Collecting mana? Magical powers?

[Kristoffer]

Do hinduists believe in "mana expanding" and "mana gathering" (if this is the correct way to put it?)?

If thats the case: what does hinduists in general that you must do to gather your mana? what can you do with it, and how can you use it?

 

[Maya3]

What is mana?

The term for someone who practice Hinduism is Hindu.

Maya

 

[Vinayaka]

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Are you sure you have the right sub-forum?

 

[ShivaFan]

Do you mean like gathering Manna from heaven? My understanding (hope I am not confusing myself with two different stories) is the Jews were going through the dessert back a long time ago, it was rough going with little food, when white colored food came down out of the sky.

This food came like a magical answer to prayers. Have you seen spider webs (with eggs) of some spiders that fly like pancake size white clusters in the sky carried by the wind? This happens only with certain spiders under certain natural weather conditions certain times of the year but not every year (where the baby spiders are birthed on the thick leaved branches of the bay tree and other similar trees that are actually not friendly to ants but heaven to these spiders). in right circumstance of weather and condition of these trees and breezes, nature or the will of God decides these babies should not be hatched on the tree, rather these web clusters take off high into the sky and fly even hunderds of miles to distrubute the spider elsewhere.

They can become quite pancake or bun like, and are edidable. Quite tasty, I have heard, though their whiteness gathers some dust sometimes and get sort of dusty colored.

I suspect this was the Manna - not that it would not be a magical moment and answer to prayers. Nature feeds many in cycles and for reasons. But the webs are best grabbed at low altitude or when landed in the grass of other but will start to decay so you have to gather fast. But more may be coming.

Now I could be wrong, the Manna might have been something else, but it was about this "nick of time" food and arriving almost like magic. When it arrives, don't be lazy but gather at that time during the bleak situation and enjoy.

The Manna though rare, also has curative powers, rejuvenational in nature.

In Hinduism, at a bleak moment when hope is lost almost, we find examples of Manna from nature as a sacred thing from God with curative powers. For example, in the Hindu Ramayana, When Lakshmana is severely wounded during the battle against Ravana, Hanuman is sent to fetch the Sanjeevani herb/plant/bark (with sap, sometimes described as glowing and resin like) a powerful life-restoring "herb" from Dronagiri mountain, in the Himalayas, to revive the fallen Lakshman after a battle. Hanuman flys to go get it.

Some consider this cure a magic herb and rare.

So there are examples of manna from heaven in Hinduism IMHO. I know you might be speaking metaphorically, which is fine, too. Yes there are some Hindus who also believe in gathering both physical concoctions with powers and spiritual ones with powers and even metaphorical symbols called yantras or mystical diagrams-plates with triangles on them and such which do possess "magical" transformational powers.

 

[ShivaFan]

Here are some YANTRA examples (see link), notice the pattern(s) expanding out.

Online Jadibuti Store - Buy Ayurvedic products, Herbal Products, Puja items, Yantra, Parad Shivling, Rudraksh, Crystal Yantra

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

After we're done riding a triceratops through the sea of milk and honey (collecting floating jewels along the way) we spend a little time centering our chakras using a meat thermometer. It's important for Hinduists (as you so eloquently put it) to keep the third eye focused on left field or else karma burns our astral bodies and we have to start the whole darn sutra over again. And you know how that is. What you refer to as "mana" is actually absorbed through the two front palms (The subsequent hands have to be relaxed or else all our arms get tangled). By chanting AUM under a blood moon after the third sunset in a lunar cycle we attain the optimum amount of "mana". Which we use mostly for winning fantasy football bets at the office.
.

And scene.

 

[StarryNightshade]

What is "mana"? I've personally never heard of it.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Do hinduists believe in "mana expanding" and "mana gathering" (if this is the correct way to put it?)?
If thats the case: what does hinduists in general that you must do to gather your mana? what can you do with it, and how can you use it?

1. Manna (Hebrew: מָ‏ן‎) or al-Mann wa al-Salwa (Arabic: المَنّ و السلوى‎, Kurdish: gezo, Persian: گزانگبین‎), sometimes or archaically spelled mana, is an edible substance that, according to the Bible and the Quran, God provided for the Israelites during their travels in the desert. (Wikipedia)

I do not know of any incident in Hinduism when Gods and Goddesses threw eatables from heaven. If they so desire, they can create a palace with attendants along with a magnificient dining hall and kitchen with chefs, fully provisioned with best food from all over the world in an instant. So why throw food from sky? There are better ways of delivery.

2. Mana is a word found in Austronesian languages meaning "power, effectiveness, prestige," where in most cases the power is understood to be supernatural. (Wikipedia)

Yes, such powers and the accompanying prestige are supposed to be possible in Hinduism through 'Yoga'. These are known as 'Siddhis' or 'achievement of various powers'. These are not what is sought for in Hinduism, these are supposed to be deviation from the correct path and corrupting (like 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely'). I do not believe in 'Siddhis'. However, more information about 'Siddhis' is available here: Siddhi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[ShivaFan]

I think Aup has hit on it "Mana is a word found in Austronesian languages..." etc. that perhaps this Kristoffer is using the word mana and not manna (we can wait to hear from this gent as to further clarification, actually Kristoffer's inquiry did not strike me as rude but polite and common from those not yet erudite in Hinduism, even what was typical of some who are Hindu now but once were unfamiliar and groping for the words to ask about religion and no more advanced than this members honest questions ... prefectly fair IMHO).

Now that I think about it, this word mana as was used at my University also was a "catch all" word meaning the belief in "power" or "spirits" in NON-FLESH things such as rocks, or trees, or rivers and such ("mana" - sometimes as it is applied as such in Taoism conceptually and in exported Buddhism literally).

