Tamil SiddharsAn Introduction to the Tamil Siddhas: Their Tantric Roots, Alchemy, Poetry, and the True Nature of their Heresy Within the Context of South Indian Shaivite Society by Layne Little (Please Note: This paper was originally presented at a symposium on world religions at the University of Utah in the spring of '97. It was haphazardly strung together almost overnight. Unfortunately, I failed to carefully list my sources and footnote their contributions. I have tried to list the most significant references at the tail of this article, but it is by no means complete. Nor to give them proper credit in the body of the work. I apologize profusely for this oversight, and welcome comments and criticism on this or any other issues. I must especially acknowledge how much Dr. David Gordon White and Dr. Kamil Zvelebil have contributed to this raggle-taggle introduction to Siddha tradition. Thanks!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Tamil Siddhas are a religious order of mystics found in the southern part of India, who's origins can be traced back to the eighth century. They form a distinctive part of a larger movement which spread throughout South Asia, from Sri Lanka in the South to Tibet in the north, between the seventh and eleventh centuries. Siddhas everywhere share common practices, cosmology, and symbols derived from Tantrism whether the practitioner is Hindu, Buddhist, or Jain. All are part of a "pan-Indian tantric yoga movement" which Eliade described as formulating over a five hundred year period, between the 7th and the 11th centuries, but fully flowering only after the 12th century. Excluding perhaps the Buddhist Siddhas, all such groups are considered radical, if not dangerous, by the orthodoxy. An intriguing aspect of the Tamil Siddha cult is that it shares with the orthodox Saiva Siddhanta sect a common text which defines the philosophy of both groups. Since each sect emphasized different aspects of the teaching they quickly became widely divergent, with the two orders often at odds. The Siddhas would be scoffing at temple worship, reliance upon Brahminical authority, and proclaiming the injustice of caste; while the Saiva Siddhantins would berate the Siddhas much as M. Srinivasa Iyangar did in 1914 when he wrote that the Siddhas are "mostly plagiarists and impostors" and in addition, "Being eaters of opium & dwellers in the land of dreams, their conceit knew no bounds". At times the Siddhantins have even engaged in an organized effort to eliminate the Siddhar faction. For example, one movement, observed in the latter half of the nineteenth century, systematically sought out any copy of the writings of the heretical Siddha-poet Sivavakkiyar, and promptly destroyed them. The rift between the two orders has been sharply polarized by the fact that some Saiva Siddhantins, who mostly worship their God Shiva as the Lingam or sacred Phallus, have had a difficult time accepting the Siddhas tendency to emphasize the Goddess. To the Tamil Siddhas, Shiva is the unqualified and ultimate reality beyond form or comprehension, but Shakti, the Goddess, is immanent and accessible as the divine force abiding within the body itself. There she can be coaxed & subdued, manipulated & directed. As the serpent power Kundalini, flowing through the subtle body, she can propel the consciousness of the Siddhar into union with the Absolute. Though the orthodox Saiva Siddhantin may content himself with the worship of Shiva in the temple through the rituals of the priest, the Siddha placates the goddess to intercede on his behalf and expand the consciousness of the Siddha beyond all limitation, where he may become Shiva himself. Notions, such as this, being fundamental to the Tamil Siddha, has struck the Shaivite orthodoxy as heretical. Within the context of Hindu myth the name Siddha originally denoted one of the eighteen categories of celestial beings. These beings of semi-divine status were said to be of great purity and their dwelling was thought to be in the sky between the earth and the sun. Later they became associated with a class of more adept human being, often an accomplished yogi. The term had been derived from the Sanskrit root sidh meaning "fulfillment" or Shaivite Tantrism. or the medieval alchemists known as the Rasa Siddhas."achievement. All of the writings of the Tamil Siddhas. in the present era. and the hatha yoga and pranayama disciplines as expounded by the ascetic saint Goraknath. Indian Alchemy. This has lead the Tamils to associate the word more with the Sanskrit term chit." This appellation is evident even in the Shaivite devotionals known as the Tevaram hymns of the 6th & 7th centuries that would later become part of the Saiva Siddhanta canon. By the 12th-13th century the term has taken on new meaning as we learn from the writings of Perumparrapuliyur Nambi who describes the God Shiva as the cittar alchemist who is working strange miracles in the city of Madurai. the term is often applied to any form of unorthodox mystic or saint. These works are also riddled with tantric imagery. or presenting alchemical recipes for herbal tinctures and base metal amalgams were presented in poetic form. There the term is applied not only to one of the 18 categories of divine beings but also to God Shiva himself. Because the Tamil language lacks the aspirated consonants of Sanskrit the word has been written and pronounced by the Tamils as cittar. and clues to control the dangerous feminine power through breathing practices or the recitation of the Goddess's secret names. references to Kundalini. Although. It is a movement born of a synthesis of Vajrayana Buddhism. meaning "consciousness. Essentially though. it describes the devotee as also being a cittar since his consciousness is always immersed in the Divine presence. who is a cittar because the very nature of God is consciousness. magic. Because of the enigmatic nature of the Siddha imagery. the Natha Siddhas of North India. whether defining philosophical viewpoints." so the noun came to refer to one who had attained perfection. often employing the more difficult meters that harkened back to the ancient Tamil Sangam Age. and their philosophy . Likewise. the term Siddha or Cittar has the same connotations as it does when referring to the 84 Siddhas of Vajrayana Buddhism. yogic practices. the Tamil Siddha school. we find that the southern variant. the Siddhantins were confronted with the tantric orientation of their philosopher Tirumular. Though this may at first seem to undermine the aesthetic quality and over-complicate the simple act of enjoying poetry. One of the most basic characteristics of Tamil composition. the Tamil Siddha compositions pattern the imagery to expound the subtle complexity of their philosophical concepts or to map out the terrain of the inner landscape which is dominated by the dormant serpent energy. Because each component image is presented so as to be viewed autonomously and in relationship both sequentially and to the totality of the verse. himself one of the 64 canonized Shaivite saints or Nayanars of the Saiva Siddhanta sect. Though most of the Indian Siddha schools did not come into their own until the 12th century. Needless to say. the orthodox followers within the Saiva Siddhanta sect have always had a difficult time fully accepting the many passages which discuss the worship of the Goddess and the Kundalini Yoga practices so characteristic of Tantrism. the images of the poem may seem slightly disjointed and contradictory. few scholars have ventured to address the Tamil Siddhas and then often only as mere curiosities. when he relates that it is . is the tendency to layer the work so that each word or image builds upon the last. which is referred to as the Tirumurai. had a fully defined system in the eighth century itself. The text also became the 10th book of the Saiva Siddhanta canon. as has been the case with some of the verses presented here. As we can see in verse 730. On the other hand. Though it was the one work outlining the philosophy of the Saiva Siddhanta cult. the vast majority of the Tamil Siddha works have never been translated. and one that is particularly relevant to Siddha poetry.structured in direct defiance of human logic. the Siddhas have viewed these same passages as the most critical in formulating their esoteric doctrines on the arousal of the serpent energy. It was at this time that Tirumular. authored the Tirumantiram which fully defined the nature of the Tamil Siddha cult up until the present era. And Shiva will come out dancing sweetly.. flows into the solar and lunar currents which run from the right and left nostrils down to the base of the spine and are there brought into union. 