In Indian religions, Siddhis (Sanskrit: सिद्धि siddhi; fulfilment, accomplishment) are material, paranormal, supernatural, or otherwise magical powers, abilities, and attainments that are the products of yogic advancement through sādhanās such as meditation and yoga. The term ṛddhi (Pali: iddhi, “psychic powers”) is often used interchangeably in Buddhism.
Wikipedia
According to Wikipedia, Siddhis or ṛddhi are Indian terms for psychic or supernatural power, which we can get through spiritual practices such as meditation, etc.
Introduction of Ashta Siddhi
Ashta Siddhi is the eighth divine knowledge that gives the person complete power over everything. These Siddhis, or sacred Knowledge, are written in many Hindu and Buddhist scriptures and texts.
Ashta Siddhi is from the Sanskrit root; Ashta means eight, and Siddhis means knowledge, perfection or attainment.
These eight divine knowledge, known as Ashta Siddhis, are mentioned in the Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Ayurvedic text Charak Samhita, Samkhyakarika, Bhagwat Purana, Hatha yogic and Tantra texts etc., and this term Siddhi also used in many traditions like Shaivism, Buddhism, Vaishnavism, Shakta, Tantra etc.
The prominent and popular Ashta Siddhis are Anima, Mahima, Laghima, Garima, Prapti, Prakamya, Vashitva, and Ishitva. Various rishi munis, Chiranjeevi, and other Sadhaka previously had these Siddhis; let’s understand these Siddhis more,
1) Anima
Anima is the first Ashta Siddhis. This Siddhi allows the owner to reduce size, and the owner of this Siddhi can shrink the body to their own will, even at the atomic size.
2) Mahima
Mahima, one of Ashta Siddhi, grants the user the ability to attain enormous size. Both anima and Mahima siddhi are complete with each other. Anima lets you shrink your body, while Mahima enables you to increase the size of the body even to the celestial level.
3) Laghima
Laghima Siddhi grants its users the ability to decrease their body weight. Through this, Siddhi user can reduce their weight in such a context that they can gain the levitation ability.
4) Garima
Garima Siddhi gives users the ability to increase their body weight. However, the Garima only allows the user to increase the weight, but you need Laghima Siddhi to decrease the weight.
5) Prapti
Prapti is different from previous siddhis. While the earlier siddhis focused on one’s body, Prapti Siddhi allows one to get what they desire instantly.
6) Prakamya
Prakamya Siddhi gives its users a wide range of abilities. It allows users to increase their life length, teleportation, and ability to live underwater. Generally, prakamya enables the user to adapt to the circumstances.
Ishitva provides the ability to create, preserve and destroy the world. The individual obtaining this Siddhi can influence nature as per one’s will, the world move per their wish, could make trees grow instantly, rain down immediately and many other things.
8) Vashitva
Vashitva is the last Siddhi in the Ashta Siddhi list, and This Sidhhi allows users to control everyone. The ability is not limited to humans but also to animals or plants.
Siddhis means psychic or supernatural power or divine knowledge, which are numerous in ancient texts; in some texts, their name is similar, but in some texts, their name is different, or counting is different.
This article mainly discusses Siddhi, specifically Ashta Siddhi, which is mentioned explicitly in the Yoga sutra, Hanuman Chalisa, and some other Ashta Siddhis mentioned in Ayurveda.
Ashta Siddhis in Hanuman Chalisa
Most notably, people hear about Ashta Siddhi while hearing Hanuman Chalisa or Ganesh Bhajana; from childhood, we can come across the term Ashta Siddhi while reciting the Hanuman Chalisa or Ganesh Bhajana.
Lord Hanuman is the famous monkey god and Shiva’s 11th partial reincarnation, mentioned in the Hindu epic text Ramayana, Mahabharata, and many other religious texts.
Most of us know that Hanuman Chalisa, written by Tulsidas, is a forty Chaupay book written for Hanuman’s glory. While reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, we read or listen to Ashta Siddhi.
अष्ट सिद्धि नव निधि के दाता
Lord Hanuman possessed all eight divine knowledge and nine treasuries, and He could bestow these upon others who worshipped him with dedication.
Ashta Siddhi in Patanjali Yoga Sutra
There are numerous Vibhutis mentioned in the third chapter of Patanjali Yoga sutra. Traditional Ashta Siddhis are there in the 3/45 sutra.
