siddhar

Siddhars were typically scientists, saints, doctors, alchemists, and mystics all in one. They wrote their findings in the form of Tamil poems on palm leaf manuscripts. They typically believe in one god, but there are some Siddhars who believe in polytheism. These are still owned by some families in Tamil Nadu and handed down through the generations, as well as being kept in universities in India, Germany, Great Britain, and the United States.{{cite web|author=V. Jayaram |url=http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/essays/siddhas.asp |title=Study of siddhas |publisher=Hinduwebsite.com |access-date=2013-06-22}}

In this way, Siddhars developed the native Siddha medicine system. A rustic form of healing that is similar to Siddha medicine has since been practiced by experienced elders in the villages of Tamil Nadu. This is referred to as pātti vaittiyam (grandmother's medicine), nāttu maruntu (folk medicine), and mūlikai maruttuvam (herbal medicine).

Siddhars are also believed to be the founders of varma kalai - a martial art for self-defense and medical treatment at the same time with the application of pressure points.{{Cite book |last=Cruz |first=Edmund A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OCJiDwAAQBAJ&dq=varma+kalai+pressure&pg=PT68 |title=Health, Longevity and the Martial Arts |date=2018-06-16 |publisher=AuthorHouse |isbn=978-1-5462-3979-6 |language=en}}

Tamil Siddhars were the first to develop pulse-reading (naadi paarththal in Tamil) to identify the origin of diseases.

According to regional belief, the Siddhars are said to have resided for many ages upon a mountain called Sathuragiri, near the Thanipparai village in Tamil Nadu.

The Abithana Chintamani encyclopedia states that the Siddhars are of the 18 persons listed below, but Agastya states that there are many who precede and follow these.

File:Mahan Sri Karuvurar.jpg of Karuvurar]]

There are 18 Siddhars in the Tamil Siddha tradition:{{Cite book |last=Pillai |first=M. S. Purnalingam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QIeqvcai5XQC&pg=PA264 |title=Tamil Literature |date=1994 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-0955-6 |pages=264 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Venkataramaiah |first=K. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2pAMAQAAMAAJ |title=A Handbook of Tamil Nadu |date=1996 |publisher=International School of Dravidian Linguistics |isbn=978-81-85692-20-3 |pages=139 |language=en}}

1. Nandi
2. Tirumular
3. Agastya
4. Kamalamuni (identified with Kalangi Nathar and/or Confucius)
5. Patanjali
6. Korakkar
7. {{ill|Sundaranandar|ta|சுந்தரானந்தர்}}
8. {{ill|Konganar|ta|கொங்கணர்}}
9. {{ill|Sattaimuni|ta|சட்டைமுனி}}
10. Vanmikar (Valmiki)
11. {{ill|Ramadevar|ta|இராமதேவ சித்தர்}}
12. Dhanvantari
13. Idaikaadar
14. Machamuni (identified with Matsyendranatha)
15. Karuvurar
16. Bogar (identified with Laozi{{cite web | title=Siddha Bhoganāthar: An Oceanic Life Story |url=http://palani.org/bhogar-biography.htm | website=palani.org}})
17. Pambatti
18. {{ill|Kuthambai|ta|குதம்பைச்சித்தர்}}

Apart from the 18 Siddhars listed above, there is another list of 18 Siddhars who represent the 9 Navagrahas (with two Siddhars representing each Navagraha). All navagraha doshas and pariharams are performed to the Siddhars as Siddhar Velvi (Siddhar havan). The details of the 18 Siddhars who represent the 9 Navagrahas are as follows:{{Uncited|date=April 2024}}

1. Sivavakkiyar - Moon
2. Kambili - Moon
3. Bhogar - Mars
4. Kagabhujanga - Jupiter
5. Sri Pullipani Siddhar - Mars
6. Sattaimuni - Kethu
7. Sri Agapai Siddhar - Jupiter
8. Alugani - Rahu
9. Kudambai - Kethu
10. Vallalar - Mercury
11. Edaikaddar - Mercury
12. Pattinathar - Sun
13. Kaduvelli - Sun
14. Kanjamalai - Venus
15. Sennimalai - Venus
16. Kapilar - Saturn
17. Karuvurar - Saturn
18. Pampatti - Rahu

{{Hinduism|state=autocollapsed}}

Siddhars are believed to have had both major and minor powers that are described in detail in various yogic and religious texts.Thirumandiram 668{{Cite book |last=Subramuniyaswami |first=Sivaya |url=https://archive.org/details/dancingwithsivah00subr_0 |title=Glossary - Siddhi |publisher=Himalayan Academy |year=1997 |isbn=978-0945497974 |location=USA |id=Search: Siddhi}}

• Aṇimā: the ability to reduce one's body to the size of an atom.
• Mahimā: the ability to expand one's body to an infinitely large size.
• Laghimā: the ability to become weightless or lighter than air.
• Garimā: the ability to become heavy or dense.
• Prāpti: the ability to realize whatever one desires.
• Prākāmya: the ability to access any place in the world.
• Īśiṭva: the ability to control all material elements or natural forces.
• Vaśiṭva: the ability to force influence upon anyone.

These eight are the Great Siddhis (Ashtama siddhis), or Great Perfections.

• Abithana Chintamani
• Avvaiyar (Sangam poet)
• Ayyavazhi mythology
• Bogar
• Mahasiddha
• Maruttuvar community
• Nayanars
• Siddha
• Tirumantiram

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Category:Tamil-language literature

Category:Tamil history

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Category:Tamil Hindu literature