801 Left hand Right hand Both hands. It is a kind of inner journey towards the infinitude of the Divine.. This energy is moved by the solar and lunar streams of vital breath that have entered the central current at Muladhara and will ascend upwards through the six chakras. Here Tirumular discusses the basis of Kundalini Yoga whereby the breath.the human body itself that is the temple of the Goddess Shakti. the first of six chakras or nerve plexuses through which the Kundalini energy will flow. The individual awareness is sublimated into divine union at the crown of the head.. carrying one of the vital airs known as prana.. In Shakti's temple if you control the left & the right you can hear a lute in the center of your face. I swear upon Sada Nandi we have spoken the truth. each corresponding to a higher and more expansive state of consciousness. The point of this union is at the root chakra Muladhara.. Change!!! . but begins only after the two streams flow into the central current as we learn from verse 801 of the Tirumantiram.. . Together. It's emphasis on the experiential aspects of the individual's religious experience collided with the Shaivite orthodoxy like the Gnostic heresy did with the early Christian Church. Tantra began to emphasize that the universe. The term used to denote the 'hand of worship' is Tutikai. The conscious ones capable of abandoning sleep need not die. as they had seeped into yogic theory and practice at some antecedent time and even impacted temple ritual and the budding bhakti cults. conceived of as both the nectar of spiritual ecstasy and the elixir of immortality." This interpretation is equally viable in that Ganesha. at the crown of the head.He who eats with the hand of worship need not be depleted. Elements of tantric thought had already pervaded the south by the time of Tirumular. as Tutikai. is . the elephant-headed god of gateways and new beginnings is said to reside in the body at the base of the spine. at the root chakra Muladhara where the two currents flow together and enter central current Shashumna. What is eaten is amrita. It represents a profound refinement of the symbol system of Hindu-Buddhist South Asia. Sahasrara.. Tantra was more deeply rooted in a fluid set of symbolic constructs than a static enunciation of doctrine. Tuti is a verb meaning "to worship. Tantra appears in its definitive form around the 4th century. Shashumna is sometimes envisioned as the trunk of Ganesha raised aloft and holding the full blown lotus of enlightenment. they can live forever. the expression also means the "elephant's trunk. in all its totality." kai is the noun meaning "hand". but its beginnings seem to reach back much earlier. In an effort to demonstrate that the macrocosm is reflected within the microcosm. . along which the Shashumna or central channel ran. became the cosmic axis. He has concentrated my mind. All the Gods that oversaw the mechanism that is this universe we-re hidden in the lotus centers of the body's chakras. And he has revealed that. stands within. It superimposed universal symbols over the human body to help demonstrate this relationship. He has revealed Sada Shiva within the sound. But it was the portly god Ganesha. like ripe sugarcane. The smaller than the smallest. The larger that the largest. in this excerpt from her 14th century work Vinayagar Agaval." He presses me down into the grace giving ecstasy.. He became a patron of Kundalini yoga in the South and was invoked by the female Siddha mendicant Avaiyar.. and said. In my ear he renders limitless bliss.. like blossoms flowering on the vine of the spine.contained within the body of the individual.. Here she relates how the elephant-headed god has reconciled the dualistic nature of the universe as the various manifestations of Shiva were taught to be part of her inner savoring. He has revealed the Shiva Lingam within the mind. clarified my intellect. who guarded the gate to the inner world. The spine. "Light & Darkness share a common place. and Siddha medicine... By medieval times Indian alchemy had come into vogue much like tantra had done almost a millennium earlier.In about 1661. If the basis of Muladhara . Though now. At the time in question Aanand Nath. they often emphasized the pursuit of bodily perfection and the preparation of the elixir of immortality as the Chinese alchemists had sought. he was at the same time extending his protection to an obscure Hindu monastery in the Punjab. the Kundalini is personified as the consort of Ganesha. Though nine hundred years after Tirumular. At the same time in the deep south. It was there that he composed his 7000 verses on Kundalini Yoga. the abbot of the monastery and a Natha Siddha alchemist. the Tamil Siddha alchemist Bhogar. even in the midst of his alchemical operations. as Aurangzeb set about to expand his kingdom throughout the subcontinent and free the land of heretics. alchemy. She'll tell you the appropriate time for the appropriate chakra. They often viewed their experience of the inner processes of Kundalini Yoga as mirroring the chemical process of the alchemical work. Bhogar is still wrestling with the serpent energy. was providing history's great persecutor of Hinduism a regular supply of treated mercury which promised to confer longevity. was establishing a shrine to the God Murugan on the top of Palani Hill. And though the Indian alchemists also sought to develop the chemical processes of transforming base metals into gold as in Europe & the Middle East. 9 The green-hued Vallabai will become subservient and bow down. who had supposedly migrated from China along with his guru Kalangi Nathar. the Goddess Vallabai. 