According to Vedas Lord Shiva is considered as the first yogi of the universe and he is considered as the first Siddhar of the universe. The Siddhars are well versed with the use of substances called Rasayanas. The direct meaning of the word “Rasayana” is “chemical”. But the Siddhars split the word as Rasam+Ayanam. Rasam means juice or essence and ayanam means route. They have taught the usage of the essence of the Vedic Science and the routes to use those routes in the proper way to solve the problems in a spiritual way. Through their practices they have reached stages of insight which enabled them to tune into the powers hidden in various material substances and practices, useful for suffering and ignorant mankind. Typically Siddhars were saints, doctors, alchemists and mysticists all at once. The ancient Siddhars wrote their findings, in the form of poems in Tamil language, on palm leaf which are collected and stored in what are known today as Palm leaf manuscript. Many of them are still owned by the Ashrams (Missionaries) established by them in Tamil Nadu and handed down through the generations. Since they are well learned scholars they did miracles with the art they learned.
