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.

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.