Prana Mudras

One of the most startling examples of how the mudras actually controls physical functions of the body is to be seen in the group of mudras and manipulation of the fingers used in pranayama Yoga for the control of the various lobular segments of the lobes or areas. They are lower lobes, middle lobes and upper lobes. The lower lobe breathing is called ‘kanishta pranayama’. The upper lobe breathing is called jyeshtha pranayama.

The lungs as is the case of the brain, have lobes; the lower, the middle and the upper. In the normal respiration of man, air mostly goes only into the middle lobe, leaving the lower and upper lobe non-flushed. These two parts of the lungs, where there is a build up of dirty and poisonous air remains non-flushed and locked up. This often proves to be the cause of many diseases, similar to the case of the colon (large intestine) where fecal matter remains accumulated forming a thick layer on the sides. Modern life is such that the brisk movements and quick bending of the trunk are common to humans. As a result of this, the sedentary life of the modern office worker, the upper and lower lobe of the lungs seldom gets their due share of oxygen and prana.

In the lobular breathing, the air is taken without much effort to the different lobes. They are often flushed and nourished while the blood stream is purified by the high assimilation of oxygen. Moreover, the prana goes to the lower, middle and upper parts of the body through the pranic channels whenever such breathing is done.

Top 10 Mudras for Meditation – Meditation Mudras

A mudra is a bodily posture or symbolic gesture. In Buddhist iconography every buddha is depicted with a characteristic gesture of the hands. Such gestures correspond to natural gestures (of teaching, protecting, and so on) and also to certain aspects of the Buddhist teaching or of the particular buddha depicted.

Here mudras accompany the performance of liturgies and the recitation of mantras. They also help to actualize certain inner states in that they anticipate their physical expression; thus they assist in bringing about a connection between the practitioner and the buddha visualized in a given practice.

The most important mudras are:

1.) Dhyani Mudra……………..(gesture of meditation)
2.) Vitarka Mudra…………….(teaching gesture)
3.) Dharmachakra Mudra…..(gesture of turning the wheel of the teaching)
4.) Bhumisparsha Mudra……(gesture of touching the earth)
5.) Abhaya Mudra……………(gesture of fearlessness and granting protection)
6.) Varada Mudra…………….(gesture of granting wishes)
7.) Uttarabodhi Mudra………(gesture of supreme enlightenment)
8.) Mudra of Supreme Wisdom
9.) Anjali Mudra……………….(gesture of greeting and veneration)
10.) Vajrapradama Mudra….(gesture of unshakable confidence)

1.)Dhyani Mudra
In this mudra, the back of the right hand rests on the palm of the other in such a way that the tips of the thumbs lightly touch one another. The hands rest in the lap. The right hand, resting on top, symbolizes the state of enlightenment; the other hand, resting below, the world of appearance. This gesture expresses overcoming the world of appearance through enlightenment, as well as the enlightened state of mind for which samsara and nirvana are one. In a special form of this mudra, the middle, ring, and little fingers of both hands lie on top one another and the thumbs and index finger of each hand, touching each other, form a circle, which here also symbolizes the world of appearance and the true nature of reality.

2.)Vitarka Mudra
The right hand points upward, the left downward; both palms are tuned outward. The thumb and index finger of each hand form a circle. The right hand is at shoulder level, the left at the level of the hips. In a variant of this teaching gesture, the left hand rests palm upward in the lap, and the right hand is raised to shoulder level with its thumb and index finger forming a circle. In a further form of this mudra, the index finger and little fingers of both hands are fully extended, the middle and ring fingers somewhat curved inward. The left hand points upward, the right downward.

3.)Dharmachakra Mudra
The left palm is tuned inward (toward the body), the right outward, and the circles formed by the thumbs and index fingers of each hand touch one another.

4.)Bhumisparsha Mudra
The left hand rests palm upward in the lap; the right hand, hanging over the knee, palm inward, points to the earth. Sometimes the left hand holds a begging bowl. This is the gesture with which the Buddha summoned the Earth as witness to his realization of buddhahood. It is considered a gesture of unshakability; thus Akshobhya (the Unshakable) is usually depicted with this mudra.

5.)Abhaya Mudra
Here the right hand is raised to shoulder height with fingers extended and palm turned outward. This is the gesture of the Buddha Shakyamuni immediately after attaining enlightenment.

6.)Varada Mudra
The right hand, palm facing out, is directed downward. When Shakyamuni is depicted with this mudra, it symbolizes summoning Heaven as witness to his buddhahood. This mudra is also seen in representations of Ratnasambhava. In a variant, the thumb and index finger of the downward extended hand touch one another. Frequently the abhaya and varada mudras are combined: the right hand makes the gesture of fearlessness, the left that of wish granting.

