Siddhis (yogic super powers)

Translation: accomplishment, attainment, or success in connection to both the physical and superphysical worlds

What are Siddhis?
In yoga, siddhis are supernatural or magical powers that develop as the practitioner deepens his practice. There are 64 minor siddhis and 8 ashta siddhis (special siddhis). Siddhis happen involuntarily whether intentioned or not. Siddhis are not needed for enlightenment and can be ignored in pursuit of self-realization. In an idealized practice, showing-off or exhibiting siddhis is discouraged because they are simply regarded as distractions from staying on the path. Not all siddhis are desirable - depends if the yogi is ready.

How Siddhis are Acquired

1. by birth - because of merits earned in previous lives, a person could simply be born with siddhis. This explains child prodigies who perform far beyond their years. Often times, siddhis remain inert until favorable conditions are met to unleash these gifts.
   
   Ramana Maharshi is a good example. At age 17, without wanting or desiring it, he became enlightened and consequently developed his siddhi (among others) of seeing the true nature of reality andteaching telepathically (he rarely spoke to his disciples).
   
   "Reincarnation is a major concept in Eastern philosophy. The Hindus believe that although we are born in this world with a tabula rasa (blank slate) we carry in us a set of potentialities called Samskaras (the seeds of our actions in previous lives). These tendencies, they say, remain inactive and only manifest when the right conditions are present. Some people may be born with certain talents, abilities, or even spiritual powers, but unless the conditions are favorable to their development, these gifts cannot be ripened to their fullest expression. Additionally, I.K. Taimni mentions in his commentary of the sutras that some people whose moral and intellectual development are not very highly advanced are sometimes born with certain spurious occult powers. The reason could be that they experimented with Yogic practices in their previous lives."
2. tapas (austerities) - my understanding of tapas is when you have an easy option and a hard option to do something, you do it the hard way. Why? It develops strength of mind and fortitude. But I was not aware it also develops siddhis. I practice tapas as a general rule. Result? Austerity is embraced instead of developing an aversion to, pain is observed equanimously instead of being left to suffer, downturns in life are viewed as part of a karmic process instead of misfortune. In short, with tapas, nothing hurts anymore.
   
   Example: you can take the flight of steps instead of taking an elevator, or you can take a cold shower instead of a hot shower, or you can walk the mile to the store instead of taking your car. This concept is somehow similar to the Japanese code of the Bushido - cry in the dojo, laugh in the battlefield. When you are used to austerity, nothing hurts. While other people may suffer and complain, you can take the punishment or the ordeal with ease and a balanced mind.
3. drugs or hallucinogens - LSD or ayahuasca have been a popular alternative as a mind expander - but I doubt if they really produce siddhis apart from the spiritual insight gained from the experience. Moreover, the reward is not 'earned' and the person may not be prepared for the epiphany. I personally do not find this alluring. Why rely on something external when the answers already reside within? But this is only the humble opinion of someone who hasn't tried any of those - me.
   
   On the other end of this spectrum, Graham Hancock, an author, extemporaraneous public speaker and advocate of man's hidden story, a man I greatly admire and respect, pontificates that psychedelics reveal to us the hidden realities that can help us understand life and our role in it. He stresses that no world leader should even aspire for such position unless he/she has had 12 sessions of ayahuasca.
   
   "Psychedelics Drugs & Entheogens – Siddhis can be developed by using drugs, but they cannot be compared to the higher class of spiritual powers only attained through Samyama meditation. If you're really into this, I suggest that you read John C. Lilly (inventor of the isolation tank). He's one of the few well-known psychonauts who mastered the technique of sensory deprivation and the use of psychedelics to explore the realms of higher consciousness."
4. mantra (uttering a spiritual sound) - a mantra calms the mind and brings about spiritual awakening. A popular example of a mantra is OM. It is claimed to be the sound of the universe itself. It is the only sound that can be pronounced without the use of the tongue. Most chakras have their own mantra - LAM for muladhara, VAM for svadisthana, RAM for manipuraka, etc. There are long mantras that are powerful. One such is the Gayatri Mantra.
5. samadhi - it takes a lot of dedication and years of practice to reach samadhi (meditative absorption). Samadi is on the highest level of the 8 limbs of yoga. Reaching samadi means having mastered yama (abstinences), niyama (observances), asana (yoga postures), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), and dhyana (meditation). When siddhi finally happens as a result of samadhi, the practitioner is deeply anchored with the foundations of yoga and the underlying gift is profound and powerful.

