Om Siddhar Swamigal

December 26, 2007

Below site: I found one interesting article on Om Siddhar Swamigal:

http://www.geocities.com/ongaraashramam/siddhar.html

Please find cut-paste-copy from that site...

THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED AT THE LOTUS FEET OF

OM SRI SITTHAR SWAMIGAL

Every mind has a potent energy hidden in it. This energy is indeed, a powerful energy. It has the ability to convert the mind with a hard core attitude to a soft and sublime one. One can see the divine light. It can give a delightful experience of the body blossoming with fragrance and a distinct halo surrounding it. Such a person is said to be in touch with divinity. He is the person who can make others also experience the divinty. He is righteous and truthful throughout his life and experience the true happiness.

Where is this super energy in the mind situated? Who identifies it? Who spots it in us? How can we be made to feel and experience this divinity? Who helps us achieve this ? Is he human ? Hs he divine? Is he Gode? The answer is simple. It is the teacher or the Sathguru who can spot this divine energy in each one of us and help us channelise this energy into making us blossom and bloom into flowers that will never fade.

A Sathguru is sent by the Almighty. He is born from time to time. He is a divine creation. His duty is to nuture and look after the people who need help. He upholds Dharma, Truthfulness and Righteousness. He guides the people in the right path. He helps them realise and see the Almighty. He guides them through the process of meditation and penance to achieve their goal of experiencing divinity. He helps in removing the restlessness in the mind of the people and helps them live their life to attain everlasting bliss.

He is quick in identifying a true and sincere disciple and guides him through the selected path to attain the state of tranquility, thereby leading to the experience and feel of God. No one other than the Sathguru can take up this stupendous task. It is a difficult task and he decides upon different paths for different people who are his disciples. He does not propogate or make one practise a theoretical or mathematical formula to attian the ultimate. Instead, his is a meticulous approach framed after careful understanding of the disciple and his abilities. He keeps observing, following and blessing his disciple with abundant love throughout his life span, protecting him and making him achieve his main objective. He is selfless beyond comprehension.

Sri Duttathreya, Sri Pathanjali, Sri Adi Sankar, Sri Ramanujacharya, Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramalinga Swamigal, the four great Nayanmars or great seers of Lord Shiva, the famous Vaishnavite sanits who worshipped and sang in praise of Lord Vishnu, were all born into this world during different eras and difficult times, to help, teach and guide the world on the correct path of truth. These teachers were revered then and held in high esteem and are worshipped even today. Humanityacknowledges their knowledge and divinity They are immortal.

One each divine soul, who gave his all to mankind to help them achieve and attain true happiness is Mayiladuthurai Parambrahmam Sathguru Om Siddhar Swamigal.

Om Shri Siddhar Swamigal was bron on the 15th of May, in the year 1904 . It was a Sunday and a New Moon dy. For the astrologically inclined, the day he was born, the star was Krithika. Aries or Mesha is the rasi and Mithuna the lagna or ascendant. He was born to Shri Rathinaswamy and Smt. Dhanalakshmi Ammal in the small town of Kumbakonam. His parents christened him Narayanaswamy. But he was more propulary known as Sattampillai (a tamil word that means a group leader or monitor). His ancestors were all devout followers of Lord Shiva.

Sri Siddhar Swamigal was married at a very young age to an even younger girl named Rajam. They were blessed with a daughter and a son. In an environment that abounded in spiritualism and divinity it was only natural that both the daughter and the sone would choose the same path as was done by their forefathers. With the blessings of their father, grandfather and greatgrandfather well upon him, both the youngsters embarked on their path of trugh and selflessness and surrendered themselves at the lotus feet of the divine and attained divinity. We are indeed blessed, for we have them now to guide and help thousands of devotees far and wide, at home and abroad.

Sri Siddhar Swamial's grandfather took to ascetic life at an early age of 40. He used to meditate for long hours in his little ashram enclosed within the confinement of his garden at home. He always sat under the vilva tree while meditating. He practised silence as a way of life and restricted his food to once a day. Siddhar Swamigal was greatly influenced by his grandfather during his yound and formative years.

Sri Siddhar Swamigal's father, Shri Rathnaswamy was a man with a very thin body frame. He was a very pious man. He was a scholar who was well versed with the Scriptures and Upanishads. A landlord, he looked after his agricultural activities. He was a man of few words. A highly respected man in the village, he was often called upon to settle disputes and sort out legal matters. His decision was always accepted without any comment as he always made it a point to settle the differences in an amicable manner. The sudden loss of his wife when he was 38 left a void in his life. He took to an ascetic life and started wearing white clothes. He hardly ever showed his emotions and people had never seen him angry or laugh or cry. His children, Siddhar Swamigal and his Sister were greatly influenced by their father too.