ततोऽणिमादिप्रादुर्भावः कायसम्पत्तद्धर्मानभिघातश्च ॥3/45॥
After conquering the Pancha Mahabhuta, the Yogi attains the eight siddhis like Anima, etc., and the unique strength of the body increases at the same time; the Pancha Mahabhuta, like earth, etc., do not hinder the Yogi in any way.
So in this sutra, sage Patanjali explained that Panch Mahabhutas are Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Ether. When Yogi wins on these elements, they can get Ashta Siddhis: Anima, Mahima, Laghima, Garima, Prapti, Prakamya, Vashitva and Ishitva.
Ashta Siddhis in Ayurveda
Ayurveda is an ancient science from Bharat that treats physical problems and works on psychosomatic diseases. Ayurveda and yoga are very closely associated. Patanjali wrote three famous texts on Yoga, Ayurveda, and Grammar to help humanity.
As per Ayurveda, Yoga is a powerful practice through which you can overcome all psychosomatic problems.
“According to Acharya Charaka, all pains are abolished in the state of Yoga and Moksha.”.
Acharya Vidyadhar Shukla, Ravidutta Tripathi, ‘Charak Samhita ‘of Acharya Charak and Agnivesha (2019), Sharisthana 1/137, Hindi Translation, 1st edition, reprint, published by Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan, 4360/4, ansari road, New Delhi – 110 002, pg. 697
Atma indriya mana arthanam sannikarshat
pravartate sukham dukham .
As per Acharya Charak, when the mind concentrates on the soul, both these sensations of happiness and pain are not felt because of our control of sensory organs; According to Sages, This state of complete control of the mind is YogAcharyathe individual can perform supernatural functions.
Ashta Siddhi mentioned in Ayurveda are different from traditional Ashta Siddhis. Acharya Charak 1/140-141 mentioned Eight Siddhis, which are as follows:
- 1] Aawesha – Ability to enter the other person’s body.
- 2] Arthanam Gyanam – Ability to read another person’s mind.
- 3] Chhanda Kriya – Ability to do things as you wish.
- 4] Drushti – Get the vision to look beyond the senses.
- 5] Shruti – Achieve the power to hear beyond the senses.
- 6] Smruti – Achieve the power to recollect the past (super memory).
- 7] Kanti – Attain the superhuman brilliance.
- 8] Eshtata Darshan – Achieve the power to appear & disappear at will.
How to attain Siddhis
There are numerous ways to attain psychic powers or Siddhis; if we look at the Ayurveda texts, they clearly state that you can achieve these Siddhis through Yogic practices because only through Yoga practices can the mind be purified. Then, the union of body, mind, and soul can be possible.
Charak and other Ayurveda scholars say that when the Satvik or pure mind and soul are unified, you can attain these Ashta Siddhis, and through yoga practices, the union of the mind and soul can be possible.
Patanjali Yoga Sutra is a significant Yoga text from centuries; in the forty-five sutra of Vibhuti Pada and the first sutra of Kaivalya Pada, Maharshi Patanjali explains the ways to attain Siddhis.
ततोऽणिमादिप्रादुर्भावः कायसम्पत्तद्धर्मानभिघातश्च ॥3/45॥
In this sutra, sage Patanjali explained that Panch Mahabhutas are Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Ether. When Yogi wins on these elements, they can get Ashta Siddhis.
जन्मौषधिमन्त्रतपःसमाधिजाः सिद्धयः ॥4/1॥
The Sadhaka can attain Siddhis(powers) through birth, herbs, mantra chants, austerities or Samadhi.
- The first way to get siddhis is through birth; if any yogi in their previous life is in a higher state of Sadhana but, for some reason, does not get enlightenment, then he can get some psychic powers by birth.
- The second one is herbs, which can help anyone attain some level of siddhis. For example, Sage Chywan gains youth and strength through some medicinal herbs. Also, through some herbs, you can get some psychic powers.
- The third practice through which you can get the siddhis is the mantra. Mantras are sacred words that vibrate your chakras, and you get siddhis by chanting specific mantras.
- The fourth one is Tapa.
- Samadhi is the last one, and through the samadhi state, yoga practitioners reduce their sufferings (Klesha)
If we look at it in other ways, according to Bhakti Yoga, when you surrender yourself to your God completely, you get Moksha. In that process, you can get these Siddhi, also mentioned in Hanuman Chalisa and Ganesh Prayer; if you worship God entirely, they can give you these Siddhis.