THIRUMOOLAR

 

Thiru Nandhi Devar is said to have been the direct disciple of Lord Siva, and Siddha Thirumoolar is one of his eight students. The most significant event in Siddha Thirumoolar’s life is the one that brought him to us. He was given the name Moolar after he entered the mortal frame of Moolan, a herdsman.

 

“Once, a Sage felt the desire to see Rishi Agasthiyar, then living in the Pothigai hills. Leaving Kailash, the Sage travelled south. He visited many shrines of Lord Siva on the way. Reaching Thiruvadu thurai he bathed in the river Kaveri and entered the temple for the darshan of his beloved Lord Siva. Later, while walking along the banks of the river Kaveri he noticed a herd of cows profusely shedding tears. Approaching them he discovered the cause. The herdsman lay there dead. The Sage’s heart flowed with compassion and felt the urge to pacify the grieving cows. Using his yogic powers, the Sage hid his own body inside the trunk of a tree and entered the body of the dead herdsman. The herdsman’s body instantly came to life - with the Sage within it! How were cows to know the difference? Seeing their Master alive was more than enough to make the cows rejoice in happiness.

 

The Sage had entered the body of Moolan, a herdsman residing in Sattanur, a village nearby. At dusk the Sage, still wearing Moolan’s body, led the cows back to their village. There he noticed Moolan’s wife eagerly expecting her husband’s return. Seeing him she approached him happily as always. But the Sage didn’t allow her to touch him. He said, “Oh lady, I am not your husband. Adore Lord Siva and attain liberation.” He turned and left for a nearby Matha.

 

Shocked, the woman couldn’t comprehend what had happened. Not knowing any other way she went and complained to the leaders of the village and described the puzzling conduct of her husband. After a brief discussion amongst themselves the leaders confronted Moolan. The words uttered by Moolan left them speechless. There was undeniable wisdom in his words and none could refute it. Pondering the series of events the leaders concluded that Moolan, their simple herdsman had somehow attained great spiritual evolution. They agreed he must be left alone and not troubled. Explaining this to the distraught wife they urged her to leave him alone too. Early next day the Sage followed the cows back to their fields in search of his hidden body. He searched everywhere but there was no body to be found.

 

Such is the Lord’s Lila - a divine play! It was the wish of Lord Siva for the Sage to encode many sacred works covering all dimensions of Truth. The moment the Sage realised his Lord’s wish he returned to Thiruvadu thurai. There he stayed and worshipped the Lord, seated beneath a Pipal tree deep in meditation. He remained in samadhi for three thousand years. Once each year the Sage would emerge from his samadhi to compose a single verse, after which he would re-enter his samadhi state. This way, in three thousand years, the Sage wrote three thousand verses.”

 

He has mentioned this himself in one of his own verses. This sacred work is called Thirumanthiram. The Sage is Siddha Thirumoolar. S

 

iddha Thirumoolar wrote other works such as Thirumoolar theetcha vithy, Thirumoolar karpam, Puvanai kakkisam, (explaining powerful occult practices) etc.

 

Once, Siddha Thirumoolar, Siddha Padanjali and Siddha Viyagrapathar, performed penance together at the Natarajar Temple at Chidambaram. After some years of being immersed in Yogic experience, all three simultaneously had the cosmic vision of the dance of Lord Natarajar. After this divine experience, Siddha Thirumoolar instantly disappeared into the space of Siva and mingled his existence into the sanctum of the temple at Chidambaram. After this rare occurrence Siddha Padanjali continued to wander throughout south Tamil Nadu. Later, he entered into samadhi in the temple at Rameshwaram, found in southeast of India. There is no literary record about what became of Siddha Viyagrapathar after this incident.

 

Siddha Thirumoolar’s treatise on the Siddha cult, Thirumanthiram, is a pioneering work. It is empowered to assist and guide even present-day Siddha seekers. The number of written verses flows to a majestic 3000. Thirumanthiram has songs covering all dimensions of Truth, such as, the quantum nature of matter, purity of thought and action, the Astama Siddhis (eight occult powers), Astanga Yoga (eight limbs of yoga) and Tantric teachings of Siddhas and occult topics. The most treasured verses of the Thirumanthiram are Siddha Thirumoolar’s teachings about both, the devotional path as well as the profound aspect of non-duality. These divine poems also speak of the importance of honouring and preserving the physical body, and the ways and means for it. Thirumanthiram, by Siddha Thirumoolar, is an important and highly resourceful work. It has the potential to be approached in the light of modern thinking and discusses the similarities between theoretical physics (quantum theory) and mystical thought. Thirumanthiram expounds upon all the dimensions of the Siddha tradition.

 

“Lord, the Prime is the atom within the atom;

Divide an atom within the atom into a thousand parts.

They who can thus divide and approach the Lord,

He, indeed, is the atom within the atom.”

Thirumanthiram, Verse 2008, Siddha Thirumoolar

 

Siddha Thirumoolar had many disciples and his foremost disciple who became the next in lineage is Siddha Kaalanginathar.

 

Some of Siddha Thirumoolar’s books are:

Thirumoolar Vatham 21

Thirumoolar 608

Thirumoolar Vaidhiya

Thirumoolar Gnanam

Thirumanthira Malai

 

Aus: "Siddhas - Masters of Nature" von Palpandian, mit freundlicher Genehmigung