HEALTH ELEMENTS MUDRA SMUDRA.TXT *********************************************************************** HEALTH ELEMENTS OF YOGA AND POSES FOR HEALTH, FITNESS AND HAPPINESS PRAN MUDRA (VITAL AIR POSTURE) The vital air (pran vayu) enters the lungs along with breath. In turn, lungs mix it with blood and send it to the heart. Action of combustion starts when glucose present in cells and vital air (oxygen) present in blood come into contact, which produces energy The pranacharya have identified five types of air in the body - pran, apaan, samaan, udaan and vyaan. They are spread in various parts of the body. It is the pran that energizes the body. Excess or deficiency of pran creates imbalance. Pran mudra is used to strike the balance of pran and keep the body energetic. Method The mudra, which is created by joining the tips of little finger (water element) and ring finger (earth element) with the thumb (fire element), is known as Pran mudra. It is a very powerful mudra. Asana Padmasana or Siddhasana makes the vital energy intense. By keeping the spine straight, the vital energy becomes active and vertically inclined. Duration Duration of 48 minutes is considered complete for systernatising the vital air. Since it may not be possible to practice this mudra for a complete duration at a stretch, it may be staggered into two or three phases. To start with, practice it for 16 minutes and gradually consummate it to the desired duration Results The deficiency of vital energy can be removed and it is then gradually increased by Pran mudra. It strengthens bronchial tube. Weakness of body, disturbance of mind and rigidness of feeling are removed. Removes eye disorders and increases sight. Makes a man dignified. Makes a man Urdhvareta. Person comes across subtle elements and starts merging with the Eternal Soul. Develops concentration. The Pran mudra energises the whole of the body. It is helpful in regenerating the energy lost due to paralysis. Precautions Pran is energy. It is power. It becomes virtuous with proper use of senses, mind and emotions. Otherwise it can lead senses towards attachment, mind to disturbance and emotions to perversion. As such efforts should continue towards balanced adjustment for the development of vital energy produced by Pran mudra, otherwise the increasing energy with body may channelise itself towards downfall instead of upward development. Special notes Pran mudra has simultaneous union of three elements: water, earth and fire. All these three elements come into contact and lead to chemical transformation in the body, which helps in balanced development of the personality. The Pran mudra is specially useful in meditational yoga e.g. fast. It helps in natural and easy consummation of meditation. ANGUSHTHA MUDRA (THUMB POSTURE) Angushtha mudra is also called Linga mudra (Phallus posture). Thumb is a symbol of masculinity. It helps in increasing dynamism in a person. It increases heat. Persons with bilious temperament should practice this mudra under the guidance of able and experienced person, otherwise the increasing bilious wrath may lead to increase in acidity in the body Moreover, due to excessive heat, all these ailments like pain, giddiness, dryness of throat and increased burning sensation in the body may further increase. This mudra can be used during winter season. It removes phlegmatic disorders. Chronic cold is easily cured. It burns unwanted calories in the body, thus reducing obesity Method For making Angushtha mudra, fingers of both the hands are interlocked, and the left thumb is kept straight while the palms are pressed against each other; pressure is also exerted on back portion by fingers. Right thumb is to be placed at the base of left thumb and pressure is to be applied. For the first time left thumb is kept straight, and the second time pressure may be applied at the base of right thumb. Angushtha (Linga) mudra is accomplished through both the ways. Asana Padmasana and Ardha Padmasana are useful asanas for Linga mudra. Those not successful in these asanas may use this mudra in Sukhasana and Vajrasana. Duration The Angushtha mudra can be practiced early in the morning or on cool nights. It can be practiced for 48 minutes at a stretch or in three phases of 16 minutes each. Results Pacifies cough. Cures asthma and cold. Cures sinus and paralysis. Special note As per acupressure therapy, practice of the mudra gives strength to the body. Pressure on rear portion of the palm removes disorders present in the body. Precautions Persons with bilious temperament should not use this mudra for longer period. Persons with abdomen tumour are forbidden to practice this mudra. SURABH MUDRA (FRAGRANCE POSTURE) Surabhi mudra is also called Dhenu mudra. As per Indian system, dhenu means cow. It symbolises virtue (Satvikata) and excellence. The other