Meditation Finger Positions
1. GYAN MUDRA – FOR WISDOM
Other names: Vaayu Vardhak Mudra (Vaayu – air, Vardhak – to enhance)
Gesture: Touch together the tips of index finger with that of the thumb
Benefits:

Increases the air element within the body

Boosts enthusiasm, initiativeness and creative thinking

Enhances cognitive process and memory

Great tool to ward of drowsiness, lethargy and mental retardation
Ideal time for practice: anytime
Special Note: This is the ideal position for yogis who wish to meditate and seek withdrawal from material world.
2. VAAYU MUDRA – FOR CALMNESS
Other names: Vaayu Shaamak Mudra (Vaayu – air, Shaamak – to suppress)
Gesture: Place the tip of index finger at the base of the thumb and thumb upon this finger ( at the first phalangeal joint), gently
pressing it
Benefits:

Decreases the air element within the body

Calms a restless and anxious mind

Pacifies overactive hormonal and nervous system

Good for aggressive, hyperactive people, or those with issues of limited attention span
Ideal time for practice: anytime
Our second element is Ether or space, which is mostly considered inactive due to its subtleness. It governs the collective
consciousness of a yogi and enables it to resonate with the cosmos. The associated chakra with this element is the fifth
chakra, Visuddha.
3. AAKASH MUDRA – FOR LIGHTNESS
Other names: Aakash Vardhak Mudra (Aakash – space,Vardhak – to enhance)
Gesture: Touch together the tips of middle finger with that of the thumb
Benefits:

Increases the space element within the body

Relieves mind from negative worrisome thoughts and emotions like fear, sorrow and anger

Detoxifies body from metabolic wastes

Ideal for those who suffer from congestion issues (post-meal, in the head/sinuses, ear, or chest)
Ideal time for practice: anytime, 2-6 am/pm gives best results
Special Note: Those with light, swift, and agile body should do it in moderation (not more than 30 minutes a day)
Meditation Finger Positions
4. SHUNYA MUDRA – FOR PAIN RELIEF
Other names: Aakash Shaamak Mudra (Aakash – space, Shaamak – to suppress)
Gesture: Place the tip of middle finger at the base of the thumb and thumb upon this finger ( at the first phalangeal joint),
gently pressing it
Benefits:

Decreases the space element within the body

Helpful in disorders of the ear like acute pain, impaired hearing, tinnitus, nausea, travel sickness, etc.

Aids in warding off the feeling of severe numbness in body parts like head, chest, etc.

Suitable for people having a pronounced Vata constitution
Ideal time for practice: anytime
Special Note: Though it can be practiced anytime, performing this mudra in case of acute ear-pain, vertigo or numbness is
recommended, but should be discontinued when the problem subsides.
Next in the series is the Earth element which governs the body’s physical constitution including bones and tissues, with special
effect on the nose (smell). Simultaneously, we’ll discuss the Fire element too. It controls the growth, glands, metabolism and
temperature aspects of the body.Although, earth and fire mudras produce quite opposite effects on the body, they have their
separate energy chakras. The associated chakra for earth is the first chakra, Muladhara, but for earth it is the third
one, Manipura.
5. PRITHVI MUDRA – FOR STRENGTH
Other names: Prithvi Vardhak Mudra (Prithvi – earth,Vardhak – to enhance), Agni Shaamak Mudra (Agni – Fire, Shaamak – to
suppress)
Gesture: Touch together the tips of ring finger with that of the thumb
Benefits:

Increases the earth element while decreasing the fire element within the body

Boosts new tissue growth, muscle building and healing process

Relieves from fatigue and helpful in case of brittle bones, hair, nails, and dry skin by enhancing strength, vitality and
endurance

Regulates metabolic process and body temperature, thus ideal for skinny people and those who suffer from frequent
fever, inflammation, ulcers, etc.
Ideal time for practice: anytime
6. SURYA MUDRA – FOR WEIGHT LOSS
Other names: Prithvi Shaamak Mudra (Prithvi – earth,Shaamak – to suppress), Agni Vardhak Mudra (Agni – fire, Vardhak – to
enhance)
Gesture: Place the tip of ring finger at the base of the thumb and thumb upon this finger ( at the first phalangeal joint), gently
pressing it
Benefits:

Increases the fire element while decreasing the earth element within the body
Meditation Finger Positions

Beneficial in general abnormally low body temperature as well as in shivering due to cold

Ideal for people with suppressed thyroid activity, progressive weight gain, indigestion, constipation or loss of appetite

Helps in absence of sweating of vision problems
Ideal time for practice: anytime
Special Note: Practicing more than 30 minutes at stretch can overheat the body.
The fifth and final element constituting our body is water, which constitutes more than 70% of the human body. Hence, it
influences tissues, joints, skin, tongue, and taste. The corresponding energy chakra is the second chakra, Swadhisthana.
7. VARUN MUDRA – FOR MOISTURIZATION
Other names: Jal Vardhak Mudra (Jal – water, Vardhak– to enhance)
Gesture: Touch together the tips of little finger with that of the thumb
Benefits:

Increases the water element within the body

Helpful in painful joints, arthritis, scanty body secretions and loss of taste sensation

Those who suffer from deficiency of hormones or cramps and general dehydration can benefit immensely from this
mudra

Great for people with dry skin, hair, eyes, eczema, digestive system (mouth, throat, indigestion, constipation), etc.
Ideal time for practice: anytime
Special Note: People with problems of water retention should avoid this mudra.
8. JAL SHAAMAK MUDRA – FOR STABILITY
Other names: Jal Shaamak Mudra (Jal – water, Shaamak– to suppress)
Gesture: Place the tip of little finger at the base of the thumb and thumb upon this finger (at the first phalangeal joint), gently
pressing it
Benefits:

Decreases the water element within the body

Beneficial in excessive salivation, runny nose, watery eyes, sweaty palms, etc.

Good for those with complain of excessive glandular secretion or hyperacidity

Helps with edema or water retention
Ideal time for practice: anytime
Meditation Finger Positions
GYAN MUDRA (1)
VAAYU MUDRA (2)
AAKASH MUDRA (3)
SHUNYA MUDRA (4)
PRITHVI MUDRA (5)
SURYA MUDRA (6)
VARUN MUDRA (7)
JAL SHAAMAK MUDRA (8)