CENTRO DE ASTROLOGIA VEDICA SIDERAL JYOTISH: ASTA SIDDHI

Aṣṭa Siddhi

तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्य कर्म समाचर।

असक्तो ह्माचरन् कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुष॥ १९॥

tasmādasaktaḥ satataṁ kārya karma samācara |

asakto hmācaran karma paramāpnoti pūruṣa || 19 ||

Introduction:

Aṣṭa Siddhi – The eight renowned accomplishments of ancient India through which one can gain miraculous powers.

अष्ट सिद्धि (Aṣṭa Siddhi) eight – perfect

Word Siddhi we can divide into the 2 word: Sidh and Dhi. Sidh means: to move, to go, to attain one’s aim or object have success and Dhi means intellect. So whole story about Siddhi is based on improving intellect, to move our intellect towards highest goal, illumination. Lord Śiva is the achiever of the eight Siddhi and His worship as the Teacher is symbolic of the perfection of divinity.

A Siddha is one who has succeeded in stabilizing these controls in oneself and maintains equanimity and a sense of equilibrium. Today, only a few Yogis possess these Siddhis.

In his work Yoga Sūtra, Patañjali on the beginning of the fourth chapter, whose name is Kaivalya[1] says:

जन्मौषधिमन्त्रतपःसमाधिजाः सिद्धयः॥१॥

janmauṣadhimantratapaḥsamādhijāḥ siddhayaḥ ||1||

Siddhis are gained through birth, specific herbs, mantras, austerities, or Samādhi.

Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali IV book kaivalyapādaḥ verse 1

प्रातिभाद् वा सर्वम्॥३३॥

prātibhād vā sarvam ||33||

Siddhis may also be attained through prātibha (intuition, or inner light of wisdom), thus knowledge of everything arises spontaneously.

Yoga sutra of Patañjali III book vibhūtipādaḥ verse 33

Here we see that there is various ways for the native to acquire Siddhis. If Patañjali said that Siddhis can be gained through birth, we can assume that knowledge about them can come from previous birth.

From the Jyotiṣa perspective Patañjali said that Siddhis are developed through Lagna (birth), forth house (specific herbs), fifth house (mantras), eighth or ninth house (austerities) or twelfth house (Samādhi).

From this we can conclude that there are 2 ways to attain the Siddhi: through the dharma Trikoṇa and through the Mokṣa Trikoṇa.

Eight types of bondage[2]:

Bhagavat Gīta

भूमिरापोऽनलो वायुः खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च।

अहङ्कार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा॥७-४॥

bhūmirāpo’nalo vāyuḥ khaṁ mano buddhireva ca|

ahaṅkāra itīyaṁ me bhinnā prakṛtiraṣṭadhā ||7-4||

Prabhupada’s translation: Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego – all together these eight constitute my separated material energies.

Here we see that these 8 types constitute Lord’s separated energies. Point is on word separated. We cannot be one with the Lord if we don’t cross this bridge, and that bridges are:

Earth called Bhūmi or Pṛthvi Tattva, solid state: Mercury,

Water called Āpa or Jāla Tattva, liquid state: Venus,

Fire called Anala or Agni Tattva, energy state: Mars,

Air called Vāyu Tattva, gaseous state: Saturn and,

Ether called Khaṁ or Ākāśa Tattva, vacuum: Jupiter

The Mana is the ‘mind’ of the universe as well as the individual and indicates the class, group or family identifying the created being or object and is represented in astrology by the Moon. These define the class or family to which it belongs.

Buddhi refers to the intelligence or body of knowledge related to the object. This defines its purpose of creation and existence and the effects of the various laws of nature on it called its Dharma. The laws of nature that the created body must obey are seen from the ascendant called Lagna and this is the seat of the Dharma Trikoṇa which includes the fifth & ninth houses. Lagna represents Prajāpati, the creator. Also we can include here also and Rāhu because without it there won’t be any birth. Rāhu is cause of the birth.

