Mudras are hand positions that affect the flow of energy in our body. Mudra means “seal” and causes the energy in the body to flow
in a specific pattern.of the body and brain. Each finger taps into its own
planetary.
- Often mudras will provide instant relief with lots of different ailments.
- Mudras not only work on your body, they also work on your mind. Rebalancing the body to its natural healthy state.
- Improvement in your general health will be noticed after doing Mudras on a regular basis.
- Mudras
can work within seconds of applying the hand position or sometimes
within 45 minutes. However, be prepared to do the postitions on a
regular basis for stubburn ailments that may require more work.
To use a mudra, keep it for at least a couple of minutes. It is
usually more effective to do them a while longer, like 15 minutes or so.
You might spread that time over the day, but you could also make it
part of meditation.
Hold the finger-positions with both hands, at the same time. This
will have a more powerful effect than doing a mudra with just one hand.
Some mudras are simple enough so that you can even do them with your hands in your pockets, like the set of four mudras. You can do these anywhere when you feel you need them, without attracting attention.
Five Fingers for Five Elements
- * Thumb Fire
* Index Air
* Middle Aakash (Energy or Ether)
* Ring Earth
* Little Water
10 types of Vayus (Winds) circulate through the nerves of the human
body and can be controlled with MUDRAS.
| MUKHYA VAYUS (Main Winds) |
|
| Pran Vayu | Mouth; central nose; central nabhi; heart |
| Apan Vayu | Rectum; regenerative organs; knees; loins Stomach; waist; navel and calves |
| Vyan Vayu | Eyes; ears; shoulders; ankles; throat |
| Udan Vayu | Hands and feet |
| Saman Vayu | assists other Vayus |
| UPVAYUS (Secondary winds) |
|
| Nag Vayu, Kurm Vayu, Kriker Vayu, Krikal or Devadutta Vayu, Dhananjaya Vayu and these winds circulate in places like the skin and bones etc. |
|
The rules to keep
these Vayus in good order are called PANCHMUKHI PRANOPASANA or the five
faceted worship of the life forces and use the Mudras to achieve their
ends.
Gyan Mudra
(seal of knowledge)
Place together the tips of the index finger and thumb . The index
finger represents the planet Jupiter and Jupiter represents knowledge
and expansion. The pose above is one of the most commonly used Mudras.
This mudra is good
for: stresses and strains, insomnia, emotional instability, indecisiveness,
excessive anger, idleness, laziness, indolence, and is a great help
in increasing memory and I.Q. It can help cure sleeplessness and get
one off sleeping pills where these are being taken.
Vaayu Mudra
One can perform this Mudra in any pose sitting, standing, lying down or walking. To do, fold the index
finger at the base of the thumb and press the back of second phalange
with the thumb. Keep the other three fingers as straight as possible.
One can perform it any time of the day irrespective of empty or full
stomach.
Releases extra wind form the stomach and the body thereby taking care of pains and aches as a first aid.
Helps in rheumatic pains. Gout, paralysis, Parkinson’s disease,
chest pains etc or any pain the reason for which is excess wind in
the system or in other words is due to imbalance of air element.
Caution: The only caution is this
Mudra works in peaks and valleys. So, care should be taken to
release the Mudra at once after being helped though it.
Varun Mudra
One may perform this Mudra any time of the day by joining the little finger tip with the tip of the thumb,
keeping the rest of the three fingers straight. One may perform this
Mudra in sitting, lying down or standing pose. Though, the
best pose is still the sitting cross legged pose.
As the name suggests, this Mudra is an association of water
element with the fire, Varun is the name of Water God “The Indra”, so
it balances the water element in the body.
Since it
moisturizes the body, it is also a thirst quenching Mudra
which activates the salivary glands ooze out saliva. It is a Mudra for relieving dehydration and stomach infection.
It activates the kidney malfunctioning and promotes urination.It activates the fluid circulation in the body.It is excellent for skin disorders, wrinkles, skin infections, skin dryness etc.It purifies the blood and takes care of many blood disorders.It brings lots of lustier and glows to the body and especially face.It compensates for the shortage of water in body.
Helps release constipation.
Caution:
Make sure you do not press the tip of the little finger near the nail
as it causes dehydration rather than moisturizing the system.
Agni Mudra
One should practice this Mudra empty stomach by folding the ring finger at the base of thumb and pressing
it with the thumb at the second phalange. Keep the rest of the three
fingers straight and perform it in sitting position only. Keep it for
at least 15 minutes at a stretch and 2-3 times daily to observe the
results.
