Sidhi

Sidhi, often transliterated Siddhi, is a term in Indian spiritual traditions that denotes various supernormal or extraordinary attainments that a practitioner may develop through deep meditation, disciplined breathwork, and moral integrity. The root is Sanskrit siddhi, meaning attainment, success, or completion. In classical yoga and Hindu tantric literature, siddhis are described as powers that can arise as byproducts of spiritual practice, rather than as ends in themselves.

Traditional enumerations mention, with some variation across sources, sets such as the eight ashta-siddhi and the nine nav-siddhi. These lists commonly include abilities such as extraordinary strength, rapid travel, invisibility, or mastery over matter and knowledge, but the exact types differ by tradition. In many texts, siddhis are treated as signs of spiritual progress, not as guarantees of enlightenment, and some authorities warn that pursuing them can distract a practitioner from higher aims.

Historically, siddhis appear in several Indian religious traditions. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras discuss siddhis as possible outcomes of samadhi, though they advise discernment and note that ultimate liberation lies beyond such powers. Buddhist sources describe psychic attainments arising from jhana, while Jain literature likewise references miraculous capabilities. In popular culture, siddhis are sometimes associated with magical feats in folktales and modern media.

Today, the concept of siddhi remains academically and symbolically significant in yoga, meditation, and tantra, serving as a point of discussion about the nature of power, control, and spiritual development.