The name ‘Anhima’ is taken from Hindu mythology. It is one of the eight Ashta Siddhi. Ashta siddhi are the eight divine knowledge that gives one complete power over each and
everything. It is said that the one with these powers cannot be suppressed. They are mentioned in Hindu scriptures and texts. Most notably people hear about ashta siddhi is during hearing Hanuman chalisa or Ganesh vajana. These
extraordinary powers are possessed by Goddess Durga, who, in each of her forms, grants different kinds of blessings to her devotees. Hindu scriptures say that the people who have complete control over the siddhis can gain power of demigods. As the name itself says Ashta which means eight in sanskrit, the ashta siddhis are: Anhima/Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Isitva, Vasitva. Each siddhi governs certain character or certain aspect of nature and mastering each gives one distinct ability unique to other siddhis.
Lord Krishna described the power Anhima as 'Becoming smaller than the smallest' in Srimad Bhagavatam. It is the ability to reduce the size of the body, sometimes even to the size of the atoms. The meaning could be extrapolated as the ability to
decrease your ego or pride and be humble to the world.
In Latin, Anhima means soul; life. (
psychology of C. G. Jung) the inner
personality that is turned toward the unconscious of the
individual.
Anhima is also a genus of birds that includes only the horned screamer and is the type of the family Anhimidae.
When Hanuman first reaches to Lanka on his mission to find Sita, he makes use of Anhima/Anima so as to be
discrete in enemy
territory. When Hanuman first reaches to Lanka on his mission to find Sita, he makes use of
the power anima so as to be discrete.