Mudras
Recently I finished Jacqueline's Carey wonderful Naamah Series. In this series, the main character learns the mudras which she uses to help her concentrate, whether she's by herself or even when she's talking to others. It really interested me and I decided I wanted to start learning them myself. So, instead of me having to search around, I decided to put the information on my journal so that I could always get to it when I needed to. I would love to learn it from an actual teacher, but some searching of the Buddhist and Hindu temples around the Chicago area has yet to show anyone who teaches it. So, for now the internets will have to do. ^_^
Info from: here
Salutation/Greeting ~ Accepting Change ~ Grounding (Off-Balance)/Relaxation ~ Thinking/Concentration ~ Calmness/Serenity/Peace ~ Nourish/Concentrate on Heart/Purify Emotions/Compassion ~ Ignorance to Wisdom ~ Clear Mind/Understanding ~ Creativity/Sex/New Projects ~ Intuition/Spirituality ~ Reasoning/Discussion/Debate ~ Energy ~ Humble/Grateful ~ Conversation/Speech ~ Goals/Wish ~ Prayer ~ Teaching ~ Protection from Inside Forces ~ Self-Confidence/Self-Assertion ~ Meditation ~ Female Energy/Focus Inwards ~ Earth Energy/Steadfast ~ Happiness ~ Receptive/Listen ~ Calm ~ Protection from Outside Forces ~ Beginning/Healing ~ Balance ~ Control Bad Behaviors ~ Strength/Courage ~ Charity ~ Overcome Obstacles ~ Relief (Stress/Tension) ~ Letting Go (Aggression) ~ Clear Communication
Anjali: Salutation/Greeting
Hands are held together in prayer fashion directly over the heart/chest.
Pushan: Accepting Change
Right hand: Thumb, index finger, and middle finger touch at tips. Ring finger and pinky fingers are fully extended. Left hand: Thumb, middle finger, and ring finger touch at tips. Index and pinky fingers are fully extended.
Apana: Grounding (Off-Balance)/Relaxation
Tips of thumb, middle and ring finger are joined. Pinky and index fingers are extended.
Hakini: Thinking/Concentration
Hands and fingers are open and spread apart. Join hands together at the thumbs and fingertips.
Mantangi: Calmness/Serenity/Peace
Fold both hands together with fingers inter-twined. Extend both middle fingers outward and point them toward the skies.
Akash: Nourish/Concentrate on Heart/Purify Emotions/Compassion
Thumb and middle finger are joined. Index, ring, and pinky fingers are extended.
Vajra: Ignorance -> Wisdom
Right-handed fist surrounds left index finger. Remaining fingers of left hand also form a fist below the right hand.
Gyan: Clear Mind/Understanding
Thumb and index fingers touch at tips. Middle, ring, and pinky fingers are relaxed, curved slightly.
Ushas: Creativty/Sex/New Projects
Interlaced fingers with palms facing upwards. Encircle right thumb between left thumb and index fingers.
Garuda: Intuition/Spirituality
Place right palm over the top of left hand, spreading fingers apart and crossing thumbs.
Vitarka: Reasoning/Discussion/Debate
Thumbs and index fingers of both hands join at tips forming circles. Left hand sits upon lap palm facing upwards. Right hand is held at shoulder height with palm facing downwards.
Prana: Energy
Thumb, ring, and pinky are touching. Index and middle finger are extended.
Buddha: Humble/Grateful
Both palms open. Rest one hand inside the other hand's open palm. Thumb tips are touching (traditionally, right hand rests on left for men, left on right for women).
Shunya: Conversation/Speech
Lower the middle finger and place finger pad on the fleshy mound area of your thumb, cover it with your thumb. Index, ring and pinky fingers are extended.
Kubera: Goals/Wish
Tips of thumb, index, and middle fingers are joined. Ring finger and pinky are folded into the palm.
Uttarabodhi: Prayer
Index fingers touch one another and are extended, pointing toward the skies. Remaining fingers are crossed and folded down. Thumbs are cross or held next to each other. Clasped hands are held over the head.
Dharmachakra: Teaching
Thumbs and index fingers are joined. Middle, ring, and pinky fingers are extended in a relaxed fashion. With left palm facing the body and right palm faced outward join thumbs and index fingers of both hands.
Bhutadamar: Protection from Inside Forces
Palms are facing outwards away from the body. Wrists are crossed. Ring fingers are placed down toward the palms.
