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Maha Mudra |
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Sakticalani |
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Maha Bhandha |
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Khecari Mudra |
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Maha Vedha |
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Yoni Mudra |
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Yoga Mudra |
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Uddiyana Bandha |
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Viuparitakarani |
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Jalandhara Bandha |
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Vajroli |
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Mula Bandha |
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Hathapradipika describes 10 main
Mudras, excluding Yoga Mudra and Yoni Mudra, from the above mentioned list of 12 Mudras.
There are various minor Mudras too, which are prevent and practiced by the Hatha Yogis.
Now we will briefly describe four common Mudras.
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MAHA MUDRA (Royal Gesture) |
- Sir with legs stretched, bend the
left leg at the knee and press the perineum with the heel.
- Inhale completely and hold the
breath. Catch hold of the big toe of the stretched right leg with both hands by bending
the waist forward. Keep the chest up. Have Mula Bandha.
- While making a swallowing movement,
bend the neck forwards and press the chin on the chest. Inhale and have Jalandhara Bandha.
- While maintaining, relax the head
region and feel the locking of air below the throat. Maintain for something and then very
slowly exhale.
- Release the lock by raising the head
back and exhale slowly. Repeat this with the other leg also. Repeat for equal number of
times on either side every day.
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BENEFITS: Many diseases of
the stomach are cured by this. Very useful in curing seminal weakness.
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ASVINI MUDRA: (Horse-Anus Gesture) |
- Sit erect in Padmasana. Exhale.
- Hold the breath and pull up the anus
by contracting the sphincter; hold for about 10 seconds and inhale.
- Release the anus.
- Repeat this rhythmically and about
10 to 30 times.
BENEFITS: This Mudra is useful in evoking the spiritual forces dormant in
the lower centers. Useful for pregnant women, and incurring urinary and anal incontinence.
Asvini mudra done in Viparitakarani posture is useful in treating piles and prolapsed
uterus.
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SAMUKHI MUDRA (Six-faced Gesture) |
- Sit erect in any meditative posture.
- Spread out the fingers of both hands
over the face, and close the eyes, ears and nose tightly using the following fingers:
Index fingers over the eyes, thumbs over the Tragus of the ears, middle fingers over the
nostrils, ring and little fingers over the lips thus closing all the orifices in the face.
- Open alternate nostrils by releasing
only middle fingers, to carry on the breathing as in Nadi Suddhi Pranayama.
- This is Sanmukhi Mudra.
BENEFITS: This mudra is very helpful in taking the mind to meditation. It
cuts off all external stimuli coming from the four special senses that is vision, hearing
, smell and taste. Hence the mind can easily dwell inmeditation by following the final
internal sound of the breath along with the mantra. Useful in persons suffering from
tension headaches.
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YOGA MUDRA (Yoga Gesture) |
- Sit in Padmasana, catch hold of the
right wrist by left hand behind the back.
- Bend forward and touch the floor by
the forehead.
- Return.
- Yoga Mudra can also be performed by
putting the palms in between the heel and the abdominal wall, before bending forward.
BENEFITS: This cures the diseases of the abdomen and pelvis, tones up the
nervous system especially the lumbo-sacral nerves. Helps in cases of seminal weakness.
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Some Minor Mudras |
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