Supernatural Powers or Prodigies (Rddhis)
The austerite saints earn capacities of many types of supernatural powers.
There are eight kinds of supernatural powers:
| (1)Supernatural Power of Intelligence (Buddhi ṛddhi) 18 | (2)Supernatural Power of Proteation (Vikriyā ṛddhi) 11 |
| (3)Supernatural Power of Motion (Kriyā ṛddhi) 02 | (4)Supernatural Power of Austerity (Tapa ṛddhi) 07 |
| (5)Supernatural Power of Strength (Bala ṛddhi) 03 | (6)Supernatural Power of Medicament (Auṣadha ṛddhi) 08 |
| (7)Supernatural Power of Taste (Rasa ṛddhi) 06 | (8)Supernatural Power of Space (Kṣetra ṛddhi) 02 |
There are 57 varieties of these supernatural powers when these eight are sub-classified as shown before each of the names as above. (On further sub-classification, there may be 64 supernatural powers).
Eighteen Varieties of Supernatural Power of Intelligence (Buddhi Rddhi)
The eighteen varieties of the supernatural power of Intelligence are named and described below :
(1)Clairvoyance (Avadhi jnāna): This is a direct perceptional knowledge and it knows the mattergic objects / realities from the very fine ultimate atom upto the last biggest aggregate of the large earth.
(2)Mind-reading Knowledge (Manah-paryaya Jnāna): This knowledge knows many types of objects which are mentally thought, semi-thought or non-thought in the human region of Jaina universe.
(3)Absolute or Omniscience Knowledge (Kevala Jnāna): This knowledge has all the objects in the universe or non-universe including both of them in its purview. This is devoid of sense-assistance and is always complete.
(4)Seeded Intelligence (Bija buddhi) : This is defined as the supernatural power of intelligently learning and understanding the complete scripture on the basis of insignia of seed syllable or mystical syllable out of numerable words acquired from the sermons by the great saint due to the best destmction-cum-subsidence of the species of quasi-sense-obscuring, vocable- knowledge-obscuring and potency-obstructing karma.
(5)Stored intelligence (Koṣtha buddhi): This is defined as the supernatural power of storage of many texts without mixing by a supremely retentive saint in the store-house of his intelligent mind after receiving them in seed words.
(6)Syllable-based intelligence (Padānusāri) : This type of intelligence stores all the texts after receiving a single syllable from the beginning, middle or end of the sermons of the preceptors.
It has three varieties :
- (i) Fore-part knowing,
- (ii) Tast-part knowing
- (iii) Forepart and last part-knowing (Anusāriṇi, Pratisāriṇi, Ubhayasāriṇi).
(7)Complete Hearing intelligence (Sambhinna ṡrotṛtva): The supematurally powered saint of this prodigy can listen and respond to many types of lingual and non-lingual words of human and subhuman beings living in the area of numerable Yojanas in all the ten direction beyond the maximum object area of the sense of hearing.
(8)Distant-tasting intelligence (Dūrāsvāditva): It is the super natural power to know and identify the various tastes located in the area of numerable Yojanas beyond the maximum object area of the sense of taste.
(9)Distant-touching intelligence (Dūra-sparṡatva) : It is the super natural power to know and identify the eight kinds of touches located in the area of numerable Yojanas beyond the maximum object area of the sense of touch.
(10)Distant-smelling intelligence (Dūra-ghrāṇatva): It is the super natural power to know and identify the different kinds of smells located in an area of numerable Yojanas beyond the maximum object area of the sense of smell.
(11)Distant-listening intelligence (Dūra-ṡravaṇatva): It is the super natural power to listen the lingual and non-lingual words of many kinds of human and sub-human beings located in an area of numerable Yojanas beyond the maximum object area of the sense of hearing.
(12)Distant-seeing intelligence (Dūra-darṡitva): It is the super natural power to see the different kinds of objects situated in an area of numerable Yojanas beyond the maximum object area of the sense of sight.
