Gyan Mudra is one of the easiest mudras for anyone to start experiencing the benefits of Mudras.
Mudras are positions of the fingers which create connections in the life force energy, or prana in your body.
It not only affects the energy in the body but benefits your physical and mental health in a myriad of ways. Each mudra has different effects and healing capacities. Some even have mystical powers. Mudras have been seen and recorded since ages in statues and images of saints and dancers.
The science of mudras has many different effects and different interpretations from different teachers but here we cover the basics.
As per Ayurveda the universe and everything in it including the human body is made up of five elements: earth, air, fire, water, and ether or space. These elements constitute everything that is seen and unseen around us.
Each person is made of Doshas. Doshas are also made of a combination of these elements which then again drive our personality and health.
Then there is the life force energy flowing through everything seen and unseen. This energy is called Prana.
Each of five fingers of our hand has prana flowing through and works as an antenna connecting to each of the elements
- Thumb – Fire
- Index finger – Air
- Middle finger – Ether / Space
- Ring finger – Earth
- Little finger- Water
In addition to the elements, your fingers can also connect you to the energy of different planets or chakras.
Gyan Mudra is one of the simplest hand mudras and the most popular among both yoga and buddhist meditation practitioners. It is also called by several other names, including Jnana mudra, Dhyan mudra, or Vayu-vardhak mudra. It is known as the mudra of wisdom, consciousness, and knowledge.
You can use it while you practice various asanas by placing your hands in this energetic seal. It can be easily held in the pocket when you want to invoke the energy of gyan mudra while you walk or sit.
To practice gyan mudra, simply bring the tips of your thumbs and the tips of your index fingers together. Relax all your other fingers outwards
If you are seated, place the back of your palms on your knees with the fingers facing upwards. This will connect you to celestial wisdom. But if you place the same finger position with your palms facing downwards, it has a more grounding effect. You may also face your palm outwards to project wisdom onto others.
It is best to begin practicing mudras with your meditation. This helps you to be present with yourself and the subtle energies that are affected by the seal.
Hold the Gyan Mudra for 10 minutes in silence, close the eyes, be seated in meditation, daily. You can begin with 1-3 minutes and slowly increase till you can hold for 10 minutes or longer.
Benefits of Gyan Mudra:
Gyan mudra has various benefits on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health:
- Brings awareness of the Connection between the Individual Self with the Universal Self. The thumb denotes the energies of the supremes soul or the universal self the index finger denotes the energies of the individual. This mudra reminds us of this union this connection which already exists. It makes us aware of this connection
- Balances and stimulates Muladhara Chakra. The Muladhara chakra, or root chakra, is the first of the seven higher human chakras. It gives you a sense of connection to both your animalistic, instinctual nature, and also your capacity as a human for conscious evolution. The Gyan mudra, gives you stability, security, and grounding in reality and balances this Chakra.
- Reduces the Distractions and fluctuations Arising in the Mind. Though simple and very popular, the Gyan mudra helps beginners by giving the anchor and stability to the mind during meditation. It allows one to be a silent observer to the numerous thoughts that come and go and prevents us from getting carried away with each thought. It helps in improving concentration focus. It also helps in insomnia, migraines, and enhances memory and retention. It will help sharpen your brain for mental and spiritual clarity. It helps give relief and healing for epileptic patients and bipolar patients.
- Helps ascension in Spirituality. The Lord Buddha and Lord Krishna are associated with the Purna Gyan Mudra, a variation of gyan mudra. In Purna Gyan Mudra, the finger positions are the same, but one hand is held in front of your heart instead of both resting on your knees. Stories say that Lord Buddha attained enlightenment while holding this mudra. Lord Krishna used the same mudra when he gave Gita updesh to Arjuna. It has been said Lord Rama also practiced this Mudra often.
- Activates and Balances the Air Element. In this mudra the thumb is the fire element which seals with the air element which is the index finger. In Ayurveda, these are called pita and vata, respectively. This connection creates a closed loop which allows the energies to circulate in your system rather than dissipate in nature. This helps to increase the air element in your body which leads to better mental health.
- Alleviates Tension and Depression. This mudra balances and activates the vata Dosha, this helps relieve tension, anxiety and depression, the feeling of being Rigid and unable to move forward caused due to imbalance of Vata. As per Ayurveda, vata dominant people are floaty, comfortable, and a bit spacey (due to the air element).
- Soothes Emotions like Anger. Many Asian traditional healing systems believe that stagnant air in your system causes imbalances and disease when unblocked and allowed to flow freely the air and energy is healthy and rejuvenating. By activating the air element with fire through gyan mudra, you help facilitate this flow which will also purify your body from stagnant negative emotions like anger and depression.
- It Cleanses the Aura and Prana. In Ayurveda, vata is the dosha which controls the remaining four doshas. Balancing your dosha, which you are born with but is also affected by other factors like age and and diet, cleanses your entire system — physical and energetic. When the Prana flowing through your system is balanced and cleansed, it becomes more powerful. This will help you be more energetic and reach the full potential of your life force.
- Chakra Healing. The Gyan Mudra is one of the best for chakra healing because it begins by activating the root chakra which provides stability and cleansing for the rest of the chakras in the route of energy meridians. As it is the mudra of wisdom, consciousness, and knowledge, it also activates your Ajna (Third Eye) and Sahasrara (Crown) chakras.
- Heals Various Disorders. In yoga, Apana Vayu, or the downward movement of wind in your system, is important for detoxification. Because this mudra activates the air element in your body, your Apana Vayu also becomes more efficient. Gyan mudra effectively supports your health by helping with endocrine (hormonal) discorders, nervous system disorders, and muscular disorders.
One suggested practice is to use gyan mudra right after meals to avoid the reverse motion of Apana Vayu (through burping) and allow your digestive system to eliminate waste properly.
Contraindication
Gyan mudra is powerful in activating vata in your system. Therefore it is not recommended for those who have a vata-dominant dosha or vata imbalance. Too much air element in your system can throw you into a nervous overload. Makes one forgetful, you put yourself into million tasks at once making it difficult to complete any or even makes you hesitant to put yourself forward to take up any tasks.
Practice this mudra preferably while sitting quietly and in meditation while focusing on your breath to get its entire benefit.
It helps activate the air element in your body helps detoxification, and a smooth flow and balance of prana, it brings about clarity of mind and deepens your spiritual practice.