Pranayama Mudras

For Mahat Kapalabhati Kriya

Center of Timeless Being • www.nondual.org
Richard Miller, PhD
P.O. Box 1673 • Sebastopol, CA 95473 • (707) 876-3380

Mudra Technique Effect

Kanishta Prana Nadi Bring the tips of the thumbs and forefingers Activates the lower abdomen
Mudra together in Chin Mudra. Keep the other and back and the lower lobes
or fingers completely straight and turn the of the lungs.
Chin Mudra palms facedown onto the thighs.

Madhyama Prana Nadi With the tips of the thumbs and forefingers Activates the middle chest and
Mudra touching, turn the fingertips into the center of back and the middle lobes of
or the palms. Maintain a gentle pressure of the the lungs.
Chinmaya Mudra fingernails into the palms. Keep the hands
facedown on the thighs.
Jyeshtha Prana Nadi Place the thumbs into the middle of the palms Activates the upper chest and
Mudra and wrap the fingers around the thumbs with back and the upper lobes of the
or a steady, gentle pressure. Place the hands lungs.
Adi Mudra facedown onto the thighs.

Poorna Prana Nadi With thumbs tucked inside the palms with the Activates the entire torso, front
Mudra fingers wrapped around the thumbs, turn the and back and the upper,
or fists so that the knuckles of both hands touch middle and lower lobes of the
Brahma Mudra together. The base of the thumb knuckles face lungs.
forward and the edge of the hand and little
fingers touch against the abdomen around the area
just below the level of the navel. Relax the arms, shoulders and
shoulderblades.
Adho Merudanda Raise the thumb straight out from the hands Energy comes into the base
Mudra and curl the fingers into the palm. Maintain a and lower third of the spinal
gentle pressure of the finger nails into the column and lower chakras.
palms. Place the hands palm-down on the
thighs. The tips of the thumbs turn in to face
each other.
Merudanda Mudra Raise the thumb straight out from the hands Energy comes into the middle
and curl the fingers into the palms. Maintain a third of the spinal column and
gentle pressure of the fingernails into the middle chakras.
palms. The medial part of the palms rest on
the thighs. The tips of the thumbs face
upward.
Urdhva Merudanda Raise the thumb straight out from the hands Activates the upper third of the
Mudra and curl the fingers into the palms. Maintain spinal column and upper
a gentle pressure of the finger nails into the chakras.
palms. The back of the hands rest on the
thighs. The thumbs face outward, away from
each other.
Shraddha Prana Kriya Place the tips of the thumb and forefingers Slows respiration and brings
Mudra together. Keep the little, ring and middle attention into the front brain
fingers extended straight. Palms face upward centers.
and rest on the knees or thighs.
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Mudra Technique Effect

Medha Prana Kriya The tip of the forefingers touch the middle Slows respiration; activates the
Mudra joint of the thumbs. Palms face upward and discriminative centers of
rest on the knees or thighs. Keep the little, higher wisdom in the brain.
ring and middle fingers extended straight.

Prajna Prana Kriya The tips of the forefingers touch the first joint Slows respiration. Witness
Mudra at the base of the thumbs. Keep the little, ring consciousness unfolds. The
and middle fingers extended straight. Palms entire brain relaxes.
face upward and rest on the knees or thighs.

Vishnu Mudra The index (air) and middle finger (sky or ether) touch the base of Relaxes respiratory center,
the thumb (fire or energy). The thumb, ring and little fingers are calms the mind, induces
Gesture of Vishnu extended and held straight. meditation. Used to control
nostrils during pranayama.
Dhyana Mudra 1 The right hand resting on the left Brings breath and prana into
signifies worldly consciousness and the heart chakra. Slows
Gesture of Meditation supported by spiritual understanding. respiration and deepens
After performing Prajna Prana Kriya meditative insight.
Mudra, keep the fingers in position and simply slide the right
hand into and on top of the left hand. The knuckles of the index
fingers will touch as will tips of the thumbs.
Dhyana Mudra 2 Slide the index fingers and touch the tips Brings breath and prana into
of the thumbs to form two unbroken the lower breathing space.
Gesture of Meditation circles. Slows respiration and
‘grounds’ the body for deep
meditation.
Dhyana Mudra 3 Slide the index fingers down so only the Brings breath and prana into
tips of the thumbs are touching. The the whole body. Slows
Gesture of Meditation thumbs now form an unbroken circle respiration. Opens awareness
which represents the ‘perfection of spiritual into the akasa, space vayu.
understanding’ as the circle is perfect in form and infinite in Brings multi-dimensional
shape. awareness into the foreground.

Pranayama Mûdras - Richard C. Miller • Center of Timeless Being • www.nondual.org