Om Sri Siddhar Swamigal completed his schooling and decided to follow the footsteps of his grandfather. He was also welll versed in martial arts. He had a majestic personality. Fairskinned, he had a golden glow about him. He sported a pig-tail. He wore the minimum of clothes when at home and would resort to wearing a white kurta and Dhoti or veshti on going out. The local farmers sensed the divinity in him and would always come to him to get their seeds blessed by him before sowing them, so that they were assured of a bountiful harvest.

Sri Siddhar Swamigal was a deep thinker who was more spiritually inclined and thought it to be a waste of time worrying about the materialistic world and its mundane happenings, as he considered it to be nothing more than mere dust! He was deeply incluenced by a number of his teachers. He learnt various mantras undere the guidance of Modi Abdul Khader also known as Pattalathu Vaidyar. Kumbakonam Ucchipillaiar Kovil Subramaniya Devar taught him how to deal with spirits and spiritual forces. The renowned 18 siddhars or seers of Tamil Nadu have not only blessed him but have also appeared before him. Siddhar Swamigal's grandfather who had helped him throughout his young age through various siddhis and severe penances, gave him Gnana Deeksha three days prior to his leaving this materialistic world.

Sri Siddhar Swamigal had a clear mind. He was quiet and at peace with himself. He was endowed with spiritual powers which held him know and ascertain happenings at far off places. With the help of his spiritual powers he would also cure deadly diseases given up by the medical world. He could read a persons mind with startling accuracy.

A big made man with a majestic and gigantic appearance, he kept himself healthy. He had only one meal a day. His main diet consisted of milk and fruits which he took in the morning and evening. And then there were days when he went on a strict and rigourous fast for days altogether.

He used to meditate in the cremation ground in front of a burning pyre. He mastered the Thaithriya Uanishad. He knew many siddhis (super natural skills) and was soon known as the Maha Siddhar. (A siddhar is a person who has attained a mental state that an ordinary human being attain or even experienced).

On the 19th of May 1944, Siddhar Swamigal had a magnificient experience of a light blue halo surrounding him. He reached the divine ecstatic statement experienced an uncontrollable joy and happiness. Siddhar Swamigal experienced the vast and magnificient open space within him. His Sukhma body (or subtle body that is immortal) travelled in that wonderful open space. It reached the nadabrahmam. He found and experienced the divine sound of OMKARA. His soul was blessed and he became a Sathguru.

From that day, the divine power in him started guiding him in all his activities and endeavours. He became cool and calm, quiet and still. Henceforth, any encounter with the evil spirits inside the bodies of hapless humans were quickly brought under his control. Once, his own son was on his death bed. The doctors had given up all hope of curing him of his deadly disease. Siddhar Swamigal then administered a medicine to his child. The next day the child was up and about, hale and hearty much to the amazement of one and all. The disease had vanished without a trace.

He could turn anything into gold with just his touch. This skill is known as Rasa Vadam. He could also change the karma or fate or destiny of a person. But, he felt that Karma was not something to be meddled around with and thought it best left to itself. After all, even Karma had a defined and set path to tbe followed. It was not something to be altered at our will.

Siddhar Swamigal used to tell his disciples at the time of their initiation, the number of births they would have to take to fulfill their spiritual goals and attainments. He did not like people who were self centred and worked only for themselves. He liked his disciples to be straight forward and more importantly, be good at heart. He asked them to meet all challenges straight and not be afraid and run away.