So I am curious to hear back from Kristoffer for clarification, but if this is the question of mana as in rocks or rivers or trees, certainly in Hinduism there is the vision of powers and Gods etc in Rivers, spirits in rocks and trees etc... Who can then extend mana to surroundings and zones.

 

[Kalibhakta]

I can tell you Tantra is not magic and you're not going to find anything like Wicca or Thelma here.

Fireside_Hindu wins thread.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Now that I think about it, this word mana as was used at my University also was a "catch all" word meaning the belief in "power" or "spirits" in NON-FLESH things such as rocks, or trees, or rivers and such ("mana" - sometimes as it is applied as such in Taoism conceptually and in exported Buddhism literally).

Now my question is whether 'mana' has some relation with 'manas' in Dharmic/Indic* religions?

*Indic religions: Religions which originated in India - Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Kristopher is now in Sikhism DIR.

 

[Kalibhakta]

Kristopher is now in Sikhism DIR.

Wow that is a loaded question he asked over there to boot.

I don't know if it is cool to cry "Troll", but what do you think he wants out of it?

 

[ShivaFan]

So I just went and looked at the Sikh DIR since this came up, and I see he (assuming he is a male) asked the question "Do you believe in Allah or the hinduistic gods? What are your metaphysical understanding?"

Actually, this is a logical questiun from someone who might be a seeker. While Sikhism is One in it's own right it does have a lot of synergies with both Islam and Hinduism and some find that very interesting and ask about it.

I am not so sure Kristoffer is a "troll" anymore than some. I suspect English may not be his first language, but English is not the first language for many and that is ok. Maybe he won't get back with the Hindu DIR to clarify, that could mean he wasn't too interested anyway, or it could mean he feels he is being made intimidated. If he is the agenda based element, that will become clear.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I too find Kristopher's questions very normal for a person who does not have knowledge of 'dharmic' religions. Let him search for questions and their answers.

 

[Kristoffer]

Hey! I see you have discussed if Im trolling. I can assure you that Im not! Im only very curious. And yea - english is not my primary language
Aupmanyav and ShivaFan - thank you for the support

Well, as Aupmanyav noted
ShivaFan

2. Mana is a word found in Austronesian languages meaning "power, effectiveness, prestige," where in most cases the power is understood to be supernatural. (Wikipedia)

Yes, such powers and the accompanying prestige are supposed to be possible in Hinduism through 'Yoga'. These are known as 'Siddhis' or 'achievement of various powers'. These are not what is sought for in Hinduism, these are supposed to be deviation from the correct path and corrupting (like 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely'). I do not believe in 'Siddhis'. However, more information about 'Siddhis' is available here: Siddhi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

- Yes, it is this kind of metaphysical powers I mean.

I think Aup has hit on it "Mana is a word found in Austronesian languages..." etc. that perhaps this Kristoffer is using the word mana and not manna (we can wait to hear from this gent as to further clarification, actually Kristoffer's inquiry did not strike me as rude but polite and common from those not yet erudite in Hinduism, even what was typical of some who are Hindu now but once were unfamiliar and groping for the words to ask about religion and no more advanced than this members honest questions ... prefectly fair IMHO).

Now that I think about it, this word mana as was used at my University also was a "catch all" word meaning the belief in "power" or "spirits" in NON-FLESH things such as rocks, or trees, or rivers and such ("mana" - sometimes as it is applied as such in Taoism conceptually and in exported Buddhism literally).

So I am curious to hear back from Kristoffer for clarification, but if this is the question of mana as in rocks or rivers or trees, certainly in Hinduism there is the vision of powers and Gods etc in Rivers, spirits in rocks and trees etc... Who can then extend mana to surroundings and zones.

- Sounds right.

Do any of the gods, or anyone of the big heroes, as you can come up with in the hinduistic religion, using the Siddhi? What is it used for? What is the metaphysical explanation for this? Is it Vishnus work, or is it some elementary that have existed before EVERYTHING? I dont know so much of hinduism, but are very interested to learn more

 

[Kalibhakta]

I apologize for my tone Kristoffer, we often have hostile questioners wander in. You are welcome to ask.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

I apologize for my tone Kristoffer, we often have hostile questioners wander in. You are welcome to ask.

Hey Kristoffer, I apologize for the snark. The question just seemed so strange to me. I hope you will continue to ask questions.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Do any of the gods, or anyone of the big heroes, as you can come up with in the hinduistic religion, using the Siddhi? What is it used for? What is the metaphysical explanation for this? Is it Vishnus work, or is it some elementary that have existed before EVERYTHING? I dont know so much of hinduism, but are very interested to learn more

Don't worry, all in the game. First thing, there is no word like Hinduistic, better use the word Hindu. There are Hinduistic religions, but by now they have their proper names, i.e., Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism, etc. I have not replied to your post in the Sikhism forum because though I respect the Sikh gurus and know a little about Sikhism, I wish that you should get your first reply from a Sikh.

The Gods and Goddesses are all powerful, they are the source and the bestowers of 'siddhis'. As for the sages and heroes, it depends on particular individuals. The best have all the siddhis. 'Siddhis' are to be used for public good. If they are used for evil or personal purposes, they don't last long.

 

[Kristoffer]

Its all ok Thank you ^^

The Gods and Goddesses are all powerful, they are the source and the bestowers of 'siddhis'. As for the sages and heroes, it depends on particular individuals. The best have all the siddhis. 'Siddhis' are to be used for public good. If they are used for evil or personal purposes, they don't last long.

Hmm, interesting. I also read the link, and that was very informative too!

Now i wonder if you could answer me about:
- What do the sages and heroes do to collect their siddhis?
- Does it exist different kind of siddhis, after what kind of god you are praying to, for example?
- Is it the gods that are granting individuals siddhis as they please (one kind of god would give, while one dont want to give, for example)?