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Siddhar

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Agastya, believed to be the first Siddhar, under the guidance of Lord Kartikeya, Celestial King of Lemuria
Pambatti Siddhar Sannidhi at Marudamalai Temple

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

Historically, the term Siddhar referred to individuals who were at a young age, wandering ascetics. They dominated the ancient Tamil academic landscape with regards to health, alchemy and philosophy. The Siddhars were iconoclastic philosophers and scientists, whose ideas and views challenged the norms of the time, and still do today . They were knowledgeable in science, technology, astronomy, literature, fine arts, music, drama and dance. They provided various solutions to remedy ailments and illness amongst the population, as well as advice for future generations to come . Most of their ideologies have their origins in the First Sangam period .

Background

Siddhars were typically potters, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, merchants and shepherds. They chose, during the course of their lives, to relinquish the material and live as wandering ascetics, in the quest to experience the supreme consciousness and find answers to life's mysteries. By virtue of their austere penance, they developed Siddhis, but these were and are distractions on the path. They later returned as poets, saints, scientists, physicians and alchemists to share their knowledge with anyone who would listen. They wrote down their findings in the form of cryptic Tamil poetry on to palm leaf manuscripts. These manuscripts are still owned by some families in Tamil Nadu and are handed down through the generations. Some are kept at universities in India, Germany, Great Britain, and the United States . There is an overall reluctance to translate these manuscripts and share this knowledge with a wider audience.

The Siddhars developed the Siddhar medicine system, the oldest traditional system of healthcare originating in India. The basic tenets of this system for healthy living, are food and lifestyle. It is a holistic and sustainable way of delivering healthcare, as it is largely preventative and focused on rejuvenation and prolongation. There is a common saying amongst those familiar with this system, 'Food is medicine and medicine is food' . A rustic form of healing, inspired by the Siddhar medicine system, continues to be practiced today, by experienced elders in the villages of Tamil Nadu, 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 used for self-defense. It can also be harnessed as a form of medical treatment, depending on how it is applied. Varmam, are vital energy points located in the human body which serve as concentrations of life energy , the manipulation of which, can produce various results, such as disabling an attacker for self-defense, or for mitigating a physical condition as an easy first-aid medical treatment in the field.

The Siddhars were first to develop pulse-reading ("naadi paarththal") to identify the origin of illnesses and physical conditions.

The Siddhars wrote many such cryptic Tamil poems pertaining to our human existence, as well as describing alchemical processes. It is believed that most of them have lived for centuries, if not millenia, in and out of states of samadhi. Their base of operations was Sathuragiri, a mountain range near Thaaniparai village, Tamil Nadu, which pilgrims frequent to this day.

The 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.

According to Saiva Siddhanta tradition, Nandeeswarar is considered to be chief among the Siddhars and was initiated by Father Shiva and Mother Parvati. He passed on what he had learned to his 8 disciples, namely, the Four Kumaras, Sundaranandar who later becomes Tirumular by a chance happening, Vyagrapada (who is also known as Pullipani) , Patanjali, and Sivayoga Muni. They were sent in 8 different directions, to spread wisdom. His teachings continue to be upheld today by the Nandinatha Sampradaya, a line of gurus descending directly from Maharishi Nandinatha himself .

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. Dhanvantari
  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 with due respect to 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 Sattaimuni 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 Kaduveli 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 these 18 Siddhars from the 2nd list, 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 Siddhis, these 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 achieving travel to different universes without external means of transportation.

  1. Anima -- the power to reduce the size of one's physical self to that of an atom
  2. Mahima -- the power to increase the size of one's physical self to infinite proportions
  3. Laghima -- the power to be weightless, so that one's physical body can levitate and fly
  4. Garima -- the power make one's physical self be of monumentous weight, so that one's physical self is rendered immovable
  5. Prapti -- the power to construct anything one wills anywhere, instantaneously
  6. Prakamya -- the power to obtain or become whatever one wills, to manifest one's desires instantaneously
  7. Ishtavam -- the power to have control over everything and everyone, over all elements of the universe
  8. Vashitavam -- the power over life and death


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

A verse from the Siddhars' writings

Their compiled works, all in the form of the aforementioned cryptic poetry, addressing topics such as health, science, social equality, alchemy, yoga and the nature of our existence., are available in the Tamil language . Their poetry can be interpreted in a number of ways, subjective and dependant on the spiritual attainment of the seeker.

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. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (2006). Lemurian Scrolls: Angelic Prophecies Revealing Human Origins. Himalayan Academy Publications. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-945497-79-0.
  2. Tamil Lexicon. University of Madras. p. 1410.
  3. "Sithar Padalgal | தமிழ் இணையக் கல்விக்கழகம் TAMIL VIRTUAL ACADEMY". www.tamilvu.org. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  4. Meditation Revolution: A History and Theology of the Siddha Yoga Lineage. Motilal Banarsidass. 2000. ISBN 9788120816480.
  5. S. Cunjithapatham, M. Arunachalam (1989). Musical tradition of Tamilnadu. International Society for the Investigation of Ancient Civilizations. p. 11.
  6. Journal of Indian history, Volume 38. Dept. of History, University of Kerala. 1960.
  7. 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.
  8. V. Jayaram. "Study of siddhas". Hinduwebsite.com. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  9. Siddha System of Medicine: The Science of Holistic Health (PDF). Ministry of Ayush. pp. xxiv.
  10. WHO international standard terminologies on Siddha medicine. World Health Organization. p. 32.
  11. "IN THE LAND OF THE SIDDHAS". www.sutrajournal.com. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  12. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (2003). Dancing with Siva: Hinduism's Contemporary Catechism. Himalayan Academy Publications. ISBN 978-0-945497-89-9.
  13. "18 siddhars". Palanitemples.com. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  14. "Siddhars". Sathuragiri.org. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  15. "Siddha Bhoganathar: An Oceanic Life Story". www.palani.org. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  16. "SHAKING THE TREE: Kundalini Yoga, Spiritual Alchemy, & the Mysteries of the Breath in Bhogar's 7000". www.alchemywebsite.com. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  17. "Parihara Poojas". www.seshadri.info. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  18. "IN THE LAND OF THE SIDDHAS". www.sutrajournal.com. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  19. "Parihara Poojas". www.seshadri.info. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  20. Thirumandiram 668
  21. "Ashtama Siddhis". Siddhars.com. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  22. 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.
  23. "Sithar Padalgal | தமிழ் இணையக் கல்விக்கழகம் TAMIL VIRTUAL ACADEMY". www.tamilvu.org. Retrieved 29 December 2022.

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