In Indian religions, Siddhis are material, paranormal, supernatural, or otherwise magical powers, abilities, and attainments that are the products of yogic advancement through sādhanās such as meditation and yoga. The term ṛddhi is often used interchangeably in Buddhism.
Neem Karoli Baba or Neeb Karori Baba, also known to his followers as 'Maharaj-ji', was a Hindu guru and a devotee of the Hindu deity Hanuman. He is known outside India for being the spiritual master of a number of Americans who travelled to India in the 1960s and 1970s.
The Siddhar in Tamil tradition is a perfected individual who has attained spiritual powers called siddhi.
Siddha is a term that is used widely in Indian religions and culture. It means "one who is accomplished." It refers to perfected masters who have achieved a high degree of perfection of the intellect as well as liberation or enlightenment. In Jainism, the term is used to refer to the liberated souls. Siddha may also refer to one who has attained a siddhi, paranormal capabilities.
The Tirumantiram or Thirumantiram is a Tamil poetic work, written either in the 2nd century BCE and 4th century CE by Tirumular. It is the tenth of the twelve volumes of the Tirumurai, the key texts of Shaiva Siddhanta and the first known Tamil work to use the term. The Tirumantiram is the earliest known exposition of the Shaiva Agamas in Tamil. It consists of over three thousand verses dealing with various aspects of spirituality, ethics and praise of Shiva. But it is more spiritual than religious and one can see the difference between Vedanta and Siddhanta from Tirumular's interpretation of the Mahavakyas. According to historian Venkatraman, the work covers almost every feature of the siddhar of the Tamils. According to another historian, Madhavan, the work stresses on the fundamentals of Siddha medicine and its healing powers. It deals with a wide array of subjects including astronomy and physical culture.
Dhanvantari is the physician of the devas in Hinduism. He is regarded as an avatar of Vishnu. He is mentioned in the Puranas as the god of Ayurveda.
Jnana guru Siva Yogaswami of Jaffna (1872–1964) was a spiritual master, a śivajnani and anatha siddhar revered by Hinduism of the 20th century. He had Catholic and Buddhist devotees as well. He was the 161st Jagadacharya of the Nandinatha Sampradaya's Kailasa Parampara. Yogaswami was trained in and practiced Kundalini yoga under the guidance of Satguru Chellappaswami, from whom he received guru diksha (initiation).
Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Marudhamalai, or the Marudhamalai Murugan Temple, is a popular 12th-century hill temple situated in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Built by Tamil kings during the Sangam period as indicated in the Purananuru, the temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan and is considered the Seventh House of Lord Murugan.
Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Mahaswamigal also known as the Sage of Kanchi or Mahaperiyavar was the 68th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of the Moolamnaya Saravjna Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Mahaperiyavar's discourses have been recorded in a Tamil book titled "Deivathin Kural".
Gorakhnath was a Hindu yogi, mahasiddha and saint who was the founder of the Nath Hindu monastic movement in India. He is considered one of the two disciples of Matsyendranath. His followers are known as Jogi, Gorakhnathi, Darshani or Kanphata.
Shrimad Rajchandra, also known as Param Krupalu Dev, was a Jain poet, mystic, philosopher, scholar, and reformer from India. Born in Vavaniya, a village near Morbi, he claimed to have attained recollection of his past lives at the age of seven. He performed Avadhāna, a memory retention and recollection test that gained him popularity, but he later discouraged it in favour of his spiritual pursuits. He wrote much philosophical poetry including Atma Siddhi Shastra. He also wrote many letters and commentaries and translated some religious texts. He is known for his teachings on Jainism and his spiritual guidance to Mahatma Gandhi.
Kalangi Nathar was an Indian ascetic who belonged to both the natha tradition of northern India and the siddha tradition of southern India. He was the guru of saint Bhogar and was born in Varanasi and belonged to the ancient tradition of nava (nine) nātha sadhus, tracing their tradition to Shiva.
Tamil mythology refers to the folklore and traditions that are a part of the wider Dravidian pantheon, originating from the Tamil people. This body of mythology is a fusion of elements from Dravidian culture and the parent Indus Valley culture, both of which have been syncretised with mainstream Hinduism.
Changdev Maharaj was a mystical yogi turned saint who is believed to have lived in the village of Vateshwar along the banks of the Tapti River for 1,400 years. Per popular belief, Changdev Maharaj achieved Bhuta Siddhi based on his yogic powers and used these powers to perform various supernatural acts. Even though Changdev Maharaj himself is believed to have had held godly status and followers, his current following is mostly amongst Varkaris due to his association with Dnyaneshwar and Muktabai.
Arulmigu Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peetam is a Hindu temple in Melmaruvathur, approximately 92 km from Chennai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India. Tamil Nadu is the place where 21 Siddhars (saints), men as well as women from different religions, had their Jeeva-Samadhis. The divine mother Adhi Parashakti transmigrates into Arulthiru Bangaru Adigalar in Adiparashakti Siddhar Peetam.
Kandaswami Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Murugan, located in the Parry's corner neighbourhood of Chennai city, in Tamil Nadu, India. It is also called 'Mutthu Kumāra Swāmi deva sthānam' and popularly known as Kandha kottam. It is managed by the Tamil Nadu Hindu religious and charitable endowments department of the government of Tamil Nadu. The Kandha kottam temple has associated educational institutions for music and dance classes; primary and high schools; and a college, in various locations. The Kandha kottam temple also performs social welfare initiatives like free medical clinics and free pharmacies.
Perumizhalai Kurumba Nayanar is the 22nd of 63 Nayanar saints of Hinduism. Traditional hagiographies like Periya Puranam and Thiruthondar Thogai describe him as a great devotee of the Hindu god Shiva. He was a follower of another Nayanar, Sundarar.
Thycaud Ayyavu Swamikal was a spiritualist and social reformer. He was the first to challenge caste customs in Kerala during a time when caste restrictions and untouchability were at their peak.
Virupa, also known as Virupaksa and Tutop Wangchuk, was an 8th–9th century Indian mahasiddha and yogi, and the source of important cycles of teachings in tantric Buddhism.
KaruvurarDevar was a sage or Siddhar from Karuvur in Tamil Nadu, India. There are 18 Siddhars popularly known in Tamil literature. He is the one among the 18 Siddhars. Believers describe Siddhars as having the "ability to perceive the higher cosmic movements in universe." They are described as experts in Yoga, alchemy, literature, and philosophy, and as having the ability to move their souls to and from the bodies of others.
