Healing Power of Mudras

The innate power of mudras can help us tide over our physical, mental, and emotional problems. It also promotes spiritual renewal

Mudra

Mudras have been a part of the Hindu and Buddhist traditions as also many other cultures from ancient times.

My date with the mudras began only a few years ago, with my foray into the amazing world of meditation. A regular practice of mudras led me to discover that mudras not only serve as an ideal meditative tool, but also as a healing software for our emotional, mental, and physical problems and spiritual enhancement.

Called the yoga of the hands, a mudra [sign or seal], is a specific hand gesture, or position, that helps in releasing the energy locked within our body and directing its flow and reflexes to the brain. Mudras are known to alleviate a host of ailments such as asthma, depression, piles, cough, diabetes, stress, and even a heart attack – to name just a few.

When used over time, mudras can create inner peace and harmony, health and wealth, and balance the left and right sides of the brain — and, promote a sense of wellbeing. They can also change your life considerably, through gradual spiritual regeneration.

Mudra work and healing

The innate healing power of hands and the 10 fingers are explained in the Atharva Veda. This power can be easily fortified by the practice of special gestures formed by varying the position of the fingers through mudras. Mudras heal by activating both the meridians [nadis] as well as the chakras [energy centres] – in more ways than one.

Our physical body is made up of five elements, viz., water, earth, akasha [ether], air, and fire, which are represented by the little finger, the ring finger, the middle finger, the index finger, and the thumb, respectively. Imbalances in these elements upset our immune system and cause various ailments The joining of two or more fingers to form hand mudras, and holding them in a certain fixed pattern, creates balance for the five elements, following which healing ensues.

Imbalances in the chakras are suggested to affect the body’s energy circuit. One of the ways to activate and balance chakras is through mudras. As the five fingers are associated with the lower five chakras, the right positioning and holding of the fingers together in a specific pattern brings balance. The body, thus, gets energised, diseases get healed and, gradually, spiritual awakening is experienced.

Key mudra techniques

Of the many known hand mudras, a few of the essential “key mudras” are presented here. Practice them with both the hands in a convenient asana [posture], or sitting in a chair, for about 5-30 minutes a day, or as long as you enjoy doing them.

Gyana mudra

This is performed by joining the tips of your index finger and thumb, and keeping the other three fingers stretched and joined together. This is very powerful and effective in cases of mental ailments and sleeplessness [insomnia]. It also imparts happiness, develops the intellect, sharpens your memory, and concentration powers.

Apaan mudra

Join the tip of the thumb with the tips of middle and ring fingers, keeping the other fingers straight. This helps individuals who have difficulty in passing urine, or when there is a possibility of “obstruction.” The posture reduces constipation, and purifies the body of harmful substances.

Prana mudra

Join the tip of the thumb with tips of your little and ring fingers, and keep the other two fingers straight. This mudra balances the root chakra and infuses pranic energy into your body. It is also beneficial for many diseases; it improves vision and mental clarity.

Vaayu mudra

Press the index finger at the base of the thumb and keep the thumb on the index finger, keeping the other fingers straight. This mudra is useful in ailments such as arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, polio, and paralysis. For better results, practice it after prana mudra.

Apaan vaayu mudra

Join the tip of the thumb with the tips of the middle and ring fingers, while the index finger [turned inside] rests on the root of the thumb. Let the little finger remain extended. This posture is said to work like a “fire-fighting aid” in the event of a heart attack.

Shunya mudra

The middle finger is lowered into the base of the thumb and is covered by the thumb, while the other fingers remain extended. This is good for ear afflictions, listening and speech difficulties.

Linga mudra

Interlock the fingers of both hands, and keep one of the thumbs up encircled by the other thumb and index finger. This mudra produces heat in the body, and helps in easing colds and cough.

Mudra benefits

Mudras endow the practitioner with benefits like improved meditation and calmness of mind. It also addresses a host of health concerns and infuses greater self-reliance and self-discipline. Mudras are easy to practice, because they are free hand body gestures, that gradually lead you to spiritual rejuvenation.

There is, perhaps, nothing better in the world than the practice of mudras for success and wellbeing.

Mudras and Reiki

Combining mudras with Reiki seems to strengthen their healing powers further. Try using Reiki [with, or without symbols] with the mudras and watch your energy levels soar.

To do this, sit in a chair with a straight back, connect to Reiki by intent, draw the symbols mentally on your hands, and join the fingers in “key mudras” relevant to the goal.

In Reiki, the most commonly practiced mudras are the Hakini, the Gassho, the Rin, and the Sha mudras.

Hakini mudra

When you join the tips of the five fingers of the right hand, with those of the left, it forms the Hakini. This mudra is helpful in balancing the right and left sides of the brain; it also benefits the “third” eye, and the lungs.

Gassho mudra

This is a prayer position. It is performed by holding hands in namaste position before the chest.

Rin mudra

Interlace the fingers and clasp your hands together, keeping the middle fingers joined and extended. This strengthens our mind and physical body. It is useful for good emotional health.

Sha mudra

This is obtained by interlacing the fingers and clasping the hands together with the index fingers joined and extended. The mudra is used to direct and focus energy to a particular area in the body to provide the healing effect.

Magnifying lens over an exclamation markSpot an error in this article? A typo maybe? Or an incorrect source? Let us know!

V N Mittal
V N Mittal is a certified ReikiMaster Teacher and a freelance writer. He lives in Dehra Dun.

13 COMMENTS

  1. Dear sir,

    i am 43 and suffering from parkinsons disease from my childhood.. I dont know which type of yoga/pranayam/mudra will help me to get rid of it completely.i am confused . I AM READY TO SPEND TIME TO PRACTICE THE RIGHT METHOD.

    also i dont know which yoga guru to follow . whom to contact?

    PLEASE HELP ME

    thanks a lot

    yOURS LOVINGLY

    thulasidhasn

  2. gyan mudra is good for hyper activity but will give best results when done while sitting in padmasana , sukhasana or just sitting in a straightback chair while keeping legs uncrossed,eyes should be closed with focus on third eye with relaxed and slow breathing ; play some relaxing music to avoid distraction.
    combine it with gassho position alternately.
    show perseverence and practice mudras for atleast 10 minutes daily.

  3. Dear Dr.Sachchidanand Pandey
    I am getting REIKI power only in my Left hand, May be I am getting power in both hands , I feel the flow of energy is good in Left hand . Please comment. Thank you with Best Wishes.

  4. I’ve been doing mudras but with negative effects. can somebody tell me which mudra helps hyperactivity?

  5. Thanks, Dr Pandey, for your kind words on the article.It is nice to read very positive comments on the Mudra Techniques even though after two years of the publication of my article. I am regularly using these mudras to stay well in my mid seventies and find them very useful not only in healing but also in warding off various ailments.

  6. Kotishah Dhanyavad

    I am currently using this super technique in relieving diseases.I would like to request you people to advertise this technique among general people so that they could get proper treatment without any exploitation.

    There is a severe lack in mass communication..

    I would also insist you people to include this super science of mudra in hospitals and clinics.
    It is accurate, quick and curative.

    Thanking you all

    Dr.Sachchidanand Pandey

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