hasta mudra is a hand gesture used in yoga and Indian religions that can be symbolic, ritualistic

and/or therapeutic. The term comes from the Sanskrit word, hasta, meaning “hand,” and mudra,
meaning “closure,” "mark” or “seal.”
Hasta mudras can be practiced seated, prone, standing or even walking, as long as the posture is
symmetrical and the body is relaxed. These mudras are often used to focus the mind in meditation
and to control the flow of energy during asana practice.

This is a list of Yoga mudras. In yoga, mudrās are used in conjunction with pranayama (yogic breathing
exercises), generally while seated in Padmasana, Sukhasana or Vajrasana pose, to stimulate different parts of
the body and mind, and to affect the flow of prana in the body.


 1Hasta (hand mudras)
 2Māna (head mudras)
 3Kaya (postural mudras)
 4Bandha (lock mudras)
 5Adhara (perineal mudras)
 6See also
 7References
 8Further reading
 9External links

Hasta (hand mudras)[edit]

Hasta mudras may be conducive for meditation, and help in internalization. Many hand mudrās
evolved for use in rituals, especially within tantra. Others developed as iconographical symbols
for depictions of deities in statues and paintings. Others were developed for non-verbal story
telling in traditional dance. In the Hevajra Tantra hand mudrās are used to identify oneself to the
goddesses at different holy sites.

Name in Other
Translation(s) in English Description
Sanskrit Meanings

Offering; Palms touching, fingers pointing upward. May be placed

Anjali Mudra Gesture of reverence
Prayer in front of the sternum, the forehead, or overhead.

Psychic gesture of
Dhyana Mudra
meditation

Vāyu Mudra Psychic gesture of air

Psychic gesture of void or

Shunya Mudra
empty
 Name in Other
Translation(s) in English Description
Sanskrit Meanings

Prithvi Mudra Psychic gesture of earth

Varuna Mudra Psychic gesture of Rain

Shakti Mudra Psychic gesture of power

Hand-steepling or finger-tenting: joining matching

Hakini Mudra
fingertips of right and left hands[1]

Psychic gesture to activate Tip of litte finger and ring finger touches thumb. Other
Prāna Mudra
life force energy two fingers are extended[2].

Apāna Mudra Psychic gesture of life force

Psychic gesture of
Gyana Mudra
knowledge

Psychic gesture of Tip of thumb and index finger touching. Middle, ring
Chin Mudra
consciousness and little finger extended.

Chinmaya Pervaded by consciousness

Mudra mudrā

Attitude of the womb or

Yoni Mudra
source

Bhairav Mudra Fierce or terrifying attitude

Hridaya Mudra Heart gesture

Vishnu Mudra Hand gesture of Lord Vishnu

Thumb, ring and little finger extended. Index and
 Name in Other
Translation(s) in English Description
Sanskrit Meanings

middle finger touching pad of thumb.

Māna (head mudras)[edit]

Māna mudras are an important part of Kundalini yoga, and many are important meditation
techniques in their own right.

Name in Sanskrit Translation(s) in English Other Meanings Illustration

Shambhavi Mudra Eyebrow centre gazing with eyes half-open

Nasikagra Drishti Nosetip gazing

Khechari Mudra Tongue lock

Kaki mudra The crow's beak

Bhujangini Mudra Cobra respiration

Bhoochari Mudra Gazing into nothingness

Akashi mudra Awareness of inner space

Shanmukhi mudra Closing the six gates

Unmani Mudra The attitude of mindlessness

Kaya (postural mudras)[edit]

Kaya mudras combine physical postures with breathing and concentration.
 Name in Sanskrit Translation(s) in English Other Meanings Illustration

Prana Mudra Energy (breath) seal

Vipareeta Karani Mudra Inverted seal

Yoga Mudra Union mudra

Pashinee Mudra Folded mudra

Manduki Mudra Gesture of the frog

Tadagi Mudra Barrelled abdomen technique

Bandha (lock mudras)[edit]

Bandha mudras are a type of mudra performed on the three diaphragms (respiratory, vocal, and
pelvic). They are used in conjunction with holding the breath (kumbhaka) during pranayama.

Name in Sanskrit Translation(s) in English Other Meanings Illustration

Maha Mudra Great mudra

Uddiyana Bandha Upward flying lock

Mula Bandha Root lock

Jalandhara Bandha Throat lock, waterholder lock, net lock

Adhara (perineal mudras)[edit]

Adhara mudras are performed on the pelvic floor area and often relate to harnessing sexual
energy.
 Name in Sanskrit Translation(s) in English Other Meanings Illustration

Ashwini Mudra Horse gesture[3]

Vajroli/Sahajoli Mudra Thunderbolt/Spontaneous mudra

Maha Bheda Mudra The great separating mudra

Maha Vedha Mudra The great piercing mudra