About Siddha's
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 (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 (irresistable
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 and
- Vasithavam (dominion
over the elements) -- Power of control over King and Gods. The power of
changing the course of nature and assuming any form.
A classical definition of siddhas is given by
Siddhar Thirumoolar: "Those who live in yoga and see the divine light and
power through yoga are the siddhars (Tamil Chittar)".
According to Kamil Zvelebil, there are some
features which are typical for all or almost all siddhars as a body of
thinkers.
- First, in sharp
opposition to the bhakti tradition, they refuse to allow themselves be
carried away by idol worship in particular temples.
- Second, in contrast to
bhakti which emphasizes passionate devotion to God, the siddhar emphasize
knowledge, yoga practice, and character, moral behavior, right conduct.
Anger, lust and egoism are the worst sins.
- Third, almost all
siddhar's raise a protest against caste and casteism.
The whole atmosphere of siddha thinking is
empirical and experimental. Their writings are not in the nature of clear cut
formalized statements of any well defined doctrine. Hence, it is difficult to
extricate a philosophical system out of their writings, at least at the present
state of our knowledge of their works. However, it is possible to point out a
few essential features, and one day, when their writings are better known, it
should be possible to state their philosophy more explicitly.
This web site is devoted to publishing the works
of siddhars for the internet community. Most of the works are available only in
Tamil and it is possible that the author of document interprets things in his
own way while translating the original text. An attempt is made to present
information about siddhars here.
The 18 Siddhars
There are 18 siddhars in the tamil siddha
tradition. Each of the siddhars had lived in varied places under different
names. The following are most common names of the 18 siddhars. They are listed
in the order of their time period.
- Pathanjali Siddhar
- Agasthiar Siddhar
- Kamalamuni Siddhar
- Thirumoolar Siddhar
- Kuthambai Siddhar
- Korakkar Siddhar
- Thanvandri Siddhar
- Sundaranandar Siddhar
- Konganar Siddhar
- Sattamuni Siddhar
- Vanmeegar Siddhar
- Ramadevar Siddhar
- Nandeeswarar Siddhar
- Edaikkadar Siddhar
- Machamuni Siddhar
- Karuvoorar Siddhar
- Bogar Siddhar
- Pambatti Siddhar
The Other Siddhars
Apart from the 18 siddhars given above, there are
also other siddhars. It is possible that the siddhars given below are the same
siddhars (the 18 siddhars), but under different name. They might also be the
disciples of the siddhars, who by the process 'Transmigration of Souls' became
the one and same as the Guru himself. Only a true Siddha Yogi shall do any
classification with full confidence.
- Sivavakkiyar
- Pattinattar
- (List to be expanded
later)
Table of 18 Siddhars
Sl. No
|
Name of the Siddhar
|
Tamil month of Birth
|
Tamil Birth Star
|
Duration of Life
|
Place of Samadhi
|
1
|
Sri Pathanjali
|
Panguni
|
Moolam
|
5 Yugas 7 Days
|
Rameswaram
|
2
|
Sri Agasthiar
|
Markazhi
|
Aayilyam
|
4 Yugas 48 Days
|
Thiruvananthapuram
|
3
|
Sri Kamalamuni
|
Vaikasi
|
Poosam
|
4000 Years 48 Days
|
Thiruvarur
|
4
|
Sri Thirumoolar
|
Purattathi
|
Avittam
|
3000 Years 13 Days
|
Chidambaram
|
5
|
Sri Kuthambai
|
Aadi
|
Visagam
|
1800 Years 16 Days
|
Mayavaram
|
6
|
Sri Korakkar
|
Karthigai
|
Aayilyam
|
880 Years 11 Days
|
Perur
|
7
|
Sri Thanvandri
|
Iyppasi
|
Punarpoosam
|
800 Years 32 Days
|
Vaideeswarankoil
|
8
|
Sri Sundaranandar
|
Aavani
|
Revathi
|
800 Years 28 Days
|
Madurai
|
9
|
Sri Konganar
|
Chitthirai
|
Utthiradam
|
800 Years 16 Days
|
Titupathi
|
10
|
Sri Sattamuni
|
Aavani
|
Mrigasirisham
|
800 Years 14 Days
|
Thiruvarangam
|
11
|
Sri Vaanmeegar / Valmiki
|
Purattasi
|
Anusham
|
700 Years 32 Days
|
Ettukudi
|
12
|
Sri Ramadevar
|
Masi
|
Pooram
|
700 Years 06 Days
|
Azhagarmalai
|
13
|
Sri Nandeeswarar
|
Vaikasi
|
Visagam
|
700 Years 03 Days
|
Kasi
|
14
|
Sri Edaikkadar
|
Purattasi
|
Thiruvadirai
|
600 Years 18 Days
|
Tiruvannamalai
|
15
|
Sri Machamuni
|
Aadi
|
Rohini
|
300 Years 62 Days
|
Thiruparankundram
|
16
|
Sri Karuvoorar
|
Chitthirai
|
Hastham
|
300 Years 42 Days
|
Karuvur
|
17
|
Sri Bogar
|
Vaikasi
|
Bharani
|
300 Years 18 Days
|
Pazhani
|
18
|
Sri Pambatti
|
Karthigai
|
Mrigasirisham
|
123 Years 14 Days
|
Sankarankoil
|