Source – https://siththanarul.blogspot.com/2014/12/blog-post_13.html

The priest who was doing the abishekha was startled as the fragrance entered the shrine. He looked out but couldn’t make out anything. He continued the Abisheka. He normally applies oil and washes it with water but for some reasons, he mixed a number of fragrances in the water and performed the abisheka.

As I was watching, I felt for a second that Agastya opened his eyes, smiled a bit and went back to Dhyana. While the abisheka was still happening, there was a light that came out of His right hand and spread out. Right after, the rays of sunlight touched His feet. Everyone including the priest noticed the sunlight and thought that it is the sunlight which caused ‘that’ light.

I got goosebumps as I kept watching. I said “Thanks so very much O Lord. This is enough” and I prostrated. For that moment, I felt an utmost satisfaction of achieving everything and felt what is there in life to achieve. The glimpse of the eyes opening made me yearn, and I prayed that I should get that darshan whenever I wanted.

Surprisingly, when my friend sent a picture of Agastya the next day, it appeared as if His eyes were open and were looking at a distance, thinking. The eyes appeared just as the human’s. We all would have been visualizing the temple and how the entire scene must have been, Agnilingam Arunachalam who runs the Sitthan Arul blog has kindly given the link for the picture of the Sanctum Sanctorum for everyone’s darshan.

The abisheka was done, alankara and deepa-aradhana happened where Agastya’s form appeared as it does normally. It was only the three of us witnessing the abisheka, where at least 10 people stand. The priest was minding his business and so was the temple in-charge. We realized that it is for His grace that we remained there.

The priest distributed the prasadam while still wondering where that fragrance came from. We were so silent that we did not want to speak anything. The mind was still. When we came out, one of the friends said slowly:

“When standing behind the mandapa, just before the abisheka started, I felt air descending down and entering the sanctum-sanctorum followed by a divine fragrance. Was it He?”

“Hmm.” – I just said and they understood everything. We all were so satisfied. There were a number of revelations following that incident:

1. If the wish is pure from the heart and is simple, He fulfills them for sure.
2. He is a very strict guru without any bias, but also is very merciful. Just as a Father who knows the minds of the children.
3. He makes situations favourable, purifies them and presents to us as a gift.
4. It is on us, to remain humble, discard ego and arrogance and follow His guidance.
5. What He expects from us above all is, “steadfast faith, bhakthi to the Lord, respect to the Guru and a lot of patience.”

I share the above as I realize to be very important to all those who read this series. When we were reading the Nadi in Nambi Malai, He said, “You are all my children” to those who were present.

We should think what we should do, how we should be for Him to say, “You are my son, you are my daughter” to all of us! Think!

~ To be continued…!

Featured image: Sitthan Arul

5 – மனு சுபேதார்

மனு சுபேதார் சுதந்திரத்திற்கு முந்தைய மத்திய சட்டப்பேரவை உறுப்பினராக இருந்தவர்.

காட்பாடியிலிருந்து திருவண்ணாமலை சென்று கொண்டிருந்த காரில் தனியாக இருந்த நான் என் கேள்விகளை எண்ணி சரிபார்த்துக் கொள்ள விரும்பினேன். ஒவ்வொரு கேள்வியையும் எப்படிக் கேட்க வேண்டும் என்று உருவேற்றிக் கொண்டிருக்கையில் அதற்கான பதில்களும் எனக்குத் தெரிந்திருந்ததை உணர்ந்தேன். மஹரிஷியை சந்தித்த போது ஒரு கேள்விகளும் கேட்கத் தோன்றவில்லை.

அவரிடம் நான் சேர்மனாக அஹமதாபாத்திலிருந்த சாஸ்து சாஹித்ய முத்ரனாலயா ட்ரஸ்ட் பதிப்பித்திருந்த ‘அவதூத கீதை’ மற்றும் ‘அஷ்டவக்ர கீதை’ பிரதிகளை சமர்பித்து அவர் கவனத்தை அவதூத கீதையின் முதல் வரியின் பால் கொணர்ந்தேன். அது சொல்வது: “கடவுளின் அருளால் மாத்திரமே ஒரு புத்தியுள்ள மனிதனின் பால் அண்டவெளியிலுள்ள ஒற்றுமை பற்றி அறியும் ஆசை எழுகிறது. அவ்வாசையே அவர்களை சம்சாரத்தில் இருக்கும் பலவித ஆபத்துகளிலிருந்தும் காக்கிறது.”

மஹரிஷி என்னை அளவுகடந்த கருணையுடன் நோக்கினார். பின் தன் உதவியாளர்கள் ஒருவரிடம் ஒரு புத்தகத்தை எடுத்து வரச்சொன்னார். அது நாபாஜி எழுதிய ‘மஹா பக்த விஜயம்’, அதைத் திறந்து படிக்கத் தொடங்கினார். (அவர் படிக்க எண்ணிய அதே பக்கத்தை மிகச்சரியாக திறந்ததை வியப்புடன் பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்தேன்). மஹரிஷி அதை மிகவும் ஆழ்ந்து அனுபவிப்பவர் போலத் தோன்றினார்.

