Day-22 Hasta-Mudras(15)-Mitraasha
SUNDAY SPECIAL: Hasta-Mudras
51 Days Yoga Consciousness Series 2nd May-21st June 2021
Knowledge of Yoga is infinite, boundless and timeless. “Learning Yoga is an everlasting journey that leads you within and Within is where you find the world of immortal bliss”. –Mitraasha
Namaste All My Yoga Yaatris! May Yog Bless You!
The idea behind running this 51 Days Yoga Consciousness series is to proffer my modest learnings and share the divine pearls of Yoga science with people at large. Let’s have a conjoint intent to learn, implement and extend the wisdom of Yoga with a positive co-action and harmonious reverberation amongst each other.
Mudras
मुद्रा: Mudrā which translates in English as a “mark”, or a “seal”, or “gesture”, is a denotative and/or ritual pose/sign practiced by people following Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism etc. Although a few mudras encapsulate the whole body, most of them are done by using just the hands.Besides being an integral part of spiritual Indian observances, mudras are very vital and intrinsic to several Indian dance forms and yogic practices too. Knowledge of culmination of yoga asanas with breathwork, pranayama is well known, however what many people are not aware of is that Yoga Mudras are also very eminent to the Vedic healing processes.
The preliminary mentions of the yogic mudra (seals) can be traced down to two ancient and eminent yoga literatures, the Gheranda Samhita and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, where in the importance of mudras in context of yogic practice is spoken about.
As per the Hatha yoga, mudras are largely practiced in simultaneity with pranayama while being seated in any meditative posture. This is believed to invigorate the respiratory organs and to influence the flow of prana(vital life force), bindu (male psycho-sexual energy), bodhicitta (sentience) in the body. Hatha yogic mudras majorly imbibes internal actions, which involves the pelvic floor, diaphragm, throat, eyes, tongue, anus, genitals, abdomen, and other parts of the body. Some of these heterogeneous forms of mudras are Mula Bandha, Mahamudra, Viparita Karani, Khecarī mudrā, and Vajroli mudra.
As per the Mudra philosophy, our 5 fingers are the representatives of 5 elements, Panch Mahabhutas of the universe, Fire, Air, Ether, Earth, Water respectively starting from thumb to the little finger. Each element plays an essential part in the stabilizing of our gross body, mental and emotional state of well-being.
Hasta-Mudras
Mudras: the use of hand gestures through acupressure meridians, in concurrence with meditation with an intention of channelizing the body’s energy flow through pressing, touching, curling or pointing our fingers or hands in distinct ways. It directs energy flow to certain parts of the body and brain, vivifying specific emotions, culminations and reverberations. In Yoga, the goal is to achieve self realization and by utilizing mudras in the yogic practice, which is a spirituous and substantial implementation for empowerment and self-aid, it helps to go inward, revitalize the energy levels and elevates one’s practice. Hundreds of mudras are known to have evolved over time and are being practiced by many.
Here, I will take you through a few of the Mudras, regular practice of which would help ameliorate your mental coherence, expand your energy levels and rejuvenate overall health status eventually.
1. Gyana or Chin Mudra
How To Do It?
Touch the tip of the thumb and the index finger together. Stretch out straight the other three fingers.
Benefits
Improves attentiveness, concentration, memory power, vision and alleviates pessimism and negativeness.
2. Dhyana Mudra
How to do it?
Sit with hands facing upward, the right palm laid on top of the left palm.
Benefits
Aids into enhanced and profound concentration, bringing more serenity and inner calmness.
3. Prithvi Mudra
How To Do It ?
Touch the tip of the thumb and the ring finger together. Stretch out straight the other three fingers.
Benefits
It enhances the mind’s clarity and concentration. Aids people deal with skin diseases,rashes like urticaria, brittle nails, premature hair fall,fatigue, osteoporosis and arthritis.
4. Varun Mudra
How to do it?
Touch the tip of the thumb and the little finger together. Stretch out straight the other 3 fingers.
Benefits
Improves the confidence to communicate efficaciously and enhances the circulation of fluids in the body.
5. Prana Mudra
How to do it?
Touch the tip of the thumb with the tips of the ring finger and little finger together. Stretch out straight remaining two fingers.
Benefits
Revitalizes the body, the eyesight and alleviates excessive fatigue stress.
6. Apana Mudra
How To Do It?
Touch the tip of the thumb with the tips of the middle finger and ring finger together. Stretch out straight remaining two fingers.
Benefits
Improves the metabolism, stimulates digestion, enhances elimination of the waste from the body and increases mental and emotional stability.
7. Vayu Mudra
How To Do It?
After bending the index finger, touch its tip on the root of the thumb, and gently press the outer top of the index finger with the thumb as if trying to maintain the finger in that position, but without excessive pressure. Stretch out straight the other three fingers.
Benefits
Balances the air element of the body, relieving from both flatulence and joint pain.
8. Shunya Mudra
How to do it?
Bend the middle finger and touch its tip on the base of the thumb, then gently press the top of the bent finger with the thumb, as if trying to maintain the finger in that position. Stretch out straight the other three fingers.
Benefits
Aids to deal with hearing problems, throat issues and thyroid conditions.
9. Surya Mudra
How To Do It?
Bending and touching the tip of the ring finger on the base of the thumb, gently press the outer part of the finger with the thumb such as trying to maintain the finger in the position. Stretch out straight the other three fingers.
Benefits
Improves metabolism, generates heat in the body and stabilizes digestion.
10. Ganesh Mudra
How To Do It?
First raise the left hand in front of the chest with palm facing outward and thumb downwards. Then raise the right hand to the same level in front of the left with the right palm facing toward the chest and left palm. Interlock palms together, clasping them like a claw.
Benefits
Helps regain positivity, courage to deal with tough times and obstructions. Helps concentrate on the heart center during meditation. Good for the cardiac muscles.
11. Adi Mudra
How To Do It?
Bend the thumb, place on the palm and fold all the other fingers to make a fist over the thumb in a way that the top of the thumb touches the inside of the little finger.
Benefits
Increase lung capacity, vitalize the blood flow and support the vital organs to function well.12.
12. Anjali Mudra
How To Do It?
Press the inside of the palms placed firmly against each other, with the fingers facing upwards in a Namaste, which is also known as Anjali Mudra.
Benefits
Alleviates stress and anxiety, enhances focus and supports in reaching a meditative state.
13. Hakini Mudra
How To Do It?
Touch the tips of all the fingers of both hands paralleling each other, but maintain the palms separated from one another.
Benefits
Invigorates memory, vitalizes the brain power and improves concentration.
14. Shambhala Mudra
How to do it?
Make a fist with one hand and make a straight flat palm with the other. Gently press the fist into the palm of the straightened hand.
Benefits
Elevates good mood, fosters zestfulness and pragmatic way of thinking.
15. Rudra Mudra
How to do it?
To do this mudra, connect your thumb to your index and ring fingers while keeping your other two fingers as straight as you can.
Benefits
Improves clarity of thoughts, aids concentration and energizes physical capabilities. Aids people deal with dizziness, exhaustion, and chronic tension in their body.
Thought of the day: “Yogic gestures or Mudras create very subtle ripples in your body. You can’t feel them if there is already a storm going on in your body-mind.” –Shunya
Link to day 21: Meditative Asanas-Vrushasana and Virasana https://kreately.in/day-22-meditative-asanas-vrushasan-virasana/
Link to day 23: Ekpadasana & Utkatasana https://kreately.in/day-23-ekpadasana-utkatasana-mitraasha/
DISCLAIMER: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing of images utilized within the text.
