Viparitkari Mudra

Sun lies in the root of the navel, (solar nerve/solar plexus) and the moon (the lunar nerve) lies in mouth at the root of palate. The sun with its radiance pulls and consumes the nectar, which is secreted by the body and man is overpowered by death. To save that nectar, the sun is lifted up and the moon is lowered down, it is known as the Viparitkari Mudra. The method to do it is such that one should stabilize head on a small cushion on the ground in between palms of both the hands and raise feet upwards and stand straight on head. One who does this mudra every-day, the old age does not bother him.

Khechari Mudra

Tongue and the root of the tongue is joined by a nerve underneath it. This can be cut off under the supervision of the Guru. Then move the front and lower part of the tongue and pull the tongue slowly with fingers and with a pair of iron tongs as well. By doing this the tongue gradually becomes longer and with the regular practice lengthen it to such an extent that it reaches between the eyebrows. The take the tip of the tongue into the center of the palate (the passage where the nasal tracts and throat meet). There is a place like a pit, which is called Kapal Kuhar. Enter the  tongue into this place upwards and look at the center of eyebrows. This is called the Khechari mudra. Those people who practice Khechari Mudra would never feel hunger, thirst, laziness and drowsiness. Diseases and old age never come to them. It prolongs life also.

Mahabedha

Doing the Maha bandha first, then holding the air by kumbhaka pranayama do Uddiyan bandha, it is called mahabedha. Only those sadhakas who do this mahabedha including Maha bandha and Moola bandha, are known as the scholars of the best Yogic knowledge among the yogis. By doing this Mahabedha, yogis penetrate the Brahma Granthi (gland) through the passage of Sushumna (a central nerve that remains dormant in the spine).

Maha Bandha

Sit in a state of Moola bandha and contract rectum and genitals by pulling up and raising the Apana Vayu (prana situated at rectum and discharge waste), to unite it with Samana Vayu (prana situated at navel responsible for digestion) and lower the Prana Vayu (air that keeps the heart and lungs working). With this the nectar of the group of the nerve centers of the yogis moves upwards to brain.

Maha Mudra

Sit in a posture pressing the rectum with the heel of left foot, stretch the right leg forward and hold fingers of right foot with both hands. Then bend forward contracting the throat in and meditate in bhrikuti that is the center of eyebrows.  With sufficient practice of this mudra cough caused by tuberculosis, spleen, chronic fever etc. are cured.

Yog Mudras

From the ancient times, Lord Shiva is considered the originator of the Hatha Yoga, Who divided this divine knowledge into following seven sections:

  1. Shat karma (Six Cleansings)
  2. Asana (Postures)
  3. Mudras
  4. Pranayama (breathing exercises)
  5. Pratyahara (Control of senses)
  6. Dhyana (Meditation)
  7. Samadhi (a state of contemplation or trance)

 

Every method has its definite purpose. Shat karma for cleansing , Asanas for rigidity or strengthening body, Mudras for stability, Pranayama for lightness, Pratyahara for tolerance, Dhyana for self-realization and Samadhi for moksha or liberation.

 

Mudra may be described as an asana with meditation at a particular point for a longer duration. There are twenty-one yoga mudras and their purpose is to attain stability in yogic way of life. Our purpose here is to provide a common knowledge of the mudras to readers. With the proper practice of mudras one can achieve pratyahara, the pranas rise up and the Kundalini is awakened. According to Hatha yoga, value of human life lies in the awakened Kundalini, otherwise from spiritual point of view human and animals are on the same plane.

 

The names of twenty-one mudras are as follows:

  1. Maha mudra
  2. Nabho mudra
  3. Uddiyana bandha
  4. Jalandhar bandha
  5. Moola bandha
  6. Maha bandha
  7. Mahabedha
  8. Khechari mudra
  9. Vipritkari mudra
  10. Yoni mudra
  11. Vajroni mudra
  12. Shaktichalani mudra
  13. Tadagi mudra
  14. Manduki mudra
  15. Shanbhavi mudra
  16. Panch dharna mudra
  17. Ashwini mudra
  18. Pashani mudra
  19. Kaki mudra
  20. Matangini mudra
  21. Bhujangini mudra