YOGA MUDRAS
There is a set of Mudras that help Seeker with his Consciousness and Super-consciousness union.
Mudras as subtle energy activators. According to Kularnava Tantra, Mudra is a word derived from the root word Mud which means “Pleasure” or “Delight”.
The Sanskrit word “Mudra” can be translated in English as “Gesture” or “Attitude”.
These are used to link individual pranic force with the universal force or cosmic energy.
Mudra is also defined as “seal”.
Practical instruction from a guru is necessary before attempting these mudras.
These gestures require a certain degree of awareness and sensitivity.
It has to be performed after perfecting the Yoga Asanas, Pranayama, and Bandhas.
In Hatha Yoga, it is considered to be a separate limb altogether called “Yoganga”.
Mudras Benefits
- Mudras are a combination of Subtle physical movements which alter mood, attitude, and perception.
- It will deepen the awareness and concentration.
- They are a combination of Asana, Pranayama, Bandha, and Visualization techniques.
- Sometimes it can be just simple hand gestures.
- They are considered to be advanced spiritual practices which lead to awakening the dynamic force within oneself called "Kundalini".
- It will also help awaken Pranas, Chakras and bestow Psychic Powers for the advanced practitioners.
- They will greatly help in inducing a sense of withdrawal and concentration.
- They are scientific and yogic functions by which one can develop or change one’s internal and external dispositions.
- It will bring enormous miraculous mental, spiritual, and physical changes and improvements in the physical body.
- They help in balancing the elements of the body.
- It even affects the changes in veins, tendons, glands, and sense organs.
- They do not require prior preparation. They can be done at any time, anywhere and under any circumstances.
- They help in bringing quick and effective changes.
- Regular practice of gestures will bring about positive changes in the human body.
- There are a few gestures will take as long as 45 minutes to reflect the changes whereas a few other gestures will reflect the changes in the human body in just a few seconds.
- Gayatri Mantra has 24 Gayatri Mudras which has the potential to take one to the state of enlightenment.
- Gestures have the potential to connect the individual to cosmic power.
Mudras and Pranic Energy
Around the brain stem, there are primitive areas that are responsible for the instinctive habit patterns that cause unconscious reflexes and primal actions. Performing them on a daily basis would help get rid of the negative habit patterns by affecting the primitive areas around the brain stems.
There will be a subtle and non-intellectual connection with these areas. Each mudra has a specific effect on the parts of the brain, mind, prana and the body.
Performing the gestures on a daily basis would help replace the unconscious negative reflex actions with conscious positive actions.
Mudra Types
Mudras are classified into 5 main groups which are listed below.
- Hasta.
- Mana.
- Kaya.
- Bandha.
- Adhara.
HASTA MUDRAS
The Sanskrit word “Hasta” in English means “Hands”. These are used during the Meditation sessions.
These gestures help redirect the prana being dissipated from the body back into the body.
They involve touching the thumb and index finger engage the motor cortex at a very subtle level, generating a loop of energy which moves from the brain down the hand and then back again.
Example
- Jnana Mudra.
- Chin Mudra.
- Yoni Mudra.
- Bhairava Mudra.
- Hridaya Mudra.
MANA MUDRAS
Mana mudras are used in Kundalini Yoga. Mana as in Head, Mudra means seal or gesture. ‘
These utilize eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and lips.
Example
- Shambhavi Mudra.
- Nasikagra Drishti.
- Kechari Mudra.
- Kaki Mudra.
- Bhujangini Mudra.
- Bhoochari Mudra.
- Akashi Mudra.
- Shanmukhi Mudra.
- Unmani Mudra.
KAYA MUDRAS
Kaya Mudras uses the physical body combined with breathing and concentration techniques.
Example
- Prana Mudra.
- Vipareeta Karani Mudra.
- Yoga Mudra.
- Pashinee Mudra.
- Manduki Mudra.
- Tadagi Mudra
BANDHAS
Bandhas are nothing but locks. These mudras are a combination of Bandhas and Mudras.
