Hinduism and magic

[David19]

Does anyone here know anything about magical practices and Hinduism, i've read a few things that say there are many magical aspects of it (some say Tantra deals with the more supernatural and mystical elements).

I've read that in Hinduism (and Buddhism), when you work with chakra's, you awaken siddhi's (supernatural powers), is this true. How's magic seen in Hinduism (i've heard several differing accounts, some say it's ok in some situations, others say it's looked upon in a negative light, and i've heard in some tribes, people accused of witchcraft are killed, but i don't know if thats true).

[Dawa Lhamo]

If you get into Indian alchemy, there are loads of material about siddhis... A siddha generally means a person who has realized a dual goal of superhuman powers and bodily immortality. Within this siddha tradition, the alchemists developed. Most important to our discussion are the Rasa Siddhas and the Nath Siddhas. The Rasa Siddhas, the premiere alchemists of medieval India, developed the identification of minerals and metals with bodily, and especially sexual fluids. The Nath Siddhas are India's masters of yoga and wizards of alchemy, the last living guides along the secret path to supernatural power and bodily immortality. (White, 6)This particular emphasis on personal power was regarded as rather dubious by many of the other Indian traditions. Patanjali firmly advises to reject the siddhis and other worldly pleasures. An emphasis on power and immortality in this body and lifetime was considered rather crude to those who internalized everything. Indeed, it was more likely the poor and dispossessed that would seek this kind of power, while the privileged classes pursued higher, more noble goals. To the classical yogin, for example, these siddhis did exist, but as distractions. (Aranya) And, where Indian alchemy became more mundane, focused on wealth and power and not personal perfection, this does seem to apply. The White reference is: White, David Gordon The Alchemical Body University of Chicago Press, Chicago: 1996. The Aranya reference is just a translation and comments on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra: Aranya, Swami Hariharananda Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali State University of New York Press, Albany, 1983.

The White book, if I remember, was pretty expensive, so if you're interested, you might try to find it in a library. In any case, "Nath Siddha" and "Rasa Siddha" are good keywords. If you can *find* them, these books are good (IIRC, they're more recipe/how-to books than analytical academic books): Mookerji, Kaviraj Bhudeb Rasa-Jala-Nidhi or Ocean of Indian Chemistry and Alchemy Avani Prakashan, 1984. V.1-5. But good luck finding a copy. ^_^

I'm moving, so I've packed away all the relevant books I have, though I don't have all that much... I'll have to get back to you once I've looked through my books and notes and maybe I'll have some kind of *something* to help point you in a helpful direction. ^_^

[Agaliha]

I'm not sure if this qualifies, but there's the Atharva-Veda.

You can read it all online here:
The Atharva-Veda (http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/av/index.htm)
translated by Maurice Bloomfield [1897] (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 42)

There's spells, prayers and charms there.

I haven't read it (still reading the Rig Veda!) so I can't help you with it.

[David19]

I forgot about this thread, and I know it's kind of old, but thankyou very much for the links and book suggesions.

[Paracelsus]

White's great - I can also warmly recommend his "Tantra in Practice".

[Dawa Lhamo]

White's great - I can also warmly recommend his "Tantra in Practice".Thanks for the recommendation; I'll have to check it out!

[David19]

White's great - I can also warmly recommend his "Tantra in Practice".

Thanks for the book recommendation.