80 Bhogar's Leap Into the Universe As the Principle of Intelligence itself I leapt into the cosmos. The dull-hued body will mellow and shine. All impurities will be removed and the six chakras will become visible to the eye. You can go anywhere. wandering freely throughout the three worlds. Shiva clearly elucidated the nature of this universe.. In the Sleepless Sleep all subtlety can be perceived.. Look and see. In a particularly odd verse of Bhogar. we find him describing a visionary experience involving the ingestion of an unidentified substance and the wearing of mercurial amalgams. The gold-colored alchemy will heed your every word.is perfected. . Off I went." I took what was given me and put it in my mouth. transformed the body's winds into a spiritual mediator that could unify the solar and lunar currents within the body. The universe that appeared before me was arranged in layers. Consciousness was seen to ride the vehicle of breath into union with the . were afforded a lifespan of 150-200 years. Mercury was viewed as the seminal seed of Shiva. by preparing a tincture of mercury and sulfur.For the sake of all beings there is a path that becomes a vehicle for the five senses. It formed a part of the alchemical triad of mercury sulfur and air. Breath controlled through the practices of Pranayama. corresponding to the trinity of moon sun. In 1293. Entering the universe of fire and light. Marco Polo got a taste of South India when he stopped along the Malabar Coast. Grandfather (Tirumular) said. and wind. on his way back from China. And a bunch of mercurial amalgams I tied onto my wrist. "Enter the tenth one. He records a meeting he had with a group of yogi alchemists who. Much like the alchemical process applied air to mercury and sulfur to form the amalgam that brought the work to completion. placated by manipulation of the breath. It is this light becoming breath that redeems the soul. Here is one of the closing verses of Bhogar's discussion of Kundalini Yoga. Surely this is the truth of Siva Yoga! . placing it there as though you were putting oil in a lamp.. to come within your house. If you are unwavering. the outer space. through the intercession of the Goddess.. He and breath merge into one. Breath and God becoming one. 94 Invite the breath. expand consciousness to the point where it becomes what is called the Maha Chitta or "Great Awareness" which is the God Shiva himself. The Great Awareness becomes Siva. Like wind becoming breath there is no individual intelligence.. They shall meet.absolute in the Sahasrara chakra at the top of the head. The Siddha could.. was Manikkavasagar. He makes those who say. the heretical nature of his teaching and the growing number of his disciples caused the protest of temple officials and a variety of Saiva Siddhanta institutions throughout the region. Ramalingar was born in 1823 near Chidambaram. the Siddhas have had a profound influence on contemporary Tamil society because of the impact of a single poet who lived in the last century. the last of the canonized 64. were confident that he could expose the fallacy of Ramalingar's teaching and defrock the heretical saint. One of these. Manikkavasagar's name means "He who's utterances are rubies" and in the 9th century he beautifully wrote this mini creation myth in flowing verse. the orthodox religious leaders throughout the area. The gentle Ramalingar was dragged into court. . As a Tamil scholar and Shaivite authority. Arumuga was forced to take legal action and filed a suit against the saint. who had a profound influence on Ramalingar and Siddha devotionalism in general. Naturally. but eloquently speaking in his own defense.. the greatest of all Shaivite temples. Eventually though. Becoming sky & earth Wind & light Becoming flesh & spirit All that truly is & all that which is not Becoming the Lord.. easily won the case.In the modern era. The nature of Ramalingar's heresy is found to be all the more insidious when we learn that he also cherished and called his own the devotional hymns of Saiva Siddhanta saints other than Tirumular. Arumuga quickly set about organizing public meetings to provide a platform on which to abuse Ramalingar and a horde of pamphlets were circulated issuing public warning about this dangerous little man. Eventually they were forced to call in Arumuga Naalavar from Jaffna to put an end to Ramalingar. as it also denotes a sexual union. One with sky Manikkavasagar. "to make as one". In this poem Ramalingar praises Saint Manikkavasagar. and weaves his verse with a complex echoing of sound as he speaks again and again of the sweetness of his mystic absorption experienced when hearing the poetry of the saint.. Not the enigmatic ramblings or harsh riddles of the ascetic."I" & "mine" Dance in the show Becoming sky & standing there. How can my words praise Him? In this final work of Ramalingar. but a tender ode. we see a different side of the heretical Siddhas. savored by the ecstatic Ramalingar is described with the Tamil word Kalantha. One with me when I sing Nectar of sugarcane One with honey One with milk and one with the sweetness of the fertile fruit One with my flesh One with my soul Insatiable is that sweetness! . that views the Siddha's experience of union as the distilled essence of life's sweetness.... This fervent merging. from the verb root Kala meaning "to flow together". your words. as all other Tamil Siddhas. towards Shiva's divine abode. In Tamil Nadu. but is going into hiding.All Siddhars in order 1. in order to be able to sustain prolonged meditation along with a form of Pranayama which reduces the number of breaths taken by them considerably. Sri Thirumoolar 5. A general sign of genuinity of a Siddha is the fact that he does not advertise himself.Siddhar . He did not worship the linga. was somewhat iconoclastic. Perhaps indicating that the hymn was meant for an internal and distinctly feminine force that could propel the invocation along the proper channels of the inner cosmos. Due to the obscurity of the art and practice of becoming a Siddha. they were often addressed to a feminine audience with unqualified personal designations such as 'Amma' or 'Akka'.Tamil Nadu Tradition of Siddhahood In South India. Sri Agasthiyar 3.Although Ramalingar's hymns were penned in praise of the God Shiva. The ultimate demonstration of this is that Siddhas alledgedly attained physical immortality. a Siddha reffers to a being who has achieved physical as well as spiritual perfection or enlightenment. special individuals are recognized as and called Siddhas. He. who are on the path to that assumed perfection after they have taken special secret Rasayanas to perfect their bodies. Sri Kuthambai 6. 'Mother' or 'Sister'. behind the curtain that housed the holy of holy's. Sri Sundaranandar 9. According to the web-site viz: http://www. Generally Siddhas are continually itinerant.com/siddhar: I. The fact that his songs began to be sung in the schools. where the Siddha tradition is practiced. South India.Siddha . II. Thus Siddha. Sri Thanvandri 8. Sri Korakkar 7. Sri Kamalamuni 4. many false prophets of this art have arisen. he perpetrated the greatest of heresies by blatantly revealing the true face of God veiled within volumes of tantric lore.experiencefestival. he established a single flame's light to illuminate a mirror that would reflect the image of the worshipper as the secret face of god and final mystery of the Tamil Siddha cult. and do not gather a following. or Siddhars or Cittars. Forgoing all such images. Sri Konganar . like Siddhar or Cittar (indigenisation of Sanskrit terms in Tamil Nadu) refers to a person who has realised the goal of a type of Sadhana and become a perfected being. At the shrine he established at Vadalur. Most practitioners of Siddha medicine are not Siddhas themselves. Sri Pathanjali 2. villages and even the temples of 19th century Cennai. began to outrage the orthodox Shaivites in the area. but use some of the remedies described by Siddhas. not adequately deferential to temple or Brahminical tradition. Sri Bogar 18. Aadhinathar 4. Sri Karuvoorar 17. Romarishi 18. Agastyar 2. To become as light as vapour in levitation (Laghima) 4. Pulasthiyar. Anadhinathar 5. Korakkar 4. Paambatti are Siddhars of more recent times than those in the list below. Ramadevar. To be in all things. Pathanjali. Pujandar or Kagapujandar. Sri Ramadevar 13. They are explained in detail in various yogic as well as religious texts. Kumbhamuni. Sri Machamuni 16. To become big in unshakeable proportions (Mahima) 3. Paambaati