தம்மைத் தொடர்பவர்களை வியப்பிலாழ்த்துவதற்காக சில குருமார்கள் மந்திர தந்திர சித்துக்களை நாடுவதுண்டு. மஹரிஷி மாறாக ஒரு நேர் வழியை உபயோக்கிறார். உண்மை என்பதை வெளிச் சொல்லிவிடுகிறார், அது மிக எளிதாக, அவர் எண்ணத்தில் உதித்ததாயும் அவரே அனுபவித்து உணர்ந்ததாயும் இருக்கிறது.

அவர் உங்களைப் பார்க்கும் பார்வையில் ஒரு கேள்வி தொனிக்கிறது, என்னைப் பொறுத்தவரை. அது கேட்பது, “நான் ஒரு ஒற்றுமையைப் பார்க்கிறேன், ஆனால் நீங்கள் வேற்றுமையை மட்டும் கவனிக்கிறீர்கள். நீங்கள் உங்களையே ஏன் நன்கு அறிந்து கொள்ளக் கூடாது, அறிந்து உங்களுடைய உண்மையான ஸ்வரூபத்தை உணரக்கூடாது? அதன் பின் உங்களால் உங்களுடைய நிஜ சுயத்துடன் ஒற்றுமை என்ற அந்த ஒன்றில் ஒன்றி இருக்க முடியுமே?” என்பதே அது. எவரொருவர் உண்மையான ஆன்மிகத் தேடலில் இருக்கிறாரோ அவருக்கு மஹரிஷியின் அருகாமை போல வேறெதுவும் உதவாது.

அவருடைய பார்வையில் ஒரு ஆன்மிக ரீதியான தொடர்பும் கனிவும் தென்படுகிறது, ஒரு மனிதரிடத்தில் சிறந்தது என்ன என்பதைப் பார்க்கிறது. மெளனமான அந்த மணித்துளிகளில் அவருடைய இருப்பு ஒரு சாதகருடைய ஆன்மிக ஏக்கத்துக்கு ஒரு ஊக்கியாக செயல்படுகிறது. அவர் பக்தர்களைப் பார்க்கும் அக்கனிவு மிகுந்த பார்வை ஒரு தாய் தன் குழந்தைகளைப் பார்ப்பது போலிருக்கிறது.

6 – வில்லியம் எஸ். ஸ்பால்டிங் (ஜூனியர்)

நியூயார்க்கின் வில்லியம் எஸ். ஸ்பால்டிங் (ஜூனியர்) மஹரிஷியை 1930களில் சந்தித்தார்.

மஹரிஷியின் முன் முதன்முறை அமர்ந்திருந்த போது ஒரு மிக சக்தி வாய்ந்த அனுபவம், அதை வார்த்தையால் விவரிக்க வேண்டுமானால் தொட்டு உணரக்கூடிய ஒரு தங்க பேரொளி என்று சொல்லலாம், மிக சக்திவாய்ந்த ஒரு ஆன்மிக சக்தி. அவரிடமிருந்து ஒரு மெல்லிய ஆனால் அடர்த்தியான ஆன்மிக உணர்வு வெளிப்பட்டுக் கொண்டே இருக்கிறது, அதை உணர்ந்த மறுகணமே கேள்விகள், வார்த்தைகள், தியானம் செய்யும் வழிமுறைகள், இவை எல்லாம் உடனடியாக மறைந்து விடுகின்றன. க்றிஸ்தவ சர்ச்சுகளில் ஒரு சில செயிண்ட்களுடன் ஒப்பிடப் படும் தெய்வீகம் பொருந்திய எதையும் சட்டை செய்யாத நிலையையும் மஹரிஷியிடம் காணக்கிடைக்கிறது. இதை வெளிப்படையாக ‘அலட்சியம்’ என்று நினைத்து விடலாகாது, மாறாக அனைத்தும் உணர்ந்த ஒருவரிடமிருந்து அனைத்தையும் ஆற்றும் சக்தியாக வெளிப்படுகிறது.

7 – க்ராண்ட் டஃப் (டக்ளஸ் அன்ஸ்லி)

க்ராண்ட் டஃப் (டக்ளஸ் அன்ஸ்லி), 1930 களில் சென்னை மாகாணத்தின் அரசாங்க உத்தியோகஸ்தரும், பண்டிதரும் ஆவார். இவர் 1880 களில் சென்னை கவர்னராக இருந்த ஸர். மெளண்ட் ஸ்டௌர்ட் க்ராண்ட் டஃப் இன் மருமகனாவார்.

மஹரிஷியை முதன் முதலாய் பார்த்த போது என்ன ஆயிற்று என்று தெரியவில்லை, ஆனால் அவர் என்னை நோக்கிய அந்த கணம் இவர் தான் உண்மையும் ஒளியும் என்பதை நான் உணர்ந்தேன். பல ஆண்டுகளாக தேக்கி வைத்திருந்த சந்தேகங்கள் அனைத்தும் இப்புனிதமானவர் பார்த்ததும் மறைந்து விட்டன. நான் ஆஸ்ரமத்துக்கு வந்த நேரம் குறைவானதாக இருப்பினும் ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் அங்கே இருக்கையில் என்னுள் அழிக்க முடியாத ஏதோ ஒன்று மெல்ல வளர்ந்து கொண்டிருந்தது.

