Siddhars of Tamil Nadu - Part 1

This post and the forthcoming posts on this topic is purely derived from THE PHILOSOPHY OF TAMIL SIDDHAS by Dr.T.N.Ganapathy

The term 'Siddha' has different connotations.
A Siddha is a person who has attained spiritual enlightment or mystical self-realization. Tiruvaaduthurai Puraanam speaks of Siddhas as one who is 'rich in Knowledge'.
A 'Siddha' is one who has attained 'Siddhi' - power,extraordinary ability which a non-Siddha doesn't possess.
Dawson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology speaks of Siddhas as sem-divine beings of great purity and holiness who dwell in the regions of the sky between sun and the earth.
He is a complete,fulfilled and accompolished, a GOD realized being alive in teh world for the sake of mankind and all living beings.
A Siddha is one who has realized the non-duality of Jiva and Siva.One who has realized Siva in himself.
A Siddha is one who attains perfection by arousing the Kundalini.

The eight siddhis in the science of yoga incclude
1.anima - ability to become a minute as atoms.
2.mahima - ability to expand infinitely
3.laghima - ability to float in air.
4.garima- ability to reach anywhere.
5.praakaamya- ability to overcome natural obstacles.
6.tsitva- ability to create or control
7.vasitva-domination over the creation
8.kaamaavasaayitva-ability of attaining everything desired or to attain the stage of desirelessness

Attainment of Siddhis indicate whether practitioners of yoga are ready for liberation or to reach GOD. It is wrong to think of Siddhas as magicians or ascetics possessing supernatural powers.Sivavaakiyar clearly states that "Siddhas are real seers,highly evolved and realized souls.They are not atheists or agnostics as is commonly believed. A genuine Siddha is beyond atheism and theism alike"

A Siddha is one who has attained stage of realization where he is not bound by the injunctions of the sastraas,where he has gone beyond the Vedas. Tirmular asks " when one has realized the THAT which has gone beyong worship,what is the need of spiritual education and sastras?"
The Siddhas wanted to convey their spiritual experiences to the people without the medium of Sastras or rituals.To seek enlightment in words is like expecting the sight of menu card the satisfy the hunger of a man. The truth expresses in Vedas is like the truth in echo or reflection of moon in water. Of course, vedas point to the goal,but they donot contain it. Veda is like a finger pointing to the moon of liberation. It would be a calamity if one take the finger for the moon.
A description can never in itself transmit experience.

The Siddhas act as spiritual guides.They merely indicate the path of experience wanting the individual to seek and attain truth by his own effort.Truth is felt experience and it cannot be translated fully in any sastras. They are pious rebels in the field of religion and as such are not atheists. Kaarai Siddhar draws distinction between a Siddha and a non-Siddha by saying,Siddha ponits to path of experience whereas a non-Siddha points to path of scriptures. Bauls of Bengal,Raadhaaswami movement share many thoughts of the Tamil Siddha.

According to one ancient tradition,ascetics who strive to gain liberation are classified into four classes: kuticakas,bahudakas,hamsas,paramahamsas. Of these, the last one is an extremely ancient ascetic order. They are indifferent to everything in the sense that they are disinterested,free sould. They look at mud and gold with the same dispassion. It is worthwhile to go through a minor Upanishad Paramahamsopanidhad which elaborates the characteristics of Paramahamsas. The Siddhas of Tamilnadu come very close to the Paramahamsas.

Notable feature of the Tamil Siddhas is that they do belong to any local cult or diety. Even notable siddhars like Tirumoolar has not sung in praise of any personal GOD or deity. This feature differentaites Siddhas from Nayamars and Azhwars.In this connection,it is better to carry out fresh research work to study Tirumandhiram as a Siddha work than a Saiva siddhanta work. One Siddha has made a distinction between a jnanin and a Siddha. A jnanin is one who prevents karma from affecting him whereas a Siddha is one who not only overcome past karma but also squeeze and crushes the future karma.

Siddhas of Tamil nadu are Mahesvara Siddhas who advocate the pure method of Tantra,Suddha marga.They are classified as Balavarga,Moolavarga and Kailasavarga. For Balavarga GOD Murugan is the first Siddha and guru. His peacock kills the serpent which stands for cycle of births. As long as complete control of semen is attained in the practice of yoga Skanda is not born.Skanda is born only when the semen is sublimated and reaches the Sahasrara. Skanda resides on the mountain top. He is the symbol of arousing the kundalini and reaching the sahasrara.
For Moolavarga,Tirummolar is the guru. Agastya is the guru of Kaialasavarga.

According to another version,Siddhas are classified as yoga Siddhas,kaya siddhas,rasavada siddhas. Yoga siddhas are those who use kundalini yoga to reach GOD. Kaya siddhas are those who are only concerned about transfiguartion of the body than liberation. Rasavada siddhas are alchemists,medicien men.

will be continued...