DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Siddhas. Who were they? What did they practice and teach? --I

**evarekataVame** · 02-26-2011, 03:47 PM

Now about the Sampradhya/tradition of the Siddhars.

The basic problem in the research about Tamil Siddhars is illustrated by the above story/fable.

By confining our search to Tamil Nadu and Tamil we have lost sight of the whole picture.

Very simple. We know that the names used

Nath, Siddha and later Avadhuta.

Now let us do a Google search for Nath Siddha

nath siddhas - Google Search

186,000 hits.

Let us the topmost hit.

Nath - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Sanskrit word nāthá or नाथ, is the proper name of a siddha initiatory tradition and the word itself literally means "lord, protector, refuge". The related Sanskrit term Adi Natha means first or original Lord, and is therefore a synonym for Shiva, Mahadeva, or Maheshvara, and beyond these supramental concepts, the Supreme Absolute Reality as the basis supporting all aspects and manifestations of consciousness.

The Nath tradition is a heterodox siddha tradition containing many sub-sects. It was founded by Matsyendranath and further developed by Gorakshanath.

These two individuals are also revered in Tibetan Buddhism as Mahasiddhas (great adepts) and are credited with great powers and perfected spiritual attainment.
Is this The Siddhar Sampradhaya? Yes. We have always heard of Gorakkar and Maccha Muni among the eighteen Siddhars.

Gorakkar - Gorakshanath

Gorakshanath - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gorakshanath (also known as Gorakhnath) was an 11th to 12th century Nath yogi, connected to Shaivism as one of the two most important disciples of Matsyendranath, the other being Caurangi. There are varying records of the spiritual descent of Gorakshanath. All name Adinath and Matsyendranath as two teachers preceding him in the succession. Though one account lists five gurus preceding Adinath and another lists six teachers between Matsyendranath and Gorakshanath, current tradition has Adinath identified with Lord Shiva as the direct teacher of Matsyendranath, who was himself the direct teacher of Gorakshanath.
Maccha Muni - Matsyendranath

Matsyendranatha (Sanskrit: मत्स्येन्द्रनाथ) or Machindranath (9th-10th century) was one of the eighty-four Mahasiddhas. He was the guru of Gorakshanath, with whom he founded the school of Hatha yoga. He is considered as the author of the Kaulajñānanirṇaya ("Discussion of the Knowledge Pertaining to the Kaula Tradition"), one of the earliest texts on Hatha Yoga in Sanskrit. He is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Machindranath is believed to be the founder of the Natha Pantha. Machindranath is called "Vishwayogi" because his teachings are universal. Coming back to

Nath - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Navanatha Sampradhaya was developed in Maharashtra. This include not only the original Nath/Siddha Sampradhya but also the Avadhuta Sampradhya. Guru Dattatreya came into the picture. This Sampradhaya got entwined with the Vaishnavite Bhakthi movement and worship of Vishnu made its appearance.

Another proof of the origin of the Siddhar Sampradhaya is the Nandinatha_Sampradaya

Nandinatha Sampradaya - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is part of the Tamil Saiva Siddhanta.

Thus we find the Tamil Nadu Siddhars are related to the Nath/Siddha Sampradhaya which had Matsyentranatha and Goraknatha as its greatest Gurus.

A question which could be asked at this stage is

When it is so obvious how come it is not found earlier?

It is like the story I related earlier. You can not find something which has been lost in the dark by searching in a place where there is light.

There are many Tamil scholars who have rightly deduced that Macchamuni refers to Matsyendranath and Gorakkar to Gorakshaknath. But after the identification they have not gone further.

The Siddhar Sampradhaya and Philosophy is based on the Nath tradition. It is an adaptation.

I will provide further linkages to show more proofs about the relationship between the Nath/Siddha Sampradhya and the Siddhars of Tamil Nadu in my next post.

I have the advantage in this search that both my Deeksha guru and Jnana Guru were of the Nath/Siddha/Avadhuta Sampradhaya. You could say that I belong to that Sampradhaya. Again both my Gurus were Tamil Brahmins by birth.

Please do understand that there are hundreds of variations in the Nath/Siddha/Avadhuta Sampradhaya. Many of them have died out. Some of them survive.

Though my research is based on texts in Sanskrit/Hindi/Marathi and Tamil and not on Wikipedia articles, I will be giving linkages to Wikipedia articles because they are immediately available.

