An introduction to yoga mudras: This blog explains the concept behind hasta mudrās, which are hand gestures often used in yoga and meditation.
What Is A Mudra?
Yoga Mudras are gestures that stimulate certain parts of your body and mind.
In addition to hand mudras (Sanskrit: hasta mudrā), there are head, postural, lock and perineal mudras. Hand mudras are, however, the most commonly used.
Definition & Meaning Of Mudra
- The Sanskrit word mudrā means “seal” or “gesture”
- The Sanskrit word hasta means “hand”
Therefore, hasta mudrā translates to “hand gesture” - In Devanāgarī, the word mudrā is written मुद्रा
List Of Yoga Mudras
Different mudrās are used for different purposes. Each mudrā is designed with a particular benefit in mind. The gestures are simple to perform, incredibly effective and fun.
| Common Sanskrit Name | Correct Sanskrit Name | Sanskrit Devanāgarī | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abhaya Mudra | abhaya mudrā | अभय मुद्रा | Gesture of fearlessnes |
| Apana Mudra | apāna mudrā | अपान मुद्रा | Gesture of purification |
| Anjali Mudra | añjali mudrā | अञ्जलि मुद्रा | Namaste Gesture of greeting & prayer |
| Bhu Mudra | bhū mudrā | भू मुद्रा | Mother earth gesture |
| Brahma Mudra | brahmā mudrā | ब्रह्मा मुद्रा | Gesture of consciousness |
| Chin Mudra | chin mudrā | चिन्मुद्रा | Psychic gesture of consciousness |
| Dhyana Mudra | dhyāna mudrā | ध्यान मुद्रा | dhyāna = meditation, thought, reflection |
| Ganesha Mudra | gaṇeśa mudrā | गणेश मुद्रा | gaṇeśa = a Hindu god |
| Garuda Mudra | garuḍa mudrā | गरुड मुद्रा | garuḍa = a certain mythical bird (half-human, half-eagle-shaped) |
| Gyan Mudra Gyana Mudra Jnana Mudra | gyāna mudrā jñāna mudrā | ज्ञान मुद्रा | Gesture of knowledge |
| Kali Mudra | kālī mudrā | काली मुद्रा | kālī = a Hindu goddess |
| Kundalini Mudra | kuṇḍalinī mudrā | कुण्डलिनी | kuṇḍalinī = a form of divine feminine energy |
| Linga Mudra | liṅga mudrā | लिङ्ग मुद्रा | liṅga = mark, spot, sign (symbol of Lord Shiva) |
| Padma Mudra | padma mudrā | पद्म मुद्रा | Lotus Mudra |
| Prana Mudra | prāṇa mudrā | प्राण मुद्रा | prāṇa = breath |
| Prithvi Mudra Prithivi Mudra | pṛthivī mudrā | पृथिवी मुद्रा | pṛthivī = earth |
| Sankalpa Mudra | saṃkalpa mudrā saṅkalpa mudrā | सङ्कल्प मुद्रा | Setting your intention |
| Shiva Linga Mudra Upright Mudra | śiva liṅga mudrā | शिव लिङ्ग मुद्रा | Gesture of Lord Shiva |
| Shunya Mudra | śūnya mudrā | शून्य मुद्रा | śūnya = empty, absence of everything, the non-existence |
| Surya Mudra | sūrya mudrā | सूर्य मुद्रा | sūrya = sun |
| Trimurti Mudra | trimūrti mudrā | त्रिमूर्ति मुद्रा | trimūrti = trinity, having three forms, one of the eight vidyeśvaras |
| Vayu Mudra | vāyu mudrā | वायु मुद्रा | vāyu = wind |
| Varuna Mudra | varuṇa mudrā | वरुण मुद्रा | varuṇa = a Vedic god |
| Yoni Mudra | yoni mudrā | योनि मुद्रा | Attitude of the womb or source |
Sanskrit translation with the help of nws.uzi.uni-halle.de and en.wikipedia.org
