Hand MUDRA : The science of finger postures

1. Vaayu Mudra 

How & When: One can perform this Mudra in any pose sitting, standing, lying down or walking. To do, fold the index finger at the base of the thumb and press the back of second phalange with the thumb. Keep the other three fingers as straight as possible. One can perform it any time of the day irrespective of empty or full stomach.

Caution: The only caution is this Mudra works in peaks and valleys. So, care should be taken to release the Mudra at once after being helped through it.

Benefits: 
a) Releases extra wind form the stomach and the body thereby taking care of pains and aches as a first aid.
b) Helps in rheumatic pains. Gout, paralysis, Parkinson’s disease, chest pains etc or any pain the reason for which is excess wind in the system or in other words is due to imbalance of air element. 



2. Agni Mudra

How & When: One should practice this Mudra empty stomach by folding the ring finger at the base of thumb and pressing it with the thumb at the second phalange. Keep the rest of the three fingers straight and perform it in sitting position only. Keep it for at least 15 minutes at a stretch and 2-3 times daily to observe the results. One must discontinue performing this mudra in case of acidity, heart burn, indigestion.

Caution: One must not perform it full stomach, only perform it empty stomach.

Benefits:
a) Helps dissolving extra fat of the body by balancing the metabolic rate, prevents and controls obesity.
b) Burns the excess phlegm.
c) Compensates for sluggish digestion.
d) Helps to increase body strength.
e) Reduces tension
f) Very effective in reducing increased cholesterol levels
g) Provides heat and energy to the body, so excellent to do in winters.
h) Decreases earth element in the body. 

3. Prithivi Mudra

How & When: Touch the tip of the thumb and the tip of the ring finger together, keeping the rest of the three fingers straight. Make sure you do not force the fingers to be straight, only try to keep them so.

This Mudra is preferably done in the morning, but could be done any time of the day otherwise and for any duration. This Mudra is required to be done when one feels lack of energy, enthusiasm and motivation in life. All seems dull and lifeless. One may perform this Mudra with both the hands by sitting in Sukhasan or Padmasan, and keeping the back of the palms on the knee, keeping the elbows straight.



Benefits:
a) Helps boost the blood circulation in the body.
b) Increases tolerance and patience.
c) Helps in meditation.
d) Since this Mudra is an association of the earth element with the powerful Sun, it brings solidity to the body.
e) It also helps the person to gain weight in case of weak and lean bodies.
f) Helps to restore the balance of the body, when required i.e. restore body equilibrium.
g) It wards off the weakness, fatigue, dullness and invokes prana in the body.
h) It also brings and adds to the aura or the halo and also brightness to it.
i) It also activates the thinking power and helps to broaden the orthodox/ conservative thinking pattern.
j) It compensates the lack of “Rajasic Gunas”. 

4. Varun Mudra 

How & When: One may perform this Mudra any time of the day by joining the little finger tip with the tip of the thumb, keeping the rest of the three fingers straight. One may perform this Mudra in sitting, lying down or standing pose. Though, the best pose is still the sitting cross legged pose.

Caution: Make sure you do not press the tip of the little finger near the nail as it causes dehydration rather than moisturizing the system.

Benefits:
a) As the name suggests, this Mudra is an association of water element with the fire, Varun is the name of Water God “The Indra”, so it balances the water element in the body.
b) Since it moisturizes the body, it is also a thirst quenching Mudra which activates the salivary glands ooze out saliva.
c) It is a Mudra for relieving dehydration and stomach infection.
d) It activates the kidney malfunctioning and promotes urination.
e) It activates the fluid circulation in the body.
f) It is excellent for skin disorders, wrinkles, skin infections, skin dryness etc.
g) It purifies the blood and takes care of many blood disorders.
h) It brings lots of lustier and glows to the body and especially face.
i) It compensates for the shortage of water in body.
j) Helps release constipation.


5. Aakash Mudra / Vyom MudraHow & When: Join the tip of the middle finger with the tip of the thumb, keeping the rest of the three fingers straight. One may perform this Mudra anytime of the day for any duration. The best time for practicing this Mudra is either morning time by sitting in Sukhasan or Padmasan. One must try to keep this Mudra intact for 45 minutes, though one may start with a shorter time period as per convenience and capacity. 

