Changes

vāyustambhaṃ kṣutpipāsānidrāstambhanameva ca | kāyavyūhaṃ ca vāksiddhiṃ mṛtānayanamaupsitam || 36 ||

vāyustambhaṃ kṣutpipāsānidrāstambhanameva ca | kāyavyūhaṃ ca vāksiddhiṃ mṛtānayanamaupsitam || 36 ||

sṛṣṭīnāṃ karaṇaṃ caiva prāṇākarṣaṇameva ca |</blockquote>O! Nanda, hear from me and receive the siddhamantra. The names of the siddhis are Anima (अणिमा), Laghima (लघिमा), Prapti (प्राप्तिः), Prakamya (प्राकाम्यं), Mahima (महिमा), Isitva (ईशित्वं), Vasitva (वशित्वं), Kamavasayita (कामावसायिता), Dura-sravana (दूरश्रवणम्), Parakaya-pravesa (परकायप्रवेशनम्), Manoyayitva (मनोयायित्वम्), Sarvajnatva (सर्वज्ञत्वम्), Agnistambhana (वह्निस्तम्भं), Jalastambhana (जलस्तम्भं), Chiranjivitva (चिरंजीवित्वम्), Vayustambha (वायुस्तम्भं), controlling of hunger, thirst and sleep (क्षुत्पिपासानिद्रास्तम्भन), Kayavyuham, Vaksiddhi (वाक्सिद्धि), bringing alive the dead (मृतानयनम्), Srishti the creation (सृष्टीनां करणं), Attracting one's prana or lifeforce (प्राणाकर्षण).<ref>Nagar, Shanti Lal. ''trans. Brahmavaivarta Purana, Sanskrit Text with English Translation. Vol. 2.'' Delhi: Parimal Publications (Pages 508-509) </ref>  

sṛṣṭīnāṃ karaṇaṃ caiva prāṇākarṣaṇameva ca |</blockquote>O! Nanda, hear from me and receive the siddhamantra. The names of the siddhis are Anima (अणिमा), Laghima (लघिमा), Prapti (प्राप्तिः), Prakamya (प्राकाम्यं), Mahima (महिमा), Isitva (ईशित्वं), Vasitva (वशित्वं), Kamavasayita (कामावसायिता), Dura-sravana (दूरश्रवणम्), Parakaya-pravesa (परकायप्रवेशनम्), Manoyayitva (मनोयायित्वम्), Sarvajnatva (सर्वज्ञत्वम्), Agnistambhana (वह्निस्तम्भं), Jalastambhana (जलस्तम्भं), Chiranjivitva (चिरंजीवित्वम्), Vayustambha (वायुस्तम्भं), controlling of hunger, thirst and sleep (क्षुत्पिपासानिद्रास्तम्भन), Kayavyuham, Vaksiddhi (वाक्सिद्धि), bringing alive the dead (मृतानयनम्), Srishti the creation (सृष्टीनां करणं), Attracting one's prana or lifeforce (प्राणाकर्षण).<ref>Nagar, Shanti Lal. ''trans. Brahmavaivarta Purana, Sanskrit Text with English Translation. Vol. 2.'' Delhi: Parimal Publications (Pages 508-509) </ref>

In Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Srikrishna mentions that there are eighteen siddhis, eight of which are primary and ten which are secondary.<ref name=":1">Srimad Bhagavatam ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AB Skanda 11 Adhyaya 15])</ref><ref name=":2">Goswami, C. L. and Sastri, M. A. (1997) trans. ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana (English) Parts 1&2.'' Gorakhpur: Gita Press (Pages 580-583)</ref><blockquote>सिद्धयोऽष्टादश प्रोक्ता धारणा योगपारगैः। तासामष्टौ मत्प्रधाना दशैव गुणहेतवः ३।   

In Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Srikrishna mentions that there are eighteen siddhis, eight of which are primary and ten which are secondary.<ref name=":1">Srimad Bhagavatam ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AB Skanda 11 Adhyaya 15])</ref><ref name=":2">Goswami, C. L. and Sastri, M. A. (1997) trans. ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana (English) Parts 1&2.'' Gorakhpur: Gita Press (Pages 580-583)</ref><blockquote>सिद्धयोऽष्टादश प्रोक्ता धारणा योगपारगैः। तासामष्टौ मत्प्रधाना दशैव गुणहेतवः ३।   

etāścoddeśataḥ proktā yogadhāraṇasiddhayaḥ|</blockquote>The other ten Siddhis<ref name=":2" /> are:—1-absence of hunger and thirst, old age etc., in this (very) body (अनूर्मिमत्त्वं देहे); 2 & 3-the capacity to see and hear from an unusual distance (दूरश्रवणदर्शनम्): 4-locomotion at a speed which can be increased according to one’s will (मनोजवः); 5-taking any form at will (कामरूपं); 6-(leaving one’s own body and) entering any other (untenanted) body; (परकायप्रवेशनम्) 7-giving up the body at will (स्वच्छन्दमृत्यु); 8-participation in the pastimes of devatas (with the Apsaras or celestial nymphs) (देवानां सहक्रीडानुदर्शनम्); 9-attainment of one's desired ends (यथासङ्कल्पसंसिद्धि); and 10-exercising authority unobstructed everywhere (आज्ञाप्रतिहता गतिः). The minor Siddhis (hinted at in verse 3 above) are:—to know things relating to the past, present and future (त्रिकालज्ञत्वम्); to remain unaffected by pairs of opposites (like heat and cold, joy and sorrow, likes and dislikes, etc.) (अद्वन्द्वं); to read others' mind etc (परचित्ताद्यभिज्ञता); to neutralize the power of fire, the sun, water and poison etc., (अग्न्यर्काम्बुविषादीनां प्रतिष्टम्भो) and to suffer no defeat at the hands of anyone whosoever (अपराजयः). These are the Siddhis following from Yogic concentration.<ref name=":2" />  

etāścoddeśataḥ proktā yogadhāraṇasiddhayaḥ|</blockquote>The other ten Siddhis<ref name=":2" /> are:—1-absence of hunger and thirst, old age etc., in this (very) body (अनूर्मिमत्त्वं देहे); 2 & 3-the capacity to see and hear from an unusual distance (दूरश्रवणदर्शनम्): 4-locomotion at a speed which can be increased according to one’s will (मनोजवः); 5-taking any form at will (कामरूपं); 6-(leaving one’s own body and) entering any other (untenanted) body; (परकायप्रवेशनम्) 7-giving up the body at will (स्वच्छन्दमृत्यु); 8-participation in the pastimes of devatas (with the Apsaras or celestial nymphs) (देवानां सहक्रीडानुदर्शनम्); 9-attainment of one's desired ends (यथासङ्कल्पसंसिद्धि); and 10-exercising authority unobstructed everywhere (आज्ञाप्रतिहता गतिः). The minor Siddhis (hinted at in verse 3 above) are:—to know things relating to the past, present and future (त्रिकालज्ञत्वम्); to remain unaffected by pairs of opposites (like heat and cold, joy and sorrow, likes and dislikes, etc.) (अद्वन्द्वं); to read others' mind etc (परचित्ताद्यभिज्ञता); to neutralize the power of fire, the sun, water and poison etc., (अग्न्यर्काम्बुविषादीनां प्रतिष्टम्भो) and to suffer no defeat at the hands of anyone whosoever (अपराजयः). These are the Siddhis following from Yogic concentration.<ref name=":2" />  

Scholars<ref name=":3">Sen, Rajendra Nath. (1922) ''trans''. ''Brahma Vaivarta Puranam, Ganesa and Krisna Janma Khandas''. Allahabad: The Panini Office. (Page 391)</ref> hold that more than eight siddhis are present, but eight of them are significant. Vayupurana<ref>Vayupurana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A9 Purvardha Adhyaya 13])</ref> also contains a detailed description of siddhis or aishvaryas.   

