"Ashta Siddhi & Nav Nidhi" : Let's make it simple!

 Quite a times we had gone through Hanuman Chalisa and we have read a line called: 

अष्ट सिद्धि नव निधि के दाता 

What does that exactly mean? Have you ever paid attention to that? 

Well before telling nuances of that I would like to tell you a lil about the verses from which it had been derived: 

According to Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran 

There exist Eighteen eminent mystical powers or perfections. Eight of them are within the Lord itself and rest can originate from the quality. Now the curiosity is about what exactly are those perfections. 

Basically, the literal meaning of them can be dictated as 'Siddhi'. 

In order to make it simpler for you all: 

Formulation for the Siddhi is addition of Perfectionism and Establishment. If you want Siddhi then you should be perfect and established. 

By being Perfect we mean having all the desired elements or characteristics and on other hand by Establish we mean set up on permanent basis. 

So, Siddhi= Perfection + Establishment

In context to Hanuman Chalisa the person who had attained such qualities by establishing himself into perfect self. 

Since, There are Eight (Ashta) Siddhi which are eminently known. 

In order to learn it by heart we should study them in contrasting manner: 

Part 1. On the basis of size 

Anima and Mahima

Anima is reducing size to an atom. Which can be said as Lord Hanuman reduced his body size to the size of a mosquito in order to enter Ravana's Kingdom.

Mahima can be said as increasing the size to infinitely long and can be found when he gets vaidya Sushen (Doctor) for Laxmana when he gets injured by Meghanada while fighting. 

 

Part 2. On the basis of weight

Garima and Laghima 

Garima means increasing the weight to an infinitely large mass. Since Lord Hanuman has that accomplishment to make it. He used it to kill Simhika, a demonic power. While he's crossing the sea to reach Sri Lanka. She identified him from his shadow. On that time to give defeat to her. He made his body to an extreme large mass. 

Lagima a quality of being negligible in weight. When 'Sursa: the Naagmata' was keeping an eye at the doors of Maya Nagri Sri Lanka. She desired to eat Lord Hanuman but he refused to eat him immediately rather he offered her to eat him after the work of Sri Ram will get completed. So, at that time He reduced his body to negligible mass and entered her mouth. As soon as he entered he came outside. This shows his perseverance to complete the said intelligently. 

 

Part 3. On the basis of presence

Prapti and Prakamya

Prapti when we go for it's meaning by this we mean to gain something. So here we mean having unrestricted access to all places and things. 

Prakamya means realizing one's desires. Also some highly spiritual souls can realize the actual contexts of self desires. 

 

Part 4. On the basis of power

Ishtva and Vastava

Ishtva means possession of ultimate Lordship. This is one thing which is very pious and precious that Lord Hanuman has. 

Also the power to win or to subjugate all the things is Vastava. 

So here we came to understand the Ashta Siddhi that was possessed by Lord Hanuman. He's an ultimate being with knowledge of Physical Manifestation. Since he's quite devoted towards the yogic kriyas and practices. 

Nav Nidhi: The ordinance of Nine Nidhi

Nidhi can be understood as Treasure. It in a way can be considered as valuable possessions. These are owned by Kuber or He's the prime minister of the treasures. 

Here's Nine Nidhi are enlisted below: 

Mahapadma: The great Lotus

Padma: Lotus

Shankha: Conch Shell

( According to Wikipedia, In Hindu mythology, the shankha is a sacred emblem of the Hindu preserver god Vishnu. It is still used as a trumpet in Hindu ritual, and in the past was used as a war trumpet. The shankha is praised in Hindu scriptures as a giver of fame, longevity and prosperity, the cleanser of sin and the abode of goddess Lakshmi, who is the goddess of wealth and consort of Vishnu.)

{Then, Lord Krsna blew His conch shell, called Pancajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of Herculean tasks, blew his terrific conch shell called Paundram. 

— Bhagavad Gita , Chapter 1, Verse 15}

Makara: Crocodile

Kachchhapa: Tortoise

Kumuda: Precious Stone 

Kund: Jasmine

Nila: Sapphire

Kharava: Dwarf

Connection between these: 

Mahapadma=100 Padma

Padma= 100 Shankha

Shankha = 100 Makara

Makara= 100 Kachchhapa

Kachchhapa = 100 Kumud

Kumud = 100 Kund

Kund = 100 Nila

Nila = 100 Kharava

Kharava = 100 Arab (Billion) 

Voila! That's how my curiosity led me to write the whole article on Ashta Siddhi and Nav Nidhi. Thankyou and God bless :)