Ahamkara: Self-Confidence/Self-Assertion
Index finger is bent slightly. Place thumb on the middle of bent index finger. Middle, ring and pink fingers are extended.
Dhyana: Meditation
Hands form a cup or bowl. Thumbs touch at the tips or comfortably overlapped.
Yoni: Female Energy/Focus Inwards
Hands form an almond shape with joined thumbs extended upwards. Fingers are joined at tips extended downwards.
Prithivi: Earth Energy/Steadfast
Tips of thumb and ring finger are joined. Remaining fingers are extended.
Kapitthaka: Happiness
Index and middle fingers are held beside each other while extended. Ring and pinky fingers are tucked inside the palm. Thumbs rest on tucked fingers.
Shankh: Receptive/Listen
The left thumb is placed on the center of the right palm. The right hand forms a firm grip around the left thumb. The left hand rests against the right fist. Right thumb touching the left index finger.
Kalesvara: Calm
Place both palms together pairing thumbs and all fingers at tips. Fold index, ring, and pinky fingers downward. Middle fingers are extended outward. Point thumbs toward your body.
Linga: Protection from Outside Forces
Interlace fingers of both hands, extending one thumb upwards, encircle extended thumb with the index finger and thumb of your other hand.
Mukula: Beginning/Healing
All fingers and thumb are joined together, pointed upwards.
Surabhi: Balance
Fingers and thumbs are joined at tips. Thumbs touching each other. Left index finger joins right middle finger. Right index finger joins left middle finger. Left ring finger joins right pinky finger. Right ring finger joins left pinky finger.
Suchi: Control Bad Behaviors
Form a fist, extend index finger pointing up and out away from the body, preferrably arms are extended over the head.
Abhayaprada: Strength/Courage
Hand is held upward with palm facing away from your body.
Varada: Charity
Fingers and thumb are downwards. Flattened palm facing outwards away from the body.
Ganesha: Overcome Obstacles
Palm of your right hands facing your chest. Left hand grasps the right hand forming a locking grasp, tugging firmly.
Mahasirs: Relief (Stress/Tension)
Thumb, index and middle fingers are joined at tips. Ring finger is folded into the palm and tucked into the fleshy part of the thumb. Pinky is extended.
Mushti: Letting Go (Aggression)
Hold hand in a fist with thumb placed over the ring finger.
Bhudy: Clear Communication
Pinky and thumb tips are touching. Index, middle, and ring fingers are extended.
Info from: here
Salutation/Greeting ~ Accepting Change ~ Grounding (Off-Balance)/Relaxation ~ Thinking/Concentration ~ Calmness/Serenity/Peace ~ Nourish/Concentrate on Heart/Purify Emotions/Compassion ~ Ignorance to Wisdom ~ Clear Mind/Understanding ~ Creativity/Sex/New Projects ~ Intuition/Spirituality ~ Reasoning/Discussion/Debate ~ Energy ~ Humble/Grateful ~ Conversation/Speech ~ Goals/Wish ~ Prayer ~ Teaching ~ Protection from Inside Forces ~ Self-Confidence/Self-Assertion ~ Meditation ~ Female Energy/Focus Inwards ~ Earth Energy/Steadfast ~ Happiness ~ Receptive/Listen ~ Calm ~ Protection from Outside Forces ~ Beginning/Healing ~ Balance ~ Control Bad Behaviors ~ Strength/Courage ~ Charity ~ Overcome Obstacles ~ Relief (Stress/Tension) ~ Letting Go (Aggression) ~ Clear Communication
Anjali: Salutation/Greeting
Hands are held together in prayer fashion directly over the heart/chest.
Pushan: Accepting Change
Right hand: Thumb, index finger, and middle finger touch at tips. Ring finger and pinky fingers are fully extended. Left hand: Thumb, middle finger, and ring finger touch at tips. Index and pinky fingers are fully extended.
Apana: Grounding (Off-Balance)/Relaxation
Tips of thumb, middle and ring finger are joined. Pinky and index fingers are extended.
Hakini: Thinking/Concentration
Hands and fingers are open and spread apart. Join hands together at the thumbs and fingertips.
Mantangi: Calmness/Serenity/Peace
Fold both hands together with fingers inter-twined. Extend both middle fingers outward and point them toward the skies.
Akash: Nourish/Concentrate on Heart/Purify Emotions/Compassion
Thumb and middle finger are joined. Index, ring, and pinky fingers are extended.
