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Order II · Seals of Theurgy and Invocation
Shivalinga Mudra
शिवलिङ्ग मुद्रा · śivaliṅga mudrā · Σφραγὶς τῆς Στήλης τοῦ Σίβα
Also: Shiva Linga
21
The upright right fist stands in the bowl of the left hand: masculine force set in the receiving vessel.
- Meaning
- Seal of the Pillar of Shiva
- Tradition
- Shaiva symbolism
- Hands
- Both hands, stacked
- Placement
- At the level of the abdomen.
- Associations
- Water element: the outer edge of the hand and the palm; the thumb as an inflow of energy.
- Level
- Intermediary
Formation
- Shape the left hand like a bowl, palm up, fingers held close together.
- Make a fist with the right hand and extend the thumb upward.
- Place the right fist, thumb up, on top of the left bowl.
- Hold the hands at the level of the abdomen, elbows pointing outward and slightly forward.
Example Meditation
Rest the left hand as a bowl at the level of the abdomen with the right fist upon it, thumb raised. Breathe deeply and feel strength rising through the upright thumb. The seal supports recovery from exhaustion and dejection and carries the force of transformation.
Effects
PhysicalΣῶμα
- Recovery. For tiredness and for the drained state after long tension or strain; it helps the healing process wherever the illness lies.
EmotionalΘυμός
- Against dejection. For dissatisfaction, listlessness and depression; also for anxious waiting, such as waiting for a doctor's findings.
IntellectualΝοῦς
- Transformation. The visualization of mortar (left) and pestle (right) grinds the old into new material.
SoulΨυχή
- Shiva's force. The upright right hand is the masculine force of Shiva, destruction and transformation; the left bowl receives it.
AscentἈνάβασις
- The pillar. The linga is the axis of the world. Zevism reads it as the column joining Earth and Heaven, set upright in the vessel of the self.
Finger Key
| Finger | Element | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thumb | Fire | raised upright | resting beside the index finger |
| Index | Air | clenched in the fist | held close together, curved into a bowl |
| Middle | Aether | clenched in the fist | held close together, curved into a bowl |
| Ring | Earth | clenched in the fist | held close together, curved into a bowl |
| Little | Water | clenched in the fist | held close together, curved into a bowl |
Cautions and Variants
Variants. The right hand is shown as a fist with the thumb raised, the standard form in modern sources.
Sources
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.