In Siddhar series, today I bring to u a Siddhar, who’s known across bhAratvarsh and also in Nepal.

#Thread on Siddhar Machamuni or as he’s known in Northern part of India – Yogi Matsyendranath. He’s traditionally considered to be the founder of Nath Sampradhaya.

@LostTemple7

He is also seen as founder of Hath Yoga as well as the author of some of its early texts.

Machamuni Siddhar is believed to be brought up by Siddhar Pinnakeesar, who also happened to be his first Guru. Now there are couple of stories as to origin of Machamuni, +
@HelloNNewman

+ however I’m skipping them for now and focusing on the Siddhar instead.

In the 523rd song of “Karuvoorar Vadha Kaviyam“, Karuvoorar Siddhar says that Machamuni is a Sembadavar. Sembadavar’s are the traditional fisherman.

@Mahadevangini @Tanvangi17 @VipashaRanjan

This seems to be reason why Siddhar got his name as ‘Machamuni’, since he’s fisherman (Macham mean fish in Tamil). He’s said to be disciple of Siddhar Kakapujandar, reference for this could be found in fifth Kandam in the book ‘Agasthiar 12000“.

@VedicWisdom1 @Dharm_Sthapana

Apart from being disciple of Siddhar Kakpujandar, Machamuni also learnt from Siddhar Nandeeswarar and Siddhar Bogar. A reference for this could be found in 97th song of his book “Machamuni Thandagam 100”, where he mentions ‘Guru Nandi’ and ‘Guru Bogar’, +

@JumbuTweeple @rspchary

+ while offering prayer to his Gurus. Machamuni also seems to know Siddhar Patanjali, as in one of his songs, he refers to Siddhar Patanjali witnessing Shiva Thandavam in Thillai (present day Chidambaram, TN).

@lalitha_jr @krithikasivasw @Speakwithsense1 @RajiIndustani

Machamuni Siddhar followed Vaasi Yoga and after practising it for 12 years, he attained ‘Asht Maha Siddhis’. As other Siddhars, he learnt about Siddha medicine, alchemy, gnana, Siddha philosophy and yoga. He has contributed to the Siddha Medicine system and +
@Padmaavathee

+ proposed theories in space and atomic science. He mentored Siddhar Gorakkar or ‘Yogi Gorakshanath’ (another prominent Guru of Hath Yoga) and passed on his knowledge.

From a teaching perspective, let us focus on a specific aspect here, the ‘Kechari Mudra’.

@Bhaktirassagar

Siddhar Bogar refers to ‘Kechari Mudra’ as the King of Mudras. Kechari Mudra is a vital practice from the Yogic perspective and Machamuni Siddhar instructs on its importance, practice, and benefits through his poems as below:

@Itishree001 @Anshulspiritual @InfoVedic @desi_thug1

ஓங்கார மாவதென்ன வென்று கேட்கில்உகாரமொன்று மகாரமொன்று அகார மொன்று
பாங்காக நின்றபிர ணவமே யாச்சு
பாரிந்தக் கருவல்லோ ஆசான் சொன்னார்
வாங்காத அகாரஉகா ரத்திற் சேர்ந்து
வன்னிநின்ற யிடமல்லோ மகார மாச்சு
தாங்காதே உரைக்கிற்றகே சரியைக் காட்டும்
சச்சிதா னந்தமென்ற மவுனந் தானே

@IndiaTales7

What becomes Aumkara, if so asked,
Are the syllables u, m and a
Standing together to become Pranava.
See! Isn’t this the nucleus said by the Master!
Merging with the a and u, unuttered,
Hasn’t the fire-residing place become the m syllable!
Inexplicable, indicating Kechari,

The silence called Sat-cit-ananda!

The Kechai mudra is a very advanced yogic practice where the tongue is stretched and elongated through various practices to roll it back and penetrate through the upper passage to the nostrils.

@harshasherni @LevinaNeythiri @NandiniVenkate3

This is done to arouse the kundalini to higher chakras, leading to the effulgence of ambrosia, and thereby leading to the state of sat-cit-ananda.

Machamuni Siddhar continues to share the result of practising ‘Kechari Mudra’ as following:

@rightwingchora @RapperPandit

காணப்பா யிதுகண்டால் ஞானஞ் சித்தி
கைவிட்ட சூஸ்திரம்போல் தேகஞ் சித்தி
ஊணப்பா அஷ்டாங்க யோகஞ் சித்தி
ஒன்றுமில்லை யென்றுசொன்ன சரங்கள் சித்தி
தொணப்பா பிறவியத்த குணமோ சித்தி
சொல்லரிதா மென்றுசொன்ன மவுனஞ் சித்தி
வீணப்பா மற்றதெல்லாம் வாய்பேச் சாகும்
மேவியந்த கேசரிக்குள் விரைந்து கூடே

See! If this is realized, it leads to Siddhi of Wisdom
(A Kite) Untethered from the thread, leads to Siddhi of Body
Experience of the soul, leading to Ashtanga Yoga Siddhi
The state of empty breath is a Siddhi
Attaining the quality of no births is a Siddhi

@hathyogi31

The inexplicable silence is a Siddhi
All else are vain pursuits/talk
Embrace the Kechari and quickly merge

Machamuni Siddhar very mystically explains how one can gain Siddhi over body and mind by the practice of Kechari Mudra and how important it is.

@GunduHuDuGa

He compares the one who has mastered Kechari Mudra to a Kite untethered from its thread. Here thread refers to the knot that ties us to the body.

List of Machamuni Siddhar’s works are as below:

@Talesofkrishna @Krishna_Priiya @sk_diary1

Machamuni meignanam 800 (மச்சமுனி மெய்ஞானம் 800)
Machamuni sothidam-Nandi Rekha (மச்சமுனிவர் சோதிடம்–நந்திரேகை)
Machamuni thirumanthiram-800 (மச்சமுனி திருமந்திரம்-800)
Machamuni perunool kaaviyam-800 (மச்சமுனி பெருநூல் காவியம்-800)

@Spiceman_1 @DivineElement

Machamuni sarakku vaippu-800 (மச்சமுனி சரக்குவைப்பு-800)
Machamunivagaaram-800 (மச்சமுனி வகாரம்-800)
Machamuni yogam-800 (மச்சமுனி யோகம்-800)
Machamuni vaithiyam-800 (மச்சமுனி வைத்தியம்-800)
Machamuni vethaantham-800 (மச்சமுனி வேதாந்தம்-800)

@proudlymessedup @YoginiPratibha

Machamuni gnanam-800 (மச்சமுனி ஞானம்-800)
Machamuni gurunool-800 (மச்சமுனி குருநூல்-800)
Machamuni theetchavithi-100 (மச்சமுனி தீட்சாவிதி-100)
Machamuni thandagam-100 (மச்சமுனி தண்டகம்-100)
Machamuni gnanthetchai-50 (மச்சமுனி ஞானதீட்சை-50)

@BahuRaani @DograTishaa

Machamuni thoola sookkuma kaarana gnanam-30 (மச்சமுனி தூலசூக்குமகாரண ஞானம்-30)
Machamuni soothiram-21 (மச்சமுனி சூத்திரம்-21)

He’s said to have attained jeeva samathi in Thiruparankundram, Madurai in Tamil nadu.

@chittukuruvi4 @ChitraSundaram7

Hope you enjoyed reading and learning about Machamuni or Matsyendranath. I really did enjoy learning something new about Siddhars and sharing with you.

Until next time, take care and see you around! Have a great rest of the day and weekend!

Shivoham!
@BesuraTaansane

Content Source: http://www.anaadifoundation.org 
Pic source: Bing