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Mudras used in Poojas
The word Mudra is
derived from the Sanskrit words Mud+Dhra, or bliss+dissolving -
meaning that which dissolves duality and brings together the deity and
the devotee. Mudras are gestures performed with the hands and are used
to convey various feelings, or expressions or meanings. (Recently
the the famous Australian cricketer Greg Chappell showed the
notorious "middle
finger mudra" to the Ganguly fans at Kolkata!!).
The use of the Mudras is quite common
in the Hindu Poojas, Tantric worships, Yoga and also in Classical Indian dances. In Hindu iconography,
the deities are often depicted with their hands making various Mudras
- like the twin gestures of dispelling fears and granting boons. Various deities have
several specific Mudras which are associated with them. They are used
by the practitioner for various purposes - like activating the various nerve centers, to
convey a feeling or to appease a deity etc.
Each finger represents
one of the five elements—the thumb is agni (fire), the forefinger is
vayu (air), the middle finger is akash (ether), the ring finger is
prithvi (earth) and the little finger is jal (water).
Please note that in
Natya Sastra (classical dance) and in Yoga also there are several
similarly named Mudras which are at times quite different from the Pooja
Mudras. For example the Yoni Mudra used in Yoga is totally different
from the Yoni Mudra used in Pooja.
A lot of people want to
know and use the Mudras during Pooja and Tantrik worship but do not
know the correct ones. We are giving bellow 40 of the most commonly used Mudras in the various Poojas
and Tantric worships so that those interested can learn them an
practice. Click on each name to see the picture of the Mudra in a new window.
These are the correct Mudras, but in some sects there are minor
variations.
Other pages of interest
>The Shodasa (16) Upacharas in Pooja
Linga Mudra
Soorya Mudra
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