Spiritual Sites and Places of Interest
This post follows on from the previous one, recounting our stay and travels through India during December of 2016. Several days were spent visiting numerous temples, spiritual sites and places of interest. Each of these spots had a story, significance and special appeal. We were fortunate to visit many of them without haste and with ease which enabled us to concentrate on prayers, appreciate the significance of them and value the overall experience. Successful completion of these visits brought us back to the Agathiyar ashram in Kallar, Coimbatore; to the warm embrace of Swamiji (Thavayogi Thangarasan Adigal) and Mataji.
Conversations with a Swami
Our plans had changed and we were to leave Coimbatore earlier than intended hence we chose to spend much of the time that remained with Swamiji and within the blissful surrounds of the ashram. There was also that small matter of another Nadi reading that Swamiji had promised, before my departure. We were fortunate to spend a fair bit of time alone with Swamiji; which was most enlightening. He captivated us with his fascinating experiences, stories, knowledge, wisdom and more. The conversations took us far and wide. To my surprise, the conversations illuminated and provided answers to many of my questions, doubts and curiosity.
Swamiji had an amazing way with words and interactions with him transcended way beyond one’s thoughts and questions. He could read one like a book; one had to be alert to it. There were several moments when I had silently questioned who exactly was I interacting with. He would mischievously catch my suspicion and quickly move on to something else of interest as he did on that particular day. Swiftly diverting our attention, he enquired unexpectedly, “When is the next new moon day?”. We had no idea. We had been travelling for some days and by that time had little idea of what the day, date or time was. He explained that he wished to perform something.
Swamiji (Thavayogi Thangarasan Adigal)
The New Moon
I was clueless but my eyes lit up and my excitement knew no bounds. He called out to the young man at the ashram and politely asked “When is the next new moon?”. The young man was unsure and set off to find out. My excitement plummeted to the ground with a mammoth thud as quickly as it had risen. If Swamiji could only perform something on the day of the new moon, I was highly skeptical we were anywhere close to it. Oh well, I thought, there was at least a moment of sheer excitement at the possibility. Swamiji resumed talking, enchanting us with his legendary tales when the young man returned and reported “the next new moon is tomorrow”. Swamiji’s face lit up with delight. I was astonished; completely bowled over. What were the chances, I thought in disbelief. That was some flawless synchronicity. Swamiji continued to smile warmly, blissfully, unsurprised.
Treasure Lighting the Path
The following day exceeded my expectations. In a private ceremony Swamiji with the help of Mataji performed a sacred initiation. His gesture still leaves me speechless. I cannot summon the appropriate thoughts, emotions or words to describe the moment. It was yet another piece of treasure I was to pick up on my journey which I am eternally thankful and grateful for. When the opportunity presented itself, I tapped Swamiji and reminded him of the Nadi reading I was keenly looking forward to. He did not commit instead he smiled disarmingly, warmly and said “In January”. I was completely perplexed. I had no idea what that meant. He had promised a reading earlier in the month. He was aware I was to leave Coimbatore the following day. Something had changed. The winds of change had blown.
