Question
Are mudras limited to hands?
Answer
Well there is first to know the significance of the Mudaras.
Gheranda Samhita is a manual of yoga taught by Gheranda to Chanda Kapali. Unlike other hatha yoga texts, the Gheranda Samhita speaks of a sevenfold yoga:
Shatkarma for purification
Asana for strengthening
Mudra for steadying
Pratyahara for calming
Pranayama for lightness
Dhyana for perception
Samādhi for isolation
more over Here in which there are number of mudras are said. which are given as under.
Main Mudras
- Hasta (hand mudras)
- Mana (head mudras)
- Kaya (postural mudras)
- Bandha (lock mudras)
- Adhara (perineal mudras)
Hasta (hand mudras)
Hasta mudras are conducive for meditation, and help in internalisation.
Name in Sanskrit -- Translation(s) in English
Anjali Mudra - Gesture of reverence
Dhyana Mudra - Psychic gesture of meditation
Vāyu Mudra - Psychic gesture of air
Shunya Mudra - Psychic gesture of void or empty
Prithvi Mudra - Psychic gesture of earth
Varuna Mudra - Psychic gesture of Rain
Shakti Mudra - Psychic gesture of Power
Apāna Mudra - Psychic gesture of life force
Gyana Mudra - Psychic gesture of knowledge
Chin Mudra - Psychic gesture of consciousness
Chinmya Mudra -
Dhyana Mudra -
Yoni Mudra - Attitude of the womb or source
Bhairav Mudra - Fierce or terrifying attitude
Hridaya Mudra - Heart gesture
Mana (head mudras)
Mana mudras are an important part of Kundalini yoga, and many are important meditation techniques in their own right.
Name in Sanskrit -- Translation(s) in English
Shambhavi Mudra - Eyebrow centre gazing
Nasikagra Drishti - Nosetip gazing
Khecarī mudrā - Tongue lock
Kaki mudra - The crow's beak
Bhuangini Mudra - Cobra respiration
Bhoochari Mudra - Gazing into nothingness
Akashi mudra - Awareness of inner space
Shanmukhi mudra - Closing the seven gates
Unmani Mudra - The attitude of mindlessness
Kaya (postural mudras)
Kaya mudras combine physical postures with breathing and concentration.
Name in Sanskrit -- Translation(s) in English
Prana Mudra - Invocation of energy
Vipareeta Karani Mudra - Inverted psychic attitude
Yoga Mudra - Attitude of psychic union
Pashinee Mudra - Folded psychic attitude
Manduki Mudra - Gesture of the frog
Tadagi Mudra - Barrelled abdomen technique
Bandha (lock mudras)
Bandha mudras combine mudra and bandha.
Name in Sanskrit -- Translation(s) in English
Maha Mudra - Great psychic attitude
Maha Bheda Mudra - The great separating attitude
Maha Vedha Mudra - The great piercing attitude
Adhara (perineal mudras)
Adhara mudras redirect prana from the lower centres to the brain.
Name in Sanskrit -- Translation(s) in English
Ashwini Mudra - Horse gesture
Vajroli/Sahajoli Mudra - Thunderbolt/Spontaneous psychic attitude
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