What are Mudras? How do they work?

In this article, we discuss What are Mudras? How do they work? Our body has infinite power if we know that all power then we become proud, and sometimes we can misuse that power, but our sages taught us so many scientific techniques to retain our power and one of these techniques is called Mudra. The simple meaning of Mudra is the hand gestures that assist and guide energy flow to particular parts of our brain.

 

 

What are Mudras? How do they work?

Mudras come in different types and each type has different benefits, the good thing is that to perform Mudras with different Yoga Poses, we do not require so much effort or energy but require only certain gestures. The Mudra can deepen focus, quieten the mind, balance energies and improve overall well-being. They stimulate the “Pran” (Vital force) throughout our body. Mudras can be performed during Yoga Poses, Pranayama,What is Pranayama? Deep Breathing and Meditation.

What are Mudras?

From the ancient age, our sages of India discovered different types of mudras which are called Yoga Mudra or Hasta Mudra. We can see the God or Goddess sitting in certain mudra even we can see Mahavir Swami or Shree Gautam Buddha sitting in certain Aasana with certain Hstaa Mudra.

If we specifically say Hasta Mudras have an important role in Indian Classical Dance forms like Mohini Attam, Kathakali, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, and Gotipuva. This Hasta Mudras show some important fundamental characteristics of emotions and stimulate mental energy.

 

What is Mudra Science?

Nowadays Science also believes that if we perform certain mudras or press certain points of our entire body, we can reduce the pain and eliminate the disease. Acupressure and Acupuncture work the same methods to reduce diseases in the human body.

In Ayurveda, the belief is that our body is composed of five elements (Tattvas) these are.

1. Fire Element
2. Air Element
3. Sky Element
4. Earth Element
5. Water Element

Each of these five elements (tattva) is present in every human’s finger and Life force or Vital force (Prana) runs for each element through every finger. One can easily manipulate their Prana to regain their body’s balance. Our five finger’s represent these five elements as under.

1. Thumb represent – “Agni Tattva” (Fire Element)
2. The index finger represents – “Vayu Tattva” (Air Elements)
3. The middle finger represents – “Aakash Tattva” (Sky Element)
4. The ring finger represents – “Pruthvi Tattva” (Earth Element)
5. The little finger represents – “Jal Tatva” (Water Element

 

 

How many types of Prana (Vayu Gyan)?

According to “Ayur Vedas” there are five “Prans” means “Tattva” or Elements.

1. Prana: This is responsible for control over breathing pattern and distribute oxygen through out the body by pumping one’s heart.
2. Apana: This Prana controls the stomach region and is responsible for sweating, Urination, excretion, reproduction system, and use of the exhalation system.
3. Samana: Activates the Stomach area and controls the digestion system, immune system and metabolism system.
4. Udana: Control through region, regularize Vocal system, intake of anything like food, water. This Prana stimulate brain by raising power from beneath of the spinal code.
5. Vyana: This Pran moves everywhere in the human body therefore it controls each and every movement of any part of the human body. The Power that we generate from food and water is circulated to all human organs as well as the nervous system through breathing via every vein. Vyan is also responsible for regularizing the work of “Prana Vayu” and “Apan Vayu”.

Apart from these, there are five “Up pran” (Sub Prana) are.

1. Naga: Stomach area.
2. Kurma: Eye area – Protect our eyes from external elements, responsible for blinking our eyes and control over eyesight.
3. Krukal: Nose area – Responsible for sneezing and Protecting our body from external elements which can be intact through the nose via breathing.
4. Devdatta: Responsible for yawing and Controlling the nervous system during sleep.
5. Dhannjay: Generate cough and nitrate in our body.

Different electronic weaves are produced by the five fingers of the human body, by using these five fingers we can perform mudras (gestures) The particular mudra control above mentioned “Prana” and “Up prana” thus we manage to remove toxic elements from our body and become healthy physically as well as mentally.

How does Mudra work?

1. If you join the front point of any finger with your thumb then those elements that represent to that finger become equal and remove those toxins from your body.
2. If you press the beginning point of any finger with your thumb then those elements which are represent to that finger become stimulated or increased.
3. If you press the back side of any finger with your thumb then those elements that are represented by those fingers become reduced or decreased.

How Many Mudras?

According to Mudra Shastra and Veda Shastra, there are approximately 399 Yoga Mudras used in Yoga to stimulate different parts of the body these different types of Mudras are categorised as under.

1. Hasta Mudra – Hand Gesture
2. Kaya Mudra – Body Gesture
3. Mana Mudra- Head Gesture
4. Bandh Mudra- Lock Gesture
5. Adhara Mudra-Perineal Gesture

Further, there are three important categories as under.

A) Asana Mudras

1. Vrakta Mudra
2. Ashwini Mudra
3. Maha Mudra
4. Yog Mudra
5. Vipritkarni Mudra
6. Shobhvani Mudra

B) Tantrik Mudras

1. Chachri Mudra
2. Khechari Mudra
3. Bhochari Mudra
4. Agochari Mudra
5. Annuni Mudra

C) Hasta Mudras

1. Gyan Mudra
2. Vayu Mudra
3. Shunya Mudra
4. Surya Mudra
5. Varun Mudra
6. Surabhi Mudra
7. Pruthivi Mudra
8. Apan Mudra
9. Pran Mudra
10. Ling Mudra
11. Akash Mudra

This is the concept of What are Mudras? How do they work? In the next article, we will discuss regarding Hasta Mudras and their benefits.