APAN VAYU MUDRA, APAN VAYU MUDRA , APAN VAYU MUDRA AND APAN VAYU MUDRA

APAAN VAYU MUDRA

HEART AND BLOOD PRESSURE

PROCEDURE

WITH PALMS FACING YOU, CURL THE INDEX FINGER SO THAT THE TIP IS RESTING WHERE THE THUMB CONNECTS WITH THE PALM. TOUCH THE TIPS OF THE MIDDLE AND RIGHT FINGERS TO THE THUMB. THE LITTLE FINGER POINTS OUT.

BENEFITS

APAAN VAYU MUDRA IS BENEFICIAL FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM INDIGESTION, HEARBURN AND OTHER GASTRIC PROBLEMS. IT IS ALSO VERY BENEFICIAL FOR THE HEART AND SAID TO RELIEVE A HEART ATTACK WITHIN SECONDS. BECAUSE IT HELPS REGULATE THE HEART AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEM, IT HAS ADDITIONAL BENEFITS THAT BLOOD PRESSURE AND HELPING RELIEVE PALPITATIONS OR WEAK PULSE, REDUCING NERVOUSNESS AND HELPING CURE INSOMNIA, RELIEVING ACIDITY, GAS FORMATION, ERUCTATION, BELCHING, AND STRENGTHENING THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. IT SOLVES ALL DISEASES OF THE INTESTINES, COLIC, COLITIS, ETC, RELIEVES TOOTHACHES, AND CURES HICCOUGH. IT REMOVES ALL NEGATIVE PRESSURE OF THE BODY, AND HELPFUL WITH ARTHRITIS TOO.

DURATION

PRACTICE THREE TIMES PER DAY FOR 15 MINUTES EACH FOR MOST SITUATIONS. PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM HEART AILMENTS SHOULD PRACTICE FROM OSTEOARTHRITIS AND KNEE PAIN CAN DO THIS MUDRA FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE CLIMBING STAIRS TO RELIEVE THE PAIN.

CAUTION

THERE ARE NO SIDE EFFECTS FROM THIS MUDRA. ANYONE CAN USE IT AND ENJOY ITS BENEFITS.

ASTHMA MUDRA

ASTHMA RELIEF

PROCEDURE

CURL MIDDLE FINGERS TOWARD PALM AND PRESS TOGETHER AT THE FINGERNAILS. THE OTHER FINGERS THE THUMB REMAIN EXTENDED. SOME VARIATIONS KEEP THE PALMS SEPARATE, OTHERS REST THE PALMS AGAINST EACH OTHER.

BENEFITS

ASTHMA MUDRA HELPS AID THE LONG-TERM HEALING OF ASTHMA AND RELATED SYMPTOMS.

DURATION

PRACTICE 5 MINUTES AT A TIME, 3 TO 5 TIMES PER DAY.

THIS MUDRA CAN BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH BRONCHIAL MUDRA, DOING EACH FOR 5 MINUTES IN ONE SITTING, 3 TO 5 TIMES PER DAY.

CAUTION

ALTHOUGH IT CAN HELP WITH ACUTE ATTACKS, THIS MUDRA IS MEANT TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ADDITIONAL TREATMENT TO AID THE LONG-TERM HEALING OF ASTHMA.

BHUTADAMAR MUDRA

BLOCKING NEGATIVITY

PROCEDURE

PALMS FACING OUTWARD AWAY FROM THE BODY, WRITS CROSSED, CURL THE RIGHT FINGER TOWARD THE PALM WHILE EXTENDING ALL OTHER FINGERS AND THUMBS OF EACH HAND.

BENEFITS

BHUTADAMAR MUDRA IS FOR KEEPING NEGATIVE ENERGIES AWAY WHILE KEEPING THE POSITIVE ENERGIES IN.

DURATION

DURING MEDITATION FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME THAT IS COMFORTABLE FOR THE PRACTITIONER.

CAUTION

THERE ARE NO SIDE EFFECTS FROM THIS MUDRA. ANYONE CAN USE IT AND ENJOY ITS BENEFITS.

BRONCHIAL MUDRA

RESPIRATORY ISSUE RELIEF

PROCEDURE

PRESS THE TIP OF THE LITTLE FINGER TO THE BASE OF THE THUMB, THE RING FINGER TO THE UPPER THUMB JOINT, AND THE MIDDLE FINGER TO THETIP OF THE THUMB. THE INDEX FINGER EXTENDS OUTWARD.

