In the sacred ancient yoga texts it has been mentioned that mudras are more powerful than asanas and pranayama as they are instrumental in awakening the hidden serpent power in human being — the Kundalini shakti. In Gherand Samhifa, the most authentic yoga text, 25 odd mudras are explained. A mudra is a specific position representing specific state of psyche. Sometimes mudras are being used to regulate several involuntary physiological and biochemical activities. Mudras have been proved to help in developing self awareness about the flow of vital energy in the subtle body. Mudras also enhance spiritual orientation and promote the process of self healing as well as psychic healing.
Maha Mudra
• Assume a sitting posture.
• Place the left heel under the arms and right leg extended forward.
• Lean forward and catch hold of the toes with both hands.
• First inhale and then exhale deeply and hold the breath outside.
• Contract the throat and gaze in the centre between the eyebrows.
• Repeat the process with the other leg also.
Gyan Mudra
• Sit in a meditative asana, say Padmasana or Sukhasana.
• Place the straightened hand on the knees with palm facing the sky; fold both the index fingers and join it with respective thumbs; keep the other three fingers straight.
Sambhavi Mudra
• Assume a meditative asana posture.
• Keep the spine straight and place the straightened hands on the knees.
• Gaze forward at a particular fixed point and look upward by moving the eyeball without moving the head.
• Fix the gaze at the centre of eyebrows.
• Try to remain in thoughtless state, by concentrating on the inner consciousness.
Tadagi Mudra
• Assume a sitting posture.
• Keep the legs extended forward and feet slightly apart.
• Lean forward and catch hold of big toes.
• Take a deep inhalation, and expand the abdomen maximum possible and make it like a hollow tank.
• Hold the breath inside for the maximum length of time.
• Then exhale and relax without leaving the toes.
• Now inhale and exhale repeatedly
• Inhale and repeat the process 5-6 times.
Kaki Mudra
• Adopt a sitting meditative posture.
• Make a narrow cannal with the help of lips, in the shape of the beak of a crow.
• Concentrate on the tip of nose.
• Inhale slowly and deeply through mouth and then close the lips.
• Then exhale through the nose.
• Repeat the process several times.
Bhujangini Mudra
• Sit in comfortably, assuming a meditative pose.
• Relax the body.
• Extrude the mouth a little forward and try to drink the air with the gullet into the stomach not the lungs, as if you are drinking water.
• Expand the stomach as much as possible.
• Retain the air inside for a short duration and then expel it noisily through the mouth.
• Repeat the process several times.
Ashwini Mudra
• Sit in Sukhasana or Padmasana.
• Make the respiration regular and rhythmic.
• Close the eyes and relax the body.
• Contract and expand the sphincter muscles of the anus repeatedly.
• Inhale and hold the breath while contracting the sphincter muscles, and while expanding exhale slowly.
• Do not exert any excessive strain and repeat the process several times.
Yoni Mudra
•Assume a sitting meditative posture.
•Inhale slowly and deeply and retain the breath inside.
•Close the eyes with index fingers, ears with the thumbs and nostrils with the middle fingers,while placing the ring and little fingers over the mouth.
• Concentrate on internal manifestation of sound echo.
• Open the nostrils only and exhale.
• Again inhale and close the nostrils.
• Repeat the exercise several times for the maximum length of time available.
Akashi Mudra
• Adopt a sitting meditative posture.
• Fold the tongue in backward direction as is being done in Khechari mudra.
• Now perform Ujjayi pranayama along with Sambhavi mudra.
• At the same time tilt the head a little backward.
• Breath should be slow and deep.
• Repeat the process a few times.