A Wsidom Archive on Mudras - the science of hand and finger postures

Mudras - the science of hand and finger postures

Mudras, the science of hand and finger postures, can help you to cure bodily ailments in a wonderful manner. It actually helps in balancing the five elements ( panch-tattvas ) in the human system to their optimal levels. The elements can even be increased or decreased to cure appropriate ailments. When the elements are completely balanced, the yoga (unison) of mind, body and soul with the Supreme Soul can be achieved!

''Mudra'' simply means hand and finger postures. Like yogic body postures, it is also a discipline, to rejuvenate the body.

You must have seen the statues of Buddha, Jesus, Mahavir, and Shiva et al among many others, wherein the hands and fingers are shown curled in a specific posture. For example, Lord Jesus Christ''s image normally shows the hand pointing to the cave of the heart. Likewise, one of the popular images of Lord Buddha show''s the fingers of the Left hand holding a pot of nectar, while palm of the right hand is resting on the lap, with fingers folded and pointing straight down. Another image shows the fingers of the right hand near the chest region and folded in a specific pose.

Such finger postures not only have a therapeutic effect on the mind-body system but also accentuate mental keenness and acuity.

This science of hand and finger postures is ''Mudra Vigyan''. In fact, there are innumerable mudras and each has a specific effect.

This science can help you to cure bodily ailments in a wonderful manner. It actually helps in balancing the five elements ( panch-tattvas ) in the human system to their optimal levels. The elements can even be increased or decreased to cure appropriate ailments. When the elements are completely balanced, the yoga (unison) of mind, body and soul with the Supreme Soul can be achieved!

But you will find that it gives equally astonishing results in achieving mental concentration. And the funny thing is, unlike yoga, you can practice mudras anywhere, anytime!

Mudras: Some very effective and simple mudras

Some brilliant, very effective and simple mudras, which you can practice anytime and anywhere:

GYAN MUDRA

PURN GYAN MUDRA

ABHAYA MUDRA

DHYAAN MUDRA

PRITHVI MUDRA

VARUN MUDRA

VAYU MUDRA

PRAN MUDRA

LINGA MUDRA

MRITSANJIVINI MUDRA

SURYA MUDRA

Introduction and links to related topics

Below are some short introductions. Click on the blue hyperlinked word to get more related articles.


Maha Mudra - the great gesture - combines the practice of moola bandha, shambhavi and khechari mudras simultaneously.

Hand Mudras - See Mudras .

Charachari Mudra Caracari Mudra - Charachari Mudra caracari mudra (Sanskrit) One of the five mudras practiced in preparation for raja yoga (BCW 2:119).



Dactylogy - Finger signaling system of language (such as Ameslan) used by deaf and mute persons; can also be used as powerful mudras in rituals.

Tirumantiram - (Tamil) "Holy incantation."

The Nandinatha Sampradaya''s oldest Tamil scripture; written ca 200 bce by Rishi Tirumular. It is the earliest of the Tirumurai, and a vast storehouse of esoteric yogic and tantric knowledge. It contains the mystical essence of raja yoga and siddha yoga, and the fundamental doctrines of the 28 Saiva Siddhanta Agamas, which in turn are the heritage of the ancient pre-historic traditions of Saivism.

As the Agamas themselves are now partially lost, the Tirumantiram is a rare source of the complete Agamanta (collection of Agamic lore). Its 3047 verses were, as legend has it, composed in a rather extraordinary way. Before writing each verse, Tirumular would meditate for an entire year, then summarize his meditation in a fourline Tamil verse. He did this for 3,000 years! The allegory is said to mean that 3,000 years of knowledge is compacted in this one book. The text is organized in nine parts, called tantras, summarized as follows:
basic rules of religious morality;
allegorical explanations of Saiva mythological stories; five powers of Siva, three classifications of souls;
a complete treatise on raja yoga;
mantras and tantras;
the essential features of the Saiva religion; the four forms of Saivism, four stages, unorthodox paths, conduct to be avoided;
the Sivaguru, grace, renunciation, sin, penance, jnana, worthy and unworthy persons;
siddha yoga, more on grace, mudras, control of ida and pingala, worlds reached by different classes of yogis after death, refinements of yoga, the satguru;
essential theology: five sheaths, eleven states, three padarthas (Pati-pashu-pasha), 36 tattvas, four states of consciousness, three malas, three gunas, ten karanas, etc.;
the fruits of realization, liberation, jnana, Siva''s dances, meeting of the guru.
See: Tirumurai, Tirumular.

Chachuri Mudra Cacuri Mudra - Chachuri Mudra cacuri mudra (Sanskrit) One of the five mudras "practiced by the Aryas to qualify themselves for (Raja)

Yoga" (BCW 2:119)

Gopichandana - Gopichandana (Sanskrit) A substance made of whitish clay from rivers held sacred, used to paint mudras or emblems of the deities on the bodies of certain Hindu devotees (BCW 2:119).

Mudra - (Sanskrit) "Seal."

Esoteric hand gestures which express specific energies or powers. Usually accompanied by precise visualizations, mudras are a vital element of ritual worship (puja), dance and yoga.

Among the bestknown mudras are:
abhaya mudra (gesture of fearlessness), in which the fingers are extended, palm facing forward;
anjali mudra (gesture of reverence);
jnana mudra (also known as chin mudra and yoga mudra), in which the thumb and index finger touch, forming a circle, with the other fingers extended;
dhyana mudra (seal of meditation), in which the two hands are open and relaxed with the palms up, resting on the folded legs, the right hand atop the left with the tips of the thumbs gently touching.
See: abhaya mudra, anjali mudra, hatha yoga, namaskara.

Mysteries - Secret rituals usually involving the display of sacred mandalas and other objects to, and the performance of various mudras with and in front of, and the chanting of mantras and dharanis in the hearing of, properly initiated worshipers, for theurgical purposes in this life and the next.

Shaktichalani - One of the mudras, involves contracting the rectum