A careful reading of the Kularnava Tantra reveals a pragmatic yet cautionary attitude toward siddhis. These “supernatural powers”—levitation, clairvoyance, elemental mastery and the like—are acknowledged as real phenomena, but never as ends in themselves. The text likens siddhis to bright fireworks: dazzling to behold, yet fleeting and capable of distracting an earnest seeker from the ultimate prize of non-dual realization.

Key points emerge:

• Initiation and Grace: Siddhis are said to arise only after proper diksha (initiation) from an authorized guru. Mantras, mudras and disciplined sadhana form the soil in which these seeds can sprout, but it is shakti–the guru’s blessing–that actually fertilizes them.
• Ethical Foundation: A sturdy moral compass is non-negotiable. Without inner purity and unwavering devotion, any temporary paranormal display risks becoming a double-edged sword, fostering ego rather than enlightenment.
• Byproducts, Not Goals: The Tantra emphasizes that siddhis come unbidden, like sprouts after rain. Chasing them directly is likened to grabbing at shadows—fruitless and frustrating. Instead, total immersion in the worship of the Divine Mother naturally opens channels for these gifts, though the awakened heart remains indifferent.
• Detachment and Discretion: Displaying siddhis for show is discouraged. The text warns that flaunting mystical feats may attract unwanted karmic entanglements or egoic spikes. True mastery is marked by silent confidence, not flashy demonstrations.

In today’s age—where headline-grabbing claims of psychedelic breakthroughs or “brain-hacking” to boost cognition dominate wellness news—the Kularnava Tantra’s ancient counsel remains strikingly relevant. It encourages seeing siddhis as incidental ripples in the deeper ocean of self-realization. In other words, the real magic lies not in bending spoons or reading minds, but in transcending the very notion of “self” that craves such powers.