Attainment of the perfections

It is depicted that, the perfections come into being as the outcome of the practice of samyama on the elements (bhuta). The perfections are—anima (minuteness), laghima (lightness), mahima (largeness), prapti (obtaining), prakamya (irresistible will), vasitva (control) and isitva (supremacy). The yogin who had attained the power anima is able to become subtler than the subtlest by just desiring so (suksmadapi suksmataro bhavati icchatah). By that he can enter into 227

everything, even in a diamond. Thus the yogin remains invisible to everyone. After attaining laghima, the yogin becomes lighter than the lightest (laghuh laghubhyah). It is like becoming lighter than a cotton wool. By this power, one is capable of going everywhere without the help of anything. One, who had attained the power mahima, becomes large he can occupy even the entire ether. Prapti is the power which makes one fit to touch the moon with the fingertips even staying in the earth. One, who has attained prakamya, is able to 258 desire whatever he wants without any striking. One can dive into earth as in water. Vasitva makes control over the entire world. In other words it can be said as the mastery over elements (bhuta) and their products and not being controlled by others. The final one isitva isitva is the control over production (utpatti), maintenance (sthiti) and destruction (pralaya) of the elements and their products. After attaining these perfections, the yogin is not obstructed by the qualities of elements. The earth by its property of hardness does not obstruct the bodily action of the yogin. So he can even enter into a stone. As in the case of water, it does not wet the yogin even if he stays in water for a thousand years. The 228

property of fire i.e., heat does not burn the yogin. Wind though moving does not make the yogin move. Ether does not cover anything. But the yogin can be covered by the ether and can be invisible even to the siddhas. It is said that when the yogin gets mastery over the five elements, perfections of body (kayasampat) also come as a result. They are- rupa (beauty), lavanya (radiance), bala (strength) and vajrasamhananatva (hard as thunderbolt).