What are the Ashta Siddhis?

Siddhi is a Sanskrit noun which can be translated as “perfection”, “accomplishment”, “attainment”, or “success”.

Siddhis (Sanskrit: सिद्धि siddhi; fulfillment, 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 rddhi (Pali: iddhi, “psychic powers”) is often used interchangeably in Buddhism.

In ancient Indian literature, there are many kinds of siddhis mentioned by various masters. Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras, Veda Vyasa in the Sreemad Bhagavatham, Ishvara Krishna in his Saankhyakaarika have all mentioned multiple siddhis.

The Visuddhimagga is one of the texts to give explicit details about how spiritual masters were thought to actually manifest supernormal abilities. It states that abilities such as flying through the air, walking through solid obstructions, diving into the ground, walking on water and so forth are achieved through changing one element, such as earth, into another element, such as air. The individual must master kasina meditation before this is possible. Dipa Ma, who trained via the Visuddhimagga, was said to demonstrate these abilities.There are total 18 siddhis but 8 are most famous, i.e Ashta Siddhis. Lord Hanuman mastered all the siddhis.

Ashta Siddhi Mantra

अणिमा महिमा चैव लघिमा गरिमा तथा |
प्राप्तिः प्राकाम्यमीशित्वं वशित्वं चाष्ट सिद्धयः ||

According to this shloka, Anima (‘अणिमा’), Mahima (‘महिमा’), Laghima (‘लघिमा’), Garima (‘गरिमा’), Prapti (‘प्राप्ति’), Prakramya (‘प्राकाम्य’), Ishitva (‘इशित्व’) and Vashitva (‘वशित्व’) are the eight siddhis, known as ‘Ashta Siddhi’.

Powers and Speciality of these Ashta Siddhis

Anima

The power of making a big material into small one. The siddhi, which was used by Pirungi Munivar to become a small bee, was Anima.

Mahima

The power of making a small material into big one. The siddhi, which was used by Lord Krishna to show his magnificent image comprised as the entire World, was Mahima.

Laghima

The power of marking heavy weight object as light object. The siddhi, which was used by Thirunavukarasar to float in the sea when he was tied in stone and thrown in the sea due to religious envy, was Laghima.

Garima

The power of making light object as heavy weight object. The siddhi, which was used by Amarneethi Naayanar when Lord Shiva came to get Naayanar’s loin-cloth, was Garima. Lord Shiva kept all the things together as he had to balance the weight of loin-cloth. Yet, it went in vain and finally He himself sat with his wife to balance the weight.

Prapti

The power of wandering everywhere without any obstacle. In ‘ellam valla Siththarana padalam’, part of Thiruvilaiyadal Purana, Lord Shiva appears in all four directions. That siddhi was Prapti.

Prakramya

The power of getting desired appearance. The siddhi, which was used by Avvaiyar to get elderly appearance replacing her younger appearance, was Prakramya.

Ishitva

The power of handling five things: creation, protection, destruction, concealment and showing grace. The siddhi, which was used by Thirugnana Sambandhar to give life to Poompavai, was Ishitva.

Vashitva

The power of hypnotizing celestials, humans, demons, animals, birds, reptiles and trees.

Om Namah Shivaya