BENEFITS

BRONCHIAL MUDRA IS HELPFUL FOR ALLEVIATING RESPIRATORY ISSUES SUCH AS ASTHMA AND BRONCHITIS FROM ALLERGIES, POLLUTION, LIFESTYLE OR DIET. WITH LONG-TERM PRACTICE, THIS MUDRA HELPS DECREASE THE INTENSITY OF AN ATTACK AND REGULATES BREATHING PATTERNS.

DURATION

PRACTICE 5 MINUTES AT A TIME, 3 TO 5 TIMES PER DAY. IT CAN ALSO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ASTHMA MUDRA, DOING EACH FOR 5 MINUTES IN ONE SITTING, 3 TO 5 TIMES PER DAY.

CAUTION

THIS MUDRA DOES NOT REPLACE TREATMENT BUT IS TO BE USED IN ADDITION TO PRESCRIBED TREATMENT. IT HELPS ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM LONG-TERM BUT IS NOT FOR ACUTE ATTACKS.

HAND MUDRAS WILL CHANGE

YOUR LIFE

HAND MUDRAS ARE NOT NEW. IN FACT, THEY HAVE BEEN USED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS ACROSS MANY CULTURES. TODAY, THEY CAN BE FOUND IN DAILY USE ACROSS THE GLOBE. HOWEVER, THEY ARE MOST ASSOCIATED WITH EASTERN TRADITIONS SUCH AS BUDDHISM AND HINDUISM. WETERNERS MOST OFTEN ASSOCIATE HAND MUDRAS WITH MEDITATION AND YOGA PRACTICE, HOWEVER, THEIR USES AND BENEFITS EXTEND FAR FURTHER.

BECAUSE HAND MUDRA CONNECT WITH THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, THEY BECOME A FORM OF STIMULATION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PRACTITIONER,THEIR BODY AND THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THEM. HAND MUDRAS HAVE BEEN USED TO COMMUNICATE IDEAS IN TRADITIONAL DANCES, FOR DEEPENING MEDITATION, FOR ACHIEVING SPECIFIC RESULTS, AS WELL AS FOR HEALING BOTH ACUTE AND CHRONIC CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE BODY. BY TOUCHING SPECIFIC NERVES, PARTS OF THE BRAIN AND BODY ARE STIMULATED INTO ACTION, GENERATING PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES THAT YIELD VERY REAL RESULTS.

ENJOY THE MANY HAND MUDRAS COMPILED AND COLLECTED FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND BROUGHT TO YOU FROM THE ANCIENT WISDOM OF THE AGES.

AKASH MUDRA

INTUITION AND DETOXIFICATION

PROCEDURE

CONNECT THE TIP OF THE THUMB TO THE TIP OF THE MIDDLE FINGER. THE REMAINING THREE FINGERS ARE IN A RELAXED STATE. KEEP PALMS FACING UPWARD.

BENEFITS

AKASH MUDRA HELPS ELEVATE THOUGHTS, DEVELOP INTUITION AND DETOXIFY THE BODY, ELIMINATING A SENSE OF HEAVINESS, RELIEVING CONGESTIONS AND PAIN IN THE HEAD, EARS AND CHEST, AND HELPING WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, IRREGULAR HEART-BEATS, DIZZINESS AND JOINT PAINS. IT ALSO HELPS STRENGTHEN BONES, CAN INCREASE SPIRITUAL POWER AND MAKE YOU FEEL FEARLESS.

DURATION

BEST IF DONE ABOUT 45 MINUTES PER DAY. IT CAN BE DONE AT ONCE OR IN 10 TO 15 MINUTES INTERVALS DURING THE DAY.

CAUTION

THIS MUDRA SHOULD BE PERFORMED IN A SITTING POSTURE, NEVER WHILE WALKING OR EATING. IF SUFFERING FROM HEART AILMENTS, ONLY PERFORM THIS MUDRA FOR 10 MINUTES PER DAY.

ANJALI MUDRA

STRESS REDUCTION

PROCEDURE

HOLD HANDS TOGETHER, PALMS STAYING SOFT AND FORMING A SOFT DOME SHAPE, FINGERS CLOSE TOGETHER AS IF IN PRAYER. HOLD HANDS OVER THE HEART/CHEST, BRINGING YOUR ELBOWS INTO ALIGNMENT WITH YOUR WRISTS.