7.)Uttarabodhi Mudra
Both hands are held at the level of the chest, the two raised index fingers touch one another, the remaining fingers are crossed and folded down.; the thumbs touch each other at the tips or are also crossed and folded. This mudra is frequently seen in images of Vairochana.

8.)Mudra of Supreme  Wisdom
The right index finger is grasped by the five fingers of the left hand. This mudra, characteristic of Vairochana, is the subject of many interretations in esoteric Buddhism, most which have to do with the relationship between the empirical world of manifoldness and the principle that is its basis-the unified world principle, the realization of unity in the manifold as embodied in Buddha.

9.) Anjali Mudra
The palms are held together at the level of the chest. This is the customary gesture of greeting in India. Used as a mudra, it expresses “suchness” (tahata).

10.)Vajrapradama Mudra
The fingertips of the hands are crossed. This is gesture of unshakable confidence.

Yoni Mudra

Yoni Mudra is an exercise of the withdrawal of the senses, included in Pratyahara.

All day long, people are barraged persistently with worries at home and at work. Your senses respond to all stimuli, with your brain simultaneously straining itself by ignoring all insignificant stimulus-responses. By being able to control the senses, only then can you concentrate and act on your duties more efficiently.

These are the steps in doing the Yoni Mudra technique:

Close your ears with your thumbs.

Use your index fingers to cover your eyes.

Then, use your middle fingers to pinch the nostrils.

Press your lips together with your remaining fingers.

While meditating, release your middle fingers as you inhale and exhale.

Concentration is the key for you to do this successfully and a better concentration is what you’ll achieve if you practice this. Remember that Meditation helps you relax and maintain mental clarity. Just do what Yogis do – find a comfortable place, do the Yoni Mudra technique, and you’re off for a better day with a rejuvenated mind.

Eye Mudra

Mudras are used as a way to practice pratyahara, withdrawal of the mind from the sense objects.

More information comes in through our eyes than any other sense organ. It is said that approximately 60% of the information that is taken in while listening to someone, comes from what we see. Through observation, the eyes take in most of the knowledge from the senses. Therefore, to withdraw the mind from the sense-objects, the eyes need to be focused in such a way that this is achieved. There are eye mudras for when the eyes are closed and for when they are open.

The two eyes represent duality. In the outer world, the pair of opposites exist. The battle of good and bad. Light and darkness. When the inner eye opens, one experiences control over the pair of opposites. Higher knowledge dawns and guides.

To open the inner eye, the eye mudras can greatly assist. Eye mudras channel the energy upward to the inner eye. The energy focuses at a specific point due to mental control and the physical application of the eye mudra.

In meditation, one can experience the spontaneous movement of the eyes into a mudra. The eyes close and naturally lift slightly in and up toward the inner eye as the energy moves upward. In this way, mudras can be taught from outside-in (applying the mudra ) or inside-out (spontaneous mudra).

Bandhas

Bandhas were classified as part of Mudras, and were handed down by word of mouth from Guru to disciple. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika deals with Bandhas and Mudras together and the ancient Tantric texts also make no distinction between the two. Bandhas are extensively incorporated in Mudra as well as Pranayama techniques. The Sanskrit word Bandha means to ‘Hold’ ‘Tighten’ or ‘Lock’. These definitions precisely describe the physical action involved in the Bandha practices and their effect on the Pranic body. The Bandhas aim to lock the Pranas in particular areas and redirect their flow into Sushumna Nadi for the purpose of spiritual awakening.  Bandhas may be practiced individually or incorporated with Mudra and Pranayama practices. When combined in this way, they awaken the psychic faculties and form an adjunct to higher yogic practices.

There are four Bandhas: Jalandhara, Moola, Uddiyana and Maha. The last of these is a combination of the first three. These three Bandhas directly act in the three psychic knots. Moola Bandha is associated with Brahma Granthi, Uddiyana Bandha with Vishnu Granthi and Jalandhara Bandha with Rudra Granthi. The Granthis prevent the free flow of Prana along Sushumna Nadi and thus impede the awakening of the Chakras and the rising of Kundalini.

