DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Siddhas. Who were they? What did they practice and teach? --I

**k1ePRlda** · 03-06-2011, 05:08 AM

We come again to the original questions.

1. Their Philosophy.

3. How did they achieve the Siddhis?

4. What is the role of Ashtama Siddhis in spirituality?

5. Why were the Siddhas eccentric to say the least?

I will take up this question first.

4. What is the role of Ashtama Siddhis in spirituality?

I have studied about Ashtama Siddhi and my daily prayers include a request to GOD for achieving them. But I find it hard to believe in them fully. Some of them are spiritual attainments which the Sadhaka would like to achieve. They are exaggerated to a great extent. Poetic fancy which we find in all our scriptures. I remember reading in the Indology discussion group about the amount of Gold that one of our seers got when he won a debate. In today's value it came to a couple of Billion U.S. Dollars. And the weight of that much gold!

So with these words I will try to guess why the Siddhars wanted some of the Siddhis.

Some of the Ashtama Siddhis (only those dealing with Physical Body. The others relate to Spiritual Achievements)

Anima (shrinking) -- The Yogi can become as minute as he pleases. -- Can not see any real use.--May be used when faced with wild animals. But then they were supposed to be friendly with them through some other Siddhis.

Mahima (illimitability) -- The power of increasing one's size without limit.-- Can not see any real use.

Lagima (lightness) -- He can make his body as light as cotton or feather.-- May be used for travelling. Could be carried by the wind.

Garima (weight) -- Capacity to weigh heavy, though seemingly small size. -- Could be used for weathering storms.

Prakamya (Para Kaya Prevesam) -- Power of disembodying and entering into other bodies. The only Siddhi which seems to have been used by the Siddhars.

No two books agree on the description of these Siddhis. Though the term is used often, the translations differ.

The general conclusion we can draw is that these Siddhis were used to travel wide distances, lead a life in remote places and prolong life.

03-06-2011, 05:08 AM	#33
k1ePRlda Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 455 Senior Member	We come again to the original questions. 1. Their Philosophy. 3. How did they achieve the Siddhis? 4. What is the role of Ashtama Siddhis in spirituality? 5. Why were the Siddhas eccentric to say the least? I will take up this question first. 4. What is the role of Ashtama Siddhis in spirituality? I have studied about Ashtama Siddhi and my daily prayers include a request to GOD for achieving them. But I find it hard to believe in them fully. Some of them are spiritual attainments which the Sadhaka would like to achieve. They are exaggerated to a great extent. Poetic fancy which we find in all our scriptures. I remember reading in the Indology discussion group about the amount of Gold that one of our seers got when he won a debate. In today's value it came to a couple of Billion U.S. Dollars. And the weight of that much gold! So with these words I will try to guess why the Siddhars wanted some of the Siddhis. Some of the Ashtama Siddhis (only those dealing with Physical Body. The others relate to Spiritual Achievements) Anima (shrinking) -- The Yogi can become as minute as he pleases. -- Can not see any real use.--May be used when faced with wild animals. But then they were supposed to be friendly with them through some other Siddhis. Mahima (illimitability) -- The power of increasing one's size without limit.-- Can not see any real use. Lagima (lightness) -- He can make his body as light as cotton or feather.-- May be used for travelling. Could be carried by the wind. Garima (weight) -- Capacity to weigh heavy, though seemingly small size. -- Could be used for weathering storms. Prakamya (Para Kaya Prevesam) -- Power of disembodying and entering into other bodies. The only Siddhi which seems to have been used by the Siddhars. No two books agree on the description of these Siddhis. Though the term is used often, the translations differ. The general conclusion we can draw is that these Siddhis were used to travel wide distances, lead a life in remote places and prolong life.
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