A mudra is a hand position that locks or seals and guides energy flow to the brain. Hands represent an energy map of our consciousness relative to our health. Over thousands of years, yogi's mapped the hand areas and the associated reflexes. Each area of the hand connects to various parts of the body or brain, associating mudra's with emotions and behaviours. Hand positions relate to planetary energy and the quality that each planet represents, like typing on a keyboard, different positions represents different outputs.
When meditating with a mudra, exert enough pressure to feel the flow of energy, but not enough to whiten the fingertips.
Gyan Mudra (passive)
How: The fingernail of the index finger is pressed into the first thumb joint Effect: Stimulates knowledge, wisdom, receptivity, and calmness. Planet: Jupiter; expansion.
Gyan Mudra (active)
How: Touch the pad of the thumb to the nail of the index finger. The other three fingers are straight. The active mudra is stronger than the passive mudra.
Effect: Stimulates knowledge, wisdom, receptivity, and calmness. Planet: Jupiter; expansion.
Shuni Mudra
How: Touch the tip of the middle (second) finger and the tip of the thumb together. The other three fingers are straight. Effect: Promotes patience, discernment, and commitment. Planet: Saturn; task master, taking responsibility, and courage to hold to duty.
Surya or Ravi Mudra
(Seal of Sun, Life) How: Touch the tip of the ring (third) finger and the tip of thumb together. The other three fingers are straight. Effect: Revitalizing energy, nerve strength, and good health. Planet: Sun; energy, health, and sexuality.
Buddhi Mudra
(Seal of Mental Clarity)
How: Touch the tip of the little (fourth) finger and the tip of thumb together. The other three fingers are straight. Effect: Creates capacity to clearly and intuitively communicate, stimulates psychic development. Planet: Mercury; quickness, mental powers of communication.
Prayer Pose
(Pranam Mudra)
How: The palms of both hands and fingers are completely touching. The outer edge of the mound of the thumb is pressed into the sternum.
Effect: Balances the positive side of the body (right, sun, masculine) with the negative side (left, moon, feminine).
© 2010 The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan, KRI International Teacher Training Manual Level I, p.105