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Mudra

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Mudra

मुद्रा, mudrā

from the root मुद्, mud – 1) mixing, merging, joining; 2) joy, pleasure.

  • seal, print, sign;
  • in Hinduism and Buddhism – the symbolic, ritual position of the hands, the ritual sign language, the position of the body;
  • in Kashmir Shivaism and Nath Tradition, mudra is also a reflection ("pratibimba" is a Sanskrit synonym for this word), a reflection of transcendental light in any object;
  • “giving joy" ("mud" – joy, "ra" – bestowing). When prana and consciousness through the adharas concentrate in the sushumna, Kundalini-Shakti awakens and one becomes joyful. Usually, people experience joy in having sex, but when Kundalini Shakti awakens and goes towards Shiva, an inner maithuna occurs and one experiences joy of a supreme nature;
  • can also mean a state of transcendental consciousness, as the result of the unity of emptiness and form.

Carpal (hasta) mudras commonly used in pujas and descriptions of Deities

Mudras for Meditation

Yogic Mudras


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