உணர்வுகளைக் கடந்த, பரத்துக்குள் தன்னை முழுவதுமாய் கரைத்துக் கொண்டு விட்ட, பிறரின் நன்மைக்காக சில ஆண்டுகள் இப்பிறவியில் இறங்கி இருக்கும் ஒருவரின் நேரடி தொடர்பில் இருக்கிறேன் நான் என்பதைக் கண்டு கொள்ள வெகு நேரம் பிடிக்கவில்லை எனக்கு. (இக்கருத்து எப்படி இவருக்கு ஏற்பட்டது என்று கேட்கையில் உடனடியாக ஒப்புக்கொண்டார்) – என்னால் பதிலுரைக்க இயலவில்லை, எப்படி ஜன்னல் வழியே சூரியனை எப்படி பார்த்தாய் என்று கேட்பது போல, என் கண்கள் மற்றும் பிற உணர்வுகளின் மூலமாக என்று வேண்டுமானால் சொல்லலாம். எனக்கு சூரியனின் இருப்பு தெரிவதற்க்கு அல்ஜீப்ராவோ மற்ற அறிவியல் ஞானமோ தேவையிருக்காது அல்லவா, அது போல மஹரிஷியின் ஆன்மிக மேதமைக்கு எந்த ஆதாரமும் தேவைப் படவில்லை.

ஆஸ்ரமத்துக்கு வருகை தர முடிபவர்கள் வராமல் நேரங்கடத்திக் கொண்டிருந்தால் அதற்காக தங்களுடைய பின்னாளில், அடுத்த பிறவிகளில் தங்களையே நொந்து கொள்வார்கள். முன்னெப்போதும் இல்லாத வகையாக, மஹா பெரும் உண்மை, சத் – அறிவதற்கரிய பேறு நம் முன்னால் இவ்வளவு எளிதான உருவத்தில் அமர்ந்திருக்கிறது. இதோ நாம் தகுதி அடைந்திருக்கிறோமோ இல்லையோ, உண்மையை நெருங்கலாம்! வந்து போவதற்கான பிரயாணச் செலவை மட்டும் தரவேண்டும், அதற்குக் கிடைப்பது ‘தங்களுடைய சுயத்தைப் பற்றிய ஞானம்’.

(இது லண்டனிலிருந்து 1935 இல் எழுதப்பட்டது. ரமணாஸ்ரமம் பதிப்பித்த ஸ்ரீ ரமண கீதையின் முன்னுரையைப் பார்க்கவும்).

மஹரிஷி பிறரைப் பற்றி அசாத்தியமான உள்ளுணர்வு கொண்டவர். தன்னைச் சந்திக்க வருபவர்கள் பற்றி அனைத்தையும் அறிந்தவர். அவர் என்னைக் கவர்ந்ததன் குறிப்பிடத்தக்க காரணம் அவருடைய எளிமையும், மென்மையும், அமைதியுமே. எப்படிப்பட்ட மென்மை என்றால் மென்மைத்தன்மை என்பதையே கடந்த ஒரு மென்மை. என் வாழ்வின் மிகப் பெரும் நிகழ்வு நான் அருணாச்சலத்தின் முனிவரை அங்கு சந்தித்ததே.

இவருடைய கவிதையிலிருந்து:

அருணாச்சலத்தின் ரமணருடன்:

நான் தொலை தூரம் அலைந்திருக்கிறேன்: ஆம்
ஓரிடம் விட்டு மற்றொரிடமிருந்து மீண்டும் வேறோரிடம்
முனிவர்களைக் கண்டிருக்கிறேன், பெரும் மன்னர்களும் அரசிகளையும்
அன்புமயமான, அறிவார்ந்த, பிரமிப்பானவர்களை
ஆனால் இங்கு மட்டும் – அருணாச்சலத்தின்
ஆஸ்ரமத்தில் மட்டும்
எந்தக் கலப்புமற்ற ஆனந்தத்தை உணர்ந்தேன்
நான்! நான்! நான்!
***

5 – Manu Subedar

Manu Subedar was a member of the Central Legislative Assembly in pre-Independence era.

I was alone in the car from Katpadi to Tiruvannamalai and wanted to go over my questions and revise them, if necessary. As I formulated each question, I found I knew the answer! So when I went and had the darshan of the Maharshi, I had really no question to ask. I presented to the Maharshi the Avadhoota Gita and the Ashtavakra Gita published by the Sastu Sahitya Mudranalaya Trust, Ahemadabad, of which I am the chairman, and drew his attention to the first verse of the Avadhoota Gita, which says: “It is only through the Grace of God that in men with knowledge is born a desire to experience cosmic unity, a desire which protects them from the great dangers of
samsara.”

With infinite compassion in his eyes the Maharshi looked at me and instructed one of the followers to bring a book. This was the Maha Bhakta Vijayam of Nabhaji. Bhagavan opened the book and began to read. (I noted with awe that the book opened exactly at the page where he intended to read.) The Maharshi seemed to relish reading the discourse. There are teachers who mystify in order to impress the pupil. The Maharshi, on the contrary, has the direct method. He discloses the truth and the whole truth in the simplest form in which he has not only formulated
it as a thought, but lived it as an experience. The look, which the Maharshi gives you, is a question. At least I
felt it so. The question is: “I see a unity, but you keep grasping at the variety. Why don’t you know yourself properly and realise your true self? You can then march on to the realisation of the unity of self with the Self.”

