Siddhars (Tamil: சித்தர்) 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.^[1] These sidhars can be compared to Mystics of the western civilization. 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 leaves 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 all over the world (India, Germany, Great Britain, U.S.A.).^[2]

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. (This has been misunderstood as Paatti Vaitthiyam, Naattu marunthu and Mooligai marutthuvam. While paati vaitthiyam or naatu marunthu is traditional Tamil medicine and mooligai marutthuvam is ayurvedic medicine.) They are also founders of Varmam - a martial art for self-defence 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-defence, 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. This method was later copied and used in ayurvedha.^[3]

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.

Some Siddhars [link]

The 9 siddhars [link]

The 9 listed 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 siddhars [link]

There are 18 siddhars in the Tamil siddha tradition. They are^[4][5]

1. Sri Patanjali Siddhar
2. Sri Agastya Siddhar
3. Sri Kamalamuni Siddhar
4. Sri Thirumoolar Siddhar
5. Sri Kuthambai Siddhar
6. Sri Korakkar Siddhar
7. Sri Thanvandri Siddhar
8. Sri Konganar Siddhar
9. Sri Sattamuni Siddhar
10. Sri Vanmeegar Siddhar
11. Sri Ramadevar Siddhar
12. Sri Nandeeswarar (Nandidevar) Siddhar
13. Sri Edaikkadar Siddhar
14. Sri Machamuni Siddhar
15. Sri Karuvoorar Siddhar
16. Sri Bogar Siddhar
17. Pambatti Siddhar
18. Sundarandandar

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

1. Eswarapattar
2. Lord Nandi, principal disciple of God Siva
3. Agastyar Maha Munivar disciple of Lord Muruga from Anantasayana, head of the monasteries at Pothigai and Kumbakonam
4. Bogar of Pazhani, disciple of Agathiyar and Kalangi Nathar, 12th c. BCE
5. Thaeraiyar Muni of Ten Pothigai, disciple of Agastya, 10th c. BCE
6. Kalaingai Nathar of Kalahastri monastery,10th c.BCE
7. Korakkar of Paerur, from Thirukonamalai monastery, ?4th c. BCE
8. Pulippaani of Pazhani
9. Thadangann Siddhar
10. BramhaMuni, ?3rd c. BCE
11. Machamuni of Thirupparankundram, ?3rd c. BCE
12. Poonaikkannanaar of Egypt, ?3rd c.BCE
13. Romamunivar of Rome, ?2nd c. BCE
14. Kaaraichchiththar, ?2nd c.BCE
15. Kudhambai Siddhar of Mayilaaduthurai and Kumbakonam, ?2nd c. BCE
16. Kabilar I of Mithila, 2nd c. BCE.
17. Kaagaivanna Siddhar[i] of Kediya(South Sri Lanka), from Pothigai monastery, 2nd c. BCE
18. Dhanvantri from Kasi, of Vaitheeswaran Koil, ?1st c. BCE
19. Valmiki, aka Vaanmeegar of Ettukkudi, ?1st c. BCE
20. Maarkkandeyanaar
21. Koonkannar
22. Kaalaichchittar II
23. Konganar of Tirupati, 1st c. BCE
24. Punnaakkeesar from Naangunaeri, head of Saanganachaeri monastery, 1st c. BCE
25. Karuvurar from Karuvur monastery
26. Kaaduvelichchiththar
27. Aenaathichchittar, 2nd c. CE
28. Idaikkaadar of Oosimuri(in Thondai Nadu), from ThiruAnnaamalai monastery, ?2nd-3rd c. BCE
29. Pulasthiyarfrom Maanthai, head of Aavudaiyaar Koil and Yaazhppaanam monasteries, 3rd c. CE
30. KamalaMuni of Thiruvaarur, ?4th c. BCE
31. Patanjali of Rameswaram, 4th c. BCE
32. Azhaganiyaar of Nagapattinam, ?4th c. CE
33. Kailasanathar^{[disambiguation needed ]}, 5th c. CE
34. Kuranguchchittar of Pazhani, 5th c. CE
35. Sattaimuni of ThiruArangam, ?5th c. CE
36. Vaamathevar of Azhagarmalai, ?5th c. CE
37. Agappaei Siddhar of Azhagarmalai, ?3rd c. CE
38. Sivavaakkiyar from Kollimalai, of Thirumazhisai monastery, ?4-5th c. CE
39. Sundarandandar of Madurai, ?5th c. CE
40. Ramadevar of Azhagarmalai
41. Thirumoolar from ThiruAaAduthurai, of ThiruAathavoor monastery, head of Thillai Citrambalam[i] monastery, 8th c. BCE
42. Sri Jnyaaneswar of Gujarat
43. Kaagapujundar, Leader for all nathats, 8 BCE
44. VaasaMuni
45. KoormaMuni
46. Visvamitrar
47. Kumbhamuni
48. Kaduveli of Irumbai
49. Nandeeswarar of Kasi, from Thillai monastery, 6th c. CE
50. Pattinattaar of Pugaar, 7th c. CE
51. Karuvoorar from Karuvoor, of Thanjai monastery, master of Rajaraja Chola, 10th c. CE
52. Pambatti Siddhar from Jnaneswaram(Sarankovil), of Vilaimalai( Vriddhachalam ) monastery, 15th c.
53. Vaalai Siddhar 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. Kalunni Siddhar
61. Naga Siddhar (mahavatar babaji) disciple of Agathiyar and Bogar, 203th,from Himalaya
62. ArunaGiri Nathar 1500th,from Thiruvanamalai
63. Ramalingam Swamigal Vallalar from Chidambaram

Powers of siddhars [link]

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. Anima (shrinking) -- Power of becoming the size of an atom and entering the smallest beings.
2. Mahima (illimitability) -- Power of becoming mighty and co-extensive with the universe. The power of increasing one's size without limit.
3. Lagima (lightness) -- Capacity to be quite light though big in size.
4. Garima (weight) -- Capacity to weigh heavy, though seemingly small size.
5. Prapthi (fulfillment of desires) -- Capacity to enter all the worlds from Brahma Loga to the neither world. It is the power of attaining everything desired.
6. Prakasysm (irresistible will) -- Power of disembodying and entering into other bodies (metempsychosis) and going to heaven and enjoying what everyone aspires for, simply from where he stays.
7. Isithavam (supremacy) -- Have the creative power of God and control over the Sun, the moon and the elements
8. Vasithavam (dominion over the elements) -- Power of control over King and Gods. The power of changing the course of nature and assuming any form.

These eight are the Great Siddhis(Ashtama siddhis), or Great Perfections.^[6]

See also [link]

• Siddha
• Thirumoolar
• Thirumandhiram
• Bogar
• Kumba Muni
• Avaiyar
• Abithana Chintamani - Encyclopedia of Tamil Literature
• Ayyavazhi mythology
• Nayanmars
• Mahasiddha

Notes and references [link]

External links [link]

• siddha.html
• Thamizh Siddhars Info Page
• Shaivism Home page
• Idai Kaattu Siddhar Home Page
• Karur Siddha Doctor Home Page