Ahaṅkāra refers to its independent identity and is the false ego. This is false because the identity is not permanent and it is an ego as it helps to identify the object and differentiate it from the other bodies/creatures of its class or family. This is represented by the Sun in astrology.

Aṣṭa Vāsava

Among 33 Devas there are eight Vāsus which are the givers of light. The 8 Vāsus give light from which we get enlightenment and then knowledge. This is the original light, which has a control over our minds.

The 8 Vāsus are:

1. Sūrya

2. Chandra

3. Agni (Maṅgala)

4. Pṛthivi (Budha)

5. Vāyu (Śani)

6. Jāla (Śukra)

7. Antarikṣa (Guru)

8. Nakṣatra

Again we have number eight. So to attain these eight Vāsus native need to do something what will bring him to those eight lights of enlightenment. That are eight Siddhis.

Aṣṭa Siddhi & Jyotiṣa

Siddhi is mostly connected to the fulfilling of Karma. So, our focus will be on Daśāṁśa where the ten directions of Karma are. As we know, everything in classics has deeper meaning specially the names that Ṛṣis has been used in Jyotiṣa terminology. Pārāśara in classic Bṛhat Pārāśara Horā Śāstra says in the chapter Divisional Consideration (atha vargavivekādhyāyaḥ), Mahāṛṣi Pārāśara states:

दशमांशे महत्फलम्‌।

daśamāṁśe mahatphalam |

…Power (and position) from Daśāṁśa.

Here is take closer look on meaning of the word Mahatphalam, we will see that real meaning of that is Mahat – big, huge, great and Phalam – fruit, consequence, result.

There is the concept of the Aṣṭa Siddhi (eight Siddhis) in Hinduism. These are:

Aṇimā: reducing one’s body even to the size of an atom

Mahima: expanding one’s body to an infinitely large size

Garima: becoming infinitely heavy

Laghima: becoming almost weightless

Prāpti: having unrestricted access to all places

Prākāmya: realizing whatever one desires

Iṣṭva: possessing absolute lordship;

Vaśtva: the power to subjugate all.

Prākāmya – the ability to create or control – Sūrya rules East and Devatā is Indra. So east is point of creation. Therefore, Sūrya rules the east and desires the throne which is the natural desire of the King

Prāpti – the ability to overcome natural obstacles – Chandra rules northwest and Devatā is Vāyu. Chandra rules mother, and the duty and desire of mother is to keep awake, to be active (Vayu Tattva) to secure that the child is always safe.

Vaśitva – domination over the entire creation – Maṅgala rules the South and Devatā is Yama. The desire and the purpose of the warrior is to kill the enemy. So if we do not achieve higher goal, Yama will definitely come for us.

Garima – the ability to reach everywhere – Budha rules the North and Devatā is Kubera. Budha is karaka for communication and ruling the trade and organizing material resources naturally desires the wealth which is signified by Lord Kubera.

Mahima – the ability to expand infinitely – Guru rules over the Northeast and Devatā is Iśāna, Lord Śiva Guru, Graha of teaching, knowledge and Dhi Śakti naturally desires to cognize the God, and to maintain the course of knowledge. Guru wishes to insure that knowledge reaches everyone.

Laghima – the ability to float through the air – Śukra rules the Southeast, and Devatā is Agni. Śukra rules the peace and as long as Śukra is strong, the God of war becomes weak. Śukra also rules entertainment which also requires a lot of energy – Agni. Thus, Agni is the need and desire of Śukra, not her goal.

Aṇima– the ability to become as minute as an atom – Śani rules the West and Devatā is Varuṇa. Lord Varuṇa is ruler of the ocean. And for ocean, we know that is the same constitution in one drop and in the huge ocean.

Iṣṭva – control anyone’s mind and make him work according to native’s wish – Rāhu rules the Southwest and Devatā is Nirṛti (Rākṣasa). Rāhu is direct cause of our birth and he can make such an influence on mind that that the person can rule over others mind. Devatā is Nirṛti which is very destructive.