meaning of surabhi, as per dictionary, is Kamadhenu (the special cow) which gives desired boons. Similarly, with Surabhi mudra a person acquires the desired power. While making Surabhi mudra, fingers take the shape of udders of a cow. Milk is obtained from the udders of cow, which gives strength to the body. Similarly, the Surabhi mudra makes the body balanced and strong. According to Ayurveda, by maintaining balance between wind (vata), bile (pitta) and phlegm (kuff), body remains healthy. Imbalance is the source of diseases. Surabhi mudra balances the wind, bile and phlegm. It makes the body healthy. The body of man is physical, it is atomic. Proper combination of atomic energy makes the body strong. Improper combination weakens the body Balance of all the five elements in body results in health, otherwise problems arise. Fingers of the hand represent all the five elements. The balanced order of five elements in the body leads to development. Surabhi mudra strikes balance in all the five elements. Method Join the front tips of fingers of both the hands with each other. Make the left forefinger touch the middle finger of right hand. Let the right hand forefinger touch the middle 'linger of left hand. Similarly, join the ring finger of left hand with little finger, of right hand and the little finger of left hand with ring finger of right hand. Thumbs will be left free. When fingers are put downward, the shape of fingers looks like udders of cow. Thus it is called Surabhi mudra (Dhenu mudra). Asana Utkatasana is best suited for Surabhi mudra. If there is a difficulty in this asana, this mudra may be practiced in Vajrasana or Sukhasana. Method of Utkatasana The pose of sitting straight on soles of the feet known as Utkatasana. Duration To start with, practice it for 8 minutes. After practicing it for a week, increase the duration to 16 minutes. Finally this mudra may be practiced up to 48 minutes duration. If it is not possible to do it at a stretch, the duration of 48 minutes may be divided into three sittings. Results Navel center becomes healthy. Helps in yoga practice. Pacifies urinary diseases. Makes body healthy and strong. Makes digestive system healthy. Cures abdomen-related diseases. Strikes balance in flows of gland system. Improves purity of mind. Special note In Surabhi mudra air element meets the sky element and earth element meets the water element but fire element (thumb) remains free. The union of air and sky elements stabilizes the Brahmand Chakra. Like Brahmand Chakra, the navel chakra of the body also becomes healthy and steady. Creative power is developed by the union of water and earth of the chakras. In Surabhi mudra several forms are developed with the union of five elements. This has varied results. Methods and results of these are described separately. Water Surabhi The little finger represents water element. In Surabhi mudra the thumb is placed at the base of little finger, which starts alleviating bilious problems and diseases. It helps in making kidneys healthy and it rectifies urinary disorders. It is useful for persons with bilious temperament. Earth Surabhi The ring finger symbolises earth element. By placing the thumb at the base of ring finger, Surabhi mudra is accomplished. The Earth mudra alleviates diseases related to abdomen. It keeps the digestive system in order. The Earth mudra makes the body powerful. It removes inertia and heaviness. Sky Surabhi The middle finger is representative of sky element. This is also called Shunya mudra. Characteristics of emptiness and sound are attributed to sky. This mudra leads to coordination of sounds. The inner sky gets rid of noise. An atmosphere of tranquility is created. Sound of 'naad' appears. The feeling of 'Anaahad naad' is easily reached through this mudra. Air Surabbi In Surabhi mudra when fire element is joined with the ring finger of air element, the development of air element begins. It removes various gastric disorders. These gastric disorders are not revealed by medical examinations. A person starts feeling serenity immediately with the use of Vayu mudra. It increases the steadiness of mind. It i,, especially useful for those engaged in meditation and worship. Precautions Surabhi mudra should be used only after considering all aspects. If only gastric disorder is there, the five elements can be made to touch the base of air-element finger, which pacifies gastric disorders.Self practitioner must keep in mind his body temperaments. For persons with phlegm temperament the fire element pacifies the phlegm, but it also reduces the water element. It is therefore suggested to use this mudra for a shorter duration. Surabhi Mudra It is a multi-dimensional mudra. As such it has some opposing results. The fire element mudra is useful for pacifying gas. But simultaneously it increases heat also.