Ancient science of healing using symbolic gestures and movements of hands and fingers is called “Mudra”. The word ‘Mut’ means bliss! ‘Ra’ means to draw! Hence that which draws bliss is called Mudra! It also means” seal, mark, gesture. While some mudras involve the entire body,most are performed with hands and fingers. A mudra is a spiritual gesture and an energetic seal of authenticity in the spiritual practice of Indian religions. Natya Shastra lists 24 mudras while Abhinava Darpana of Nandikesa has 28 mudra positions that are shown by hands and fingers! Abhaya Mudra is a gesture of fearlessness and represents protection. In Chin Mudra the thumb and the forefinger are joined forming a zero! Rest of the fingers are expanded. Hands are placed palms up on thighs or knees in Vajrasana.
In Adi Mudra the thumb is folded into the palm touching the the base of the small finger. Palms are placed down on the thighs sitting on Vajrasana. In Varada Mudra the arm is crooked and the palm offered is slightly turned up! This Mudra is a gesture of generosity, offering, welcome, charity, giving, compassion and sincerity! ,There are many Mudras that are employed in Yoga practice and maintenance of perfect health of the body and the mind. A few of them are Brahma Mudra, Prana Mudra, AnjaIi Mudra, Vayu Mudra, shunya Mudra, Pruthvi Mudra, Varuna Mudra, Shakti Mudra, Apana Mudra, Jnana Mudra, Yoni Mudra, Hridaya Mudra, Vishnu Mudra and others! In Sambhavi Mudra the person gazes at the center of the eye brows with eyes half open!
Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra describes Devi as worshipped by ten Mudras! “ Dasa Mudra samaradhyaTripura Sri vasankari” She is Tripurasundari! She is capable of attracting and controlling everyone in the universe. Unlike other Gods and Goddesses she has Jnana Mudra! She is the destination or the goal of all Jnana! She is Jnana or Knowledge Herself! She herself is the object of Realization! She is also the embodiment of Yoni Mudra! “ Jnana Mudra Jnana gamya Jnana jneya swarupini” She has no worries, is totally free from ego or ahankara! She is absolutely unattached and the destroyer of all attachments or ‘mamakara’! She has no sins and wards off all sins of her ardent bhakthas! “ Nischinta nirahankara nirmoha moha nasini nir mama mamatahantri nishpapa papa nasini”.
Why these references to various Mudras? Sankara, in his love and devotion to the universal Mother, has already described the special effect of Her “Pada dhuli” The Trimurtis, Brahma,Vishnu, and Siva are in a position to create, protect and destroy respectively as they wear the pollen dust of Her lotus feet! Sankara, in his inimitable twist, points out the normal ways of other Gods and Goddesses compared to DEVI’S grace! The manner in which they grant boons to their devotees is entirely different from the way in which Sri Mata offers Her grace and boons!
“ O Mother! the protector of all this universe!,” says Sankara, “ all the other deities have Abhaya and Varada Mudras on their hands and grant various boons to their bhaktas according to their merits. You are the only Goddess who does not hold any Mudra like them. When you lotus feet are capable of granting immeasurable benefits to your devotees, where is the need for you to hold any Mudra? Your lotus feet grant all wants of your devotees and much more than what they expect! It is absolutely useless for you to hold any Mudra!” By glorifying the pollen dust of Her lotus feet and later expressing the futility of holding Mudras, Sankara wants all devotees to surrender themselves unto Her lotus feet! This total surrender shall absolve everyone from their prarabdha karma and enable them to get salvation or mukti! In every sloka, Sankara brings out some glorious aspect of Mother Goddess!
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