Nothing is so helpful as the august presence of the Maharshi for those who seriously intend to progress on the spiritual path. There is spiritual communication and kindliness in his looks, eliciting what is best in a person. His presence during the silent hour acts as a catalyst, enabling us to secure our spiritual yearning. There is grace and benignity in the way he looks at the devotees as a mother looks at her children.

6 William S. Spaulding (Jr.)

William S. Spaulding (Jr.) of New York City visited Sri Ramana in the 1930s.

As I sat in His Presence for the first time, the most powerful impression was that of what I can only call an almost palpable ‘golden radiance’, the visual effect of a tremendous spiritual force. There was an intense and subtle radiation that seems to flow from Him continually – and once having sensed this, words, questions, techniques of meditation, etc., seemed to dissolve immediately. The Maharshi also possessed to a high degree of that quality which is described as ‘divine indifference’, attributed to certain saints of the Christian Church. This must not be taken to mean what is generally associated with the term ‘indifference’, but rather as a beneficent, unfettered out-pouring of
healing radiations of a Realised Being.

7 Grant Duff (Douglas Ainslie)

Grant Duff (Douglas Ainslie), a scholar and a senior government official in Madras Presidency in the 1930s, was nephew of Sir Mountstaurt Grant Duff, Governor of Madras in the 1880s. I do not know what happened when I saw the Maharshi for the first time, but the moment he looked at me, I felt he was the Truth and the Light. There could be no doubt about it, and all the doubts and speculations I had accumulated during the past many years disappeared in
the Radiance of the Holy One. Though my visits to the Ashram were brief, I felt that every moment I was there I was building up within me what could never be destroyed.

There it did not take me long to see that I was in direct contact with one who has passed beyond the boundaries of the senses and was indeed already merged in the Absolute of his true Self, though manifesting here for our benefit for a few brief years. [When asked how he got such an impression, he frankly confessed] I cannot reply; as I should to one who asked me how I saw the sun on looking out of the window, by saying that I did so by the use of my eyes and incidentally of all other senses collaborating. I do not need any algebraic or other proof of the existence of the sun. I do not need any other proof of the divinity of Ramana Maharshi.

Should those who have it in their power to visit the Ashram delay, they will have only themselves to blame in future lives. Never perhaps in world history was the Supreme Truth – Reality, Sat – placed within such easy reach of so vast a multitude. Here and now through no special merit of our own, we may approach Reality. The sole difficulty is
that of paying for the journey1 but the reward is Knowledge of the Self. The Maharshi has extraordinary insight into other beings. He sees and knows everything about all those who come before him. The Maharshi has particularly appealed to me because of his extreme politeness and gentleness. He is gentle to a degree that surpasses gentleness.
My visit to the Sage of Arunachala has been the greatest event in my life.

Extracts from his poem:

With Sri Ramana of Arunachala
I’ve wandered far: Yes I have been
From land to land to land:
Sages I’ve seen, great kings and queens
The lovely, wise and grand.
But only there – at the Asramam
By Arunachalam –
Have I known that joy without alloy,
I am! I am! I am!
***

~ to be continued…!

When anyone from Siddha Marga hears the word ‘Anantha Sayanam’, they become silent with reverence, pray and prostrate Agastya within. The rest will feel very happy and ask a lot of questions. The difference is due to the ‘thinking’.

The landscape that was called as Anantha Sayanam or Anantha Puri is the present day’s Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum. The city is named after the deity Anantha Padmanabhan, hence Thiru Anantha Puram (the term Thiru denotes its holiness, greatness).

Our Gurudeva Agastya has a significant role in this temple formation. When we know how much efforts have gone in to in making this temple, through the grace of God, a respect with an amount of fear creeps in. This post is to illustrate just that.

Let us allow ourselves a few questions first.

1. Why did the Chera kings devoted to Thiruvattar Adhi Keshava Perumal, ruling the Chera kingdom want to build another temple, what’s the reason, necessity?
2. Thiruvithankur Maharaja who ruled Chera kingdom with Padmanabhapura as the capital, suddenly decides to shift the capital to Thiruvananthapuram, constructs the temple, builds his palace, brings in the people and gives them all the facilities. Why? Who made him decide so?
3. Before all these, why did Lord Narayana choose this place Anantha Kadu (kaadu – forest) and sat there?
4. Unlike other Vishnu temples, one can have the darshan of the lord only through the Moondru Vasal (three gates, literally). Why?
5. Unlike other temples, why was the Moolavar vigraha made with 10008 Saligrama’s?

When we know the answers to these questions, we may think ‘only’ about the Lord when entering this temple. We won’t think of searching for the gate where the ‘wealth’ is. As said earlier, there will be a fear and respect when entering.

The decision of Lord Narayana to be in Anantha Forest was made in Mount Kailash! Yes, when everyone gathered for Shiva-Parvathi’s wedding, it is Lord Shiva Himself who expressed this to Lord Narayana, as per Shiva Purana.

