Image title: Ascetic (Arunachaleswara temple)

[Series: Historical Continuity: Some Siddhas(?) of contemporary period]

Fig.196, 197 and 198 are the Siddha like ascetics living in the Arunachaleshvara (Arunachaleswara) temple at Tiruvannamalai. They are addressing themselves as Siddhas and offering the sacred ashes (vibhuti) to the devotees who approach them, but expecting money. But many of the features found in the medieval sculptures like long matted hair, beard, rudrakshamala, and copper ring in their wrist etc. are also found in them which shows the continuity of that tradition.

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.