MUDRAS FOR INNER HEALING

Six Mudras for Inner Peace

Mudras are an investment you make in yourself; the pay off is a feeling of well being and inner peace. If you come home from work feeling frustrated or burned out, mudras offer you relief.
Experiment with the following mudras. Some may work better for you than others. As you work with them you will begin to feel as though you have had a good massage. Before you begin you may feel jazzed and confused, and end feeling calm and focused.

Release — Calmness Let go of unwanted tensions This mudra draws anxiety and tension to your hand and lets it drain out. How to do it: Sit straight and tall. Bend your elbows so your forearms are perpendicular to the floor and hands are at ear level. Extend your fingers straight up, and rotate your hands back and forth. Note: When done, let anxiety drain out by dropping your hands loosely to your sides and gently wiggling them.	Relax — Tranquility Promotes grounding Tranquility helps you cut though external and internal chaos to find a place of inner peace. How to do it: Sit straight and tall. Bend elbows so your arms are in front of your chest. Place the palm of your right hand on top of your left arm. Move the top of your left hand up, touching the underside of your right arm. Keep fingers straight and together. Breathe deeply from your belly.
Restore — Comfort Invite soft energy into your heart Life deals us many losses — death, loss of job or dream. These events leave us feeling depleted. You can comfort yourself with this mudra. How to do it: Sit straight and tall. Bend elbows and extend them out. Put your hands on the upper chest, fingers pointing towards each other. Imagine your hands warming your heart. Breathe deeply from your belly.	Recharge — Energy Recharge yourself When your battery runs out of energy this mudra is like plugging yourself into a wall socket. How to do it: Sit straight and tall. Extend arms from the body to the sides. Make circles with the tips of the thumbs and index fingers. Breathe deeply from your belly.
Reframe thinking — Prosperity Live with abundance Our thoughts limit our possibilities. This mudra changes our perceptions You take in what you need and you pour out your contribution. When you hold tight there is no room for the new. How to do it: Sit straight and tall. Take in — Place elbows close to your body and extend your arms out. Turn palms up with little fingers touching to form a bowl, symbolizing willingness to receive. Give out — Turn palms over with index fingers touching to empty your bowl so you can receive more.	Refresh mind — Balance Increase concentration When you feel scattered you cannot concentrate or hear your internal wisdom. This mudra helps balance and concentration. How to do it: Sit straight and tall. Bend elbows so your hands are just in front of you, just above your navel. Rest the back of the left hand in the palm of the right hand. Keep fingers together. Breathe deeply from your belly.

Fingers and Mudras

Mudras are all about the fingers, and each finger is packed with nerve endings, energy and a meaning all its own. The correct play of the fingers gives the Mudra the potency to heal. Let us take a look at the five fingers:

The thumb represents the element earth, the stomach and worry. The index finger represents the element metal, the lungs, and the large intestine and the emotions are depression, sadness and grief. The middle finger is the element fire, the heart, small intestine, circulatory and respiratory systems, and the emotions are impatience and hastiness. The ring finger is the element wood and is connected to the liver, gall bladder, and nervous system, and corresponds to anger. The little finger corresponds to water, the kidneys, and fear. In palmistry and astrology too the fingers depict profound meaning.

Little finger: Mercury - The little finger relates to communication and it is associated with the second chakra.

Ring finger: Apollo - The ring finger refers to relationships and is associated with Apollo, the sun god and the root chakra.

Middle finger: Saturn - The middle finger refers to responsibility and is associated with the throat chakra, the gateway of purity.

Index finger: Jupiter - The index finger refers to self-worth and is associated with the heart chakra.

Thumb: Mars - The thumb refers to self-assertion and is associated with the fire element.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guhyam brahma tadidam braveemi.
Nahi maanushaa shreshthataram hi kin chit.

(No visible or invisible power can compare with the enormous inherent power possessed by man)

What are Mudras? How do we define them?