That expression is what we see as the temple today. As our Gurudeva Agastya played a vital role in this temple formation, the curiosity to know was natural. The details were very interesting and wonderful, so this post is born.

The great Guru Agastya blessed with His grace too.

~ stay blessed!

Featured image courtesy: Round The Places

Ananta Sayana kept lingering in the mind, didn’t know where to begin. To think of ask the temple authorities, they were already in trouble as the information about the secret doors and the wealth had spread out and therefore there was a lot of restrictions.

I decided to ask the Maha Guru Himself. I prayed earnestly to him on my visit to Bala Ramapuram Agastya Temple that Thursday. I prayed:
“O Gurudeva! Please guide me and show me till the point where you are related to the Padmanabha Swamy temple. I am not at all interested in knowing anything about the things there, which draws the common man to it now. Why did the Lord dwell here while being at Thiruvattaru? Please enlighten.” – and began doing Pradakshina. When I finished 6 and doing the 7th, I heard this clearly in my right ear:

“Come to Pancheshti where we did the yagna, I shall clarify!”

I am hearing the place’s name for the first time. I did not know where Panchesti is. Perhaps it is in the Northern India, then it will be a bit troublesome to go there, I thought. I still wanted to check with the temple priest and inquired.

He didn’t know either, he asked me why I am inquiring about Panchesti. I explained to him that I placed a prayer to Guru Agastya and He wanted me to come to Panchesti, hence I asked if you know.

It appeared I have to find out myself and eventually forgot about it. A week passed by where I visited a relatives’ house. While at conversation, I generally asked if he knows about Panchesti. He said the place is in Tamil Nadu itself, some 25 kilometres from Chennai and that he has visited it as well. He mentioned a few more details about the temple too and said ‘This is the place where Guru Agastya did 5 yagnas’. The keyword ‘yagna’ got my attention, since that’s what the Maha Guru mentioned too.

I requested him to take me to the temple. Second week from that day I went to Chennai and stood in front of the Panchesti temple with that relative. I got goose-bumps while standing in front of the temple. My heart felt very pleased.

“This has reached here O Gurudeva, just as you instructed. Your grace is requested.” – I prayed.

It was evening and so the evening pooja’s bell began to ring, making the whole place surreal. I went inside, had darshan, got the prasad and began Pradakshina.

While standing in front of Agastya Muni’s shrine, I felt He will surely guide me and answer my questions. I sat down meditating in the same place for a long time.

“Before going to Anantasayana, this is where We did the 5 yagna’s. A very holy place this is. This is where Lord Shiva changed his wish to an order. We took His command. This is not the time to share all the deva-rahasya. The sun has set. Search! Look with sincerity, honesty and yearning. At the right time, We shall let you know what you need to!” – these vakya came out.

There was silence everywhere, no other replies. I prostrated to Maha Guru and proceeded towards the Gopura. The priest accompanied us.

“Every month during Sadhaya Nakshatra, there is special abisheka, pooja done here. There are a lot of Agastya devotees who come here and do this pooja. They do these pooja after the order from Agastya in Nadi Reading they say. Guru Agastya has performed 5 yagna here a very long time ago. Only then He went to the Malayala country they say. The devotees say that any prayer kept during this pooja bears its fruits.” – said the priest.

While listening to all these, I thought, “O Gurunath, can’t I get a small hint please?”

The priest who came till the entrance, stood in the steps of the Gopura and was talking. As I looked in to his face, my sight witnessed the wall of the Gopuram.

There,

Padmanabha Swamy’s Ananta Sayana pose, where there was a Siddha seated beneath His right arm. Generally there is a Shiva Linga under the right arm but there’s a Siddha here!

I felt very happy, asked the priest to move a bit and showed him the sculpture and said, “I got what I came here for. Maha Guru’s grace is very very big!”

I took a picture of the sculpture and bid farewell. From that day on, the Maha Guru began to give me answers and clarifications for my questions through different people and circumstances.

Within this, the restrictions in the Padmanabha Swamy temple increased manifold. As per the High Court order, armed Black Cat squad came for protection. No one could spend more time in the temple.

During the ten days Urchava in the temple, during the 10th day while Araatu (Theerthavari), the elephant from a different temple became mad and the surrounding appeared sort of dangerous. The Navarathna ring worn by the Maharaja was lost as well in a few days.

As the things weren’t right, the Maharaja was concerned if something went wrong in the temple pooja and requested a well respected Prashna expert to come for.

The Prashna expert sat down in meditation and obtained Padmanabha Swamy’s approval. Though he got it, he had to wait till the next day.

“There will be a boy from the Telugu Desam who will come tomorrow to have our darshan with his father. Do the Prashna with him. Test the answer that comes out and then inform!” – Padmanabha Swamy gave him such instructions.

The Prashna expert and his 22 disciples began to wait for this event.

Let us wait for a week or so too!

~ stay blessed!

The images are taken from the same post in Sitthan Arul blog with gratitude.

After finishing their nithya anushtana pooja to Lord Padmanabha,  

The Maharaja, the one who reads Prasnam, the temple priest, the temple staff, locals were all gathered looking eagerly in the eastern entrance.  

Those who come from outside the city usually enter the temple via the eastern side. Right at 8.30, a mid-aged man with a boy entered the temple! 