Siddhar. Edaikaadar 15. Of course all the people mentioned in the list are considered as Siddhars and are unparalleled in their own respects. Tirumoolar 7. To become tiny as the atom within the atom (Anima) 2. Sri Pambatti The 9 or 18 list as Abithana Chitamani states is as follows. Koonkannar 9. Sadhoganathar 3. Konganar 10. Nandhi 8. Kailasanathar 5. Sri Nandeeswarar 14. Theraiyar. Machaendranathar 8. Korakkanathar The 18-list of siddhars is: 1. Bogar 3. SattaiMuni 6. Madhanganathar 7. Karuvoorar. To enter into other bodies in transmigration (Prapti) 6. KamalaMuni 14. Gadaendranathar or Gajendranathar 9. Sri Edaikkadar 15.Siddhar . Kabilar. Sathyanathar 2. Punnakeesar 16. VaasaMuni 12. Sri Sattamuni 11. Sri Valmiki (Vaanmeegar) 12. MachaMuni 11. Sundarandandar 17. BramhaMuni Apart from these there are several others like Dhanvandhri. The 9-list of Siddhars is: 1. To become as heavy as the mountain (Garima) 5. and the following list seems to be more correct than the one above because the siddhars like Karuvoorar.Thirumandiram 668: 1. KoormaMuni 13.omni-pervasive (Prakamya) .Powers of siddhars The siddhars are believed to have had powers both major and other ‘minor’ powers. Vegulinathar 6. Kudhumbai Siddhar III.10. and symbols derived from Tantrism whether the practitioner is Hindu. systematically sought out any copy of the writings of the heretical Siddha-poet Sivavakkiyar. Unfortunately. one movement. but Shakti. To be lord of all creation in omnipotence (Isatvam) 8. The term had been derived from the Sanskrit root sidh meaning "fulfillment" or "achievement. have had a difficult time accepting the Siddhas tendency to emphasize the Goddess. Notions. Alchemy. and promptly destroyed them. I have tried to list the most significant references at the tail of this article. she can propel the consciousness of the Siddhar into union with the Absolute. who's origins can be traced back to the eighth century. Likewise. while the Saiva Siddhantins would berate the Siddhas much as M. An intriguing aspect of the Tamil Siddha cult is that it shares with the orthodox Saiva Siddhanta sect a common text which defines the philosophy of both groups. observed in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Because the Tamil language lacks the aspirated consonants of Sanskrit the word has been written and pronounced by the Tamils as cittar. manipulated & directed. This has lead the Tamils to associate the word more with the Sanskrit term chit. cosmology. with the two orders often at odds. flowing through the subtle body. where he may become Shiva himself.7. Siddhas everywhere share common practices. it describes the devotee as also being a cittar since his . Though the orthodox Saiva Siddhantin may content himself with the worship of Shiva in the temple through the rituals of the priest. has struck the Shaivite orthodoxy as heretical. is immanent and accessible as the divine force abiding within the body itself. being fundamental to the Tamil Siddha. but fully flowering only after the 12th century. The Tamil Siddhas are a religious order of mystics found in the southern part of India. Nor to I give them proper credit in the body of the work. between the 7th and the 11th centuries. For example.com (Please Note: This paper was originally presented at a symposium on world religions at the University of Utah in the spring of '97. Srinivasa Iyangar did in 1914 when he wrote that the Siddhas are "mostly plagiarists and impostors" and in addition. meaning "consciousness. All are part of a "pan-Indian tantric yoga movement" which Eliade described as formulating over a five hundred year period. all such groups are considered radical." This appellation is evident even in the Shaivite devotionals known as the Tevaram hymns of the 6th & 7th centuries that would later become part of the Saiva Siddhanta canon. by the orthodoxy. I must especially acknowledge how much Dr. between the seventh and eleventh centuries. They form a distinctive part of a larger movement which spread throughout South Asia. Within the context of Hindu myth the name Siddha originally denoted one of the eighteen categories of celestial beings. who is a cittar because the very nature of God is consciousness. It was haphazardly strung together almost overnight. their conceit knew no bounds". At times the Siddhantins have even engaged in an organized effort to eliminate the Siddhar faction." so the noun came to refer to one who had attained perfection. The rift between the two orders has been sharply polarized by the fact that some Saiva Siddhantins. and the True Nature of their Heresy Within the Context of South Indian Shaivite Society by Layne Little anjaneya@ix. There she can be coaxed & subdued. but it is by no means complete. reliance upon Brahminical authority. To be everywhere in omnipresence (Vasitvam) These eight are the Great Siddhis. Buddhist. Since each sect emphasized different aspects of the teaching they quickly became widely divergent. Later they became associated with a class of more adept human being. or Jain. The Siddhas would be scoffing at temple worship. __________________________________________________________________________________ An Introduction to the Tamil Siddhas: Their Tantric Roots. These beings of semi-divine status were said to be of great purity and their dwelling was thought to be in the sky between the earth and the sun. the Goddess. Thanks!) Back to Indian alchemy. I failed to carefully list my sources and footnote their contributions. if not dangerous. and proclaiming the injustice of caste. As the serpent power Kundalini. Excluding perhaps the Buddhist Siddhas. and welcome comments and criticism on this or any other issues. There the term is applied not only to one of the 18 categories of divine beings but also to God Shiva himself. Kamil Zvelebil have contributed to this raggle-taggle introduction to Siddha tradition. To the Tamil Siddhas. "Being eaters of opium & dwellers in the land of dreams. Shiva is the unqualified and ultimate reality beyond form or comprehension. who mostly worship their God Shiva as the Lingam or sacred Phallus. I apologize profusely for this oversight. such as this. from Sri Lanka in the South to Tibet in the north. Poetry. David Gordon White and Dr. the Siddha placates the goddess to intercede on his behalf and expand the consciousness of the Siddha beyond all limitation. often an accomplished yogi.netcom. and their philosophy structured in direct defiance of human logic. It was at this time that Tirumular. the first of six chakras or nerve plexuses through which the Kundalini energy will flow. is the tendency to layer the work so that each word or image builds upon the last. and one that is particularly relevant to Siddha poetry.. It is a kind of inner journey towards the infinitude of the Divine. It is a movement born of a synthesis of Vajrayana Buddhism. By the 12th-13th century the term has taken on new meaning as we learn from the writings of Perumparrapuliyur Nambi who describes the God Shiva as the cittar alchemist who is working strange miracles in the city of Madurai. we find that the southern variant. 