Scholars<ref name=":3">Sen, Rajendra Nath. (1922) ''trans''. ''Brahma Vaivarta Puranam, Ganesa and Krisna Janma Khandas''. Allahabad: The Panini Office. (Page 391)</ref> hold that more than eight siddhis are present, yet eight of them are highly significant and aid in Yogasadhana. A few other Puranic references include 

 

# Vayupurana (Purvardha 13.3-4) <ref>Vayupurana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A9 Purvardha Adhyaya 13])</ref>.   

 

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

!S.No

!S.No

|Mahima (महिमा)

|Mahima (महिमा)

|power of increasing the size at will

|power of increasing the size at will

|Pratpti

|Pratpti (प्राप्तिः)

|-

|-

|6

|6

|Pipasa (पिपासा स्तम्भन)

|Pipasa (पिपासा स्तम्भन)

|Control of thirst

|Control of thirst

|Agni-arka-ambu-vishaadinam pratisthambana (अग्न्यर्काम्बुविषादीनां प्रतिष्टम्भो)  

|Agni-arka-ambu-vishaadinam pratisthambana (अग्न्यर्काम्बुविषादीनां प्रतिष्टम्भो)

|-

|-

|20

|20

== Eight Siddhis ==

== Eight Siddhis ==

According to Yoga philosophy, the Yogis attain various siddhis  or Vibhutis by the practice of the path of Yoga. These powers are mainly of eight types and hence called Ashtasiddhi or Ashta Aisvarya:

According to Yoga philosophy, the Yogis attain various siddhis  or Vibhutis by the practice of the path of Yoga. These powers are mainly of eight types and hence called Ashtasiddhi or Ashta Aisvarya. 

# '''अणिमा ॥ aṇimā'''- This is the power of a yogi to become small like atom and so to disappear.

# '''अणिमा ॥ aṇimā'''- सूक्ष्मात्सूक्ष्मत्वमणिमा ।sūkṣmātsūkṣmatvamaṇimā.<ref name=":4" /> This is the power of a yogi to become small like atom and so to disappear.

# '''महिमा ॥ mahimā'''-This is the ability to make the size of the body extremely large like mountains.

# '''महिमा ॥ mahimā'''- This is the ability to make the size of the body extremely large like mountains.

# '''गरिमा ॥ garimā'''- Ability to make the body extremely heavy.

# '''गरिमा ॥ garimā'''- । Ability to make the body extremely heavy.

# '''लघिमा ॥ laghimā'''- This is the power to become light as cotton and drift away.

# '''लघिमा ॥ laghimā'''- This is the power to become light as cotton and drift away.

# '''प्राप्तिः ॥ prāptiḥ'''- This is the power to secure or reach or touch the most distant things.

# '''प्राप्तिः ॥ prāptiḥ'''- This is the power to secure or reach or touch the most distant things.

# '''प्राकाम्यम् ॥ prākāmyam'''-This is the power by which all the impediments in the will removed and by which all the living beings can be conquered.

# '''प्राकाम्यम् ॥ prākāmyam'''- प्राकाम्यमस्य व्यापित्वाद। prākāmyamasya vyāpitvād.<ref name=":4" /> This is the power by which all the impediments in the will removed and by which all the living beings can be conquered.

# '''ईशित्वम् ॥ īśitvam'''- This is the power by which one attains absolute mastery/authority on all creatures and physical objects.

# '''ईशित्वम् ॥ īśitvam'''- । This is the power by which one attains absolute mastery/authority on all creatures and physical objects.

# '''वशित्वम् ॥ vaśitvam'''- This is the power by which all the desires are fulfilled, one has control over the elements and beings; have the ability to create, rearrange or dissolve them.

# '''वशित्वम् ॥ vaśitvam'''- । This is the power by which all the desires are fulfilled, one has control over the elements and beings; have the ability to create, rearrange or dissolve them.

The above mentioned eight siddhis can be used according to the wish of the Yogi. But in the Yoga philosophy the pursuance of the path of the Yoga for the attainment of these powers has been vehemently decried because that results in misleading the aspirant from the path of Yoga. The ultimate end of the Yoga is not the attainment of these powers, but the realisation of Moksa. Thus, Yoga is a combination of practical physical development and discipline with a mystical objective which is its ultimate purpose. This co-ordination of a system of thought with a program of daily life exercises is based on physiological psychology as well as religious philosophy.  

