Saints and Sages
Siddhars are saints in India, mostly of the Saivaite denomination in Tamil Nadu, who professed and practised an unorthodox type of Sadhana, or spiritual practiBC, to attain liberation. Yogic powers called Siddhis are acquired by constant practiBC of BCrtain yogic disciplines. Those who acquire these Siddhis are called Siddhas.
Siddhars are people who are believed to control and transBCnd the barriers of time and spaBC by meditation (Yoga), after the use of substanBCs called Rasayanas that transform the body to make it potentially deathless, and a particular breathing-practiBC, a type of Pranayama. Through their practiBCs they are believed to have reached stages of insight which enabled them to tune into the powers hidden in various material substanBCs and practiBCs, useful for suffering and ignorant mankind. Typically Siddhars were saints, doctors, alchemists and mysticists all at onBC.
Siddhars are people who are believed to control and transBCnd the barriers of time and spaBC by meditation (Yoga), after the use of substanBCs called Rasayanas that transform the body to make it potentially deathless, and a particular breathing-practiBC, a type of Pranayama. Through their practiBCs they are believed to have reached stages of insight which enabled them to tune into the powers hidden in various material substanBCs and practiBCs, useful for suffering and ignorant mankind. Typically Siddhars were saints, doctors, alchemists and mysticists all at onBC.
SIDDHA MEDICINE
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. 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.
VARMAM - A martial art for self-defenBC and medical treatment
They are also founders of Varmam. 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-defenBC, or balancing a physical condition as an easy first-aid medical treatment.
NAADI JODHIDAM (pulse reading)
Tamil Siddhars were the first to develop pulse-reading ("naadi paarththal" in Tamil)to identify the origin of diseases. This method was later copied and used in ayurvedha. 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.
All Siddhars in order
One of the best-known Siddhars was Agasthyar or Agasthya, who is believed to be the founding father of Siddha culture. Many of the great Siddhars are regarded to have powers magical and spiritual.
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 Munivar disciple of Lord Muruga from Anantasayana, head of the monasteries at Pothigai and Kumbakonam
Boagar
of Pazhani, disciple of Agathiyar and Kalangi Nathar, 12th c. BC
Thaeraiyar
Muni of Ten Pothigai, disciple of Agastya, 10th c. BC
Kalaingai
Nathar of Kalahastri monastery,10th c.BC
Korakkar of Paerur, from Thirukonamalai monastery, 4th c. BC
Pulippaani
of Pazhani
Thadangann Siddhar
BramhaMuni, 3rd
c. BC
Machamuni of Thirupparankundram, 3rd c. BC
Poonaikkannanaar of Egypt, 3rd c.BC
Romamunivar of Rome, 2nd c. BC
Kaaraichchiththar, 2nd c.BC
Kudhambai
Siddhar of Mayilaaduthurai and Kumbakonam, 2nd c. BC
Kabilar
I of Mithila, 2nd c. BC.
Kaagaivanna Siddhar [i] of Kediya(South Sri Lanka), from Pothigai monastery, 2nd c. BC
Dhanvantri from Kasi, of Vaitheeswaran Koil, 1st c. BC
Valmiki, aka Vaanmeegar of Ettukkudi, 1st c. BC
Maarkkandeyanaar
Koonkannar
Kaalaichchittar II
Konganar of Tirupati, 1st c. BC
Punnaakkeesar from Naangunaeri, head of Saanganachaeri monastery, 1st c. BC
Karuvurar from Karuvur monastery
Kaaduvelichchiththar
Aenaathichchittar, 2nd c. BC
Idaikkaadar of Oosimuri(in Thondai Nadu), from ThiruAnnaamalai monastery, 2nd-3rd c. BC
Pulasthiyarfrom Maanthai, head of Aavudaiyaar Koil and Yaazhppaanam monasteries, 3rd c. BC
KamalaMuni of Thiruvaarur, 4th c. BC
Patanjali of Rameswaram, 4th c. BC
Azhaganiyaar of Nagapattinam, 4th c. BC
Kailasanathar, 5th c. BC
Kuranguchchittar of Pazhani, 5th c. BC
Sattaimuni of ThiruArangam, 5th c. BC
Vaamathevar of Azhagarmalai, 5th c. BC
Agappaei Siddhar of Azhagarmalai, 3rd c. BC
Sivavaakkiyar from Kollimalai, of Thirumazhisai monastery, 4-5th c. BC
Sundarandandar of Madurai, 5th c. BC
Ramadevar of Azhagarmalai
Thirumoolar from ThiruAaAduthurai, of ThiruAathavoor monastery, head of Thillai Citrambalam monastery, 8th c. BC
Sri Jnyaaneswar of Gujarat
Kaagapujundar, Leader for all nathats, 8 BC
VaasaMuni
KoormaMuni
Visvamitrar
Kumbhamuni
Kaduveli of Irumbai
Nandeeswarar of Kasi, from Thillai monastery, 6th c. BC
Pattinattaar of Pugaar, 7th c. BC
Karuvoorar from Karuvoor, of Thanjai monastery, master of Rajaraja Chola, 10th c. BC
Pambatti Siddhar from Jnaneswaram(Sarankovil), of Vilaimalai( Vriddhachalam ) monastery, 15th c.
