8 Siddhis: Ashta Siddhi Power Of Lord Hanuman

Powers of Lord Hanuman

Lord Hanuman is believed to be one of the 7 immortals or Chiranjivis who are still alive on earth. He was born to Kesari and Anjani. He is a Vanara who is half-man and half-monkey. According to some accounts, he is the son of the wind god, Vayu. He is supposedly an avatar of Lord Shiva. Hanuman plays an important role in the Ramayana epic, where he helps Lord Rama to rescue Sita from Ravana’s clutches. He is also a great devotee of Rama who guarded Rama even from Yama, the Lord of Death. People worship Hanuman for wisdom, strength, courage, self-confidence, and discipline. In the Hanuman Chalisa, there is a verse which describes Hanuman as “Ashta siddhi nava nidhi ke daata”. This means that Hanuman has the power to bestow 8 superpowers and 9 divine treasures to those who worship him with true devotion. The only other deity who has this power in Hindu mythology is Lord Ganesha. Siddhis represent spiritual and supernatural powers as well as abilities and accomplishments gained through Sadhanas like Yoga and meditation. Let us know more about the 8 Hanuman powers or Ashtasiddhis of Lord Hanuman.

Ahima

This is the ability to become very small and become the size of an atom or even become invisible. This is the first of Hanuman’s Ashtasiddhis. Thanks to this siddhi, he can become as small as an atom. He made use of this ability when he reached Lanka in search of Sita. He made himself as small as an insect. This helped him to evade the demons and roam the island freely, without being noticed or getting caught.

Mahima

This is the ability to expand one’s body to a very large size. This is the second of Hanuman’s Ashtasiddhis. This is the exact opposite of Ahima and Hanuman used this siddhi to attain gigantic proportions when needed. He uses it in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. In the Mahabharata, when Bhima requested him to reveal his giant form, Hanuman obliged. In the Ramayana, too, he does it just before he crosses the ocean to reach Lanka.

Laghima

This is the ability to become as light as air or weightless. Using this siddhi, Hanuman could become very light and even weightless. He used this ability when he reached Ashoka Vana in search of Sita. When the demon king, Ravana, and his soldiers came to Ashoka Vana, Hanuman became very light and sat on the leaf or branch of a tree. He remained in this form until Ravana and his entourage left the garden.

Prapti

This siddhi enables one to travel instantly or be anywhere at will. By using this siddhi, Hanuman could travel anywhere without facing any limitations. He could reach even the most distant place in seconds. He can reach the depths of the earth or the sky. It also enables him to survive in water without facing any problems. This siddhi also helps one to fulfill wishes. This siddhi is mentioned many times in the Ramayana and other scriptures.

Prakamya

This enables one to achieve or realize anything that one desires. It also helps one to communicate with animals, birds, and other species. It also gives us the ability to know events that may happen in the future. Thanks to this siddhi, Hanuman was able to communicate with many animals in Lanka and locate Sita quickly.

Isitva

This is the ability to control people, nature, and all living beings. It gives one supremacy over nature and the power to influence anyone. It was this ability that enabled Hanuman to control the entire army of Vanaras. When fighting Ravana’s army, Hanuman was able to lead from the front and influence every fighter to do his best for the cause of Dharma. This ability also helped him to save the lives of many in his army. This siddhi also makes him one of the most beloved Gods all over the world.

Vasitva

This is the ability to control all material elements and natural forces. This siddhi enables one to control anything. Using this siddhi, Hanuman could control his mind from any distraction or material things. This helped him to focus on his work and meditation. He could also control the minds of others with the help of this siddhi.

Garima

This siddhi enabled Hanuman to become so heavy that nobody could move him even one inch. Hanuman used this siddhi to teach Bhima a lesson in the Mahabharata. Bhima thought that he was the strongest man on earth. To disabuse him of this notion and make him humble, Hanuman turned into a large ape and lay on the path that he knew Bhima would take. When Bhima asked him not to block his path, Hanuman told him to move his tail aside as he was too tired to get up and move away. Try as he might, Bhima could not move the old ape’s tail as it was extremely heavy. It was then that he realized that he was not the strongest person after all and also became aware of the might and power of Hanuman.