Siddhar

Siddhar Agastya, head of the Siddhar Gnana Koottam, under the guidance of Lord Kartikeya, Celestial King of Lemuria

Pambatti Siddhar Sannidhi at Marudamalai Temple

Siddhar (Tamil: சித்தர் cittar, Sanskrit: siddha) 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 decided at a young age, to become wandering ascetics and mendicants, and explore consciousness; ancient psychonauts, if you will. They dominated the ancient Tamil academic landscape with regards to health, alchemy and philosophy. They were iconoclastic philosophers and scientists, whose ideas and views challenged the norms of the time, and still do today. They were knowledgeable in alchemy, technology, astrology, medicine and the fine arts. 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, from their own accounts, were born into the families of potters, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, merchants, fishermen and shepherds. One of their number, was a snake-catcher (Pambatti Siddhar) by profession. 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 ponder life's mysteries. By virtue of their austere penance (Tapasya), they developed Siddhis, but these were and are distractions on the path. Returning later, upon completion of their Tapasya, to live with us as poets, saints, philosophers, physicians and alchemists, to share their knowledge with everyone, irrespective of gender, creed or caste. They recorded their discoveries, 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 of which 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; possibly to control the dissemination of this knowledge, to present their biased views, using only their interpretation to support said views.

The Siddhars developed the Siddhar medicine system, the oldest traditional system of healthcare originating in India. The basic tenets of this system 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 saying, common amongst those familiar with the system, 'Food is medicine and medicine is food'. A rustic form of healing, inspired by the Siddhar medicine system, is 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 in Tamil Nadu, which pilgrims frequent to this day. Siddhar Agastya, who gave us the Tamil language, took up residence in Pothigai.

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. Siddhar Agastya was the head of the Siddhar Gnana Koottam, a Siddhar collective, that was inaugrated by Lord Kartikeya. Together they furthered research in various fields, pertaining to their respective strengths. Siddhar Bhogar established an alchemical research centre in Thiruparankundram, leading the scientific division, Pulastya developed literature and Pambatti Siddhar headed a team researching venom at his centre in Marudhamalai.

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.

Spiritual lineage : Maharishi Nandinath → Sundaranandar, who later becomes Tirumular → → → Kadaitswami → Chellappaswami → Siva Yogaswami → Sivaya Subramuniyaswami → Bodhinatha Veylanswami

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. Bhogar, 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). Special homams and poojas have been devised in order to invoke and obtain the blessing of these Siddhars to negate any malefic effect the Navagrahas might have on one's material life. The details of the 18 Siddhars who represent the 9 Navagrahas are as follows:

1. Sri Pattinathar Siddhar - Sun, Surya
2. Sri Kaduveli Siddhar - Sun, Surya
3. Sri Vallalar Siddhar - Mercury, Budha
4. Sri Idaikkadar Siddhar - Mercury, Budha
5. Sri Kanjamalai Siddhar - Venus, Shukra
6. Sri Chennimalai Siddhar - Venus, Shukra
7. Sri Bhogar Siddhar - Mars, Mangala
8. Sri Pullipani Siddhar - Mars, Mangala
9. Sri Sivavakkiyar Siddhar - Moon, Chandra
10. Sri Kailaya Kambili Sattaimuni Siddhar - Moon, Chandra
11. Sri Kaagapujandar Siddhar - Jupiter, Brhaspati
12. Sri Agapai Siddhar - Jupiter, Brhaspati
13. Sri Kapilar Siddhar - Saturn, Shani
14. Sri Karuvoorar Siddhar - Saturn, Shani
15. Sri Azhugani Siddhar - Rahu
16. Sri Pambatti Siddhar - Rahu
17. Sri Sattaimuni Siddhar - Ketu
18. Sri Kuthambai Siddhar - Ketu

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 had both major and minor Siddhis, these are described in detail in various yogic and religious texts, like the Tirumantiram. They had the power to convert their mass to energy and thereby achieve teleportation to different galaxies without any external means. They were also able to move their awareness into lifeless bodies, reanimating them; as in the case of Sundaranandar transferring his being into the body of the dead cowherd Moolan, because the cows Moolan had been tending to were mourning their loss and as such Sundaranandar felt sorry for them.

1. Anima -- the power to reduce the size of one's physical self to become as tiny as the atom within an atom.
2. Laghima -- the power to be weightless or become as light as vapour, allowing for levitation.
3. Mahima -- the power to increase the size of one's physical self to infinite proportions, to become big and of unshakeable proportions.
4. Prapti -- the power to transcend time.
5. Prakamya -- the power to transmigrate one's soul into the mortal coils of other beings
6. Isavatam -- the power to be lord of all creation, to be omni-potent and be inextricably one with Sivam
7. Vasitvam -- the power to be in all things, to be omni-pervasive. To perceive Sivam in all beings that come within one's reach
8. Kamarutatva -- the power be everywhere and pervade all space, to be omnipresent and visit all worlds with one's physical body inert and stationary

These eight are the Great Siddhis (Ashtama Siddhis), or Great Perfections. Apart from the Siddhars, only Hanuman the Vayuputra is known to wield all the 8 Ashtama Siddhis, being an avatar of Lord Shiva.

Verses from the Siddhars' works

Some of their compiled works, 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 all available in the Tamil language. Some have been translated into English, such as the Tirumantiram. Their poetry can be interpreted in a number of ways, subjective and dependant upon the spiritual attainment of the seeker.

A verse from Kaagapujandar's Gnanam 80:

'தானென்ற பிரமத்தை யடுத்திடாமல்,

Thaanendrra brahmaiththai yaduthedaamal

தரணியில் தெய்வமடா அனந்த மென்றும்'

Tharanneyyil deivamadaa anantha mendrrum

'Forgetting to embrace the self-god within,

We search this wide world for various divine solutions'

A verse from Thirumoolar's Tirumantiram; Tantra 3, Verse 725:

'உடம்பினை முன்னம் இழுக்கு என்று இருந்தேன்

Udampinai munnam izhukkendru irundhaen

உடம்பினுக்கு உள்ளே உறு பொருள் கண்டேன்

Udampinukkulle uruporul kandeen

உடம்பு உளே உத்தமன் கோயில் கொண்டான் என்று

Udampule uthaman kovil kondaanendru

உடம்பினை யான் இருந்து ஓம்பு கின்றேனே'

Udampinai yaanirundhu ombuginraenae

'There was a time when I despised the body;

But then I saw the self-god residing within

And the body, I realised, is the Lord's temple

And so I began preserving it with care infinite'

See also

• Abithana Chintamani
• Avvaiyar
• Ayyavazhi mythology
• Bogar
• Mahasiddha
• Maruttuvar community
• Nayanars
• Siddha
• Tirumandhiram

External links

• Thamizh Siddhars Info Page
• Shaivism Home page
• The 18 Siddhars
• 18 Siddhar details
• Tamil Virtual Academy