Post by Rishi on Nov 25, 2008 3:36:19 GMT 12
Siddhi (pronounced 'sid-dhee') is a Sanskrit term that refers to a spiritual/psychic ability; its literal English translation is 'a perfection'. They are attainable through yogic processes (among various other methods). Siddhis are originally a Vedic/Hindu concept but are also mentioned in Tantric Buddhism. These spiritual abilities apparently vary from relatively simple forms of clairvoyance to being able to levitate, to be simultaneously present at various places at once, to become as small as an atom, to materialise objects, to have access to memories from past lives and more. The term became known in the West largely through the work of H.P. Blavatsky.
There are numerous perspectives regarding the attainment of siddhis. One school of thought states that siddhis are inherent in EVERY human, but the overwhelmingly VAST majority of the human population never learns how to use and control most siddhis and thus most siddhis remain latent. It is also commonly believed by many that the focus of one's attention should NOT be placed solely on attaining siddhis, as such an endeavour only results in keeping that soul mired to samsara (ie. the cycle of repetitive birth and death of the physical body) due to increased worldliness. However, some perspectives hold that each siddhi SHOULD be pursued because it will assist one in understanding the inexhaustible potency of God.
Siddhis can occur in two ways: naturally or as a result of extended practice of austerities (tapasya in Sanskrit). They are often mentioned in conjunction with riddhi (plural form: riddhis), which means material or worldly wealth, power, luxurious lifestyles, etc. There are supposedly innumerable siddhis and I have read on a site somewhere (can't find the link at the moment) that even the manifestation of a dream is considered a siddhi, and thus, virtually ALL humans on Earth can say that they have utilised a siddhi (though considered by many to be a relatively minor one). I have also heard that there are many siddhis which could be considered 'minor' or 'trivial' (in the sense that they seem to have NO relevance to one's life and to how they can be used for personal benefit and gain) such as never having to blink one's eyes and being able to breathe in space. However, in Hinduism, there are eight major siddhis (known as the 'Ashta Siddhis') that are recognised and they are as follows:
Anima (pronounced 'un-nee-mah') Siddhi: This is the power which one possesses to become as small as an atom (or even smaller), to identify himself/herself with the smallest part of our universe, knowing the self in an atom to be one with himself/herself. This is due to the fact that the anima mundi, or soul of the world, is universally spread throughout all aspects of life. Through this siddhi one may change the density in one's body, enabling one to pass through solid matter.
Mahima (pronounced 'mah-hee-mah') Siddhi: This siddhi allows one to increase the size of their body or, as some claim, only the extent of their bodily awareness (as opposed to decreasing it) from its original size to gargantuan proportions, ultimately reaching a size that envelopes this entire universe.
Garima (pronounced 'gur-ree-mah') Siddhi: This siddhi involves increasing the weight of one's body. The body can become as heavy as a mountain (or even heavier) by swallowing draughts of air. The force of gravity is clearly manipulated through the use of this siddhi.
Laghima (pronounced 'lug-hee-mah') Siddhi: This siddhi involves decreasing the weight of one's body, even to the point that his/her body becomes completely weightless. Laghima, in this context, involves the control of the effect of Earth's attraction on a person's body by developing in each cell the opposite (centrifugal) tendency and is said to be implemented for the performed act of levitation. It enables one to defy the force of gravity and thus fly at will. It also enables one to move at an 'extreme speed'.
Prapti (pronounced 'prup-tee') Siddhi: Through utilising this siddhi, one may have unrestricted access to ALL locations (in ANY universe/dimension/plane). Some ancient Sanskrit writings describe this siddhi as allowing one to 'touch the moon from Earth with his finger', but that statement is not meant to be taken literally. It does not mean that one physically stretches his/her hand from where they are on Earth all the way to the surface of the moon. It is a metaphoric statement worded in a poetic manner to describe that this siddhi can enable one's body to manifest wherever he/she pleases through the warping of space (a form of teleportation), even to multiple locations at exactly the same time.
Prakamya (pronounced 'pra-cum-yah') Siddhi: This siddhi allows one to materialise whatever object he/she desires. Some people also consider that this siddhi can be applied to enable one's soul to enter into any physical body he/she chooses (whether that body is alive or not) and can also be used to maintain a youthful appearance for as long as one pleases.
Isitva (pronounced 'eh-sit-vah') Siddhi: This is considered to be one of the greatest siddhis. It enables dominion over the laws of nature and overlaps with many of the previous siddhis I have mentioned, meaning that the mastery of many of the previous siddhis are required as a prerequisite for the mastery of this particular siddhi. One of the applications of this siddhi is to make one's soul depart from their body (ie. 'die') at their will, enabling one to be physically alive for any length of time he/she chooses.
Vasitva (pronounced 'vah-sit-vah') Siddhi: This siddhi involves the ability to subjugate any and/or all beings. They are mesmerised by one's exercise of will to be made obedient to one's own wishes and orders. Like the previous siddhi I mentioned, this siddhi is considered to be one of the highest of the eight that have been mentioned so far and requires the mastery of many other siddhis.
The first four siddhis are considered to be 'lesser' siddhis as they generally manifest themselves on a purely physical level, whilst the remaining four do not always do so. I have been told by a close friend of mine that to attain (or realise) a siddhi, three qualities are ESSENTIAL... and they are faith, determination and patience. Unfortunately, it has also been said by many people that due to the influence of Kali Yuga (occasionally referred to as 'the age of quarrel and hypocrisy', the age we are currently said to be in), most human minds AND bodies are BOTH nowhere NEAR fit enough to successfully undergo the EXTREMELY severe austerities required to attain siddhis nor do most humans have enough intensity of faith, determination and patience (if one chooses to attain siddhis through efforts of meditation). There is considered to be a SUPREME siddhi (parasiddhi) and this siddhi is realising one's true, eternal Self.
