InIndian religions,Siddhis (Sanskrit:सिद्धिsiddhi; fulfillment, accomplishment) are material, paranormal, supernatural, or otherwise magical powers, abilities, and attainments that are the products ofyogic advancement throughsādhanās such asmeditation and yoga.[1] The termṛddhi (Pali:iddhi, "psychic powers") is often used interchangeably inBuddhism.
TheVisuddhimagga is one of the texts to give explicit details about how spiritual masters were thought to actually manifest supernormal abilities.[3] It states that abilities such as flying through the air, walking through solid obstructions, diving into the ground, walking on water and so forth are achieved through changing oneelement, such as earth, into another element, such as air.[3] The individual must masterkasina meditation before this is possible.[3]Dipa Ma, who trained via the Visuddhimagga, claimed to have these abilities, but her claim was never independently verified.[4]
In thePanchatantra, an ancient Indian collection of moral fables,siddhi may be the term for any unusual skill or faculty or capability.[citation needed]
InPatañjali'sYoga Sutras IV.1 it is stated,Janma auṣadhi mantra tapaḥ samādhijāḥ siddhayaḥ, "Accomplishments may be attained through birth, the use of herbs, incantations, self-discipline orsamadhi".[5] Patanjali discussessiddhi in Vibhuti Pada (third chapter) and commentators like Vyasa consider it as a by-product of yogic path due to mastery overprakriti. Verse III.37 warns thatsiddhis serve as milestones or distractions rather than as the ultimate goal. Verse III.55 further explains that liberation (kaivalya) is achieved through discriminative knowledge, not through mystic powers. Once ignorance is removed through such knowledge, the cycle of rebirth (samsara) ceases.[6]
Ganesha with the personified Ashta-Siddhi The Ashtasiddhi are associated with Ganesha. – painting byRaja Ravi Varma (1848–1906)
According to different sources, below are the eight classical siddhis (Ashta Siddhi) or eight great perfections:[7][8]
Aṇimā: the ability to reduce one's body to the size of an atom.
Mahimā: the ability to expand one's body to an infinitely large size.
Laghimā: the ability to become weightless or lighter than air.
Garimā: the ability to become heavy or dense.
Prāpti:the ability to access any place in the world.
Prākāmya: the ability to realize whatever one desires.
Īśitva: the ability to control all material elements or natural forces.
Vaśitva: the ability to force influence upon anyone.
InISKCON texts, the ability to become heavy or dense (Garimā) is namedMahimā, which (the ability to expand one's body) gets replaced withKāmāvasāyitā, the ability to take any shape or form one may even whimsically desire.[9]
InShaivism, siddhis are defined as "Extraordinary powers of the soul, developed through consistent meditation and often uncomfortable and gruelingtapas, or awakened naturally through spiritual maturity and yogicsādhanā."[10]
In theSamkhyakarika andTattvasamasa, there are references to the attainment of eight siddhis by which "one becomes free of the pain of ignorance, one gains knowledge, and experiences bliss".The eight siddhis hinted at byKapila in theTattvasamasa are, as explained in verse 51 of theSamkhyakarika:[13]
Ūha: based on thesamskaras (karmic imprints) of previous births, the attainment of knowledge about the twenty-fourtattvas gained by examining the determinable and indeterminable, conscious and non-conscious constituents of creation.
Śabda: knowledge gained by associating with an enlightened person (Guru – upadesh).
Adhyayana: knowledge gained through study of the Vedas and other standard ancillary texts.
Suhṛtprāpti: knowledge gained from a kind-hearted person, while engaged in the spread of knowledge.
Dānā: knowledge gained regardless of one’s own needs while attending to the requirements of those engaged in the search of the highest truth.
Ādhyātmika-duḥkhabighāta: freedom from pain, disappointment, etc. that may arise due to lack of spiritual, metaphysical, mystic knowledge and experience.
Ādhibhautika-duḥkhabighāta: freedom from pain etc. arising from possessing and being attached to various materialistic gains.
Ādhidaivika-duḥkhabighāta: freedom from pain etc. caused by fate or due to reliance on fate.
It is believed that the attainment of these eight siddhis renders one free of the pain of ignorance and gives one knowledge and bliss.
Ganesha,Hanuman, various forms ofDevi,Vishnu and various other deities are popularly seen as the keepers of siddhis, with the ability to grant them to the worshipper.[14] The attainment of such siddhis is a more pronounced goal in Shaivism. Notably, Hanuman is an incarnation of Shiva, and Ganesh is His son. The last day of Navaratri, the celebration of the pastimes and forms of Goddess Parvati, the wife of Shiva, is forSiddhidhatri, quite literally "She who has the power to grant the Siddhis". According to the lore of the Puranas, it becomes apparent that Shiva is in fact the holder and releaser of such important and powerful abilities.[citation needed]
In Sikhism, siddhi means "insight". "Eight Siddhis" is a term used for insight of the eight qualities ofNirankar or a.k.a.Akal Purakh mentioned in theMul Mantar in theGuru Granth Sahib. God has eight qualities: Ek Onkar, Satnam, Kartapurakh, Nirbhao, Nirvair, AkaalMurat, Ajooni and Svaibhang. The one who has insight into these qualities is calledSidh orGurmukh.[citation needed]
Ek Onkar: There is one formless God
Satnam: God is True, His remembrance is true
Kartapurakh: God alone is creator
Nirbhao: God is fearless
Nirvair: God has no enmity with anyone
Akaal Murat: God is eternal, beyond time
Ajooni Svaibhang: God is beyond the cycle of birth and death, God is svayambhu, Self-Existent
Gurparasad: God is attained by the Grace of the True Guru
^Bryant, Edwin F. (2009).The Yoga sūtras of Patañjali: a new edition, translation and commentary with insights from the traditional commentators. New York: North Point Press. pp. 368,403–404.ISBN978-0-86547-736-0.
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