Animadi Siddhi reduces your size to an atom

Vibhuti Pada by Patanjali
All sutras (short aphoristic statements) by the sage Patanjali referring to siddhis are contained in one of his 4 books, Vibhuti Pada: The Book of Spiritual Powers. The book explains what these powers are and how to attain them. Moreover, the book talks about consciousness.

In the 8 limbs of yoga, Patanjali specifically points to the last three (dharana, dhyana, and samadhi) which forms samyama to be practiced simultaneously to gain full control of these siddhis.

Dharana and Dhyana
To tame the mind and stop it from behaving like a monkey-mind is called dharana. This is essential to achieve ekagrata citta (one-pointedness of the mind). One who stills his mind to ekagrata will have all the senses under his command and will develop all the siddhis. When the mind gets controlled, the indriyas (perception senses - 5 for expression and 5 for cognition) become internalized and will perform their activities from inside. Hence by controlling the mind, all the indriyas will come under one's control.

What are the 8 Siddhis?
It should be noted that depending on the sect or tradition, the list of siddhis may vary. Tantric Buddhism, Sikhism, Samkhya philosophy, Vaishnavism, and Shaivism, all have their interpretation of siddhis. Below are the siddhis based on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: (caveat: siddhi listings and their power vary from one source to another. Many overlap and exist in more than one chakra. Take this only as a bird's eyeview guideline)

1. Anima Siddhi - aka animadi siddhi, ability to perceive the microscopic world
   mudra: mahadeva mudra - mula bandha mudra (anal squeeze) and bahya kumbhaka (breath retention on the exhalation) on uddiyana bandha (tummy-tuck). This increases the jathara agni (digestive fire) and gives rise to animadi guna siddhi (desired quality of animadi siddhi)
   statement: "I can become infinitely small and explore the quantum realm. Because the density in the body is changed, I can pass through solid objects. I am practically invisible."
2. Mahima Siddhi - becoming infinitely large, having the ability to see the structures of the galaxies
3. Laghima Siddhi - becoming weightless or lighter than air (caveat: in Alexandra David-Neel's account of her exploits in Tibet back in the 1920s, she recounts an adept who had to weigh down himself in chains because he has become so light, a gust of wind could blow him away)
4. Garima Siddhi - ability to become infinitely heavy and be immovable by anyone or anything. You could have the weight of a black hole and pierce the fabric of space and time itself!
5. Prapti Siddhi - instantaneously travel or be anywhere at will. This siddhi removes the limitations of space which separate two objects from each other. It is said one will even be able to touch the moon with one's finger (i.e. the limitation of distance is removed) (note: We are on the 3rd dimension according to some ancient texts. It is said that when we evolve into the 4 th dimension [out of 9], time becomes linear [no more past, present and future...just a singularity] and space is no longer defined by distance. Thus by inference, when we develop Prapti siddhi, we gain access to the 4th dimension)
6. Prakamya Siddhi - ability to manifest desires or realize objects out of thin air (note: the sankalpa mudra helps in manifestation. By practising this mudra, the prakamya siddhi is developed)
7. Isitva Siddhi - ability to create and destroy. Lordship over creation and annihilation (note: this means playing God. Can I trust myself not to use this against those who harmed me if I should ever develop it?)
8. Vasitva Siddhi - ability to control all 5 elements of nature (fire, air, ether, earth and water), and mind control such as hypnosis (note: ah, the fabled air bender)
9. Kama-avasayitva - complete satisfaction and freedom from desire (note: a life rooted in tapas [austerity] helps...when you only seek what is needed...nothing more)

Chakras and their Siddhis
Siddhis develop within their corresponding chakras, when these chakras are activated by Pranayama (together with yama, niyama and asana). However, it would seem that siddhis are not exclusive to one chakra - transcending time (Trikala jnana) is achieved when the Muladhara, Anahata, and Ajna chakras are activated (my contention here is that if the siddhi already happened in the lower chakra, then the siddhi remains when activating the higher chakras. Therefore, if Trikala jnana accurs at Muladhara, then it should no longer be mentioned that the same siddhi happens at the Anahata and Ajna chakras). Chakras are energy centers within the etheric body where nadis (energy pathways) converge - think of a bus terminal where all buses converge after going about their specific routes. There are 114 chakras altogether (note: all of them being a gateway to enlightenment, Buddha's enlightenment through awareness, being just one of 114), although only 7 are considered major chakras. Chakras are activated through meditation, asana, pranayama and bandha.

