Q179. What abilities does Lord Krishna have?

There are eighteen superior types of mystic siddhis (perfections), and five inferior perfections, which Lord Krishna has in full. The eight primary perfections are as follows: 1) Anima-siddhi – The ability to decrease the size of one’s body and become smaller than the smallest particle. Through this siddhi one may enter into stone or change the density in one’s body, enabling one to pass through solid matter. 2) Mahima-siddhi – The ability to increase the size of one’s body, ultimately enveloping the universe. 3) Laghima-siddhi – The ability to make one’s body lighter than air and fly at will. The perfection of this siddhi enables one to travel on the sun’s rays and enter into the sun planet. 4) Prapti-siddhi – The ability to manifest any object one desires within one’s hand. This siddhi removes the limitations of space which separate two objects from each other. It is said one will even be able to touch the moon with one’s finger [i.e. the limitation of distance is removed]. 5) Prakamya-siddhi – The ability to attain anything one desires. 6) Ishita-siddhi – The ability to control the sub-potencies of the laws of nature. This enables one to control various energies and seemingly defy the laws of nature. On the lowest level, one may make fire come from one’s mouth, etc. 7) Vashita-siddhi – The ability to bring others under one’s control. 8) Kamavasayita-siddhi – The ability to attain anything anywhere. This is the highest of the eight and contains most of the abilities of the other perfections. The ten secondary perfections are as follows:

1) The ability to be free from hunger and thirst. With this perfection one no longer depends on food and water for maintenance of one’s body. One will be able to sustain himself simply on prana, the life air. 2) The ability to hear things far away. With this perfection one can hear any conversation spoken anywhere in the world. 3) The ability to see things far away. With this perfection one develops a mystic vision, by which one can see any person or place. Sanjaya, the disciple of Vyasa, used this siddhi to see and hear the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna (known as Bhagavad-Gita) which took place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, though he was situated far away. 4) The ability to travel at the speed of the mind. With this perfection one can travel great distances in a moment simply by thinking of the destination. 5) The ability to assume any form one desires. This enables one to change one’s physical body at will. 6) The ability to enter the bodies of others. This perfection enables one to enter into the bodies of others and enjoy through their senses. Since ghosts do not have physical senses, they often resort to this to satisfy their desires through other’s bodies. 7) The ability to control the time of one’s death. With this perfection one may choose the time of leaving his body. 8) The ability to witness the pastimes between the demigods and the celestial girls called apsaras. 9) Satya-sankalpa – Perfect accomplishment of one’s determination. Whatever one desires to happen will happen. 10) Satya-yak - Giving orders that are unimpeded. With this perfection one’s very word is truth. Simply by saying something it occurs. Besides the eighteen superior perfections, there are five inferior perfections as follows: 1) The ability to know past, present and future. 2) The ability to tolerate heat, cold and other dualities. 3) The ability to know the minds of others. 4) The ability to check the influence of fire, water, poison, and weapons. 5) The ability to remain unconquered by others. Reference: Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 11, chapter 15: Lord Krsna’s Description of Mystic Yoga Perfections These eighteen superior mystic perfections and the five inferior perfections are the potencies of Lord Krishna, who is called Yogesvara, the Master of all mystic perfections. Anyone who claims to be God, must exhibit all these perfections, and if he cannot then he is not God, but an imposter. Lord Krishna is the only Person who

has exhibited all these perfections, not just once, but millions of times. This is because, He is the only God. Lord Krishna gives some of these mystic perfections to His pure devotees who want them. The Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Vedic scriptures, give details on how one can acquire some of these mystic perfections. Those who have acquired one or more of these perfections are called mystic yogis, and these yogis have been seen walking on water, flying, transporting themselves from one place to another within a few seconds, materializing objects, changing forms, predicting the future, bringing back the dead, seeing the dead in their new life and so on. In the past, there were millions of mystic yogis, but now very few, as the potency has been reduced due to the influence of Kali Yuga. “Wherever there is Yogeshvar, the master of all yogis, and wherever there is Arjuna, the expert archer, there will be opulence, power, victory, and morality.” (Sanjaya to Dhrtarastra, Bhagavad-Gita 18.78)