Body quotient: With special reference to Siddhars of Tamil Nadu. Sr. Saghayamary A

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1 Body quotient: With special reference to Siddhars of Tamil Nadu. Abstract Sr. Saghayamary A Associate professor and Librarian Holy Cross College (Autonomous) Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu This paper brings to light the knowledge hidden amidst a few chosen ones. The author highlights the element of conquering death in her references, as body quotient. Key Words: Siddhars of Tamil Nadu, Body quotient, Conquer death, Varma, Six energy centers Introduction: Modern science speaks of memory in the brain as well as body memory. Body has a memory that forms the child in the womb in a correct proportion and manner, even through the mind be illiterate in terms of education concerning the organs and its functionality. There are many studies that are evolving today concerning the body memory and body quotient. This paper attempts to explore the meaning of body quotient and its understanding from ancient literature of Tamil Siddhars, whose literature which is available since 8000 BC. Siddhars and their knowledge concerning the body intellegence. Siddhars (Sages in Tamil race) who lived solitary life to obtain certain body intelligence in Tamil nadu had written and kept these techniques for the future generations. They are not passed down as literature, but through guru disciple method of learning The purpose of their life was the following: To conquer death and live eternally To seek God in their body To delight in spiritual knowledge or grace of God To become experts in yogic science and medicine To obtain special powers to create, to protect and to destroy To pass on special powers to the disciples who were morally upright, sincere and selfless. They were very careful to teach the upright otherwise they can also destroy the good people for their selfish motives. To learn astrological powers and teach people how to integrate their body and their life accordingly. They taught the importance of body and its intelligence. Tuning one s body enables its intelligence they said. They had found significant energy centers in the body. Through activating them the universal energy was allowed in their body and turn that gave them, power over nature. The important techniques that they taught are discussed here. They had taught four important arts they are Thodu varman (A Touch that attacks) Padu varman ( Attack through pressure) Thattu Varman (Tapping that attacks ) Nooku Varman (Attack others through look) They had described six energy s Moolatharam; Swathittam; Manipooragam Annagathan; Visuthi; Angnai Verma Art: It undoes the powers in the nerve centers, nerve nodes and between bone junctions. Verma centers exist in junctions of nerves or nodes, where the power is accumulated. Using these techniques they undo the powers, and make the body parts inactive or immobilized. The verma points that exist in the body are as follows. Each point has its specific name and its nature and the method of approach. Head region has 37 verma points; Chest region has 17 verma points; Front of body has 15 verma points; Spine and around has 10 verma points; Front side of hand has 9 verma points; Back side of the hand has 8 verma points; Front of leg has 19 verma points; Back of the leg has 13 verma points; Back of the body has 8 verma points;

