Mudra in Yoga Practice
Benefit of Mudra
Mudra promotes your energy flow (prana) up to your fingertips to energize your whole body and mind. You become more aware of how to nurture your energetic body and mind in everyday life and find the joy to be alive.
Mudra supports for your Concentration(Dharana), Meditation(Dhyana) and Posture (Asana).
Science behind Mudra
The word mudra in sanskrit means “a seal. Mudras are a subtle science of arranging your body in a certain way. In this paper, I focused on certain positions of the hand which is called hasta mudra. Our system function can be altered by changing the positions and connections of your palm and fingers. This is a whole science which essentially evolves the circuitry of the body. By holding a certain mudra, the energies tend to move in a particular way. In yoga philosophy, different areas of the hand stimulate specific areas of the brain. By applying light pressure to these areas of the hand, we will “activate” corresponding regions of the brain, similar to reflexology.
Mudra in Ritual
"Priests used hasta mudra in Hindu Temple at first, later devadasi (Temple dancer) used them. It was the custom for traditional temple dancers to enact many of the same rituals as the priests, using hasta mudra to mimic the implements used by the priests. " by Gaston Furthermore
Five Elements in Nature
Any living body is made of five elements of nature: Fire, air, space, earth, and water. Several ancient health systems are based on the concept of the balance of the five elements. According to Ayurveda, an Indian medical science, distortion, or impairment of the 5 elements creates outer disturbance and inner sickness in the body. The five fingers of the hands represent these five elements: Thumb symbolizes fire, forefinger symbolizes air/wind, the middle finger for space, ring finger for earth, and little or small finger symbolizes water.
Hasta Mudra / Hand Gesture in Dance
Hasta mudra was the most fascinating part of the classical dance of India during my Bharatanatyam study in India among detailed and precise isolation of body movements and expressions like footsteps, legs, arms, eyes, and emotions(Abhinaya). Also, I was inspired by the divine dance element that hands depict meanings and stories. Divine dance is to guide people to connect with their devotions through the story of gods and goddesses. Our expression of heart, mind, and body is offering to the divines.
Flower Hands / Mudra in bharatanatyam
Flowers are used in India offerings as a way to receive blessings from the deities. Hindu devotees offer real flowers and the temple dancers offered imaginary flowers by their hand gestures.
Hands have a significant role in representing and suggesting the ritualistic and spiritual aspects of Bharatanatyam. The dancer makes a spiritual connection between a devotee and the divine power. Hastas in Bharatanatyam has been a medium to express Indian mythology, devotion, and art to devotees.
This devotion can be to dance, art, God, or to what you believe. Vatsyayan says, “Through a beautiful and complete language of movement, Indian dance provides the most concrete manifestation of the inner state and vision”. When “the devotion in the mind” is communicated to the audience’s mind, both the performer and the audience can move in a spiritual realm through Bharatanatyam.
Mudra in Yoga
"The mudras are concerned with the mind. Practicing the mudra keeps the mind fixed on the points over which they are applied." by Swami Satchidananda.
Yoga Mudra's Technique and Benefits in meditation and asana
Chin Mudra
Akasha Mudra
Akasha Mudra
Technique: Join the tips of the Index finger and the thumb. Straight other three fingers.
Palm face up.
Benefit: Evoke the feeling of lightness, calm the mind, and brighten the spirit, open the chest and facilitate diaphragmatic breathing, reverse the outward flow of prana and direct energy back toward the body, increase the benefits of any asanas.
It creates the Pranic circuit, which maintains and redirects the “Prana” or the flow of energy within your body. It increases the concentration, even during meditation and also it also increases energy and stamina.
The mudras are often used interchangeably as Chin Mudra and Jnana Mudra. What’s the difference? "Chin" comes from "Chit," meaning “consciousness.” When we place Chin Mudra on our knees with palms facing upward, it opens the lungs, creating a sense of lightness and receptivity. In contrast, Jnana Mudra is performed with palms facing down, releasing energy downward and grounding us. "Jnana" means knowledge, while "Apana Vayu" refers to the downward energy flow associated with the earth elements.
Akasha Mudra
Akasha Mudra
Akasha Mudra
Technique: Join the tips of the ring finger and the thumb. Stretch the other fingers.
Benefit: Creating space within. Activate throat chakra, Overcome calcium deficiency. Improve Hearing Loss
Help Improve the mood and state of depression, anxiety, and broken-hearted.
Prana Mudra
Akasha Mudra
Prana Mudra
Technique: Cover the tips of the ring and little fingers with the pad of the Thumb.
Extend the index and middle fingers.
Benefit: Increase vitality, strengthen willpower. activate self-healing power, and improve vision. It is used as an antidote for eye diseases. It is not only good for physical eyes, it increases our insight and mental clarity. It gives us the strength to see things through.On the mental-emotional level, it increases our staying power and assertiveness, healthy self-confidence, gives us the courage to start something new, and the strength to see things through. Clear eyes are also a sign of a mental outlook emphasizing clarity and a clear mind, which means clearly structured thoughts and ideas.
Apana Mudra
Alapadma Hasta Mudra
Prana Mudra
Technique: Join the tips of the middle and ring fingers and thumb. Point the Index finger and the pinky finger up.
Benefit: Energize Rooting energy flow, Detoxify, Reduce constipation, Clarify the skin. Increase steadyness, connected, and grounded.
releasing energy downward and grounding us. while its "Apana Vayu" refers to the downward energy flow associated with the earth elements.
Alapadma Hasta Mudra
Alapadma Hasta Mudra
Alapadma Hasta Mudra
Benefit: By opening our fingers like a blossoming lotus, we activate the heart meridian, opening an energy flow to our heart center that evokes our compassion, loving-kindness, and forgiveness. Alapadma has more to offer. It activates all five elements, fire, air, space, earth, and water within us according to Carroll ( “Mudras of India: A Comprehensive Guide to the Hand Gestures of Yoga and Indian Dance”, 2012 by Revital and Cain Carroll.) helps improve circulation, benefits the heart, and boosts vitality.
Surya Mudra
Alapadma Hasta Mudra
Alapadma Hasta Mudra
Technique: Cover the nail of the ring finger with the pad of the Thumb. Stretch the other fingers.
Benefit: Increase body temperature, Detoxfy the body, reduce Mental fogginess.
Vajra Mudra
Vajra Mudra
Vajra Mudra
Technique: Clasp the hands with the index finger stretched.
Benefit: Align and direct the vital energy flow toward the center and upward.
Improves concentration.
Strengthen willpower.
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