Muladhara Chakra

1. the body becomes tough
2. Darduri siddhi, jumping high and long, up in the air, (simulating flight). This was discussed in detail by Alexandra David-Neel as the Lung-gom-pas, in her book Magic And Mystery In Tibet.
3. Trikala jnana, memory of past lives, ability to transcend time - present, past and future
4. being disease-free
5. mind is tamed and gives rise to sankalpa (ability to manifest desires)
6. control over the 5 elements - air, fire, ether, earth, water
7. kayakalpa siddhi, to slow down aging and live long by conserving amrita (the nectar of life)
8. sense of smell is heightened
9. levitation is achieved (earth element)
10. writing ability is developed
11. states of natural ecstacy happens spontaneously

Svadisthana Chakra

1. sense of taste is greatly enhanced
2. sharper intuition
3. disease-free
4. indefatigable
5. admirable (even from his enemies), freedom from enemies, deep inner peace and charisma
6. experience peace and violence will disappear
7. walk through the jungle at night and no wild animal will harm him
8. psychic powers, affinity with astral entities
9. control of the senses resulting in creative ability, reflective nature, perfection of relationships, eloquence in speech, clarity in thinking
10. the status of a lord among yogis
11. being unafraid of water, walking on water (water element)
12. sankalpa, ability to manifest desires

Manipuraka Chakra

1. no food, no water, body subsists on prana alone
2. skin becomes radiant
3. impervious to fire (fire element)
4. freedom from diseases, never encounter any physical or mental afflictions. These afflictions will flee his presence. Skin becomes radiant
5. will be able to face any disaster or accident with mental fortitude
6. he develops divya drishti (divine perception)
7. experience the bliss of identifying atman (universal self) as a separate entity from the body
8. all organs or parts of the body function at their proper strength. Body becomes lean
9. conquers time
10. can enter the body of another
11. can make gold
12. power to create and destroy

Surya Cakra

1. optimizes digestion, no disease in the gut

Manas Cakra

1. increases the power of intuition
2. expands intellect (Manas and brain have a special connection)

Anahata Chakra

1. pranic healing is developed
2. stuck energies flow again, giving rise to affection, devotion and love
3. arouses Nada (inner sound)
4. becomes radiant. His presence can light up a room
5. becomes endearing and loved by all. Women are drawn to him
6. can practice with high levels of concentration and focus
7. can articulate his ideas into powerful words
8. becomes capable of protection and destruction
9. can enter his body and other people's bodies at will
10. awareness of one's karma, knowledge of past, present and future, clairvoyance ability
11. ability to walk in the air
12. ability to travel all over the world at the speed of thought
13. seeing God in everything (not a concept but the actual seeing) occurs. Sensitivity to all, compassion for all and love for all

Vishuddhi Chakra

1. body becomes impervious to suffering
2. voice becomes melodious (good for singers)
3. Laghima, the power of levitation
4. occult competence
5. speech is greatly articulated (gift of gab), communication, command of speech and mantras
6. enhancement of artistic virtues
7. attraction by ganas (disembodied beings)
8. freedom from disease and old age
9. destruction of dangers
10. obtains calmness, serenity, purity
11. understanding of dreams
12. masters entire self
13. becomes unconscious of the outer world and enjoys the inner realm
14. supreme reasoning overcomes the heart
15. transcends to a state of non-judgment
16. begins to hear Nada sound (unstruck sound)

Ajna Chakra

1. knowledge and wisdom are attained
2. past karma is forgiven (really? I thought karma must be paid)
3. destruction of karma (past lives)
4. able to be in a continuous state of samadhi (realized non-duality)
5. visions of past, present and future
6. desires come true
7. internal and external changes cease to be a problem
8. seeing all events on the planet without moving

