WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC TRUTH ABOUT MUDRAS?

 

WHAT IS THE MUDRAS 

BENEFITS?

MUDRA

THE SANSKRIT WORD MUDRA IS TRANSLATED AS "GESTURE" OR "ATTITUDE". MUDRA CAN BE DESCRIBED AS PSYCHIC, EMOTIONAL, DEVOTIONAL, AND AESTHETIC GESTURES OR ATTITUDE. YOGIS HAVE EXPERIENCED MUDRAS AS ATTITUDE OF ENERGY FLOW, INTENTED TO LINK INDIVIDUAL PRANIC FORCE WITH UNIVERSAL OR COSMIC FORCE.

MUDRAS ARE A COMBINATION OF SUBTLE PHYSICAL MOVEMENTS WHICH ALTER MOOD, ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION, AND WHICH DEEPEN AWARENESS AND CONCENTRATION. A MUDRA MAY INVOLVE THE WHOLE BODY IN A COMBINATION OF ASANA, PRANAYAMA, BANDHA AND VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUES, OR IT MAY BE A SIMPLE HAND POSITION.

MUDRAS AND PRANA

THE ATTITUDE AND POSTURES ADOPTED DURING MUDRA PRACTICES ESTABLISH A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN ANNAMAYA KOSHA, (THE PHYSICAL BODY), MAMONMAYA KOSHA (THE MENTAL BODY) AND PRANAMAYA KOSHA (THE ENERGY BODY). INITIALLY, THIS ENABLES THE PRACTITIONER TO DEVELOP AWARENESS OF THE FLOW OF PRANA IN THE BODY. ULTIMATELY, IT ESTABLISHES PRANIC BALANCE WITHIN THE KOSHAS AND ENABLES THE REDIRECTION OF SUBTLE ENERGY TO THE UPPER CHAKRAS, INDUCING HIGHER STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS.

SCIENTIFIC TRUTH

IN SCIENTIFIC TERMS, PROVIDE A MEANS TO ACCESS AND INFLUENCE THE UNCONSCIOUS REFLEXES AND PRIMAL, INSTINCTIVE HABIT PATTERNS THAT ORIGINATE IN THE PRIMITIVE AREAS OF THE BRAIN AROUND THE BRAIN STEM. THEY ESTABLISH SUBTLE, NON-INTELLECTUAL CONNECTION WITH THESE AREAS. EACH MUDRA SETS UP A DIFFERENT LINK AND HAS A CORRESPONDINGLY DIFFERENT EFFECT ON THE BODY, MIND AND PRANA.

THE AIMS TO CREATE FIXED, REPETITIVE POSTURES AND GESTURES WHICH CAN SNAP THE PRACTITIONER OUT OF INSTINCTIVE HABIT PATTERNS AND ESTABLISH A MORE REFINED CONSCIOUSNESS.

THE FIVE GROUPS OF MUDRA

1. HASTA (HAND MUDRAS)

 

 

THE HAND MUDRAS PRESENTED IN THIS CHAPTER ARE MEDITATIVE MUDRAS. THEY REDIRECT THE PRANA EMITTED BY THE HAND BACK INTO THE BODY.

• JNANA MUDRA
• CHIN MUDRA
• YONI MUDRA
• BHAIRAVA MUDRA
• HRIDAYA MUDRA

 

2. MANA (HEAD MUSCLES)

 

 

THESE PRACTICES FORM AN INTEGRAL PART OF KUNDALINI YOGA AND MANY ARE MEDITATION TECHNIQUE IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. THEY UTILIZE THE EYES, EARS, NOSE, TONGUE AND LIPS. TECHNIQUES INCLUDED IN THSI CATEGORY ARE

• SHAMBHAVI MUDRA
• NASIKAGRA DRISHTI
• KHECHARI MUDRA
• KAKI MUDRA
• BHUJANGINI MUDRA
• BHOOCHARI MUDRA
• AKASHI MUDRA
• SHANMUKHI MUDRA
• UNMANI MUDRA

 

3. KAYA (POSTURAL MUDRA)

 

