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. 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 palmleaf 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. (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.
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.
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:
Anima (shrinking) -- Power of becoming the size of an atom and entering the smallest beings.
Mahima (illimitability) -- Power of becoming mighty and co-extensive with the universe. The power of increasing one's size without limit.
Lagima (lightness) -- Capacity to be quite light though big in size.
Garima (weight) -- Capacity to weigh heavy, though seemingly small size.
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.
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.
Isithavam (supremacy) -- Have the creative power of God and control over the Sun, the moon and the elements
Vasithavam (dominion over the elements) -- Power of control over King and Gods. The power of changing the course of nature and assuming any form.
All Sitthars were among the highest disciples of God Shiva, and are considered equal in their powers and devotion to the supreme God.
Kattikulam Mayandi Swamigal (world powerful siddhar to watch www.soottukkole.org
Eswarapattar
Lord Nandi, principal disciple of God Siva
Agastyar Maha Munivar disciple of Lord Muruga from Anantasayana, head of the monasteries at Pothigai and Kumbakonam
Bogar of Pazhani, disciple of Agathiyar and Kalangi Nathar, 12th c. BCE
Thaeraiyar Muni of Ten Pothigai, disciple of Agastya, 10th c. BCE
Kalaingai Nathar of Kalahastri monastery,10th c.BCE
Korakkar of Paerur, from Thirukonamalai monastery, ?4th c. BCE
Pulippaani of Pazhani
Thadangann Siddhar
BramhaMuni, ?3rd c. BCE
Machamuni of Thirupparankundram, ?3rd c. BCE
Poonaikkannanaar of Egypt, ?3rd c.BCE
Romamunivar of Rome, ?2nd c. BCEKaaraichchiththar, ?2nd c.BCE
Kudhambai Siddhar of Mayilaaduthurai and Kumbakonam, ?2nd c. BCE
Kabilar I of Mithila, 2nd c. BCE.
Kaagaivanna Siddhar[i] of Kediya(South Sri Lanka), from Pothigai monastery, 2nd c. BCE
Dhanvantri from Kasi, of Vaitheeswaran Koil, ?1st c. BCE
Valmiki, aka Vaanmeegar of Ettukkudi, ?1st c. BCE
Maarkkandeyanaar
Koonkannar
Kaalaichchittar II
Konganar of Tirupati, 1st c. BCE
Punnaakkeesar from Naangunaeri, head of Saanganachaeri monastery, 1st c. BCE
Karuvurar from Karuvur monastery
Kaaduvelichchiththar
Aenaathichchittar, 2nd c. CE
Idaikkaadar of Oosimuri(in Thondai Nadu), from ThiruAnnaamalai monastery, ?2nd-3rd c. BCE
Pulasthiyarfrom Maanthai, head of Aavudaiyaar Koil and Yaazhppaanam monasteries, 3rd c. CE
KamalaMuni of Thiruvaarur, ?4th c. BCE
Patanjali of Rameswaram, 4th c. BCE
Azhaganiyaar of Nagapattinam, ?4th c. CE
Kailasanathar, 5th c. CE
Kuranguchchittar of Pazhani, 5th c. CE
Sattaimuni of ThiruArangam, ?5th c. CE
Vaamathevar of Azhagarmalai, ?5th c. CE
Agappaei Siddhar of Azhagarmalai, ?3rd c. CE
Sivavaakkiyar from Kollimalai, of Thirumazhisai monastery, ?4-5th c. CE
Sundarandandar of Madurai, ?5th c. CE
Ramadevar of Azhagarmalai
Thirumoolar from ThiruAaAduthurai, of ThiruAathavoor monastery, head of Thillai Citrambalam[i] monastery, 8th c. BCE
Sri Jnyaaneswar of Gujarat
Kaagapujundar, Leader for all nathats, 8 BCE
VaasaMuni
KoormaMuni
Visvamitrar
Kumbhamuni
Kaduveli of Irumbai
Nandeeswarar of Kasi, from Thillai monastery, 6th c. CE
Pattinattaar of Pugaar, 7th c. CE
Karuvoorar from Karuvoor, of Thanjai monastery, master of Rajaraja Chola, 10th c. CE
Pambatti Siddhar from Jnaneswaram(Sarankovil), of Vilaimalai( Vriddhachalam ) monastery, 15th c.
Vaalai Siddhar of Valangaimaan
Edaikadar II, ?15th c. CE
Ganapathi Siddhar
Subrahmanya Siddhar
Sooriyaananthar
Lokaayuthar
Bathragiriyaar of Badrachalam, from Thillai monastery
Kalunni Siddhar
Naga Siddhar (mahavatar babaji) disciple of Agathiyar and Bogar, 203th,from Himalaya.
ArunaGiri Nathar 1500th,from Thiruvanamalai.
Ramalingam Swamigal Vallalar from Chidambaram.
