Different kinds of finger actions called the Mudras. Some of these Mudras are helpful in Acupressure treatment also.
Gyan Mudra
In Yoga Shastra this Mudra signified as the ‘Gyan Mudra’. Here top of index finger is touched with top portion of the thumb, and our saints and yogis have immensely practised on this mudra.
Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira have been shown in this mudra. In the battle field of Kurukshetra Lord Krishna explained the intricacies of Geeta to Arjun in the same Mudra Hence its utmost importance.
Thumb signifies Fire element and the index finger signifies Air element. When both the elements conjoin, Gyan Mudra comes into existence and air element gets established and balanced. By continuous practice of this Mudra, malfunction of symptoms-blood vessels of the brain can be set in order, without aid of any medicine. In addition, irregular and disturbed sleep, weak memory, anger, insanity can be easily dispelled. It also enhances receptive capability whereby a person is able to acquire knowledge, all around him, in his brain. Persons, whose mental activity has been weakened, should regularly practise this mudra. This mudra is an attribute of Yogic meditation or trance (Samadhi), and is practised to concentrate. Its regular practice fortifies and strengthens nerves.
Vairagya Mudra
Sit in Padmasana, Siddhasana or in any comfortable asana, whichever suits you best. Place both the hands, as was done in Gyan Mudra, on your knees in an upward position, and sit quietly and peacefully. This mudra is formed by touching frontal portion of the thumb with index finger’s frontal portion. Swami Dayanada spent major part of his time by sitting in this posture. Most of his devotees are seen sitting in this posture while they have to chant mantra’. After ‘Gyan’ Vairagya (Renunciation) is the next step.
Hence Vairagaya and Gyan mudras are practised in unison. This mudra inculcates and develops spirituality and imparts self- knowledge. The devotee becomes mentally and physically healthy, and his spiritual knowledge is also increased.
Dhyana Mudra
To make a pose for Dhyana Mudra a person should place his hands in the same position as are placed in Gyan Mudra that is frontal portion of his thumb and index finger should touch with each other and then he should place the same upon his laps, while sitting in any comfortable posture.
This mudra also helps in concentration of the mind, because, as the mudras explained earlier, base of this mudra is also the Gyan Mudra. Dhyana Mudra, if practised regularly for a longer span of time, imparts a unique and divine bliss. It is also very useful for mental agony and agitation. In addition, it also keeps blood pressure under control.
Vaayu Mudra
Turn the index finger and touch it with the base (root) of the thumb, exerting very light pressure. Index finger controls air element and any imbalance in air element can emerge in the form of wind related diseases.
Vaayu Mudra effectively treats many wind related incurable diseases like gout, polio, paralysis, trembling or Parkinson’s diseases and acts as a medicine.
Shoonya Mudra
If the middle finger’s tip is touched at the root (base of the thumb as shown in the picture) it forms Shoonya mudra.
Shoonya represents sky (or Vacuum) element, and is synonym of the sky. Sky element is present in even in a minute object of this universe, apart from it the same element is present in every part of our body. When this element gets disbalanced, many diseases surface. Shy element is directly related to sound, hence due to its disbalance, many ear related diseases ensue. When there is a pain in the ear, it can be subsided quickly if this mudra is practised at the inception stage of pain and thus, many ear related problems like discharges from the ear, chronic ear ache, deafness and impaired hearing can be cured effectively, if this mudra is practised for 45 minutes daily.
Surya Mudra
As the name indicates, it is brilliant mudra. Join or touch your ring finger (Anamika) at the root of thumb maintaining light pressure. Ring finger represents earth element, and the thumb Surya Mudra is effective in keeping the obesity away
represents fire element. According to Saamudrik Shastra, ring finger is the seat of the sun. Hence, when ring finger is pressed at the root of the thumb, plenty of energy is generated which can and should be compared with solar energy.
Surya Mudra is particularly effective in curing any type of headache or sense of heaviness in the brain. It also resolves problem of obesity.
Varun Mudra
Varun Mudra is formed by joining the little finger’s top with the top of the thumb. The little finger represents water element. By continuous practice of this mudra, all the diseases that are caused by lassitude of water element, can be treated. It also imparts glow and smoothness to the face.
It also removes roughness from the face, apart from removing facial wrinkles and purifying the blood. It also restores elegance and cleanliness to the face.
Prithvi Mudra
Prithvi Mudra is formed by touching the frontal position of the thumb with the frontal portion of the ring finger. By practising this mudra tone down earth element is compensated and enhanced.
It also enhances other elements in the body due to which body remains healthy and proper balance among all the elements remain well maintained. If body weight is less than the height of the body, this mudra restores proper proportion and balance between both the facets. Its practice also imparts lustre, glow and brightness to the face, and also inclines and motivates the mind towards spirituality. It also installs qualities of mercy, compassion and love, in addition to tolerance and patience.
Prana Mudra
Prana Mudra is formed by joining the front portion of little and ring finger with front portion of the thumb. This mudra acts like an electric stick, because, when
this switch is pressed, whole body gets infused with energy. Due to lack of Pranic energy, our body is embroiled with various ailments. One can always remain healthy and free from diseases by storing pranic energy in the body and this mudra helps a person fully to achieve him object of staying healthy. In reality, this mudra actually imparts ‘Pran’. By continuous practice of this mudra, all eye-related diseases can be dispelled.
Apaan Mudra
Deficiency or inadequacy of Pran Vaayu is a causative factor for onset of many diseases. Impure and toxic matters can not be expelled from the body, if this element is found scanty, as a result of which impurities and diseases overpower human body. Hence our body can stay clear from such diseases and impurities if our body continues to utilise Apaan Vaayu, keeping balance within all the elements. Its use is like baking the body in fire so that blood is purified and body and mind are also purified of harmful substances. If any patient is suffering from urinary obstruction, due to any reason, he will pass urine within 15-20 minutes after practising this mudra. But, patients suffering from prostate gland and stone problems will not benefit from this mudra. To restore the urinary flow, this mudra must be performed with both the hands.
If the pregnant ladies practise this mudra in the 8th month of pregnancy for 45 minutes daily, they will have an easy delivery and delivery will take place at the expected time.
If a person has suffered a heart attack, he should form this mudra with his left hand and also firmly compresses his right hand’s thumb, middle and ring fingers himself or asks some another person to do the job for him, he will have an instant relief. This experiment has been used on many patients of heart attack and at all the occasions we were successful.
If a person has vomiting and loose motions (diarrhoea), he must not practise this mudra as he is most likely to be harmed.
Apaan Vayu Mudra
Bend the forefinger to touch the base of the thumb and join the tips of middle finger and ring finger with the tip of thumb.
Benefits : This mudra has proved to be the most wonderful treatment for coronary ailments. In emergency cases (like heart attack), this mudra shows its immediate effect on the heart patients like the sorbitrate tablet and patient gets miraculous relief in the form of first aid. That is why it is also called ‘Mirtsanjivani Mudra’. If this mudra is practised regularly for a short period of time, then heart will slowly become quite strong. It also normalizes the pulse rate.
