Is there any health remedies sans medication, exercise or external energy supplements, that can cure diseases and ailments from the very root ? Can you imagine the treatment which works on your Body, Mind and Soul all at once? Can you believe that this miraculous cure lies in your very own hands- literally! You need not move an inch to get its benefits- Yes! It does exist!
Sages in the course of their Sadhana established the practice of hand gestures, designed to divert or change the energy flow to the desired organs .These hand gestures are called Hasta Mudra in Sanskrit . To understand this fully we need to understand some basic principles of Mudra science or Mudra Shastra.
- Every living or nonliving body on Earth is created using energies of the five elements, namely Space, Air, Fire, Earth and Water .
- Everybody is receiving and emitting these very energies ,from and to the universe . This exchange of energies, keeps the body growing whether we see the growth or not.
- Some parts of the human body, work as Antennas for such reception and emission. Eg. Ear lobes, Lips, tips of the toes and fingers .
- A correct balance of these energies, keeps us healthy and imbalance creates ailments .
- Imbalance can be corrected by diverting the emissions going back to the universe, back to our body again.
Only the fingers of humans are capable of making gestures, to form circuits for redirecting the energy that is going out from the body to correct the balance of energies of the five elements. These circuits are called mudras, where every finger is dedicated to the emitting and receiving the energy of one of the five elements.
- Thumb – Energy of Fire(Agni)
- Index Finger – Energy of Air(Vayu)
- Middle Finger – Ether energy(Aakaash)
- Ring Finger – Earth energy (Prithivi)
- Little Finger – Water energy (Jal)
The proportion of the elements in a body can be changed if required with the help of the mudras to cure ailments. Ancient Indian Scholars studied and found thousands of variations of the hand gestures that are used to uplift seekers. The tremendous power and potential of mudras was recognized and accessible only to a few who learnt it from their gurus, and it was lost over the ages.
Today, this powerful study from the east is combined with the Modern Diagnostic systems, making Mudra Shastra , a very powerful tool to curb human ailments.
Some of the most important mudras include :
Dhyana Mudra
Dhyana mudra is a sacred hand gesture or ‘seal,’ used during yoga and meditation practice as a means of channeling the flow of vital life force energy known as prana. Dhyana mudra is one of the most commonly known and widely practiced hand gestures, found across several religious and spiritual traditions such as Buddhism, Hinduism and yoga.
How to do Dhyana Mudra– It may be practiced in any stable seated posture, such as sukhasana (easy pose) or padmasana (lotus pose). It is performed by resting the right hand on top of the left, palms facing up and the thumbs slightly lifted so that the tips touch one another.
Dhyana mudra has no contraindications, and can therefore be practiced by anyone at any time. For maximum benefits, this mudra should be practiced daily during meditation for at least 30 minutes.
Benefit of Dhyana Mudra– Constant practice of this mudra helps one to free from blood pressure and heart aliments.
Apana Mudra
When the waste and toxins accumulate in the body, it creates an imbalance in our physical & mental state. Apana Mudra is one such mudra that helps in eliminating the wastes, faces & toxins from the body and negative energies from the mind.
How to do Apana Mudra– Fold your both hands middle and ring finger towards the thumb and bring your thumb closer to the folded fingers. Now, gently press folded finger’s tip against the tip of the thumb. Keep rest two fingers straight, as extended as possible.
Benefits of Apana Mudra– People suffering from regular stomach pain, gas, constipation can relieve by practicing this mudra. As these all problems arise due to undigested food particles, Apana mudra regulates these undigested food particles in the downward direction (to the organ of elimination). Hence, it cures all stomach related problems.
It also regulates the blockages in urination & excretion of feces, helps to get rid of cramps during menstruation. This mudra can also be practiced in preventing heart diseases and balancing three doshas.
Hakini Mudra
Hakini is the goddess of the third eye, the chakra of intuition and mind. It is depicted as a two-petalled lotus symbolising two brain hemispheres. It helps balancing, harmonising and focusing the pranas and the mind. It refreshes, revitalises the brain and opens the access to the right hemisphere, where the memory is stored and creative thought process is initiated.
How to do Hakini Mudra– Lightly touch each fingertip together with its opposite-hand counterpart. With closed eyes, sit still and hold the mudra, directing focus to the ‘Third Eye Chakra’ and let breath flow smoothly and continuously, matching the length of the inhale with the length of the exhale. Imprint the tongue on the roof of the mouth as you breathe in and release it as you breathe out, repeat this breath work and maintain focus for several minutes to experience the illuminating effects of the Hakini Mudra.
Benefits of Hakini Mudra- It promotes a fine corporation between left and right hemisphere of the brain (left is associated with logical thinking and right with creativity).This is also beneficial when you have to do lots of mental work or multitasking and eases decision making.
Brahma Mudra
Brahma mudra is a hand gesture used in both yoga asana, meditation and pranayama practice that is valued for both its symbolic and healing qualities. Brahma is the name of the Hindu creator god and in Sanskrit is translated as “divine,” “sacred” or “Supreme Spirit.” Mudra means “gesture” or “seal.”
How to do Brahma Mudra– Brahma mudra is usually practiced in a comfortable seated position, such as vajrasana or padmasana. Both hands form fists with the fingers wrapped around the thumbs, the palms facing skyward and both hands pressed together at the knuckles. The hands then gently rest against the pubic bone.
Benefits of Brahma Mudra -Sometimes called “the gesture of all-pervading consciousness,” Brahma mudra helps promote a complete breath during pranayama. Because this mudra – and mudras in general – is believed to affect the flow of life force energy (prana) throughout the body, it calms the mind and energizes the body, and removes toxins.
Shunya Mudra
The word Shunya indicates space (openness). This mudra controls the space element in our body, therefore, it is known as Shunya mudra. In Sanskrit, ‘Shunya’ means ’empty’. Thus, Shunya mudra is known as The Gesture Of Emptiness.
How to do Shunya Mudra- Fold the middle finger of both hands and touch them to the base (ball) of the thumb. gently press the second phalanx (middle part of a finger) of the middle finger with the thumb.
For the best results, practise Shunya mudra in the morning time
Benefits of Shunya Mudra– Shunya mudra helps in the treatment of other ear-related problems such as earache, tinnitus (ringing or buzzing noise in ears), deafness. This mudra is very helpful in curing Numbness or Tingling in any part of the body, hormonal imbalances, and stimulates the heart chakra.
Instructions on doing mudras
- Except for special Mudras, for all mudras, one had to keep the mudra on both the hands.
- You can chant mantra or SWITCH WORDS( Read more Here about switch words)silently, while doing the mudra.
- You can walk, lie down, sit down or watching TV while doing the mudra.
- There is no time to do mudras. You can do it all the time. Of course, they are very effective when you do the mudras between 4-6 AM.
- In general, Mudra you can do for 30-45 minutes, Mantra can be done all the 24 hours.
- Ideally you should perform them in Sukhasana or Padmasana, with back straight.
- All mudras are beneficial to us without any side-effects. However, for some it might produce an unwanted side-effect.
- You need not press the fingers hard when you touch the tip of the thumb or while placing them at the base of the thumb. No pressure should be applied. Pressure means, your mind is restless and not stable