The above mentioned eight siddhis can be used according to the wish of the Yogi. But in the Yoga philosophy the pursuance of the path of the Yoga for the attainment of these powers has been vehemently decried because that results in misleading the aspirant from the path of Yoga. The ultimate end of the Yoga is not the attainment of these powers, but the realisation of Moksa. Thus, Yoga is a combination of practical physical development and discipline with a mystical objective which is its ultimate purpose. This co-ordination of a system of thought with a program of daily life exercises is based on physiological psychology as well as religious philosophy.  

=== अणिमा ॥ Aṇimā ===

=== अणिमा ॥ Aṇimā ===

The first siddhi among the eight siddhis is Anima, which means the power to make one's body as subtle as an atom. Just as we cannot see an atom with our naked eyes, similarly, after attaining Anima siddhi, no person can see the one who has attained the siddhi. The practitioner is capable of assuming a subtle body equal to an atom whenever he wants.  

The first siddhi among the eight siddhis is Anima, which means the power to make one's body as subtle as an atom (सूक्ष्मतत्त्वप्राप्तिः). Just as we cannot see an atom with our naked eyes, similarly, after attaining Anima siddhi, no person can see the one who has attained the siddhi. The practitioner is capable of assuming a subtle body equal to an atom whenever he wants.  

'''Examples'''

'''Examples'''

- Indra enters the womb of Diti assuming the minute form.

- Indra enters the womb of Diti assuming the minute form.

- Valmiki Ramayana narrates the animasiddhi of Hanuman, where he assumes a small body to hide in the trees and listen to the conversation between Sita and Ravana.

- Valmiki Ramayana, in SundaraKanda narrates how Hanuman exhibited the animasiddhi, where he assumes a small body to hide in the trees and listen to the conversation between Sita and Ravana.

=== महिमा ॥ Mahimā ===

=== महिमा ॥ Mahimā ===

Mahima is the siddhi just opposite to Anima. The practitioner is capable of making his body unlimitedly huge whenever he wants. He can stretch his body to any extent by mere thought.  

Mahima is the siddhi just opposite to Anima. The practitioner is capable of making his body unlimitedly huge (महत्तत्त्वप्राप्तिः) whenever he wants. He can stretch his body to any extent by mere thought.  

'''Examples''' - Hanuman expands his body to a huge form to avoid entering the mouth of Surasa while crossing the ocean. Surasa also uses this siddhi to make her body huge. In Vaamana avatar Lord Vishnu increased his form which was so gigantic that it only took him three steps to cover all three worlds

'''Examples''' -  

 

- In Ramayana, Hanuman expands his body to a huge form to avoid entering the mouth of Surasa while crossing the ocean. Surasa also uses this siddhi to make her body huge.  

 

- In Vaamana avatar Lord Vishnu increased his form which was so gigantic that it only took him three steps to cover all three worlds.

=== गरिमा ॥ Garimā ===

=== गरिमा ॥ Garimā ===

After attaining this siddhi, the practitioner can increase the weight of his body in an unlimited manner. The size of the practitioner remains limited, but the weight of his body increases so much that no power can move him.

After attaining this siddhi, the practitioner can increase the weight of his body (गुरुत्वप्राप्तिः) in an unlimited manner. The size of the practitioner remains limited, but the weight of his body increases so much that no power can move him.

'''Examples'''

'''Examples'''

- Srikrishna displays this siddhi as he increases the weight of his body when he is carried up in the sky by asura Trinavarta, as per Srimad Bhagavatam (10.7.26).  

- Srikrishna displays this siddhi as he increases the weight of his body when he is carried up in the sky by asura Trinavarta, as per Srimad Bhagavatam (10.7.26).  

- Hanuman made his tail very heavy that Bhima couldn't lift it. Bhima on his way to Gandha-Mardana mountains to get Saugandhika flowers for Draupadi was stopped by a monkey whose tail was on the way. Angered, Bhima orders the monkey to take the tail off the road, the monkey being old tells him to move it himself, but Bhima could not lift it.