02-26-2011, 03:47 PM	#17
evarekataVame Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 590 Senior Member	Now about the Sampradhya/tradition of the Siddhars. The basic problem in the research about Tamil Siddhars is illustrated by the above story/fable. By confining our search to Tamil Nadu and Tamil we have lost sight of the whole picture. Very simple. We know that the names used Nath, Siddha and later Avadhuta. Now let us do a Google search for Nath Siddha nath siddhas - Google Search 186,000 hits. Let us the topmost hit. Nath - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Sanskrit word nāthá or नाथ, is the proper name of a siddha initiatory tradition and the word itself literally means "lord, protector, refuge". The related Sanskrit term Adi Natha means first or original Lord, and is therefore a synonym for Shiva, Mahadeva, or Maheshvara, and beyond these supramental concepts, the Supreme Absolute Reality as the basis supporting all aspects and manifestations of consciousness. The Nath tradition is a heterodox siddha tradition containing many sub-sects. It was founded by Matsyendranath and further developed by Gorakshanath. These two individuals are also revered in Tibetan Buddhism as Mahasiddhas (great adepts) and are credited with great powers and perfected spiritual attainment. Is this The Siddhar Sampradhaya? Yes. We have always heard of Gorakkar and Maccha Muni among the eighteen Siddhars. Gorakkar - Gorakshanath Gorakshanath - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Gorakshanath (also known as Gorakhnath) was an 11th to 12th century Nath yogi, connected to Shaivism as one of the two most important disciples of Matsyendranath, the other being Caurangi. There are varying records of the spiritual descent of Gorakshanath. All name Adinath and Matsyendranath as two teachers preceding him in the succession. Though one account lists five gurus preceding Adinath and another lists six teachers between Matsyendranath and Gorakshanath, current tradition has Adinath identified with Lord Shiva as the direct teacher of Matsyendranath, who was himself the direct teacher of Gorakshanath. Maccha Muni - Matsyendranath Matsyendranatha (Sanskrit: मत्स्येन्द्रनाथ) or Machindranath (9th-10th century) was one of the eighty-four Mahasiddhas. He was the guru of Gorakshanath, with whom he founded the school of Hatha yoga. He is considered as the author of the Kaulajñānanirṇaya ("Discussion of the Knowledge Pertaining to the Kaula Tradition"), one of the earliest texts on Hatha Yoga in Sanskrit. He is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Machindranath is believed to be the founder of the Natha Pantha. Machindranath is called "Vishwayogi" because his teachings are universal. Coming back to Nath - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Navanatha Sampradhaya was developed in Maharashtra. This include not only the original Nath/Siddha Sampradhya but also the Avadhuta Sampradhya. Guru Dattatreya came into the picture. This Sampradhaya got entwined with the Vaishnavite Bhakthi movement and worship of Vishnu made its appearance. Another proof of the origin of the Siddhar Sampradhaya is the Nandinatha_Sampradaya Nandinatha Sampradaya - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This is part of the Tamil Saiva Siddhanta. Thus we find the Tamil Nadu Siddhars are related to the Nath/Siddha Sampradhaya which had Matsyentranatha and Goraknatha as its greatest Gurus. A question which could be asked at this stage is When it is so obvious how come it is not found earlier? It is like the story I related earlier. You can not find something which has been lost in the dark by searching in a place where there is light. There are many Tamil scholars who have rightly deduced that Macchamuni refers to Matsyendranath and Gorakkar to Gorakshaknath. But after the identification they have not gone further. The Siddhar Sampradhaya and Philosophy is based on the Nath tradition. It is an adaptation. I will provide further linkages to show more proofs about the relationship between the Nath/Siddha Sampradhya and the Siddhars of Tamil Nadu in my next post. I have the advantage in this search that both my Deeksha guru and Jnana Guru were of the Nath/Siddha/Avadhuta Sampradhaya. You could say that I belong to that Sampradhaya. Again both my Gurus were Tamil Brahmins by birth. Please do understand that there are hundreds of variations in the Nath/Siddha/Avadhuta Sampradhaya. Many of them have died out. Some of them survive. Though my research is based on texts in Sanskrit/Hindi/Marathi and Tamil and not on Wikipedia articles, I will be giving linkages to Wikipedia articles because they are immediately available.
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