Yogi Ashwini

Mudras are a set of certain posture combinations that are practised in order to channelise a specific force to some specific area of the body. The body is not just the physical body; by way of certain permutation and combinations it has the effect of touching the physical as well as the etheric layers of the being, so the pranic movement, with the aid of consciousness, happens from the core to the outer layers.

In a healthy body the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether) are in a state of equilibrium. Any imbalance in these causes disease in the body. The imbalance in the five elements can be corrected simply, by using our fingertips. As I always say, the whole creation lies within a human being. But one needs a guru to develop the awareness to guide one towards realisation of the forces, which will be at your call with heightened awareness and the ability to channelise them.
The thumb represents the fire element, the index finger represents air, the middle finger space or ether, the ring finger water and the little finger represents earth. Thus, by sitting in a particular mudra and using your fingers you can control, guide and balance the flow of prana in your body. Any finger when touched with the tip of the thumb has the effect of increasing that element in the body and touching a fingertip with the base of the thumb has the effect of bringing that element down.
Different mudras signify different aspects of elements. In dhyan, we connect to the subtlest aspect of an element. So not only is the proportion of the element altering, but the make-up of each element is also gradually changing, becoming more subtle.
A mudra is a combination of different forces — it has the ability to change the composition of elements in your body. Never fall for the “interesting” but misleading pictures showing people in different postures and mudras. Mudras are very potent and powerful tools and should only be practised under the guidance of your guru; otherwise they can create imbalance, especially if you and your body are not prepared for those kinds of practices.
Sanatan Kriya tells us that initially a sadhak is supposed to sit with the palms lying open, symbolic of accepting whatever the guru thinks is required by the sadhak. No mudra is adopted. Whatever one is perceptive to will flow in and what is beyond one’s present state will flow out. After initiation, sadhak will sit in the Bhairav or the Bhairavi mudra. In this mudra, the sadhak sits with palms overlapping each other. This completes the circuit of prana, which prevents prana from flowing out during dhyan. Men sit with their left palm over the right one and women sit with their right palm over the left. This is done in order to balance the forces of Shiva and Shakti in you. The left palm represents the feminine force, i.e. Shakti, and the right palm represents the male force, Shiva. The guru knows when to change the bhairav to bhairavi and vice versa, ultimately both have to be balanced to achieve yog.
Next comes the panch maha prana or five vayus:
Prana vayu is the upward rising force in the region between the diaphragm and the shoulders. Salutations are paid to this by touching the tips of the middle finger and the ring finger to the tip of your thumb. This is called Prana vayu mudra.
Apana vayu is the downward moving force, from the navel towards the pelvis. Salutations are paid to this by touching the tips of the ring and little finger to the tip of your thumb. This is the Apana vayu mudra.
Samaan vayu is the balancing force between Prana vayu and Apana Vayu. It is the outwards and sideways moving force in the region between the diaphragm and the navel. Salutations are paid to this by touching the tips of index and middle finger to the tip of your thumb. This is called the Samana vayu mudra.
Udana vayu rises upwards from the pit of the throat. Salutations are paid to this by touching the tips of your index finger, middle finger and ring finger to the tip of your thumb. This is the Udana vayu mudra.
Vayana vayu is the all-pervading force. Salutations are paid to this by touching the tips of all your fingers to the tip of your thumb. This is known as the Vayana vayu mudra.
There exist various other mudras that can be practised after you reach a higher level of evolution and have the capacity to hold the intensity that force generates. One of them is the Gyan mudra, where you join the tip of your index finger to the tip of thumb; it stimulates the flow of gyan. The next is Dhyan mudra, where the tip of your middle finger touches the tip of your thumb. The Abhaya mudra is the same as the Gyan mudra, the difference is in the placement — you take your hands a little higher than your throat. This mudra helps you rid fear inside you. However, you should be under the complete guidance of a guru if you want to carry out these mudras safely.

— The author, an authority on yoga, tantra and the Vedic sciences, is the guiding light of Dhyan Foundation. He has recently written a book, Sanatan Kriya: 51 Miracles... And a Haunting.
Contact him at dhyan@dhyanfoundation.com