Introduction About 18 Great Siddhas

Siddha is one who has attained siddhi, i.e. "power, prowess, strength, ability", then a special kind of psychic and supernatural, miraculous, occult power.

Siddhas are great saints who lived and continue to live, during various times. They are beyond the mundane things. They seek only the attainment of salvation through persistent prayer to Lord Siva. They are alchemists, who also gained various powers due to their penance. They can turn any metal into gold; walk on water; fly through air; enter into a dead body and bring life to it; can bury themselves underground or submerge under water for years together. Like this the list can go on. But more importantly, they invented great medicines that ordinary humans cannot even fathom to understand other than realizing the benefits of it. They know the perfect combination to make life-saving medicines that could have been made from highly poisonous plants.

18 GREAT SIDDHAS

Sri Agasthiyar Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Agasthiyar Anandasayana 4-Yugas, 48 Days Shiva Bogar Babaji Thiruvalluvar Machamuni Medicine Kayakalpa Tamil Grammar Yoga   Sri Agasthiyar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas who have initiated many siddhas including 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.

Sri Nandi Devar Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Nandi Devar Kasi (Benares) 700 Years, 32 Days Shiva Thirumoolar Pathanjali DakshinaMoorthy Romarishi Sattaimuni Medicine Kaya Kalpa Yoga Alchemy Natural sciences Philosophy   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 (Kayilay Kambilisattamuni) & Sattaimuni.

Sri Thirumoolar Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Thirumoolar Chidambaram 3000 Years, 13 Days Nandi Philosophy Yoga   Thirumoolar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He has been initiated by Nandi Devar and his contributions include works in yoga and philosophy. His 'Thirumandiram' work is very popular among his works. He has attained samadhi in Chidambaram.

Sri Bogar Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Bogar (or) Bhoganathar Palani 300 Years, 18 Days Agasthiyar Kalangi Nathar Babaji Konkanavar Karuvoorar Pulipani Idaikadar Yoga Kaya Kalpa Medicine Alchemy Natural sciences Philosophy   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, Pulipani and Idaikadar.

Sri Konkanavar Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Konkanavar Thirupathi 800 Years, 16 Days Bogar 557 - Disciples 25 known works in Medicine Yoga Religion Philosophy   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.

Sri Machamuni Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Machamuni Thirupparankundram 300 Years, 62 Days Agasthiyar Punnakeesar Pasundar Gorakhnathar 10 known works in Tantric Yoga Hatha Yoga   Machamuni who is also known as Matsyendranath is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He has been initiated by Agasthiyar, Punnakeesar and Pasundar. Some of his contributions include 10 known works on Hatha yoga, Tantric yoga practices etc. Gorakhnathar is one of his eminent disciples. He has attained samadhi at Thiruparrunkundram.

Sri Gorakhnathar (Gorakkar) Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Gorakhnathar Poyur (Girnar) 880 Years, 32 Days Dattatreyar (Vishnu) Machamuni Allama Prabu Nagarjuna "Avadhuta Gita" and 13 other works in Order of Ascetics Medicine Alchemy Hatha Yoga Pradipika classic   Gorakhnathar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas in the 'nath' tradition. He was initiated by Dattatreya (Vishnu), Macchamuni and 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).

Sri Sattaimuni Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Sattaimuni Srirangam 880 Years, 14 Days Nandi Dakshinamoorthy Sundaranandar Paambatti 46 known works in Medicine Alchemy   Sattaimuni is one of the 18 yoga siddhas and was initiated by Nandi Devar & Dakshinamoorthy. His contributions include 46 known works in medicine, alchemy & etc. His disciples include Sundaranandar and Paambatti. He has attained samadhi at Srirangam.

Sri Sundaranandar Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Sundaranandar Madurai 880 Years, 28 Days Sattaimuni Konkanavar 24 known works in Medicine Philosophy   Sundaranandar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He was initiated by Sattaimuni & Konkanavar. Some of his contributions include 24 known works: medicine, philosophy etc. He has attained samadhi at Kudal (Madurai).

Sri Ramadevar (Yacob) Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Ramadevar (Yacop) Alagar Malai - Pulastiyar Karuvoorar Sattaimuni Konkanavar 24 known works in Medicine Mantra sastra   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.

Sri Kudambai Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Kudambai Mayavaram - Alukkani Siddhar (disciple of Idaikadar) - Siddha Philosophy   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.

Sri Karuvoorar Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Karuvoorar Karuvai (Karur) 300 Years, 42 days Bhogar Idaikadar Construction of Tanjore Temple Many works in Medicine   Karuvoorar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He was one of the eminient disciples of Bhoganathar after being initiated by him. He is popular for his contribution in constructing the Tanjore temple and other medicinal works. IdaiKadar is one of his eminent disciples. He has attained samadhi at Karuvai (karur).

Sri Idaikadar Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Idaikadar Thiruvannamalai 600 Years, 18 days Bhogar Karuvoorar Kudambai Alukkani Two known works in Kaya Kalpa   Idaikadar is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He was initiated by both Bhoganathar and Karuvoorar. His contributions include two known works in kaya kalpa. He attained samadhi at Thiruvannamalai. Some of his disciples are Kudambai and Alukkani.

Sri Kamalamuni Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Kamalamuni Aarur (Tiruvarum) 4000 Years, 48 days Bhogar Karuvoorar Kudambai Alukkani Two known works in Medicine & Philosophy   Kamalamuni is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He has attained samadhi at Aarur (Tiruvarum). His contributions include two known works on medicine and philosophy.

Sri Valmiki Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Valmiki Ettikudi 700 Years, 32 days Naradar - Recorded the epic work: The Ramayana   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.

Sri Pathanjali Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Pathanjali Rameshwaram 5 Yugas, 7 days Nandi - The yoga classic: Pathanjali Yoga Sutra   Pathanjali 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.

Sri Dhanvanthri Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Dhanvanthri Vaideeswaran Koil, near Chidambaram 800 Years, 32 days - - 22 Known works in Medicine Alchemy Kaya Kalpa   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.

Sri Pambatti (Paambatti) Name Place of Samathi Life Duration Guru Disciples Contributions Pambatti Hari Sankaran Kovil 123 Years, 32 days Sattaimuni - Siddha Philosophy   Pambatti is one of the 18 yoga siddhas. He was initiated by Sattaimuni. His contributions includeworks in siddha philosophy. He has attained samadhi at Harisankaran kovil. He was originally a snake charmer before he met his guru Sattaimuni. Later after being initiated by his guru, due to his intense sadhana he has became a siddha.