THESE PRACTICES UTILIZE PHYSICAL POSTURES COMBINED WITH BREATHING AND CONCENTRATION. TECHNIQUE INCLUDED IN THIS CATEGORY

• VIPAREETA KARANI MUDRA
• PASHINEE MUDRA
• PRANA MUDRA
• YOGA MUDRA
• MANDUKI MUDRA
• TADAGI MUDRA

4. BANDHA (LOCK MUDRAS)

 

THESE PRACTICES COMBINE MUDRA AND BANDHA. THEY CHARGE THE SYSTEM WITH PRANA AND PREPARE IT FOR KUNDALINI AWAKENING. TECHNIQUE INCLUDED IN THIS CATEGORY

• MAHA MUDRA
• MAHA BHEDA MUDRA
• MAHA VEDHA MUDRA

5. ADHARA (PERINEAL MUDRAS)

 

THESE TECHNIQUES REDIRECT PRANA FROM THE LOWER CENTRES TO THE BRAIN. MUDRAS CONCERNED WITH SUBLIMATING SEXUAL ENERGY ARE IN THIS GROUP.

• ASHWINI MUDRA
• VAJROLI MUDRA

 

BETWEEN THEM THESE FIVE GROUPS ENGAGE SUBSTANTIAL AREAS OF THE CEREBRAL CORTEX. THE COMPARATIVELY LARGE NUMBER OF HEAD AND HAND MUDAS REFLECTS THE FACT THAT THE OPERATION AND INTERPRETATION OF INFORMATION COMING INF FROM THESE TWO AREAS OCCUPIES APPROXIMATELY EITHER FIFTY PERCENT OF THE CORTEX.

AKASHI MUDRA

AWARENESS OF INNER PEACE)

 

• SIT IN ANY COMFORTABLE MEDITATION ASANA.
• CLOSE THE EYES AND RELAX THE WHOLE BODY FOR A FEW MINUTES.
• FOLD THE TONGUE BACK AGAINST THE PALATE IN KHECHARI MUDRA.
• PRACTICE UJJAYI PRANAYAMA AND SHAMBHAVI MUDRA.
• BEND THE HEAD BACKWARD ABOUT 45 DEGREES.
• STRAIGHTEN THE ARMS AND LOCK THE ELBOWS, PRESSING THE KNEES WITH THE HANDS.
• BREATHE SLOWLY AND DEEPLY IN UJJAYI.
• CONTINUE FOR AS LONG AS FEELS COMFORTABLE.
• END THE PRACTICE BY BENDING THE ELBOWS AND RELEASING KHECHARI AND SHAMBHAVI MUDRAS.
• RAISE THE HEAD TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION.

DURATION

BEGIN WITH ONE ROUND AND GRADUALLY INCREASE TO 5. MAINTAIN THE FINAL POSITION FOR AS LONG AS IS COMFORTABLE, INCREASING THE LENGTH OF TIME IN THE MUDRA VERY SLOWLY.

AWARENESS

ON AJNA CHAKRA.

PRECAUTION

AS SOON AS FAINTNESS IS FELT, STOP THE PRACTICE. THIS A COMPETENT TEACHER.

BENEFITS

THIS PRACTICE COMBINES THE BENEFITS OF KUMBHAKA, UJJAYI, SHAMBHAVI AND KHECHARI. IT INDUCES CALMNESS AND TRANQUILLITY, AND DEVELOPS CONTROL OVER THE SENSES. WHEN PERFECTED, IT ARRESTS THE THOUGHT PROCESSESS AND INDUCES HIGHER STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS.

VARIATION

AKASHI MUDRA MAY BE PRACTICED WITH BREATH RETENTION. PERFORM THE PRACTICE AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. INHALE WHILE BENDING THE HEAD BACKWARDS. HOLD THE BREATH INSIDE IN THE FINAL POSITION. EXHALE WHILE SLOWLY RAISING THE HEAD TO THE STARTING POSITION.

NOTES

AKASHI MUDRA BELONGS TO THE GROUP OF TECHNIQUE FEATURING GAZING AT AN EXTERNAL FOCAL POINT AS A MEANS TO ACHIEVING DHARANA OR THE MEDITATIVE STATE OF RELAXED CONCENTRATION.

