Thread by @_TheSanatani

Aṣṭa Siddhi – The 8 Yogic Superpowers That Break the Laws of Reality 🔥

Yogis who mastered themselves…
Could master the universe.

Shrink to the size of an atom.
Grow larger than a mountain.

Follow @_TheSanatani & explore the mystical siddhis our Rishis actually attained 🧵

📌 What are Siddhis?

Siddhis are extraordinary spiritual powers developed through intense Tapas (austerity), Samyama (Yogic concentration), or divine Bhakti.

They’re not “magic” — but mastery over the subtle laws of the universe.

Patanjali and sages like Kapila, Hanuman Ji, and Vishvamitra are known to have mastered them.

👉 Maharshi Patanjali describes them in detail in the Yoga Sūtras — especially the Vibhūti Pāda.

There are many kinds of Siddhis, but the 8 most famous are the Aṣṭa Siddhis, revered in Yoga, Tantra, Bhakti, and Puranic texts alike.

“Aṣṭa Siddhi Nava Nidhi ke Dātā,
Asa bar dīnha Jānaki Mātā.”

— Goswami Tulsidas (Hanuman Chalisa)

It means:

“The giver of the 8 Siddhis and 9 Nidhis — such a boon was granted to Hanuman Ji by Maa Sita.”

Hanuman Ji is their embodiment — but many Rishis, Yogis, and even Daityas attained them.

👉 In Sanātana Dharma, the Aṣṭa Siddhis are:

1. Aṇimā
2. Mahimā
3. Laghimā
4. Garimā
5. Prāpti
6. Prākāmya
7. Īśitva
8. Vaśitva

Each one defies material laws.

Let’s now explore each Siddhi — in detail.

📌 Aṇimā – Power to Become Infinitely Small

Imagine condensing your being into a microscopic particle.

— You can enter solid objects.
— Become invisible.
— See the subtlest forces.

With Aṇimā, Yogis can shrink their body down to the atomic level.

👉 Hanuman Ji uses this to enter Lanka by becoming small as a cat.

👉 Kapila Muni entered subtle planes through Aṇimā to deliver Jñāna.

📌 Mahimā – Power to Become Colossal

Expand your body to cosmic proportions.

— You can become bigger than mountains.
— Entire worlds can exist within you.

A Yogi in Mahimā is said to become Brahma-svarūpa — cosmic in presence.

👉 Hanuman Ji displayed this before Sita in Ashok Vatika.

👉 Shree Krishna shows Mahimā in the Vishvarūpa Darshan to Arjuna.

📌 Laghimā – Power to Become Weightless

Defy gravity. Walk on air. Float through space.

— Your body loses all density.
— Travel across galaxies instantly.

🔹 In Puranas:

👉 Many sages are said to fly through the air to visit celestial realms.

👉 Shree Krishna lifted Govardhan effortlessly — a blend of Laghimā and Īśitva.

📌 Garimā – Power to Become Incredibly Heavy

Make your body so dense that nothing can move you.

— You become as heavy as a mountain.
— Cannot be lifted, pushed, or harmed.

An advanced yogi in Garimā state can remain buried under snow or water — completely unaffected.

👉 Shiva in Samādhi becomes immovable — Garimā manifests when the Yogi's inner stillness is complete.

📌 Prāpti – Power to Reach Anywhere, Instantly

Want something on the other side of the world?

Prāpti brings it to you — or takes you there.

— Travel beyond time and space.
— Access distant objects or knowledge instantly.
— Appear anywhere.

Rishis were said to appear in Devaloka through Prāpti alone.

🔸 In Scriptures:

👉 Bhṛgu Muni appeared in multiple dimensions to curse Vishnu.

👉 Narada Muni could travel between worlds at will — via Prāpti.

📌 Prākāmya – Power to Fulfill Any Desire

Manifest your thoughts into reality.

— Control the five elements.
— Change weather.
— Heal or create life.

👉 Sage Vishvamitra used this to create a parallel universe after being insulted by Indra.

Yogis in scriptures create fire, rain, or gold via sheer will.

📌 Īśitva – Lordship over Nature

Mastery over Prakṛti (nature) and all beings.

— You can stop death.
— Create or destroy things at will.
— Gain godlike power.

👉 Only the highest Yogis like Krishna or Shiva fully embody Īśitva.

🔸 In Vedic Lore: Shree Krishna exhibited Īśitva when he restructured karma, time, and destiny itself.

📌 Vaśitva – Power to Control Anything

Influence minds, animals, even devas.

— Command obedience.
— Enter others’ consciousness.
— Control natural forces.

👉 Ancient sages used Vaśitva to tame wild beasts, calm storms, or enlighten kings.

📌 These aren’t metaphors.

Patanjali clearly describes how to attain them — through Samyama (concentration + meditation + absorption) on specific objects.

Yogis of ancient India were scientists of consciousness — and Siddhis were results of that experiment.

But…

⚠️ But there’s a twist...

“Siddhis are not the goal. They are obstacles on the path to Moksha.”

Even Patanjali warns:

“Te Siddhayaḥ utpannāḥ dharmāya na tu mokṣāya.”
— Yoga Sūtra 3.38

(Siddhis arise from practice, but they are not Moksha.)

👉 Saints like Ramakrishna, Raman Maharshi, and Lahiri Mahasaya rejected Siddhis, even when they had them.

Why?

Because they inflate the ego.

The real goal is Moksha — Liberation — not power.

👉 Even then, Bhagavān grants Siddhis to the worthy.

Because...

🔹 Siddhis Must Serve Dharma

Hanuman Ji is the perfect example.

He had all 8 Siddhis — but never used them for pride, gain, or dominance.

He used them in service of Dharma.
He bowed even with all powers at his command.

That is the true use of power: Sevā (service) with Bhakti (devotion).

👉 Final Thought…

Aṣṭa Siddhis are not fantasy.

They are the ancient science of consciousness mastering matter.

When you conquer yourself —
You conquer the cosmos.

And the universe bends to your will.

Amazed by the Insights?

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Dhanyavād 🙏

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