A Thumbprint Nadi Reading
In the days that followed, I was carried off by the winds of change, or what felt like the hand of something greater. We had left Coimbatore for Chennai, India. The timing appeared to be mysteriously perfect. I received a tap in the form of a message from one of Agathiyar’s trusted and loyal devotees, who was also a friend of mine. He suggested that while I was still in India, I should have a thumbprint Nadi reading done. I experienced some trepidation around it and convinced myself that it may not materialize as I did not have an appointment with a reader and knew it would be difficult to arrange one at short notice. We were scheduled for a very brief stay in Chennai before flying back home. My friend however, was committed to make it happen. He was not dissuaded. On the contrary, he appeared to be on a mission. Within a few hours he had unbelievably secured an appointment with a Nadi reader and had made all the arrangements. I was amazed and words failed me. I was very familiar with the Jeeva Nadi readings but not the traditional thumbprint one which incited much apprehension and trepidation. I consulted with my mentor, Shan Aiya for his thoughts around the idea. He encouraged and supported me to “go for it”. And so, I did…and a new mission went into action.
The Traditional Nadi Reading
For those who are unfamiliar with Nadi Astrology, a brief overview is provided below. It also adds a bit of context to my experience which follows on:
The Nadi Astrology refers to the divine technology that dates back thousands of years when siddhas had written about one’s life (past, present, future) on palm leaves. The leaves contain details, insight and guidance relative to one’s current life. Written in ancient Tamil, the leaves can only be read and interpreted for individuals, by a few who meet specific criteria to read them. The leaves were scribed by different siddhas, each with it’s own emphasis and approach to predictions. Additionally, there are different types of Nadi readings, two of which will be expounded herein. The traditional Nadi Astrology uses the person’s thumbprint to locate their leaf, from bundles of leaves, which are stored at specific temples. One’s thumbprint is used to match it to pre-written records captured on the palm leaves thousands of years ago. The Nadi astrologer captures the right thumbprint for men and the left thumbprint for women, thereafter classifying it into a specific category. The Nadi classification system comprises 108 distinct thumbprint types which correspond to specific categories and are classified further into bundles. The Nadi astrologer uses the thumbprint category to identify and retrieve the specific bundle that may contain the individual’s leaf. Once the correct bundle is identified a more detailed matching process for the leaf begins. The astrologer will read sections of each leaf that require yes or no response confirmations from the seeker. This process continues until the astrologer accurately identifies a perfect match of the leaf to the individual’s personal information such as name, date of birth, parent information and specific details around other aspects of the person life. A perfect match between the leaf and the seekers personal details is vital to the accuracy of the reading. The leaves were scribed by sages and siddhas thousands of years ago with the knowledge that sometime in the future the individual will go seeking it. It is believed that a leaf would have been written for every living being however there are some who hold that leaves were written for destined souls only. There is no confirmation of this assertion nonetheless there have been reports from seekers who have gone in search thereof and did not succeed in finding it. There could be numerous reasons for such an outcome, which will not be delved into herein.
Thumbprint Nadi Readings
Sri Arulnandhi Magarishi Nadi Jothida Cente, 2025, (http://www.agasthiyarjeevanadi.com/nadi-
procedure.html)
The Jeeva Nadi Reading
The other type of Nadi reading, namely the Jeeva Nadi reading is a more unique form of reading which does not require matching of thumbprint impressions to palm leaves. The reader acts as a medium and receives direct, live or real time communications from the siddha, regarding the seeker before him. These readings are not pre-written, they are live interactions with the sage and occur in real time. The predictions or details pertaining to one’s life is communicated to the astrologer in written format, on the palm leaves in this possession. Essentially messages appear on the palm leaves as the reader reads. This is a more interactive, dynamic, personalized type of reading.
Swamiji Thavayogi Thangarasan Adigal with his Jeeva Nadi Leaves
At the sacred feet of Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal, 2017, Siddha Heartbeat
http://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com/2017/05/at-sacred-feet-of-tavayogi-thangarasan.html
The Hand of Something Greater
Moving on…
We met with the Nadi reader late in the afternoon, as arranged. He had travelled most of that day (approximately 6 hours) to meet with us to do my reading. That was inconceivable. Firstly, I could not understand why he would travel most of that day just to do a reading for an unknown person who did not have an appointment and secondly, pangs of guilt engulfed me that he had to be inconvenienced in that way. That was the first indication that these events were possibly the hand of something greater.
