Siddhar

Siddhars are saints in India, mostly of the Saivaite denomination in Tamil Nadu, who professed and practised an unorthodox type of Sadhana, or spiritual practice, to attain liberation. Yogic powers called Siddhis are acquired by constant practice of certain yogic disciplines. Those who acquire these Siddhis are called Siddhas. [ [http://dlshq.org/download/pranayama.pdf Swami Sivananda, "The Science of Pranayama", page 4] ] Siddhars are people who are believed to control and transcend the barriers of time and space by meditation (Yoga), after the use of substances called Rasayanas that transform the body to make it potentially deathless, and a particular breathing-practice, a type of Pranayama. Through their practices they are believed to have reached stages of insight which enabled them to tune into the powers hidden in various material substances and practices, useful for suffering and ignorant mankind. Typically Siddhars were saints, doctors, alchemists and mysticists all at once. They wrote their findings, in the form of poems in Tamil language, on palm leaf which are collected and stored in what are known today as Palm leaf manuscript, today still owned by private families in Tamil Nadu and handed down through the generations, as well as public institutions such as Universities the world over (India, Germany, Great Britain, U.S.A.).

In this way Siddhars developed, among other branches of a vast knowledge-system, what is now known as Siddha medicine, practised mainly in Tamil Nadu as Traditional native medicine. A rustic form of healing that is similar to Siddha medicine has since been practised by experienced elderly in the villages of Tamil Nadu, and is popularly known as "Paatti Vaitthiyam, Naattu marunthu" and "Mooligai marutthuvam" They are also founders of Varmam - a martial art for self-defence and medical treatment at the same time. Varmams are specific points located in the human body which when pressed in different ways can give various results, such as disabling an attacker in self-defence, or balancing a physical condition as an easy first-aid medical treatment.

Siddhars have also written many religious poems. It is believed that most of them have lived for ages, in a mystic mountain called Sathuragiri, near Thanipparai village in Tamil Nadu

One of the best-known Siddhars was Agasthyar or Agasthya, who is believed to be the founding father of Siddha culture.

Abithana Chintamani states Siddhars are either of the 9 or 18 persons enlisted, but sage Agastyar states that there are many who precede these and follow 9 or 18 persons. Many of the great Siddhars are regarded to have powers magical and spiritual.

All Siddhars in order

All Sitthars were among the highest disciples of God Shiva, and are considered equal in their powers and devotion to the supreme God.

