Vibhinn Darshano Me Yogajanya Shaktiyo Ka Swarup - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Vibhinn Darshano me Yogajanya Shaktiyo ka Swarup" by Sadhvi Shri Sanghmitraji, based on the provided pages:

The text explores the nature of powers generated through yoga across various philosophical systems, primarily focusing on Jainism, Patanjali Yoga, and Puranic literature.

Core Concept: Yogic Powers (Shaktiyan/Laddhiyan/Siddhiyan/Vibhuti)

The author begins by explaining that the result of rigorous asceticism and meditation is the awakening of extraordinary, supernatural powers within the soul. These powers are known by different names across traditions:

Vibhuti in Patanjali Yoga
Siddhi in Shri Bhagavat Mahapurana
Riddhi in Digambara Jain literature
Labdhi in Shvetambara Jain literature

Jain Perspective on Laddhiyan

The text highlights that Jain scriptures (Agamas and their commentaries) extensively mention various types of Laddhiyan. A comprehensive list of 28 Laddhiyan is presented from the Visheshavashyak Bhashya, including:

Medicine-related: Amashausadhi, Vishausadhi, Shleshmshausadhi, Jalloshadhi, Sarvoshadhi
Sensory/Knowledge-related: Avadhigyan Labdhi, Charana Labdhi, Sambhinn Shrota Labdhi, Ripu Vilam Labdhi (mentioned in a verse)
Intellectual: Kostha Buddhi, Beej Buddhi, Patu Buddhi (from Upapātik Sutra), Padanusari, Vipulamati
Physical/Transformative: Vakruvik Deh Labdhi, Kshira, Madhu, Sarpi Asrava Labdhi, Akshina Mahanasik Labdhi
Power/Status related: Ganadharatva, Pūrvadharatva, Arhat Labdhi, Chakravartitva, Baldevatva, Vasudevatva
Elemental/Energy: Tejoleshya, Sheetoleshya
Other: Pūlak Labdhi, Ahārak Labdhi

The text notes that the classification of Laddhiyan in the Upapātik Sutra differs slightly, omitting some categories like Ganadharatva and Tejoleshya, while including others like Manoravali, Vachanavali, and Kayavali.

Examples and Descriptions of Jain Laddhiyan:

Avadhi and Keval Gyan: Avadhi allows knowledge of distant objects without senses, while Keval Gyan provides knowledge of the past and future.
Manobali, Vachanbali, Kayabali: These grant immense strength, the ability to uphold vows, and endurance of hunger and thirst for a year, respectively. These individuals can bestow blessings or curses through thought, speech, and touch.
Medicine-related Laddhiyan: Substances like phlegm, sweat, hand-touch, hair, and nails of the yogi become potent medicine.
Intellectual Laddhiyan (Kostha, Beej, Pat, Padanusari Buddhi): These relate to enhanced intellect. Kostha Buddhi allows for retaining scriptural knowledge, Beej Buddhi for developing thousands of meanings from one, Pat Buddhi for instantly grasping diverse verbal expressions, and Padanusari for understanding thousands of words from a single word.
Sambhinna Shrota Labdhi: This allows all sensory functions to be performed by a single sense (e.g., perceiving form, taste, smell, and sound through touch). This is unique to Jain Agamas.
Kshira, Madhu, Sarpira Asrava Labdhi: The yogi's speech is as sweet as milk and honey, and as affectionate as ghee.
Akshina Mahanasik Labdhi: Food in a vessel remains inexhaustible, even after many consume it.
Rijumati and Vipulamati: These are types of Manahparyavagyan (knowledge of others' minds), with Rijumati knowing minds within a specific limited area and Vipulamati knowing minds within a larger area.
Vikurvana Labdhi: Enables the creation of various forms.
Charana Labdhi: Grants extraordinary speed and the ability to fly. There are two types: Janghacharana (covering vast distances in one flight) and Vidyacharana (reaching specific mountains in one flight).
Vidyadhara: Possess knowledge of various Vidyas (sciences/arts).
Akashpati: Can move through the sky using foot-adhesives and can cause the rain of gold, jewels, etc.
Pūlak Labdhi: Can defeat even the army of a Chakravarti.
Tejoleshya: Possesses the power to incinerate lakhs of people, akin to a nuclear explosion.
Sheetoleshya: Can quell the destructive force of Tejoleshya.
Ahārak Labdhi: The practitioner can create an emanation of themselves to seek answers from a Tirthankara, which then returns to the original body.
Arhat, Chakravarti, Baldev, Vasudev, Ganadhar, Pūrvadhar: These are clear states of spiritual and temporal power. The text notes these specific powers are unattainable by women, though this does not block their path to liberation.