Brahma Granthi is the first knot and it is associated with Mooladhara and Swadhisthana Chakras.It is linked with the survival instinct, the urge to procreate and with deep, instinctive knowledge, awareness and desire. When Brahma Granthi is transcended, the Kundalini or primal energy is able to rise beyond Mooladhara and Swadhisthana without being pulled back down by the attractions and instinctual patterns of the personality.   The second knot is Vishnu Granthi, associated with Manipura and Anahata Chakras. These two Chakras are associated with the physical, emotional and mental aspects of human existence. Manipura sustains Annamaya Kosha, the physical body, governing the digestion and metabolism of food. Anahata sustains Manomaya Kosha, the mental body and Pranamaya Kosha, and the energy body. Once Vishnu Granthi is transcended energy is drawn from the universe and not from the localized centers within the human being. The final Knot is Rudra Granthi, which is associated with Vishuddhi and Ajna Chakras. Vishuddhi and Ajna sustain Vijanamaya Kosha, the intuitive or higher mental body, and represent the transformation of an existing form, idea or concept into its universal aspect. When Rudra Granthi is pierced, individuality is dropped, the old ego awareness is left behind and the experience of unmanifest consciousness emerges beyond Ajna Chakra at Sahasrar.

The word bhanda means “to hold, lock, or embrace.” These potent practices train you to direct your prana or vital energy to different centers of your body. Bhandas provide direct demonstration of the Law of Dharma as you witness the immediate reactions in your body in accordance to specific actions you take. The basic principle with each bandha is to first accumulate energy in an area of your physiology, and to then release it. This process of building a force and then unleashing it discharges obstacles from the pathways of energy circulation. Like Traditional Chinese Medicine, yoga envisions the body/mind as a network of energetic channels, through which life force flows. These pathways are known as srotas and nadis. Srotas are circulatory channels in the physical body, whereas nadis exist in the subtle body. Health and vitality are dependent upon life energy flowing freely through the physical and subtle biological passageways.

Bandhas

• The word bandha means to “hold, lock, or embrace”
• The principle of each bandha is to first accumulate energy in an area of your physiology and then to release it.
• Jalandhara is designed to stimulate the network of nerves and energy channels in the throat

Mudras – Hand Positions in Meditations

Mudras are sacred ritual gestures or hand positions. When used in religious dance they become an elaborate hand language. The Sanskrit word Mudra means seal. In the most antiquated times mudra was used with mantra and sealed the pattern of energy. The earliest mudra was the Sanskrit symbol. From this primordial system of mudra grew a secret language that became as diverse as the country it was practiced in. Mudra is likewise used for the purpose of prayer.

Mudra is a pattered movement mainly of the fingers that carries an idea or emotion. Mudras are a gesture language capable of expressing ideas and suggesting symbols. Mudras create an energy field and can be used in healing. The ultimate goal of mudra is a higher state of consciousness.

In yoga these sacred hand positions relate to the energy flow of a particular meditation. They enhance the asana (posture) and sound current (mantra). Mudras in yoga are symbolic of mantras and send signals to the glands and to a specific part of the brain depending on the purpose of the meditation or yoga set.

1. Name of Mudra: Gyan Mudra
Gyan mudra is the most commonly used mudra in yoga meditations and meditations in general.There are two kinds of Gyan Mudras:

• Passive Gyan Mudra
  Method:
  Join the tip of the thumb and index fingers and keep the other 3 fingers stretched and joined. Let the hand rest on the knees.

  Benefits:
  Enables one to communicate clearly. Passive Gyana Mudra invites meditation, invites calmness and helps tune in to new awareness, knowledge and abilities.

• Receptive Gyan Mudra
  Benefits:
  Receptive Gyana Mudra invites the teacher and the teachings and is excellent for powerful exercises and breathwork.

2. Name of Mudra: Tranquility Mudra
Method:
Buddha gave it his disciples for control of the mind. Sit in easy Pose with a straight spine and with the elbows bent, bring the hands up and in until they meet in front of the body at the level of the heart.

The elbows should be held up almost to the level of the hands. Bend the index fingers of each hand in towards the palm. Join them with each other so they press together along the second joint. The middle fingers are extended and meet at the fingertips.

The other fingers are curled into the hand. The thumbs meet at the fingertips. Note that the extended fingers point away from the body.

Hold the mudra about 4 in. from the body with the extended fingers pointing away from the body.
- Focus on the tip of your Nose.
- Inhale completely and hold the breath
- Repeat the mantra of your choice 11 to 21 times.
- Exhale hold the breath out.
- Repeat the mantra an equal number of times
- Practice for three minutes

Benefits: This meditation will tranquilize the mind within three minutes.

3. Name of Mudra: Namaste Mudra/ Prayer Pose
Method:
Join the hands and tuck the knuckles of the thumbs into the notch in the center of the chest where the ribs come together. Exhale and inhale deeply.