TRIKONASANA

(THE TRIANGLE POSE)

ABOUT

TRIKONASANA AND ALL ITS VARIATIONS BELONG TO THE CATEGORY OF STANDING AND BENDING ASANAS. THIS ASANA IS CALLED TRIKONA BECAUSE THE ASAN WHEN PERFORMED CORRECTLY GIVES THE IDEA OF THREE ANGLES.

TECHNIQUE

ON A FOLDED BLANKET, STAND ERECT WITH LEGS APART AND INHALE. RAISE THE ARMS HORIZONTALLY IN A STRAIGHT LINE WITH THE SHOULDERS. START BENDING SLOWLY TO YOUR RIGHT UNTIL YOUR RIGHT HAND TOUCHES YOUR RIGHT FOOT. THE ARMS SHOULD FORM VERTICLE LINE WITH THE FACE TURNED UPWARDS. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS INHALE AND PERFORM THE SAME MOVEMENT TO THE LEFT AND EXHALE SLOWLY WHILE LOWERING THE ARMS.

BENEFITS

 

 

• THIS ASANAS STRETCHES AND STRENGTHENS THE MUSCLES OF CALF, WAIST, THIGHS, HIPS, LEGS, SPINAL COLUMN AND ADRENAL GLANDS.
• IT EXPELLS GAS, REMOVES CONSTIPATION, STIMULATES HEART AND LUNGS.
• IT ALSO IMPROVES DIGESTION, INVIGARATES APPETITE.
• IT ALSO IMPROVES DIGESTION AND BLOOD CIRCULATION AND REMOVES NECK AND BACKACHE AND DYSPEPSIA.
• PERFORMED REGULARLY AND CORRECTLY THIS ASAN CAN DEFLATE "SPARE TYRE" AND REDUCE EXCESSIVE FAT IN HIPS AND ABDOMINAL REGION.
• IT CAN ALSO CORRECT THE GALL BLADDER DISORDERS AND INCREASE HEIGHT.

 

YONI MUDRA
(ATTITUDE OF THE WOMB OR SOURCE)

 

• ASSUME A COMFORTABLE MEDITATION POSTURE WITH THE HEAD AND SPINE STRAIGHT.
• PLACE THE PALMS OF THE HANDS TOGETHER WITH THE FINGERS AND THUMBS STRAIGHT ANS POINTING AWAY FROM THE BODY.
• KEEPING THE PADS OF THE INDEX FINGERS TOGETHER, TURN THE LITTLE, RING AND MIDDLE FINGERS INWARDS SO THAT THE BACK 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.

BENEFITS 

THE INTERLOCKING OF THE FINGERS IN THIS PRACTICE CREATES A COMPLETE CROSS-CONNECTION OF ENERGIES FROM THE RIGHT HAND INTO THE LEFT AND VICE VERSA. AS WELL AS BALANCING THE ENERGIES IN THE BODY, IT HELPS TO BALANCE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE RIGHT AND LEFT HEMISPHERES OF THE BRAIN.

PLACING THE TIPS OF THE INDEX FINGERS AND THUMBS TOGETHER FURTHER INTENSIFIES THE FLOW OF PRANA.

THIS MUDRA 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 DISPERESED THROUGH THE HANDS AND FINGERS. THE ELBOWS NATURALLY TEND TO POINT TO THE SIDE WHEN PERFORMING THIS MUDRA WHICH HELPS OPEN UP THE CHEST AREA.

VARIATION

• YONI MUDRA MAY ALSO BE PERFORMED BY INTERLOCKING THE MIDDLE, RING AND LITTLE FINGERS WITHOUT TURNING THEM INWARD.
• THE THUMBS MAY BE CROSSED IN FRONT OF THE OUTSTRETCHED INDEX FINGERS, OR OUTSTRETCHED WITH THE PADS TOUCHING TOWARDS THE BODY.

NOTES

THE WORD YONI MEAS "WOMB" OR "SOURCE". YONI MUDRA INVOKES THE PRIMAL ENERGY INHERENT IN THE WOMB OR SOURCE OF CREATION.

