Mudras and Bandhas
MUDRAS AND BANDHAS
MUDRAS:
‘NastiMdurasanamKinchitSamsidhyaiKshitimai’.
There is nothing in this world like the Mudrs for giving success. A mudra is a
specific position representing specific stage of Psyche. Sometimes Mudras are
being used to regulate several involuntary psychological and bio chemical
activities.
Mudras
has been proved to help in developing self - awareness about the flow of vital
energy in the subtle body. Mudra also enhances spiritual orientation and
promotes the process of self healing as well as psychic healing. The Mudras are
instrumental in awakening the hidden serpent power in human being
KundaliniSakthi.
Mudras
are in general used in mainly in three fields:
1.
Dance: To express the feelings and emotions through bodily
gestures.
2. Rituals: Performing certain workshops.
3.
Hatha Yoga: To help in stabilizing the mind.
According
to GherandaSamhita, there are mainly 25 Mudras, whereas Hatha Pradipika
describes only 10 of these. They are Maha Mudra, Yoga Mudra,
KhechariMudra,Vajroli Mudra, Viparithakarani Mudra, Ashwini Mudra, Yoni Mudra,
Asahi Mudra, Sambhavi Mudra and Kaki Mudra.
“SharimadyanKhaluDhamaSadhana”
– Right living can be pursued only through the medium of the body.
Maha Mudra:
1.
Lean forward and hold the toes with both hands.
2.
First inhale and exhale deeply and hold the breath.
3.
Contract the throat and gaze in the centre between the eye
brow.
4.
Repeat with other leg also.
Chin Mudra:
1.
Sit in Padmasana.
2.
Fold both index fingers and keep other fingers straight.
Sambhavi Mudra:
1.
Sit in Padmasana.
2.
Fix the gaze at the center of eyebrow.
Tadagi Mudra:
1.
Keep the legs extended forward and feet apart.
2.
Lean forward and catch hold of big toes.
3.
Do deep relaxation and exhalation.
Kaki Mudra:
1.
Make a narrow canal with the help of lips in the shape of a
beak of crow.
2.
Concentrate on the tip of the nose.
3.
Inhale slowly and deeply through mouth, then close the lips.
4.
Then exhale through the nose.
Bhujanglini Mudra:
1.
Sit in comfortably, assuming a meditate pose.
2.
Relax the body.
3.
Extrude the mouth a little forward and try to drink the air
with gullet into the stomach not the lungs.
4.
Expand the stomach as much as possible.
5.
Retain the air inside for a short duration and expel it noisily
through the mouth.
Ashwini Mudra:
1.
Sit in Sukhasana or Padmasana.
2.
Close the eyes, contract and expand the sphincter muscles of
the anus.
3.
Inhale and hold the breath while contracting sphincter and
while expanding exhale slowly.
4.
Do not exert excessive strain and repeat the process several
times.
Yoni Mudra:
1.
Assume a sitting meditative posture. Inhale and retain
breath inside. Close the eyes wit index fingers, ears with the thumbs and
nostrils with the middle fingers, while placing the ring and little fingers
over the mouth.
2.
Concentrate on internal manifestation of sound echo. Open
the nostril and exhale. Again inhale and close the nostrils.
3.
In meditative posture, fold the tongue in backward (as in
Khechari Mudra) now perform Vijayi Pranayama along with Sambahvi Mudra, tilt
the head a little backward. Breath should be slow and deep.
4.
Repeat the process a few times.
BANDHAS:
Bandha means to lock, close-off, to
stop. It also refers bondage, joining together, fettering or catching hold. It
is also a posture in which certain organs or parts of the body are gripped,
contracted and controlled. In the practice of a Bandha, the energy flow to a
particular area of the body is blocked. When the Bandha is released, this
causes the energy to flood more strongly through the body with an increased
pressure.
Bandhas
momentarily stop the flow of blood, there is an increased flow of fresh blood
with the release of the Bandha, which flushes away old, dead cells. In this way
all the organs are strengthened, renewed and rejuvenated and circulation is
improved. Bandhas are also beneficial for the brain centres, the Nadis and the
Chakras. The energy channels are purified, blockages released and the exchange
of energy is improved. Bandhas alleviate stress and mental restlessness and
bring about inner harmony and balance.
JalandhraBandha (Chin lock)
1.
Both the knees should touch the ground.
2.
Place the palms on knees.
3.
Take a deep inhalation, hold the breath inside and bend the
head forward. Now press the chin tightly into the sternum.
4.
Pull the shoulders up bend them into a rounder shape.
UddiyanaBandha (Raising the diaphragm)
1.
Both the knees should rest on the ground.
2.
Exhale completely and hold the breath outside, now suck in
the abdomen raise the diaphragm and expand the chest.
3.
Abdominal wall is flattened against the spine and hollow
cavity is formed when you can no longer hold the breath, relax the muscles and
allow the air to enter the lungs.
MoolaBandha (Anal lock)
1.
Sit in the Siddhasana, take a deep inhalation, hold the
breath inside and perform JalandhraBandha.
2.
Now try to contract the ring of muscles around the arms
tightly up, thereby causing the whole pelvic region to contract.
3.
Retain the posture, then release the perennial contraction,
raise the head slowly and slowly exhale.
MahaBandha:
1.
In a meditation pose for the duration of BahirKumbhaka all three bandhas are gradually assumed and held, in the
following order: JalandharaBandha, UddiyanaBandha and finally MulaBandha.
Comments
Post a Comment