Image title: Ponnimalai Siddhar (samadhi)

[Series: Historical Continuity of the Siddha Cult in Tamilnadu].

Fig. 169: This is said to be the samadhi of Ponnimalai Siddhar, a disciple of Bogar of Palani. It is found in the top of the Ponni hills. Along with this, many other stones are also installed and said to be the burials (jiva samadhis) of other Siddhars who attained Samadhi here. This hilltop is very difficult to access (in 2009). The size of the bricks (40 cms long) found on the top of the hill indicate that they could be of some antiquity. Once in a year, the gurupuja is observed here. However, for the past five more years, no one worshipped here due to the difficulty of climbing this mountain. Therefore devotees limited their worship up to the above said temple (Fig.168) under the foothills of Ponnimalai. (However, some arrangements were made to access this hilltop from its western side in 2013).

Gallery information:

The Siddha/Natha tradition symbolize the most comprehensive understanding and application of the theoretical and methodological tenets of Tantric philosophy. There are many Siddha-centres all over the Tamilnadu. The temples in Tamil-Nadu contain the sculptures depicting the Tantric rites and the images of the venerated Siddhas in it.