Puranic Perspective on Siddhiyan

The text also discusses Siddhiyan as mentioned in Puranic literature, listing 18 types:

Physical: Anima, Mahima, Laghima
Sensory/Power: Prapti (sensory powers), Prakamya (experiencing desired objects), Ishitva (controlling Maya), Vashitva (non-attachment to possessions), Kamavasayita (achieving desired happiness).
Mental/Spiritual (10 types): These include overcoming hunger, thirst, grief, delusion, seeing distant objects, telekinesis, creating forms at will, entering other bodies, voluntary death, experiencing divine pleasures, and realizing wishes.
Additional Five Siddhiyan: Trikalagnyatva (knowing past, present, future), Advandasva (invulnerability to dualities like hot-cold, pleasure-pain), Parachitta-abhigyan (knowing others' minds), Pratishthambha (stopping the power of fire, sun, water, poison), Aparabhav (invincibility).

The text explains how specific meditations lead to these Siddhis, such as meditating on the unheard sound for Durashravan (hearing distant sounds) and merging eyes with the sun for Duradarshan (seeing the universe).

Patanjali Yoga Perspective on Vibhuti

The Vibhuti Pada of Patanjali Yoga is highlighted as a source for understanding various Vibhuti (powers) obtained through Samyama (concentration on a single point). These include:

Knowledge of Past and Future: Through Samyama on the transformations of elements and senses.
Knowledge of all Languages: Through Samyama on the distinctness of sound, meaning, and concept.
Knowledge of Past Births: Through direct experience of Samskaras.
Knowledge of Others' Minds: Through Samyama on mental impressions.
Invisibility: Through Samyama on the form of the body, making it imperceptible.
Knowledge of Death: Through Samyama on present and future-impacting karma.
Powers like Elephant Strength, Garuda Strength, Wind Strength: Through Samyama on respective strengths.
Knowledge of Subtle, Hidden, and Distant Objects: Through projecting light from fluctuating awareness.
Knowledge of the Universe, Stars, and Planetary Movements: Through Samyama on the sun, moon, and pole star.
Control over Hunger and Thirst: Through Samyama on the throat cavity.
Stability: Through Samyama on the tortoise-like nerve.
Vision of Siddha Souls: Through Samyama on the light in the crown of the head.
Intuitive Knowledge (Pratibha): Leading to knowledge of all things without Samyama.

The text also mentions Shrāvana, Vedana, Ādarsha, Āsvāda, and Vārtā Siddhis which correspond to divine hearing, touch, sight, taste, and speech, respectively.

Inter-philosophical Parallels and Distinctions

The author observes significant similarities in the Laddhiyan, Siddhiyan, and Vibhuti across these traditions, particularly in aspects like knowing others' minds, seeing the universe, aerial locomotion, immense strength, control over material forces, and shape-shifting. The fundamental practices leading to these powers—Samyama, Tapas, Dhyana, and specific yogic practices—are also common.

The Purpose and Dangers of Siddhis

Crucially, the text emphasizes that the true goal of yogic practice is not the acquisition of powers, but the conquest of desires. These powers are seen as potential obstacles to ultimate liberation (Kaivalya) in Patanjali Yoga and are to be renounced. In Jainism, the use of these powers without proper discernment can contaminate one's Samyama. Buddhist Vinaya Pitaka advises monks not to display Siddhis before laypeople.

The Nature of Power: The Analogy of Concentrated Force

The text uses the analogy of concentrated force (a nail tip piercing a wall, steam powering an engine, sunlight focused by glass) to explain how yogis achieve extraordinary feats by focusing their mental energy.

Specific Comparisons:

Shrāvana vs. Sambhinna Shrota: While Patanjali's Shrāvana allows hearing distant sounds, Jainism's Sambhinna Shrota allows perceiving all sensory objects through a single sense.
Eight Siddhis (Anima, etc.): These are commonly mentioned across Yoga, Puranas, and Jainism, with minor variations in names or descriptions.

Conclusion

The author concludes that these powers reveal the infinite potential of the soul. They represent the victory of spirituality over materialism and consciousness over inertia. The text stresses that the ultimate aim is self-realization and freedom from desires, not the accumulation of supernatural abilities.