BENEFITS

ANJALI MUDRA HELPS REDUCE STRESS AND ANXIETY, CALMS THE BRAIN, CREATES FLEXIBILITY IN THE HANDS, FINGERS, WRISTS AND ARMS, AND OPENS THE HEART.

DURATION

PRACTICE FOR 30 TO 45 MINUTES FOR CENTERING AND DEEPENING MEDITATION, EITHER ALL AT ONCE OR IN 15 MINUTE INCREMENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THIS GESTURE IS ALSO USED IN INDIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AS A GESTURE OF GREETING, ACKNOWLEDING AND HONORING OTHERS.

CAUTION

THERE ARE NO SIDE EFFECTS FROM THIS MUDRA. ANYONE CAN USE IT AND ENJOY ITS BENEFITS.

APAAN MUDRA

DETOXIFICATION AND ELIMINATION

PROCEDURE

THE TIPS OF MIDDLE FINGER AND RING FINGER TOUCH THE TIP OF THUMB WHILE THE OTHER TWO FINGERS ARE STRETCHED OUT.

BENEFITS

APAAN MUDRA PURIFIES THE BODY, REMOVING TOXINS BY HELPING REGULATE THE EXCRETORY SYSTEM. IT HELPS IN RELIEVING CONSTIPATION, ANURIA (ABSENSE OF BLOCKAGE OF URINE), THE RELIEF OF BURNING IN THE BODY OR BODY-PARTS, AND IN DEALING WITH AN ABSENCE OF SWEAT. IT IS ALSO SAID TO BE USEFUL DURING CHILDBIRTH IF THERE IS A DELAY.

DURATION

PRACTICE DAILY FOR 45 MINUTES EITHER IN ONE STRETCH OR IN 15 MINUTES INTERVALS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. PRACTICING FOR LONGER PERIOD YIELDS MORE BENEFITS.

CAUTION

THIS MUDRA SHOULD NOT BE DONE BY PREGNANT WOMEN BEFORE COMPLETING 8 MONTHS. AFTER THAT, 10 MINUTES 3 TO 4 PER DAY WILL HELP TO ENSURE A NORMAL DELIVERY.

GAYATRI MANTRA METHODS!

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO ACCUMULATE THE ENERGY OF THE GAYATRI MANTRA IN YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS. HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR YOU TO COMPLETE THE SADHANA DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF PURUSHCHARANA YOU UNDERTAKE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE IDEA IS QUITE SIMPLE, THE MORE YOU GATHER, THE MORE YOU HAVE AVAILABLE FOR USE AT A LATER DATE. HOWEVER, NOT EVERYONE HAS THE TIME OR INCLINATION TO UNDERTAKE A LONG PURUSHCHARANA. IRRESPECTIVE OF HOW LITTLE OR MUCH YOU DO, THE IMPORTANT THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND IS THAT THE QUANTITY OF JAPA SHOULD BE THE SAME EVERY DAY THROUGHOUT YOUR PURUSHCHARANA.

PRACTICE THE DAYS

I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT THE VOW TO DO A PURUSHCHARANA IS TAKEN BEFORE YOU BEGIN ONE. THEREFORE, YOU MAINTAIN THE SAME QUANTIY EVERY DAY. IF YOU DECIDE TO DO A 60-DAY PURUSHCHARANA AND CHANT 2000 TIMES ON THE FIRST DAY, THAT CONSISTENCY THEN MUST BE MAINTAINED FOR THE REMAINING 59 DAYS. YOU CAN'T CHANGE YOUR 60-DAY PURUSHCHARANA TO A 120-DAY OR A 40-DAY ONE ONCE YOU'VE BEGUN IT.

WHEN CAN YOU START?

YOU CAN START GAYATRI SADHANA ON ANY FULL MOON DAY. YOU CAN CARRY OUT THE ROUTINE IN THE MORNING OR AT NIGHT.
PRAYING TO THE DIVINE MOTHER IN THE FORM OF GAYATRI IN THE MORNING IS THE VEDIC WORSHIP WHILE THE EXACT SAME ROUTINE, WHEN UNDERTAKEN AT NIGHT, BECOMES HER TANTRIC METHOD OF WORSHIP. THE MAIN THING IS TO BE CONSISTENT.
IF YOU START A PURUSHCHARANA BY DOING JUST ONE SESSION OF CHANTING IN THE MORNING, FOLLOW THAT TILL YOU COMPLETE THE PURUSHCHARANA.
IF YOU START YOUR SADHANA BY CHANTING ONLY IN THE EVENING, STICK TO THAT TILL THE END.