Where and how Mudras originated

Mudras in Therapy

A Scientific look

YOGA TATVA mudra vigyan

Most commonly known mudras and how they affect the body

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What are Mudras? How do we define them? As per Eastern philosophies and culture and Yogic practices, 'Mudras' are systematic hand gestures. Literally, Mudra in Sanskrit means a posture/seal.
More deeply, "closed electrical circuits" of the subtle channels in physical and etheric bodies are also known as 'Mudras'.
Some Western writers have defined 'Mudra' as mystic hand gestures used to focus subtle energy, transmit teachings through symbols and confer psychic protection.
Chogyam Trungpa says Mudra is "a symbol in the wider sense of gesture or action………Also it is a symbol expressed with the hands to state for oneself and others the quality of different moments of meditation……."
Leaving aside the complex definitions offered by various people and sects, we will summarise to say that:
Mudras are a non-verbal mode of communication and self expression consisting of hand gestures and finger postures. They retain the efficacy of the spoken word. It is an external expression of inner resolve, suggesting that such non verbal communications are more powerful than the spoken word.
In Yoga mudras denote the finger and hand gestures and movements used in the performance of dances, rituals and rites and while engaging in spiritual exercises such as meditation. Mudras symbolically express inner feelings and inner psychological states. They also generate various qualities such as fearlessness, power, charity and peace in the practitioner and to on-lookers.
The Gherand Sanhita and the Vajrayana Tantra advise that the Mudras are capable of bestowing great powers and psychic abilities called "Siddhies" on their practitioners, hence, their knowledge should not be conveyed to those steeped in sin, to those that are not true to their word, to the skeptics and non believers, to heretics and insincere persons and those who do not observe the precepts.
Mudras have therefore always been considered an esoteric science and even as of date there are thousands of Mudras that are not available to the uninitiated (like in the Chen Yen Buddhism or True Buddha Schools). However, besides the mudras providing spiritual gains, there are mudras which are likewise of tremendous value in therapy. Constant researches by the dedicated have brought a large number of these to the fore although we still seem to be scratching the surface only of this sea of knowledge.
Where and how Mudras originated
No one knows for sure where and how mudras originated. They have been in use for millenniums. They have not ben known to adhere to any barriers . They have been found in all continents, practiced by people of all religions and those professing none. They are as natural to the body as the daily needs of the body. All that was required was to recognize them, identify them and scientifically understand and use them.

• In the Orient these can be observed in the rituals and rites of the rich cultural traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism in India, Tibet, China, Japan Indonesia etc. The paintings in the caves of Ajanta and sculptures in the Ellora caves, dating back to 2nd. and 1st. centuries BC show innumerable mudras.

Hinduism shows the earliest recorded knowledge and analysis of Mudras. The earliest documentations are found in Mantra Shastra (the book of incantations), Upasana Shastra (the book of worship and prayers) and the Nritya Shastra (the book of classical dances). The following verse from Srimad Bhagwad Gita mentions that Lord Krishna was in the posture of Gyan Mudra when he bestowed the knowledge of Gita to Arjuna.

Prapannapaarijaataaya totravetre paanaye,
gyaan mudraaya Krishnaaya geetaamritaa duhe namah

• In Jainism, Swami Mahavir Jain and in Sikkhism, Guru Nanak Devji are always shown in Gyan or Dhyan Mudra.
• In the Occident, cheironomy is the science of hand gestures (mudras). In Christian art Jesus, John the Baptist and Virgin Mary are shown in various Mudras. Reference may be had from the book "The sign Language of the Mysteries" by J.S.M.Ward. Even today, the sign used by the priests of Catholic Churches while blessing the devotees, is what is shown elsewhere in this article as "Mahagyan Mudra"
• Egyptian hieroglyphics are a virtual treasure house of mudras. The postures of their kings and queens even as mummies show them holding mudras.
• The Babylonian sun God Damuzi depicts Mudras while descending into the underworld.
• In Islam, the mystical Whirling Dervishes used Hand signs or Mudras for various rites and rituals.
• Roman art is replete with mudras.

