SIDDHARS
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. Yogic powers called Siddhis are acquired by constant practice of certain yogic disciplines. Those who acquire these Siddhis are called Siddhas. Siddhars 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. A rustic form of healing that is similar to 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 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
One of the best-known Siddhars was Agasthyar or Agasthya, 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.
All Siddhars were among the highest disciples of God Shiva, and are considered equal in their powers and devotion to the supreme God.
The 18-list of siddhars is:
1 Agastyar 2 Bogar 3 Korakkar 4 Kailasanathar 5 SattaiMuni 6 Tirumoolar 7 Nandhi 8 Poonaikannar 9 Konganar 10 MachaMuni 11 Karuvoorar 12 KoormaMuni 13 Edaikaadar 14 KamalaMuni 15 Punnakeesar 16 Sundarandandar 17 Romarishi 18 Pulipani
Powers of siddharsThe 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)
