On Hand Mudras

Essential Mudras for Sacred Activities

Sacred Activities

Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Sastra Pramana Source: Raurava Agama - Mudra Laskanam V.2

Original Verse: "नमस्कारो ध्वजश्चैव तथा च शशकार्णिका । मुकुला पद्ममुद्रा च तथा चावाहिनी भवेत् ॥ २ निष्ठुरा कालकण्ठी च लिङ्गमुद्रा तथैव च ।"

Transliteration: "namaskāro dhvajaścaiva tathā ca śaśakārṇikā । mukulā padmamudrā ca tathā cāvāhinī bhavet ॥ niṣṭhurā kālakaṇṭhī ca liṅgamudrā tathaiva ca ।"

Translation: The mudras which are to be essentially shown are: namaskara mudra, dhvaja mudra, sasa karnika mudra, mukula mudra, padma mudra, avahani mudra, nishthura mudra, kalakanthi mudra and linga mudra.

Characteristis of These Mudras

Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Sastra Pramana Source: Raurava Agama - Mudra Laskanam V.3-6

Original Verse: "अथ वक्ष्ये लक्षणानि मुद्रणामनुपूर्वशः ॥३॥ नमस्कारेण वन्देत ध्वजेन ध्यानमाचरेत् । शशकर्ण्या नियुज्येत मुकुल्या चासनाकृतिः ॥४॥ आसनं कल्पयेदत्र क्रमशः पद्ममुद्रया । आवाहन्यावाहनं च देवेशस्य प्रयोजयेत् ॥५॥ निष्ठुरया निरुद्ध्येत विघ्नोत्सारणमेव च । कालकण्ठ्या’ प्रयुञ्जीत शिवपूजाप्रबोधका ॥६॥ योजना लिङ्गमुद्रायाः शिवरूपे ह्युदाह्रताः ।"

Transliteration: "atha vakṣye lakṣaṇāni mudraṇāmanupūrvaśaḥ ॥3॥ namaskāreṇa vandeta dhvajena dhyānamācaret । śaśakarṇyā niyujyeta mukulyā cāsanākṛtiḥ ॥4॥ āsanaṃ kalpayedatra kramaśaḥ padmamudrayā । āvāhanyāvāhanaṃ ca deveśasya prayojayet ॥5॥ niṣṭhurayā niruddhyeta vighnotsāraṇameva ca । kālakaṇṭhyā’ prayuñjīta śivapūjāprabodhakā ॥6॥ yojanā liṅgamudrāyāḥ śivarūpe hyudāhratāḥ ।"

Translation: Now I will describe these mudras with all the essential lineaments, one by one according to the timeless traditional order. The sadhaka should perform the due salutation, holding the namaskara mudra. He should practice meditation , holding the dhvaja mudra. The internal correspondence between the sadhaka and the Deity should be maintained with the holding of sasakarnika mudra. In presenting the relevant seat to the invoked Deity, he should hold mukula mudra. In visualizing the seat mentally, he should hold padma mudra. For invoking the Deity, he should hold avahana mudra. To stabilize the presence of the Deity and to ward off the obstacles, he should hold nishtura mudra. To effect the consummate perfection of the worship of Siva, he should hold kalakanti mudra. To establish total identity between the form of Siva and the devotee, he should hold linga mudra.