Mudras

Secret Mudra Pranayama Techniques

Pranayama for directing prana or cosmic energy to particular portion of the body There are three portions of the lungs 1.lower,2.middle and 3.upper corresponding to three portions of the body 1.lower-ie from tows to the naval, 2.middle-ie from waist to the throat and 3. from throat upwards. We shall now consider the exercizes to consciously direct the prana ,the cosmic force or the life energy to particular portion of the body by making a particular mudra(or the posture of the fingers)

PREPARATION 1. The Posture:- The ideal posture is to sit in VAJRASANA which is described as follows. Beginning on knees with body upright, gently lower down until you are sitting on your heels. If for any reason this can not be done ,then sit on floor in crossed legs, squatting position, if this also cannot be done with comfort then sit on a chair or a stool with a hard and flat surface with the knees apart .Bring the heels together so as to have an angle of 45-60 degrees between them. Sit comfortably so that your body weight is balanced on your buttocks. There should be equal pressure on your buttocks. 2. Having achieved comfortable posture, close your eyes. Bring about reverential attitude and joy in your mind and pray to the almighty God (Whatever idea you may hold of God). Also thank the Great Master of your choice for bringing this sacred knowledge to you. 3. Now, with the feeling of JOY, GRATITUDE and REVERENCE in our mind, let us begin with PRANAYAMA.

TECHNIQUE OF PRANAYAMA- NADI SHODHANA

1. With the posture explained above, sit erect and hold your head straight without feeling any strain in the body. 2. Now the breathing. The breathing consists of three parts 1.Inhalation 2.Retention and 3.Exhalation. 3. This Pranayama has a quieting effect and is very useful in reducing the mental turbulence. 4. Use your right hand to control the flow of breath through your nostrils. Your thumb is positioned on your right nostril, while the third finger over left. 5. Now closing your right nostril with the thumb start inhaling, making a hissing sound with the mouth closed, through your left nostril counting up to 4 counts filling the lungs as much as possible. Now hold the breath by closing both the nostrils with the fingers specified up to 16 counts. If you feel uncomfortable start exhalation but do not exert force. Do not have attitude of competition. Once you complete the retention of breath, start exhaling through the right nostril up to 8 counts emptying lungs as much as possible but do not exert force.(Remember the counting should be uniform and not uneven).While exhalation also make a hissing sound with closed mouth . This makes you to have control on your breath. 6. Now inhale through right nostril up to 4 counts, hold for 16 counts and exhale through the left nostril for 8 counts. This completes one cycle. 7. Make 2 or 3 cycles explained above. 8. Remember that there should not be any force or feeling of competition to achieve the end result. The entire process should be smooth.

MUDRAS FOR MOVING PRANA, THE COSMIC ENERGY

Lower Portion-Kanishtika Mudra Sit in the same posture discussed above. Pull your shoulders back slightly so that the chest is widened. Bring your hands on your thighs at the centre. Keep the palms facing downwards. With the tip of your index finger touch the tip of the thumb very lightly. Keep the remaining fingers straight but no strain. Now start the inhalation with the mouth closed and making a hissing sound. Try and fill the lungs as much as possible without compromising the posture. Observe your breath as to which part of your lungs you feel your breath is going. After practice and observation you will realize that lower part of your chest or lungs are getting filled. Without holding the breaths immediately start exhalation with the mouth closed and making a hissing sound through throat, emptying the lungs as much as possible. This completes one cycle of breath. Make 3-5 such cycles. Once you complete the required number of cycles release the fingers and sit still with palms facing downwards on the thighs. Observe the feeling in the body. After practice for few days you will realize that this mudra directs the energy in the lower part of the body and thus cleanses that portion.

Middle Portion- Madhyama Mudra The procedure is same as above except for the position of fingers. For this make the mudra as follows. Touch the tip of thumb by the tip of index finger and press remaining three fingers tightly at the centre of the hand as if making a tight fist. Hold the hands on thigh as above with palms downwards and start the breaths as explained above. Make 3-5 cycles. . Observe your breath as to which part of your lungs you feel your breath is going. After practice and observation you will realize that middle part of your chest or lungs are getting filled. Once you complete the required number of cycles release the fingers and sit still with palms facing downwards on the thighs. Observe the feeling in the body. After practice for few days you will realize that this mudra directs the energy in the middle part of the body and thus cleanses that portion.

Upper Portion- Jyeshtha Mudra The procedure is same as above except for the position of fingers. For this make the mudra as follows. Make a tight fist with the thumb under the remaining fingers. Hold the hands on thigh as above with palm facing downward and start the breaths as explained above. Make 3-5 cycles. . Observe your breath as to which part of your lungs you feel your breath is going. After practice and observation you will realize that upper part of your chest or lungs are getting filled. Once you complete the required number of cycles release the fingers and sit still with palms facing downwards on the thighs. Observe the feeling in the body. After practice for few days you will realize that this mudra directs the energy in the upper part of the body and thus cleanses that portion.

These are very simple but very effective mudras . It takes about 15-20 minutes to carry out this exercise. It removes the toxins, energizes the body and keeps the ageing away. These techniques were disclosed by Shri Purnanand Tirth during 1978 at Bombay.

Compiled by Hemantpm