We had seen the mystical realm of the immortals or Siddhas based on the articles and links a friend from Slovenia sent me, in an earlier posts at http://agathiyarvanam.blogspot.in/2014/12/the-mystical-realm-of-immortals.html. If we saw a similar and parallel faith in China and Ireland, another friend Uvaraj sents in further interesting facts about the existence of these immortals in the Thai nation too.
While I was amazed to discover Daoist immortals, Xian, (the Sanskrit equivalent being ṛṣi [rishi]) and Irish 'Aes sídhe' just like the likes of Tamil Siddhas, in China and Ireland, respectively, Uvaraj throws in more light about the mystical Siddhas of Thailand through the following article sourced from http://www.lersi.net/108-ruesi/.
In the Thai Siddha tradition they are known as Reusi or Lersi. The term "Reusi" comes from the Sanskrit "Rishi" and denotes a seer, or in the Thai case, a practitioner of the esoteric sciences and meditation.
The legend of Highly Developed Beings has been told in different Mythologies and Cultures around the world. In Thailand there are also various legends of “Pu Wised”, or Lersi , Arahants or Yogis.
These Lersi are said to have possessed various powers, such as knowledge of herbal medicines, minerals, magical invocations, and supernatural abilities such as levitation, teleportation, alchemy, and mind reading. These beings with special powers are reputed to have lived recluse lives in the forest, on mountains, or in caves; practicing meditative skills and mental development using secret methods passed on from mouth to ear by their fore-goers/masters.
The Lersi; The Ruesi, or ‘Pra Rasi’ - Also called in India, the “Rishi”, Lersi is a word used to call people who possess mind powers, who practice the development of mind and it’s powers in various aspects. Even the Lord Buddha himself received teachings from the Lersi.
The Ruesi are known to have attained various supernatural mind powers, such as: The ability to float and see the future, heal with forest herbs, voice powers (incantation and prana), talk with animals, read minds, and even teleportation, manipulation of the elements, alchemy and other miraculous forms of mastery of the environment.
Another translation for the word Ruesi, would be “Seer”.
The word Ruesi is associated with the thought of a secretive, mysterious hermit-like person who lives a solitary existence and dwells in a cave, the forest or in the mountains.
The real meaning of the word Ruesi, is “Seer”, meaning one with special abilities to see things that normal humans cannot perceive, such as vision of the three times (Past, Present & Future events). In ancient times, the Lersi composed texts, prayers, incantations and spells to invoke the Angelic beings. This was due to the fact that the Ruesi had practiced training their minds and raised their consciousness to the Samabhabhati level of Jhana. They could see things on higher planes that the normal human cannot, including being able to hear sounds from other dimensions that any normal person will never get to hear. This made listening to the Angelic Beings accessible.
When a Ruesi enters meditation and Samadhi, he will naturally experience visions and sounds that are created for him as a communication means by the Angelic Being that wishes to communicate with him. The words in the texts of the Rigveda, however, are not the words invented by the Ruesi; they are the words given to the Ruesi by the Gods or Angelic being as the Ruesi were in the meditative state.
Bhogar Siddha in Thailand.
Siddha Bhogar also known as Lersi Por Gae Dta Fai in Thailand spelled “Pho Kae Ta Fai”. One of the most well heard of Lersi in Thailand’s pantheon of Lersi figures is that of Por Gae Lersi Ta Fai. Por Gae Lersi Tai Fai appears in numerous legends and Myths as well as historical documents.
Many Thais recount that Por Gae was around 2000 years ago, meaning that this Lersi Hermit may have been able to extend his lifespan for up to one thousand years.