There are many different forces in the cosmos, and numerous methods to influence them, both apparent and hidden, according to Hindu belief.
The Atharva Veda, one of the earliest Hindu sacred books, is
mostly a compilation of spells, thereby emphasizing the importance of magic.
Many Hindus currently believe that some powerful religious
adepts have the ability to command invisible forces as well as the ability to
negate other people's spells.
People with high degrees of religious achievement are said
to possess superhuman abilities (siddhi), enabling them to do feats that
regular people cannot.
These superhuman abilities are not seen as mystical, but
rather as the usual exercise of a degree of intellect above that of most
individuals.
For ages, Indian culture has had a lengthy heritage of
illusion, sleight of hand, and other forms of deception, which has perplexed
and entertained observers.
Lee Siegel's 1991 book Net of Magic gives a detailed
overview of these abilities.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.
