About Mudras
Introducing Three Bandhas and Two Mudras
Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण
Sastra Pramana Source: Yogacudamanyupanisad I.43
Original Verse: "महामुद्रा नभोमुद्रा ओड्याणं च जलन्धरम् |मूलभन्धं च यो वेत्ति स योगी मुक्ति-भाजनम् ॥ ४३ ॥"
Transliteration: "mahāmudrā nabhomudrā oḍyāṇaṃ ca jalandharam |mūlabhandhaṃ ca yo vetti sa yogī mukti-bhājanam ॥ 43 ॥"
Translation: A Yogi who gains knowledge of Mahamudra, Nabhomudra, Uddiyana, Jalandhara and Mulabandha does qualify for Mukti. 43.
Technique to Achieve Liberation
Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण
Sastra Pramana Source: Sandilyopanishad (7, 42-3)
Original Verse: "वामपादपार्ष्णि योनिस्थाने नियोज्य दक्षिणचरणं वामोरुपरि संस्थाप्य वायुमापूर्य हृदये चुबुकं निधाय योनिमाकुञ्च्य मनोमध्ये यथाशक्ति धारयित्वा स्वात्मानं भावयेत् । तेनापरोक्षसिद्धिः ॥ ४२-३ ॥ स्वात्मापरोक्षसिद्ध्युपायमाह- वामेति । स्वात्मानं ब्रह्माहमस्मीति भावयेत् । सिद्धिः भवति ॥ ४२-३ ॥"
Transliteration: "vāmapādapārṣṇi yonisthāne niyojya dakṣiṇacaraṇaṃ vāmoruparisaṃsthāpya vāyumāpūrya hṛdaye cubukaṃ nidhāya yonimākuñcyamanomadhye yathāśakti dhārayitvā svātmānaṃ bhāvayet | tenāparokṣasiddhiḥ ॥ 42-3 ॥ svātmāparokṣasiddhyupāyamāha- vāmeti | svātmānaṃbrahmāhamasmīti bhāvayet | siddhiḥ bhavati ॥ 42-3 ॥"
Translation: "Placing the left heel on the seat of the genitals, well placing the right foot over the left thigh, in-filling the vital air and fixing the chin on to the chest, constricting the genitals, holding (the vital air) as far as possible in the middle of the mind, he should assume the attitude, ""I am the Brahman"". Thereby will be attained the non-vicarious accomplishment (of the Brahman).
Note: The Brahman referred in Upanishads is Pure Consciousness and Sadashiva is the source of the Pure Consciousness.
Mudras as a Way to Awaken the Kundalini
Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण
Sastra Pramana Source: Shiva Samhita(BA)-IV.14
Original Verse: "तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन प्रबोधयितुमीश्वरीम्।ब्रह्मरन्ध्रमुखे सुप्तां मुद्राभ्यासं समाचारेत् ॥१४॥"
Transliteration: "tasmātsarvaprayatnena prabodhayitumīśvarīm। brahmarandhramukhe suptāṃ mudrābhyāsaṃ samācāret ॥14॥"
Translation: Therefore, in order that the Goddess, who is asleep in the mouth of the Brahmarandhra (the innermost hollow of Sushumna) be awakened, the mudras should be practiced with the greatest care.
List of the Best 10 Mudras
Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण
Sastra Pramana Source: Shiva Samhita(BA)-IV.15
Original Verse: "महामुद्रा महाबन्धो महावेधश्च खेचरी । जालन्धरो मूलबंधो बिपरीतकृतिस्तथा ॥ उड्डानं चैव वज्रोणी दशमे शक्तिचालनम् । इदं हि मुद्रादशकं मुद्राणामुत्तमोत्तमम् ॥१५॥"
Transliteration: "mahāmudrā mahābandho mahāvedhaśca khecarī । jālandharo mūlabaṃdho biparītakṛtistathā ॥ uḍḍānaṃ caiva vajroṇī daśame śakticālanam । idaṃ hi mudrādaśakaṃ mudrāṇāmuttamottamam ॥15॥"
Translation: Out of the many Mudras, the following ten are the best: (1) Mahamudra, (2) Mahabandha, (3) Mahavedha, (4) Khechari, (5) Jalandhar, (6) Mulabandha, (7) Viparitkarana, (8) Uddana, (9) Vajrondi, and (10) Shaktichalana.
Become a Siddha Through Any One of the 10 Mudras
Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण
Sastra Pramana Source: Shiva Samhita(BA)-IV.58
Original Verse: "एतत्तुमुद्रादशकं न भूतं न भविशयति । एकैकाभ्यासने सिद्धिः सिद्धो भवति नान्यथा ॥ ५८ ॥"
Transliteration: "etattumudrādaśakaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviśayati । ekaikābhyāsane siddhiḥ siddho bhavati nānyathā ॥ 58 ॥"
Translation: These are the ten Mudras whose equal there never was nor ever shall be; through the practice of any one of them, a person becomes a Siddha and obtains success.
