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A siddhar is one who has attained "Ashtama Siddhis". The ashtama siddhis are
as follows:
Generally siddhars are considered to be super human beings who have defined
age and other laws of nature to which all human beings are defined to. The
historians of Alexander the great, spoke of the existence of a class of mystics
called Gymnosophists in all countries from Egypt to India .These siddhars were
found in Alexandria in as late as the fourth century A.D.
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.
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.
PATHANJALI SIDDHAR
Hence, Adisesha came to Thillai in South India and performed poojas for Lord
Siva along with Viyakramabathar. Eventually, both of them witnessed the Siva
Thandava.
Hence, he arranged for a partition between himself and his disciples. He taught
his disciples sitting behind the partition. Sixty students (disciples) were learning
under him. The students were very much impressed with their master and were
anxious to see his face.
Once, a student got very apprehensive and pulled the partition to see the face of
the master. All the students were burnt at the same instant. However, one of the
students, Kaubathar did not attend the lecture on that day due to an external
work. On seeing his fellow students being burnt to ashes, Kaubathar was
terrified. Pathanjali changed his form and pacified his student. Pathanjali was
very happy that one of his disciples is alive and he taught all the skills to his
disciple, Kaubathar. Kaubathar's disciple is Govinda Bhawat Badal, who is also
considered as the Guru of Adi Sankaracharya.
There are varied schools of thought that the Pathanjali who wrote "Maha
Bashyam" in North India is different from the Pathanjali who wrote "Gyana Sutra"
in Tamil. As siddhars have been known to live for ages, the period of the life of
Pathanjali and the exact duration of his life can not be known. Moreover, there
are no definitive texts available about Pathanjali. Both Pathanjali and
Viyakramabathar had lived in Tamil Nadu in a period where siddhars had also
lived there. Both of them had observed the divine dance of Lord Siva at Thillai in
Tamil Nadu. Both of them attained their Samadhi at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.
Hence the argument that Pathanjali could not have written texts in Tamil could
not be true.
KAMALAMUNI SIDDHAR
The following information is available about Sri Kamalamuni in the book " Bogar
7000 " written by siddhar Bogar.
Song 5729: Kamalamuni was born on the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May - June),
his birth star being 2nd part of Poosam. He lived for six-eight generations.
Song 5841: Kamalamuni is 4000 years and some 300 odd (days) old. He lived in
China for a long time.
Many people believe that Sri Kalangi Nathar is siddhar Kamalamuni. In the 63 rd
song of " Kamalamuni Suthiram 76 ", a line says that " Kamalamuni alias Kalangi
". Hence it can me true that Sri Kalangi Nathar is siddhar Kamalamuni himself.
In " Bogar Janana Sasthra ", it is mentioned that Kamalamuni attained samadhi
at Madurai .
PAMBATTI SIDDHAR
The most popular and well known of the siddhar’s is "Pambatti Siddhar”. He
takes the snake for a symbol to represent the human Soul and uses the
expression: "AODU PAMBE" (De thou, Dance Snake) as a refrain at the end of
each stanza of his poem. The poem of this siddhar is in fewer than six hundred
lines and deals with philosophic and spiritual matters in the authentic siddhar
pattern with great passion. He sings Lord Siva as the Supreme Power of the
Universe. There is a poem on his Guru, Who is credited with super natural
powers. “We can make men women", he says and adds, "We can destroy" this
great universe. He asserts that they have power equal to that of God and can
control the elements. He is there, merely expatiating on the Ashtama Siddhis,
which is believed to confer eight kinds of devises and super natural powers on
those who have achieved it.
MACHAMUNI SIDDHAR
Also in song 5873, he says that Machamuni was born on the Rohini star in the
Tamil month of Adi (July-August). Machamuni in his 97th song of his book "
Machamuni Thandagam 100 ", mentions the words "Guru Nandhi" and "Guru
Bogar", while offering prayers to his guru. Hence, it can be said that Siddhar
Bogar and Siddhar Nandeeswarar were his gurus.
In the book " Agasthiar 12000 ", in the fifth Kandam, siddhar Agasthiar says that
Machamuni had taken lessons from Kaga Bugandar. He also says that he
donated all his wealth to poor people on attaining spiritual salvation. Machamuni
attained samadhi at Thiruparankundram.
SUNDARANANDAR SIDDHAR
Siddhar Bogar sings about Sundaranandar in songs 5828 and 5829 in his book "
Bogar 7000 ". He says that Sundarandar was an expert in space travel and
samadhi yoga. In songs 5920 and 5921, Bogar gives the following information.
Sundaranandar was born on the Tamil month of Aavani (August - September) on
the star Revathi (3 rd part). He is the grand son of Navakanda Rishi living in the
Kishkinta hills and that he belonged to Agamudayar (Thevar) class.
Siddhar Agasthiar in his book " Amudha Kalai Gyanam " also says that
Sundaranandar is a Reddy in song 218. Sundaranandar attained his samadhi at
Madurai .
VAANMEEGAR SIDDHAR
Table of 18 Siddhars