801 Left hand Right hand . few scholars have ventured to address the Tamil Siddhas and then often only as mere curiosities. the Natha Siddhas of North India.. the Siddhas have viewed these same passages as the most critical in formulating their esoteric doctrines on the arousal of the serpent energy.consciousness is always immersed in the Divine presence. himself one of the 64 canonized Shaivite saints or Nayanars of the Saiva Siddhanta sect. The text also became the 10th book of the Saiva Siddhanta canon. Indian Alchemy. when he relates that it is the human body itself that is the temple of the Goddess Shakti. references to Kundalini. flows into the solar and lunar currents which run from the right and left nostrils down to the base of the spine and are there brought into union. or the medieval alchemists known as the Rasa Siddhas. All of the writings of the Tamil Siddhas. authored the Tirumantiram which fully defined the nature of the Tamil Siddha cult up until the present era. Though most of the Indian Siddha schools did not come into their own until the 12th century. and the hatha yoga and pranayama disciplines as expounded by the ascetic saint Goraknath. had a fully defined system in the eighth century itself. and clues to control the dangerous feminine power through breathing practices or the recitation of the Goddess's secret names. Essentially though. the Tamil Siddha compositions pattern the imagery to expound the subtle complexity of their philosophical concepts or to map out the terrain of the inner landscape which is dominated by the dormant serpent energy. One of the most basic characteristics of Tamil composition. which is referred to as the Tirumurai. the vast majority of the Tamil Siddha works have never been translated. whether defining philosophical viewpoints. Shaivite Tantrism. Needless to say. the orthodox followers within the Saiva Siddhanta sect have always had a difficult time fully accepting the many passages which discuss the worship of the Goddess and the Kundalini Yoga practices so characteristic of Tantrism. As we can see in verse 730. as has been the case with some of the verses presented here. This energy is moved by the solar and lunar streams of vital breath that have entered the central current at Muladhara and will ascend upwards through the six chakras. carrying one of the vital airs known as prana. I swear upon Sada Nandi we have spoken the truth. In Shakti's temple if you control the left & the right you can hear a lute in the center of your face. but begins only after the two streams flow into the central current as we learn from verse 801 of the Tirumantiram. Here Tirumular discusses the basis of Kundalini Yoga whereby the breath. yogic practices. or presenting alchemical recipes for herbal tinctures and base metal amalgams were presented in poetic form. The individual awareness is sublimated into divine union at the crown of the head. And Shiva will come out dancing sweetly. each corresponding to a higher and more expansive state of consciousness. On the other hand. These works are also riddled with tantric imagery. The point of this union is at the root chakra Muladhara. Though it was the one work outlining the philosophy of the Saiva Siddhanta cult. the Siddhantins were confronted with the tantric orientation of their philosopher Tirumular. magic. often employing the more difficult meters that harkened back to the ancient Tamil Sangam Age. the images of the poem may seem slightly disjointed and contradictory.. Because of the enigmatic nature of the Siddha imagery. Because each component image is presented so as to be viewed autonomously and in relationship both sequentially and to the totality of the verse. the Tamil Siddha school. the term is often applied to any form of unorthodox mystic or saint.. Although. in the present era. the term Siddha or Cittar has the same connotations as it does when referring to the 84 Siddhas of Vajrayana Buddhism. Though this may at first seem to undermine the aesthetic quality and over-complicate the simple act of enjoying poetry. in all its totality. It superimposed universal symbols over the human body to help demonstrate this relationship. The conscious ones capable of abandoning sleep need not die. at the crown of the head. Tantra was more deeply rooted in a fluid set of symbolic constructs than a static enunciation of doctrine. Sahasrara. Tantra appears in its definitive form around the 4th century. It's emphasis on the experiential aspects of the individual's religious experience collided with the Shaivite orthodoxy like the Gnostic heresy did with the early Christian Church. but its beginnings seem to reach back much earlier. By medieval times Indian alchemy had come into vogue much like tantra . alchemy." This interpretation is equally viable in that Ganesha. as they had seeped into yogic theory and practice at some antecedent time and even impacted temple ritual and the budding bhakti cults. He has revealed Sada Shiva within the sound.... stands within. they can live forever. In my ear he renders limitless bliss.Both hands. But it was the portly god Ganesha. At the time in question Aanand Nath. is contained within the body of the individual. and said. in this excerpt from her 14th century work Vinayagar Agaval. he was at the same time extending his protection to an obscure Hindu monastery in the Punjab. Together.. And he has revealed that.. became the cosmic axis. who had supposedly migrated from China along with his guru Kalangi Nathar. the Tamil Siddha alchemist Bhogar. like blossoms flowering on the vine of the spine. The larger that the largest. was providing history's great persecutor of Hinduism a regular supply of treated mercury which promised to confer longevity. At the same time in the deep south. Here she relates how the elephant-headed god has reconciled the dualistic nature of the universe as the various manifestations of Shiva were taught to be part of her inner savoring. the expression also means the "elephant's trunk. All the Gods that oversaw the mechanism that is this universe we-re hidden in the lotus centers of the body's chakras. and Siddha medicine.. Tuti is a verb meaning "to worship. It was there that he composed his 7000 verses on Kundalini Yoga. Tantra began to emphasize that the universe. Change!!! He who eats with the hand of worship need not be depleted. conceived of as both the nectar of spiritual ecstasy and the elixir of immortality. at the root chakra Muladhara where the two currents flow together and enter central current Shashumna. the abbot of the monastery and a Natha Siddha alchemist.. The term used to denote the 'hand of worship' is Tutikai. as Aurangzeb set about to expand his kingdom throughout the subcontinent and free the land of heretics. clarified my intellect. It represents a profound refinement of the symbol system of Hindu-Buddhist South Asia. Elements of tantric thought had already pervaded the south by the time of Tirumular. The spine. like ripe sugarcane. the elephant-headed god of gateways and new beginnings is said to reside in the body at the base of the spine. The smaller than the smallest. In an effort to demonstrate that the macrocosm is reflected within the microcosm. He became a patron of Kundalini yoga in the South and was invoked by the female Siddha mendicant Avaiyar. "Light & Darkness share a common place. along which the Shashumna or central channel ran. Shashumna is sometimes envisioned as the trunk of Ganesha raised aloft and holding the full blown lotus of enlightenment. was establishing a shrine to the God Murugan on the top of Palani Hill.. What is eaten is amrita." kai is the noun meaning "hand". He has concentrated my mind. as Tutikai. who guarded the gate to the inner world. He has revealed the Shiva Lingam within the mind. In about 1661." He presses me down into the grace giving ecstasy. . All impurities will be removed and the six chakras will become visible to the eye. If the basis of Muladhara is perfected. Grandfather (Tirumular) said. they often emphasized the pursuit of bodily perfection and the preparation of the elixir of immortality as the Chinese alchemists had sought. In the Sleepless Sleep all subtlety can be perceived. Though now. She'll tell you the appropriate time for the appropriate chakra. The universe that appeared before me was arranged in layers. Look and see. And though the Indian alchemists also sought to develop the chemical processes of transforming base metals into gold as in Europe & the Middle East.had done almost a millennium earlier. They often viewed their experience of the inner processes of Kundalini Yoga as mirroring the chemical process of the alchemical work." I took what was given me and put it in my mouth. Shiva clearly elucidated the nature of this universe. Bhogar is still wrestling with the serpent energy. The dull-hued body will mellow and shine. In a particularly odd verse of Bhogar. "Enter the tenth one. the Kundalini is personified as the consort of Ganesha. wandering freely throughout the three worlds. And a bunch of mercurial amalgams I tied onto my wrist. Entering the universe . Off I went... The gold-colored alchemy will heed your every word. You can go anywhere. 