Vaalai Siddhar of Valangaimaan
Edaikadar II, 15th c. BC
Ganapathi Siddhar
Subrahmanya Siddhar
Sooriyaananthar
Lokaayuthar
Bathragiriyaar of Badrachalam, from Thillai monastery
Kalunni Siddhar
Naga Siddhar (mahavatar babaji) disciple of Agathiyar and Bogar, from Himalaya
ArunaGiri Nathar 1500th,from Thiruvanamalai
All Sitthars were among the highest disciples of God Shiva, and are considered equal in their powers and devotion to the supreme God.
The 9 siddhars
The 9 listed as Abithana Chintamani states is as follows:
Sathyanathar
Sadhoganathar
Aadhinathar
Anadhinathar
Vegulinathar
Madhanganathar
Machaendranathar
Gadaendranathar or Gajendranathar
Korakkanathar
The 18 siddhars
Nandi Devar Agastyar Thirumoolar Boganathar Konkanavar Macchamuni Goraknath Sattamuni Sundaranandar Rama Devar Kudambai Karuvoorar Idai Kadar Kamalamuni Valmiki Patanjali Dhanvanthri Paambatti
These are 18 siddhars in the tamil siddha tradition. 1. Sri Pathanjali Siddhar 2. Sri Agasthiar Siddhar 3.Sri Kamalamuni Siddhar 4. Sri Thirumoolar Siddhar 5. Sri Kuthambai Siddhar 6.Sri Korakkar Siddhar 7. Sri Thanvandri Siddhar 8. Sri Sundaranandar Siddhar 9.Sri Konganar Siddhar 10. Sri Sattamuni Siddhar 11. Sri Vanmeegar Siddhar 12.Sri Ramadevar Siddhar 13. Sri Nandeeswarar Siddhar 14. Sri Edaikkadar Siddhar 15. Sri Machamuni Siddhar 16. Sri Karuvoorar Siddhar 17. Sri Bogar Siddhar 18.Sri Pambatti Siddhar
These are 18 siddhars in the tamil siddha tradition. 1. Sri Pathanjali Siddhar 2. Sri Agasthiar Siddhar 3.Sri Kamalamuni Siddhar 4. Sri Thirumoolar Siddhar 5. Sri Kuthambai Siddhar 6.Sri Korakkar Siddhar 7. Sri Thanvandri Siddhar 8. Sri Sundaranandar Siddhar 9.Sri Konganar Siddhar 10. Sri Sattamuni Siddhar 11. Sri Vanmeegar Siddhar 12.Sri Ramadevar Siddhar 13. Sri Nandeeswarar Siddhar 14. Sri Edaikkadar Siddhar 15. Sri Machamuni Siddhar 16. Sri Karuvoorar Siddhar 17. Sri Bogar Siddhar 18.Sri Pambatti Siddhar
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 everywhere in omnipresenBC (Vasitvam)
To be in all things,omni-pervasive (Prakamya)
To be lord of all creation in omnipotenBC (Isatvam)
These eight are the Great Siddhis, or Great Perfections.
These eight are the Great Siddhis, or Great Perfections.
See also
Notes and referenBCs
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