One must discontinue performing this mudra in case of
acidity, heart burn, indigestion.
Helps dissolving extra fat of the body by balancing the metabolic rate, prevents and controls obesity. Burns the excess phlegm.Compensates for sluggish digestion.Helps to increase body strength.Reduces tensio.Very effective in reducing increased cholesterol levels
Provides heat and energy to the body, so excellent to do in winters.
Decreases earth element in the body.
Caution: One must not perform it full stomach, only perform it empty stomach.
Shunya Mudra
(Seal of patience)
Place together the tips of
the middle finger and thumb. The middle finger is associated with
Saturn.
The planet Saturn represents patience, discernment, and the law
of karma. This means one should be courageous and responsible.
This helps those with impaired hearing. If there is no physical
defect, the mudra, if practiced regularly, can restore the hearing power.
Remarkably, it helps in getting rid of earaches within minutes. It takes
no mare than 2 to 3 minutes to get rid of most earaches.
It helps in relieving
the nausea and vomiting sensations felt while driving on winding hilly
curves or while taking off or landing in aircrafts. It helps in many
problems of vertigo.
Caution:The mudra should
not be continued after the problem has been removed.
Prithivi Mudra
Touch the tip of the thumb and the tip of the ring finger together,
keeping the rest of the three fingers straight. Make sure you do not
force the fingers to be straight, only try to keep them so.
This Mudra is preferably done in the morning, but could be done any
time of the day otherwise and for any duration. This Mudra
is required to be done when one feels lack of energy, enthusiasm and
motivation in life. All seems dull and lifeless. One may perform this
Mudra with both the hands by sitting in Sukhasan or
Padmasan, and keeping the back of the palms on the knee, keeping the
elbows straight.
Helps boost the blood circulation in the body.Increases tolerance and patience.Helps in meditation.
Since this Mudra is an association of the earth element with the powerful Sun, it brings solidity to the body.It also helps the person to gain weight in case of weak and lean bodies.Helps to restore the balance of the body, when required i.e. restore body equilibrium.It wards off the weakness, fatigue, dullness and invokes prana in the body.It also brings and adds to the aura or the halo and also brightness to it.It also activates the thinking power and helps to broaden the orthodox/ conservative thinking pattern.It compensates the lack of “Rajasic Gunas”.
Aakash Mudra / Vyom Mudra
Join the tip of the middle finger with the tip of the thumb, keeping
the rest of the three fingers straight. One may perform this
Mudra anytime of the day for any duration. The best time for
practicing this Mudra is either morning time by sitting in
Sukhasan or Padmasan. One must try to keep this Mudra
intact for 45 minutes, though one may start with a shorter time period
as per convenience and capacity.
As the name suggests this Mudra is a combination of ether
element with the sun and thus come the powers to any ailment pertaining
to sound. It is excellent to increase the sensitivity to hear sounds.
Thus for those hard of hearing it is a boon in combination with
Shoonya Mudra.
This Mudra activates the calcium and
phosphorus absorption form the diet and also their formation, which
makes it a very good Mudra which those having weakness of
bone like osteoporosis.Due to its inherent quality to release
tensions, keeping the mind calm and serene it is also used during
meditation, to calm the mind.This Mudra is very successful
in taking care of the “lockjaw” experienced at times during yawning or
during mental tension or over exertion.
Practicing this Mudra regularly calms and clarifies the thought process.
Surya Mudra
(seal of sun, life)
Place together the tips of
the ring finger and thumb. The ring finger is associated with the sun
or Uranus. The Sun represents energy, health, and sexuality. Uranus
represents the nervous system, strength, intuition, and change.
Yoni Mudra
assume a comfortable meditation posture with the head and spine straight. place the palms of the hands together with the fingers and thumbs straight and pointing away from the body.
keeping the pads of the index fingers together, turn the little ,ring
and middle fingers inward so that the backs of the fingers are touching .interlock the little ring and middle fingers. bring the thumbs towards the body and join the pads of the fingers together to form the base of a yoni or womb shape.
:
the interlocking of the fingers in this practice creates a complete
cross connection of energies from the right hand into left and vice
versa. it helps balancing the activities of the right and left hemispheres of the brain. it makes the body and mind more stable in meditation and develops
greater concentration, awareness and internal physical relaxation. it redirects prana back into the body which would otherwise be dispersed.
finger should touch the right thumb. Put light pressure with the
remaining fingers of the left hand onto the closed fist fo the right
hand. Swap over sides.
