Siddhars/Rishis are saints in India, mostly of the Saivaite denomination in Tamil Nadu, who professed and practiced an unorthodox type of Sadhana, or spiritual practice, to attain liberation. Yogic powers called Siddhis are acquired by constant practice of certain yogic disciplines. Those who acquire these Siddhis are called Siddhas. These sidhars can be compared to Mystics of the western civilization. Siddhars are people who are believed to control and transcend the barriers of time and space by meditation (Yoga), after the use of substances called Rasayanas that transform the body to make it potentially deathless, and a particular breathing-practice, a type of Pranayama. Through their practices they are believed to have reached stages of insight which enabled them to tune into the powers hidden in various material substances and practices, useful for suffering and ignorant mankind. Typically Siddhars were saints, doctors, alchemists and mysticists all at once. They wrote their findings, in the form of poems in Tamil language, on palm leaves which are collected and stored in what are known today as Palm leaf manuscript, today still owned by private families in Tamil Nadu and handed down through the generations, as well as public institutions such as Universities all over the world.
Name of Siddha: AGASTIYAR | Place of Samathi: Kasi (Benares) | Duration of Life: 700 Years, 32 Days | Guru: Shiva | Disciples: Thirumoolar, Pathanjali, Dakshina Moorthy, Romarishi Sattaimuni Contributions: Medicine, Kaya Kalpa, Yoga, Alchemy, Natural sciences, Philosophy
Description: Agastyar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas who have initiated many siddhas including our kriya guru Babaji. He was initiated directly by Lord Shiva himself and his works include medicine, kaya kalpa, Tamil grammar and yoga. Some of his disciples are Boganathar, Babaji, Thiruvalluvar, Macchamuni. He has attained samadhi at Ananthasayana.
Name of Siddha: NANDI DEVAR | Place of Samathi: Anandasayana | Duration of Life: 4-Yugas, 48 Days | Guru: Shiva | Disciples: Bhogar, Babaji, Thiruvalluvar, Machamuni Contributions: Medicine, Kayakalpa, Tamil Grammar, Yoga
Description: Nandi Devar is one of the foremost of the 18 yoga siddhas. He has been directly initiated by Lord Shiva himself and some of his contributions include medicine, kaya kalpa & Alchemy. Some of his eminent disciples are Thirumoolar, Patanjali, Dakshinamoorthy, Romarishi & Sattamuni.
Name of Siddha: THIRUMOOLAR | Place of Samathi: Chidambaram | Duration of Life: 3000 Years, 13 Days | Guru: Nandi | Disciples: --- Contributions: Yoga, Philosophy
Description: Thirumoolar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He has been initiated by Nandi Devar and his contributions include Yoga, philosophy. His 'Thirumandiram' work is very popular among his works. He has attained samadhi in Chidambaram.
Name of Siddha: BHOGAR | Place of Samathi: Palani | Duration of Life: 300 Years, 18 Days | Guru: Agastiyar, Kalanginathar | Disciples: Babaji, Konganavar, Karuvoorar, Pulippani Contributions: Yoga, Kaya Kalpa Medicine, alchemy, Natural sciences, Philosophy.
Description: Bognathar who is also known as the Palani Malai Siddhar is one among the 18 yoga siddhas. He was initiated by Kalanginathar and Agastyar. He is a great alchemist of all times. His contributions include yoga, kaya kalpa, medicine, alchemy, natural sciences, philosophy etc. He is the one who has created and installed the idol of Lord Muruga in Palani malai temple. Till now even after ages, the composition of the idol has been a mystery to all scientists around the world. His disciples include Babaji, Konkanavar, Karuvoorar and Idai Kadar.
Name of Siddha: KONGANAVAR | Place of Samathi: Tirupathi | Duration of Life: 800 Years, 16 Days | Guru: Bogar | Disciples: 557 - Disciples Contributions: 25 Known works in medicine, Yoga, Philosophy & religion.
Description: Konkanavar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas initiated by Boganathar. His contributions include 25 known works in medicine, yoga, philosophy, religion etc. He has over 557 disciples. He has attained samadhi at Tirupati.
Name of Siddha: MACHAMUNI | Place of Samathi: Thirupparankundram | Duration of Life: 300 Years, 62 Days | Guru: Agastiyar, Punnakeesar, Pasundar | Disciples: Gorakkar Contributions: 10 Knows works on Hatha Yoga, Tantric Yoga practices.
Description: Macchamuni who is also known as Matysendranath is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He has been initiated by Agastyar, Punnakeesar and Pasundar. Some of his contributions include 10 known works on Hatha yoga, Tantric yoga practices etc. Goraknath is one of his eminent disciples. He has attained samadhi at Thiruparrunkundram.
Name of Siddha: GORAKNATH (GORAKKAR) | Place of Samathi: Poyur (Girnar) | Duration of Life: --- | Guru: Dattatreya (Vishnu), Macchamuni | Disciples: Nagarjuna Contributions: "Avadhuta Gita" and 13 works, order of ascetics, medicine, alchemy, Hatha Yoga, Pradipika classic.
Description: Goraknath is one of the 18 yoga siddhas in the 'nath' tradition. He was initiated by Dattatreya (Vishnu), Macchamuni, Allama Prabu. Some of his contributions include "Avadhuta Gita" and 13 other works, order of ascetics, medicine, alchemy, Hatha yoga pradipika classic etc. He has attained samadhi at Poyur (Girnar).
