Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 472: Shri Siddha Vidya (ōṃ siddhavidyāyai namaḥ)

In Namams 381 to 474, the Divine Mother’s Jnana Yoga worship methods are discussed in detail. 

The Divine Mother is in the form of Siddha Vidya (Sri vidya), the fifteen-syllable mantra. 

To reach Brahman, Brahma Vidya, Athma vidya, Sri vidya and Sivajanam are used. Those who follow Siddha path to reach the Brahman call it Siddha Vidya; the Divine Mother in Vidya form is called Siddha Vidya. People who follow Siddha path claim that it is the best path to reach the Brahman. 

Like matching a bride to a groom, before their marriage, there is a practice to match the mantra and the one who is going to recite it. Bala mantra has three syllables; it is ideal to recite Bala mantra three lac times. Siva Panchari mantra has five syllables; it us ideal to recite five lac times to get full benefit. This process is called Puracharanam. For example, on reaching Puracharanam here three lac times for Bala mantra, the devotee gets full benefit from that mantra. 

Since the “Pancadasi” mantra is eternal and universal, the rules regarding preparations, time and place prescribed for other mantras need not be followed in Pancadasimantra case. Worshipping the Divine Mother, using this “Pancadasi” mantra can be done anywhere and at any time.

The Divine Mother as Siddha Vidya

C N Nachiappun           

Singapore, 11 May 2021.

References:

1.       The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, San Ramon, California, USA, with Commentary by T. V Narayana Menon

2.       Shri Lalitha Sahasranama Stostram published in Tamil by N. Ramaswami Iyer charities’ societies, Trichirapalli, India, with Commentary by C. V. Radhakrishna Sastry.

3.       The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai, Trichy District, Tamilnadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Chithbavandar.

 

4.       The eight most powerful siddhis in the Hindu scripture are: Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Istiva, and Vasitva.

 

·         Anima: This is the ability to shrink one's body size, even to the size of an atom. Becoming smaller than the smallest was described in Srimad Bhagavatam by Lord Krishna. A common example of anima is when Lord Hanuman reduced his size when searching for Sita in Sri Lanka.

·         Mahima: The opposite of Anima, Mahima is becoming larger than the largest - as also described by Lord Krishna in Srimad Bhagavatam. Lord Hanuman also assumed this form to set Lanka ablaze, and to fight Kumbha Karna.

·         Garima: This is the ability to become very heavy by will, that one is rendered immovable by anyone, or anything. This is documented when Lord Hanuman made his tail so heavy that even the extremely strong Bhima couldn't lift it.

·         Laghima : Laghima originates from the root word "laghu", which means small, or light. This siddhi can make one's body also weightless. Levitation and flying are the extended powers of this siddhi.

·         Prapti : This is the ability to obtain anything, anywhere. We might have read in the Hindu scriptures, or watched in mythical-themed shows, the Gods materialising things out of thin air - thanks to prapti siddhi.

·         Prakamya: The ability to obtain anything desired and realising dreams. It is also the powers that enables one to live in water, and the power to enter the body of another person. For example, Sri Sankara entered the body of Raja Aamruka of Benares, and Tirumoolar entered the body of a sheperd using this siddhi.

·         Isitva: Referring to the "power of lordliness", this siddhi is about power of absolute lordship over the entire creation. One of the greatest siddhis, Isitva enables crossing over the laws of nature, and it overlaps the other siddhis. For example, this capable enables one to separate their soul from their body at will.

·         Vasitva : This is the ability to have anything under control, especially the physical manifestation of the five elements. This is the siddhi that can conquet and or all beings in the universe.

 

The above-mentioned are the primary siddhis in the yoga tantric. Besides this, there 10 secondary siddhis, and thousands, and even millions of other siddhis according to Saivism and Vaishnavism.