A siddha is one who has attained siddhi, i.e. "power, prowess, strength, ability", then a special kind of psychic and supernatural, miraculous, occult power. There are eight kinds of super natural powers called as "Ashtama Siddhis":
Anima power of becoming small (the size of an atom and entering the smallest beings).
Mahima or becoming mighty
Lagima, capacity to be light or weightlessness
Garima, capacity to weigh heavy
Prapthi, ability to travel or enter other worlds
Prakasysm, power to enter into other bodies (metempsychosis) and going to heaven and enjoying what everyone aspires for, simply from where he stays.
Isithavam, the creative power and control over objects
Vasithavam, control others (mentally control)
There were many siddhars believed to have had powers both major and other ‘minor’ powers. Compared to other saints, siddhar emphasize knowledge, yoga practice, and character, moral behavior, right conduct. There are many lists of 18 Siddhars. Following 27 appears in many lists. Shiva, Dakshinamoorthy and Dattatreya, appears to be adhi yogis.
One, who has learnt about self, becomes Brahma svarupa (the eternal spirit) and has gone out of the control of time and space. In Rigveda, the name of Adinath and Rishabhadev has been mentioned with great honour and dignity.
“To believe or not believe in god, both concepts are intellectual’’ The followers of Jainism accept Adinath as their first tirthankara. In the Buddhist tradition, Adinath is the source of Avalokiteshvara.
Brief on 27 Siddhars
Agasthiyar was initiated directly by Shiva, adhi yogi and his works include medicine, kaya kalpa, Tamil grammar and yoga. Some of his disciples are Boganathar, Babaji, Thiruvalluvar, Macchamuni. He has attained samadhi at Ananthasayana.
Nandi Devar has been directly initiated by Shiva himself and some of his contributions include medicine, kaya kalpa & Alchemy. Some of his eminent disciples are Thirumoolar, Patanjali, Dakshinamoorthy, Romarishi (Kayilay Kambilisattamuni) & Sattaimuni.
Thirumoolar initiated by Nandi Devar and his contributions include works in yoga and philosophy. His 'Thirumandiram' work is very popular among his works. He has attained samadhi in Chidambaram.
Bognathar or Palani Malai Siddhar was initiated by Kalanginathar and Agastyar. He is a great alchemist of all times. His contributions include yoga, kaya kalpa, medicine, alchemy, natural sciences, philosophy etc. He is the one who has created and installed the idol of Lord Muruga in Palani malai temple. His disciples include Babaji, Konkanavar, Karuvoorar, Pulipani and Idaikadar.
Konkanavar initiated by Boganathar, attained samadhi at Tirupati. His contributions include 25 known works in medicine, yoga, philosophy, religion etc.
Machamuni initiated by Agasthiyar, Punnakeesar and Pasundar attained samadhi at Thiruparrunkundram. Some of his contributions include 10 known works on Hatha yoga, Tantric yoga practices etc. Gorakhnathar is one of his eminent disciples.
Gorakhnathar initiated by Dattatreya, Macchamuni and Allama Prabu attained samadhi at Poyur (Girnar). Some of his contributions include "Avadhuta Gita" and 13 other works, order of ascetics, medicine, alchemy, Hatha Yoga Pradipika classic etc. Goraknathar is also closely associated with Vajrayana (Tantric) Buddhism. He attained Siddha by mastering sound.
Sattaimuni initiated by Nandi Devar & Dakshinamoorthy attained samadhi at Srirangam. His contributions include 46 known works in medicine, alchemy & etc. His disciples include Sundaranandar and Paambatti. He has
Sundaranandar initiated by Sattaimuni & Konkanavar attained samadhi at Kudal (Madurai). Some of his contributions include 24 known works: medicine, philosophy etc.
Ramadevar initiated by Pulastiyar and Karuvoorar attained samadhi at Alagar Malai. Some of his works include 24 known works: mantra shastra, medicine etc. He has
Kudambai initiated by Alukkani Siddha (disciple of Idai Kadar) attained samadhi at Mayavaram. Kudamabi siddhar's contributions included siddha philosophy.
Karuvoorar initiated by Bhoganathar attained samadhi at Karuvai (karur). He is popular for medicinal works.
IdaiKadar initiated by both Bhoganathar and Karuvoorar attained samadhi at Thiruvannamalai. His contributions include two known works in kaya kalpa.
Kamalamuni attained samadhi at Aarur (Tiruvarum). His contributions include two known works on medicine and philosophy.
Pathanjali initiated by Nandi Devar attained samadhi at Rameswaram. He is known for his works on yoga sutras classic.
Dhanvanthri is known for his contributions on medicine, alchemy, kaya kalpa, 22 known works. He has attained samadhi at Vaideeswaran Kovil.
Sivavaakiyar reprimanded mere rituals and caste system. His works reinstates the philosophies of Thirumoolar “All belong to same kind and god is one”. He was a prolific thinker, he has penned lot of songs which is of high social philosophical values. He is a great renunciate (i.e… devoid of all the materialistic desires), who once dropped the gold bars into well given to him by Konganavar Siddhar.
Kaaga Bujandar has reached particularly exalted a high degree of physical and spiritual perfection. His samadhi is at Uraiyur.
தானென்ற பிரமத்தை யடுத்திடாமல் தரணியில் தெய்வமடா அனந்த மென்றும் means - People search God in this world, i.e outside, ignoring that God resides within us.
Paambaati at Sankarankoil (the snake character) may be a true representation of his tribe. He takes the snake for a symbol to represent the human Soul and uses the expression : "AODU PAMBE" (De thou, Dance Snake) at the end of each stanza of his poem. He sings Lord Siva as the Supreme Power of the Universe.
Pattinathar
Pulipaani
Agappei
Azhugani
Kaduveli
Kanjamalai
Chennimalai
Kabilar
Thirumular
Thirumular was a great Yogi in Kailas. He had all the eight major Siddhis through the grace of Nandi, the Vahana of Lord Siva. He was a friend of Agastya Muni. He came down from Kailas and stayed in Kashi. Then he went to Chidambaram and Thiruvavaduthurai and other places near Madras. He worshipped Lord Siva in the temple at Thiruvavaduthurai and stayed there for some time.
Once Thirumular went to a garden on the banks of the river Cauvery. There he saw the dead body of a caretaker of a herd of cows. He noticed that all the cows surrounded the dead body of the cowherd and were crying bitterly. This touched the heart of Thirumular. He pitied the cows very much. He left his body in a certain place and entered the dead body of the cowherd. He looked after the cows throughout the day and sent them back to their respective houses. The wife of the cowherd. Who was not aware of the death of her husband, invited Thirumular who was wearing the physical body of her husband. Thirumular refused. He wanted to enter his own body. When he searched for his body, it was not found in its place Then he thought it was all the grace of Lord Siva. With the body of the cowherd. He went to Aduthuraj and sat underneath an Asvattha tree on the western side of the temple and wrote a valuable book called Thirumantiram in Tamil. It is a book of three hundred verses which contain the essence of the vedas.
"யான்பெற்ற இன்பம் பெறுக இவ் வையகம்
Let the World rejoice the bliss I've realised
வான்பற்றி நின்ற மறைப்பொருள் சொல்லிடின்
The secrets of the Universe, I disclose
ஊன்பற்றி நின்ற உணர்வுறு மந்திரம்
Lies the sensational mantras within oneself
தான்பற்றப் பற்றத் தலைப்படும் தானே"
Recitation of mantras will lead to ultimate bliss
- திருமந்திரம்
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Website maintained by: NARA