There is too much hype surrounding the Siddhas. They have been made to become out of reach creating a big gap between the common man and them. Look up the Siddhas in books written by the learned or articles on the internet or videos on YouTube the first thing we come across is that they are all desperately trying to give a definition of them. They tend to define the Siddhas as men with superpowers and beyond our reach. We come across the following definitions;
- A Siddha is "one who is accomplished." It refers to perfected masters who have achieved a high degree of physical as well as spiritual perfection or enlightenment. Siddha may also refer to one who has attained siddhi, paranormal capabilities.
- The Siddhar (Tamil: சித்தர் cittar, from Sanskrit: Siddha) in Tamil tradition is a perfected individual, who has attained spiritual powers named siddhi.
- Siddhas possesses several superhuman powers called siddhis. These are anima, garima, mahima, laghima, prapti, prakamya, isitvam and vasitvam. A person who has acquired any of these siddhis is called a Siddha.
- They are said to have attained the realization of siddhis (psychic abilities and powers) through their many lifetimes of spiritual practice. Their alleged magical powers are claimed to arise from the efficacy of their spiritual practice.
- Siddhi is a Sanskrit word that literally means "accomplishment," "attainment," or "success." It is also used as a term for spiritual power (or psychic ability) in Hinduism and Tantric Buddhism. These spiritual powers supposedly vary from relatively simple forms of clairvoyance to being able to levitate, bilocate, become as small as an atom, materialize objects, have access to memories from past lives, and more,
and many more. By defining them we are placing a limitation on their abilities, capabilities, and strength for one. But is performing Siddhis really important to the common man? Even the spiritually enlightened Siddhas do not use these Siddhis unless called for, especially not to impress people or put on a show. Yet many chose to write about them. At times we read the same things mentioned across the numerous articles or books or talks on YouTube. Here is why I prefer to read the autobiographies of the masters and gurus who share their personal experiences with Godhead and biographies of those close to them with whom they shared these experiences. These would be an authentic account of the state and mind of a Siddha. It helps us reach into the mind of these Siddhas.
Swami Chidvilasananda in writing on our scriptures in "Inner Treasures", a Siddha Yoga Publication, 1995, could not have described it better.
"What you are reading in the scriptures is the personal record, the experience of seekers who went across the sea of ignorance. They became known as the Siddhas, the knower of the truth, the great ones, and the elevated ones. You are reading the wisdom that came from all their effort, inspiration, and sacrifice. These verses are what they heard when they reached the most profound states of meditation. So, when you study the scriptures, what you are really doing is spending time in the company of these great souls."
Carl Sagan in an excerpt from the 11th episode of his legendary 1980s Cosmos series, titled “The Persistence of Memory” in referring to the book says that "One glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author speaks clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time." More so an autobiography or biography of someone.
I was happily going about my family life and career when Agathiyar figured that it was time I came to know about them. Prior to that, I was in Sariyai then, engrossed in temple worship and doing puja at home that I picked up from my parents. The Siddhas brought me to Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai and sent Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of Kallar Ashram to our shores, the latter bringing me to step into Kriyai by introducing me officially to the worship of the Siddhas and bringing us into carrying out charity. Though I had picked it up from books earlier, Tavayogi officially taught me Yoga. Finally, after the passing on of my gurus, Agathiyar and the Siddhas began to pass on their divine knowledge or Gnanam to us educating us as we went along and experiencing a new facet of life beyond imagination. Indeed when the handful of us gather we cannot but pay tribute and gratitude to the Siddhas for bringing on so many changes in our lives. But all these changes were not apparent to us and neither to the others. Neither did the Siddhas lift us to the state of superhumans as was publicized. We were basically the same person minding our business as usual. But all the changes were taking place internally. Our perspective and hold on all things material changed. We dropped our wants and instead our priorities were now aligned with those of the Siddhas. We were continually given tasks to carry out by them. We were given practices to carry out. We were told to return to and carry out rituals as and when it was required or instructed. A feeling of completeness or Puranam settled within. Though the turmoil that was going on all around us does upset us at times, satisfaction, inner peace, and calm prevailed at other times. We began to realize the futility of trying to change the world but instead realize the potential to bring changes within oneself. Toeing the line that the Siddhas dropped us back in 2002, we saw much progress both material and spiritual over the years. Though we enjoyed every moment of what has showered on us the attachment to it was severed. We were ready to let go if the need arises. As we travel with them we are trying to comprehend life and its purpose. Once we get to know our purpose here which is of course set by them as opposed to living out our dreams, wishes, and desires, our mission in coming here shall be accomplished and we can leave telling ourselves that we have done our part and leave the rest to others to continue. We can then begin another chapter of our lives elsewhere in another realm or plane or dimension that is spoken about.