Name of Siddha: SATTAIMUNI | Place of Samathi: Srirangam | Duration of Life: 880 Years 14 Days | Guru: Nandi, Dakshinamoorthy | Disciples: Sundaranandar, Paambatti Contributions: 46 known works, Medicine, alchemy.
Description: Sattamuni is one of the 18 yoga siddhas initiated by Nandi Devar & Dakshinamoorthy. His contributions include 46 known works, medicine, alchemy & etc. His disciples include Sundaranandar, Paambatti. He has attained samadhi at Srirangam.
Name of Siddha: SUNDARANANDAR | Place of Samathi: Madurai | Duration of Life: 880 Years 28 Days | Guru: Sattaimuni, Konganavar | Disciples: --- Contributions: 24 known works, Medicine, Philosophy.
Description: Sundaranandar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He was initiated by Sattamuni & Konkanavar. Some of his contributions include 24 known works: medicine, philosophy etc. He has attained samadhi at Kudal (Madurai).
Name of Siddha: RAMADEVAR | Place of Samathi: Alagar Malai | Duration of Life: --- | Guru: Pulastiyar, Karuvoorar | Disciples: Sattaimuni, Konkanavar Contributions: 24 known works, Medicine, Mantra sastra .
Description: Ramadevar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He was initiated by Pulastiyar and Karuvoorar. He is also known as the mandira siddhar. Some of his works include 24 known works: mantra shastra, medicine etc. He has attained samadhi at Alagar Malai.
Name of Siddha: KUDAMBAI | Place of Samathi: Mayavaram | Duration of Life: --- | Guru: Alukkani Siddha (Diciple of Idaikadar) | Disciples: --- Contributions: Siddha Philosophy
Description: Kudambai is one of the 18 yoga siddhas, initiated by Alukkani Siddha (disciple of Idai Kadar). Kudamabi siddhar's contributions included siddha philosophy. His place of samadhi has been Mayavaram.
Name of Siddha: KARUVOORAR | Place of Samathi: Karuvai (Karur) | Duration of Life: 300 Years 42 days | Guru: Bogar | Disciples: Idaikadar Contributions: Construction of Tanjore Temple, medicine
Description:Karuvoorar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He was one of the eminient disciples of Boganathar after being initiated by him. He is popular for his contribution in constructing the Tanjore temple and other medicinal works. Idai Kadar is one of his eminent disciples. He has attained samadhi at Karuvai (karur).
Name of Siddha: IDAIKADAR | Place of Samathi: Thiruvannamalai | Duration of Life: 600 Years 18 days | Guru: Bhogar, Karuvoorar | Disciples: Kudambai, Alukkani Contributions: Two known works: Kaya Lalpa
Description:Idai Kadar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He was initiated by both Boganathar and Karuvoorar. His contributions include two known works: Kaya kalpa. He attained samadhi at Thiruvannamalai. Some of his disciples are Kudambai and Alukkani.
Name of Siddha: KAMALAMUNI | Place of Samathi: Aarur (Tiruvarum) | Duration of Life: 4000 Years 48 days | Guru: --- | Disciples: --- Contributions: Two known works: Medicine & Philosophy
Description:Karuvoorar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He was one of the eminient disciples of Boganathar after being initiated by him. He is popular for his contribution in constructing the Tanjore temple and other medicinal works. Idai Kadar is one of his eminent disciples. He has attained samadhi at Karuvai (karur).
Name of Siddha: KAMALAMUNI | Place of Samathi: Aarur (Tiruvarum) | Duration of Life: 4000 Years 48 days | Guru: --- | Disciples: --- Contributions: Two known works: Medicine & Philosophy
Description:Karuvoorar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He was one of the eminient disciples of Boganathar after being initiated by him. He is popular for his contribution in constructing the Tanjore temple and other medicinal works. Idai Kadar is one of his eminent disciples. He has attained samadhi at Karuvai (karur).
Name of Siddha: VALMIKI | Place of Samathi: Ettikudi | Duration of Life: 700 Years 32 days | Guru: Naradar | Disciples: --- Contributions: Recorded the epic work: The Ramayana.
Description:Valmiki is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He was initiated by the great sage Narada. He is very much known for recording the epic work 'The Ramayana'. He has attained samadhi at Ettikudi.
Name of Siddha: PATHANJALI | Place of Samathi: Rameshwaram | Duration of Life: 5 Yugas - 7 Days | Guru: Nandi | Disciples: --- Contributions: Yoga sutra Classic .
Description:Patanjali is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He was initiated by Nandi Devar. He is known for his works on yoga sutras classic. He has attained samadhi at Rameswaram. He is also known as father of yoga.
Name of Siddha: DHANVANTHRI | Place of Samathi: Vaideeshwaran | Duration of Life: 800 Years 32 Days | Guru: --- | Disciples: --- Contributions: Medicine, Alchemy, Kaya Kalpa, 22 known works .
Description: Dhanvanthri is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He is known for his contributions on medicine, alchemy, kaya kalpa, 22 known works. He has attained samadhi at Vaideeswaran Kovil.
Name of Siddha: PAMBATTI | Place of Samathi: Hari Sankaran Koil | Duration of Life: 123 Years 32 Days | Guru: Sattimuni | Disciples: --- Contributions: Siddha Philosophy.
Description: Paambatti is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He was initiated by Sattamuni. His contributions include siddha philosophy. He has attained samadhi at Harisankaran kovil. He was originally a snake charmer before he met his guru Sattamuni. Later after being initiated by his guru, due to his intense sadhana he has became a siddha.
