After
taking bath early in the morning, one should sit on an Asana (one can
use a warm
Blanket
also). If possible, one should sit in the Yogic postures: Padmasana or
Sukhasana.
Inhale
deeply & then exhale slowly 5-10 times. Let your mind feel peaceful &
thereafter do the following Mudras using both hands. When necessary, one can do
these mudra(s) at other times also.
Linga Mudra
Method: Clasp the fingers of both the hands tightly & then make the inner thumb
erect as shown in diagram.
Benefits: Increase in warmth of the body, cough & congestion disappears.
Shunya Mudra
Method: Bend the longest middle finger so that its nail touches the soft part of
the thumb. Rest of the 3 fingers should be kept straight.
Benefits: Pain in ear vanishes. If there is pus in the ears or one is not able to
hear properly, then this mudra should be done for 4-5 minutes.
Prithvi Mudra
Method: Touch the smallest finger (Kanishthika) with the tip of the thumb.
Rest of the 3 fingers should be kept straight.
Benefits: Weakness of the body disappears & one feels rejuvenated.
Surya Mudra
Method: Bend
the finger next to the smallest finger (Anamika). Make the thumb touch
the part of this finger above the nail.
Benefits: Excess fat of the body & laziness gets removed by doing this mudra.
Gyan Mudra
Method: Touch the index finger with the tip of the thumb. The remaining 3 fingers should
remain straight.
Benefits: If one is suffering from mental problems like lack of sleep or excess of sleep,
weak memory, anger etc., then this mudra is very helpful. This mudra enables one
concentrate while doing meditation & prayers. One should practice this
mudra for 30 minutes every day.
Varuna Mudra
Method: Bend the middle (longest) finger so that it touches the tip of the thumb.
Let the
remaining 3 fingers be straight.
Benefits: The diseases happening due to the deficiency of Jal Tatva (water
content) like blood disorders, skin diseases, anemia etc are cured.
Prana Mudra
Method: Let the tip of the 2 corner fingers & thumb touch each other. The remaining
2 fingers should be straight.
Benefits: This mudra is the center for the energy of the Prana. It helps in
keeping the body healthy. This is very helpful for curing eye diseases &
reducing the number of eye-glasses (improving the eye-sight).
Vayu Mudra
Method: Bend the index finger so that it touches the soft part of the thumb. The remaining
3 fingers should remain straight.
Benefits: It is beneficial for joint pain in hands & feet, paralysis, hysteria
etc. It is very beneficial to do Prana Mudra along with this mudra.
PRAN MUDRA (VITAL AIR POSTURE)
The vital air (Pran Vayu) enters the lungs along with breath. In turn,
lungs mix it with blood and send it to the heart. Action of combustion starts
when glucose present in cells and vital air (oxygen) present in blood come into
contact, which produces energy The Pran have identified five types of air in the body
- Pran, Apaan, Samaan, Udaan and Vyaan. They are spread in various parts of the
body.
It is the Pran that energizes the body. Excess or deficiency of Pran
creates imbalance. Pran mudra is used to strike the balance of Pran and keep
the body energetic.
Method:
The mudra, which is created by joining the tips of little finger (water
element) and ring finger (earth element) with the thumb (fire element), is
known as Pran mudra. It is a very powerful mudra Asana
Padmasana or Siddhasana makes the vital
energy intense. By keeping the spine straight, the vital energy becomes active
and vertically inclined.
Duration
Duration of 48 minutes is considered
complete for systematizing the vital air. Since it may not be possible to
practice this mudra for a complete duration at a stretch, it may be staggered
into two or three phases. To start with, practice it for 16 minutes and
gradually consummate it to the desired duration
Results
The deficiency of vital energy can be
removed and it is then gradually increased by Pran mudra. It strengthens
bronchial tube.
Weakness of body, disturbance of mind
and rigidness of feeling are removed.
Removes eye disorders and increases
sight.
It makes a man dignified.
It makes a man Urdhvareta.
Person comes across subtle elements and
starts merging with the Eternal Soul.
It develops concentration.
The Pran mudra energizes the whole of
the body. It is helpful in regenerating the energy lost due to paralysis.
Precautions
Prana is energy. It is power. It
becomes virtuous with proper use of senses, mind and emotions. Otherwise it can
lead senses towards attachment, mind to disturbance and emotions to perversion.
As such efforts should continue towards balanced adjustment for the development
of vital energy produced by Prana mudra, otherwise the increasing energy with
body may channelize itself towards downfall instead of upward development.
Special notes
Prana mudra has simultaneous union of
three elements: water, earth and fire. All these three elements come into
contact and lead to chemical transformation in the body, which helps in
balanced development of the personality. The Prana mudra is especially useful
in meditational yoga e.g. fast. It helps in natural and easy consummation of
meditation.
ANGUSHTHA MUDRA (THUMB POSTURE)
Angushtha mudra is also called Linga
mudra (Phallus posture). Thumb is a symbol of masculinity. It helps in
increasing dynamism in a person. It increases heat. Persons with bilious
temperament should practice this mudra under the guidance of able and
experienced person, otherwise the increasing bilious wrath may lead to increase
in acidity in the body Moreover, due to excessive heat, all these ailments like
pain, giddiness, dryness of throat and increased burning sensation in the body
may further increase. This mudra can be used during winter season. It removes
phlegmatic disorders. Chronic cold is easily cured. It burns unwanted calories
in the body, thus reducing obesity
Method
For making Angushtha mudra, fingers of
both the hands are interlocked, and the left thumb is kept straight while the
palms are pressed against each other; pressure is also exerted on back portion
by fingers. Right thumb is to be placed at the base of left thumb and pressure
is to be applied. For the first time left thumb is kept straight, and the
second time pressure may be applied at the base of right thumb. Angushtha
(Linga) mudra is accomplished through both the ways.
