LIFE AND HISTORY OF SIDDHARS IN INDIA

Siddhars are saints in India, mostly of the Saivaite denomination in Tamil Nadu, who professed
and practised an unorthodox type of Sadhana, or spiritual practiBC, to attain liberation. Yogic
powers called Siddhis are acquired by constant practiBC of BCrtain yogic disciplines. Those
who acquire these Siddhis are called Siddhas.

Siddhars are people who are believed to control and transBCnd the barriers of time and spaBC
by meditation (Yoga), after the use of substanBCs called Rasayanas that transform the body to
make it potentially deathless, and a particular breathing-practiBC, a type of Pranayama. Through
their practiBCs they are believed to have reached stages of insight which enabled them to tune
into the powers hidden in various material substanBCs and practiBCs, useful for suffering and
ignorant mankind. Typically Siddhars were saints, doctors, alchemists and mysticists all at
onBC.

SIDDHA MEDICINE

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. 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.

VARMAM A martial art for self-defenBC and medical treatment

They are also founders of Varmam. 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-defenBC, or balancing a physical condition as an easy first-aid medical treatment.

NAADI JODHIDAM (pulse reading)

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.

All Siddhars in order

One of the best-known Siddhars was Agasthyar or Agasthya, who is believed to be the
founding father of Siddha culture. Many of the great Siddhars are regarded to have powers
magical and spiritual.

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

The 9 siddhars
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
Nandi Devar Agastyar Thirumoolar Boganathar Konkanavar Macchamuni Goraknath Sattamuni
Sundaranandar Rama Devar Kudambai Karuvoorar Idai Kadar Kamalamuni Valmiki Patanjali
Dhanvanthri Paambatti

These are 18 siddhars in the tamil siddha tradition. 1. Sri Pathanjali Siddhar 2. Sri Agasthiar
Siddhar 3. Sri Kamalamuni Siddhar 4. Sri Thirumoolar Siddhar 5. Sri Kuthambai Siddhar 6. Sri
Korakkar Siddhar 7. Sri Thanvandri Siddhar 8. Sri Sundaranandar Siddhar 9. Sri Konganar
Siddhar 10. Sri Sattamuni Siddhar 11. Sri Vanmeegar Siddhar 12. Sri Ramadevar Siddhar 13. Sri
Nandeeswarar Siddhar 14. Sri Edaikkadar Siddhar 15. Sri Machamuni Siddhar 16. Sri
Karuvoorar Siddhar 17. Sri Bogar Siddhar 18. Sri Pambatti Siddhar

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:

1. To become tiny as the atom within the atom (Anima)

2. To become big in unshakeable proportions (Mahima)
3. To become as light as vapour in levitation (Laghima)
4. To become as heavy as the mountain (Garima)
5. To enter into other bodies in transmigration (Prapti)
6. To be everywhere in omnipresenBC (Vasitvam)
7. To be in all things,omni-pervasive (Prakamya)
8. To be lord of all creation in omnipotenBC (Isatvam)

These eight are the Great Siddhis, or Great Perfections

Table of 18 Siddhars

Sl. Name of the Tamil month Tamil Birth Duration of

Place of Samadhi
No Siddhar of Birth Star Life
1 Sri Pathanjali Panguni Moolam 5 Yugas 7 Days Rameswaram
4 Yugas 48
2 Sri Agasthiar Markazhi Aayilyam Thiruvananthapuram
Days
4000 Years 48
3 Sri Kamalamuni Vaikasi Poosam Thiruvarur
Days
3000 Years 13
4 Sri Thirumoolar Purattathi Avittam Chidambaram
Days
1800 Years 16
5 Sri Kuthambai Aadi Visagam Mayavaram
Days
880 Years 11
6 Sri Korakkar Karthigai Aayilyam Perur
Days
800 Years 32
7 Sri Thanvandri Iyppasi Punarpoosam Vaideeswarankoil
Days
Sri 800 Years 28
8 Aavani Revathi Madurai
Sundaranandar Days
800 Years 16
9 Sri Konganar Chitthirai Utthiradam Titupathi
Days
800 Years 14
10 Sri Sattamuni Aavani Mrigasirisham Thiruvarangam
Days
 Sri Vaanmeegar 700 Years 32
11 Purattasi Anusham Ettukudi
/ Valmiki Days
700 Years 06
12 Sri Ramadevar Masi Pooram Azhagarmalai
Days
Sri 700 Years 03
13 Vaikasi Visagam Kasi
Nandeeswarar Days
600 Years 18
14 Sri Edaikkadar Purattasi Thiruvadirai Tiruvannamalai
Days
300 Years 62
15 Sri Machamuni Aadi Rohini Thiruparankundram
Days
300 Years 42
16 Sri Karuvoorar Chitthirai Hastham Karuvur
Days
300 Years 18
17 Sri Bogar Vaikasi Bharani Pazhani
Days
123 Years 14
18 Sri Pambatti Karthigai Mrigasirisham Sankarankoil
Days