Siddhar Swamigal possessed superhuman powers which be never exhibited unless otherewise it was essential. . He was an authority on : 1. Mouna Viddhai (The power of Silence. A state of highest attainment with very high potent power.) The power of silence produces stillness. This is a motionless state of the mind and body. The motionless body allows the mind to concentrate. External disturbances fail to affect the concentration. The mind slowly gets into the state of MAHAMOUNAM where it becomes motionless and even the inner thoughts never disturb the mind. It is at this stage, that the divine sound of the OMKARA from within merges with the AADHI ANDHAM i.e. the manifestation of the OMKARA in the vast, open space. Thus the person experiences BRAHMANANDAM or the eternal happiness. From this stage a person can never had unhappy as he is constantly in a state of happiness. Siddhar Swamigal mastered this yoga. 2. Brahma Viddhai (The power attained through the development of highest mental state.) The infinite is BRAHMA. It is vast, without a boundry and limitless. To understand this magnificent state, one has to concentrate. Yogis and saints spent years together in forests and mountains to attain this level of concentration. BRAHMAM is a delightful experience named by the yogis as ecstasy...... a stage of everlasting happinessasbrha. 3. Parakaaya Viddhai (The power to work with the subtle body.) Even though the body is mortal, it has a subtle body in it known as the SUKHUMA DEGAM. It has the abilitiy to come out of the mortal body and transfer itslef into various shapes and forms. It can travel infinite distances into the vast open space. Siddhar Swamigal mastered this yoga and could understand what was happening in far off places and help any body in need. 4. Kaaya Viddhai (The power towork with the mortal body and to generate superhuma deeds.) OUr mortal bodyhas 96 systems that are working within it. They form a part of the working body system. However, either genetically from birth or over a period of time, these 96 systems do not work properly. They become defunct. In fact, as age progresses, for a normal person only 15 of the 96 body systems work effectively. By practising and controlling these body systems, one can make all the 96 body systems function effectively at all times. Such a person then develops superhuman powers. SIddhar Swamigal was in full command of all the 96 systems within his body. 5. Vaasi Viddhai (The control of Pranan or breathing and generate spiritual power thereof.) Our mind and body are together controlled by the PRANA or air, which is inhaled and exhaled. A mastery and control of this prana gives supernatural powers to a person. A person with such a control can have a darshan of his atma or soul. He can control his fate as well as the fate of others. He can also change the direction of an oncoming violent cyclone. Such a person can control the universe at large. Siddhar Swamigal had mastered pranayama or the Vaasi Viddhai. Siddhar Swamigal was a staunch devotee of Lord Anjaneya (Lord Anjaneya is a devotee of Lord Rama who is an incarnation of Mahavishnu) who possessed super human powers. Siddhar Swamigal worked very hard and attained the divine powers from Lord Anjaneya. He performed mirades to help some of his devotees in distress. One such instance is narrated here.

Siddhar Swamigal would take a vessel filled with water and drop a sharp writing instrument, a sheaf of a palm leaf, lime and some flowers. He would then cover the vessel with a plate and spread holy ash on it. He would light a piece of camphor in front of the vessel and then sitting at a distance would meditate. The plate on top of the vessel would start vibrating. At times it would even jump to a height of five feet and yet return with accuracy to land on top of the vessel. After half an hour one would see that the palm leaf now had words engraved on it. These words were either a message or an answer to a quiery posed so him.

Sometimes, the evil spirits of persons who had committed suicide would trouble the relatives and friends. Such relatives and friends would then seek the help of Siddhar Swamigal. Swamigal would first pour water on the face of the person troubled. Then he would ask for a lime, some flowers, a preparation of rice and jaggeryu, and neem leaves, spread all these on a plantain leaf. He would then take the leaf in his hand and throw it upwards facing the sky. The leaf would fall down, but, the rest would disappear miraculously. The person suffering would also be aired of his being possessed.

Siddhar Swamigal constantly worked to keep his body and mind pure. He used to all the others that before one set out to seek the Almighty, one had to purify oneself.

He knew that the day he had to leave this world had arrived. He predicted the day in advance. He planned the the proceedings meticulously. He was then preparing himself to receive that day with love and respect. Siddhar Swamigal would tell his disciples often, "LOVE DEATH. It is a beauthfiul thing. It is part of the divine plan." A few days prior to the auspicious day, he instructed his followers and devotees to follow what he said.

On 31.08.1964, the auspicious, evenful day, all his devotees and followers arrived at his place at 03.30 hrs iteself. They chanted the SHIVA PURANA (The holy hymn about Lord Shva) fifteen times. Panchakshara mantra (the name of Lord Shiva) was being continuously chanted there. The atmosphere was divine and charged. Two kuthuvilakkus (a metallic lamp lighted with the help of oil and wick) were burning in Swamigal's room continuously for the past three days. An earthen lamp was also burning continuously during that period. In all eleven lamps were lit.

It was 06.10 hrs. Siddhar Swamigal pointed to a plate and signalled his close associate, Shri Panchamrudha Swamigal to pour plenty of holy ash in it. Shri Nagappa Swamigal then placed a piece of camphor in the middle of the pile of holy ash. Shri Ramamrudha Swamigal then lit the camphor. He told his associates to ensure that the camphor was kept burning continuously. He directed the fire towards the sky and there was absolute silence and stillness all around the place till 06.45 hrs. Subsequently, all his devotees and associates maintained silence till 07.15 hrs, under prior instructions from Siddhar Swamigal. Swamigal then through sign language instructed his disciples to leave all doors and windows open wide. At 07.20 hrs, Siddhananda Swamigal got up and prayed to Siddhar Swamigal. There was eleven lamps burning in all in that room. Despite the doors and windows being left open there was absolute stillness in the flame. There was not the slightest flicker. There was absolutely no movement in the room. Siddhar Swamigal blessed each and everyone of his disciples individually. He then raised both his hands above his head, heaven wards and prayed to the Almighty. Then he crows his arms over he chest and closed his eyes. Exactly at 07.28 hrs. his sould departed from this world. Instantaneously one of the eleven lamps got extinguished suddenly. Siddhar Swamigal's body maintained its warmth and there was a glow in the face.

