mudra - prayer without words
My everyday life is full of mudras, gestures and postures that I experience as a flow of energy. They come on their own, I don't really practice them, they arise spontaneously when I connect with the divine. It's like a dance and in fact you've probably already seen "mudras" in Asian dances. Maybe not consciously, but surely you have noticed that the dancers' hands make many gestures. Mudras are sacred, mudras are healing because the energy of the Divine Mother is flowing through you at this mOMent. When my finders form into mudras, I feel connected to Shakti, the female power called Prana in Ayurveda. Prana is a Sanskrit word and means breathing air, in Ayurveda it is used to describe the life energy and somehow it is the breathing air that keeps us alive and allows the energy in the first place. Prana is in all of us, but mostly it is dormant. Prana must be awakened. In Ayurveda, prana is thought of as a serpent that can rise vertically in our body. It is called Kundalini, but normally it rests in our pelvic area. Unfortunately, the energy often escapes without us using it to grow spiritually. The nadis (energy channels) and chakras (energy centers) constantly emit prana, the life force that normally escapes from the body and disperses to the outside world and is wasted. Mudras are the means by which we can prevent the dissipation of life energy from escaping the body and redirect it back to the body and mind. In this way, it helps the practitioner to awaken kundalini and channel it to flow upwards, allowing the practitioner to reach the higher consciousness or state of bliss.
mudam anandam dadati iti mudra
the actions that gives us pleasure and bliss
Index finger: Air element - Vayu
Middle finger: etheric element - Akasha
Ring finger: Earth element - Prithivi
Little finger: water element – Apas
I have already sent you a separate post about the Gyan Mudra.
You should practice all mudras for at least 15 minutes in order for them to have any effect at all. You can always do it, no matter what the time. Also try holding them at different centers of the body. Practice the mudras while sitting, lying down, standing, walking and running. Just feel how they are working on you. I practice them all day, they come naturally into my fingers .
The divine flows through everything that exists. The source of creation works in every cell and atom. Whether in nature, in animals, plants, stones, water, air, earth, planets, stars, the universe or in us humans. Have you ever thought about it? There is neither good nor bad for the divine, neither higher nor lower. There is no ranking because everything is part of the divine. Everything contributes to the whole. If you are aware of this fact, it goes without saying that everything around you is valuable. So why not express this with a gesture? Namaskar (Namaste) is a very easy word to learn and it's so easy to fold your palms together. And yet it has so much effect. And don't forget: The gesture also reminds you that the source of creation is in you too! In the beginning, it may just be fun to practice Namaskar/Namaste. But the more you become this gesture yourself, the closer you get to your own nature.
Your hands are full of energy. This is because there are so many nerve endings. If you consciously put your palms together, you will feel this energy. Basically, opposites combine at this moment. Your female side (left) with the male side (right). The energy of the moon with the energy of the sun. Yin and yang. The Anjali Mudra is therefore a mudra of harmony.
Try it! Namaskar!
Recite the mantra for Ganesha three times, for the three worlds
(bhur-bhuvah-swaha/ Bhur: the Earth/the physical body/physical realm; Bhuvah: the space/the life force/the mental realm Swaha: the heaven/the soul/spiritual realm)
Repeat the exhalation and inhalation 10times
and intone the mantra for Ganesha three more times.
Do not forget: You have all the strength to overcome everything that stands in your way, everything that wants to test you!
Brahmara means "bee" and it does not necessarily mean the mudra, but the breathing exercise that you do during this mudra. So it is a real sadhana! Take a deep breath and imagine that you smell something very beguiling and pleasant. For example a flower. As you exhale, make sure that you do it buzzing, just like a bee. You will feel your throat chakra and that is also the chakra for which this mudra is intended. The mudra is actually also excellent for speaking, for example when you are excited and an oral exam is imminent, or when you have to speak in front of a lot of people. Carried out consciously and with full devotion, you will experience connectedness, ease, joy and silence.
(As you know, I am actually not writing about the medical purposes of mudras because I have not experienced it myself. As far as I know, the mudra helps with allergies. )
I learned that you can use this mudra to alleviate illnesses caused by an increase in phlegm. For example, all colds such as cough, catarrh or bronchial diseases. But you have to start the practice as soon as the disease breaks out. Chronic complaints can also be healed over time. But be careful: The mudra should not be practiced over a long period of time, i.e. only as long as it is needed. Otherwise, the "blazing fire" could make you restless and weaken yourself spiritually. But do not worry, try the mudra and feel the energy of Shiva in you for a few minutes!
The scent of the flowers is just a manifestation of divine existence.
It makes it a little easier for me to perceive the invisible energies,
that fill our universe, that make existence possible at all.