My Leaf Presents Itself
The process in finding my leaf commenced with prayers, offerings and the invocation of the relevant deities to sanction the mission and facilitate it’s finding. Predictably levels of anxiety and discomfort began to escalate. The process was lengthy. Time sped on. There was no sign of my leaf. The reader was not discouraged; he merrily continued the quest. I began to entertain thoughts that perhaps the mission was not sanctioned after all. A sense of relief went coursing through me. Perhaps it was not meant to be or the timing was not quite right. I could live with that. Perhaps my patience was being tested. Shortly after the realization around patience, my leaf presented itself. There was a perfect match. I had to swiftly reframe my thoughts. It had to be acknowledged that the search for my leaf was destined, the reading was meant to be and the timing was correct. By that time, we were well into the night and it was decided that we reconvene the following morning to pick up on the read.
Conundrum Around Real Time
We resumed around 11am the following day. It was confirmed that my leaf was written by the revered Siddha, Agathiyar himself. The reading clearly stated that I had been in “search of” and was weighed down by many questions, doubts and skepticisms. I was indeed. It promised to reveal and clarify them. It confirmed that I was privy to the information contained in the leaf specifically at that point in my life. The read was lengthy. Arriving at the of door of remedies (parikaram), the reading specified worship of the palm leaf in a special prayer to acknowledge the value of the information revealed by it. The reader pointed to the “palm leaf” as my guru. I was asked to do a prayer with 5 specified items together with several other little items. The reader read on diligently while his patient friend tried to keep up with the translating. It was not possible to comprehend, assimilate and process the mounds of information that emerged all at once, and one is not meant to. It is by far more sensible to reflect and introspect on it later. After a few hours my thoughts become pretty chaotic and my attention span spiraled to that of a goldfish.
I swiftly caught up when the reader stopped abruptly and referring to the special prayer, exclaimed, “It says you must do it now”.
I needed a few seconds to comprehend that. I requested that he repeat what he had said.
“It says you must do the prayer now”, he confirmed.
It felt like my brain was shifting gears, and struggling in doing so. I wondered if we were in real time or …which time zone exactly? Bear in mind this was not a Jeeva Nadi reading (live, or in real time), this was written on palm leaves eons ago, at a time and date that cannot be confirmed.
“Now!” repeated the reader, “as in this moment”.
Desperately trying to conceal my ignorance I questioned silently “What does that mean and how could that be?”
“It is written here, it says you must do this prayer and make this offering now, today, when you arrive here” he affirmed, holding up the bundle of leaves.
That’s what I thought he meant. I had heard correctly. That was the second indication that there may have been the hand of something greater at work around this reading.
Mission Impossible
My brain was screaming “overload” and I had ridiculous thoughts of bumping into something while in reverse. The Nadi reader then threw me another curveball.
“It also says you must go to Agasthiyampalli, light a ghee lamp there and simply meditate in front of him (Siddha Agathiyar), no thoughts, no praying, just sit with him and mediate”, he reported.
Still struggling to get my mind around that, he added, “It says you must go now, today, after the first prayer.”
I had no more, thoughts, words or questions. The reader, up until that moment was cool, calm and very composed but finally displayed his surprise, wonder and perplexity. I deliberated how these requests could be realistically achieved, “now or today” as was being specified. The reading also stipulated visits to four other temples where specific offerings and rituals had to be performed. The temples were all out of the city and a drive of approximately 6-10 hours away from where we were at that time. Driving time to get to each had to be factored, as well as the length of time required for each ritual, closing and opening times of the temples and the drive time back to the hotel to wind up everything before flying back home the following morning. All of that had to be achieved within a day which appeared completely unachievable, impossible actually. More pressing however was the matter of the other prayer which had to be performed for the Nadi leaves prior the temple visits. I had come face to face with an ancient documented artefact, written ages ago, informing me to perform certain rituals, at that particular time, at specific points of worship. How did the siddha know back then that I would rendezvous at that place in India, at that specific time and that the temples I was instructed to visit would still be in existence when I received the message. That was the third indication….
To be continued…
Swamiji Thavayogi Thangarasan Adigal at Agasthiyampalli
The Origin of Agathiyar's Temple at Agasthiyampalli, Vedaranyam, 2013, Siddha Heartbeat
Agasthiyampalli
The main shrine at the Agastheeswarar Temple in Agasthiyampalli, Tamil Nadu, India is dedicated to the respected sage Agathiyar. The temple itself is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is believed to be the place where Agathiyar rishi received the divine grace and blessings from Lord Shiva. It is purported that Lord Shiva appeared to sage Agathiyar in his marriage form at this location. The town itself is named after the presiding deity, Agastheeswarar. There are several other legendary narratives associated with the location.
