Siddhar

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In old Tamil, "Siththu" means "of Siva", thus Siththar refer to "the disciples of God Siva" . Legend says that God Siva and Lord Muruga prescribed the sciences of the study of the eternal mind and the perfection of health, and the science of Tamil traditional medicine, to their beloved disciple Nanthi, the saint Bull. Nanthi, in turn, taught sage Agastya these chapters and whence commenced the legacy of Siddhar monasteries.

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. They 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. Easier and common medications from 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 also wrote 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 nowadays is Patanjali, the author of the Yoga-Sutra. Another prominent personality is Agasthyar, 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.

Contents

[edit] All Siddhars in order

Sitthar Karuvooraar, with his disciple Rajaraja Chola, found in the Sanctum sanctorum of Peruvudaiyaar Koil, Thanjai, 10th c. CE
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Sitthar Karuvooraar, with his disciple Rajaraja Chola, found in the Sanctum sanctorum of Peruvudaiyaar Koil, Thanjai, 10th c. CE

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

  1. Lord Nandi, principal disciple of God Siva and Lord Muruga
  2. Lord Parasuram of Vallam, head of Celloor monastery
  3. Agastyar from Anantasayana, head of the monasteries at Pothigai and Kumbakonam
  4. Poagar of Pazhani, disciple of Agastya, 6th c. BCE( rough estimate )
  5. Thaeraiyar of Ten Pothigai, disciple of Agastya, 6th 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 Thirupathi, 1st c. BCE
  23. Punnaakkeesar from Naangunaeri, head of Saanganachaeri monastery, 1st c. BCE
  24. Kaalangicchitthar of Kanchipuram, ?2nd c. CE
  25. Kaaduvelichchiththar
  26. Aenaathichchittar, 2nd c. CE
  27. Idaikkaadar of Oosimuri(in Thondai Nadu), from ThiruAnnaamalai monastery, ?2nd-3rd c. CE
  28. Pulasthiyarfrom Maanthai, head of Aavudaiyaar Koil and Yaazhppaanam monasteries, 3rd c. CE
  29. KamalaMuni of Thiruvaarur, ?4th c. CE
  30. Pathanjali of Rameswaram, 4th c. CE
  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, 6th c. CE
  41. Sri Jnyaaneswar of Gujarat
  42. Later Siddhars include -Thirujnana Sambanthar, 7th c. CE
  43. Arunagirinaathar of ThiruAnnaamalai, 7th c. CE
  44. Kaagapusundar, disciple of Thirujnana Sambanthar, 7th c. CE
  45. VaasaMuni
  46. KoormaMuni
  47. Kumbhamuni
  48. Nandeeswarar of Kasi, from Thillai monastery, 6th c. CE
  49. Pattinattaar of Pugaar, 7th c. CE
  50. Avvaiyaar III, ?8th c. CE
  51. Karuvoorar from Karuvoor, of Thanjai monastery, master of Rajaraja Chola, 10th c. CE
  52. Pambatti Siddhar from Jnaneswaram( near Dwaraka, in Gujarat ), of Vilaimalai( Vriddhachalam ) monastery, 15th c. CE
  53. Vaalaichchaami of Valangaimaan
  54. Edaikadar II, ?15th c. CE
  55. Ganapathi Siddhar
  56. Subrahmanya Siddhar
  57. Sooriyaananthar
  58. Lokaayuthar
  59. Bathragiriyaar of Badrachalam, from Thillai monastery
  60. Kaesayogi of Badri-Khedarnath
  61. Sri Ramana Magarishi of ThiruAnnaamalai, 19th c. CE
  62. Vethathiri Maharishi
  63. [Gnana]Sri Gnana Sekar

The 9 list 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-list of siddhars is:

  1. Agastyar
  2. Bogar
  3. Korakkar
  4. Kailasanathar
  5. SattaiMuni
  6. Tirumoolar
  7. Nandhi
  8. Koonkannar
  9. Konganar
  10. MachaMuni
  11. VaasaMuni
  12. KoormaMuni
  13. Edaikaadar
  14. KamalaMuni
  15. Punnakeesar
  16. Sundarandandar
  17. Romarishi
  18. BramhaMuni

[edit] 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.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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