Spirituality.

In the past issues, we discussed what spirituality is. In this issue, we will discuss
about the writings of some “ Siddhars”. Siddhars are of special quality of saints or
monks. They are capable of doing the hardest task as the simplest one. There are eight
siddhis and as they are the masters of all those eight siddhis, they are called as
Siddhars. The eight siddhis are,

1. Anima (shrinking) -- Power of becoming the size of an atom and entering the smallest
beings.
2. Mahima (illimitability) -- Power of becoming mighty and co-extensive with the
universe. The power of increasing one's size without limit.
3. Lagima (lightness) -- Capacity to be quite light though big in size.
4. Garima (weight) -- Capacity to weigh heavy, though seemingly small size.
5. Prapthi (fulfillment of desires) -- Capacity to enter all the worlds from Brahma Loga
to the neither world. It is the power of attaining everything desired.
6. Prakamyam (irresistible will) -- Power of disembodying and entering into other
bodies (metempsychosis) and going to heaven and enjoying what everyone aspires
for, simply from where he stays.
7. Isithavam (supremacy) -- Have the creative power of God and control over the Sun,
the moon and the elements and
8. Vasithavam (dominion over the elements) -- Power of control over King and Gods.
The power of changing the course of nature and assuming any form.

With these super human powers, they have narrated many things, which are the best to
lead a very good comfortable style of living. Even though many siddhars lived long back
and passed away, only a few are very famous. Today we have only one Siddhar living
with us. He is Sri Sri Selvam Siddhar Swamiji of Agasthiyar Siddhar peetam of India.

Pambaatti Siddhar: In this week, we can analyze a few verses of Pambaatti Siddhar
and how it helps us to have a spiritual way of life. As a poet, he is not contemptible
(deserving to be treated with contempt). He has a facility of expression and an
imaginative flavor in thought. He holds that those who have no feeling of love in their
hearts can ever attain salvation. His God vision is pictured in a fine stanza. This poet uses
entirely the common speech of the people and has produced powerful effect. He has
referred the five basic elements as a five-headed cobra and he refers the human mind as
cobra. He calls the mind and gives order to the mind. He orders the mind to leave three
evil most things. They are “AAnavam, Kanvam and Maya”. The first two can be easily
eradicated by doing the meditations and prayers and to eradicate the third we need the
help of a Guru and the almighty. Aanavam means being proud, Kanvam means a little bit
of jealousy and Maya is the black screen we keep between the super human power and
us. If we have a good control over the mind, we can easily lead a very good and
comfortable divine spiritual life. Even though it is very hard to control the human mind,
he narrates a few exercises to the mind to have a good control.
The first exercise he explains is the Kundalini yoga, which is very helpful to control the
human mind. Kundalini is a Sanskrit word meaning either "coiled up" or "coiling like a
snake." There are a number of other translations of the term usually emphasizing a more
serpent nature to the word - e.g. 'serpent power'. Kundalini Yoga is a meditative discipline
- or a system of meditative techniques and movements - within the yogic tradition that
focuses on psycho-spiritual growth and the body's potential for maturation. The practice
of Kundalini Yoga consists of a number of bodily postures, expressive movements and
utterances, characterological cultivations, breathing patterns, and degrees of
concentration. By properly practicing the Kundalini yoga, one can easily control the
mind. By controlling the mind, one can easily erase the evil thoughts in the mind and
regulate the mind.

Siva Vaakkiyar Siddhar: He used to curse the people, those who are quarrelling
with each other based on religions. His idea is that the human race is only one and there
is only one deity common to the human race. If each one of us starts adopting his theory
there will be no quarrelling at all. He teaches us a lot about spirituality. According to him,
the base of spirituality is the mind and the humanity. By adopting the humanitarian rules,
one can have the most advanced spiritual life style and by that spiritual life style of the
individual, the entire human race will lead a great peaceful life.

“One can live according to their thoughts” - Sri Sri Selvam Siddhar Swamiji

By practicing the yoga techniques, we can think to the highest spiritual level and can
have a higher style of spiritual life. I wish to quote one of the verses and explain how it
helps one to reach the peaks of spirituality. It is a known fact that our human body is a
combination of flesh and bone. Even though the physical body is not made of good
materials such as gold, we show a great love and affection towards the physical body. The
blood, flesh and bone are not so good materials. Normally these are the food of the wild
animals. If the life in the body goes out and turns to a shape of dead body automatically a
bad smell and odor starts from the body. Therefore, we should stop worrying about this
physical body. We have to take care only to maintain this body in a good level. Then only
we can have a sound mind.

Our lifetime is not a standard one: Our lifetime is just like bubble in the water.
Even though the lifetime is very limited, we do not take care to make the life useful to the
development of the human race. We use our livelihood and brain only to fight with each
other. We should pray more and more to the almighty and only by the prayer, we can
cultivate our mind to the best humanity. Only by having the best humanity and
humanitarian thoughts, we can have the best base to a spiritual life.

Do not show a great attraction towards the opposite sex: If we have feelings
that are more sexual, we cannot control our mind and body. The mind and body will
become weaker and weaker if we have the sexual feelings. The Siddhar advices us to
have the sexual attraction only towards our life partners and not with others.
By reading the works of Siddhars and great scholars, one cannot become a good citizen
leading the best spiritual life style. We should start practicing the read things. Only by
adopting and following, the life style mentioned by those scholars, we can lead a great
life. We can set a good example for the best human being. The love and affection is the
base of spirituality. As explained in the last issue the three steps we have to follow are
Sariyai, Kiriyai and Yogam. The rules to be adopted and followed are the quotations from
the great people. If we follow the steps from the base, we can be at the top very easily
and we can bring the entire human race to the top most position very easily. I whole-
heartedly thank Sri Sri Selvam Siddhar Swamiji for this opportunity to meet you all
through this media. We will meet next month.

Om Shanthi Om Shanthi Om Shanthi.