I feel a wonderful, exhilarating silence.
I am so incredibly grateful to these blossoms,
they have helped me step into the void.
A void that creates space
for the divine energy
I am fulfilled.
Now I'm going to take you along on the wings of Garuda and we will fly from the mundane to the spiritual and healing world of mudras!
Garuda embodies sometimes the air element and sometimes also the fire element. "Air" because it is a bird that of course flies through the air. The element of fire because Garuda is full of fire. And it is the "fire" through which all negativity is eliminated. It goes up in smoke!
I really like the Garuda mudra. It gives me space and lightness. With the fire that arises from abdominal breathing, I overcome any fears that arise and actually strengthen my gut feeling to actually put it into practice.
First of all, a short guide to the mudra:
I use the mudra while sitting, during various yoga asanas and also while standing or even walking. You can also do it while dancing. Just as Garuda did not only spend his life sitting on the ground or branch, but rather dancing in flight in the sky! Become a bird, become Garuda! Let your thumbs become his beak. Feel that your hands become wings and take off into the air!
Hold eleven conscious breaths. Feel your life energy, prana.
This increases your own energy, your fire, your willpower to create something that you always want to do. Everything will be easier for you. Thus, the mudra is good for those with mental weakness. On the other hand, you have your hands right in front of your spiritual heart. The eight fingers, which symbolize the wings of the Garuda, symbolize freedom and expansion. And so this mudra also stands for the opening of the heart, for joy and enthusiasm.
From a medical point of view, the mudra activates the blood circulation, brings the energy into balance and helps against exhaustion and mood swings. It has a positive effect on stressful situations when breathing is difficult. If you have high blood pressure, proceed cautiously. The Garuda Mudra, however, is as powerful as the mythical bird itself. Therefore, you should not practice it for too long. No more than 10 minutes, but you can do it several times a day.
While opening my heart, I like to invoke Garuda's light energy with his mantra:
The energetic connection with Garuda gives me the inner strength for lightness and freedom. It supports me in experiencing new situations with ease and in taking responsibility for my own life. It also helps me to free myself from all floods of information that affect me all day.
The Gyan Mudra is a very popular spiritual practice for me. I can almost always do it, in principle. Whether I am lying, sitting, standing or walking. The Mudra is always possible with one hand. Accordingly, I use them very often during the day. When I put the tips of my thumb and index finger together in a naturally way, I immediately feel a certain lightness. Immediately I will become attentive and aware again. That's why I like to use Gyan-Mudra in everyday life. It is, so to speak, my "Universal Mudra", to turn something mundane into something divine. For example, when writing, painting, running, brushing your teeth ... Sometimes I fall asleep with this mudra too. But then I do it with both hands. The Gyan is one of the mudras that you do not necessarily have to practice for a given time. You just make them as long as you feel comfortable doing. Or of course as long as you have time. For me, the Gyan is just the perfect everyday Mudra! Nevertheless, I do it with dedication and love. With the Gyan you can not only heal your spirit (it leads you from the chaotic world of thought to a unity), but also cure diseases. Personally, I have no experience. But I can imagine that very well. The Gyan-Mudra offers many possibilities to use. Gyan is the mother of many mudras. It can be used to create other mudra shapes by turning your hands connected with different postures. Gyan mudra symbolizes the union of Self with the universe, the unification of one's soul and the supreme Soul. The thumb symbolizes the supreme Soul, the index finger refers to the practitioner's soul.
Gyan really gives me a lot of joy and I hope that I could inspire you!
Purna Gyan is performed with both hands. So bring your index fingers to the thumb on both hands. Let their tips touch each other. It is important that you bring your index finger to your thumb and not the other way around. There is an obvious reason for this. The index finger stands for the element of air, but also for your individual self. The thumb embodies the element of fire, but also the universal self. In yoga the goal is to dissolve the individual self into the universal self and not the other way around. So touch the tip of your thumb with your index fingers!
Purna Gyan Mudra is always performed while seated, in a crossed yoga seat (Padmasana, Siddhasana or Swastikasana). Now, bring your right hand in Gyan Mudra up to the level of your heart chakra in front of your chest, your left hand in Gyan Mudra lies on your left knee. Ideally, you will be in this mudra for 45 minutes a day. Of course this is not easy. So start with 15 minutes first and just practice three times a day. You can then improve over time. As a result of regular practice, the brain cells and tiny electrical impulses in the brain begin to work in a mysterious way, it is said. The benefit is difficult to put into words, you have to feel it yourself. Have you ever felt the energy between your fingers even though you haven't touched them at all? Try this out before the gyan form. Just leave a small gap between your index finger and thumb! This is how you notice how strong our energy flows are. By practicing Purna Gyan on a daily basis, you can develop real mental powers. Have you ever seen in Tibetan thangka pictures how rays of all colors flow out of Buddha? Buddha is surrounded by a beautiful aura. At the peak of his meditation he was full of energy. And it is precisely this energy that you can achieve with Purna Gyan. Get to divine knowledge, recognize the light in you, recognize that you and the divine are one! But even if you fail to achieve this, the Purna Gyan Mudra will help you transform negative forces and bad habits into peace of mind. You can also cure addictions.