BHAIRAVA MUDRA

(FIERCE OR TERRIFYING ATTITUDE)

 

• ASSUME A COMFORTABLE MEDITATION POSTURE WITH THE HEAD AND SPINE STRAIGHT.
• PLACE THE RIGHT HAND ON TOP OF THE LEFT.
• SO THAT THE PALMS OF BOTH HANDS ARE FACING UPWARD.
• BOTH HANDS REST IN THE LAP.
• CLOSE THE EYES AND RELAX THE WHOLE BODY.
• KEEPING IT MOTIONLESS.

 

VARIATION

WHEN THE LEFT HAND IS PLACED ON TOP OF THE RIGHT, THE PRACTICE IS CALLED BHAIRAVI MUDRA. BHAIRAVI IS THE FEMALE COUNTERPART OF BHAIRAVA.

NOTES

THE TWO HANDS REPRESENT IDA AND PINGALA NADIS, AND THE UNION OF THE INDIVIDUAL WITH THE SUPREME CONSCIOUSNESS. BHAIRAVA MUDRA IS USED IN PRANA MUDRA. IT MAY ALSO BE USED DURING PRANAYAMA AND MEDITATION PRACTICE.

KHECHARI MUDRA

(TONGUE LOCK)

 

 

• SIT IN ANY COMFORTABLE MEDITATION POSE, PREFERABLY PADAMASANA OR SIDDHA/SIDDHA YONI ASANA, WITH THE HEAD AND SPINE STRAIGHT AND THE HANDS IN CHIN OR JNANA MUDRA.
• RELAX THE WHOLE BODY AND CLOSE THE EYES.
• FOLD THE TONGUE UPWARD AND BACKWARD, SO THAT THE LOWER SURFACE LIES IN CONTACT WITH THE UPPER PALATE.
• STRETCH THE TIPS OF THE TONGUE BACKWARD AS FAS AS IS COMFORTABLE.'
• DO NOT STRAIN.
• PERFORM UJJAYI PRANAYAMA.
• BREATHE SLOWLY AND DEEPLY.
• HOLD THE TONGUE LOCK FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT STRAINING.
• AT FIRST THERE MAY BE SOME DISCOMFORT AND UJJAYI PRANAYAMA MAY IRRITATE THE THROAT, BUT WITH PRACTICE IT WILL BECOME MORE COMFORTABLE.
• WHEN THE TONGUE BECOMES TIRED, RELEASE AND RELAX IT, THEN REPEAT THE PRACTICE.

BREATHING

GRADUALLY REDUCE THE RESPIRATION RATE OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS UNTIL THE NUMBER OF BREATHS PER MINUTES IS 5 OR 6.

THIS MAY BE REDUCED FURTHER UNER THE GUIDANCE OF A COMPETENT TEACHER.

DURATION

PRACTICE FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES. KHECHARI MUDRA MAY ALSO BE PERFORMED WITH OTHER YOGA PRACTICES.

 

AWARENESS

PHYSICAL - ON THE STRETCH OF THE TONGUE AND THE LIGHT PRESSURE AGAINST THE UPPER PLATE.

SPIRITUAL - AT VISHUDDHI CHAKRA.

PRECAUTION

DISCONTINUE THIS MUDRA IF A BITTER SECRETION IS TASTED. SUCH A SECREATION IS A SIGN OF TOXINS IN THE SYSTEM.

 

BENEFITS

1. KHECHARI MUDRA STIMULATES A NUMBER OF PRESSURE POINTS LOCATED IN THE BACK OF THE MOUTH AND THE NASAL CAVITY.
2. THESE POINTS INFLUENCE THE WHOLE BODY.
3. A NUMBER OF GLANDS ARE ALSO MASSAGED, STIMULATING THE SECRETION OF CERTAIN HORMONES AND OF SALIVA.
4. THIS PRACTICE REDUCES THE SENSATIONS OF HUNGER AND THIRST, AND INDUCES A STATE OF INNER CALM AND STILLNESS.
5. IT PRESERVES THE VITALITY OF THE BODY AND IS ESPECIALLY BENEFICIAL FOR INNER HEALING.
6. ULTIMATELY, THIS MUDRA HAS THE POTENTIAL TO STIMULATE PRANA AND AWAKEN KUNDALINI SHAKTI.

