Siddhi is produced by
sadhana. The former term, which literally means "success," includes accomplishment, achievement, success, and fruition of all kinds. A person may thus gain
siddhi in speech,
siddhi in
mantra, etc. A person is
siddha also who has perfected his spiritual development. The various powers attainable – namely,
anima,
mahima,
laghima,
garima,
prapti,
prakamya,
ishitva,
vashitva, the powers of becoming small, great, light, heavy, attaining what one wills, and the like – are known as the eight
siddhi. The thirty-ninth chapter of the Brahmavaivarta Purana mentions eighteen kinds, but there are many others, including such minor accomplishments as
nakhadarpana siddhi or "nail-gazing." The great
siddhi is spiritual perfection. Even the mighty powers of the "eight
siddhi" are known as the "lesser
siddhi," since the greatest of all
siddhi is full liberation (
mahanirvana) from the bonds of phenomenal life and union with the Paramatma, which is the supreme object (
paramartha) to be attained through human birth.
Arthur Avalon
