| [Note: This paper contains images which may be seen | | | | peace in the practitioner and to on-lookers. |
| as originally published at our website] | | | | In another ancient text called |
| When we study Eastern philosophies, beliefs, culture, | | | | Soma-Shambhu-Paddhati, a great number of these |
| and the pragmatic yogic methods of Hinduism and | | | | hand mudras are described. Perhaps the best known |
| Buddhism, we often come across practices of | | | | by yogic practitioners and students are |
| systematic hand gestures. The rites, rituals, initiations, | | | | abhaya-mudra, anjali-mudra, cin-mudra, dhyana-mudra, |
| dances, and spiritual disciplines of these Oriental | | | | and jnana-mudra. Some of these mudras are known |
| religions and traditions are replete with multifold forms | | | | by other names, especially in other cultures and |
| of hand gestures with symbolic meanings and | | | | spiritual traditions. It is this latter understanding of |
| empowering virtues. In Sanskrit these gestures are | | | | mudra that we shall be dealing with in this series of |
| called mudra. Mudra means "seal," or "symbol." The | | | | articles. |
| word has various connotations or definitions in Yogic | | | | To sum up, we present Nik Douglas' definition of |
| and Tantric philosophies. In Hatha yoga, mudras are | | | | "mudra" to be found in the glossary of his book, |
| special physical asanas, or body-postures; they are | | | | Sexual Secrets: |
| also certain exercises or processes that arouse into | | | | (Mudras are) "mystic hand gestures used to focus |
| activity one's innate energies. The ancient yogic text, | | | | subtle energy, transmit teachings through symbols |
| the "Gheranda-Samhita," describes twenty-five of | | | | and confer psychic protection. As an aid to Tantric |
| these mudras among which are: ashvini-mudra, | | | | meditation, mudra can also mean woman in her role |
| bhujangini-mudra, kaki-mudra, khecari-mudra, | | | | as Yogini. The same term is sometimes used to refer |
| maha-mudra, manduki-mudra, matangi-mudra, | | | | to cereal grains used in Tantric rites. " |
| nabho-mudra, pashini-mudra, sahajoli-mudra, | | | | The Origin of Mudras |
| shakti-calani-mudra, shambhavi-mudra, tadagi-mudra, | | | | It is not quite known when or where systematized |
| vajroli-mudra, viparita-karani-mudra, yoni-mudra, etc. | | | | and stylized gestures originated. Almost all ancient |
| The above yogic manual advises us that these | | | | cultures made use of hand signs in one form or |
| mudras are to be kept secret with great care and | | | | another. Hand Signs were employed even in earliest |
| not to be conveyed to anyone unfit for their | | | | times in religion, in the rhetoric art, in social |
| reception as these mudras could confer tremendous | | | | intercourse, in builders' and trade guilds, etc. The |
| power and psychic abilities called siddhis. Those | | | | operative Masons--the Comacines, the builders of |
| without the right spiritual qualifications could cause | | | | Europe's finest cathedrals, and the hoary trade guild |
| untold harm to themselves and others should they | | | | known as the Dionysiac Artificers--who were |
| engage in these exercises and be successful in | | | | responsible for the construction of ancient buildings |
| unfolding occult faculties. The psychic powers | | | | and structures--all made use of hand signs as a |
| acquired therefrom would be misapplied, misused and | | | | system of communication and protection of their |
| abused for egoistic purposes--and this is potentially | | | | conclaves or secret meetings against unauthorized |
| fatal for one's evolutionary growth. These mudras | | | | entry. |
| were therefore esoteric in nature and reserved for | | | | In Hinduism, as well as Buddhism, hundreds of mudras |
| the chosen few--the true spiritual aspirants, and not | | | | were formed for yogic purposes, for ceremonies, |
| for the worldly-minded or the overly spiritually | | | | drama, and dance. Most of these were symbolic in |
| ambitious. This doctrine "for the few" was observed | | | | nature, others, however, had metaphysical virtues. |
| carefully by mostly all spiritual traditions. In one | | | | There are literally hundreds of mudra-gestures |
| ritualistic text of the Vajrayana Tantra concerning an | | | | formed by the ancient yogis and sages; however, |
| initiatory teaching, the chela or student is enjoined to, | | | | they are all based on four basic hand positions: the |
| " . . . spread this teaching with great caution. It should | | | | open palm, the hollowed palm, the closed fist, and |
| be kept secret from both sinful and Dam Med | | | | the hand with fingertips together. |
| (oath-breakers) persons; from sophisticated and | | | | In the Occident, the study of hand gestures in ritual |
| foulmouthed persons. This teaching should not be | | | | and its spontaneous movements is called cheironomy. |
| given to skeptical and defamatory persons; it should | | | | It particularly relates to gestures used in esoteric |
| not be bestowed upon heretical and insincere | | | | symbolism and certain forms or signs used in religious |
| persons. It should not be given to the thief of | | | | ritual. In occultism, each hand gesture has certain |
| Dharma [spiritual doctrines] or to those who do not | | | | significance as well as embodying a certain force. |
| observe the precepts. Keep this sacred teaching | | | | Ritual gestures were an important part of religious |
| from such persons is a rule you should observe." | | | | ceremonies in most ancient cultures. They were said |
| In his manual on yoga, which consists of 195 Sutras, | | | | to have the power to call upon the gods, to unfold |
| Patanjali never once mentioned mudras, nor the | | | | powers, and to affect the surroundings in various |
| serpent force, or kundalini for that matter. Perhaps | | | | ways. |
| he considered these teachings esoteric and not | | | | The ancient Egyptians regarded the hand poses of |
| meant for general circulation. | | | | their god-incarnate pharaohs as highly potent, even if |
| Aside from the possible acquisition of paranormal | | | | it is just a pictorial representation. While depicting |
| powers as one result of the awakening of the | | | | these pharaohs in murals or while forming statues of |
| kundalinic force lying latent at the base of the spine, | | | | them, artists were careful not to misrepresent the |
