Nandhi was born and raised in south India. His journey into the spiritual realms began when he was 4 years old.

His journey started as a little boy, sitting on the shoulders of his father while on a pilgrimage to Swami Ayyappa (a shrine in South India). It was in this pilgrimage that he witnessed a divine event that would forever guide him through his life.

 The pilgrims had to walk through 40 kilometers of forest to reach the shrine and it was night time. They got lost, having taken the wrong path. While under the dark canopy of trees in the forest, there seemed doubt in being able to get back to the main pathway. Just then a tiger that was nearby roared. Everyone of the pilgrims were scared and they all kept chanting the Swamy Ayyappa mantras. The chants of the sacred mantras became louder and louder. It was then that Nandhi saw a radiant being, as though luminescent, walking out of the darkness.

Nandhi immediately alerted his father and soon, all the pilgrims felt a wave of comforting and protective energy, There was no more fear. There a quiet and the pilgrims stood around this radiant being who was smiling. He said, "So you all seems lost! Let me show you the way!". The radiant being pointed out the directions to the pilgrims and while the pilgrims were talking to each other,

Nandhi saw the radiant being gradually disappear. All the pilgrims, including his father, realized that the person who came out of the darkness to guide them was a divine being. For Nandhi, this radiant being was an ancient friend, waiting forever to connect.

Swamy Ayyappa          

Many years later, while living in Madras, Nandhi went through the experience of death. A young saint, whom Nandhi had never met before, knocked on his door. He told Nandhi that Nandhi’s karmic death had come and he had been sent to take Nandhi through the process. Without any hesitation, Nandhi followed him into the forest, actually in joy knowing that soon he would connect back to his ancient past. The saint initiated Nandhi into the Siddhar path after taking Nandhi through a death-like process. From this moment on, Nandhi knew that he was awakened and his true purpose of having been born in India revealed itself.

Soon, Nandhi plunged into the ancient India and there were all his teachers waiting for him! In the vast lands of India, each Sage specializes in a particular dimension of wisdom- some in Siddha medicines, some in prayer rituals and meditation, some in hatha yoga, and some in Vedic studies. For Nandhi, it was on connecting to the Siddhar Sage Ayya that at once, all the branches of the ancient wisdom came together. .

The Siddhars do not like popularity and crowd. In fact, Siddhars throw stones at people around them so to discourage all but the determined seeker! For many months, Nandhi would climb up the Thiruvannamalai, the sacred mountain ever so often, to be near Ayya, each time hoping that Ayya would call him in. Ayya would often test Nandhi’s resolve in many ways. Finally, after 4 years, Ayya initiated Nandhi.

After being initiated by Ayya, Nandhi felt the secret doors to the ancient wisdom open up to him. He felt Ayya’s presence in his daily yoga practice. Ayya’s loud silent teachings guided Nandhi, as though it was only a remembrance of earlier teachings. It was in Rishikesh, the foothills of the Himalayas, when Nandhi was taught by Ayya, the art of being able to take the body to a state where it is not affected by extreme cold or heat. Soon, Nandhi learnt the ability to take the body beyond hunger. With Ayya’s guidance, Nandhi could now understand and experience the state of higher consciousness, called by the Siddhar Sages, the state of sleepless sleep that in ancient Tamil and Sanskrit is mentioned as “Turiya”. Each day was a pilgrimage as a journey into the ancient knowing. Nandhi lived with many enlightened Sages, learning and practicing their yoga over the years while being connected to Ayya, which like a spiritual umbilical cord nourished Nandhi in the silent wisdom of the ancient lineage.

The most empowered gift Nandhi received from the inner journey into wholeness was- to wake up to the childhood dream he had- the vision that is now becoming a reality as the Ariven Community.  After knowing himself as the Spirit having the human experience, the most profound realization was to know, "What am I here on Planet Earth for!?"  This inspiring vision now unfolds- where giant sanctuaries are created to save the lives of thousands of retired cows and oxen- sustaining large organic farms that allocate 50% or more of the vegetarian food produce to feed the hungry. More info of it- www.ariven.org

Another teacher, a Siddha Sage, Siddhar Rajaswamy, told Nandhi, “Your Kali lives in California”. Nandhi was a bit surprised at first because, of the Sage’s mention of California rather than America. He wondered how the Sage could be specific of California rather than mention America. He placed an ad on the internet. Nearly six months passed and there was no response. Nandhi had grown a spiritual beard during this period. One day, Nandhi thought to himself, “I have had enough of this life. Let me shave of my past”. He shaved off his beard and as he opened his email, he read an email, “Hi! I am Kali from California!”. Nandhi felt another part of his past open up to be fulfilled.
Nandhi asked his guru who this divine lady could be. His guru mentioned, “She was living in the cave of Surli Hills in her previous birth. Your life is with her in America. You were born here in India to connect with us and learn. Your true pilgrimage is in America. Go! We will all be with you. In your every breath, know that we will be with you.”

Nandhi now lives in Santa Monica where he pursues his heart's endeavor- the vision of Ariven Community (www.ariven.org ) while teaching Turiya Yoga and sharing the sacred wisdom of ancient India.

Thank you for your interest in reading this!

Tapasyogi Kalathi Adimai Aadi Nandhi

Inspired by the Siddhars of South India, the evolved yogis who journey beyond enlightenment-Yoga Art!

"In ways diverse, do seek the Absolute
Penetrating the Lotus within and going beyond,
You shall reach the celestial world,
Drunk of the nectar there
You shall return
Sweet, sweet exceedingly indeed,
It is! "
- Siddhar Thirumulanathar

Nandhi was guided by Ayya to produce “Cave of the Siddhars”.
Raise your Consciousness with Turiya Nada - Cave of the Siddhars!

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