siddhas

Siddhas are revered figures in Indian spiritual and medical traditions, particularly within the Tamil Siddha lineage. The term siddha means a person who has attained perfection or success, and in this context refers to sages who are believed to have mastered inner powers, longevity, and transformative knowledge. The Siddha tradition is closely associated with Shaiva and yogic ideas, and its mystics are said to have transmitted teachings through a corpus of Tamil and Sanskrit texts as well as oral instruction.

The core aims of the Siddhas include spiritual realization and mastery of prana (life energy), often expressed through practices of yoga, breath control, and meditation. A distinctive feature of the tradition is its integration of spiritual discipline with therapeutic arts. Siddha medicine, a major branch, combines herbal remedies with mineral and metallic preparations and alchemical processes (rasayana). The tradition emphasizes longevity and physical vitality as one path to spiritual insight, though the ultimate goal remains liberation or union with the divine. Tamil Siddha literature, attributed to various siddhars such as those named Agastya (Agathiyar), Bogar, and Thirumular, comprises sutras, poems, and treatises on yoga, ethics, alchemy, and medicine. The body of work is diverse and often intermingles myth, hagiography, and practical instruction.

Historically, the Siddha tradition flourished in Tamil-speaking regions of South India and Sri Lanka, with a long-lasting influence on traditional medicine, folk religion, and popular culture. Scholarly assessment notes a blend of historical, legendary, and regional forms, making precise chronology difficult. Today, Siddha ideas persist in spiritual practice and alternative medicine within Tamil communities, continuing a lineage that blends mysticism, health sciences, and philosophy.