The Essential Mudras and Bandhas for Yogis
Pramana: Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण
Apta Pramana Source: Goraksh Paddhati 1.57
Original Verse: "महामुद्रां नभोमुद्रां उड्डीयानं जलंधरम् । मूलबन्धञ्च यो वेत्ति स योगी मुक्तिभाजनः ॥ ५७ ॥"
Transliteration: "mahāmudrāṃ nabhomudrāṃ uḍḍīyānaṃ jalaṃdharam । mūlabandhañca yo vetti sa yogī muktibhājanaḥ ॥ 57 ॥"
Translation: The Yogin who knows the Mahâ-mudrâ, Nabho-mudrâ, Uddîyâna[-bandha], Jalandhara[-bandha], and Mûla-bandha partakes of liberation. (1.57)
Mudra Practice for Kundalini Awakening
Pramana: Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण
Apta Pramana Source: "Haṭhapradīpikā of Svātmārāma (Chapter 5, Verse 5)"
Original Verse: "तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन प्रबोह्दयितुम् - इश्वरीम् ॥ ब्र्हमद्वारमुखे सुप्तां मुद्राभ्यासेन बोधयेत् ॥ ५ ॥"
Transliteration: "tasmāt sarvaprayatnena prabohdayitum - iśvarīm ll brhamadvāramukhe suptāṃ mudrābhyāsena bodhayet ll 5 ll"
Translation: One should put all the efforts in practicing the mudrās to awaken īśvarī (kuṇḍalī), which lies dormant at the entrance of brahma-dvāra. 5
Mudra as a Way to Awaken the Kundalini
Pramana: Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण
Apta Pramana Source: Hatha Yoga Pradipika III.5
Original Verse: "तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन प्रबोधयितुमीश्वरीम्ब्र ह्मद्वारमुखे सुप्ताम् मुद्राभ्यासम् समाछरेत्"
Transliteration: "Tasmātsarvaprayatnena prabodhayitumīśvarīm | Brahmadvāramukhe suptām mudrābhyāsam samācharet ॥ 5 ॥"
Translation: In order, therefore, to awaken this goddess, who is sleeping at the entrance of Brahma Dwâra (the great door), mudrâs should be practised well.
Mudras for Success in Yoga
Pramana: Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण
Apta Pramana Source: Hatha Yoga Pradipika III.10
Original Verse: "अथ महामुद्रा महामुद्रा नभोमुद्रा उड्डियानं जालन्धरम् ॥ मूलबन्धं च यो वेत्ति स योगी सिद्धिभाजनम् ॥ ११ ॥ "
Transliteration: "atha mahāmudrā mahāmudrā nabhomudrā uḍḍiyānaṃ jālandharam ll mūlabandhaṃ ca yo vetti sa yogī siddhibhājanam ll 11 ll"
Translation: "A yogī, who is well versed with the practices of Mahāmudrā, Nabhomudrā, Uḍḍiyāna, Jālandhara and Mūlabandha, becomes eligible for the success (siddhis) in Yoga 11."
Power of Mudras Explained by Sadashiva (Eight Shaktis)
Pramana: Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण
Apta Pramana Source: Hatha Yoga Pradipika III.8
Original Verse: "अदिनाथोदितम् दिव्यमस्ह्तैश्वर्यप्रदायकम्व ल्लभम् सर्वसिद्धानाम् दुर्लभम् मरुतामपि ल्ल् ८ ल्ल्"
Transliteration: "Ādināthoditam divyamashtaiśvaryapradāyakam Vallabham sarvasiddhānām durlabham marutāmapi ll 8 ll"
Translation: "They have been explained by Adi Nâtha (Śiva) and give eight kinds of divine wealth. They are loved by all the Siddhas and are hard to attain even by the marts. Note: The eight Aiśwaryas are: Animâ becoming small like an atom. Mahimâ becoming great, like âkâs, by drawing in atoms of Prakriti Garimâ light things, like cotton becoming very heavy like mountain Prâpti coming within easy reach of everything; as touching the moon with the little finger, while standing on the earth Prâkâmya nonresistance to the desires, as entering the earth like water Îsatâ mastery over matter and objects made of it Vaśitwa controlling the animate and inanimate objects"
Asking Yogi to Keep These Mudras Secret
Pramana: Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण
Apta Pramana Source: Hatha Yoga Pradipika III.9
Original Verse: "घोपनीयम् प्रयत्नेन यथा रत्नकरन्दकम्क स्यछिन्नैव वक्तव्यम् कुलस्त्रीसुरतम् यथा"
Transliteration: "Ghopanīyam prayatnena yathā ratnakarandakam Kasyachinnaiva vaktavyam kulastrīsuratam yathā"
Translation: These mudrâs should be kept secret by every means, as one keeps one's box of jewellery, and should, on no account be told to any one, just as husband and wife keep their dealings secret.