Man only has that supreme power in his soul, that when scientifically endowed with Yoga, can help him achieve all the three sublime powers - the physical, mental and spiritual. All that is needed is the guidance and the rules of Dhyana (meditation) and Practice (sadhana)
There are various supreme sciences for the investigations on and into the human mind and body. Some of these are:

Mudra Vigyan	The science of finger postures
Kayakalpa Vigyan	The science of rejuvenation
Brahma Vidya	Divine knowledge - theosophy
Pranvinimaya Vidya	The science of curing the sick and the defective
Surya Vigyan	The science of solar energy
Punarjanma Vigyan	The science of reincarnation
Deerghayu Vidya	The science of longevity
Swar Vigyan	The science of sounds
Rasayan Vigyan	The science of Alchemy
Mantra Vigyan	The science of spiritual incantation
Samyad Preshan Vidya	The science of Telepathy etc.

There are many many more covering all aspects of science known to man today and those that modern science still has to discover again.
YOG TATVA MUDRA VIGYAN or in short, the more commonly known MUDRA VIGYAN is an entirely distinct and independent branch of yoga. This is the science of finger postures, based on Yoga of elements that go to create the human body. The science that can help raise the human being to achieve almost divine powers and keep the body perfectly fit.
Mudras in Therapy
We have mentioned earlier that The World Health Organisation defines good health as:
" A STATE OF COMPLETE PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL WELL BEING, NOT MERELY THE ABSENCE OF DISEASE OR INFIRMITY."
On this site, we shall be dealing with only those Mudras that have a salutary effect on the mind and the body to help maintain them at peak efficiency and /or help to cure them should they get stricken by any ailment or disease.
Like any Yoga, Mudras must be practiced sincerely and after gaining full knowledge of them. With few exceptions, a practice of these, with partial knowledge can, at the least, result in no gains and if practiced wrongly also produce undesireable effects.
Like any Yoga, Mudras should be learned from a Guru. After understanding the basic principles, the practitioners can generally do most of the Mudras by themselves.
Like any Yoga, Mudras are natures way of healing, as intended by nature and therefore, the mandates of nature are to be followed. These are no instant pills, which do give temporary relief but harm in the long run. While some Mudras do give instant relief, for permanent and long term gains they should be done with sincerity and belief.
Remember, the gains from all Yogic procedures are permanent and achieved without interfering with the natural working of the body mind or spirit.
A scientific look
Any living body is made of 5 distinct elements :

FIRE

WIND

ETHER

EARTH

WATER

These are not as per science's definition of elements but refer to the five building blocks that go into the formation of any living body. Several ancient health systems are based on the concept of the balance of the five elements. Indian Medical science according to Ayurved and metaphysics affirm that distortion or impairment of the 5 elements create outer disturbance and inner sickness in the body.
The 5 fingers of the hands represent these 5 elements :

The Thumb	symbolises the Fire
The Forefinger	symbolises the Wind
The Middle finger	symbolises the Ether
The Ring finger	symbolises the Earth
The Little or small finger	symbolises the Water