The Maharaja nodded towards a senior staff of the temple. He went on at once before the mid-aged man and inquired: “O Sir, where are you coming from?” 

“We are coming from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh to have the darshan of Lord Padmanabha” – replied the father.  

The senior staff looked at the Maharaja and nodded his head. The Maharaja signaled them to be brought in.  The Maharaja looked at both closely and asked again, ‘Where are you coming from?’ 

The father replied the same.  

The Maharaja now looked at the person who reads the prasnam who folded his hands and said, “everything is as per Padmanabha’s wish!”  

The Maharaja looked at the father and said, “The Lord has ordered to seek your son’s help in reading a Prasnam. Is this ok for you?” 

Though it is an order from the Lord Almighty and who asks for a favour is the Maharaja himself, the rules of Prasna is to seek the permission and approval of whose favour is requested for, only when the Master does this the Prasna will show accurate results.  

The father was surprised at all these and he gave his approval on behalf of his son.  

“Your son needs to take bath, wear fresh clothes, please come.” – the senior staff took them to a private room with the approval of The Maharaja. They all waited for half an hour.  

The prasnar asked The Maharaja’s approval once again when the boy came back ready. Once he approved, the procedure of Mantra Uchchadana (chanting of mantra) happened.  

Vigneshwara, the guardian gods of the temple, Ashta Digh-Balaka (those who guard the 8 directions), Prasna devata, the Lord, were performed the pooja and sought approval. Then the Prasnar called for the boy.  

He gave 4 cowries (chozhi) to the boy and said, “Pray within yourself and place these cowries in any of the 12 squares drawn as you wish.” 

The boy received the cowries and looked carefully at those squares (horoscope like squares) and stood opposite to the Prasnar.  

He closed his eyes, prayed and placed at the square near to his left leg. One of the 4 cowries slipped and ran away. He caught hold of it and placed it among the other three.  

The Prasnar was carefully watching all this and looked at the Maharaja with a worried face.  

The Maharaja nodded as if, “its ok, proceed.”  

The 22 disciples of the Prasnar looked at the squares calmly and started writing down something really fast in a paper.  

The first square where he placed the cowries was the Lagna of Prasna horoscope rules. It is the Jeeva.  

It is like the entrance of knowing what happened, to know what the situation is.  

There was silence till the disciples wrote down. The Maharaja and the Prasnar appeared a bit worn off.  

The reason is, the place the boy chose the lagna as per the Prasna rule, is ‘Vrischika Rasi’. They term this as per astrology as ‘War Rasi’. It is not a good omen to have this Rasi as the Atma of The Prasna Purusha who is about to be formed.  

The Prasnar called the boy closer and gave another 4 cowries and signalled him silently.  

The boy started circling the squares! 

~ stay blessed!

Images courtesy: Pinterest & Siththan Arul blog.

The boy stood opposite to the Prasnar, prayed and looked in to the field. He chose a square in the left and was about to keep the cowries with his right hand and he changed the cowries to his left hand at the very last minute and kept it in the same square with his left hand. The Prasnar made a note of this.  

The place he kept was the 4th bhava, Kumbha Rasi (sukha sthana) of the lagna. Next, 6th bhava (Mesha Rasi), 8th bhava (Mithuna Rasi), 9th bhava (Kataka Rasi) and the Prasna kept growing.  

Nothing was satisfying to the minds. It appeared the Prasnar was losing patience too. He prayed aloud saying “Padmanabha, Amara Prabho” while giving the cowries to the boy.  

As the last step, he gave 4 cowries to the boy and he kept it in the Dhanur Rasi, the 12th place of Vrishchika Rasi.  

Everyone was quiet while the Prasnar’s disciples took notes. He waited till they all completed their notes and he looked at the Maharaja who nodded his head as approval. Right after the field, all the devata were shown karpooram and nivedhanam indicating the Prasnam was done, without telling out the Prasna Vidhi.  

The Prasnar said he will review the notes of his 22 disciples and let everyone know of the results tomorrow. Everyone took to their abodes. The next day, after the Maharaja gave his approval, the Prasana results were read. Only the important part of the results are given below.  

“With the grace of God, with His approval, the Maharaja prayed for the Prasna Vidhi. Are there any shortcomings in the methods of Pooja done at the temple? If so, what pooja can be done to rectify this, was the prominent question. There has been no mistakes in the rules of pooja and therefore there is no need of any change of rules, is the result of this Prasna.  

However, 

The mistakes done by humans are the source of problems, is what is shown through the appearance of these Lagnas. All the wealth here belongs to this deity but the moment the human-odour touched it, as it was messed up, all were against the will of God. All the wealth sat here through the wish of the Three Eyed Lord, even that too for a public benefit, knowing which will do what, they were kept here.  

The incidents after the wealth were touched is a clear indication of the Lord’s. It is beneficial for the humans to correct themselves through these indications. *** IF THEY KEEP GETTING CLOSER TO THE WEALTH, THOSE WHO ARE RELATED TO THIS, THEIR FAMILIES WILL SEE DESTRUCTION, without knowing how the poison got in to!*** 

The Adi Sesha, Hanuman and Sri Narasimha are very angry at what happened. It is advisable for the humans to step aside and be quiet.” – read the Prasnar.  