Tone therapy, speech defects, Indigestion, loss of appetite
Apan-Vayu
Mudra:
This finger position works like an injection in cases of
a heart attack. Regular practice is an insurance in preventing heart
attacks, tacho-cardia, palpitations, depressions, sinking feeling of
the heart. Also known as the Mritsanjivani Mudra for arresting heart
attack.
LING MUDRA/ ANGUSHTHA MUDRA
Perform this Mudra by interlocking the fingers of both the hands in such way so that the little finger of the
left hand is the down most and the right hand thumb stands straight
up, envelope the right hand thumb with the left hand index finger and
thumb to join the tips at the back of the right hand palm. Hold the
palms together tightly. One should perform this Mudra by
keeping the back straight either in Padmasan or Sukhasan. One may also
sit on the chair in case of difficulties. Hold the hands in front of
the chest with hands exerting a little pressure against each other.
One may perform this Mudra as a therapy daily for time
duration one feels comfortable. One should not perform it full
stomach.
It is an excellent Mudra to break the phlegm and relieve a person of frequent coughs and colds.
It also works great when the temperature suddenly falls down
and one shivers of cold. Practicing this Mudra will generate
heat in the body and will provide the necessary warmth.It also relieves the bronchial spasms and calms down the breath.It is also fruitful if practiced by person suffering from bronchitis, lung cancer or asthma.It activates the digestive fire by activating the AGNI which in
turn boosts the metabolic rate of the body in case of sluggish
digestion.
It also helps in case of low blood pressure and mild paralytic attack, sinusitis etc.
Caution: One must discontinue the
Mudra in case of dizziness, uneasiness or nausea. People with
acidity must observe the reaction and if feels more heart burning, they
should discontinue doing it. One must not practice this
Mudra any longer after you get the result you are seeking.
Budhi Mudra
(seal of mental clarity)
Place together the tip of
the little (fourth) finger and thumb. The little finger it is associated with Mercury.
Mercury represents quickness, and the power of communication.
Surabhi
Mudra or the Dhenu Mudra:
Is a very effective and powerful Mudra.
By itself this Mudra helps a
sadhak (an aspirant practitioner) to break any barriers which he may
face when on the thresh hold of samadhi (the ultimate meditation).
In this Mudra the
ethereal elements combine such as to magnify and multiply their powers
and produce powerful results on the body. Vayu (Wind; symbolised by
the first finger) meets Aakash (Ether; symbolised by the middle finger),
to stabilise the chakra (the circle) of the universe. Again Prithvi
(Earth; symbolised by the ring finger) meets Jal (Water; symbolised
by the small finger), to produce the generative power of the universe.
With constant practice,
this mudra helps to stabilise and bring in resonance the Nabhi Chakra
or the circle of the navel, so essential for the ultimate elevation
of the human mind and body. The mudra has 4 variations, each of which
gives different results.
Venus Lock
The
name Venus Lock is derived from the connection between the negative
and positive side of the Venus mounds. For men, interlace the fingers with the left little finger on the
bottom. Place the left thumb in the webbing between the thumb and index
finger of the right hand. The right thumb presses the fleshy mound at
the base of the left thumb.
For women, the thumb positions are reversed
and the right little finger goes on the bottom.
These are located on each hand
and are the fleshy areas at the base of the thumb (which represents
ego).
Prayer Mudra
(Pranam Mudra)
This
mudra neutralizes the positive (male) and negative (female) side of the
body. This position is always done before starting a Yoga class. By
pressing the palms of the hands together firmly, we connect the two
hemispheres of the brain, and bringing them into balance.
Bear Grip
The right hand faces the chest and the left hand faces the palm of the
right hand. The left thumb faces down. Curl the fingers of both hands to
form a fish.
This Mudra is used to stimulate the heart and to intensify concentration.
the little finger of one hand with the ring finger of the other and
vice versa. Similarly, join the forefinger with the middle finger of
the other hand and vice versa. Leave your thumbs free.
Sharpens your intellect
Hands in Lap
The right hand rests on top of the left palm. Both palms face up while
resting on the lap and making tips of the thumbs touch. This hand
position reverses for women.
This Mudra it is commonly used for meditation.
