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# Sri ] Siddhar - Mercury # Sri ] Siddhar - Mercury
# Sri ] Siddhar - Mercury # Sri ] Siddhar - Mercury
# Sri Pattinathar Siddhar - Sun # Sri ] Siddhar - Sun
# Sri Kaduvelli Siddhar - Sun # Sri Kaduvelli Siddhar - Sun
# Sri ] Siddhar - Venus # Sri ] Siddhar - Venus
# Sri Sennimalai Siddhar - Venus # Sri Sennimalai Siddhar - Venus
# Sri Kapilar Siddhar - Saturn # Sri ] Siddhar - Saturn
# Sri ] Siddhar - Saturn # Sri ] Siddhar - Saturn
# Sri ] - Raghu # Sri ] - Raghu

Revision as of 17:55, 13 April 2023

Tamil wonder-worker and sage

Agastya, believed to be the first Siddhar under the guidance of the lord Murugan.
Pambatti Siddhar Sannidhi at Marudamalai Temple

The Siddhar (Tamil: சித்தர் cittar, from Sanskrit: siddha) in the Tamil tradition, describes a perfected individual, who has attained spiritual powers called siddhis. Their main objective, was to experience Sivam, the supreme consciousness, in their respective human frame, and share this knowledge with others, interested in following their path.

Historically, Siddhar also refers to the people who were early age wandering adepts that dominated ancient Tamil teaching and philosophy. Some Siddhars are iconoclastic rebels whose thoughts are against the organized settled beliefs among the people. They are knowledgeable in science, technology, astronomy, literature, fine arts, music, drama, dance, and provided solutions to common people in their illness and advice for their future. Some of their ideologies are considered to have originated during the First Sangam period.

Practice

Siddhars were typically first scientists, saints, doctors, alchemists, and mystics all in one. They wrote their findings in the form of Tamil poems on palm leaf manuscripts. These are still owned by some families in Tamil Nadu and handed down through the generations, as well as being kept in universities in India, Germany, Great Britain, and the United States.

In this way, Siddhars developed the native Siddha medicine system. A rustic form of healing that is similar to Siddha medicine has since been practiced by experienced elders in the villages of Tamil Nadu. This is referred to as "Paatti Vaitthiyam" (grandmother's medicine) "Naattu Marunthu" (folk medicine) and "Mooligai Marutthuvam" (herbal medicine).

Siddhars are also believed to be the founders of Varma Kalai -- a martial art for self-defense and medical treatment at the same time. Varmam 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-defense, or balancing a physical condition as an easy first-aid medical treatment.

Tamil Siddhars were the first to develop pulse-reading ("naadi paarththal" in Tamil) to identify the origin of diseases.

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.

Siddhars

The Abithana Chintamani encyclopedia states that there were 18 Siddhars, as listed below, but Siddhar Agastya tells us that there are many who precede and follow these 18.

The 18 Siddhars

Karuvoorar.

These are the 18 Siddhars as per the Tamil Siddhar tradition

  1. Nandeeswarar
  2. Tirumular
  3. Agastya
  4. Kamalamuni
  5. Patanjali
  6. Korakkar, Gorakhnath
  7. Sundaranandar
  8. Konganar
  9. Sattaimuni
  10. Vanmeegar
  11. Ramadevar
  12. Dhanvanthri
  13. Idaikkadar
  14. Machamuni
  15. Karuvoorar
  16. Bogar, Laozi
  17. Pambatti Siddhar
  18. Kuthambai

Apart from the 18 Siddhars listed above, there is a further list of 18 Siddhars, who represent the 9 Navagrahas (2 Siddhars representing each heavenly body). All Navagraha doshas/pariharams are performed in respect of the Siddhars as per the Siddhar Velvi (Siddhar Homam). The details of the 18 Siddhars who represent the 9 Navagrahas are as follows:

