33 Overview Article International Journal of Science and Consciousness Access online at: www.ijsc.net August 2016, 2(3), 33-41 Theory and Practice of Hastha Yoga Dr. K. V. Raghupathi Sr. Assistant Professor in English, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, India Abstract Hastha Yoga is an integral part of Hatha Yoga. It is translated as Yoga in Hands. Fingers and palm are connected with various vital organs of the body. Manipulating and massaging the fingers and palm the internal organs can be revitalized and several chronic ailments can be cured. This is done by performing Mudras with fingers and hands.Mudra is a mystic position of the hands, a seal, or even a symbol. Mudras in Natya express emotions and feelings while in Yoga they are used to channel the stream of flow of energy in body. Mudras depict certain states or processes of consciousness that they symbolize. They have a therapeutic value and specific effect on the practitioner, can influence the energy at physical, emotional and spiritual levels. We can effectively engage and influence our body and our mind by bending, crossing, extending, stretching and touching the fingers with other fingers. Mudras can be performed while doing Pranyama or meditation. Important Mudras have been discussed and their significance in terms of benefits on body and mind. The paper however does not discuss the mudras performed while doing asanas as mentioned in Yogic Texts, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita, Shiva Samhita and Tirumandiram. Key words: Hastha Mudra, Mystic symbol, Pranayama, Meditation, Therapeutic Value Article Received: 08-08-2016, Published: 10-09-2016 Conflict of interest: None declared *Corresponding Author: Dr. K. V. Raghupathi, Sr. Assistant Professor in English, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Neelakudi campus, Thiruvarur – 610 101; Email: [email protected] International Journal of Science and Consciousness (IJSC): a Bio-Psycho-Spiritual approach Published by the Research Foundation for Science & Consciousness, Uttarakhand, India Copyright IJSC 2016 | August 2016 | Vol. 2 | No. 3 | Pages 33-41 eISSN: 2455-2038 An international, refereed, quarterly, open access, multidisciplinary, e-journal 34 Theory and Practice of Hastha Yoga Kriyas, Asanas, Bandhas and Mudras: Hence mudra means gestures that produce joy Distinction and happiness. In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism mudras are extensively used during Before I take you into hastha yoga, I would like to meditation and blessing. Mudra is a term with clarify the differences of the important key terms many meanings. It is a mystic position of the Kriyas, Asanas, Bandhas and Mudras. Kriyas are hands, a seal, or even a symbol. Mudras depict cleansing processes. They are part of Hatha certain states or processes of consciousness that Yoga. Gheranda in his treatise Gheranda Samhita they symbolize. They have a specific effect on the recognizes seven such preparatory practices practitioner; can influence the energy at physical, before performing Asanas. They are: dhauti emotional and spiritual levels. We can effectively consisting of cleansing the teeth, tongue, ears, engage and influence our body and our mind by throat, stomach, intestinal tract and rectum; bending, crossing, extending, stretching and vasti consisting in contracting and dilating the touching the fingers with other fingers.These are sphincter muscle to cure constipation; netiis known as Mudras are integral part of Indian inserting a thin thread or rubber tube into the classical dances. Without mudras, natya is nostrils to remove rheum; nauli a technique of incomplete, unemotional, and crooked. Bharata rotating the abdominal muscles to massage the in his treatise, the Natya Sastra describes 24 inner organs; trataka a relaxed gazing at a small mudras, while Abhinaya Dharpana of Natya object, such as the flame or candle or a lamp, Keshvara identifies 28 mudras. There are 28 (or which is thought to stabilize the mind and cure 32) root mudras in Bharata Natyam, 24 in certain eye diseases; and kapalabhati a breathing Kathakali and 20 in Odissi. These mudras in technique and the practice of drawing up water natya express inner emotions and feelings. through the nostrils and expelling it through the mouth or sippingit and then expelling it through Mudras in Yogic Texts: the nasal passages, which is thought to rid the body of rheum. Asanasare body postures. Mudras in yoga are found in Hatha Yoga. The Patanjali has never dealt with so many asanas classical sources for the Mudras in Yoga are that are in practice now. These were developed Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita, Shiva by Svami Svatamarama(15 the Century), a Samhita, and Tirumandiram.Gheranda Samhita is disciple of Goraknath in his treatise, Hatha Yoga the most encyclopaedic of all the root texts of Pradipika, Gheranda in his Gheranda Samhita (17 Hatha Yoga.In the third chapter in the text the Century), Shiva samhita(18 the Century) and Gheranda teaches twenty five mudras after of late Srinivasa bhatta Mahayogaindra in describing six types of cleansing techniques in Hatharatnavalli. Patanjali has never mentioned the first chapter by which purification is about and discussed asanas in his treatise Sutras. achieved, and thirty two asanas in the second In fact, he defines asana as sthira sukham chapter by which strength is attained. The asanamin Sadhana Pada(2. 