The priest took me to the Thiruanaika temple. He advised me on what to purchase. He used his contacts at the temple to open doors that were closed. Lord Vinayagar’s chambers were closed after 12 noon, as was usual in most parts of India. He had it opened for me. He caught hold of an elderly priest to perform the prayers. “You are the one to do the prayer,” he said to the Brahmin man who was squatted at a corner. I had the privilege to enter the main sanctum and be shown the lingam which was partially submerged in water. After the prayers, I fell at the feet of the elderly priest. As I picked myself up, I realized all those who followed me, the priests from Utamar temple, the temple caretaker and Devendran, had also fell at the priest’s feet following my gesture. The priests from Utamar temple insisted this elderly priest should conduct the prayers at the Dhakshana Murthi sanctum too. This priest then led us there. After the priests left, I broke down at Lord’s sanctum. I cried aloud here, to the amazement of my newfound friends, I suppose for the caretaker of the temple tried to console me. The priest from Utamar temple said, “Let him be, let him cry.” After a while, I picked myself up and we adjourned to feed the poor, a cow, and an elephant on the advice of this priest. I was literally pushed or shoved from one shrine to another, by this group performing each prayer to the utmost satisfaction. The priest whom we picked up at Utamar temple insisted that I dropped him off at a location that he chose. He did not want me to send him back to the Utamar temple saying he had errands to run. After dropping him off and giving him a token of appreciation for his assistance, we drove off. I looked back and realized that we had dropped him off at a Hanuman temple! 12
At 2.55 pm we drove to Turaiyur to meet Rendaraja Desigar hoping to be back in time for the prayers at Utamar temple.
12 I handed him the first of three offerings I had to give away at Utamar temple. I did not see him again at Utamar temple that evening when I was there performing the parikaaram!
Why did he get down at the Hanuman temple? Who did come in the guise of the Brahmin priest and showed me around? Was it Lord Hanuman who accompanied me at Thiruanaika and with that much speed and velocity practically shoving me from one shrine to another? Who else but the son of Vayu could perform such a feat?
Samayapuram – Turaiyur
The food at Mani Aiyar in Samayapuram was excellent. We stopped at Samayapuram Mariamman temple at 3.15 pm. Devendran accompanied me. As the sanctum was under renovation, the idol of the Goddess was replaced with a painting.
Meeting Rengaraja Desigar of Ongkara Kudil
We left for Turaiyur at 3.40 pm hoping to get a darshan and blessings of Swami Rengaraja Desigar, founder, and patron of the Agathiyar Sanmarga Sangam, at Ongkara Kudil, Turaiyur. I specifically wanted to come here. We reached his ashram at 5 pm. Nadarajah happily welcomed me. He was the one managing this establishment. On hearing that I was from Malaysia, he was overjoyed. He had very high respects for Malaysians. He said, “All these is possible because of you Malaysians,” pointing to all the structures and facilities put up with donations from Malaysians. I enquired if I could see the Swami. I was told he would be coming in a short while for the evening prayers at 6.30 pm and that I could see him then. While I waited, I was served tea. After a while Nadarajah, tells me Swami was coming down to meet a couple of businesspersons. I was given the opportunity to meet the Swami after them. However, before that he took me around to view all the facilities that they had at the ashram. As he ended the tour of the office, kitchen, and stores and other related buildings, he gasped aloud to find that the two visitors had left. He hurried me along to a building, praying that Swami should still be around to see me. And to our joy, there was Swami seated alone on the floor in one corner of that small room. There was an aid standing at the doorway to another room. I entered the room and prostrated in front of Swami. Devendran followed too. Nadarajah introduced me to Swami. Swami talked cheerfully about Kuala Lumpur and enquired from Devendran about my arrangement to tour India. I never expected to have an audience with Swami one to one. I asked that he bless me. He did not reply. Fearing he might not have heard me, again. There was no reply. I asked him thrice. Finally, he replied that coming to Ongkara Kudil in itself was a blessing. I did not know how to receive his answer then 13.
13 When Swami Rengaraja Desigar did not bless me as did the other gurus I felt sad and was confused. This incident had been troubling me. I began to question myself if I was not good enough to receive his blessings. I had high regards for the swami as his nadi, which was published by his followers for the public, carried praises for the swami from the sidhas. He was said to be the avatar of Saint Ramalingam. I had mentioned to Ramesh that I had yet to receive an answer as to why I did not receive the swami’s blessing.
Later Murali who listens to the radio on his way to the office everyday mentions about Saint Avaiyar’s Kural that came on the air. It seems Saint Avaiyar had cautioned those who were doing meditation to refrain from cursing others, and to my surprise, to refrain from blessing others. It seems the strength of spiritual practice (tava valimai) would reduce by doing both. Finally, it dawned on me as to why Swami Rengaraja Desigar refrained from blessing me that day at Turaiyur. He was already nearing the end of his tavam. He was in his 27th year, with another three years to go.
Some time later I realized the meaning of Swami’s answer when I read a book by Andrew Harvey where he (Andrew Harvey) asks Mother Meera (His Guru) “Can I receive your light?” and she replies “You are receiving it. One day you will see it.”
Nadarajah invited me to stay overnight but I had to turn down his requests because of prior arrangements to do parikaaram back at the Utamar temple.
Upon returning to Malaysia, I narrated my visit to Ongkara Kudil and having the audience with Swami to the devotees at Agathiyar Sanmarga Sangam in Dengkil and they were surprised that I was allowed to see Swami that easily and in private too. I was told the organization had laid certain rules to restrict the inflow of devotees coming to see Swami, which was taking much of Swami’s time and hindering his meditation. In addition, those devotees were required to bring along fruits and flowers that were customary when visiting Swamis and cash of Rs1, 000. I understood later upon reading the nadi revelations of the Swami published by this organization, that it was the sidhas directive to lay down these instructions to aspiring devotees who wanted to have a darshan of the Swami. It did not occur to me to bring these offerings nor did Nadarajah enlighten me on the procedures. I suppose I was destined to meet the Swami.
Brahmaharti and Sangkalpa
I started back to Utamar temple at 5.45 pm to perform the next parikaaram – prayers to Brahma, Vishnu and Siva and donations to Brahmin priests. Devendran accompanied me. Sivabalan told me since I had done harm to Brahmins in my last birth I should ask to do Brahmaharti at Lord Vishnu’s shrine. I asked to do Brahmaharti at Lord Vishnu’s chamber as advised by Sivabalan. The priests chanted some mantra and splashed some water on my face.
Thinking I needed to do Brahmaharti at Siva’s chamber too, I mentioned to the other priest, at this chamber only to be told that he had done the Sangkalpa pooja that removes all my previous, present and the future karmas. I understood that I am a clean slate now. I have to ensure extreme precautions in whatever I do, say and think and to be very aware so as not to create fresh and new karmas.