Siddhis
We live in the modern world that is backed by science and technology. Since
childhood we all are taught to test or look for some proof about various things
in our life. For doing so we apply various ways ranging from experience to
laboratory tests. We tend to believe the things that are tested by modern
science and tend to reject the things which are not proved or discovered by the
science. Indian Yogis possessed many psychic or spiritual powers which are
called as Siddhis. In the modern world many people discard the concept of
Siddhis because modern science has not proved their existence. Doing so is a
sign of narrow mindedness as per my opinion. This article is not an attempt
to start a debate whether Siddhis really exist or not but to share some
interesting information about them.
What are Siddhis?
Siddhis are psychic or spiritual powers that one attains because of Yoga,
Meditation, Spiritual Practices or Medicines. There are eight
AshtaMahaSiddhis or Eight Great Powers. Further there are ten Upasiddhis
or Sub Powers. There are also five Sudrasiddhis or Minor Powers.
Classification of Siddhis
Let's see Ashtamahasiddhis first:
- Anima: This power allows you to shrink your body as small as an
atom. You can pass through anything easily. You can also assume the nature
of animals, insects or even microcosms (in short anything smaller than you).
In Ramayana there is a story of Hanuman who burnt Lanka. He
used this power to shrink his body and escape through the palace.
- Mahima: This power allows you to expand your body as big as you
want. Shri Krishna demonstrated this power to Arjuna during
Vishwarupadarshan. Hanuman also possessed this power.
- Garima: This power allows you to become infinitely heavy at will.
In Mahabharata Hanuman used this power to teach a lesson to Bhima.
- Laghima: Through this power you can reduce your weight almost to
nil. You can then travel easily from one place to another along with the
wind.
- Prapti: Using this power you can obtain anything that you wish.
In ancient texts there are references of small amount of food being
distributed to thousands of people. It is possible because of this power.
- Prakashaya: This power allows you to fetch anything from any
distance to you. You can bring anything that is miles away from you. You can
also listen distant sounds.
- Ishita: This power allows you to know past, present and future.
You become like a god.
- Vashita: This is a very important power. Once you acquire this
power you can subjugate anything in this world. You can rule anybody.
Now let's see Upasiddhis:
- Anurmimatwa: Because of this power hunger, thrust, sorrow, lust,
disease and death can not touch you.
- Doorshravan: This power allows you to listen from distant places.
You also understand speech in any language.
- Doordarshan: Because of this power you can see anything from
anywhere.
- Manojawa: This power means astral traveling. You can travel to
any place anytime. Narada Muni possesed this power.
- Kamayukta: This power allows you to assume body of any creature.
- Parakaya Pravesh: Using this power you can enter any other body -
dead or live. Adi Shankaracharya and Mytsendranatha possessed
this power.
- Swatchanda Mritu: Using this power one can die at will.
Bhishma possessed this power and died as per his will.
- Surakrida: This power allows you to enjoy the company of gods.
- Sankalpasiddhi: This power allows you fulfill any wishes.
- Apratihat Ajna: Because of this power even gods obey your orders.
Finally, the five Sudrasiddhis are:
- Trikalajana: This power allows you to know the past, present and
future.
- Advandva: Because of this power you remain unaffected by
extremities such as good-bad, pleasure-sorrow, hot-cold and hard-soft.
- Parachittajana: Because of this power you can know what is going
on other's mind. You can also tell them about their dreams.
- Pratishtambha: Because of this power you can combat fire, poison,
ice cold water etc.
- Aparajaya: One who obtains this power can never be defeated.
There are many other lower Siddhis as well.
Are Siddhis real?
This is always a debatable issue. generally you will find two groups on this
issue. One says that Siddhis are false because modern science can not test them.
The other will blindly believe on them without any reasoning. I feel both the
groups are missing something. Instead of talking in general I would answer this
question for myself. Yes. I do believe in Siddhis. But wait...before you label
my belief as blind faith, let me tell you my reasoning behind it.
I simply disagree that Siddhis are false just because modern science
currently can not verify their claim. History shows that impossible things have become
easily possible over a period of time. Did stone age man ever believed that one
day he is going to use fancy gadgets such as pocket PCs? Did people believed
that steam can run a huge engine? Did people believed that they can talk with
others sitting thousands of miles away? No. But time proved all these beliefs
wrong. Science and technology made all these things possible. I look at Siddhis
from the same view. Today they are out of reach of modern science but possibly
one day they will be within our reach and then will not be called as Siddhis but
Scientific
Methods!
