Friday 2 August 2013

THE PATH OF THE SIDDHAS

Paul Zweig in the introduction to Swami Muktananda’s the PERFECT RELATIONSHIP, published by Syda Foundation, 1985, (Muktananda, The Perfect Relationship, 1985) writes,
“Siddha Yoga is an ancient path, as old as human nature itself. .... Siddha Yoga comes to us from Siddhas, perfect beings, beings who are so completely rooted in their own selfhood, in their inner God, that they see that God everywhere and can transmit their own experience to other people.”
An author on the net, (Source not identified) refers to the Upanishads,
“As defined in the Upanishads, a Siddha is one who has progressed from the exalted ‘state of freed while living’ (Jivanmukta) to ‘supremely free with full power over death’ (Para Mukta).”
B K S’s Iyengar statement in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika of Svatmarama, (Rieker, Hatha Yoga Pradipika of Svatmarama, 1992),
“….the real goal of a yogi is to become a Siddha. A Siddha, a person in possession of Siddhis, has developed powers that can readily be called supernatural. There are eight Siddhis, the highest of which is Nirvana, the great liberation. The Siddhis are signposts on his way to the final goal, liberation.”
M. Govindan in BABAJI AND THE 18 SIDDHA KRIYA YOGA TRADITION, KriyaYoga Publications, Quebec, Canada, 1991, (Govindan, 1991) wrote,
“After experiencing union or Yoga with God or ultimate reality in the spiritual plane, the Tamil Yoga Siddhas experienced a progressive transformation of their intellectual, mental, vital and ultimately, physical bodies. In attaining such an integral realization they have manifested a divine transformation of their entire human nature.”
M. Govindan adds that their attainment is a result of the techniques used to prepare their bodies for the descent of divinity.

M. Govindan says it is important to know the Siddhas and their path,
“Their story is important to modern man because it speaks of a means of self transformation which is accessible to everyone, in all walks of life using a series of techniques known as KriyaYoga.”
Although the Siddhas have been around for ages, only certain quarters speak about them. The subject of Siddhas is shrouded in mystery. Although works of Siddhas are now available in print, it is not fully possible to decipher these works.

Agathiyar has mentioned Siddhas who made it to his stature. They are Karuvurar, Konganar, Bhogar, Sattamuni, Kamalamuni, Machamuni, Tirumoolar, Nandisar, Sundaranandhar, Korakar and Purushamiruga Yogi.

In another Siddha song, Agathiyar mentions the following names of Siddhas: Manikavachagar, Avvai, Nalyugi, Tirumoolar, Gnanasambandhar, Karuvurar, Tiruvalluvar, Kausigar, Vasistha, Pambatti, Appar, Sundarar, Sugabrahmar, Karkaipujandhar, Thanvanthari, and Shivayoga Mamunivar.

Siddha Romarishi mentions in one of his writings the names of some of these Siddhas. They are Karuvurar, Bhogar, Agathiyar, Sathainathar, Konganar, Brahma Siddha, Machamuni, Nandhithevar, Korakar, Pathanjali, Edaikadar, Chandikesar, Vasamuni, and Kamalamuni.

Korakar goes on to mention sixty-four Siddhas who started missions or Madams and headed them. The list is as follows. (Information sourced from SIDDHARGAL KANDA AHVIGALAI VIRATHUM MULIGAI RAGASIYANGAL by Jegatha). (Jegatha) 

They are:

Sixty-Four Siddhas Who Started Madams And Headed Them
Agathiyar
Karuvanandhar
Sandigamamunivar
Siddharishi
Yathithamunivar
Viswamunimaindhar
Aghoramunivar
Kalanandhar
SadhaShivamamunivar
Siddhanandhar
Yegarishi
Viswarishi
Amuthavanandhar
Kuruvanandhar
Sadhanandhar
Shivamunivar
Yogarishi
Viswanandhar
Athimunivar
Kurmanandhar
Sathiyanandhar
Shivanandhar
Rudrarishi
Vishnumunivar
Anandhamunivar
Kauthamunivar
Samaiyavanandhar
Sinmaiyanandhar
Logava nandhar
Vidhanandhar
Rasamunivar
Korakar
Saruganandhar
Sugarishi
Vasamuni
Viyasarishi
Kamalanandhar
Sachuthanandhar
Saruvanandhar
Sukiramunivar
Thuruvanandharmurthi
Brahmandhar
Karunaiyanandhar
Sattaimunivar
Sisuvanandhar
Suthanandhar
Nandiyanandhar
Pulastyar
Sundaranandhar
Brahmamunivar
Muthanandhar
Valaiyanandhar
Pathanjalimamunivar
Puranavanandhar
Suriyanandhar
Brahmarishi
Mularishi
Vanendramahamuni
Paramanandhar
Purananandhar
Saithanyamunivar
Shiruvanandhar
Maunamunivar
Machamunivar




Elsewhere there is mention of Athimula Navanadha Siddhas: Anathinadhar, Athinadhar @ Vethanda Siddhar, Gajendranadhar @ Vilaiyathu Siddhar, Korakar, Sathoganadhar @ Yoga Siddhar, Sathiyanadhar @ Gnana Siddhar, Mathanganadhar, Machendranadhar @ Nondhi Siddhar, and Vegulinadhar @ Mauna Siddhar. 

There is mention of Saptarishis too: Agathiyar, Angirasar, Kasipar, Gauthamar, Pulastyar, Markandar and Vasisthar. 

Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal of the Sri Agathiyar Sri Thava Murugar Gnana Peedham Thirukovil has compiled and given an extensive list of names of Siddhas. He tells me the names listed by him are those of authentic Siddhas and have had references in other Siddha works and writings. He tells me it was sufficient to recite these names and when done diligently and without fail one shall have their (Siddhas) grace immediately. 

