The Siddhar (Tamil: சித்தர் cittar, from Sanskrit: siddha) in Tamil tradition is a perfected individual, who has attained spiritual powers called siddhi.
Historically, Siddhar also refers to the people who were early age wandering adepts that dominated ancient Tamil teaching and philosophy. They were knowledgeable in science, technology, astronomy, literature, fine arts, music, drama, dance, and provided solutions to common people in their illness and advice for their future. Some of their ideologies are considered to have originated during the First Sangam period.
The Siddhars by their spiritual and yogic practices attained immense knowledge and experience in Vaithiyam (Medicine), Vatham (Alchemy), Jothidam (Astrology), Manthirigam (Thanthric practices), Yogam (Meditation and yogic exercises) and Gnanam (Knowledge about the Almighty).
Siddhars believed in a holistic concept. Accordingly they said
“Food is Medicine, Medicine is Food” (Unave Marunthu, Marunthe Unavu)
“Sound mind makes the sound body” (Manamathu Semmaianal Manthiram sebika vendam)
Siddha system of merdicine is said to have been in existence in South India especially in Tamil Nadu from the last many centuries from the time of famous Tamil Sangam, the first. This is the oldest Indian systems of treatment. Tradition says that God Siva was the first to preceptor of Nandhi and the discipline of Nandhi took up the traditions of the Siddha system and the Agasthiyar has been included in the list of disciplines. The Siddhar (Tamil: cittar, from Sanskrit siddha) in Tamil tradition is a perfected individual, who has attained spiritual powers called siddhi. Historically, Siddhar also refers to the people who were early age wandering adepts that dominated ancient Tamil teaching and philosophy. They were knowledgeable in science, technology, astronomy, literature, fine arts, music, drama, dance, and provided solutions to common people in their illness and advice for their future. Some of their ideologies are considered to have originated during the First Sangam period. Typically Siddhars were saints, doctors, alchemists and mystics all in one. They wrote their findings in the form of poems in the Tamil language, on palm leaves which are collected and stored in what are known as the "Palm leaf manuscripts". These are still owned by some families in Tamil Nadu and handed down through the generations, as well as being kept in public institutions such as universities in India, Germany, Great Britain and the United States. In this way Siddhars developed, among other branches of a vast knowledge-system, what is now known as Siddha medicine, practised mainly in Tamil Nadu as a type of traditional native medicine. A rustic form of healing that is similar to Siddha medicine has since been practised by experienced elders in the villages of Tamil Nadu. (This has sometimes been confused with Paatti Vaitthiyam" and "Naattu marunthu (forms of traditional Tamil medicine) and Mooligai marutthuvam (Ayurvedic medicine)). Tamil Siddhars were the first to develop pulse-reading ("naadi paarththal" in Tamil) to identify the origin of diseases. Siddhars have also written many religious poems. There are 18 saints to whom are attributed numerous verses, are the following 1)Nandhi 2)Agasthiyar 3) Thirumoolar 4)Ramadevar 5)Bogar 6)Konganar 7)Dhanvanthri 8)Vanmigar 9)Kamalamuni 10)Pathanjali 11)Sattaimunivar 12)Machamuni 13)Karuvurar 14)Pampatti 15)Korakkar 16)Kudambai 17)Sundarananthar 18) Idaikadar.
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