Korakkar

Korakkar (कोरक्कर), also written Korakkar Siddhar, is a Tamil Siddhar counted in standard lists of the eighteen Siddhars of the Tamil tradition. He is associated in tradition with alchemy and yogic discipline, and many Tamil writers identify him with the Nath yogi Gorakhnath.

Tradition

Siddhar chronology is traditional rather than historical, and no independent records establish Korakkar’s dates or biography. Tradition holds that he practiced austerities at a hill near Perur, outside Coimbatore, known as Korakkar Malai in his memory. Several Tamil works on muppu — the “triple salt” regarded in Siddha alchemy as a universal medicine and transmuting agent — circulate in the Siddha corpus under his name, together with works on gnana and yoga. These attributions follow the customary pattern of assigning corpus texts to a master’s lineage rather than documenting authorship.

Teachings/Contributions

The works attributed to Korakkar deal with mineral and herbal preparations, the perfecting of the body, and yogic practice. As in other Siddha writings, alchemy is presented as joined to inner transformation: the preparation of substances is tied to the discipline of breath and mind, not treated as a purely technical art.

Legacy

Korakkar is venerated at shrines associated with him, notably near Perur and at Sathuragiri, where Siddhar worship continues today. He remains a fixed figure in the enumerations of the eighteen Siddhars.

Verification notes

• Siddhar chronology is traditional, not historical; dates and biography cannot be independently established.
• Attributed works are corpus texts of uncertain date and authorship.
• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).