Significans of Mudras

Through perseverance in meditation and contemplation, the Rishis and Yogis made innumerable discoveries. They could awaken Kundalini power and qcquired vitality. They also achieved clairvoyance, clairaudience and telepathy. They perceived the cosmic sound, formed thirty three alphabets of sanskrit language and realized mantras and mudras for physical, mental and spiritual well being.

Nature was their laboratory. They realized that there are innumerable species in nature but among them the man is unique in many aspects. He can think, express his ideas, can rediscover the higher planes of spirit hidden within him. The discriminative faculty - the intellect is the rarest gift of nature to man.

Man's constitution is based on a particular balance of :

• Five fundamental vital elements - Agni, Vayu, Akasha, Pruthvi and Jala.
• five winds (air) - Prana, Apana, Udana, Samana and Vyana.
• Three doshas - Kapha, Vata and Pitta.

Man is not only the mind-body but also emotions and desires. Therefore the Rishis and Yogis designed Dharma - the set of ethical rules that would complete the process of his evolution in a profound manner. To aid in adherence of Dharma, they combined mudras and mantras with :

• Worship
• The performance of Sandhya Vandana at dawn and dusk and
• Japa - the repetition of the divine name of God.

The gross and subtle elements:

The whole universe is composed of five dense or gross elements. These elements exist everywhere and in all things in an infinite variety and proportion - that is why we see such an enormous diversity of life.

Each element is composed of one main element that makes up 50% of it and the other four elements combine to make up other 50%. For example, in Prithvi, the main element is Prithvi and it comprises 50% while the rest 50% is comprised of other four elements. These are all in pure form and are called Tanmatras.

Each elements has its own qualities such as sound, touch, foem, smell and taste. These qualities are related to the elements as well as sense organs.

Element Quality Organ Ether Sound Ears Air Touch Skin Fire Sight Eyes Water Taste Tongue Earth Smell Nose

Properties of the five elements

1. Air - gaseous, light, clear, dry and dispresing.
2. Ether - subtle, that we rarely think about and it is equated to space.
3. Fire - the power of transformation and charge; has the quality of heart, dryness and upward movement.
4. Water - liquid, cool, flowimng and downward movement.
5. Earth - substantial, heavy, hard and with only little downward movement.

Functions of the five basic elements in the body

All elements are present in the call membrance, but the earth element predominates, giving structure to the call.

• The water element is predominant in the cytoplasm, the liquid in the cell.
• The air element is predominant in the gases in the cell.
• The metabolic processes regulating the cell are governed mainly by fire element.
• The space occupied by the cell represents the ether element.

In the sanskrit language the five basic elements are called as following: Space - Akasha Air - Vayu Fire - Agni Water - Jala Earth - Prithvi

Each of these five elements serve a specific important function in the body.

• Akasha (Space) :- This is an inactive element that manifests itself in the bodily cavities like the cranial cavity, the thoracic cavity and the abdomeno - pelvic cavity as also the spaces within tubular, bag like organs. Akasha creates room within the body, so that rest ot the elements can act. Akasha is associated with sound and therefore hearing. Ear aliments are relieved by the manipulation of Akasha element.
• Vayu (Air) :- This is the element of movement. All movements of the body and within the body, voluntary as well as involuntary are effected by air.

Air is related to the sense of touch and therefore to the skin. Disorders of movements in paralysis or parkinson disease can be helped by the manipulation of air element.

• Agni (Fire) :- This element is responsible for the body temperature and metabolism. Fire works on the alimentary system causing thirst, huger, digestion of food, assimilation of digested food. Fire is associated with vision therefore eyes. Disorders like loss of appetite, indigestion and obesity can be helped by the reinforcement of the fire element.
• Jala (Water) :- This element is the constituent of protopalsm , blood, tears, saliva, digestive juice, sweat, urine, semen, cerebro spinal fluid and fat. Water is related to the taste and therefore the tongue. Without water the tongue cannot recognise various tastes. Disorders of water metabolism like dehydration or water retention can be helped by manipulating the water element.
• Prithvi (Earth) :- This element is the constituent of body mass, skin, hair, nails, bones, cartilages, muscles etc. An excess of earth element causes obesity, while a deficiency causes emaciation.Earth (Prithvi) is associated with the smell and therefore the node. Disorders like leanness, prostation and low immunity can be helped by the manipulation of the earth element.

Good health is the natural consequence of the balance and controlled functioning of each of these five elements. Mudras help to manifest balance in these elements and help to regain health. All matter including the human body is made up of atoms, and atoms are made up of smaller particles. The three main particles making up an atom are the proton, the neutron and the electron. When electrons move between the atoms, a current of electricity is created. Within the human body this electricity is called bioelectricity. This electricity flows in channel called nerves. According to tantra two necessary nerves flow on both sides of the spine. The left one is called Ida-Para sympathetic and right one is called - Pingala - sympathetic. In between these nerves flows the channel called Sushumna. Ida, pingala and Sushumna are connected to the brain. There is space between two vertebrae which is occupied by nerves flowing to various parts of the body. All these nerves are connected to the brain. The brain is like a ball floating in a fluid called cerebro spinal fluid. It communicates with various parts of the body via the bioelectricity flowing through the nerves.

References

The above mentioned information is added from the book called "MUDRAS & HEALTH PERSPECTIVES" by "SUMAN.K.CHIPLUNKAR".