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. 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.

1. Lord Nandi, principal disciple of God Siva
2. Agastyar Maha Munivar disciple of Lord Muruga from Anantasayana, head of the monasteries at Pothigai and Kumbakonam
3. Boagar of Pazhani, disciple of Agathiyar and Kalangi Nathar, 12th c. BCE
4. Thaeraiyar Muni of Ten Pothigai, disciple of Agastya, 10th c. BCE
5. Kalaingai Nathar of Kalahastri monastery,10th c.BCE
6. Korakkar of Paerur, from Thirukonamalai monastery, ?4th c. BCE
7. Pulippaani of Pazhani
8. Thadangann Siddhar
9. BramhaMuni, ?3rd c. BCE
10. Machamuni of Thirupparankundram, ?3rd c. BCE
11. Poonaikkannanaar of Egypt, ?3rd c.BCE
12. Romamunivar of Rome, ?2nd c. BCE
13. Kaaraichchiththar, ?2nd c.BCE
14. Kudhambai Siddhar of Mayilaaduthurai and Kumbakonam, ?2nd c. BCE
15. Kabilar I of Mithila, 2nd c. BCE.
16. Kaagaivanna Siddhar[i] of Kediya(South Sri Lanka), from Pothigai monastery, 2nd c. BCE
17. Dhanvantri from Kasi, of Vaitheeswaran Koil, ?1st c. BCE
18. Valmiki, aka Vaanmeegar of Ettukkudi, ?1st c. BCE
19. Maarkkandeyanaar
20. Koonkannar
21. Kaalaichchittar II
22. Konganar of Tirupati, 1st c. BCE
23. Punnaakkeesar from Naangunaeri, head of Saanganachaeri monastery, 1st c. BCE
24. Karuvurar from Karuvur monastery
25. Kaaduvelichchiththar
26. Aenaathichchittar, 2nd c. CE
27. Idaikkaadar of Oosimuri(in Thondai Nadu), from ThiruAnnaamalai monastery, ?2nd-3rd c. BCE
28. Pulasthiyarfrom Maanthai, head of Aavudaiyaar Koil and Yaazhppaanam monasteries, 3rd c. CE
29. KamalaMuni of Thiruvaarur, ?4th c. BCE
30. Patanjali of Rameswaram, 4th c. BCE
31. Azhaganiyaar of Nagapattinam, ?4th c. CE
32. Kailasanathar, 5th c. CE
33. Kuranguchchittar of Pazhani, 5th c. CE
34. Sattaimuni of ThiruArangam, ?5th c. CE
35. Vaamathevar of Azhagarmalai, ?5th c. CE
36. Agappaei Siddhar of Azhagarmalai, ?3rd c. CE
37. Sivavaakkiyar from Kollimalai, of Thirumazhisai monastery, ?4-5th c. CE
38. Sundarandandar of Madurai, ?5th c. CE
39. Ramadevar of Azhagarmalai
40. Thirumoolar from ThiruAaAduthurai, of ThiruAathavoor monastery, head of Thillai Citrambalam[i] monastery, 8th c. BCE
41. Sri Jnyaaneswar of Gujarat
42. Kaagapujundar, Leader for all nathats, 8 BCE
43. VaasaMuni
44. KoormaMuni
45. Visvamitrar
46. Kumbhamuni
47. Kaduveli of Irumbai
48. Nandeeswarar of Kasi, from Thillai monastery, 6th c. CE
49. Pattinattaar of Pugaar, 7th c. CE
50. Karuvoorar from Karuvoor, of Thanjai monastery, master of Rajaraja Chola, 10th c. CE
51. Pambatti Siddhar from Jnaneswaram(Sarankovil), of Vilaimalai( Vriddhachalam ) monastery, 15th c.
52. Vaalai Siddhar of Valangaimaan
53. Edaikadar II, ?15th c. CE
54. Ganapathi Siddhar
55. Subrahmanya Siddhar
56. Sooriyaananthar
57. Lokaayuthar
58. Bathragiriyaar of Badrachalam, from Thillai monastery
59. Kalunni Siddhar
60. Naga Siddhar (mahavatar babaji) disciple of Agathiyar and Bogar, 203th,from Himalaya
61. ArunaGiri Nathar 1500th,from Thiruvanamalai

The 9 siddhars

The 9 listed as Abithana Chintamani states is as follows:

1. Sathyanathar
2. Sadhoganathar
3. Aadhinathar
4. Anadhinathar
5. Vegulinathar
6. Madhanganathar
7. Machaendranathar
8. Gadaendranathar or Gajendranathar
9. Korakkanathar

The 18 siddhars

The list of 18 siddhars is:

1. Agastyar
2. Bogar
3. Korakkar
4. Kalanginathar
5. SattaiMuni
6. Tirumoolar
7. Nandhi
8. Therayar
9. Konganar
10. MachaMuni
11. Karuvoorar
12. Patanjaliyar
13. Edaikaadar
14. KamalaMuni
15. Punnakeesar
16. Sundarandandar
17. Romarishi
18. Pulipani

Sidhars of the new age

1. Pranasiddhar

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:

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

These eight are the Great Siddhis, or Great Perfections.

See also

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

External links

• Thamizh Siddhars Info Page
• Shaivism Home page
• Idai Kaattu Siddhar Home Page