- In Mahabharata, we see the story of Hanuman and Bhima, where Hanuman made his tail very heavy that Bhima couldn't lift it. Bhima on his way to Gandha-Mardana mountains to get Saugandhika flowers for Draupadi was stopped by a monkey whose tail was on the way. Angered, Bhima orders the monkey to take the tail off the road, the monkey being old tells him to move it himself, but Bhima could not lift it.

=== लघिमा ॥ Laghimā ===

=== लघिमा ॥ Laghimā ===

The practitioner's body can become so light that he can fly faster than the wind. The weight of his body becomes almost negligible. Levitation practiced by some tantric yogis is a form of this siddhi.

The practitioner's body can become so light (लाघवप्राप्तिः) that he can fly faster than the wind. The weight of his body becomes almost negligible. Levitation practiced by some tantric yogis is a form of this siddhi.

'''Examples'''

'''Examples'''

=== प्राप्तिः ॥ Prāptiḥ ===

=== प्राप्तिः ॥ Prāptiḥ ===

A practitioner can go anywhere, to any place without any hindrance. As per wish, by becoming invisible in front of other people, one can reach whichever place one wants without anyone seeing them. The touch of an object situated far away by a person on earth with his hand is also 'Prapti'.

A practitioner can go anywhere (सर्वत्रगम्यता), to any place without any hindrance. As per wish, by becoming invisible in front of other people, one can reach whichever place one wants without anyone seeing them. The touch of an object situated far away by a person on earth with his hand is also 'Prapti'.

 

Example - Like SriKrishna covered the Sun situated at a distance of one crore yojanas with his Sudarshan Chakra while being on the ground at the time of killing of Jayadratha.

- Like SriKrishna covered the Sun situated at a distance of one crore yojanas with his Sudarshan Chakra while being on the ground at the time of killing of Jayadratha.

=== प्राकाम्यम् ॥ Prākāmyam ===

=== प्राकाम्यम् ॥ Prākāmyam ===

A practitioner can understand what is in someone's mind or thoughts very easily, whether the person in front expresses his mind or not. Similarly, being immersed in the earth similar to being in water without being cleaned, entering a rock etc., also indicate prakamya siddhi.  

A practitioner can understand what is in someone's mind or thoughts very easily, whether the person in front expresses his mind or not. Similarly, he can realize all his desires (इच्छितप्राप्तिः). Being immersed in the earth similar to being in water without being cleaned, entering a rock etc., also indicate prakamya siddhi.  

 

Example - Krishna came into Dwaraka using this siddhi when he was blocked by Jarasandha's soldiers on the Raivataka mountain near Dwaraka.  

- Krishna came into Dwaraka using this siddhi when he was blocked by Jarasandha's soldiers on the Raivataka mountain near Dwaraka.

 

- Janaka is known to have acquired Prakamya siddhi as per Ramayana and Yogavasishta.  

=== ईशित्वम् ॥ Iśitvam ===

=== ईशित्वम् ॥ Iśitvam ===

It is the ability to have complete authority over every object and creature thereby the siddhi is accomplished in others just as like oneself.   

It is the ability to have complete authority (ईशतत्त्वप्राप्तिः) over every object and creature (including deities) thereby the siddhi is accomplished in others just as like oneself.   

Example -

'''Example''' 

 

- In Balakanda of Ramayana, the story of Vishvamitra is narrated where Vishvamitra uses Ishitva siddhi when he attempts to create a new world for Trishanku. 

=== वशित्वम् ॥ Vaśitvam ===

=== वशित्वम् ॥ Vaśitvam ===

It is the ability to control every creature, especially the physical manifestation made up of five elements.

It is the ability to control every object (वशीकरणम्) and creature, especially the physical manifestation made up of five elements.

 

 

- Vasishta demonstrated Vashitvasiddhi, in pacifying the enraged Kaushika (or Visvamitra) as given in Balakanda of Ramayana.

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Yoga]]

[[Category:Yoga]]