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Order IV · Seals of the Elements
Apana Vayu Mudra
अपान वायु मुद्रा · apāna vāyu mudrā · Σφραγὶς τῆς Σωτηρίας
Also: Apan Vayu Mudra, Lifesaver; Hridaya Mudra
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The seal of the heart. The finger of air is folded under the thumb while middle and ring fingers join it.
- Meaning
- Seal of the Heart (the Lifesaver)
- Tradition
- Indian mudra therapy (Keshav Dev); Hridaya Mudra in the Bihar School
- Hands
- Both hands, same form
- Placement
- Hands resting on the thighs.
- Associations
- Heart.
- Level
- Beginner
Formation
- Bend the index finger so its tip touches the ball of the thumb.
- At the same time join the tips of the middle and ring fingers to the tip of the thumb.
- Extend the little finger.
- Form the same seal with the other hand.
Example Meditation
Rest the hands on the thighs in the seal. Breathe gently into the heart and let it settle. The seal supports and calms the heart and helps the soul through times of change.
Effects
PhysicalΣῶμα
- The heart. After Keshav Dev it is called the lifesaver and given at the first signs of a heart attack; it regulates many heart complaints and strengthens the heart.
EmotionalΘυμός
- Calming the heart. In the Bihar School the same form, Hridaya Mudra, is the seal of the heart.
IntellectualΝοῦς
- Change of life. Joined to a rethinking of lifestyle for the heart's sake.
SoulΨυχή
- Heart centre. The heart is restored as the centre of the person.
AscentἈνάβασις
- Σωτηρία. Salvation in the oldest sense: the preservation of life. The heart kept whole carries the soul upward.
Finger Key
| Finger | Element | Right hand |
|---|---|---|
| Thumb | Fire | joins the middle finger; joins the ring finger |
| Index | Air | rests on the ball of the thumb |
| Middle | Aether | joins the thumb |
| Ring | Earth | joins the thumb |
| Little | Water | extended |
Cautions and Variants
Caution. A heart attack is a medical emergency: the seal accompanies emergency care and does not replace it.
Variants. Identical in form to Hridaya Mudra of the Bihar School (Satyananda).
Recommended for Every Zevist Library
Gertrud Hirschi, Mudras: Yoga in Your Hands
The standard practical manual of the hand seals, with their indications and meditations. The Temple of Zeus recommends it as a purchase for every Zevist library, personal or communal.