(13)Ten Pre-canon-proficiency Intelligence (Daṡa-pūrvitva): When the saints read and learn the ten pre-canons, the guardian deities of 500 great learnings and 700 small learnings come to them to receive these learnings. However, the saints do not wish to learn them because of their control over senses. These saints are called ten pre-canon-proficients.
(14)Fourteen Pre-canon-proficiency Intelligence (Catūrdaṡa Pūrvitva): The saints are called fourteen pre-canon proficient who are skilled in all the sacred scriptures and who are scriptural omniscients.
(15)Eight-fold Prognostical intelligence (Aṣtānga Mahā-nimitta): The saint who is proficient in knowing the effects of eight kinds of omens of
| (1) terrestial | (2) astral origin |
| (3) vibrations of major and minor limbs | (4) sounds of men and animals |
| (5) marks on body | (6) shapes on body |
| (7) external symptoms | (8) dreams-is called prognostically intelligent. |
(16)Intellect-based intelligence (Prajnā Sramaṇatva): It is the intelligence by which the supematurally powered saint becomes proficient in elaborating the highly subtle subjects of fourteen pre-canons without studying them.
This intellect has four varieties :
| (1) Pre-birth- based (Autpattiki) | (2) Experience-based (Pariṇamiki) |
| (3) Scriptural Reverence-based (Vainaiyiki) | (4) Specific austerity or Practice-based (Karmajā) |
(17)Self-owed Intelligence (Pratyeka buddhi) : It is the supernatural intelligence in which a saint makes progress in gradual acquirement of right knowledge and austeritic practices due to the subsidence of karmas and without any instructions from preceptors.
(18)Debateering intelligence (Vāditva) : It is the supernatural power of intelligence through which the individual defeats the other rivals in debates. This power enables him to examine the defects of other systems.
Eleven Kinds of the Prodigy of Proteation (Vikriyā Rddhi)
The eleven kinds are named and defined below:
(1)Prodigy of Miniaturisation (Aṇimā): It means making the body equal to an atomic size. The supematurally powered great saint, while entering into an atomic size hole, constructs the encampment and ridge of a mountain for the Cakravartī.
(2)Prodigy of Magnification (Mahimā): It is the prodigy of making one’s body in size equal to Mem mountain.
(3)Prodigy of Lightness or Levity (Laghimā): It is the prodigy of making one’s body even lighter than air.
(4)Prodigy of Heaviness or Gravity (Garimā): It is the prodigy of making one’s body heavier or harder than the diamond.
(5)Prodigy of Acquirement (Prāpti): It is the prodigy of touching the high points like the top of sun, moon or Mem mountain etc. by the fore-part of the finger while remaining on the ground.
(6)Prodigy of Freedom of Will (Prākāmya): It is the prodigy of wilfully plunging and emerging on the earth like that in water and moving on water like the earth.
(7)Prodigy of Supremacy (Isitva) : It is the prodigy of acquiring Lordship over the universe.
(8)Prodigy of Subjugation (Vaṡitva) : It is the prodigy of subjugating all the living beings in the world because of the strength earned due to austerities.
(9)Prodigy of Non-resistance (A-pratighata): It is the prodigy of moving through the mountains, stones, trees etc. without any resistance like the sky.
(10)Prodigy of Disappearance (Antardhāna): It is the prodigy of acquirement of the quality of disappearance or invisibilization.
(11)Prodigy of Wilful Forms (Kāmarūpitva) : It is the prodigy of creating many beautiful forms simultaneously.
Kinds of the Prodigy of Motion
There are two kinds of prodigy of motion
| (1) Sky-movement | (2) Non-injurious varied wanderings |
(1)Prodigy of Sky-movement (Akāṡagāmitva): It is the prodigy of movement in sky through the sitting or standing posture or in some other way lying a little above the ground.