WHO CAN DO?

ANY PERSON, OF ANY AGE, RELIGION, ABILITY OR BACKGROUND CAN DO THIS SADHANA WITH OR WITHOUT INITIATION. MENSTRUATING WOMEN CAN START OR CONTINUE THEIR SADHANA WITHOUT ANY RESERVATIONS WHATSOVER. COMPLETE SBSTINENCE MUST BE PRACTICED THROUGHOUT THE PURUSHCHARANA. THERE'S NO DOSHA (ISSUE) IN CASE OF WET DREAMS OR ANY OTHER INVOLUNTARY RELEASE OF SEXUAL FLUIDS. VOLUNTARILY THOUGH, ANY FORM OF SEXUAL GRATIFICATION IS FORBIDDEN.

DIET

THROUGHOUT YOUR PURUSHCHARANA, YOU SHOULD BE ON A STRICT VEGERARIAN DIET. DAIRY IS ALLOWED NO MEAT, SEAFOOD OR EGGS. NO ONION OR GARLIC EITHER. BE CAREFUL OF EATING BISCUITS, CAKES, CHEESES AND SUPPLEMENTS THAT MAY CONTAIN ANIMAL-DERIVED INGREDIENTS. IF YOUR DOCTOR HAS PRESCRIBED ANY MEDITATION, FEEL FREE TO TAKE IT WITHOUT ANY OF THE CONSIDERATION ABOVE.

LAMP

IDEALLY, THE LAMP USED IN THIS PURUSHCHARANA SHOULD BE MADE OF BRASS. AN EARTHEN LAMP OR A SILVER LAMP CAN ALSO BE USED. THE WICK MUST BE OF COTTON. IT IS PERMISSIBLE TO USE BRAIDED COTTON THREAD (LIKE THE COMMON SACRED RED THREAD, MAULI, FOR EXAMPLE, OR ANY OTHER) TO USE AS A WICK. THE OIL USED IN THE LAMP SHOULD BE EITHER GHEE OR SESAME OIL. IF YOU ARE DOING THIS SADHANA IN WINTERS IN A COLD REGION, I WOULD RECOMMEND USING SESAME OIL AS GHEE SOLIDIFIES VERY QUICKLY AND IT MAY PUT OUR YOUR LAMP. ONCE AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE CONSISTEND. IF YOU START YOUR SADHANA BY LIGHTING A GHEE LAMP, STICK TO THAT THROUGHOUT YOUR PURUSHCHARANA.

DIRECTION

THE ASPIRANT SHOULD FACE EAST, NORTH OR NORTHEAST WHILE DOING THE CHANGING AND THE YAJNA.

CLOTHING

ANY COLOR IS OKAY BUT THE BEST ARE RED, YELLOW, AND WHILE. IDEALLY, YOU SHOULD WEAR NO MORE THAN TWO PIECES OF RED, YELLOW OR WHILE LOOSE-CLOTH ON YOUR BODY - ONE TO COVER YOUR LOWER BODY AND THE OTHER TO COVER THE UPPER PART. IF YOU ARE IN VERY COLD PLACE, YOU CAN EITHER USE A HEATER IN YOUR ROOM OR SEW YOUR UPPER CLOTH WITH A WOOLEN SHAWL. WOMEN CAN WEAR A SAREE, BLOUSE ETC.

BEADS BAG (GOMUKHA)

IF YOU ARE CHANTING BEADS, THEN I RECOMMEND USING A BEAD BAG CALLED GOMUKHA. MOST OF YOU WOULD KNOW HOW TO USE THE GOMUKHA. IT'S GOT TWO OPENINGS, ONE IS LARGER THAN THE OTHER. IT IS DESIGNED SO WHEN YOU PUT THE ROSARY IN IT, THE BEADS DON'T TOUCH THE GROUND OR DIRTY HANDS, AND ARE KEPT PURE.

YOU CAN WEAR IT AROUND YOUR HEAD IF YOU LIKE. THEN YOU CHANT WITH THE BEADS INSIDE IT, THE INDEX FINGER, HOWEVER, REMAINS OUTSIDE THE SMALLER OPENING OF THE GOMUKHA.