Asana
Padmasana and Ardha Padmasana are
useful asanas for Linga mudra. Those not successful in these asanas may use
this mudra in Sukhasana and Vajrasana.
Duration
The Angushtha mudra can be practiced
early in the morning or on cool nights. It can be practiced for 48 minutes at a
stretch or in three phases of 16 minutes each.
Results
It pacifies cough.
It cures asthma and cold.
It cures sinus and paralysis.
Special note
As per acupressure therapy, practice of
the mudra gives strength to the body. Pressure on rear portion of the palm
removes disorders present in the body.
Precautions
Persons with bilious temperament should
not use this mudra for longer period. Persons with abdomen tumour are forbidden
to practice this mudra.
SURABHI MUDRA (FRAGRANCE POSTURE)
Surabhi mudra is also called Dhenu
mudra. As per Indian system, Dhenu means cow. It symbolizes virtue (Satvikata)
and excellence. The other meaning of Surabhi, as per dictionary, is Kamadhenu
(the special cow) which gives desired boons. Similarly, with Surabhi mudra a
person acquires the desired power. While making Surabhi mudra, fingers take the
shape of udders of a cow. Milk is obtained from the udders of cow, which gives
strength to the body. Similarly, the Surabhi mudra makes the body balanced and
strong.
According to Ayurveda, by maintaining
balance between wind (vata), bile (pitta) and phlegm (kuff), body remains
healthy. Imbalance is the source of diseases. Surabhi mudra balances the wind,
bile and phlegm. It makes the body healthy. The body of man is physical, it is
atomic. Proper combination of atomic energy makes the body strong. Improper
combination weakens the body Balance of all the five elements in body results
in health, otherwise problems arise. Fingers of the hand represent all the five
elements. The balanced order of five elements in the body leads to development.
Surabhi mudra strikes balance in all the five elements.
Method
Join the front tips of fingers of both
the hands with each other. Make the left forefinger touch the middle finger of
right hand. Let the right hand forefinger touch the middle 'linger of left
hand. Similarly, join the ring finger of left hand with little finger, of right
hand and the little finger of left hand with ring finger of right hand. Thumbs
will be left free. When fingers are put downward, the shape of fingers looks
like udders of cow. Thus it is called Surabhi mudra (Dhenu mudra).
Asana
Utkatasana is best suited for Surabhi
mudra. If there is a difficulty in this asana, this mudra may be practiced in
Vajrasana or Sukhasana.
Method of Utkatasana
The pose of sitting straight on soles of
the feet known as Utkatasana
Duration
To start with, practice it for 8
minutes. After practicing it for a week, increase the duration to 16 minutes.
Finally this mudra may be practiced up to 48 minutes duration. If it is not
possible to do it at a stretch, the duration of 48 minutes may be divided into
three sittings.
Results
Navel center becomes healthy.
It helps in yoga practice.
It pacifies urinary diseases.
It makes body healthy and strong.
It makes digestive system healthy.
It cures abdomen-related diseases.
It strikes balance in flows of gland
system.
It improves purity of mind.
Special note
In Surabhi mudra air element meets the
sky element and earth element meets the water element but fire element (thumb)
remains free. The union of air and sky elements stabilizes the Brahmand Chakra.
Like Brahmand Chakra, the navel chakra of the body also becomes healthy and
steady. Creative power is developed by the union of water and earth of the
chakras.
In Surabhi mudra several forms are
developed with the union of five elements. This has varied results. Methods and
results of these are described separately.
Water Surabhi
The little finger represents water
element. In Surabhi mudra the thumb is placed at the base of little finger,
which starts alleviating bilious problems and diseases. It helps in making
kidneys healthy and it rectifies urinary disorders. It is useful for persons
with bilious temperament.
Earth Surabhi
The ring finger symbolizes earth
element. By placing the thumb at the base of ring finger, Surabhi mudra is
accomplished. The Earth mudra alleviates diseases related to abdomen. It keeps
the digestive system in order. The Earth mudra makes the body powerful. It
removes inertia and heaviness.
Sky Surabhi
The middle finger is representative of
sky element. This is also called Shunya mudra. Characteristics of emptiness and
sound are attributed to sky. This mudra leads to coordination of sounds. The
inner sky gets rid of noise. An atmosphere of tranquility is created. Sound of
'Naad' appears. The feeling of 'Anaahad Naad' is easily reached through this
mudra.
Air Surabhi
In Surabhi mudra when fire element is
joined with the ring finger of air element, the development of air element
begins. It removes various gastric disorders. These gastric disorders are not
revealed by medical examinations. P person starts feeling serenity immediately
with the use of Vayu mudra. It increases the steadiness of mind. It i,,
especially useful for those engaged in meditation and worship.
Precautions
Surabhi mudra should be used only after
considering all aspects. If only gastric disorder is there, the five elements
can be made to touch the base of air-element finger, which pacifies gastric disorders.
Self-practitioner must keep in mind his body temperaments. For persons with
phlegm temperament the fire element pacifies the phlegm, but it also reduces
the water element. It is therefore suggested to use this mudra for a shorter
duration.
Surabhi Mudra
It is a multi-dimensional mudra. As
such it has some opposing results. The fire element mudra is useful for
pacifying gas. But simultaneously it increases heat also.
Collected By Anantbodh Chaitanya
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