ANYWAY, I WANT LAGHIMA SIDDHI DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!
There are numerous perspectives regarding the attainment of siddhis. One school of thought states that siddhis are inherent in EVERY human, but the overwhelmingly VAST majority of the human population never learns how to use and control most siddhis and thus most siddhis remain latent. It is also commonly believed by many that the focus of one's attention should NOT be placed solely on attaining siddhis, as such an endeavour only results in keeping that soul mired to samsara (ie. the cycle of repetitive birth and death of the physical body) due to increased worldliness. However, some perspectives hold that each siddhi SHOULD be pursued because it will assist one in understanding the inexhaustible potency of God.
Siddhis can occur in two ways: naturally or as a result of extended practice of austerities (tapasya in Sanskrit). They are often mentioned in conjunction with riddhi (plural form: riddhis), which means material or worldly wealth, power, luxurious lifestyles, etc. There are supposedly innumerable siddhis and I have read on a site somewhere (can't find the link at the moment) that even the manifestation of a dream is considered a siddhi, and thus, virtually ALL humans on Earth can say that they have utilised a siddhi (though considered by many to be a relatively minor one). I have also heard that there are many siddhis which could be considered 'minor' or 'trivial' (in the sense that they seem to have NO relevance to one's life and to how they can be used for personal benefit and gain) such as never having to blink one's eyes and being able to breathe in space. However, in Hinduism, there are eight major siddhis (known as the 'Ashta Siddhis') that are recognised and they are as follows:
Anima (pronounced 'un-nee-mah') Siddhi: This is the power which one possesses to become as small as an atom (or even smaller), to identify himself/herself with the smallest part of our universe, knowing the self in an atom to be one with himself/herself. This is due to the fact that the anima mundi, or soul of the world, is universally spread throughout all aspects of life. Through this siddhi one may change the density in one's body, enabling one to pass through solid matter.
Mahima (pronounced 'mah-hee-mah') Siddhi: This siddhi allows one to increase the size of their body or, as some claim, only the extent of their bodily awareness (as opposed to decreasing it) from its original size to gargantuan proportions, ultimately reaching a size that envelopes this entire universe.
Garima (pronounced 'gur-ree-mah') Siddhi: This siddhi involves increasing the weight of one's body. The body can become as heavy as a mountain (or even heavier) by swallowing draughts of air. The force of gravity is clearly manipulated through the use of this siddhi.
Laghima (pronounced 'lug-hee-mah') Siddhi: This siddhi involves decreasing the weight of one's body, even to the point that his/her body becomes completely weightless. Laghima, in this context, involves the control of the effect of Earth's attraction on a person's body by developing in each cell the opposite (centrifugal) tendency and is said to be implemented for the performed act of levitation. It enables one to defy the force of gravity and thus fly at will. It also enables one to move at an 'extreme speed'.
Prapti (pronounced 'prup-tee') Siddhi: Through utilising this siddhi, one may have unrestricted access to ALL locations (in ANY universe/dimension/plane). Some ancient Sanskrit writings describe this siddhi as allowing one to 'touch the moon from Earth with his finger', but that statement is not meant to be taken literally. It does not mean that one physically stretches his/her hand from where they are on Earth all the way to the surface of the moon. It is a metaphoric statement worded in a poetic manner to describe that this siddhi can enable one's body to manifest wherever he/she pleases through the warping of space (a form of teleportation), even to multiple locations at exactly the same time.
Prakamya (pronounced 'pra-cum-yah') Siddhi: This siddhi allows one to materialise whatever object he/she desires. Some people also consider that this siddhi can be applied to enable one's soul to enter into any physical body he/she chooses (whether that body is alive or not) and can also be used to maintain a youthful appearance for as long as one pleases.
Isitva (pronounced 'eh-sit-vah') Siddhi: This is considered to be one of the greatest siddhis. It enables dominion over the laws of nature and overlaps with many of the previous siddhis I have mentioned, meaning that the mastery of many of the previous siddhis are required as a prerequisite for the mastery of this particular siddhi. One of the applications of this siddhi is to make one's soul depart from their body (ie. 'die') at their will, enabling one to be physically alive for any length of time he/she chooses.
Vasitva (pronounced 'vah-sit-vah') Siddhi: This siddhi involves the ability to subjugate any and/or all beings. They are mesmerised by one's exercise of will to be made obedient to one's own wishes and orders. Like the previous siddhi I mentioned, this siddhi is considered to be one of the highest of the eight that have been mentioned so far and requires the mastery of many other siddhis.
The first four siddhis are considered to be 'lesser' siddhis as they generally manifest themselves on a purely physical level, whilst the remaining four do not always do so. I have been told by a close friend of mine that to attain (or realise) a siddhi, three qualities are ESSENTIAL... and they are faith, determination and patience. Unfortunately, it has also been said by many people that due to the influence of Kali Yuga (occasionally referred to as 'the age of quarrel and hypocrisy', the age we are currently said to be in), most human minds AND bodies are BOTH nowhere NEAR fit enough to successfully undergo the EXTREMELY severe austerities required to attain siddhis nor do most humans have enough intensity of faith, determination and patience (if one chooses to attain siddhis through efforts of meditation). There is considered to be a SUPREME siddhi (parasiddhi) and this siddhi is realising one's true, eternal Self.
ANYWAY, I WANT LAGHIMA SIDDHI DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!