Sahasrara Chakra

1. perfection is attained
2. knowledge, knower and known become one and liberated
3. feelings, emotions and desires are dissolved into their cause. Union is achieved. Non-dual consciousness occurs
4. all siddhis are obtained
5. transcends the desire to use those siddhis or manifest his desires
6. no separation between the experience and the experiencer (I am that)

Brahmaguha (Lalata) Chakra

1. the power to change your destiny

Other Siddhis

1. Clairaudience: Knowledge of the Sounds-Language of All Beings
2. Knowledge Of Past Lives Or Previous Births
3. Telepathy: Knowledge Of The Minds Of Other Beings
4. Foreknowledge Of The Time Of Death
5. Strength Of Any Attitude (Such As Friendliness)
6. Super Strength (Such As That Of An Elephant)
7. Clairvoyance: Knowledge of Subtle, Hidden, & Remote Things
8. Knowledge Of Other Worlds, Realms, And Universes
9. Knowledge Of The Arrangement Of Stars And Planets
10. Knowledge Of The Movement Of Stars And Planets
11. Full Knowledge Of The Systems Of The Body
12. Freedom From Hunger And Thirst
13. The Power Of Steadiness Or Immobility
14. Visions of Siddhas (Perfected Beings)
15. Intuitive Knowledge or Spontaneous Illumination
16. Knowledge Of The Nature Of The Mind
17. Knowledge Of Pure Consciousness (Spirit/Purusha)
18. Extra Sensory Perception: Activating Your Psychic Abilities
19. Entering And Controlling The Bodies Of Others
20. Radiating Light Around The Body (The Luminosity of Auras)
21. Super Hearing (Hearing At Vast Distances)
22. Ability To Travel Through Space (Teleportation)
23. Vision Of The Light Of The Universal Mind
24. Mastery Of The Elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether)
25. Making The Body Atomically Small, Indestructible, Perfect
26. Perfection Of The Body In Beauty, Strength, And Brilliance
27. Mastery Over The Five Senses Of The Body
28. Quickness Of The Mind (Instantaneous Cognition)
29. Omnipotence & Omniscience: Mastery Of All States Of Existence
30. Knowledge Born Of The Awareness Of Ultimate Reality
31. Intuitive Discernment: Ability To Distinguish or Differentiate All Things
32. Higher Knowledge And Wisdom
33. Absolute Freedom: The Perfect Spiritual Life
34. The Psychic Abilities Described as the Hindu Siddhis
35. Anurmi-Mattva: Undisturbed by anger or other emotions
36. Dura-Sravana: Ability to hear far away sounds
37. Dura-Darsanam: Ability to see faraway things
38. Manah-Java: Moving the body to follow thought
39. Kamap-Rupam: Assumption of any form
40. Para-Kaya Pravesanam: Entering other's bodies
41. Sva-Chanda Mrityuh: Dying when desiring
42. Devanam Saha Krida Anudarsanam: Seeing the past times of gods and angels
43. Yatha Sankalpa Samsiddhihih: Meeting one's objectives
44. Ajna Apratihata Gatih: Being obeyed without objection
45. Aeromancy: Interpreting the shapes of the clouds
46. Afterlife communication: Connecting with the dead
47. Alomancy: Reading patterns of salt thrown in the air and cast on the floor
48. Apantomancy: Interpreting the meeting of encounters with animals
49. Astral Projection: Out of body travel
50. Aura Reading: Interpreting the auric field
51. Automatic Writing: Writing a message from an outside intelligence through the subconscious mind
52. Bibliomancy: Interpreting a passage from a book chosen at random
53. Catoptromancy: Telling fortunes with a mirror
54. Channeling: Delivering a message from an outside intelligence that enters the body of the interpreter
55. Chirmancy: Palmistry – Divination from the lines of the hand
56. Clairalience: Ability to smell that which is not present
57. Clairaudience: Ability to hear events
58. Claircognizant: The sense of clear knowing
59. Clairempathy: Sensing other's emotions
60. Clairgustance: Ability to taste that which is not present
61. Clairsentience: Ability to sense other's feelings or senses
62. Clairtangecy / Clairsensitivity: Ability to read energy from objects
63. Clairvoyance: Psychically see nonphysical realities
64. Cleromancy: Divination through casting stones, bones or dice
65. Crystallomancy: Seeing the future through a crystal ball
66. Deja vu: Sensing events have already happened
67. Demonomancy: Summoning demons to answer questions
68. Divination: Using gifts to obtain answers
69. Dowsing: Using an instrument to locate water, metals or other things underground
70. Dream Interpretation: Interpreting the meaning of dreams
71. Empathy: Sensing other's feelings, illnesses, sensations, knowledge and more
72. Exorcism: releasing of negative entities
73. Feng Shui: Manipulating the environment to bring about certain outcomes
74. Gyromancy: Divination by perimeters with an alphabet (ouija board)
75. Healing: Creating more wholeness within another
76. Horoscopy: Astrology
77. Hydromancy: Divination through observing water
78. Hypnosis: Creation of a trance state for healing or answers
79. I Ching: Ancient Chinese form of divination
80. Intuition: Catch all term for managed use of psychic abilities
81. Levitation: Floating the body or objects
82. Libanomancy: Interpreting shapes in smoke
83. Mediumship: Serving as a conduit for other worldly beings
84. Megagnomy: Ability to use an ability during a hypnotic state
85. Oculomancy: Divination through looking into eyes
86. Past-Life Regression: Using a meditative state to explore past lives
87. Precognition: Ability to foretell the future
88. Prophecy: Knowledge of divine will
89. Psychometry: Gaining knowledge through touching objects
90. Pyrokenisis: Sparking fire with the mind
91. Scrying: Using an object to see psychically
92. Tarot Reading: Use of tarot cards to prophesize
93. Tasseography: Reading tea leaves or coffee grains
94. Telekenesis: Moving objects without touching them
95. Telepathy: Hearing mind to mind information
96. Transfiguration: Superimposition of a face on a medium
97. Voodoo: Practices from the Voodoo religion
98. Xenoglossy: Speaking a language that is not one's own