The finger tips of every living being have many concentrated nerve root endings which are free energy discharge points. Science also confirms that around every tip there is a concentration of free electrons. By touching together of the tips of the fingers or the finger tips to other parts of the palms this free energy (Prana) is redirected back into the body along specified channels, back up to the brain. The redirected energy traveling through the nerves stimulates the various chakras. Keeping the hands on the knees stimulates the Gupta Nari and makes the energy start from the Mooladhara Chakra.
Thus, the tension applied to the nerve/s and/or the neural or psycho-neural circuits formed by the mudras help in balancing the five basic elements (or building blocks). This balancing of the tension, and redirection of the internal energy effects the changes in veins, tendons, glands and sensory organs, to bring the body back to a healthy state.
Keeping specified nerves stretched for specified periods tones up of the nervous system. The fingers of each hand are held folded in certain specific postures and this provides the required tension on the nerves.
The fingers of each and every individual in the world are different in their shapes and sizes. These are determined and provided by nature as a tool to bring the nerves into prime condition when affected adversely.
Thus, they provide a different 'end tension' on the nerves when different individuals fold their fingers or the same individual folds the fingers by different methods in different Mudras. This is exactly the tension required by that individual for that particular application. Nature has already bestowed us with the tools to be used to keep us healthy.
Compare this with Acupressure where the nerves are influenced by the application of pressure on certain points or Acupuncture, where slight electrical impulses are conveyed through needles inserted in the body. The advantage in Mudras is that the pressure to be applied on the nerves is automatic and controlled by the shape and size of the fingers and not by external agencies.
Because the Mudras work on the nerves, they are a NEURAL SCIENCE
Mudra Vigyan is also a science based on the principles of the Indian Medical Science (Ayurveda) which lays down three factors primarily responsible for the body's ills, Vata (wind), Pitta (bile) and Kapha (Phlegm).
10 types of Vayus (Winds) circulate through the nerves of the human body and can be controlled with MUDRAS.

MUKHYA VAYUS (Main Winds)
Pran Vayu	Mouth; central nose; central nabhi; heart
Apan Vayu	Rectum; regenerative organs; knees; loins Stomach; waist; navel and calves
Vyan Vayu	Eyes; ears; shoulders; ankles; throat
Udan Vayu	Hands and feet
Saman Vayu	assists other Vayus
UPVAYUS (Secondary winds)
Nag Vayu, Kurm Vayu, Kriker Vayu, Krikal or Devadutta Vayu, Dhananjaya Vayu and these winds circulate in places like the skin and bones etc.

The rules to keep these Vayus in good order are called PANCHMUKHI PRANOPASANA or the five faceted worship of the life forces and use the Mudras to achieve their ends.
YOGA TATVA mudra vigyan (Yoga related to the elements)

• Tatva Yog Mudra vigyan is an independent yoga, built upon the knowledge of the five fingers of the human hand.
• Detailed descriptions are available in Mantra Shastra (Books of incantation), Upasana Shastra (Books on meditation), Nritya Shastra (Books on the art of Dances) and the books on the art of sculpture.
• Mudra is a very exact and scientific yogic function by which one can develop or even change, one's internal and external dispositions viz. mental (anger, emotional disturbance, intelligence etc.), spiritual (concentration, meditation) or physical (in various diseases, illnesses).
• Mudras can bring miraculous mental, spiritual and physical changes and improvements in our body. They help in quickly balancing the elements of the body.
• Mudras effect changes in veins, tendons, glands and sense organs.
• Mudras need no prior preparation. They can be done (mostly but with exceptions) at any time, anywhere and under virtually any circumstances.
• They are like literal remote control switches bringing quick and effective changes.
• They help bring about permanent changes.
• A constant practice of Mudras can stop or slow down the destructive changes in the human body. It can help develop a virtuous, socially amiable, non-violent, pious and courteous disposition.
• Some of the Mudras can balance the elements of the body within 45 minutes; some react within a few seconds on the human body.
• The ancients believed there were 24 diagnostic elements, the Gayatri mantra has 24 words, the Jains have 24 Tirthankaras, and Sanatan Dharma has 24 avatars. The 24 words of the Gayatri Mantra have a special relationship with 24 mudras known as GAYATRI MUDRAS. They have different names and formations. The importance of Mudras is also clear from the grim qualifier to these:

Etaa Mudraa na jaanaati, Gaayatri nishphalaa bhaveta
To him who does not know Mudras, Gayatri becomes ineffectual.

• Mudras awaken the cosmic energy and help unite the atma (soul) with the Paramatama (the cosmic soul).