Siddhars of Tiruvannamalai: the saints of Arunachala

The siddhars of Tiruvannamalai are as much a part of the town as the hill itself. Arunachala is spoken of in Tamil tradition as Shiva in the form of fire, and for centuries sages, siddhars and silent sadhus have settled on its slopes and along the Girivalam path. This post is a short, respectful introduction for pilgrims: who the well-known saints are, where their ashrams stand, and how to visit without turning a place of sadhana into a sightseeing stop.

Why the hill draws siddhars

A siddhar in the Tamil sense is a realised being who has gone beyond ordinary limits through sadhana. Arunachala, which Maataji calls Thirukailayam itself, has always been a place where such people arrive and simply stay. Some teach; many are silent. Most live simply on the kindness of the town, which is one reason annadhanam, the free meal for sadhus, matters so much here.

Saints whose ashrams welcome visitors

• Sri Ramana Maharshi, the sage of Arunachala, whose ashram on the Girivalam road is open to all and keeps a meditation hall, library and daily chanting.
• Seshadri Swamigal, the saint who lived in the town's streets a century ago and is remembered for his compassion; his ashram stands near Ramanasramam.
• Yogi Ramsuratkumar, the beggar-saint of the twentieth century, whose ashram and samadhi are at the edge of town.

Each of these ashrams has its own timings and etiquette, and each deserves a visit in its own right rather than a quick stop between temples. Dress simply, keep your voice low, and give the people doing sadhana there the same quiet you would want yourself.

Miracles and jeeva samadhi

Pilgrims often search for siddhar miracles and jeeva samadhi sites in Tiruvannamalai. Stories are plentiful, and devotees say many things. The ashram's view is that the test of a saint is not what is told about them but what their presence does to the mind of the person sitting before them. Go, sit, and see for yourself.

A living siddhar at Adi Annamalai

Among the sadhus of Arunachala today is Mounasamy Siddhar, known across Tamil Nadu as Mouna Siddhar, Mouna Swami or Vibhuti Siddhar. He has kept silence for more than fifteen years, sits before his altar day and night, and lives at Siva Sri Thiyaneswar Amma Ashram, where Maataji is his guru. Darshan is open every day and free; he stands to give darshan from 7 to 8 PM. He has moved from the old Mouna Swami Peetam on Girivalam Road, so follow the directions on this site rather than older pages.

To read the ashram's own account of Mounasamy, the guru–shishya story and the darshan details, begin at the Mounasamy hub. For planning the rest of your pilgrimage, the Tiruvannamalai guide lists temple timings, Girivalam dates and the town's ashrams.