TAMIL
Siddha tradition
TAMIZH SIDDHAR MARABU: T. N. Ganapathy; Ravi Publications, New No. 45, 4th Avenue, Ashok Nagar, Chennai-600083. Rs. 150.
THE TAMIL Siddhas, who formed a unique group of thinkers, were great Yogins and Jnanis. They lived in the company of nature and evolved the native system of medicine, popularly known as "naattu maruthuvam". They attached much importance to the physical as well as the psychical perfection. They adopted the method of Kundalini Yoga to realise the oneness of the individual Self with the Universal Self, leading to eternal bliss.
They were rationalists and reformists. They left behind them a vast body of literature, relating to spiritual wisdom, Yoga, medicine, alchemy and astrology. Though some scholars have attempted to unearth the rich materials embedded in the poems of the Siddhas, this book is really a thought- provoking study. The author with his rich experience and erudition has thoroughly examined the philosophical facets of Siddha poems under seven heads.
In the introduction, the author has made an interesting review of literature, besides bringing forth the salient features of the Siddha system.
In the next chapter, the author has identified the characteristics of a perfect Siddha and also their different groups. The supra-natural powers and rare achievements of the Siddhas are vividly portrayed in the next.
Since Siddhayana is closely associated with Tantrayana, the author has dealt with the Tantric texts in the next chapter. He has drawn a line of demarcation between Astanga Yoga and Kundalini Yoga, pointing out the various accessories such as breathing exercises, postures, cosmogenic circles, triangles, spells and incantations.
The subsequent section projects the Siddhas who conceived the body to be the temple of God and hence protected it from decay. He has also discussed the features of gross and subtle bodies, presenting the means of immortality as envisaged by the Siddhas.
Their concept of mysticism is the theme of the next chapter. Self-realisation is their ultimate aim. They named the liberated state to be the taintless and limitless space, transcending all empirical knowledge. Their symbolic language, being hidden and esoteric has also been elucidated and illustrated.
Their social concern and humanism are also noted at the end. On the whole the book is a welcome addition to the meagre literature on the subject and the author deserves praise for this.
S. N. KANDASWAMY
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