SEAT

THE BEST SEAT WILL BE A BLANKET WHICH YOU SHOULD SPREAD THE SAME COLORED CLOTH YOU COVER YOUR BODY WITH. OR, IF YOU ARE WEARING REGULAR CLOTHES (AND NOT ONE OF THE THREE COLORS MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SECTION) WHILE DOING PURUSHCHARANA, YOU CAN JUST PUT A YELLOW CLOTH ON YOUR SEAT. THE NATURE OF THIS SADHANA REQUIRES YOU TO SIT ON THE FLOOR. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO DO THAT, YOU MAY TRY SITTING IN A CHAIR AND SETTING UP A TABLE IN FRONT OF YOU WITH LAMP, POTS, ETC.

POSTURE

TRY TO MAINTAIN STILLNESS OF YOUR POSTURE WHILE YOU CHANT WITH UTMOST MINDFULLNESS, FAITH AND DEVOTION. PLEASE ALLOW ME TO REMIND YOU THAT MANTRA SADHANA IS NOT ABOUT RECKLESS CHANTING OF A MANTRA JUST FOR THE SAKE OF TICKLING OFF AN ITEM ON YOUR LIST. IT IS THE SOULFUL PROCESS OF BECOMING ONE WITH YOUR DEITY SO YOU MAY ELEVATE YOURSELF SPIRITUALLY, MATERIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.

THINGS YOU WILL NEED FOR
GAYATRI SADHANA

A LAMP (BRASS, SILVER, OR EARTHEN)
GHEE OR SESAME OIL AD WICK FOR YOUR LAMP
FIVE SMALL WATER POTS, A SMALL SPOON AND A SAUCER IF YOU ARE PERFORMING THE COMPREHENSIVE INVOCATION OR ONLY ONE WATER POT IF IT'S A BRIEF INVOCATION. THE POTS CAN BE OF SILVER, COPPER OR BRASS. THIS IS THE STANDARD FOR EVERY SADHANA AND DETAILS ON HOW TO LAY OUT THE POTS (PATRA) CAN BE FOUND IN THE CHAPTER ARRANGEMENT OF POTS DETAILS.
STANDARD INGREDIENTS FOR FIRE OFFERINGS (YAJNA) YOU CAN USE EITHER FROM A SACRED FIG (PEEPUL), MANGO (AAM) OR PALASHA (DHAK). YOU CAN ALSO USE SHEESHAM.
CHANTING BEADS MAE FROM RUDRAKSHA.
A LOT OF FAITH, DEVOTION AND DISCIPLINE.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

WE MUST SEEK PERMISSION FROM THE DIVINE MOTHER BEFORE UNDERTAKING HER SADHANA. THE SIMPLEST WAY TO DO THIS IS TO TAKE A BATH AND SIT AT YOUR ALTAR AFTER SUNSET. TAKE A BIT OF WATER IN YOUR RIGHT HAND AND MENTALLY CALL UPON THE DIVINE MOTHER IN THE FORM OF GAYATRI AND SEEK PERMISSION THAT MAY SHE AND OTHER FORM OF GAYATRI AND SEEK PERMISSION THAT MAY SHE AND OTHER FORCES OF NATURE ALLOW YOU TO COMPLETE HER SADHANA. LEAVE THE WATER IN THE PLATE NEXT TO YOU.

NEXT, DO 3,7,10 OR 30 ROUNDS OF THE GAYATRI MANTRA CHANTING FOR MINI, STANDARD, EXTRAORDINARY AND GRAND INVOCATION RESPECTIVELY. USE RUDRAKSHA BEADS. USE THE SAME BEADS TO COMMENCE YOUR PURUSHCHARANA THE NEXT DAY.

ONE ROUND IS 108 TIMES. THIRTY ROUNDS WILL BE CHANTING YOUR MANTRA 108*30 = 3240 TIMES, FOR EXAMPLE, PERSONALLY, I ALWAYS CHANT 10,000 TIMES BEFORE DOING ANY MAJOR PURUSHCHARANA. ONCE DONE, GO TO SLEEP IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE YOU CHANTED THE GAYATRI MANTRA, HERE THE MANTRA.

OM BHURBHUVAH SVAH
TATSAVITURVARENYAMA
BHARGO DEVASYA DHIMAHI
DHIYO YO NAH PRACODAYATA

TRANSLATION

MAY WE ABIDE IN THE SUPREME ENERGY THAT IS ETERNAL, TRANSCENDENTAL, RADIANT, PERFECT, DIVINE. MAY SUCH DIVINE GRACE ALWAYS GUIDE US ON THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.