(2)Prodigy of Non-injurious Varied-wandering (Cāraṇa) : This prodigy has many varieties like –
- (1)non-injurious moving over water without touching it (Jalacāraṇa)
- (2)non-injurious moving in the sky 4-Angulas above the ground with thighs without bending knees (Janghā-cāraṇa)
- (3)non-injurious moving in sky over fruits, flowers and leaves without causing injuries to the living beings resident in them (Phalacāraṇa, Puṣpa-cāraṇa, Patra-cāraṇa)
- (4)non-injurious moving over fire-flames (Agniṡiakhā-cāraṇa) & non-injurious moving over smoke (Dhūmra-cāraṇa)
- (5)non-injurious moving over varied clouds (Megha-cāraṇa) & non-injurious moving over water-streams released from clouds (Dhārā-cāraṇa)
- (6)non-injurious moving over spider-web-fibres (Markata-tantucārana)
- (7)non-injurious moving over air point lines (Marut-cārana)
- (8)non-injurious moving on the support of rays of astral bodies (Jyotiṣ-cārana).
The non-injurious movement in sky for many Yojanas without bending of knees while keeping oneself 4 Angulas (app. 5 cm) above the ground is called the prodigy of non-injurious sky movement with knees or Janghā-cāraṇa Ṛddhi. Similar definitions should be applied for other varieties.
Seven Varieties of the Prodigy of Austerity
There are seven varieties of the prodigy of austerity as named and defined below :
(1)Intense Austerity (ugra tapa) : This variety has two forms .
- (1) highly intense austerity (ugrāgra tapa),
- (2) stabilised intense austerity (Avasthita ugra tapa).
The highly intense austerity is to undertake fasting from the day of initiation and live with it until death with increase by one fasting each time. The stabilised intense austerity involves conclusion of fasting after one fast for initiation and continue the process of alternate fasting and conclusion.
Afterwards, one undertakes two-day fasting (Belā), three day fasting etc. due to some specific causes with gradual increase in the number of days of fasting without reducing them until death.
(2)Radiant Austerity (Dipta tapa): It is the austerity of a mentally, vocally and physically strong saint whose body gradually gets radiant like Sun due to increase in internal energy through various types of fasting.
(3)Absorbed Austerity (Tapta tapa): It is the austerity which leads to absorb, assimilate and bum the in-taken-food including the humours of the body wherein no discharges are formed like the water particles on the red hot iron pan.
(4)Magnified Austerity (Mahātapa) : It is the austerity of the saint which leads to undertake all the large fastings like Mandara-pankti etc. on the basis of the strength due to the four kinds of right knowledge.
(5)Terrific Austerity (Ghora tapa) : It is the austerity of the saint which gives him strength to lead to undertake difficult austerities despite afflictions of acute diseases like fevers and colic pains in the body.
(6)Terrific-cum-Prowessful Austerity (Ghora-parākrama): It is the austerity of the saint which bestows him the power of performing wonderful activities like the destmction of all the three worlds.
(7)Terrible Celibacy (Aghora-Brahmacaritva): It is the austerity of the saint which bestows him the power of non-occurrence of troubles of theft and thieves, contagious diseases and wars etc. in the area where the saint resides.
Three Kinds of the Prodigy of Strength
There are three kinds of the prodigy of strength which are named and defined below :
(1)Prodigy of Mental Strength (Mana-bala): It is the prodigy of the saint which leads him to remember and contemplate all the sacred scripture in an Antarmuhūrta period.
(2)Prodigy of Vocal Strength (Vacana bala) : It is the prodigy of the saint which enables him to pronounce all the twelve-fold primary texts easily in an Antarmuhūrta’s time even with deficient throat and other weakness.
(3)Prodigy of Physical Strength (Kāya bala) : It is the the prodigy which bestows strength to the saint for sustaining the detachmental physical posture for a month, four months or longer without any difficulty. On the basis of this austerity, the saints become capable of raising all the three worlds on their little finger and transfer them to another place.
Eight Varieties of the Prodigy of Medicament
There are eight kinds of prodigy of medicament.
