siddhi ...
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namasté
If we look to the first 1st śloka of the pratyabhijñāhṛdayam¹, it says,
citiḥ svatantrā viśvasiddhihetuḥ |
(citiḥ svatantrā viśva-siddhi-hetuḥ )
this says,
the completely independent (svatantrā¹) intent (or will) of the Supreme is the cause (hetuḥ¹) for the siddhi of the universe (viśva).
When one looks at this, it would be easy to think siddhi = perfection as that is a definition that it holds. Some too equate siddhi with
special skill or any unusual skill or faculty or capability. It also holds a more popular definition of ~special~ powers. Some call out 6 e.g. aṇimā ,laghimā , prāptiḥ , etc. yet many more are mentioned in patañjali’s yogadarśana.
So, people generally gravitate to these few definitions of siddhi: perfection (success) and special powers, special skill, perfection, etc. We can see how perfection may apply to this śloka that has been mentioned. Yet siddhi also has other definitions that fit this sūtra quite nicely . Let me offer it.
Siddhi also means :
- establishment , substantiation , settlement , demonstration , indisputable conclusion
- preparation , cooking , maturing , maturity
- becoming clear or intelligible
- settlement , liquidation
- accomplishment , performance , complete attainment , fulfillment
If we boil some of these ideas down to a few ideas we can come up with creation, maintenance, and dissolution :
- creation = establishment of viśva
- maintenance = cooking and maturing of viśva
- dissolution = the settlement and liquidation, the indisputable conclusion of viśva
Yet too this idea of making the universe 'becoming clear or intelligible ' also suggests the beginning stages of the Supreme beginning to form the notion of sending the universe forth, this is the notion of an 'impulse', the idea of creation.
Hence the potent use of the word 'siddhi' offered by Kṣemarāja. His 20 sūtra-s are the condensation of utpaladeva-ji's Īśvarapratyabhijñā (which consists of 199 sūtra-s). These works are part of the trika scriptures within the framework of advitīya (~ non dual~, without a second) kaśmir śaivism.
iti śivaṁ
words
- pratyabhijñāhṛdayam = re-recognition (pratyabhijñā ) + heart (hṛdayam). This is 'code' for re-recognition of one's own
Self. - svatantrā - self-dependence , independence , self-will , freedom ; it too is another name for śakti.
- The Supreme is the only completely independent ~Being~ that exhibits the complete and perfect freedom.
- citi is rooted in cit and means to aim at , intend , design ; to have consciousness
- hetu is impulse; my teacher always used this word to define the cosmic forces in the universe.
यतसà¥à¤¤à¥à¤µà¤‚ शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṠśivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
Bookmarks