Benefits:
a) As the name suggests this Mudra is a combination of ether element with the sun and thus come the powers to any ailment pertaining to sound. It is excellent to increase the sensitivity to hear sounds. Thus for those hard of hearing it is a boon in combination with Shoonya Mudra.
b) This Mudra activates the calcium and phosphorus absorption form the diet and also their formation, which makes it a very good Mudra which those having weakness of bone like osteoporosis.
c) Due to its inherent quality to release tensions, keeping the mind calm and serene it is also used during meditation, to calm the mind.
d) This Mudra is very successful in taking care of the “lockjaw” experienced at times during yawning or during mental tension or over exertion.
e) Practicing this Mudra regularly calms and clarifies the thought process. 

LING MUDRA/ ANGUSHTHA MUDRA 

How & When: Perform this Mudra by interlocking the fingers of both the hands in such way so that the little finger of the left hand is the down most and the right hand thumb stands straight up, envelope the right hand thumb with the left hand index finger and thumb to join the tips at the back of the right hand palm. Hold the palms together tightly. One should perform this Mudra by keeping the back straight either in Padmasan or Sukhasan. One may also sit on the chair in case of difficulties. Hold the hands in front of the chest with hands exerting a little pressure against each other. One may perform this Mudra as a therapy daily for time duration one feels comfortable. One should not perform it full stomach.

Caution: One must discontinue the Mudra in case of dizziness, uneasiness or nausea. People with acidity must observe the reaction and if feels more heart burning, they should discontinue doing it. One must not practice this Mudra any longer after you get the result you are seeking. 

Benefits:
a) It is an excellent Mudra to break the phlegm and relieve a person of frequent coughs and colds.
b) It also works great when the temperature suddenly falls down and one shivers of cold. Practicing this Mudra will generate heat in the body and will provide the necessary warmth.
c) It also relieves the bronchial spasms and calms down the breath.
d) It is also fruitful if practiced by person suffering from bronchitis, lung cancer or asthma.
e) It activates the digestive fire by activating the AGNI which in turn boosts the metabolic rate of the body in case of sluggish digestion.
f) It also helps in case of low blood pressure and mild paralytic attack, sinusitis etc. 

GIRIVAR MUDRA 

How & When: Perform this Mudra by raising the little finger up and straight while folding the rest of the three fingers and pressing them with the thumb. On may perform it any time of the day in nay body position like sitting, standing. Lying down etc One may practice it for 5-10 minutes.

Benefits: 
a) It helps in relieving the urine retention.
b) It allows the easy passing of the urine.
c) It also helps on the purification of body of the toxic fluids.





SURBHI MUDRA/ DHENU MUDRA 

How & When: For performing this Mudra, Face both hands to each other and join the finger tips together, leaving the thumbs free as few inches apart. Now join the index finger of the right hand with the middle finger of the left hand and similarly index finger of the left hand with the middle finger of the right hand. Now join the ring finger of the left hand to the little finger of the right hand and vice a versa. When one points the fingers down in such a Mudra it looks like the udders of a cow and so is the name. One can perform this Mudra anytime of the day avoiding just after the meals. One must perform this Mudra at least for 5 minutes to start benefiting out of it and slowly increase the duration form 5 minutes to 45 minutes. If this seems to be not possible then one may do it in 3 sittings of 15 minutes each. One must perform this Mudra and its variations in Sukhasan, Vajrasana or Utkatasana (sitting on the toe tips on a chair position)

Benefits:
a) Navel center becomes healthy. It activates and strengthens the Manipur Chakra or the Solar Plexus and thus strengthens the digestive system.
b) Helps in yoga practice by releasing the impurities of the mind and rendering calmness.
c) Pacifies urinary diseases and activates the excretory system by improving the circulation of fluids and their filtration process.
d) Makes body healthy and strong by balancing the Panch Tattvas i.e. Fire, Air, Water, Earth and Ether.
e) Cures abdomen-related diseases like Gas, Flatulence, and Acidity etc.
f) Strikes balance in flows of gland system thereby creating Hormonal balance.
Precautions: There are many variations of this Mudra which is called the Wish Fulfilling Mudra. By the innate power of this Mudra one can strike a balance of any element which is out of balance. So, one must choose to practice the variations of this Mudra under the guidance of a known practitioner or Guru or Teacher. As performing the wrong variation can increase or decrease the element against the requirement of the body.

Variations:

1) Vaayu Surbhi Mudra
To form this Mudra one must first form the basic Surbhi Mudra and then join the tip of right hand thumb to the root of the right hand index finger and the tip of the left hand thumb to the root of the left hand index finger.
This Mudra helps relieving the wind related ailments and also balances the Air element in the system.