If somebody holds a piece of wood in front of you and tells you that this
piece consists of millions of atoms. Will you believe him? You will because you
believe that modern science has proved this already. Will you every time ask for
a proof? Certainly not. Will you call this a blind faith? Same things goes with Siddhis too. Ancient Indian Yogis mastered them, classified them and mentioned
about them in scriptures. They proved them thousands of years ago. Instead of
discarding their existence we should try re-inventing them.
Now let me ask few more questions. Do you believe that dinosaur existed on this
earth and look the way as illustrated in science museums? Do you believe that
man evolved from monkey? Do you believe that only earth has leaving beings?
Probably your answer is Yes. But don't you think it is blind faith? On what
basis your answer is yes? No body knows for sure (100% sure) whether answers to
the above questions is Yes or No. Scientists are still playing unending debate
on these questions. Then how can you believe them? If you can believe these
things then you should also be open to accept the possibility of existence of Siddhis.
The existence of Siddhis is mentioned in many ancient Yogic manuals. For
example, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras contain one entire chapter (third chapter out
of four) called Vibhuti Pada dedicated to Siddhis. Now see another funny
thing. Many so called scientific minded people wholeheartedly accept his
teachings from Chapter 1, 2 and 4 but they discard Chapter 3. Isn't this funny?
I can not call this attitude a scientific one. Why would an author like Patanjali, who has
presented the science of Raja Yoga in such a step-by-step and scientific manner, add
Siddhis if they are false? Just for fun? or just to put some
mystery so that his writing become interesting? I don't think so.
It seems that Siddhis were neatly classified in various levels. Why somebody
will do such neat classification for something which doesn't exists? Think over
it...
Even today there are examples of people seeing divine
light, hearing distant sounds, knowing future events etc. If you practice Yoga
regularly with all the specified rules and guidelines even you can get such
experiences. They may not be as powerful as the Siddhis but they do
indicate that things beyond the laws of nature can happen. Instead of
challenging them and inviting such a person in laboratory for testing why not follow Yoga
way and experience ourselves? I think that would be the healthier attitude.
So the bottom line is - Do not discard something just because current science
can not verify it. History shows that impossible becomes possible over a period
of time.
Are Siddhis important?
The answer to this question is Yes and No. Siddhis are important because they
can tell you your advancement in the practice. They make you realize that nature is
not a boundary to human life. Things beyond nature can be made possible with the
help of Yoga. This is a tremendous confidence booster. You then realize the true
potential of body, mind and soul.
Siddhis are bad if used in wrong way. Siddhis are like capacitors. If you
discharge them by wrong earthing they loose their power. Instead if the same power is
circulated correctly in the circuit it gives constructive results. There are
many stories of Babas possessing Siddhis who used them in wrong way. They
of course got fruits of their wrong deeds.
It is important to mention here that Patanjali Sutras do not say whether Siddhis
are good or bad. Siddhis can act as an obstacles to your progress if used
in wrong manner. So to me it depends on how you use them. If, for example, you
use Siddhi of astral traveling to attempt a robbery, it would be certainly a
wrong use of the power. On the other hand if you use the same Siddhi to
travel to your Guru residing in Himalian caves it would cause no harm.
Similarly if you possess Siddhi of healing others then why not use it for
selfless work?
Though Siddhis can be useful, they should not be considered as the final result of Yoga. They are just
bi-products of your practice. If you get them that's fine even otherwise you should
remain unaffected. To emphasis my point let me tell you a short story.
Once upon a time there used to be a monk residing in a forest. He used to
stay in his small Ashrama surrounded by beautiful trees and river. The
environment inside the Ashrama used to be calm, peaceful and
tranquilizing. Animals, birds, butterflies used to wander playfully inside his
Ashrama.
One day another monk came to the same forest. He built his Ashrama
just next to the existing one. This monk was having all sorts of supernatural
powers. He used to see the other monk every day. He started feeling jealous
about him and his Ashrama. He tried inviting animals, birds and
butterflies to his Ashrama as well but in vein. They used to run away
because of fear. He could never win their hearts.
One day he ordered all his Siddhis to assemble immediately (in ancient
days it was believed that each Siddhi has an associated goddess). All the
Siddhis were standing with their hands folded in front of him. He ordered
them - "Go and do something so that just like that monk those animals, birds and
butterflies will play in my premises. Make the same kind of peaceful environment
in my Ashrama too". The Siddhis politely replied - "We are extremely
sorry master but we do not have power to bring you the peace you want. We can
not also win the hearts of the animals, birds and butterflies for you. These
things are beyond our reach.". The monk thus realized his mistake and took
diksha from the newly found Guru.
The moral of the story is - Siddhis are not the destination. They are just a
bi-product of your practice. Do not crave for them. There is much more to life than Siddhis.
Ok. That's it for today. Keep reading.