No. 49one hand
Vishnu Mudra
Leads the breath in turn through the solar and lunar channels and settles the mind.
4 min read
Temple of Zeus · Meditation · Mudras
Mudras: Intermediary
The seals of this level work on the soul and the mind. In meditation each one is joined to the breath and held in focus.
Using the Seals
- 1
Form the seal and let the breath settle before anything else.
- 2
Join the seal to a breath: the Complete Breath, or the Sun/Moon Breath for the seals of the nostrils.
- 3
Keep the attention on one point: the contact of the fingers, the breath, or the centre the seal serves.
Example: Chinmaya Mudra with the Complete Breath
- 1
Sit upright and rest the hands on the thighs in Chinmaya Mudra.
- 2
Practise the Complete Breath, filling the abdomen, then the middle of the chest, then the upper chest.
- 3
Hold the attention on the middle of the chest, where the seal directs the breath.
- 4
Let the breath return to its own rhythm and remain in the stillness that follows.
The 25 Seals
Seals of the Breath
The instruments of the breath itself. They direct the current through the nostrils, the chest and the whole body, and give rhythm to the mind.
5 seals
No. 50one hand
Nasikagra Mudra
Holds the awareness at the eyebrow centre through the whole breathing practice.
No. 51each hand
Chinmaya Mudra
Turns the breath into a conscious object; steadiness and a mind pervaded by awareness.
No. 52two hands
Brahma Mudra
Unified attention: belly, chest and head filled in one movement; it revitalises.
No. 54each hand
Dynamic Mudra
Rhythm calms and trains the mind; the 4 syllables are read as birth, life, death and rebirth.
Seals of Will
Fire. The seals of courage, trust and the sovereign I. They dissolve fear and timidity and set firm boundaries.
6 seals
No. 25one hand
Abhaya Mudra
Freedom from fear: a first help in frightening situations and the opening of a longer work on its cause.
No. 24two hands
Vajrapradama Mudra
Trust in the Divine as the foundation of self-confidence; inner strength against doubt.
Seals of Intellect and Memory
Air. The seals of memory, clarity, insight, purpose and the spoken teaching.
5 seals
No. 31two hands
Kalesvara Mudra
Slows the flood of thoughts and widens the gaps between them; clarity, change of character, mastery of addictive patterns.
No. 34two hands
Naga Mudra
Deeper insight: answers on meaning, the future and the path; resolve in decisions.
Seals of Feeling
Water. The seals that release, forgive, open, restore and transform what the heart carries.
6 seals
No. 22two hands
Ksepana Mudra
Releases tension and the negative energy taken in from others; spent energy returns to the Earth.
No. 20two hands
Padma Mudra
Restores those who feel drained, misunderstood or alone; goodwill and communication.
No. 17two hands
Pushpaputa Mudra
Openness against apathy and fear; receiving what is given and radiating it.
No. 21two hands
Shivalinga Mudra
Against dejection and listlessness: the old is ground into new material.
Seals of Consciousness and Polarity
Earth, which holds the other 3. The seals that ground consciousness, join the two polarities and raise the creative current.
3 seals
No. 29two hands
Bhumisparsha Mudra
Grounding and steadfastness under pressure; the unity of the self and the world.
No. 53two hands
Venus Lock
Channels sexual energy, joins the 2 polarities and strengthens concentration.
No. 56two hands
Ushas Mudra
Gathers the creative energy of the sacral chakra and sends it upward; alertness and new impulse.
From the Temple's Meditation Section
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.