikkal, Thiruvalithaayam, Kumbakonam, Ilanji, Kodainagar, Yezhukarainaadu, Thirukonamalai, and Kaasi among many others.
Along the way Arunagiri was gifted with many siddhis beginning with the ability to sing the praise of Lord Murugan that later was compiled as the THIRUPUGAZH. I understand Arunagiri sang more than 16,000 hymns of which only 3,000 was saved, and only 300 in print today. Agathiyar says if one sings the THIRUPUGAZH and upholds its teachings will attain Mukthi easily. Agathiyar mentions that many miracles took place in Arunagiri's life but the Almighty chose only to reveal some instances. Agathiyar shares with us the moment Lord Murugan wrote on Arunagiri's tongue the Sadachara, and dictated him to remain silent, "Sol Ara, Summa Eru", Arunagiri received Sparisa Diksha, Nethira Diksha, Pulan Diksha, Kaatchi Diksha, and Nadana Diksha. But this did not come easy to Arunagiri either. It was the effort, tapas and good merits accumulated through the many previous births he had taken. Lord Murugan did not want Arunagiri to remain in Thiruvannamalai hence instructed him on a long and tedious journey throughout the length and breadth of India. Below is a song sang at Konganagiri.
Learn to Chant Sri Arunachala Akshara Mana Malai, one of Ramana's greatest works at http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/portfolio-item/sri-arunachala-akshara-mana-malai-english/
Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal too had been instructed to 'take a walk' through India that brought him out of his hometown of Thirupur to many places including Pollachi, Palani, Thanjavur, Thirukaniyur, Kollimalai, and Sathuragiri. At 60 years of age, Tavayogi wanted to go into samadhi. But Agathiyar had other plans for Tavayogi. Tavayogi was to propagate the path of the Siddhas. He was instructed to seek out Agathiyar Vanam at Kallar and set up the Sri Agathiyar Gnana Peedham. He was directed to seek out devotees and establish Peedhams in Malaysia and Singapore. Listen to Tavayogi narrate how he came to this path in the following videos.