Ending Thoughts
Siddhis are a tall claim, especially the ones that are bigger than life - defy aging or even death. Why? Because all these sages, yogis and ascendant masters aged and died. Are siddhis real? From a personal perspective, yes, they do exist to a point where they are still within human range - increased articulation, clearer-faster-sharper-expansive thinking, resilience to disease, delayed aging, increased strength, synchronicities, exorcising your demons, etc. These enhancements come with deepened practice. But I haven't met anyone with superhuman abilities. Even if there are those who possess these magical gifts, I don't think they'd like to come out in the open. For one thing, it diverts their practice because public adulation will be intoxicating. Secondly, people regard them as not-normal - they lose their boy-next-door accessibility. People will hound them for whatever needs they have.

Personally, I toyed with the idea of having these supernatural gifts. But what would I do with them? If I had the ability to reverse Çovid, would I? Perhaps not. I see these things as karmic episodes that need to happen for a purpose beyond my limited comprehension. Who am I to get in the way?

Candidly though, if I do develop a siddhi, I would like it to be an animadi (to be infinitely small) so I can take the size of a photon. Another siddhi I'd like is prapti (traveling at the speed of thought) so I can travel at the speed of light, like that of a photon. This is my burning desire. Why? Because photons are quantum-sized particles traveling at the speed of light. It's not so much the speed per se, but how time and space warp at that speed. Time slows down (time dilation) as you near the speed of light. But at the speed of light, time itself stops - you are not leaving the past behind and you are not approaching the future. Both past and future are contained in the present. Science claims that all 3 elements of time are a singularity. But our minds cannot comprehend that because we experience time as linear - leaving the past, experiencing the present and heading into the future. But as a photon, you actually experience the singularity of time. I find this more fascinating than walking on water. And if I ever develop that siddhi, my lips will be sealed.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

Sources

1. Siddhi: An Essay on Yogic Power - a short documentary/essay on the subject of Siddhi in the The Yoga-Sūtra of Patañjali by Georgi Krastev
2. The Secret Natural Abililties of Man - by likeanangel

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