2 The above postures (Mudhras ) are mentioned in the siddhars literature. Elephant mudhra; Shakthi mudhra; Horse mudhra; Wheel mudhra; Conch mudhra; Above wrist (leg ) mudhra; Pancha mudhra; Sarpa mudhra; Using these body postures in a particular direction and force they had healed diseases, saved people from attacks of enemy and animals. There are a few places like Kanchipuram, Tiruchirappalli this art is being taught, with much discipline. Thodu varman (Attack through touch): They touch the node gently and make the energy junction inactive. This helps one to be healed of one s disease. There are touches to heal, touches to attack and protect one. Thattu varmam ( attack through tapping): It is ministered for healing as well as to protect oneself. The practitioner exercises the tapping of various nodes for corresponding disease. It looks like a miracle that it heals but it is true. Padu varman: (attack by pressure) It is practised mainly to protect oneself from enemy and from the attack of animals. Nooku varman (Attack through look). It is done by the advanced practitioners where they attack others through their looking. The eye is used to push the person away to put off the fire and make the enemy act in way one desires. A few artisans are still alive and are practising this art. It needs years of training and personal discipline. Body Forms In Tamil Literature: The siddhars divide the body as follows; PHYSICAL BODY: The dense body Micro body Pranamaya kosam (Air layer of the body) Manomaya kosam (Manas Thought body/ Aura body) Vinzana Kosam ( Ether body) Anandhamaya Kosam (Spiritual body) (When a person dies they believe only the PHYSICAL BODY is dead, all other bodies stay alive) this energy s and many others too have practised and have written in Tamil literature. The literature is like a manual which explains fully the intricacies of these techniques. The following siddhars have explained in detail the techniques what they followed and lived in their life especially most of them without having faced death of the body. They are Agappai siddhar, Amukanni siddhar, Arunachala guru, Aathinathar, Iramalinga adigal, Idaikattu siddhar, Romarishi, Ovaiyaar, Kadaipillai siddhar, Kamala munivar, Kannanandhar, Kavuvolar, Kalluli siddhar, Kalai kottar, Kasu pusundar, Kaalaangenathar, Kuthambai siddhar, Sutha numivar, Kailaasa nathar, Koormanandar, Konganar, Korakkar, Saattai muninathar, Sundarananandar, Sachithanandar, Sagothara nathar, Sangali siddhar, Guru Gnanasambathar, Subramaniayar, Dhanvandhri, Thayumanavar, Thirumoolar, Punnakku siddhar, Thathuvarayar, Thiruvalluvar, Sesayougi, Pattinathaar, Pathiragiriar, pathanjaliyaar, Pambatti siddhar, Yogamanunivar, Machanunivar, Mathurai vaalaisamy, Noondi siddhar, Vedandha siddhar, and other small siddhar in Tamil literature explain the minute details of how to practise these siddhis (Powers). six energy s in the body Tamil siddhars, called these six s as source, primary s, fundamentals and cause. Apart from the physical body they believed in micro body which is made of nano or micro particles which activate the movements and execute functions in each organ. These six s are as follows. Moolatharam; Swathittaanam; Manipooragam Annagathan; Visuthi; Ang-gai There is a particular syllable of sound they call that as mandra of that particular. We note here the cenre, its position, the mandra its uses and their corresponding references from Tamil literature. Energy Centres And Activating Them Through Breath Control And Its Rhythms The most ancient siddhar called Agasthiar who seems to have lived in 8000BC whose literature speaks of

3 Energy Moolathar am Swathitta anam Manipoora gam Ananagath am Vusuthi Ang-gai Place located in the body Tip of spinal cord Sexual organ Nerval area Organic Formation of the Bones, skin, flesh, nerves, hair Blood, brain, bone marrow, water, semen Food, sleep, fear, Heart area sloth Neck Standing, running, dancing, sitting, lying Between eyebrows Sex, desire, selflessness Forms explained in terms of petals Syllabai (sound) that activates the energy Colour that exhibits during meditation Four petals Va, sa, sha Yellow Six petals Ten petals Pa, ma, ya, ra, la Ta, tta, nam tha, na, pa Twelve petals Ka, nga, sa, jha, ta Sixteen Tamil petals alphebets White Red Black Grey (oyir) Two petals Ha, sha gold CENTRE: MOOLATHARAM It is source of all other s. Place: Tip of the Spinal cord area, between anus and reproductive organ. Mandra: vang sing to be used while breath in breath out Function of the energy : activates all other s and co ordinates them. 1. *Konganar says that one could see light at this. If one practices this under guidance one gets the eight powers (Atamasiddhi ) 2. *Pogar says that if one practises the syllable Vang Sing while breathing in and breathing out Diamond like light is seen in the beginning and then It turns into green. The person who practises this will never see death, the physical body would be transformed into radiating light body. 3. *Pathiragiriyaar says that you become like God, with the attributes and goodness of God will enter in them. 4. Thirumoolar says in Sivayogaa saaram 3 Anupoothi 7, that your micro body will extend in the universe, you could go from one place to the other, it understands the direct knowledge receiving from the universe. 5. *Pattinathaar in his poems explains as follows: I had wasted my years, without discovering the God in the moolaharam CENTRE : SWATHINAATAM : This Means that body is made of five basic elements of the earth. Place: four inches from anus Syllable: pa, ma, ya, ra, va Function: Pleasure, or eternal bliss 1. I have wasted my life without finding God in my own lotus petals says Pattinathaar 2. Karaikal siddhar says that in order to receive wisdom, to conquer our egoistic tendencies, we should reduce our talking and thinking meditates on swathinaatam. 3. When will I get the silence of words and thoughts.. says pattinathar, as I am practicing swathinaatam 4. Karaikal siddhar says to talk is to blather; the wise tongue is silence and seeking the grace to meditate on this. CENTRE : MANIPOORAGAM MEANING: Split Gem PLACE: Navel area Mandra syllable: sang- gili-mang Function: peace, prosperity 1. I have lost my living and intelligence without seeking God in manipooragam..says Patinathaar 2. When am I going to realize God in Manipooragam.. yearns Pathiragiriyar.

