Linguistic Authority of the Siddhas

சித்தர்களின் மொழி ஆளுமை

Abstract

The Siddhars are ascetics who have perfected their spiritual wisdom and lived in seclusion. They regarded spiritual attainment as the ultimate reality and, both in the past and present, have been individuals subjected to wonder and inquiry. The songs they have left behind serve as their signature and identity for us. The uniqueness of Siddhar poetry lies in its simplicity, refined taste, and rural Tamil flavor. Siddhars are adept at expressing philosophical ideas directly, metaphorically, and through symbols. They aimed to ensure that their philosophical thoughts reached people effectively. Although there were thousands of Siddhars, Tamil literary tradition recognizes a specific number of eighteen Siddhars. This article examines the linguistic authority and distinctive style of the Siddhars.