SIDDHARKOOTAM FROM TAMIL NADU

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.[1] 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.
Contents[hide]
1 All Siddhars in order
1.1 The 9 siddhars
1.2 The 18 siddhars
2 Powers of siddhars
3 See also
4 Notes and references
5 External links
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[edit] All Siddhars in order
All Sitthars were among the highest disciples of God Shiva, and are considered equal in their powers and devotion to the supreme God.
Lord Nandi, principal disciple of God Siva
Agastyar Maha Munivar disciple of Lord Muruga from Anantasayana, head of the monasteries at Pothigai and Kumbakonam
Boagar 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. BCE
Kaaraichchiththar, ?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

[edit] The 9 siddhars
The 9 listed as Abithana Chintamani states is as follows:
Sathyanathar
Sadhoganathar
Aadhinathar
Anadhinathar
Vegulinathar
Madhanganathar
Machaendranathar
Gadaendranathar or Gajendranathar
Korakkanathar

[edit] The 18 siddhars
The list of 18 siddhars is:
Agastyar
Bogar
Korakkar
Kalanginathar
SattaiMuni
Tirumoolar
Nandhi
Therayar
Konganar
MachaMuni
Karuvoorar
Patanjaliyar
Edaikaadar
KamalaMuni
Punnakeesar
Sundarandandar
Romarishi
Pulipani

[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:
To become tiny as the atom within the atom (Anima)
To become big in unshakeable proportions (Mahima)
To become as light as vapour in levitation (Laghima)
To become as heavy as the mountain (Garima)
To enter into other bodies in transmigration (Prapti)
To be in all things,omni-pervasive (Prakamya)
To be lord of all creation in omnipotence (Isatvam)
To be everywhere in omnipresence (Vasitvam)
These eight are the Great Siddhis, or Great Perfections.

[edit] See also
Siddha
Thirumoolar
Thirumandhiram
Bogar
Kumba Muni
Avaiyar
Abithana Chintamani - Encyclopedia of Tamil Literature
Ayyavazhi mythology
Nayanmars
Mahasiddha
nyanasiddha

[edit] Notes and references
^ Swami Sivananda, The Science of Pranayama, page 4

[edit] External links
Thamizh Siddhars Info Page
Shaivism Home page
Idai Kaattu Siddhar Home Page