9 The green-hued Vallabai will become subservient and bow down. 80 Bhogar's Leap Into the Universe As the Principle of Intelligence itself I leapt into the cosmos. even in the midst of his alchemical operations. the Goddess Vallabai. For the sake of all beings there is a path that becomes a vehicle for the five senses. Though nine hundred years after Tirumular. we find him describing a visionary experience involving the ingestion of an unidentified substance and the wearing of mercurial amalgams.. As a Tamil scholar and Shaivite authority. Much like the alchemical process applied air to mercury and sulfur to form the amalgam that brought the work to completion. It formed a part of the alchemical triad of mercury sulfur and air. easily won the case. the outer space. corresponding to the trinity of moon sun. One of these. Here is one of the closing verses of Bhogar's discussion of Kundalini Yoga. The gentle Ramalingar was dragged into court. Surely this is the truth of Siva Yoga! In the modern era. through the intercession of the Goddess. Naturally. were confident that he could expose the fallacy of Ramalingar's teaching and defrock the heretical saint. The Siddha could. the heretical nature of his teaching and the growing number of his disciples caused the protest of temple officials and a variety of Saiva Siddhanta institutions throughout the region.of fire and light. 94 Invite the breath. Breath and God becoming one. Ramalingar was born in 1823 near Chidambaram. The Great Awareness becomes Siva. Eventually though. on his way back from China... Arumuga was forced to take legal action and filed a suit against the saint. but eloquently speaking in his own defense. They shall meet. It is this light becoming breath that redeems the soul. transformed the body's winds into a spiritual mediator that could unify the solar and lunar currents within the body. If you are unwavering. Arumuga quickly set about organizing public meetings to provide a platform on which to abuse Ramalingar and a horde of pamphlets were circulated issuing public warning about this dangerous little man. Marco Polo got a taste of South India when he stopped along the Malabar Coast. Breath controlled through the practices of Pranayama. Eventually they were forced to call in Arumuga Naalavar from Jaffna to put an end to Ramalingar. by preparing a tincture of mercury and sulfur. the greatest of all Shaivite temples.. He records a meeting he had with a group of yogi alchemists who. to come within your house.. In 1293. He and breath merge into one. Like wind becoming breath there is no individual intelligence. was Manikkavasagar.. expand consciousness to the point where it becomes what is called the Maha Chitta or "Great Awareness" which is the God Shiva himself. placated by manipulation of the breath. the orthodox religious leaders throughout the area. The nature of Ramalingar's heresy is found to be all the more insidious when we learn that he also cherished and called his own the devotional hymns of Saiva Siddhanta saints other than Tirumular. were afforded a lifespan of 150-200 years. and wind. placing it there as though you were putting oil in a lamp. the last of the canonized 64. Manikkavasagar's name means "He who's utterances are rubies" and in the 9th century he beautifully wrote this mini creation myth in flowing verse. the Siddhas have had a profound influence on contemporary Tamil society because of the impact of a single poet who lived in the last century.. Consciousness was seen to ride the vehicle of breath into union with the absolute in the Sahasrara chakra at the top of the head. Becoming sky & earth Wind & light Becoming flesh & spirit All that truly is & all that which is not . Mercury was viewed as the seminal seed of Shiva. who had a profound influence on Ramalingar and Siddha devotionalism in general. towards Shiva's divine abode. Forgoing all such images. they were often addressed to a feminine audience with unqualified personal designations such as 'Amma' or 'Akka'. Shaking the Tree: Kundalini Yoga. Yoga: Immortality and Freedom. Kamil V. 1994. The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval India. R. as it also denotes a sexual union.1973. In this poem Ramalingar praises Saint Manikkavasagar. that views the Siddha's experience of union as the distilled essence of life's sweetness. behind the curtain that housed the holy of holy's.. not adequately deferential to temple or Brahminical tradition. 1990. Layne. (By far the best work of its kind. Unpublished. 'Mother' or 'Sister'. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. & the Mysteries of the Breath in Bhogar's 7000. we see a different side of the heretical Siddhas. ----Tamil Lexicon. The Mission and Message of Ramalinga Swamy. villages and even the temples of 19th century Cennai. "I" & "mine" Dance in the show Becoming sky & standing there. Princeton: Bollingen. began to outrage the orthodox Shaivites in the area. savored by the ecstatic Ramalingar is described with the Tamil word Kalantha. but a tender ode. He makes those who say. Francis.html ______________________________________________________________________________ Siddhars as Medical Scientists Siddha medicine is the oldest and the foremost of all other medical systems of the world Introduction The Siddha System of medicine is the oldest in the world. was somewhat iconoclastic.. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.) Zvelebil. as all other Tamil Siddhas. Venkataraman. he established a single flame's light to illuminate a mirror that would reflect the image of the worshipper as the secret face of god and final mystery of the Tamil Siddha cult. White. Its exploration of the North Indian schools is indepth and unparralelled. References: Eliade. Dayanandan. At the shrine he established at Vadalur. There are two ancient system of medicine in . Little. This fervent merging. 1996. Not the enigmatic ramblings or harsh riddles of the ascetic. Leiden. A History of the Tamil Siddha Cult.Becoming the Lord. and weaves his verse with a complex echoing of sound as he speaks again and again of the sweetness of his mystic absorption experienced when hearing the poetry of the saint. London: Rider..alchemywebsite. ??? The above article is copied from the web page: http://www. David Gordon. "to make as one". 