Siddha

The 'Siddha's were early age wandering adepts that dominated ancient Indian teaching and philosophy, they were extensively knowledgeable in Science, Technology, Astronomy, Literature, Fine Arts, Music, Drama, Dance, and provided solutions to common people in their illness and advice for their future.^[1] Some of their ideologies are believed to have originated more than 10,000 years ago during the First Cankam.^[2] Shiva is believed to be the earliest Siddha.^[3] According to one South-Indian book, the South Indian Siddha were expelled by the Indo-Aryan invaders leaving many of their traditions lost or distorted.^[4] But the fact is that North Indian so-called Aryan Siddha were earlier and South Indian ones drew their inspiration from them. Goraksha, the main North-Indian Siddha, under the name Korakkar, and his Guru Matsyendra, under the name Macchamuni, are quoted amongst the 18 South Indian Sittars. It is the spiritual tradition of the North that have spread in the South in a completely non violent way. Later on, the Muslim invaders after entering in India have destroyed the tantric tradition but the Nâtha-Siddha organized as an order of ascetics resisted them and even recruited a few sufis amongst them.^{[citation needed]}
In the Hindu philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism (Hindu tantra), siddha refers to a Siddha Guru who can by way of Shaktipat initiate disciples into Yoga. A Siddha, in Tamil Sittar, means "one who is accomplished" and refers to perfected masters who, according to Hindu belief, have transcended the ahamkara (ego or I-maker), have subdued their minds to be subservient to their Awareness, and have transformed their bodies (composed mainly of dense Rajotama gunas) into a different kind of body dominated by sattva. This is usually accomplished only by persistent meditation.
Siddhas may broadly refer to Sittars. Naths, Ascetics, Sadhus, or Yogis and vice versa because they all practice the Sādhanā concept.^[5] A siddha has also been defined to refer to one who has attained a siddhi. The siddhis as paranormal abilities are considered emergent abilities of an individual that is on the path to siddhahood, and do not define a siddha, who is established in the Pranav or Aum – the spiritual substrate of creation. The siddhi in its pure form means "the attainment of flawless identity with Reality (Brahman); perfection of Spirit."
According to Jain beliefs, Siddhas are liberated souls who have destroyed all the karma bondings. Siddha do not have any kind of body, they are soul at its purest form. They reside in Siddha-shila which is situated at the top of the Universe.