Ketu rules “the Upward direction” Ananta – never-ending, boundless… It is direction upwards towards God. Whenever Ketu strongly influences the house of karma (10th house), a person’s karma yoga must be related to “upward direction”

Every Graha will indicate Direction of the Karma related to that Graha. Aṣṭa Siddhi is of three orders, two Siddhis of knowledge (Garima and Prākāmya), three Siddhis of power (Prāpti, Vaśitva and Kāmāvasāyitva) and three Siddhis of the body (Aṇima, Mahima and Laghima).

Now we must differentiate to chakras. One is Kālacakra, and the other one is dig chakra. In Kālacakra there are eight directions where four Kendras are ruled by two luminaries and Guru and Śukra. Kendras are the places where energy is entering and four rest are the places where energy getting out.

The planets have Digbala in the directions as indicated and to ascertain whether they really have this strength we have to consider their position from the (1) Lagna and (2) Āruḍha Lagna.

Graha Devatā indicates MOTIVATION and DESIRE of a Graha. This is very important.

Graha	Kālacakra	Digcakra	Siddhi	Type
Sūrya	East	East	Prākāmya	Body
Śukra	West	South – East	Laghima	Body
Maṅgala	South – East	South	Vaśitva	Body
Rāhu	North – East	South – West	Kāmāvasāyitva	Knowledge
Śani	North – West	West	Aṇima	Power
Chandra	North	North – West	Prāpti	Knowledge
Budha	South – West	North	Garima	Power
Guru	South	North – East	Mahima	Power

Naturally, Ketu is not included in this concept because it represents Mokṣa Marga and his direction is upwards.

Dārākāraka in line of eight Carakārakas represent our Ātma in matters related to Siddhis.

This doesn’t mean that everybody has the Siddhi. We must observe whole horoscope to see that. Because Dārakāraka will just show our desire towards specific Siddhi and to see will we got that Siddhi we must confirm that in various Vargas.

In the first example we got chart of His Holiness Mahāṛṣi Mahesh Yogi, who bring Patañjali Sūtras to the west. He also began movement of Transcendental Meditation and advance stage of meditation called Siddhi program. In his case, Rāhu is Dārakāraka, placed in twelfth Bhāva in Yuti with Ātmakāraka. Rāhu also having Dṛṣṭi on Lagna, forth and eight house (all four of this Grahas was mentioned in Patañjali’s Sūtras. Rāhu is Vargottama placed in Dhanuṣ.

But to confirm that person have a Siddhi we need to check Navāṁśa also, especially Kārakāmśa.

In Navāṁśa, Rāhu is on Kārakāmśa Lagna, together with Ātmakāraka, Sūrya, which is ruling over ninth house from there. Also there is Dṛṣṭi of Bhratṛkāraka (Guru Devatā). That show that Siddhi that he attained has come from the teaching of His Guru. Rāhu also is ruling over third Bhāva from Kārakāmśa Lagna which shows Guru Upadeśa Bhāva.

And in Daśāṁśa we see that there is again Yuti of Dārakāraka and Ātmakāraka. Sūrya is ruling over third Bhāva which is Guru Upadeśa. Chandra as Bhratṛkāraka is placed in forth Bhāva from Āruḍha Lagna and having Digbala. Daśāṁśa Devatā of Rāhu and Sūrya is Ananta – going upwards.

Maharishi Pārāśara states:

विद्याया वेदबाह्वंशे

vidyāyā vedabāhvaṁśe

Learning/Education should be discerned through the 1/24th (Caturviṁśāṁśa) division of Rāśi.

Here Pārāśara used word Vidyā which refers to Vidyā whose primary meaning is knowledge, which can be Para and Apara Vidyā. It also can mean mystical or magic skills. Naturally Siddhis are a kind of knowledge.

