Early Life

   Om Sri Siddhar Swamigal was born on the 18th of May, in the year 1904. It was a Sunday and a New Moon day. 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 populary 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 son would choose the same path as was done by their forefathers. With the blessings of their father, grandfather and great-grandfather well upon them, both the youngsters embarked on their path of truth 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 Swamigal'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 practiced silence as a way of life and restricted his food to once a day. Siddhar Swamigal was greatly influenced by his grandfather during his young and formative years.

   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 influenced by a number of his teachers. He learnt various mantras under 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 helped 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 person's mind with startling accuracy.

   He used to meditate in the cremation ground in front of a burning pyre. He mastered the Thaithriya Upanishad. He knew many siddhis (super natural skills) and was soon known as the Maha Siddhar. (A siddhar is is a person who has attained a mental state that no ordinary human being can ever experience). On the 19th of May, 1944, Om Sri Siddhar Swamigal had a magnificent experience of a light blue halo surrounding him. He reached the divine ecstatic state and experienced an uncontrollable, unexplainable joy and happiness. It was at that moment that Sri Siddhar Swamigal experienced the magnificence of the vast open space within him. His “sukhma body” or the subtle body that is immortal traveled in the vast, wonderful open space. It reached the “naada brahmam”. He experienced and discovered the divine sound of the “Omkaaram”. His soul was blessed and he became the “Sath Guru”.

   From that day, the divine power in him started guiding him in all his activities and endeavours. He became quiet, calm, cool and still. Any encounter thereafter with the evil spirits in the bodies of the helpless humans, were quickly brought under his control.

   Once, his own young son was almost on death bed. The doctors had given up all hopes of any cure as they could not understand the complexities of the deadly disease. Sri Siddhar administered a medicine to his child . The next day the child was up and about, hale and hearty much to the amazement of all present. The disease had vanished without a trace. Sri Siddhar Swamigal cured his son for he knew that his son would one day be able to do likewise for the countless devotees he would have.

   Sri Siddhar Swamigal could turn anything to gold with his touch. This particular skill is referred to as “Rasa Vaadam”. He could also change the karma or fate or destiny of a person. But he did not indulge in doing so as he felt that Karma was not something to be meddled about with and thought it best to be left alone. After all , even fate had a predetermined path to be followed. It was not something to be altered at our will.

   People turned to him for help and guidance. There were those times when 10 to 15 people would suddenly turn up at home to meet him. His generous nature would insist on making them stay and partake of the food. This, when there was not an extra morsel of food to be found at home! Not to be daunted, Sri Siddhar Swamigal would go to into a small room, spread a white cloth ad meditate. Within a few minutes the entire cloth would be covered with a delicious spread, enough for all who had assembled and more. Immediately after their impromptu meal, the vessels would disappear.

   Sri Siddhar Swamigal had a strong following. He would tell his disciples during their initiation the number of births they would be taking to fulfill all their spiritual goals and attainments. He did not think much about people who were self centered and worked only for their own selfish ends. He advised his devotees to face any challenge in a straight forward manner and not show fear and run away. He asked his disciples to understand themselves and develop self consciousness. God loves us for what we are. Not our materialistic achievements.

Sri Siddhar Swamigal was an expert and master of the 8 siddhis. Yet he never allowed his disciples to practise or perform it. He felt that performance of a siddhi was nothing but a waste of one’s efforts and attainment. He used to tell his disciples not to believe in anything or anyone other than God.

 
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