However, there are many mudras that have made it into the mainstream, which are safe and easy to practice. “Mudras are higher practices which lead to awakening of the pranas, chakras and kundalini, and which can bestow major siddhis, psychic powers, on the advanced practitioner”, claims Swami Satyananda Saraswati in Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha. They are not to be used by the spiritually unprepared or undedicated - they are very potent. Mudras also come with a warning in both Hindu and Buddhist circles. The secrets of yoga clarify “together with the Bandhas, Mudras redirect the energy flow, linking the individual pranic energy with universal force.” Health and Yoga explains: “When a finger representing an element is brought into contact with the thumb, that element is brought into balance.” Not only are mudras designed to stimulate energetic flow, they are a step to be taken after becoming adept at asana and pranayama, when the bandhas are practiced regularly - these are important and integral energetical (which correspond with key muscles groups) locks at the root of the body, the solar plexus and the jaw/chin. In Ayurveda and TCM the Five Fingers represent each of the Five Elements - Thumb = Fire, Index = Air, Middle = Space, Ring = Eartha and Little = Water. By working with the “Hasta” we can stimulate the energy lines in the hands, which also correspond to the meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Why use mudras?Īs mudra means seal or lock, the point of holding a mudra is essentially locking in the flow of energy in our energy system (the body) so we can direct it to reach a higher state of consciousness. Mudras are also prevalent in Kundalini yoga and link to the energetic notions of chakras and shakti energy. Tantra refers to the esoteric traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism that co-developed around the middle of 1st millennium CE. This includes 25 in Hatha yoga and 108 in regular Tantric rituals. Mudras have also been used in traditional dance and it is said that there exist close to 399 mudras across various disciplines. We can identify deities, saints, gurus and The Buddha performing distinct hand poses, in either movement or meditation.Īccording to the textbook Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha by Swami-Satyananda-Saraswati “Mudras can be described as psychic, emotional, devotional and aesthetic gestures or attitudes.” Mudra means “seal” in Sanskrit and can be spotted in ancient Hindu and Buddhist statues, religious texts and in artwork adorning temples across the Indian subcontinent. All three help to suspend the fluctuations of the mind, intellect and ego, so that attention is drawn in towards the Self.”Īlthough specific gestures made with the hands and fingers can be found all over the world, it is debatable where exactly the concept of mudras originated. “Mudras and bandhas act as safety valves in the human system. The definitive text on modern Hatha yoga (the Hatha Yoga Pradikipa) has a forward by BKS Iyengar which confirms the use of mudras to assist the practice of yoga in its traditional sense - to still the thoughts and unite body, mind and spirit. Due to yoga’s connection to Indian history - it was where yoga was born and has evolved over 5000 years until it began to filter out globally in the 1900’s - mudras have remained part of the practice and accompany some hatha postures or seated meditation, even in today’s modern classes. Mudras are instilled in Hindu and Buddhist history and symbolise spiritual intention. Have you ever encountered strange hand gestures in a yoga class and wondered what it was all about? The symbolic notion of drawing your fingers together to create a shape is called a mudra.
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