Below are some points mentioned by various Siddhas in different Nadis.  

“They witnessed the wealth of the Anantha Padmanabha who lies in the Iluppai bed, in yoga nidhra. The Rishis were upset and the Siddhas are angry.”  

“The guardians Lion Headed (Narasimha), Pashupathi Nath (Nepal), The snake dwells in the forest (Nagaraja), Mangala Peychi Mulai Undan, Kodanatha Puramayya Keshava are all upset.” 

“As the wealth were touched, the Narasinga, Ananthan Kadu Nagaraja Swamy, the Krishna in Vishwamangalam, Anantha Pura Perumal dwelling in Kasarkodu, Adi Keshava Perumal in Thiruvattaru, Pashupathinath in Nepal, are all very upset.” 

Though it was clear from the Prasna that something very wrong has happened. There was something which kept coming back in my mind.  

What was that?  

“All the wealth sat here through the wish of the Three Eyed Lord, even that too for a public benefit, knowing which will do what, they were kept here.” – what does it mean?!  

I began to think – “should I pray to the Three Eyed Lord Himself?!”  

~ stay blessed!  

Featured image courtesy: Flickr

The moment I thought of praying to Lord Shiva, I was reminded of something about the Padmanabha Swamy temple. Nowhere it is seen as how it is in this temple.

In every place where there is a Vishnu temple, there will be a Shiva temple for He is the Kshetra Palaka of Perumal temple. The entire rights, whatever happens within the temple, to protect, are some of the duties of Kshetra Palaka. This is a rule by God.

All four corners of Padmanabha Swamy temple resides Shiva. Not many pay attention to this.

I began to think about where to go and where to start. One day I went to the Shiva temple on the Southern side. Out of the four, the Southern one was the nearest and so I frequent here. I get answers to my questions too, in unexpected but surprising ways.

The temple priest and the management staff were inside. The Deepa Aradhana for the evening was over and so there wasn’t anyone. I went in, stood before the Lord and placed my request.

While getting the Prasada and returning, I thought I may sit inside the temple and go. I did a Pradakshina, sat down in the left side of the Lord. I closed my eyes on seeing the clear Shiva Linga and began to chant Om Namah Shivaya. I do not know how long I was meditating but I felt someone going inside the sanctum crossing me and going out.

I got up, prayed to the Lord and came out. As I began walking, I heard, “Thiruchitrambalam”. There was an old man. I placed my hand in my chest, bowed down and said ‘Shiva Chidambaram’ (this is a practice like saying Ram Ram in northern India).

“If I go this way, will I be able to get Padmanabha’s darshan?” – he asked pointing to the South entrance.

Yes, I said.

He was wearing a white veshti and angawastram. A long white beard. I thought he may be a Vasi yogi.

“Did you get the answer?” – he asked!

“No”

“Why roam here and there? Read the Shiva Purana, especially the part before the Shiva Parvathi wedding. You will get the answer, and also know what is Shiva Chintanai” – he turned and walked fast towards the temple.

I thanked him by nodding my head and kept looking at the direction he went. I could not even think who he was. I was only reminded of Guru Agastya’s words, “If God wants to give you answers, somehow He will.”

In the coming week, research began with my friend’s help on Shiva Purana, Periya Purana, Siva Manjari, and Rudra Prasnam. I understood many a thing. As a short summary as much as this self understood:

“It was Shiva who declared Bharatha Kanda as ‘Karma Bhoomi’. He sat in Kailasha in the North-East (Ishana). He wanted someone equal to Him to be seated in the Kanni Moolai (South West). The Karma Bhoomi grows only through Karma, and slowly. The evil forces that tries to destroy it will enter only through North East and South Western directions. So Lord Narayana sat in the South-Western direction.

Guru Agastya was sent from Kailasha to the South with a number of tasks. To build a temple for Narayana in Ananthan Kadu, to make Thamirabarani river, in all the places where the Lord showed His wedding, He made temples there and sat there, to remove the obstacle of Vindhya Mountain, many come in these tasks. He came to Panchesti and did five different types of yagna and reached Podhigai.

It was Guru Maha Agastya who did Aradhana to the Thiruvattaru Adhi Keshava Perumal, explained God’s will to the king who ruled Padmanabha pura, and made a temple in Anandha Kaadu. The puranas say that it was the start of Kali Yuga when Lord Narayana sat on Ananthan Kadu.

When carrying out the deeds of the Lord, He made golden Sri Chakra and Sudarshana Chakra, and shared His power of penance on to these, placed it underneath Padmanabha, and made His Samadhi. It is His power of penance and the Lord’s will which is protecting the Bharatha Kanda.

~ stay blessed!

Featured image courtesy: Wordzz

They say that at the beginning of Kali Yuga, the Navagraha had greater control and when it crossed the limit, the Almighty made the Siddhar Idaikadar place them in specific directions where they don’t face each other. This also let the decision of them being worshipped in the temples, approved by the Lord.

While saying ‘Do not live in a place where there is no temple’ as the guidelines to humans, it is meant to live a happy life and not come under the spell of these grahas.

If a Saligrama is at home, there should be daily pooja done to it (Nithya Pooja). It comes from the Kandagi river and is considered the swaroopa of Narayana, contains the various forms of Narayana. If nithya pooja is not done to it, it will affect the family of the house.

