ASHTAMA SIDDHIS.

1. ASHTAMA SIDDHIS

3. ABOUT SIDDHI
1.The term Siddha is related to the word siddhi, which signifies the experience of Siva.
2.Siddhisvara(Lord of the Siddhis) is one of the names of Siva. Siddhis indicate that the practitioner of Yoga has attained a stage of inner development that allows him to reach the ultimate goal, namely, liberation.
3.It is wrong to think that the Siddhas are magicians or uncouth ascetics credited with supernatural powers.
4.Nor are they atheists or agnostics, as is commonly believed. They believe in God, but not a God of this or that religion.
5.For most of them there is a God, Siva, without any limitation or attributes.
6.Siva is grammatically and philosophically an impersonal conception.
7.The real name for Siva is "It" (or atu), "Thatness," or "Suchness." A genuine Siddha is beyond atheism and faith (theism) alike.
8.A Siddha is also said to be one who has attained siddhi, a special psychic and supernatural power, which is said to be eightfold in the science of Yoga.

4. ASHTAMA SIDDHIS
•ANIMA (SHRINKING) —Power of becoming the size of an atom and entering the smallest beings, as described in SrimadBhagavatamby Lord Krishna) Example: Hanuman had reduced the size of his body while he was searching for Sitain Lanka.
•MAHIMA (ILLIMITABILITY) —Power of becoming mighty and co-extensive with the universe. Example: Hanuman assumed a huge form to burn Lanka, he also assumed big form to fight KumbhaKarna. In Vaamanaavatar Lord Vishnu increased his form which was so gigantic that it only took him three steps to cover all three worlds
•LAGIMA (LIGHTNESS) —Capacity to be quite light though big in size. comes from the word laghu, which means small or light. Laghima is the ability to make the body very light('Becoming lighter than the lightest'). Levitation and flying in the air are its subsidiary powers
•GARIMA (WEIGHT) —Capacity to weigh heavy, though seemingly small size. Example: Lord Hanuman made his tail very heavy that even Bhimacouldn't life it (Bhimawho was climbing the GandhaMadanamountains to get Saugandhikaflowers for Draupadiwas stopped by a monkey whose tail was on the way, Bhimaorders the monkey to take the tail off the road, monkey being old tells him to move it himself, but Bhimacouldn't even lift the monkey's tail)
•PRAPTHI (FULFILLMENT OF DESIRES) —Word praaptimeans 'toobtain', 'having obtained', 'to have got'. Thus praaptiis the ability to acquire anything anywhere. Capacity to enter all the worlds from Brahma Logato the neither world. It is the power of attaining everything desired.
•PRAKASYSM (IRRESISTIBLE WILL) —Theability to obtain anything desired, ability to have realized the dreams. Power of disembodying and entering into other bodies (metempsychosis) and going to heaven and enjoying what everyone aspires for, simply from where he stays.
•ISITHAVAM (SUPREMACY)—Iṣa=lord; isitva=lordship; The power of absolute lordship over entire creation. Have the creative power of God and control over the Sun, the moon and the elements and entire creation.
•VASITHAVAM (DOMINION OVER THE ELEMENTS) —The ability to have everything under control, especially the physical manifestation made up of 5 elements. Power of control over King and Gods. The power of changing the course of nature and assuming any form.

5. FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF 23 SIDDHI POWERS: CONSIDERED TO BE THE WARRIOR SIDDHI POWERS
TRIKALAJRIATVAM
Knowledgeofthepast,presentandfuture.
ADVANDVAM
Tobebeyondpleasure-pain,cold-heat,soft-hard.Non-duality
PARACHITTADYABHIJNATA
Knowledgeofdreamsandthemind.
PRATISHTAMBAH
Controlofeffectoffire,wind,water,poisons,weapons,andthesun.
APARAJAYAH
Victorious.Notabletobedefeated
THE NEXT ARE CONSIDERED ONLY TO OCCUR AS THE HEART BEGINS TO PURIFY AND FLOWER
ANUMIMATTVAM
Hunger,thirst,grief,sorrow,infatuation,delusionandconfusionofthemind, oldageanddeathdonotharmthebody.
DOORSHRAVAN
Tohear,sittingatoneplace,speechfromhoweverdistantaplace.
DUDARSHAN
Toseesimultaneouslyeventsandthingsinalltherealms.
MANOJAVA
Thebodycantravelatthespeedofthoughttoanyplace.
KAAMAROOPA
Toassumeanyform.Shapeshifting.
PARAKAYAPRAVESH
Abilitytoenterintoanother'sbody,whethertheyaredeadoralive.
SWACHCHANDAMRUTYU
Todieatone'sownwill,deathhavingnocontroloverone.
SAHAKRIDANUDARSHANAM
Toseethesportsofgodsinheavenandhavecapacityandprowesstoparticipateinit.
YATHAASAMKALPA SAMSIDDHI
Toattainwhateverisdesired.
AJNAAPRATIHATAAGATIH
wherebyone'scommandandmovementhavenoobstruction
THESE ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE HIGHEST SIDDHI POWERS
ANIMA
Thereductionofone'sformtooneatom.Invisibility
MAHIMA/GARIMA
Thebodycanbemadetobeveryheavy.
LAGHIMA
Thebodycanbemadetobeextremelylight
PRAPTI
Abilitytoacquireobjectsofsensepertainingtotherespectiveorgans.
PRAKAASHYA
Toseeinvisiblethingsinotherrealms.
ISHITAA
TostimulatebodiesandcreaturesControlofforcesofnature.
VASHITA
Tohavecontrolordominionoverthesenses.
YATKAMASTADAVASYATI
Toobtainjoybywillingitso.Thecessationofmiseryanddesire.Thisisconsideredtobethehigheststateofbliss

6. YOGA SUTRA CHAPTER 4: VERSE 1
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Janmaauṣadhimantra tapaḥsamādhijāḥsiddhayaḥ
Birth, medicine(drugs/ herbs), mantra (incantations), penance (self-discipline) and Samadhi born are Supernatural powers
WAYS TO ATTAIN SUPERNATURAL POWERSIn Patanjali'sYoga Sutras IV: 1, Patanjalimentions ways to attain supernatural powersAs stated in the verse, here are the ways to attain supernatural powers: By birth: Those born of spiritually advanced parents receive the powers through birth because of the womb they are born in and the genes. (This can also be translated as 'some may have supernatural powers from birth because of their attainments in previous lives') Medicine: Use of special drugs (herbs in particular) help one attain some miraculous powers. (In the story of Rama there is an episode of Sanjeeviniherb brought by Hanuman bringing back Laxmanto life) Mantra: Incantation of mantras (powerful syllables or words) is said to grant powers to the one chanting them, Early part of Vedas has many of such mantras. It is believed that mantras work in two ways: 1) Because of the power of sounds (word) 2) because of the self-discipline it bringsPenance: Self-disciplining is believed to clarify the cloud of mind so that one is able to control the 5 elements just by the wish, it is possible by unpervertedthinking. Samadhi: When one achieves oneness with consciousness it is said to grant one with extra-ordinary powers

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