1990.. How can my words praise Him? In this final work of Ramalingar.com/tamil_si. he perpetrated the greatest of heresies by blatantly revealing the true face of God veiled within volumes of tantric lore. One with me when I sing Nectar of sugarcane One with honey One with milk and one with the sweetness of the fertile fruit One with my flesh One with my soul Insatiable is that sweetness! Although Ramalingar's hymns were penned in praise of the God Shiva. He did not worship the linga. your words. T. Madurai: Ennes Publications. One with sky Manikkavasagar. Spiritual Alchemy. Tamil Literature. The fact that his songs began to be sung in the schools. Perhaps indicating that the hymn was meant for an internal and distinctly feminine force that could propel the invocation along the proper channels of the inner cosmos. from the verb root Kala meaning "to flow together". 1975. He. ----The Poets of the Powers. Mircea. 1969. Man is nothing but a miniature world containing the five elements of the various principles which constitute the minerals. Fire is the third element that gives motion. it is called Siddha Medicine. The fundamental subjects of Siddha methodology are 1. Man is said to be the microcosm and Universe is the macrocosm because what exists in the world exists in man.VADHAM (ALCHEMY) 2. muscles. A close relationship is found to exist between the external world and the internal system of man. These natural disasters are created and sopped by Siddhars. where THERE IS NO DEATH OR REBIRTH. breathes the air and thus maintains the heat in the body. Hence. (Nadi in tamil means seeking/looking/coming to a person) The Nadi Leaves we have was given by Sri KagaPujandar.India. circulation and simulation besides respiration and the nervous system. The Siddha which flourished in South India and Ayurvedha prevalent in North India.GNANAM or THATHUVAM (PHILOSOPHY) Siddhars. earth. There were 18 important siddhars in olden days and they developed this system of medicine. Turkey earthquake and also the results of the Indian election and that of Tamilnadu where also predicted much before the elections. Siddha system of medicine is based on Saiva Siddhantha. the Universe originally consisted of atoms which contributed to the five basic elements. Other instances which where already predicted from the Nadi leaves are the Taiwan earthquake.medindia. He is alive on account of the life force given by ether. The word Siddha comes from the word Siddhi which means an object to attain perfection or heavenly bliss.YOGAM (YOGA) 4. The recent storm which affected Gujarat. They had also recorded in leaves called as Nadi Leaves. Siddha generally refers to Athma Siddha that is the 8th supernatural power. vegetables and the animal kingdom. Siddhars (practitioners of Siddha) maintain that the structure of the human body is a miniature world in itself. USA. ether is the characteristic of man's mental and spiritual faculties. they name this as Nadi Leaves. water. skin. . vigor and vitality to the body. Nature is man and man is nature. Above all.net/alternativemedicine/index. Siddha is a Tamil word that is derived from its root 'chit' which means perfection in life or "heavenly bliss". Basic Principles Siddha science considers nature and man as essentially one.. spiritual scientists of Tamil Nadu explored and explained the reality of Nature and its relationship to man by their yogic awareness and experimental findings.AITHIYAM (MEDICINE) 3. Since the Siddhars knew who would be coming to them with problems. Man consumes water and food. It also helps digestion. secretions of the glands. vital fluid etc. According to Siddha medical science. fire. Given here are certain instances which where told our devotees and also to Breeze Maharishi In Pittsburgh USA. The eight mighty SIDDHIC PROCESS or OCTOMIRACLE ("ATTA-MA-SIDDHI") which could keep the body strong and perfect for EXTERNAL LIFE. tissues. viz. The earth is the first element which gives fine shape to the body including bones. India was to affect Florida. air and sky which correspond to the five senses of the human body and they were the fundamentals of all the corporeal things in the world. The above article is from: http://www. past and future of the world by their meditational powers. They postulated the concept of spiritualism for self improvement and the practices propounded by them came to be known as the "SIDDHA SYSTEM". Water is the second element representing blood. Those who attained or achieved the above said powers are known as Siddhars.asp?Choice=Siddha _________________________________________________________________________________ Siddhars' Nadi Astrology The Siddars have already predicted the present. hair etc. The breath through the nostrils is termed as Yidakalai and Pinkalai respectively. These Nadi prediction recordings. which has been composed by great Maharishis (sages) of India in the past using their spiritual powers. with the aid of the man kalai (Sulimunai) and other subdivisions of the same kalai. The results are accurately explained to the minutest detail to souls who seek the help of the Sages. there is a third way termed as 'Sulimunaikalai'. The prediction written on the leaf is in ancient Tamil in form of poems. Sangini. your past. until an auction during the British rule. but soon it became evident that the scriptures contained some unique predictions of specific natives. which go a long way in making the Sages. At about 13th century these leaves were rediscovered by the forefathers which were lying unclaimed in Vaitheeswarankoil and realized their tremendous value and created the copies of the predictions on the palm leafs and created them their exact duplicates. Some leaves get destroyed and some very auctioned during the British rule. present and future periods. Gaandhari. Yogi's (Devotees of Yoga) survive by practicing this art (Sulimunaikalai) acquire special power through spiritual knowledge about the past. Then these Nadi leaves were passed down from generation to generation make predictions. It is said that the Seven Maharishis (sages) Agasthya. Vyasa. were gifted with such a remarkable foresight that they accurately foretold the entire future of all mankind. attain spiritual knowledge and enable them to offer splendid explanations to the world. With sulimunai Nadi as the basis. at a particular stage of their lifetime. eclipses the achievements of all other sciences put together. to neutralize ones past sins. but ironically left most of the Nadi prediction leaves to their loyal people. the results the good and bad deeds yield (of the past lives) to the souls who come in search of them (Sages). The sages recorded these predictions for every individuals for the betterment of humanity and to safeguard dharma (righteousness). each containing around a hundred predictions. same as language used in ancient temple of Tamilnadu. who will come seeking them. History of Nadi Astrology The source point of Nadi Astrology leaves can be traced back to approximately more then 2000 years. being the repository of wisdom of the Great Saint was one of the well preserved books for thousands of years by the many generations of rulers. present and future. Purudan and Guru. (Yidakalai-Sun kalai. Nadi Astrology predictions was thought to be just writing on Astrology. That great compilation predicting the future of all human beings born or yet to be born. the son got trained by his father and the father by his father to make Nadi predictions. Singuvai. BoharBrigu. as foretold by the Great Saint in these predictions. as well as the careers of innumerable individuals contain in several thousand volumes. Pingalai-Moon kalai). It has become profession which was provided by their ancestors to them. Initially. when it finally became the proud possession of an influential family of Valluvar community at Vaitheeswarankoil in the Tanjore district of Tamilnadu.Can you believe that someone in India is storing records of your