Siddhis in Hinduism

Everyone’s excited about the new SUPERMAN movie … but did you know our own Sanatan Dharma has the concept of super-powers? Here’s the tea.

Introducing the “siddhis” - which means powers that you can actually obtain by doing years of deep spiritual practice, meditation & rigorous tapas - our rishis & sadhus of the vedic times achieved them very often as they were more focused in their spiritual pursuits than we are today because of all our distractions.

We have 8 main siddhis from sources like Patanjali’s Yogasutras:

1. Anima (अणिमा): The ability to reduce one's body size to the atomic level, becoming invisible or minuscule.

2. Mahima (महिमा): The power to expand one’s body to an immense size.

3. Garima (गरिमा): The ability to increase one’s body weight infinitely, making it immovable.

4. Laghima (लघिमा): The power to become extremely light, as light as a feather, allowing one to float or levitate.

5. Prapti (प्राप्ति): The ability to attain or reach anything anywhere, such as obtaining distant objects or touching the sky.

6. Prakamya (प्राकाम्य): The ability to fulfill any desire, including entering another body.

7. Ishita (ईशिता): The power of absolute supremacy, enabling control over nature and others.

8. Vashita (वशिता): The power to subjugate all beings, including animals and humans.

And further than that, we have 10 secondary ones listed in Vaishnavism, along with many other minor ones.

1. Dooradarshana: Clairvoyance or the ability to see events or objects at a distance.

2. Doorashravana: Clairaudience or the ability to hear sounds from far away.

3. Parakayapravesha: Entering another person’s body or consciousness.

4. Svachanda Mrityu: The power to choose the time and circumstances of one’s death.

5. Kama Rupa: The ability to take any form or shape at will.

6. Devakrida Darshana: Witnessing divine pastimes or celestial beings.

7. Aparajaya: Invincibility or the inability to be defeated.

8. Sarvajnata: Omniscience or knowledge of all things.

9. Sankalpa Siddhi: The ability to manifest desires by mere thought or intent.

10. Trikala Jnana: Knowledge of past, present, and future

In Tantra, chanting specific mantras & focusing on a specific deity’s yantra i.e. geometric diagram can help you gain them. For example, the mantra "Om Aim Saraswatyai Namah" is believed to confer wisdom and artistic prowess (a form of Prapti). But note that you have to be initiated into the mantra by your guru.

Historically, Hanuman Ji has been known to have all of them, which is why you hear the line “ashta siddhi, nava nidhi ke data” in the Hanuman Chalisa.

And another God who’s associated with them is Ganesha - who is the Siddhivinayak i.e. the giver of Siddhis.

And folks like Narada, Vishwamitra, etc. have also acquired some of them.

In modern times, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is alleged to have some of them when he was still alive.

One thing to note is that Siddhis are not the ultimate goal - they are markers of your progress & if you’re pursuing spirituality just to achieve them, they’re more like distractions or even hinder your growth if you’re too attached to them.

The ultimate goal remains moksha i.e. liberation from this material world & all its components, including siddhis.