They are as follows:

List of Names of Siddhas Compiled by Tavayogi Thangarasan Adigal
Agathiyar
Katyamagarishi
Sundaramurthi
Pampatisiddhar
Agapaisiddhar
Kabalamagarishi
Sutamunivar
Bagadevamagarishi
Asuvinitdevar
Kakeyamagarishi
Suriyananthar
Parvathamagarishi
Athirimagarishi
Kartikeyamagarishi
Sulamunivar
Bhaskaramagarishi
Ambigananthar
Kalavamagarishi
Saykilar
Pingalamunivar
Arunagirinathar
Kalinganathamagarishi
Sethumunivar
Pidinakisar
Arulnanthishivachariyar
Kalamagarishi
Sorubananthar
Bhirugumagarishi
Allamapirabu
Kanbamagarishi
Somagamagarishi
Brahmamunivar
Alukannisiddhar
Kinthamagarishi
Saunagamagarishi
Pirunjakamunivar
Asidevamagarishi
Kiruthumagarishi
Jambumagarishi
Pirungumagarishi
Alagananthar
Kusarishi
Janagar
Pipalamagarishi
Arithamagarishi
Kutsagarishi
Janantanar
Punnakeesar
Anjanadeva
Kugainamashivayar
Janatanar
Pulatisar
Atchayadevarishi
Kurunamashivayar
Janakumarar
Pulippanisiddhar
Atithamagarishi
Kutambaisiddhar
Jabalimagarishi
Pundarigamagarishi
Aritsamagarishi
Kumaragurubarar
Jeganathar
Purukothamagarishi
Atreyamagarishi
Gurudhaksanamurthy
Jeyamunivar
Punaikannar
Asavalayanamagarishi
Gururajar
Gnanasiddhar
Bhogamagarishi
Ananthasiddhar
Kurumbaisiddhar
Damarananthar
Machamunivar
Edaikadar
Kurmananthar
Danvanthiri
Mayuraysa
Ramalingaadigal
Konganamagarishi
Tayumanar
Manikavasaga
Ramadevar
Korakar
Tananthar
Markandayar
Ramananthar
Kausigar
Tatisimagarishi
Malangan
Umabathishivachariyar
Kautamar
Tambamagarishi
Matangamagarishi
Ubamanyumagarishi
Sangarshanamagarishi
Talapiyamagarishi
Manurishi
Usanamagarishi
Satumugamagarishi
TathuvaGnanasiddhar
Marisamagarishi
Uthayagirisiddhar
Satananthamagarishi
Trikonasiddhar
Mandavyamagarishi
Avvaiyar
Sangumagarishi
ThiruGnanasambanthar
Mukthananthar
Kanjamalaisiddhar
Sanatanamagarishi
Thirunavukarasar
Mutkalamagarishi
Kadaipillaisiddhar
Chandirakulamagarishi
Thirumaligaidevar
Meikandadevar
Kaduvelisiddhar
Savitiramagarishi
Thiruvaluvar
Maunachsiddhar
Kannananthar
Sangiyayanamagarishi
Tirunabindhumagarishi
Megasanchararishi
Kannisiddhar
Sandilyamagarishi
Dhurvasamunivar
Maitrayemagarishi
Kanabathidasar
Santirayanamagarishi
Teraiyar
Mrityunjaya
Kananathar
Saratvanthumagarishi
Tevatattamagarishi
Yakgnadevamagarishi
Katambamagarishi
Salihotramagarishi
Tevalamagarishi
Yuhgimunivar
Kabilar
Satvikadevamagarishi
Tevaratamagarishi
Yogasiddhar
Kamalamunivar
Sangamunisiddhar
Nanthanar
Yogananthar
Karuvurdevar
Sangaramagarishi
Nanthisvarar
Rohmarishi
Kallulisiddhar
Sangilisiddhar
Nathanthasiddhar
Raipriyamagarishi
Kalaicoathumunivar
Satchithananthar
Narathar
Vasudevamagarishi
Kaubalasiddhar
Sattanathar
Nagaradevamagarishi
Vamadevar
Kanaramar
Sandikehsar
Nondisiddhar
Valakilyamagarishi
Kagabujandar
Sathyananthar
Pandrimalaisiddhar
Vasisthamagarishi
Kasibar
Chitramuktar
Pattinathar
Varatarishi
Kalanginathar
Shivayogamamunivar
Pathragiriyar
Vararishi
Kanvamagarishi
Shivananthar
Patanjaliyar
Varagimigi
Karkamagarishi
Sirungimagarishi
Paratuvasar
Valmigi
Kausamagarishi
Shivayambuvamanumagarishi
Paramananthar
Vedamagarishi
Kanagamagarishi
Sugabrahmar
Parasarishi
Vyakramar


Thavathiru Rengaraja Desiga Swamigal of Sri Agathiar Sanmaarga Charitable Trust Ongarakudil, Turaiyur lists out 131 names of Siddhas in his SIDDHARGAL POTRI THOGUPPU available at http://agathiar.org/tamil/pdf/Sitthar%27s%20Pottri%20Thokuppu.pdf

Veeramanidhasan [1] has compiled 773 lists of names in his GURU PUJAI - SRI SIDDHARGAL POTRI MANTHIRA MALAI (Swamigal V., 2005).

Rajkumar Swamigal [2] of Brammarishi Hills lists 210 names. 

[1] Veeramani Dasan is an Indian singer of devotional songs. Earlier Dasan had a light music troupe, Sruti Laya. But now it is devotional singing most of the way. He has sung for a couple of films too. Having sung more than 3,500 songs this singer who travels extensively for concerts is at home in Kannada and Telugu devotionals too. (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)