KINGDOM OF SITHTHARS

"The mortal people gets a stable desire on the uncertain things."

The above line serves as the basis for the self realization.

The five senses are common for human beings and animals. The human being has got an extra capability of analyzing all that has been sensed by the five senses. These senses are being subjected to some conditions. For example, eyes can see but in darkness they cannot see and this is a condition.

The conditions create necessity. They in turn create desires which in turn is the beginning and end for sorrow. The attempt and practice of  avoiding them is always with us.

Like a sculpture who hits the unwanted parts of a rock and forming a statue from it, the real guru identifies the faults and deficiency within us and help us to attain a state where we could realize ourselves.

The song of Idaikaattu Siththar which reveals this truth:

பொன்னிச்சை கொண்டு பூமிமுற்றும் திரிந்தால்

ponnichai kondu bhoomimutrum thirinthaal 

மன்னிச்சை நோக்கம் வாய்க்குமோ கல்மனமே

mannizhai noakkam vaaikkumoa kalmanamae 

பொய்யான கல்விகற்றுப் பொருள்மயக்கம் கொள்ளாமல்

poyyaana kalvikatrup porulmayakkam kollaamal 

மெய்யான ஞானக்கல்வியினை விரும்புவாய் கல்மனமே

meyyaana gnaanakkalviyinai virumbuvaai kalmanamae 

பேய்க்குரங்கு போலப் பேருலகில் இச்சைவைத்து

paeykkurangu poalap paerulagil ichaivaiththu 

நாய்நரிகள் போலலைந்தால் நன்மையுண்டோ கல்மனமே

naainarikal poalalainthaal nanmaiyundoa kalmanamae 

இரும்பைஇழுக் குங்காந்தத்து இயற்கைபோல் பல்பொருளை

irumbaiizhuk kungaanthaththu iyarkaipoal palporulai 

விரும்பினதால் அவைநிலையோ? விளம்புவாய் கல்மனமே

virumbinathaa; avainilaiyoa? vilambuvaai kalmanamae. 

Original - www.siththarkal.com

Translated by - சந்தியா

The songs of Idaikaattu Siththar shows deep and dedicated devotion towards god. The one who does not show love towards the diviniry will not attain salvation. For this he also says a very simple example.

"அவித்த வித்து முளையாதே தாண்டவக்கோனே...! இறை 

aviththa viththu mulaiyaathae haandavakkoanae...! irai

பக்தி அற்றவர் கதியடையார்தாண்டவக்கோனே...!

bakthi atravar kathiyadaiyaar thaandavakkoanae...!"

The paddy that has been boiled cannot be used for plantation, like wise the one without devotion to god cannot attain salvation.

Having made us think with a simple example, he also stress on the same again.

"அய்யன் திருப்பாதம் பசுவே..!

ayyan thiruppaatham pasuvae..!

அன்புற்று நீ பணிந்தால்

anbutru nee paninthaal

வெய்ய வினைகளெல்லாம் பசுவே..!

veyya vinaikalellaam pasuvae..!

விட்டோடும் கண்டாயே

vittoadum kandaayae"

"எல்லாம் இருந்தாலும் பசுவே..!

ellaam irunthaalum pasuvae..!

இறை பக்தி இல்லையேல்

irai bakthi illaiyael

இல்லாத் தனமையேன்றே பசுவே..!

illaath thanmaiyaenrae pasuvae..!

எண்ணிப் பணிவாயே

ennip panivaayae"

- இடைக்காட்டுச் சித்தர் (Idaikkaattu Siththar)

For a person without devotion to god, though he has got a lot of wealth all of them will remain as mere waste only. The devotion to god will uplift one's life says Idaikaattu Siththar.

Original - www.siththarkal.com

Translated by - சந்தியா

As Idaikaadar was expert in medical yoga, he was also expert in astrology and astronomy. Once he fore predicted a severe famine and said to the people. Since people ignored him considering his prediction as the words of lunatic, they suffered at the time of famine. Their farm animals were dead in hunger. But the goats of Idaikaadar survived as Idaikaadar practised his goats to eat the leaves of madar plants. Madar plants are capable of flourishing even in severe famine.

Idaikaadar, as he was aware of famine, built his house using clay mixed with a larger proportion of grain ‘Kuruvaragu’. Since goats of the Idaikaadar consumed the leaves of madar plants, they felt itching. As goats suffered in itching, they rubbed their body in the walls of Idaikaadar’s house. The grains mixed with clay started to crumble from the walls. Idaikaadar collected those grains and gave it to people and helped them to survive.

This very incident shows that Siththars would unravel the grievances of the people even if they were blamed or ignored.

Original - www.siththarkal.com

Translated by - தமிழ் தமிழானவள்.

He was named as Idaikaadar since he was born in the place called Idaikaadu near to Madurai. He was also said to be born in aayar caste.

In his songs, words like thaandavakonae, paalkara, konaare, pasuvae, kuyile were mostly used.

It was said that Idaikadar gained his wisdom from the preachings of Bogar. Before Bogar attained Samadhi*, he obliged Pulipaani to carry on the rituals in Pazhani temple and Idaikaadar to carry on the rituals in Thiruvannamalai temple.

Idaikaadar gnana soothiram 70, Idaikaadar vaithiyam 64, Idaikaadar pooja vithi 27 were said to be books wriittrn by him.

His sepulcher was said to be in Thiruvannamalai.

*Samidhi - Intense Yogic contemplation of becoming oneness with God.