10 Buddha Mudras To Practice in Daily Life

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10 Buddha Mudras to Practice in Daily Life

Mudras or hand gestures is a practice to improve your physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
In the Vedic tradition, the fingers of the hand represent the five basic elements that make up the
human body: air, wind, fire, mud, and water. Based on this understanding, finger tips of living
beings have many concentrated nerve root endings which act as free energy discharge points.
On touching the finger tips together in different ways or to other parts of the palm channelizes
and balances the flow of energy (Prana) within our body, and the energy traveling through the
nerves stimulates the various chakras. In Sanskrit, mudra literally means a posture/seal and has
been used in different religions, art and dance forms, yoga and meditation for a long time.
In yoga, using mudras in conjunction with Pranayama (breathing exercises), revitalizes the flow
of energy to different parts of the body. While Tibetan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Theravada
Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism broadly use mudras during mindful meditation.
Let’s take a look at ten important mudras incorporated by Buddha on his journey to
enlightenment. You must have come across a Buddha statue somewhere in one of these
mudras. As mudras have healing benefits on the mind and soul, you can generally perform these
to instantly energise yourself.
1) Karana Mudra
This mudra keeps negativity at bay. To perform this Mudra, stretch your hand either vertically or
horizontally. Turn the palm forward. Now using your thumb press down the two middle fingers
and extend the index and little finger straight upwards. Energy created by performing this mudra
helps in expelling negativity from your mind and soul.
2) Varada Mudra
This gesture signifies offering, welcome, charity, giving, compassion and sincerity. It is a left
hand gesture in which the arm is hanging naturally at the side of the body and the palm facing
outward, and the fingers extended
.
3) Uttarabodhi Mudra
It signifies supreme enlightenment as it charges one with positive energy and vibrations. The
mudra helps one in staying connected with oneself and the divine universal energy. In order to
perform this Mudra, both hands are placed at the heart; index fingers touching and pointing
upwards and the remaining fingers intertwined. Try holding the Uttarabodhi mudra for a couple
minutes and feel the subtle energy shift in your body.
4) Namaskara or Anjali Mudra

Namaskara mudra is used in Indian culture to greet people and as a sign of respect. This Mudra
is performed by pressing the palms together and holding it to the center of the chest or the heart
chakra;fingers pointing towards the sky. The mudra evokes positive vibrations in the body
teaching us the fact that we are all one and we must acknowledge/adore the existence of light in
one another. This Mudra helps in staying grounded and humble.
5) Vitarka Mudra
This mudra evokes the energy of teaching and intellectual discussion, or argument. In this
gesture tips of the thumb and index finger touch to form a circle that creates a constant flow of
energy and information. All the other fingers are extended upwards. This Mudra gives us the
energy required to attain clarity of mind.
6) Abhay mudra
Abhay is translated as fearlessness. In this Mudra, the right hand is brought to the shoulder level
and the palm faces outward and fingers extend upwards. History says that when Buddha was
attacked by an elephant, he used this mudra to stop the flow of negative energy (fear). This
Mudra gives us the energy to stand strong.
7) Dhyana mudra
This mudra depicts absolute concentration in the process of meditation. Place both your hands on
the lap with the right hand placed on the left and fingers fully stretched, palms facing outwards;
thumbs of both the hands will touch creating a triangle, cleansing of any impurities on an etheric
level. Practicing this Mudra will fill you with deep sense of peace and serenity.
8) Bhumisparsha mudra
Bhumisparsha translates to touching the earth where the mudra symbolizes the fact that the earth
witnessed Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. This was the Hand gesture of Buddha
when he accomplished Enlightenment. In this Mudra, the right arm hangs over the right knee
with the right palm turned inward and the left hand is placed on the lap with the left palm faced
upwards.
9) Vajradhara mudra
In this mudra the wrists are crossed, over the heart, with the right forearm placed in front of the
left one; this gesture symbolizes the highest energy and the union of compassion and wisdom
necessary to reach enlightenment. In vajradhara mudra, one is free from judgement, notions,
theories, fate, truth and any concept that defines enlightenment; as they say, enlightenment is not
defining it.
10) Dharmachakra Mudra

Depicts the continuous flow of energy in the cosmos. Here the hand gesture symbolizes the
energy of the universe in the form of a chakra/wheel. Both the hands are placed near the chest,
the left palm faces the heart and right palm faces outwards; index finger and thumb form a circle
like Vitarka mudra. This mudra represents the whole universe in a nutshell.
As I mentioned before, these Mudras are used in the process of mindful meditation. But at the
same time one can practice these mudras to gain the simple benefits of altering one’s state of
consciousness and staying positively energized. “Our essential nature is boundless
consciousness. We are rooted in it when the mind focuses and settles.” – Yoga Sutras

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What are the different types of mudras described?

What are some benefits of practicing mudras?

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10 Buddha Mudras to Practice in Daily Life

4) Namaskara or Anjali Mudra

10) Dharmachakra Mudra

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