As per his wishes, after performing the sacred bath, he was taken to the RUDRA BHOOMI or the grave yard. His entire body other than his face was covered with sandal wood logs. His prime disciple, Sri La Sri Omkarananda Swamigal went and kissed his guru on the face. As Sri La Sri Omkarananda Swamigal always recollects, that was an experience of his life time. He could feel the transfer of a vibrant energy into his body and he knowe that he had to continue from where his guru had left off. He knows that he is being guided, adviced and monitored by his Guru who is always beside himeven to this day. Siddhar Swamigal's body was then confined to flames.

The great teacher of those days was Shri Rajam Iyer, who was suffereing from a severe stomach ailment. He was a close personal friend of Siddhar Swamigal. Shri Iyer had consulted various doctors and has swallowed great quantities of medicine without any result whatsoever. What was amusing was that Siddhar Swamigal used to finance every visit of RajamIyer to the doctor and also pay for the medicines. Fed up and unable to bear the pain any more, he turned to Siddhar Swamigal and asked for his help. Siddhar Swamigal cupped the soil from the road side, made a globule and aksed him to eat it. Within a few moments, Rajam Iyer fell unconscious and was soon fast asleep. He woke up the next day without a trace of the stomach pain, as healthy as ever. He never experienced any stomach ache afterwards.

There were those times when 10 to 15 people would suddenly turn up at home to meet Swamigal. His generous nature would insist on their staying on and partaking of the food. This, when there was not a morsel of food to be found. Siddhar Swamigal would go into a small room, spread a white cloth and meditate. Within 5 minutes there would appear a delicious spread enough for all who had assembled there! Immediately after their departure, the vessels and plates would disappear.

Siddhar Swamigal often allowed his Sukhma body to travel long distances in the open space to help to travel long distances in the open space to help his friends and disciples. Within a 21 feet radius around him, no body ever died till such there that he wasthere.

One very interesting and astounding experience that Siddhar Swamigal had waswhen is he witenessed his own end much before it actually happened. In the month of May 1939, he narrated what would happen on the morning of 31st August 1964 at 07.28 a.. He had also witnessed all his previous births and deaths.

On the night of 29th August 1964 at 7.30 p.m. after his small meal of fruits and milk, he washed his hands and said that everything was over. As predicted earlier, Siddhar Swamigal became one with the divine on 31st August 1964 exactly at 07.28 a.m.

There is only one force that is responsible for the creation of this universe, this world and all the living and non living objects in this world. Hence, we should love this world and the creatures therein created by that force. Thus spoke Sri La Sri Siddhar Swamigal. Only love is permanent. The place where you are is the abode of God. Understand yourself, develop self consciousness. God will come to you. God loves your heart and not the materials that you acquire, believed Siddhar Swamigal. He, an expert and master on the seven sisshis, never permitted his disciples to perform them. He felt that performing siddhis was a waste of one's effort and attainment. He used to tell his disciples and devotees not to believe in anybody other than God.

There were many ways identified by guns and saints to attain happiness. One method was to read baout great saints and seers and follow the path prescribed by them. Reading such holy scriptures reduces the body heat and keeps one mentally and physically happy. His physical ailments slowly disappear. Siddhar Swamigal never allowed anyone to write about him. His prime disciple, Sri La Sri Omkarananda Swamiji persuaded him for his permission to write about him but in vain. Swami Omkarananda used to say that he is still to get permission to write about his great gnani Sri La Sri Siddhar Swamigal. But, Sri La Sri Omkarananada Swamiji felt that it was his duty to reveal to the world the greatness of his Sathguru. Thus, Swamiji wrote the tamil version `MAHA SIDDHAR' on his guru. Now all of us are aware that Siddhar Swamigal has blessed his prime disciple not only for the book but has also allowed him to build a temple.

It is difficult for anyone to write and talk about the limitless powers and divinity of Sri La Sri Siddhar Swamigal. It is impossible to explain in mere words his life and his attainment. The present day world has drawn mankind away from spiritualism. We need to recognise and think about godmen who have realised god and purify ourselves. This english version on the Maha Siddhar containing episodes on Siddhar is a step in this direction.

His divine persence is still felt by one and all. He continues to bless his disciples and devotees both far and near, here and abroad.

The temple built to invoke the blessings of Maha Siddhar Swamigal and that of the 18 Siddhars or seers, stands tall and majestic among the swaying coconut trees, on the outskirts of Kalpakkam township, in a little village called Pudhupattinam, on the East Coast Highway that connects Madras City with Pondicherry.

We invoke the blessings of Sri La Sri Siddhar Swamigal on you and your family.