Benefits:
This mudra meditation will bring the knowledge of all the past present and future teachers to you. It is an opportunity to experience mudra, mantra and breath as a meditation.
Prayer mudra neutralizes the positive (right or male) and negative (left or female side of the body. It stimulates the mind nerve, which is the only nerve that comes out of the mind.

Prayer or Namaste Mudra is often used when blessing food, beginning prayer or tuning in before doing a yoga or meditation. It is the mudra to neutralize the nadis (subtle energy channels that link the charkas including Sushumna, Ida and Pingala Nadis).

4. Name of Mudra: Surya mudra
Method:
Put the tip of ring finger at the base of thumb, with thumb gently pressing on it

Benefits:
Reduces body weight.

5. Name of Mudra: Prana mudra
Benefits:
Helps in pumping the life force into your body. Beneficial for all types of diseases. Imparts special power to the eyes.

Method:
Join the tip of the thumb with tip of little and ring finger. Keeping other two fingers straight.

Mantra Mudra Meditation for Wealth

Prosperity & Energy

This meditation technique is of course well known for it’s ability to bestow wealth, gifts and blessings, but, it’s other abilities to expand our energetic body, fight deep seated fears, improve our nervous system and build our abdominal systems should not be overlooked either.

Prosperity Meditation technique hails from the school of Kundalini Yoga and exploits 3 important aspects of yoga in order to accomplish it’s many objectives.  These are yoga mudras, mantas and yoga pranayama (breathing techniques).  This technique puts together these three mechanisms to form the potent meditation that it is.  Here is a quick look at these components.

Weath Meditation Yoga Mudras:

Mudras are essentially hand positions which complete certain circuits in the body to create a particular flow of energy.  By creating these flows, particular states of consciousness are invoked.  For this meditation, Gyan Mudra and Surya Mudra are employed.

Wealth Meditation Mantra:

For this meditation the science of Naad Yoga or Mantra Yoga is exploited as well.  Naad Yoga is the science of thought and sound vibrations, which when repeated create a connection with the Universal Field to bestow certain results.  This is the essence of the Law of Attraction and this meditation utilities the potent sound HAR to bring forth it’s results.  HAR is a variation of the Lord’s name.

Wealth Meditation Pranayama:

Herein is probably the most important aspect of this meditation.  It uses the advanced form of pranayama, which is exhaling and holding the breath out.  This is a technique for building the nervous system, expanding the energetic body and fighting deep fears.

Prosperity Meditation Integration:

As if the above were not enough, this meditation then goes on to use other Kundalini Yoga techniques as well to further increase it’s potency.  This includes the pumping of the abdomen and placing the arms at particular angles.  These angels channel the energy along certain pathways, and in combination with the other components dramatically increases the velocity of the energy flow.

Mudra Positions that Benefit you while Meditating

	Gyan Mudra	Effective in cases of mental ailment, imparts happiness, the intellect develops, memory is sharpened.
	Method	Join the tips of the index finger and thumb and keep the other 3 fingers stretched and joined.
	Shoonya Mudra	Relief in diseases and pains relating to the ear.
	Method	Press the middle finger on the base of the thumb and keep the thumb on middle finger. Keep the other three fingers straight..
	Apaan Mudra	Helps in clearing the body by elimination of waste matter from the mouth, eyes, ears, nose etc. Helps when urine is obstructed, reduces constipation.
	Method	Join the tip of the thumb with the tip of middle and ring finger, keeping the other finger straight.
	Prana Mudra	Helps in pumping the life force into your body. Beneficial for all types of diseases. Imparts special power to the eyes.
	Method	Join the tip of the thumb with tip of little and ring finger. Keeping other two fingers straight.
	Vayu Mudra	Helps in diseases like arthritis, trembling in Parkinson’s disease. Better results obtained if practices after Prana mudra.
	Method	Press the index finger on the base of thumb and keep the thumb on the index finger. Let the other fingers be straight.
	Prithvi Mudra	Makes body sturdy. One experiences happiness.
	Method	Join the tip of the thumb and ring finger.
	Varun Mudra	Improves the deteriorated quality of blood due to shortage of water & gives freshness to the body.
	Method	Join the tip of the thumb and little finger.
	Surya Mudra	Reduces weight of your body.
	Method	Put the tip of ring finger at the base of thumb, with thumb gently pressing on it.
	Ling Mudra	Produces heat in the body and helps in curing cold and cough.
	Method	Interlock the fingers of both hands together. Keeping the left thumb up (encircled by right thumb and index finger) i.e. left thumb should be vertically straight and right thumb around it.