In case of His Holiness in Siddhāṁśa Ātmakāraka is on Lagna and Dārakāraka is Uccha in twelfth Bhāva. And because it is Rāhu’s Uccha dignity for Ayus, it will show that He will use His Siddhis for the benefit of peoples health and prolongation of longevity.

Sai Baba is one of the Guru’s in India, well known because of His Siddhi materializing things. In his case Dārakāraka is Dispositor of Ātmakāraka and having Graha and Rāśi Dṛṣṭi on it and it is placed in Lagna.

In Navāṁśa, Kārakāmśa conjoin Vijñānāṁśa Lord. So He receives the Dikṣa Mantra. Śani is placed in twelfth Bhāva conjoining Ketu, having Graha Dṛṣṭi on the Vijñānāṁśa. But in this case, Dārakāraka rules over Śiva Kālāṁśa[3] what can indicate that person develop that skins though own efforts, because Vijñānāṁśa show that type of knowledge that Guru teaches native and Śiva Kālāṁśa show what we learn alone.

In Daśāṁśa Dārakāraka is placed in Lagna. Devatā is Iśāna.

In ancient text there are descriptions of various Siddhi. Like get overcome Pañca Tattvas and similar. In this research I was focusing just on the primary eight.

ॐ लक्षलाभयुताय सिद्धिबुद्धिसहिताय गणपतये नमः॥

om lakṣalābhayutāya siddhibuddhisahitāya gaṇapataye namaḥ ||

Appendix:

Charts of the people from TM movement. Every chart got the connection of Dārakāraka with Maṅgala and Vijñānāṁśa. Also there is connection between Kārakāmśa Lagna and Vijñānāṁśa. Here are presented only Navāṁśa.

Sūrya Ātmakāraka has Rāśi Dṛṣṭi on Vijñānāṁśa. Guru DK conjoins Maṅgala and Maṅgala aspects Kārakāmśa Lagna.

Ātmakāraka – Maṅgala rules over Vijñānāṁśa. Rāhu – Dārakāraka has Rāśi and Graha Dṛṣṭi on Maṅgala.

Ātmakāraka is Budha. Lord of Kārakāmśa Lagna has a Graha Dṛṣṭi on Kārakāmśa and Rāśi Dṛṣṭi on Vijñānāṁśa. Sūrya – Dārākāraka has Graha Dṛṣṭi of Maṅgala, who also aspects Vijñānāṁśa.

Śani and Rāhu, lords of Vijñānāṁśa aspects Kārakāmśa Lagna. Maṅgala is Dispositor of Dārākāraka Śani.

Guru from the Vijñānāṁśa aspects Kārakāmśa. Dārākāraka – Maṅgala, Dispositor of a Lord of Vijñānāṁśa and aspects Kārakāmśa.

Ātmakāraka – Guru aspects Vijñānāṁśa and conjoin Lord of Vijñānāṁśa. Maṅgala – Dārākāraka is in Vijñānāṁśa itself.

Maṅgala has aspects on Ātmakāraka and Dārākāraka also ruling over Vijñānāṁśa.

Lord of Kārakāmśa aspects Vijñānāṁśa. Maṅgala rules over Vijñānāṁśa and aspects by Rāśi Dṛṣṭi on Dārākāraka Chandra.

Rahu Ātmakāraka aspects Vijñānāṁśa. Maṅgala is Dispositor of Śukra (Dārākāraka) and has Rāśi and Graha Dṛṣṭi on Vijñānāṁśa. Also rules over Kārakāmśa.

Dispositor of Ātmakāraka aspects Vijñānāṁśa. Dārākāraka (Chandra) aspects Vijñānāṁśa and is in Parivartana with Maṅgala.

Ketu, lord of Vijñānāṁśa conjoin Ātmakāraka. Budha, Dispositor of Rāhu (Dārākāraka) is aspected by Maṅgala. Rāhu (Dārākāraka) aspecting Dispositor of Maṅgala.