Supernatural powers

Religious texts of all religion mention about supernatural powers which can be attained on the path to self realization. These are secretive and the ways of attaining them are not taught to the non serious seekers. Also these are known to few only. That’s why it is not a common occurrence. Therefore rarely you will get a firsthand experience to see it. Mostly it is hearsay to us that too someone will say that a third person knows a person who saw one of these powers. That’s why there is awe and also non acceptance of it among the common man. But that doesn’t mean it is unreal. Today everything is examined through the scientific kaleidoscope therefore it is mostly taken as tricks and gimmicks.

Ancient literature and specific mention of these supernatural powers and some are even recorded in later literature. Especially Indian spiritual literature has detailed description of it from the Yoga sutra of Patanjali (he is the originator of Yoga), the Upanishads, Puranas and the Gita. But these supernatural powers or siddhi’s as said in India, though are earned by a serious aspirants but have been taken a impediments on the path to self realization. That is because they are powerful and a seeker may get lured by these powers and stop further progress. So a guru will always warn the disciple about it.

In Yoga 8 types of powers have been mentioned.

1 Anima- Through this a person can reduce the size of the body and make it smaller in size even to the extent of an atom.

2 Mahima- This is the opposite of anima. Here the body can be made larger in size at will.

3 Garima- Here the body can be made a heavy as desired.

4 Laghima- In this the body can be made light as a feather. Levitation and flying are the example.

5 Prapti- In this a person can obtain whatever he wants.

6 Prakamya- The power to satisfy all desires through the use of will power.

7 Isitwa- Through this a person can become lord of the whole creation.

8. Vasitwa- The power to bring anything under his control especially those that have physical manifestation.

There are other spiritual powers mentioned in the other books.

1. knowing the past present and future

2. Not being affected by heat or cold, pain or pleasure, good or bad, hunger or thirst.

3. reading others mind

4. Saying a thing which will surely happen in future.

5. Witness what is happening in the 3 worlds that is heaven earth and hell.

6. ability to enter another person’s body

7. Ability to attain any form.

8. Hearing and seeing things that are happening very far.

9. Ability to control fire water and poison and its effect.

10. The ability to decide the mother for next birth.

The Yoga sutra says that these powers can be attained by the following ways:-

1.       If a person is sufficiently spiritually advanced in the previous birth then in he will have this power from the time of birth only. Even if someone is born to spiritually advanced parents can get it from birth.

2.       Use of special herbs can give some spiritual powers.

3.       Recitation of certain mantras given by guru can lead to attaining such powers.

4.       Self discipline and penance in spiritual activity can lead to such powers.

5.       Self realization or attaining Samadhi as it is called here can lead to such powers

6.       The awakening and progress of kundalini chakras can lead to such powers.

These powers which I have mentioned above are indeed supernatural and believing it is difficult. Anyone will doubt it or take it with a pinch of salt.

It is up to you whether you believe it or not, or how much you believe in them. But Indian Philosophy is clear about its ability from thousands of year back.  

Here is a short video of a levitating monk recorded by Discovery channel