Yoga Sutra 4.1

janma-oṣadhi-mantra-tapah-samādhijāḥ siddhayaḥ

The powers come from birth, medicinal herbs, mantras, discipline or complete absorption (samadhi)

After dedicating a major portion of Chapter Three to the yogic practices resulting in extraordinary powers (siddhis), Patañjali begins Chapter Four by listing five possible origins of these powers:

1. Some people acquire them at birth, tough they may not necessarily appreciate it or use them wisely

2. Others acquire temporary powers by taking special plant medicines like ayahuasca during certain rituals

3. Or by mantra, the practice of reciting a word or series of words

4. Or by the practice of asceticism/self discipline in avoiding of all forms of indulgence

5. Or by attaining samadhi, which is the culmination of the eight-limbed path of yoga

Only method 5. above can give true mastery of the extraordinary powers. 

Damian Cadman-Jones is an authorised teacher of Prana Vashya Yoga™