46), steady and twenty five mudras include: Mahamudra, comfortable posture is asanam. Bandhas are Nobhomudra, Uddiyabna, Jalandhra, Mulabandha, body locks. Specific bandhas are Mula Bandha, Mahabandha, Mahavedha, Khechari, Uddiyana Bandha, Jalandhara Bandha and Maha Viparitakarani, Yoni, Vajroli, Shaktichalani, Bandha. These are performed while doing Tadagi, Mandukimudra, Shambhavi, and the five Pranayama. dharanas, Ashvini, Pashini, Kaki, Matani and Bhujangini. In the text Lord Shiva instructs Mudra: It’s Origin Goddess Parvati on the mudras and says that by practising these mudras, the Yogi becomes an What is Mudra? Mudra is a Sanskrit word adept. It gives great happiness and bliss to the containing ‘mud’ meaning joy and ‘ra’ produce. Yogi. Copyright IJSC 2016 | August 2016 | Vol. 2 | No. 3 | Pages 33-41 eISSN: 2455-2038 An international, refereed, quarterly, open access, multidisciplinary, e-journal 35 Hatha Yoga Pradipika, written by Svatmarama in is freed from all sins, he is not bound by alcohol, the fifteenth century is yet another classic text on stealing, sleeping with his guru’s wife or killing Hatha Yoga. In this text, in chapter three, ten his guru. mudras are described. These are Mahamudra, Mahabhanda, Maha Vedha, Khechari, Udiyana In the third chapter of Tirumandiram written by Bandha, Mula Bandha, Jalandhara Bandha, the Siddha Tirumular, it is said that the practice Viprita Karani, Vajroli, and Shakti Chalana. These of Sambhavi mudra and Kechari mudra lead the mudras are performed not only to annihilate old Yogi to the state of Samadhi. Also these mudras age and death bur also awaken Kudnalini. By give youthfulness; graying of hair and wrinkling performing these mudras eight Aiswarikas are of the skin disappears. Mudras are also attained. They are: Anima (becoming small, like mentioned in the Upanishads. The important an atom), Mahima (becoming great, like akas, by mudras discussed in the Upanishads are Jnana drawing in atoms of prakriti), Garima (light Mudra and Chin Mudra.In the Maitryani things, like cotton becoming very heavy like Upanishad a reference is made to Nabo mudra mountains), Prapti (coming within easy reach of and Kechari mudra. By practicing these two everything; as touching the moon with the little mudras one can realize Brahman, the Ultimate finger, while standing on the earth), Prakamya Reality. (non-resistance to the desires, as entering the earth like water), Isata (mastery over matter and The subject of mudras however is not directly objects made of it) and Vasitwa (controlling the dealt with by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. These animate and inanimate objects). Mudras along Sutras mostly deal with the theory of Yoga, while withasanas are employed statically in meditation Gheranda Samhita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and and dynamically in Natya practice. It is said that Tirumandiram with the practical aspects of Yoga. the practice of mudras lead to awakening of the Kundalini Shakti. Adhinatha (Shiva) declares that Mudras: their Nature and Symbolic through practice of mudras, the Yogi attains all Significance: the siddhis or occult powers (eight supernatural powers). Benefits of such mudras are also Mudras in Hatha yoga are performed while doing discussed in the text. For example Mahamudra Pranayamaand meditation, in sitting position. cures consumption, enlargement of spleen, Hence they are described as static and prolonged indigestion and fever, removes decay and fear of unlike in classical dances where mudras are death; Nabomudra corrects all problems in the performed to convey symbolically emotions and body and cures all diseases; Kechari prevents feelings. In meditation they are constant, the ageing, fills the body with divine nectar (amrita) more they are prolonged the more the effect and is used to attain higher states of would be upon mind and body. consciousness – Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi and awakens Kundalini. Originally mudras were used in rituals and yajnas in Vedic times. Slowly they were Shiva Samhita text whose authorship is unknown absorbed into meditation since the effects felt discusses, eleven mudrasin chapter four.These upon body and mind was more pronounced. All are used in awakening of Kudalini. The eleven Hindu Gods and Goddesses have some form of mudras are: Mahamudra, Mahabhanda, Maha mudras. The most important and popular mudra Vedha, Khechari, Udiyana Bandha, Mula Bandha, among Hindu Gods and Goddesses areAbhaya Jalandhara Bandha, Viprita Karani, Vijroli, mudra and Varada mudra, the former represents Yoniand Shakti Chalana. Of these Yoni mudra is protection and freedom from fear, and the latter powerful, and not found in other Yogic texts. By forgiveness and mercy. It is estimated that there applying this mudra, the Yogi obtains mastery of are 400 mudras, with 75 being important and of whatever he utters in the form of mantra, them 12 are most important.