entire life cycle ie. The British rulers later showed interest in the Nadi leaves concerned with herbs and medicine. Then. astrologers earn their lively hood from them. The sulimunaikalai and its sub-divisions enable Sages to understand through their spiritual power. With the secret images of the sabtha Nadigal as the basis of support. These sages predicted the characteristics. future prediction etc. . This great work makes us realize the limitations of human sciences. family history. Every soul has two main nasal passages or nostrils. its seven other sub-divisions (sub-divisions of sulimunai) can be practiced separately at different percentage levels. Many scholars in different parts of India have in their safekeeping several granthas. Kausika. Therefore this kind of astrological advice is known as Nadi Astrology. Some Nadi leaves were anyhow possessed by the families of astrologers in Vaitheeswarankoil from Tanjore Saraswati Mahal Library. These Nadi leaves were initially stored in the premises of Tanjore Saraswati Mahal of Tamilnadu State in India. worship and charities at specific shrines. who dictated those Nadis. Sages. In addition to the two ways by which breath passes. The Nadi Astrology is a branch of Astrology that offers explanations and advice regarding the influence of the planets or the results the planets bring about to souls who seek the aid of this branch of Astrology. Alambudai. hard to believe but Yes. Nadi is an ancient astrology. The breath through the left nostril is termed as 'Yidakalai' and the breath through the right nostril is termed as 'Pinkalai'. this is called Nadi Astrology. These predictive texts also contain a chapter recommending certain Pilgrimages or prayers. Vasishtha and Valmiki had predicted and then written life of each individual on leaves of a palm tree by their spiritual powers. This refers to the art of breathing by which breath through the right and left nostrils pass simultaneously. The sabtha (Seven) Nadi kalai (sub-divisions of Sulimunaikalai) are Aththi. the spiritual knowledge of the good and bad deeds (of the past births) are compared with the minute secrets of the nine planets and finally clear explanations are offered to the world. Siththa's (persons who have acquired the eight great mystic powers) Sages. The Rishis (sages). When a man and a woman unite equally and completely. its seven other sub-divisions (sub-divisions of sulimunai) can be practiced separately at different percentage levels. The results are accurately explained to the minutest detail to souls who seek the help of the Sages. which comprises of masculine and feminine letters. Yogi's (Devotees of Yoga) survive by practicing this art (Sulimunaikalai) acquire special power through spiritual knowledge about the past. Then. Singuvai. the persons with the specified birth details who would approach him. Gaandhari. there are vowels. that exist in the world and is therefore said to be the mother of all other sciences (sastra's). the results the good and bad deeds yield (of the past lives) to the souls who come in search of them (Sages). Tamil is a language with the presence of life in it. The Astrologer whose soul bears only the good deeds of his past births (has followed the path of righteousness) and possesses a charitable and compassionate disposition will be capable of offering complete genuine predictions. Therefore. Therefore.In the same manner. nadi astrology science (sastra) occupies a supreme place among other astrology sciences (sastra's). . the age (age of the person) at which they would approach him. (vowels in the Tamil language) called Uyir eluththukkal-letters representing life. to get the predictions as prescribed in the treatise and also the necessary predictions he should offer to them at that time. the masculine and feminine letters are united in their proper proportions in the form of a poem. With sulimunai Nadi as the basis. Sangini. The fifth class is a Divine secret class known only to the celestials (Deva's). Many years ago when 'The Supreme Preceptor of the Universe' . Since such Astrologers are very few in number in the present world. Siththa's (persons who have acquired the eight great mystic powers) Sages. it stands to reason that the Nadi Astrology. Sage Sre Gorakkar said " I beseech your grace to provide me with information about minute details regarding the state of life of the human beings". a live offspring is being created . attain spiritual knowledge and enable them to offer splendid explanations to the world. which go a long way in making the Sages. Sage Sree Gorakkar wrote down all the the Divine secrets chanted through the sacred lips of his Preceptor (Sre Kagabujandar) on palm leaves. Pingalai-Sun kalai). He then chanted through his sacred lips a divine song. preserved them in his secret cupboard (earthen pot) placed in his secret abode-"Gorakkar gundam" in Kollimalai (Kolli hills). there are difficulties in producing genuine and complete predictions through Vedic Astrology. The sulimunaikalai and its sub-divisions enable Sages to understand through their spiritual power. The breath through the nostrils is termed as Yidakalai and Pinkalai respectively. the divine secrets are being explained in detail by him. The sabtha (Seven) Nadi kalai (sub-divisions of Sulimunaikalai) are Aththi. is the head of all Astrological sciences. This refers to the art of breathing by which breath through the right and left nostrils pass simultaneously. letters function."Sre Kagabujandar (Sre Kakabusundi)"was teaching his disciple Sage Sre Gorakkar the various secrets of the world. Apart from these letters there is a letter known as Aayutha eluththu. "Sre Kagabujandar (Sre Kakabusundi)" agreed to give explanations on the subject. Therefore this kind of astrological advice is known as Nadi Astrology. Purudan and Guru. Mey eluththukkal-letters representing body and Uyirmey eluththukkalletters representing life and body. the predictions are arranged in an orderly way and the predictions are finally presented in the form of poetry. (Yidakalai-Moon kalai. Apart from these four classes of letters there is a fifth class. which makes the other. Sages. the spiritual knowledge of the good and bad deeds (of the past births) are compared with the minute secrets of the nine planets and finally clear explanations are offered to the world.NADI ASTROLOGY (NAADI ASTROLOGY)-IT'S GREATNESS The Nadi Astrology is a branch of Astrology that offers explanations and advice regarding the influence of the planets or the results the planets bring about to souls who seek the aid of this branch of Astrology. there is a third way termed as 'Sulimunaikalai'. Alambudai. The predictions are being linked together by a secret rope called 'Arampaadal' and then published. which gave a detailed account of the people who would approach him. which has been directly handed down by the Sages. With the blessings of their Holinesses Sre Kagabujandar (Sre Kakabusundi) and Sree Gorakkar the hidden treasure (Divine secrets written on palm leaves) came to the hand of the Kaliyuga hair namely Bhaaskharamaharishi obeying the holy command of his spiritual Preceptor (Guru). The original treatise of Nadi Astrology has been composed in the form of poetry. In addition to the two ways by which breath passes. The breath through the left nostril is termed as 'Yidakalai' and the breath through the right nostril is termed as 'Pinkalai'. With the secret images of the sabtha Nadigal as the basis of support. with the aid of the man kalai (Sulimunai) and other subdivisions of the same kalai. Thus. Every soul has two main nasal passages or nostrils. present and future periods.