#Lord Nandi, principal disciple of God Siva
#Agastyar Maha Munivardisciple of Lord Muruga from Anantasayana, head of the monasteries at Pothigai and Kumbakonam
#Boagar of Pazhani, disciple of Agathiyar and Kalangi Nathar, 12th c. BCE
#Thaeraiyar Muni of Ten Pothigai, disciple of Agastya, 10th c. BCE
#Kalaingai Nathar of Kalahastri monastery,10th c.BCE
#Korakkar of Paerur, from Thirukonamalai monastery, ?4th c. BCE
#Pulippaani of Pazhani
#Thadangann Siddhar
#BramhaMuni, ?3rd c. BCE
#Machamuni of Thirupparankundram, ?3rd c. BCE
#Poonaikkannanaar of Egypt, ?3rd c.BCE
#Romamunivar of Rome, ?2nd c. BCE
#Kaaraichchiththar, ?2nd c.BCE
#Kudhambai Siddhar of Mayilaaduthurai and Kumbakonam, ?2nd c. BCE
#Kabilar I of Mithila, 2nd c. BCE.
#Kaagaivanna Siddhar [Dutte Gamini| [i] ] of Kediya(South Sri Lanka), from Pothigai monastery, 2nd c. BCE
#Dhanvantri from Kasi, of Vaitheeswaran Koil, ?1st c. BCE
#Valmiki, "aka" Vaanmeegar of Ettukkudi, ?1st c. BCE
#Maarkkandeyanaar
#Koonkannar
#Kaalaichchittar II
#Konganar of Tirupati, 1st c. BCE
#Punnaakkeesar from Naangunaeri, head of Saanganachaeri monastery, 1st c. BCE
#Karuvurar from Karuvur monastery
#Kaaduvelichchiththar
#Aenaathichchittar, 2nd c. CE
#Idaikkaadar of Oosimuri(in Thondai Nadu), from ThiruAnnaamalai monastery, ?2nd-3rd c. BCE
#Pulasthiyarfrom Maanthai, head of Aavudaiyaar Koil and Yaazhppaanam monasteries, 3rd c. CE
#KamalaMuni of Thiruvaarur, ?4th c. BCE
#Patanjali of Rameswaram, 4th c. BCE
#Azhaganiyaar of Nagapattinam, ?4th c. CE
#Kailasanathar, 5th c. CE
#Kuranguchchittar of Pazhani, 5th c. CE
#Sattaimuni of ThiruArangam, ?5th c. CE
#Vaamathevar of Azhagarmalai, ?5th c. CE
#Agappaei Siddhar of Azhagarmalai, ?3rd c. CE
#Sivavaakkiyar from Kollimalai, of Thirumazhisai monastery, ?4-5th c. CE
#Sundarandandar of Madurai, ?5th c. CE
#Ramadevar of Azhagarmalai
#Thirumoolar from ThiruAaAduthurai, of ThiruAathavoor monastery, head of Thillai Citrambalam [Ancient Tamil country| [i] ] monastery, 8th c. BCE
#Sri Jnyaaneswar of Gujarat
#Kaagapujundar, Leader for all nathats, 8 BCE
#VaasaMuni
#KoormaMuni
#Visvamitrar
#Kumbhamuni
#Kaduveli of Irumbai
#Nandeeswarar of Kasi, from Thillai monastery, 6th c. CE
#Pattinattaar of Pugaar, 7th c. CE
#Karuvoorar from Karuvoor, of Thanjai monastery, master of Rajaraja Chola, 10th c. CE
#Pambatti Siddhar from Jnaneswaram(Sarankovil), of Vilaimalai( Vriddhachalam ) monastery, 15th c.
#Vaalai Siddhar of Valangaimaan
#Edaikadar II, ?15th c. CE
#Ganapathi Siddhar
#Subrahmanya Siddhar
#Sooriyaananthar
#Lokaayuthar
#Bathragiriyaar of Badrachalam, from Thillai monastery
#Kalunni Siddhar
#Naga Siddhar (mahavatar babaji) disciple of Agathiyar and Bogar, 203th,from Himalaya
#ArunaGiri Nathar 1500th,from Thiruvanamalai

The 9 list as Abithana Chintamani states is as follows:

#Sathyanathar
#Sadhoganathar
#Aadhinathar
#Anadhinathar
#Vegulinathar
#Madhanganathar
#Machaendranathar
#Gadaendranathar or Gajendranathar
#Korakkanathar

The 18-list of siddhars is:
#Agastyar
#Bogar
#Korakkar
#Kalanginathar
#SattaiMuni
#Tirumoolar
#Nandhi
#Therayar
#Konganar
#MachaMuni
#Karuvoorar
#Patanjaliyar
#Edaikaadar
#KamalaMuni
#Punnakeesar
#Sundarandandar
#Romarishi
#Pulipani

Powers of siddhars

The siddhars are believed to have had powers both major and other ‘minor’ powers. They are explained in detail in various yogic as well as religious texts;Thirumandiram 668:

#To become tiny as the atom within the atom (Anima)
#To become big in unshakeable proportions (Mahima)
#To become as light as vapour in levitation (Laghima)
#To become as heavy as the mountain (Garima)
#To enter into other bodies in transmigration (Prapti)
#To be in all things,omni-pervasive (Prakamya)
#To be lord of all creation in omnipotence (Isatvam)
#To be everywhere in omnipresence (Vasitvam)

These eight are the Great Siddhis, or Great Perfections.

ee also

* Siddha
* Thirumoolar
* Thirumandhiram
* Bogar
* Kumba Muni
* Avaiyar
* Abithana Chintamani - Encyclopedia of Tamil Literature
* Ayyavazhi mythology
* Nayanmars
* Mahasiddha
* nyanasiddha

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.nandhi.com Thamizh Siddhars Info Page]
* [http://www.shaivism.org Shaivism Home page]
* [http://projectmadurai.org Project Madurai Home page]
* [http://www.kagapujandar.com Sri Kagapujandar Homepage]