| the mudras described by the Gheranda-Samhita also | | | | mudras assumed by their sovereign for fear that it |
| results in rejuvenation, and the sought for liberation | | | | would evoke an unwanted force. |
| from the mortal, human condition. Intense and | | | | Power in the Hands |
| constant practice of these mudras in conjunction with | | | | The hands when used systematically in mudra |
| other spiritual exercises is said to have the power to | | | | exercises result in a wealth of benefit for the |
| transform man into a living god. Hand mudras, we | | | | practitioner. Not only does it improve one's health, |
| believe, do have this kind of effect. | | | | they also generate the energies that would empower |
| Hindu Tantrism has a different understanding of | | | | one to live a dignified life as a child of God. Specific |
| mudras. To the practitioners of Tantra, the term | | | | hand gestures assist the unfoldment of one's divine |
| refers to a shakti, a human female participant in the | | | | potentials, or inner divinity lying dormant within one's |
| maithuna, or sexual rites; or even to the parched | | | | being. |
| grain as one of the five ingredients used in the | | | | Mudras facilitate the awareness of our inner nature, |
| panca-tattva rite because of its physical resemblance | | | | the reality of Spirit, the oneness of the Cosmos. It |
| to the yoni, the female genitalia. Shaktis are called | | | | arouses the spiritual heart to expand and express |
| "mudras" because in the process of ritualistic and | | | | itself with effulgent radiance. Through love, selfless |
| yogic coitus they have an effect similar to body and | | | | love, unconditional love, divine love, it is possible to |
| hand mudras. Mudras awaken dormant | | | | conquer all things. It is with love that we approach |
| psycho-physical centers and purifies certain subtle | | | | God, not through fear; fear will never take us to the |
| channels allowing for the circulation of energies to | | | | divine throne. To express love is the beginning of |
| take place; Mudras facilitates concentration, and are a | | | | wisdom. |
| powerful means of communing with the forces and | | | | By practicing hand gestures we eventually find |
| divinities lying within man's inner nature; women have | | | | ourselves communicating with Nature, for some of |
| a great access to psychic energies; thus, the sexual | | | | her esoteric languages are signs and symbols. Mudras |
| yogic act, when properly conducted, does the same | | | | generate structured magnetic fields with forms that |
| thing. Being highly respected, a woman proficient in | | | | resemble computer fractuals and images. Abstract |
| the Tantric arts is referred to as a "mudra," or to be | | | | forms reach the higher planes of life where angelic |
| more specific, "Karma mudra," of which there are | | | | forces reside. Thus, by performing mudras we may |
| five kinds, categorized according to various | | | | eventually find ourselves socializing with cherubim and |
| psycho-physical characteristics. | | | | seraphim. |
| In another sense, "closed electrical-circuits" of the | | | | According to scientists we use about 10% of our |
| subtle channels in the physical and etheric bodies are | | | | brain potential. Mudra practices may change all that, |
| also known as "seals," or mudras. | | | | for the energies that it awakens clears all of the |
| In passing, we should mention that the large earrings | | | | vessels--physical and non-physical--of obstructions and |
| worn by members of the Kanphata Order in India are | | | | blockages that prevent the brain from being |
| likewise called "mudra." | | | | nourished and developed. New synapses between |
| The Kagyu sect of Vajrayana Buddhism uses the | | | | neurons are formed when the brain receives a good |
| suffix "maha" meaning "great" in association with the | | | | supply of chi or prana. An increase in I.Q., a strong |
| term "mudra." Thus, the conjoined word mahamudra | | | | memory retention, improved learning ability, and |
| means "the Great Seal," or "the Great Symbol." In | | | | mental alertness, are some of the results of cleared |
| this context, the word refers to a state of direct | | | | energy channels. When empowered the brain forms |
| realization and experience of the ultimate nature of | | | | new connections with the etheric brain. These |
| the Mind or Reality where all dualities and sense of | | | | connections resemble and function as miniature |
| separateness from All that Is are transcended. | | | | sutratma, which is the link between the lower |
| Putting aside complexities, the definition of mudra is | | | | quaternary of the microcosm and the higher |
| simply "symbolic gesture." Chogyam Trungpa in his | | | | components that we normally refer to as "the Spirit" |
| book, "Mudra," defines the word as, | | | | of man. The more links between the etheric and |
| "a symbol in the wider sense of gesture or action. It | | | | physical brain, the more powerful and intelligent the |
| is the inspiring color of phenomena. Also it is a symbol | | | | brain becomes. |
| expressed with the hands to state for oneself and | | | | Mudras awaken the power of the hands to act |
| others the quality of different moments of | | | | therapeutically and magically. The psychic centers in |
| meditation, such as touching the earth with the right | | | | the palms and fingertips are activated to their optimal |
| hand as a witness to Buddha's freedom from | | | | level by the consistent application of mudras. This |
| emotional and mental frivolousness." | | | | eventually facilitates the free outflow and influx of |
| Yoga teachings in general explain that mudras denote | | | | cosmic forces that may be utilized for various occult |
| the hand gestures and movements used in the | | | | purposes. With such power, even a mere touch may |
| performance of dances, rituals, rites, and while | | | | mesmerize, enchant, fascinate, or quicken the "dead." |
| engaging in spiritual exercises such as meditation. | | | | Hands with such power would definitely be an asset |
| Mudras symbolically express inner feelings and inner | | | | not only to the metaphysical practitioner but also to |
| psychological states; they also generate various | | | | those involved in social and business affairs. |
| qualities such as fearlessness, power, charity, and | | | | |