2) Shoonya Surbhi Mudra
To form this Mudra one must first form the basic Surbhi Mudra and then join the tip of right hand thumb to the root of the right hand middle finger and the tip of the left hand thumb to the root of the left hand middle finger.
This Mudra not only balances the ethereal element but also bestows the practitioner with the miraculous power to hear the unheard or to be able to hear the sounds not audible to the commons. It helps the sadhaka to hear the Anahata sounds. An atmosphere of tranquility is naturally created to the sadhaka to enjoy and reap the benefits of sadhna.

3) Prithivi Surbhi Mudra
To form this Mudra one must first form the basic Surbhi Mudra and then join the tip of right hand thumb to the root of the right hand ring finger and the tip of the left hand thumb to the root of the left hand ring finger.
The Prithivi Mudra alleviates diseases related to abdomen even the chronic digestion related ailments and keeps the digestive system in order. This Mudra makes the body powerful and removes inertia thereby imparting energy and vitality. 

4) Jal Surbhi Mudra
To form this Mudra one must first form the basic Surbhi Mudra and then join the tip of right hand thumb to the root of the right hand little finger and the tip of the left hand thumb to the root of the left hand little finger.

This Mudra helps in making kidneys healthy and it rectifies urinary disorders by rectifying all diseases related to bile and assists in easy passing of urine. It is useful for persons with bilious temperament and also helps to relieve constipation and also increases appetite.

SHANKH MUDRA/CONCH/SHELL MUDRA 



How & When: To perform this Mudra fist the thumb of the left hand by keeping it at the centre of the palm of the right hand with the fingers and then join the thumb of the right hand with the remaining fingers of the left hand at the tips. Thus it forms the shape of a conch or “shankha”. This Mudra can be performed any time of the day except after the meals. One can perform this Mudra in Sukhasan or Vajrasana and should perform for at least 10 minutes at a stretch to gain the benefit out of it. Slowly increase the time limit to 45 minutes. One can also perform it in 3 sittings of 15 minutes each. 



Benefits:
a) Removes speech disorders like stammering and stuttering. Gives sweetness to voice and renders it an attractive quality.
b) Disorders related to tonsil and throat gets removed. It also balances the thyroid gland thereby bringing hormonal balance.
c) It keeps navel center in order, making person healthy and thus affect to keep the nervous system healthy and active.
d) Alleviates abdomen disorders. Improves the digestive system.
Precautions: 
If during the practice of this Mudra one starts getting weaker or fatter day by day then one must avoid its practice as this Mudra affect the thyroid glands and due to unreasonable practice of this Mudra may hypo or hyper activate the thyroid glands.

MEAO MUDRA 

How & When: To perform this Mudra make a fist with both the hands, fingers really digging into the center of the palm. Now open up the index, little finger and the thumb, keeping them reasonably straight. Rest the hands on the knee facing up by keeping the elbow straight. One must perform this Mudra in Sukhasan or Padmasan. One can also sit on the chair in case of uneasiness or discomfort. One should perform this Mudra daily at regular basis for at least 30 minutes. One may choose to complete this time period in 3 sittings of 10 minutes each. But preferably reach the phase where you ma practice it uninterrupted for 30 minutes.

Benefits:
The basic benefit of this Mudra is to bring a balance of high and low blood pressure i.e. to maintain an optimum blood pressure. 


SHOONYA MUDRA


How & When: To perform this Mudra fold the middle finger at the sun mount below the thumb and then press the second phalange (joint) of this finger with the thumb. Keep the rest of the three fingers straight. Perform it with both the hands and rest them on the knee facing up for at least 15-20 minutes at a stretch. One must perform this Mudra daily for at least 45 minutes at regular intervals. One may sit in Sukhasan or Padmasan or also sitting with straight back on chair (seniors).

Benefits:
a) One of the most important benefits of this Mudra is in relieving ear ache. Almost any kind of earache can be easily relieved by performing this Mudra for 2-5 minutes.

b) This Mudra helps in neutralizing the air pressure which builds up during the flight in ears. It also relieves the uneasiness, pain, dizziness related to travel in air. One can continue doing it as long as one feels uncomfortable or at least during takeoff and landing.

c) This Mudra is considered almost a sure shot answer to the hard of hearing or deafness. One may achieve results in couple of months of regular practice and must discontinue performing it after achieving desired results.

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