Who is Mouna Siddhar of Tiruvannamalai? The ashram's account

Mouna Siddhar of Tiruvannamalai, also written Mouna Swami, Mounasamy or Vibhuti Siddhar, is the silent sadhu of Arunachala. People who search for him find scattered blog reports and old addresses. This is the ashram's own account, written because he lives here, at Siva Sri Thiyaneswar Amma Ashram in Adi Annamalai.

What is known about him

• He has kept a vow of silence, mouna, for more than fifteen years. Nobody keeps an exact count, and he does not speak of it.
• He sits before his altar day and night and does not lie down to sleep.
• He is covered in vibhuti, sacred ash, and his matted hair reaches his knees.
• Devotees who knew him earlier say he sold milk in Chennai before taking to this life, and that he served a guru for about ten years.

His guru

The ashram holds that Maataji, Sathguru Siva Sri Thiyaneswar Amma, is his guru, and that his sadhana was shaped under her guidance. He is her shishya, and today he lives at the ashram in her care. The guru–shishya story is told in full on its own page, in the words of the people who were there.

Where he is now

For some years he sat at the Sri Mouna Swami Peetam on Girivalam Road, and many online directions still point there. He has moved. He now lives at Siva Sri Thiyaneswar Amma Ashram, Thiyaneswar Veedhi, Vediyappanur Road, Adi Annamalai, Tiruvannamalai 606604, on the quieter western side of the hill. Darshan is open every day and there is no fee; he stands to give darshan every evening from 7 to 8 PM.

What devotees say

Devotees say that silent prayers made in front of him are answered, and that sitting with him brings a stillness that stays for days. The ashram does not make claims on his behalf. What we can say is simple: he is here, he is silent, and anyone may come and sit.

How to visit

• Come in silence, and keep it in the hall. There is nothing you need to bring.
• Ask a volunteer before photographing him; devotees may be in prayer around you.
• Mornings are the calmest. Pournami days and festivals draw large crowds.
• The ashram office can be reached on +91 87781 68013 for directions.

The Mounasamy pages on this site hold everything in one place: his story, the guru–shishya account, and the darshan page with the map, timings and frequently asked questions. Start at the Mounasamy hub and go on from there.