Purna Gyan is a wonder-full mudra, a mudra full of wonder! It transforms negative forces into positive ones. If all people were to experience the benefits and glory of Purna Gyan - there would be no more fights and wars. A world-wide peace would emerge from one's own inner peace. Light! Oh yes,light: Purna Gyan is the second mudra of the Gayatri mudra cycle, which is practiced after the mantra. Purna Gyan and Gayatri shine in the same light.
Think about how many yogis, sadhus, holy teachers, gods have practiced them for millennia before you, how many are doing it with you right now! Wow, so much energy vibrating through our space! And now you practice it too!
I had been practicing the Durga mudra throughout the festival, not only during th puja, also in everyday life:
You take the thumb and bring it between the middle finger and the index finger, then you place the index finger over the thumb. The thumb stands for the element of fire, is strong and carries everything else with it. And so Durga Mudra is good for creating strength and strength in you. But Durga also stands for courage. And if you imagine what courage "Kushmanda", the fourth manifestation of Durga, had to create the whole universe! In general, what a strong woman she has to be to be able to live in the core of the sun! Wow!
“May I have the same courage as Durga. May Durga give me courage and strength to take things into my own hands and also to deal with difficulties, ultimately to fight against the adversities in my life. "
Kushmanda is the shining light of the sun and so I practiced the Surya (Sun) Mudra on the day dedicated to her. The surya mudra is the connection between the sun and the earth. The thumb is the fire element (here sun) and the ring finger is the earth element. In particular, the surya mudra is a mudra that I practice at sunrise, when the sun rises and is above the earth. Surya mudra also helps me to get energy and strength so that I can start my day well. But during the day the sun is also above the earth... Actually, whenever I have the feeling that dark clouds are coming up inside of me, my fingers began to form this mudra. It is my light mudra! On the special day of Durga Kushmanda I felt the strength that comes from her. Her rays, or the rays of the sun (Surya) that she sent in my/our direction (she tells God Surya in which direction to shine).
You can do surya mudra with one hand or both. You bend your ring finger and put your thumb over the middle link of the ring finger. Enjoy it!
In the Hindu world, the vajra is known as the "thunderbolt" or "scepter". He embodies the sign of the Vedic god Indra. According to Indian legend, God Indra created the world and saw that it was occupied by demons. He then dropped the vajra on the earth and drove away the demons.
If you look at the sky at night, you will see that the vajra is also a symbol of the constellation Orion, the sign of change and transformation. You can also call the Vajra the “Bringer of Knowledge”. If you regularly work with a vajra, its features and the resulting insights, it can support you in your spiritual journey (as the Tibetan say)
Now I come back to the "demons" again. The term demon is described in holistic Tibetan medicine as a disease in which mental disorders and fixations, i.e. adherence to old patterns, are involved. Vajras have the power to dissolve such blockages, to protect you energetically, in harmony and thus to bring your energies to a harmonious flow. With this in mind, I use the Vajra Mudra (see photo)
Use your thumb to touch the tip of your middle finger. Then place the ring finger and the little finger on the middle finger. By touching the thumb with these three fingers, the etheric element, the water element and the earth element are connected with fire. That gives you a strong power.
And then you have the index finger, which stands for the air element. Extend your index finger. The air element means that you can direct this energy, which is created by connecting the three fingers with the thumb, in all directions. This Buddha figure has its index fingers pointing upwards, but you can practice the mudra in very different directions, depending on what is important to you at the moment.
For example: You can practice the vajra mudra thinking of something concrete and in which direction you want to take the energy. And you could also point with both index fingers forward, and put your hands on your knees. You can first imagine that you are full of energy, fire and power and then you can think of the direction in which you want to direct this energy.
Vajra Mudra is a sacred hand gesture that stimulates blood circulation. It is useful in treating low blood pressure, poor circulation and heart disease. Vajra Mudra enables you to get rid of apathy and dizziness. Practice this mudra for at least five minutes, up to three times per day. But it should not be practiced by those with high blood pressure!!!
Enjoy the mudra while practicing! Let the mudra touch your heart, soul and body.
But maybe you also need some grounding during meditation if your thought images do not allow you to calm down. Then put your right hand in the Bhumisparsha Mudra.