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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

Kewali Pranayama

This Pranayama is especially to attain an advanced stage and for practicing twenty-four hours a day. A mantra ‘Hamsa’ or ‘Soham’ which means ‘that is me’ is practiced in it. The mind is a power of the soul indeed and to dissolve it in the same (soul) is actually the union of Shiva (supreme soul) and Shakti (energy). When wavering of the mind stops, then, it drowns in the soul and Kewali Pranayama is done to achieve this purpose.

 

While breathing in, one should have such a feeling as it contains a divine light and imagine the mantra ‘Ham’; and while breathing out, it should be imagined as the flow of glowing prana is mixing into a vast divine light and a sound of ‘sa’ is heard within.

 

In this way, recitation of the mantra ‘Hamsa’ should go on with the natural breathing process without any extra effort, and the divine self should be visualized within and outside in the integrated form. The ‘Hamsa’ mantra is called the ‘Ajapa’ mantra or ‘Ajapa Gayatri’ mantra because its recitation goes on constantly by itself with the respiration process.

 

This Pranayama affects the Kundalini Shakti also. When breath goes in, it should be felt that light is going through center of the forehead (bhrikuti) and spine to the Mooladhar Chakra. Then it comes out through the same way as a divinely bright breath from the spine and bhrikuti (center of forehead) mixing into a vast divine animated form.

 

Sadhaka of Kewali Pranayama starts visualizing the soul faster. With the dissolving of Prana into the divine element the setting in of mind in the same is natural. Because “yatra prana liyate tatra mana liyate” that is the mind goes where the pranas go.

 

With this practice, the mind and the brain remain in tranquility, enhances life because the speed of pranas lengthens and becomes subtle, which relaxes heart and lungs.

 

Initially, this should be practiced both the times in morning and evening while sitting in any posture. After a long practice, one attains the skill and its recitation goes on itself even while working. It is recited twenty one thousand six hundred (21600) times in a day and night.

Bhramari kumbhaka Pranayama

At night when there is complete silence, do puraka, clsoe the ears, hold breath comfortably (kumbhaka) and hear the word or music (naad), which echoes within. Concentrate mind on that music, whatever words come up, try to concentrate in their rhythm whole-heartedly. The words of the music keep changing slowly. Sometimes music of a cricket, and sometimes that of a bumblebee, bell, drum, clouds etc is experienced. After a regular practice, the music can be heard by keeping the ears open also and the sadhaka’s mind remains in it by itself.

Bhastrika Pranayama

Sit in Padm Asana, breathe in and out for ten to fifteen times, in quick successions from both the nostrils like the bellows of a blacksmith, and take a long breath and hold it comfortably. Then exhale and do the same again. This way it should be done three times. This Pranayama awakens the Kundalini and cures diseases caused by cough, bile and air. This Pranayama can be fully attained by a disciple who has reached a divine stage and who is deekshit (initiated) by the Guru, or only with the blessings of a Yogi Guru.