They are named and described below :
(1)Prodigy of Contact Medicament (Amarṣauṣadhi) : This is a prodigy by which a patient becomes healthy by the touch or contact of hands and feet etc. by the saint enriched with this prodigy.
(2)Prodigy of Phelgm Medicament (Kṣvelauṣadhi) : This is a prodigy by which a patient becomes healthy by the use of saliva, phelgm and eye-excretion etc. of the saint with this prodigy.
(3)Prodigy of Sweat Medicament (Jallauṣsadhi): This is a prodigy by which a patient becomes healthy and free of all diseases by the use of sweat or other fluid of the body of the saint with this prodigy.
(4)Prodigy of Excretion Medicament (Malauṣadhi): This is a prodigy of the saint by which a patient becomes healthy by the use of his excretions of teeth and nose etc.
(5)Prodigy of Urine-Faeces Medicament (Vipruṣauṣadhi): This is a prodigy of saint by which the patient becomes free of diseases by the use of the urine and faeces etc. of the saint with this prodigy.
(6)Prodigy of Holistic Medicament (Sarvauṣadhi): This is a prodigy of the saint by which all the diseases are destroyed by the water and air etc. touched by him.
(7)Prodigy of Vocal-depoisoning Medicament (Vacana nirviṣa): This is a prodigy of saint whose words cause depoisoning (or sweetening) of a variety of astringent or poisoning foods.
(8)Prodigy of Sight-deposioning Medicament (Dṛṣti-nirviṣa) : This is a prodigy of the saint whose sight alone makes the patient and the poisoned living beings disease-free.
Six Varieties of the Prodigy of Taste (Rasa Rddhi)
There are six varieties of the prodigy of taste.
They are named and defined below :
(1)Prodigy of Venomed serpent-like Poisoning (Aṡīviṣa): This is the prodigy of the highly austerite saint whose words “you die” cause the accidental death of the living being.
(2)Prodigy of Poisoning by Sight (Dṛṣtiviṣi) : This is a prodigy of wrathful saints whose sight alone can cause the accidental death of living beings.
(3)Prodigy of Milk-like Sweet Foods / Words (Kṣirāsravi): This is a prodigy of the saint which converts the rough food etc. kept on his hand into milk-like sweet and strengthening or whose words are as nourishing as milk.
(4)Prodigy of Sweet-like Foods / Words (Madhuāsravi) : This is a prodigy of the saint which converts the rough food etc. kept on his hand into sweet ones or whose words are pleasing and the remover of the sufferings of the human and subhuman beings.
(5)Prodigy of Elixir-like Foods / Words (Amṛtāsravi): This is a prodigy of the saint which converts the rough food etc. kept on his hand into elixir like life-promoting material. Alternatively, it is the prodigy of a saint whose words are as satisfying as the elixir.
(6)Prodigy of Butter-fat-like Foods / Words (Sarpi-sravi) : This is a prodigy of saints which converts the rough (tasteless) foods etc. kept on his hand into butter-fat like taste. Alternatively, it is a prodigy of the saint whose words are pleasing like butter fat to subside the sufferings.
Two kinds of Prodigy of Space
There are two kinds of prodigy of space:
- (1) Unexhausted kitchenery (Akṣīṇa-mahānasa),
- (2) Unexhausted great residence (Akṣīṇa-mahālaya).
(1)Unexhausted Kitchenery : This is a prodigy of the saint by which there is an unexhausted supply of any item of desirable food even when eaten by all the army of the Cakravartī that day after the food-intake of the saint in the kitchen.
(2)Unexhausted Great Residence : This is a prodigy of the saint by which innumerable human and subhuman beings may be accommodated in a small area of 4 Dhanuṣa (~ 24 ft.) square.
The saints undertaking intense austerities acquire these prodigies automatically. The chief disciples of the Tīrthankaras do have these prodigies at the time of their getting chief discipleship. These prodigies are acquired by the saints having perfect conduct (i.e. Bhāvalingī Munis). They can not be acquired by other persons.