4 CENTRE : ANAGATHAM means rising sun PLACE: heart region MANDRA: SING-SING FUNCTION: Controls situation, removes grey hair, gives sleep, removes fear References from Tamil: * I have been cofused without finding God in my heart anagatham laments Patinathaar * Pathirigar says, when to worship God in three letters with triangle in Anagatham.. *Athi nathar says that he has found God in Anagatham CENTRE : VISUTHI PLACE: neck MANDRA: va while breathing or vang- gili- yang while breathing in and out 1. God for this is Mageswaran.. so he says, without seeking Mageswaran I was upset.. said Pathinathar 2. If you want to become Raja rishi breath vang- giliyang They talk about 10 types of air in the world Prana (Uir kaartru); Carbondioxide (Malakarrtru) Air that produces sound (Oli karrtru); Forceful air with activity (Thozhir karrtru); Breeze (Niavuk kaartru); Air from eyes (Vizhi Kaartru); Interrupted air (Imai kaartru) from the eyelids; Sneezed air (Thummetrz Kaartru); Yawning air (Kottavi kaartru); Healing breeze (Veengartz Kaartru) CENTRE : ANG-GAI PLACE: In between eye brows Mandra: yang ham- ya Function: Helps to live I crore year and helps to live without desires References from Tamil Literature: 1. Pattinathar says because I have not seen the ONE in between my eye brows, I am still seeing through my eyes Pathirakiriyar says, don t think mouna yogam (Silent yoga) is hard. If you keep your concentration in between your eyebrows you will get God dharshan.. 3. If this energy opens one hears the following ten sounds from within: a. Sound of a bell (Mani), b. Sound of sea (Kadal) c. Sound of elephant screaming (Yaanai) d. Pullanguzhal (One instrument tamils play made out of Bambo) e. Screening of insect (Vandu) f. Screeming of butterfly (Thumbi) g. Sangu (Big sea shell s inside echo) h. Peerigai i. Yaazh (One musical instrument music) j. Micro sounds: 4. If one practices day in and day night maximum time for twenty eight days one sees light in between the eye brow, and others see him/her soul. CENTRE : SAGASWARAM PLACE: top of the heart (Soft area like coin size) Deeply connected to Moolatharam. Functions: it has 1000 Petel flower Death less body as well as the physical body would turn to radiating body transcending physical body and lives eternally And will get power to control the universe 1. Thirumoolar thiru mandiram Subramaniayar Gnanam 52 says light amidst 1000 petals, connected to my anus the source of all, and saw God in a thousand petal Lotus as his throne. 2. Agathiyar says in Panchatsaram- 6 says that he met God in this energy 3. Thiruvalluvar says in naathaantha saaram 35, if you focus your attention on this energy, you will see God, become God like and live eternally

5 CONCLUSION: Siddhars had spent all their life seeking for Divine Wisdom and transmitting their knowledge through guru-disciple relationship. They were careful not to teach all because it has the power to create and destroy. Only after testing a person for many years from outside and from intuitive knowledge they decided to teach someone morally upright and God fearing these techniques. There are siddhars living in Tamilnadu, who are capable of demonstrating most of the above discussed matters. They may not live in amidst us rather they live in temples and in forests. Bibliography 1. Agathiyar; Gnana kaviyam (mfj;jpah;: Qhdfhtpak; ) 2. Arunachala Guru; Nijantha pootham; (muzhr;ry FU: ep[hde;j Nghjk) 3. Iramalinga Adigal; Marai (,uhkypq;fh;: kiw) 4. Ovaiyar Kural 310 (Xsitahh; - Fws; 310) 5. Kasupusundar; Kural venba (fhrgrz;lh;: Fws;ntz;gh 16) 6. Dhanvandhri- Gnanasaithanyam 21 (jd;te;jhp Qhdirjd;ak; 21) 7. Thirumoolam- Gnna upathesam 30 (jpu%yk; - QhdcgNjrk; 30) 8. Thirumanthiram 3000 (jpuke;jpuk; 3000) 9. Thiruvalluvar; Thirukural (jputs;sth; : jpuf;fws;) 10. Patinathar; arul pulambal (gl;bdj;jhh;: mus; Gyk;gy;)