laghima
/ləˈɡɪmə/
noun
Origin
Sanskrit
laghu — light, small, quick
Overview
Meaning Now
- One of the eight classical siddhis or supernatural powers in Indian philosophy, specifically the power to become light in weight, allowing the practitioner to float or levitate.
Literal older meaning
lightness
Language path
Sanskrit → Sanskrit
Earliest form
laghiman
Earliest period
Classical period
Journey
Laghima is one of the 'Aṣṭasiddhi' (eight perfections) described in Hindu scriptures like the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. It represents the yogi's ability to manipulate the elemental property of weight, rendering the body weightless to achieve levitation or movement across vast distances.
Evolution
- Vedic Sanskrit
laghu
“light (weight)”
- Classical Sanskrit
laghiman
“the quality of lightness”
Formation of the abstract noun suffix -iman
- Post-Classical Sanskrit
laghimā
“levitation as a yogic power”
Usage shifted to denote a specific siddhi
Connections
Word parts
laghu
root
light
iman
suffix
abstract noun marker
Related across languages
Latin
levis
light
English
alleviate
to make lighter
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Related to laghima
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.