Vajra: Ignorance -> Wisdom
Right-handed fist surrounds left index finger. Remaining fingers of left hand also form a fist below the right hand.
Gyan: Clear Mind/Understanding
Thumb and index fingers touch at tips. Middle, ring, and pinky fingers are relaxed, curved slightly.
Ushas: Creativty/Sex/New Projects
Interlaced fingers with palms facing upwards. Encircle right thumb between left thumb and index fingers.
Garuda: Intuition/Spirituality
Place right palm over the top of left hand, spreading fingers apart and crossing thumbs.
Vitarka: Reasoning/Discussion/Debate
Thumbs and index fingers of both hands join at tips forming circles. Left hand sits upon lap palm facing upwards. Right hand is held at shoulder height with palm facing downwards.
Prana: Energy
Thumb, ring, and pinky are touching. Index and middle finger are extended.
Buddha: Humble/Grateful
Both palms open. Rest one hand inside the other hand's open palm. Thumb tips are touching (traditionally, right hand rests on left for men, left on right for women).
Shunya: Conversation/Speech
Lower the middle finger and place finger pad on the fleshy mound area of your thumb, cover it with your thumb. Index, ring and pinky fingers are extended.
Kubera: Goals/Wish
Tips of thumb, index, and middle fingers are joined. Ring finger and pinky are folded into the palm.
Uttarabodhi: Prayer
Index fingers touch one another and are extended, pointing toward the skies. Remaining fingers are crossed and folded down. Thumbs are cross or held next to each other. Clasped hands are held over the head.
Dharmachakra: Teaching
Thumbs and index fingers are joined. Middle, ring, and pinky fingers are extended in a relaxed fashion. With left palm facing the body and right palm faced outward join thumbs and index fingers of both hands.
Bhutadamar: Protection from Inside Forces
Palms are facing outwards away from the body. Wrists are crossed. Ring fingers are placed down toward the palms.
Ahamkara: Self-Confidence/Self-Assertion
Index finger is bent slightly. Place thumb on the middle of bent index finger. Middle, ring and pink fingers are extended.
Dhyana: Meditation
Hands form a cup or bowl. Thumbs touch at the tips or comfortably overlapped.
Yoni: Female Energy/Focus Inwards
Hands form an almond shape with joined thumbs extended upwards. Fingers are joined at tips extended downwards.
Prithivi: Earth Energy/Steadfast
Tips of thumb and ring finger are joined. Remaining fingers are extended.
Kapitthaka: Happiness
Index and middle fingers are held beside each other while extended. Ring and pinky fingers are tucked inside the palm. Thumbs rest on tucked fingers.
Shankh: Receptive/Listen
The left thumb is placed on the center of the right palm. The right hand forms a firm grip around the left thumb. The left hand rests against the right fist. Right thumb touching the left index finger.
Kalesvara: Calm
Place both palms together pairing thumbs and all fingers at tips. Fold index, ring, and pinky fingers downward. Middle fingers are extended outward. Point thumbs toward your body.
Linga: Protection from Outside Forces
Interlace fingers of both hands, extending one thumb upwards, encircle extended thumb with the index finger and thumb of your other hand.
Mukula: Beginning/Healing
All fingers and thumb are joined together, pointed upwards.
Surabhi: Balance
Fingers and thumbs are joined at tips. Thumbs touching each other. Left index finger joins right middle finger. Right index finger joins left middle finger. Left ring finger joins right pinky finger. Right ring finger joins left pinky finger.
Suchi: Control Bad Behaviors
Form a fist, extend index finger pointing up and out away from the body, preferrably arms are extended over the head.
Abhayaprada: Strength/Courage
Hand is held upward with palm facing away from your body.
Varada: Charity
Fingers and thumb are downwards. Flattened palm facing outwards away from the body.
Ganesha: Overcome Obstacles
Palm of your right hands facing your chest. Left hand grasps the right hand forming a locking grasp, tugging firmly.
Mahasirs: Relief (Stress/Tension)
Thumb, index and middle fingers are joined at tips. Ring finger is folded into the palm and tucked into the fleshy part of the thumb. Pinky is extended.
Mushti: Letting Go (Aggression)
Hold hand in a fist with thumb placed over the ring finger.
Bhudy: Clear Communication
Pinky and thumb tips are touching. Index, middle, and ring fingers are extended.