Agastya collected 12000 of such Saligrama and made the idol of Padmanabha Swamy with 10008 Saligrama. He then made Mahalakshmi Mata, Brahma and Adi Sesha with the remaining Saligrama, took 9000 herbs and made a herbal paste called in Tamil as ‘Kattu Chakra Yogam’, and applied this paste on Padmanabha’s idol. Therefore there is no abisheka performed to Padmanabha. They remove the flowers adorned to the Lord with peacock feathers.

All the Saligrama being in one place gave a powerful effect, gave a protective layer to Bharat. No one could go near Padmanabha. As per the wish of Diwakara Muni to have darshan and do pooja, the Lord reduced His size to the present state. Even after this the Tejas of the Lord was so much that no one could go near. Then again as per Diwakara Muni’s prayers, the Lord asked all the 4 Vedas to become the walls, made three entrances and asked to be worshipped through these three gates only. The Head and Hand can be viewed through one gate, the stomach through one, and His holy feet through the third gate. Even the munivars did not get to have darshan of Lord Padmanabha in His full form.

We know that Maha Guru Agastya is like the right hand of Lord Padmanabha. If the Lord had given Him the honour of making his idol, to make this Shrine and to make His Siddha Samadhi, Lord Hanuman gave another honour.

When approaching the Eastern entrance to have darshan of Lord Padmanabha, one can see an Anjaneya’s Shrine near the Kodi Maram. Butter will be smeared all over Him. Everyone can have darshan but none can see the feet because they are in Agastya’s shoulders!

When Hanuman came to know about Lord Padmanabha’s avatar being worshipped and exclaimed by the Deva, Muni, Gods, and Siddhas, He came out of His penance and came here. As there were so many of them to have the darshan, Hanuman could not see the Lord’s feet even. Lord Padmanabha knew this and He nodded to Agastya Guru who welcomed Hanuman.

“Welcome O Rama Dootha! We all are very pleased having the darshan of Lord Padmanabha. Have darshan yourself too!”

“O Agastya, thank you. I am but doubtful if I will get His darshan, on seeing this crowd. I will be very happy if I get to have darshan of His Holy Feet. But I cannot see anything.” – said Anjaneya.

“Ah ok! Please stand on my shoulders and have darshan of the Lord.” and He stood before Hanuman. He had a delightful darshan of the Lord by standing on Agastya’s shoulders. It is depicted in this idol that Hanuman’s feet are in Agastya’s shoulders where we cannot only see His feet but not also Agastya!

~ stay blessed!

“There is a countless treasure, even surpassing that of Kubera in Ambalam”

as said in Agastya’s Nadi, Chidambaram, Seergazhi, Thanjavur Periya Kovil, Kutralam, Thiruvannamalai, Thiruvarangam, Thiruvanaikka, Rameshwaram, Thiruvaroor, Pazhani, Thiruchendur, Azhagar Kovil, Madurai temples contain treasures which are immeasurable. Somnath temple was invaded 18 times only to take away the wealth.

They won’t allow anyone other than the Maharaja to prostrate (sashtanga namaskara) in the single-legged mandapam in front of Lord Padmanabha Swamy. All the property of those who do that goes to the Lord. Therefore the rights to prostrate have been given only to the King. If someone drops something by mistake in that mandapam, the temple staff will hand it over to the temple authorities which will then get added to the temple hundi.

There are two Urchavams (a religious temple celebration) per year during Aipasi and Panguni Tamil months. There will be a procession by Krishna, Padmanabha, Narasimha moorthis in the evening and night, in different vehicles. The eighth day is called Kanikkai. The King and his family will provide their offering in a golden pot first. Then the rest can offer. The ninth day’s occasion is called Vettai (hunting). Then on the tenth day, Padmanabha, Krishna, and Narasimha are kept in the palanquin, taken to the seaside for Theerthavari (a holy bath) and done abisheka and pooja, which is called Aaratu. They take the moorthi’s along the airport runway route. No part of the world allows a religious procession to be carried out in the runway other than Anantha Sayana. The airport gets closed later in the afternoon with no flights allowed to take off or land.

When a prayer is kept during the Aaratu of these three moorthis, it will get fulfilled sooner. Those who have experienced it won’t miss this darshan.

Here’s a video of the Vettai, the ninth day’s occasion.

Here’s a video where the three moorthis go for Aaratu via the airport runway.

Once it is known that the worlds richest is Lord Padmanabha Swamy, the Government has enforced a number of restrictions around the temple and the town. Armed forces guard the temple where no one is allowed to stay beyond a time.

Important:
Those who go to have darshan of Lord Padmanabha better go with only Him in their mind, to only desire to have His darshan. The thought about where the treasure is, where the door begins etc will only give Dosha, says Maha Guru Agastya. The “things” that are there belong to someone else. Just remain with the thought that it is taken care of by Agastya Himself.

The sole purpose of this series is to emphasize the importance of having Agastya (in His Athma Swaroopa Samadhi) or the Lord in their mind, thought and attention.

The series of Agastya’s Anantha Sayana ends here.

Offered in the Holy Feet of Om Sri Lopamudra sametha Sri Agathiyar.