The Layered Teachings of Agathiyar – 4
Where is the face of the one who bore poison and the five faces?
Where is the eye of wisdom and the other three eyes?
Where is Yama, who takes the five lives?
Where is Indra, with a thousand eyes?
Where is the Supreme Shakti, who stands with five senses?
Where is the realm called the fourteen worlds?
If one understands the true meaning of these questions,
One can bow and praise the Guru as the ultimate divine!
1) Where are the five faces of the one who bore poison?
Poison refers to venom, which is deadly. The Lord bears this poison with his five faces. The five faces of the Lord are Sadyosatvam, Vamadevam, Agoraam, Tatpurusham, and Isanam. Saiva Siddhanta explains this extensively. However, Shiva, the supreme deity, truly has only one face. Within this one face, the five energies are distinctly present, which is why Agastya refers to them as five faces. Do you know what this single face is, students? It is the Pranava sound, OM, which encompasses the five elements.
Though Saiva Siddhanta mentions the five faces of the Lord, the five functions are contained within one face. That single face of the divine is OM. The sound “OM” is the sacred face of the divine. Within this sacred face, the five powers—Akaara (A), Ukaara (U), Makaara (M), Bindu (point), and Naada (sound)—are uniquely operative in one place.
Who is the one bearing poison? What is this poison? It is the three impurities (Mummalam). These three impurities are like poison, enveloping the true essence, preventing us from attaining wisdom. The divine resides at the center of the essence, surrounded by the darkness of these impurities. Since the impurities are positioned above the Bindu, the divine is said to bear the poison. The true essence is the face of the divine bearing poison, and its form of power is OM. OM is the form of Shiva.
2) Where is the eye of wisdom and the other three eyes?
The eye of wisdom appears after the third eye. After the third eye, the eye of wisdom emerges. Following the eye of wisdom, the life eye appears, and after that, the eye of grace or divine eye (Arutkan) manifests. These are the paths of supreme wisdom that must be crossed and reached through intense penance. These can only be experienced, not explained. Each eye appears in a unique form before us. Initially, the third eye should manifest in a certain shape, form, and moment. Almost all students have reached this state. When one attains the divine eye (Arutkan) through penance, they become a grace-filled being and serve all living beings, much like Vallalar. His divine eye enabled his achievements. There are countless hidden secrets of wisdom here, which will be revealed when one reaches a state of complete qualification in penance.
3) Where is Yama, who takes the five lives?
The five lives refer to the five sheaths (Koshas): 1) Annamaya Kosha (physical sheath), 2) Pranamaya Kosha (vital sheath), 3) Manomaya Kosha (mental sheath), 4) Vijnanamaya Kosha (intellectual sheath), and 5) Anandamaya Kosha (bliss sheath). In these sheaths, the five types of life energies shine brightly. Those who practice supreme wisdom penance can perceive the manifestations of life within each sheath with full awareness. Memories of past lives, the current life, and future lives are recorded as software within these sheaths. A practitioner must first conquer these sheaths to transcend the five states of life. Yama’s noose targets these sheaths. When we face problems, sufferings, health issues, diseases, pleasures, or wisdom, it is due to the fluctuations in these sheaths. If negative effects occur, examine these sheaths; you will find many holes or gaps. When experiencing bliss, ecstasy, happiness, or wisdom, examine them again, and they will be radiant with light energies.
4) Where is Indra, who has a thousand eyes?
A thousand eyes symbolize possessing a thousand views. The misinterpretation of Indra having yoni (female reproductive organ) symbols all over his body stems from this. Indra possesses divine feet, not yonis. When two divine feet unite, the third divine foot, Mahara, manifests. Akaara represents the number 8, Ukaara the number 2. Together in Mahara, these two numbers stand at 10. In Mahara, the ten energies of Akaara, Ukaara, and Mahara expand exponentially: 10 x 10 x 10 = 1000. When these three types of energies expand, they emit light, continuously shining at the top of the true essence, known as Indra Loka or Heaven by sages and wise men. The ruler of Heaven is Indra, hence the upper portion of Pranava is called Indra Loka. The divine bliss experienced throughout the body during the supreme wisdom penance performed from this place was described by ancient Tamil Siddhars as Heaven. Physical unity results in minor pleasure, while the union of life energies brings supreme bliss, referred to by Agastya as Indra’s bliss or nectar bliss.
5) Where is the Supreme Shakti, who stands with five senses?
The term “five” signifies the five elements, known to us. The Supreme Shakti is the divine consort of Shiva. Her location is the question. Shiva resides in the northeast corner, but Parashakti (Parvati) resides in the southeast corner, the fire corner, as the power of our vision. The divine feet represent Shiva as light, and Parashakti as the power of vision and the energy of the five elements. Through Parashakti, we perceive the world, the five elements, and even her in the light of penance. Thus, Parashakti resides in the southeast corner, the fire direction, of our divine feet. Eleven supreme wisdom penances are performed here. These are the wisdom techniques given to us by Agastya.
6) Where is the realm called the fourteen worlds?
The fourteen worlds comprise seven upper worlds and seven lower worlds. The seven upper worlds are realms in the head, and the seven lower worlds are beneath the earth.
Upper Worlds Above Earth:
1. Bhuloka – The realm of humans.
2. Bhuvarloka – The realm of planets and stars.
3. Swarloka – The realm of sages.
4. Maharloka – The realm of deities including Indra.
5. Janoloka – The realm of ancestors.
6. Tapoloka – The realm of divine beings.
7. Satyaloka – The realm of Brahma.
Lower Worlds Below Earth:
1. Atala – The realm of various beings.
2. Vitala – The realm of demons.
3. Sutala – The realm of virtuous beings like Bali.
4. Talatala – The realm of magicians.
5. Mahatala – The realm of famous demons.
6. Rasatala – The realm of serpent beings.
7. Patala – The realm of demons and their teachers.
In total, there are fourteen worlds, including the one we live in.
These fourteen worlds are located in our divine feet. How? There are seven micro holes in the Pranava at the top of the true essence. These holes are stacked on top of each other. These holes are referred to as the upper worlds. Similarly, beneath the Pranava, in the place of Apana Vayu, there are seven micro holes arranged one below the other, known as the lower worlds or Patala.