 

NOTES

THE WORD KHECHARI COMES FROM TWO SANSKRIT ROOTS, KHE, MEANING "SKY" AND CHARYA, MEANING "ONE WHO MOVES". KHECHARI MUDRA IS ASSOCIATED WITH AMRITA, THE NECTAR OR ELIXIR OF LIFE WHICH IS SECRETED FROM BINDU, A POINT SITUATED AT THE POSTERIOR FONTANEL, AND THEN COLLECTED AT VISHUDDHI CHAKRA.

PERFECTION OF THIS PRACTICE ENABLES THE YOGI TO TRAP THE DESCENDING DROPS OF AMRITA AT VISHUDDHI, OVERCOMING HUNGER AND THIRST, AND REJEVENATING THE ENTIRE BODY.

KAKI MUDRA

(CROW' BEAK)

 

• SIT ANY COMFORTABLE MEDITATION ASANA WITH THE HEAD AND SPINE STRAIGHT AND THE HANDS RESTING ON THE KNEES IN EITHER CHIN OR JNANA MUDRA.
• CLOSE THE EYES AND RELAX THE WHOLE BODY FOR A FEW MINUTES.
• OPEN THE EYES AND PERFORM NASIKAGRA DRISHTI BY FOCUSING BOTH EYES ON THE NOSETIP.
• TRY NOT TO BLINK THE EYES THROUGHOUT THIS PRACTICE.
• PURSE THE LIPS, FORMING A BEAK THROUGH WHICH AIR MAY BE INHALED.
• THE TONGUE SHOULD BE RELAXED.
• INHALE SLOWLY AND DEEPLY THROUGH THE PURSED LIPS.
• AT THE END OF INHALATION CLOSE THE LIPS AND EXHALE SLOWLY THROUGH THE NOSE.
• REPEAT THE PROCESS FOR 3 TO 5 MINUTES.

AWARENESS 

ONE THE FLOW AND SOUND OF THE BREATH, AND ON THE NOSETIP.

SEQUENCE

THIS MUDRA IS A COOLING PRACTICE. IT BALANCE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE BODY WHEN PERFORMED AFTER HEATING PRANAYAMAS.

TIME TO PRACTICE

IT MAY BE PERFORMED AT ANY TIME OF DAY, ALTHOUGH IT IS BEST PERFORMED EARLY IN THE MORNING OR LATE AT NIGHT. IT SHOULD NOT BE PERFORMED IN COLD WEATHER.

PRECAUTION

KAKI MUDRA SHOULD NOT BE PRACTICED IN A POLLUTED ATMOSPHERE OR IN EXCESSIVELY COLD WEATHER BECAUSE THE NORMAL FILTERING AND AIR-CONDITIOING FUNCTION OF THE NOSE IS BY PASSED.

CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO STRAIN THE EYES.

BENEFITS

KAKI MUDRA COOLS THE BODY AND MIND AND SOOTHES MENTAL TENSIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE BENEFITS OF NASIKAGRA DRISHTI, THE ACT OF PURSUING THE LIPS IN THIS PRACTICE, TOGETHER WITH THE CONTACT OF THE INDRAWN AIR WITH THE MEMBRANES OF THE MOUTH, STIMULATES DIGESTIVE SECRETIONS, AIDING THE DIGESTIE PROCESS GENERALLY.

PRACTICE NOTE

PRACTITIONER SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY FAMILIAR WITH NASIKAGRA DRISHTI PRIOR TO COMMENCING THIS TECHNIQUE.

THE EYES MUST BE KEPT OPEN THROUGHOUT THE PRACTICE AND NASIKAGRA DRISHTI SHOULD BE CONTINUOUS.

IF THE EYES BECOME TIRED, RELAX THEM FOR AS LONG AS NECESSARY BEFORE RECOMMENCING THE PRACTICE.

NOTES

THE WORD KAKI MEANS "CROW". KAKI MUDRA IS SO CALLED BECAUSE DURING INHALATION THE MOUTH IS SHAPED LIKE A CROW'S BEAK. IT IS CLAIMED THAT REGULAR PRACTICE OF THIS MUDRA LEADS TO THE DISEASE FREE, LONG LIFE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CROW.

THIS MUDRA IS ALSO CONSIDERED TO BE A PRANAYAMA PRACTICE BECAUSE OF ITS CLOSE SIMILARLY TO SHEETALI AND SHEETKARI PRANAYAMAS.