  1. Sri Sivavakkiyar Siddhar - Moon
  2. Sri Kailaya Kambili Sattai Muni Siddhar - Moon
  3. Sri Bogar Siddhar - Mars
  4. Sri Kaagapujandar Siddhar - Jupiter
  5. Sri Pullipani Siddhar - Mars
  6. Sri Sattaimuni Siddhar - Kethu
  7. Sri Agapai Siddhar - Jupiter
  8. Sri Azhugani Siddhar - Raghu
  9. Sri Kuthambai Siddhar - Kethu
  10. Sri Vallalar Siddhar - Mercury
  11. Sri Idaikkadar Siddhar - Mercury
  12. Sri Pattinathar Siddhar - Sun
  13. Sri Kaduvelli Siddhar - Sun
  14. Sri Kanjamalai Siddhar - Venus
  15. Sri Sennimalai Siddhar - Venus
  16. Sri Kapilar Siddhar - Saturn
  17. Sri Karuvoorar Siddhar - Saturn
  18. Sri Pambatti Siddhar - Raghu

There is a universal shrine for the 18 Siddhars at Madambakkam in Chennai, called the Sri Chakra Mahameru Sri Seshadri Swamigal 18 Siddhars Vrindavana Sakthi Peedam built under the instruction of Sathguru Sri Seshadri Swamigal.

The supreme Siddhar is Lord Shiva himself.

Powers of the Siddhar

The Siddhars are believed to have had both major and minor powers, which are described in detail in various yogic and religious texts. They were also said to have the power of converting their mass to energy and thereby travelling to different universes.

  1. Anima (shrinking) -- Power of becoming the size of an atom and entering the smallest of beings
  2. Mahima (illimitability) -- Power of becoming mighty and co-extensive with the universe. The power of increasing one's size without limit
  3. Laghima (lightness) -- Capacity to be quite light, although appearing large in size
  4. Garima (weight) -- Capacity to be of monumentous weight, although appearing small in size
  5. Prapti (fulfillment of desires) -- Capacity to enter all the worlds, from the Brahma Loga to the nether world. This is the power of attaining everything one desires
  6. Prakasysm (irresistible will) -- Power of disembodying and entering into other bodies, and also travelling to heaven and enjoying what everyone aspires for, simply from where one's body rests
  7. Ishtavam (supremacy) -- Having the creative power of God and as such, control over the Sun, the Moon and the elements
  8. Vashitavam (dominion over the elements) -- Power of control over kings and gods. The power to change the course of nature and to assume any form


These eight are the Great Siddhis (Ashtama siddhis), or Great Perfections.

Some verses from the Siddhars' writings

There are various texts related to health, virtue, medicine, social equality, yoga, etc., which are all available in the Tamil language

A verse from Kaagapujandar's book Gnanam 80:

'தானென்ற பிரமத்தை யடுத்திடாமல்,

தரணியில் தெய்வமடா அனந்த மென்றும்'

'Forgetting to embrace the self-god within,

we search this wide world for various divine solutions'

See also

Notes and references

  1. Tamil Lexicon. University of Madras. p. 1410.
  2. "Sithar Padalgal | தமிழ் இணையக் கல்விக்கழகம் TAMIL VIRTUAL ACADEMY". www.tamilvu.org. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  3. Meditation Revolution: A History and Theology of the Siddha Yoga Lineage. Motilal Banarsidass. 2000. ISBN 9788120816480.
  4. S. Cunjithapatham, M. Arunachalam (1989). Musical tradition of Tamilnadu. International Society for the Investigation of Ancient Civilizations. p. 11.
  5. Journal of Indian history, Volume 38. Dept. of History, University of Kerala. 1960.
  6. Weiss, Richard (2009). Recipes for Immortality : Healing, Religion, and Community in South India: Healing, Religion, and Community in South India. Oxford University Press. p. 80. ISBN 9780199715008.
  7. V. Jayaram. "Study of siddhas". Hinduwebsite.com. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  8. "18 siddhars". Palanitemples.com. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  9. "Siddhars". Sathuragiri.org. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  10. Thirumandiram 668
  11. "Ashtama Siddhis". Siddhars.com. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  12. Vaidhayashala, TKN Siddha Ayurveda (8 April 2018). "சித்தர் நூல்கள் – Siththar books in Tamil | TKN Siddha Ayurveda Vaidhyashala (Hospital)". www.tknsiddha.com. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  13. "Sithar Padalgal | தமிழ் இணையக் கல்விக்கழகம் TAMIL VIRTUAL ACADEMY". www.tamilvu.org. Retrieved 29 December 2022.

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