These Mudras are used in Kundalini Yoga. This will help change the system with more pranic energy and
prepare for the system for the awakening of Kundalini.
Example
- Maha Mudra.
- Maha Bheda Mudra.
- Maha Vedha Mudra.
ADDHARA MUDRAS
Adhara is a Sanskrit word which means Root or Foundation. These mudras use perineum part of the physical
body. This will redirect the pranic energy from the lower centers to the brain or upper centers.
These mudras will help with sublimating sexual energy.
Example
- Ashwini Mudra.
- Vajroli/Sahajoli Mudra.
“Tasmaatsarvaprayatnena prabodhayitumeeshvareem.
Brahmadvaaramukhe suptaam mudraabhyaasam samaacharet.”
Therefore the goddess sleeping at the entrance of Brahma’s door should be constantly aroused with all effort, by performing mudra thoroughly.Hatha Yoga Pradipika (3:5)
Mudras in Therapy
Let us first understand what is meant by Good Health according to the World Health Organization.
“A state of complete physical, mental, and social well being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Before you begin the practice ensure you have the proper knowledge about the gestures and then practice regularly to reap the benefit over a period of time.
Like Yoga Asana, Gestures should be practiced sincerely and these should be practiced under the guidance of the Guru.
Any living physical body is made up of 5 main elements.
- Fire.
- Wind.
- Ether.
- Earth, and
- Water.
This is based on the theory and principles of Ayurveda.
For each finger, there is an association of elements to it.
The Thumb – Fire Element.
The Fore Finger – Wind Element.
The Middle Finger – Ether Element.
The Ring Finger – Earth Element.
The Little or Small Finger – Water Element.
Finger Tips of every living being have many root endings of the nerves, which are the points to discharge the energy.
According to basic scientific principles, around every fingertip, there is a highly concentrated free electrons presence.
By touching the tips of the fingertips to other parts of the palms the pranic energy is getting redirected back into the boy along specified channels back to the brain.
The pranic energy that is been redirected will travel through the nerves stimulating the various chakras.
For example, keeping the hands on the knees stimulates the Gupta Nadi and makes the energy to flow from the mooladhara chakra to upward direction.
The tension applied to the nerves or through performing different mudras help in balancing the five basic elements.
Stretching the specific nerves and held them for a period of time will tone up the nerves.
Fingers of each and every individual are different and is structured based on their nerves system.
In fact, Yoga Mudras will affect the person’s attitude.
Mudras and other branches of Medical Science
In Fact, Acupressure is purely based on this concept of nerves and the finger touch points.
Acupuncture will also work on the similar workings of the gestures where slight electrical impulses are conveyed through needles inserted on the body.
Whereas Mudras do not require any external agencies to create pressure.
If we compare them with the Neural Science (Study of Nerves), Gestures bestows a deeper insight to the practitioners of Neuro-Science as it is directly dealt with practical aspects of Nerves.
Mudra Science is based on the Principles of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda talks about three primary factors that are responsible for physical, mental, and emotional health.
Vata – Wind
Pitta – Bile
Kapha – Phlegm
There are 10 types of Winds (Vayus) that circulate through the nerves of the human body and can be manipulated using different gestures.
Winds are classified into two main types.
Primary Winds and Secondary Winds.
Primary Winds or Mukhya Vayus:
Prana – Deals with a circulation across Mouth, Central Nose, Central Nabhi, and Heart.
Apana – Deals with a circulation across Rectum, Regenerative Organs, Knees, Loin Stomach, Waist, Navel, and Calves.
Vyana – Circulates through Eyes, Ears, Shoulders, Ankles, and Throat.
Udana – Circulates through Hands and Feet.
Samana – Assists other Winds.
Secondary Winds or Upa Vayus:
Nag Vayu, Kurm Vayu, Krikal Vayu, Kriker Vayu, Dhananjaya Vayu – Circulates across Skin and Bones.
How to do 35 Mudras?
Below is the list of gestures we are going to update based on its use, method, and ways to practice them, and related important information pertaining to each mudra.