Mudras are powerful symbols that are used in yoga and meditation practices to bring balance to the mind, body, and spirit. Mudras involve using the hands and fingers in specific ways, some can also be performed with the eyes and tongue.

These hand mudras or specific gestures, also known as “seals” or “binds” in Sanskrit, have the power to direct the body's energy flows and pranic balance throughout the body.

You can open up your chakras and increase your spiritual awareness by aligning certain mudras with certain postures. Get a complete guide on what is chakra meditation and how it benefits you.

✅ How Different Hand Positions Symbolize Five Elements and Energy Flow

Energetic circuits are created with mudras, which is a form of non-verbal communication in the yoga practice and meditation pose.

Meditation mudras involve bringing together different elements of air, water, earth, and fire through the use of your hands and fingers.

Each finger has a corresponding element: The thumb represents fire, the index finger represents air, the middle finger represents ether or space, the ring finger represents the earth element, and the pinky finger represents water.

When these elements are brought together by touching certain fingers or parts of your hand to each other with specific postures and patterns, energetic circuits are formed. These circuits allow for dormant energy to move in a more powerful way throughout our body and mind.

So, by using mudras as part of our practice we can open up new pathways that help to bring balance and focus into our lives.

Here is a guide to mastering the art of mudra hand positions for meditation:

✅ 7 Hand Positions For Meditation

There are many different mudras that can be used, and each one has a specific meaning and purpose. The seven common mudras or specific meditation hand positions are:

1. Dhyana Mudra

Dhyana Mudra is the most common mudra of all mudras.

The Dhyana mudra symbolizes concentration, meditation, and contemplation.

The mudra helps you achieve a deeper level of stillness and relaxation during your practice.

⚫ How to Do?

📌 To begin, sit in a comfortable position with your spine straight and feet firmly planted on the ground.

📌 Place your hands on your lap as your right hand rests gently atop your left hand palm up, pointing towards the sky.

📌 Keep your elbows relaxed at shoulder height as you focus on your breathwork.

📌 Now place the tips of your thumbs together lightly while opening both of your index fingers wide and pointing forward in front of you; make sure both arms are parallel with one another as you form this pose.

2. Gyana Mudra

Gyana mudra is referred to as the gesture of knowledge.

It enhances concentration while meditating.

It stimulates meridian pathways and channels specific energy circuits throughout the body by activating specific nerve endings in the fingertips. 

Additionally, it promotes circulation throughout the hands and wrists while relieving tension in these areas.

⚫ How to Do?

📌 To do this mudra, press the tip of your index finger against the tip of the thumb. The other three fingers should remain extended outwards from your palm.

3. Prithvi Mudra

This mudra focuses on grounding yourself in nature by connecting with earth energy during meditation hand mudras.

It helps to connect and open up the body's energies. It balances and harmonizes the relationship between the earth and its many elements. 

This mudra benefits in grounding, calming and soothing the mind, body, and soul.

It improves physical health by reducing fatigue, and stress, and improving the overall flow of energy levels. 

⚫ How to Do?

📌 To do this, place both hands together with palms facing downwards and then press together the tips of the thumb and ring finger lightly while keeping all other fingers straight in an upward direction.

4. Shuni Mudra

This mudra cultivates patience and perseverance during mindfulness meditation by stimulating the solar plexus chakra (energy center) located in between the rib cage area near our stomachs.

Shuni mudra is a powerful yoga gesture that helps to bring balance and peace of mind.

It improves physical energy, mental clarity, and emotional balance, as well as increases awareness and spiritual connection.

Additionally, it can help to reduce stress levels and improve overall health.

⚫ How to Do?

📌 To perform this mudra, sit in a comfortable position with your eyes closed and focus on your breath.

📌 Inhale deeply and then exhale slowly while pressing the thumb tips onto the tip of the middle finger and ring finger while all other fingers remain straight in an upward direction towards the sky. Hold this sitting position for up to five minutes while focusing on your breath.

5. Apana Mudra

It increases water retention within our bodies during meditation as it stimulates our kidneys into balancing water levels better within us through its connection with our root chakra (energy center).

⚫ How to Do?

📌 To do this mudra, press together the tips of your little finger and thumb while keeping all other fingers straight in an upward direction towards the sky above you.

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6. Anjali Mudra

This classical yoga pose creates physical balance within ourselves as well as mental clarity when we meditate by connecting our hearts with our third eye (brow) chakra (energy center).

It is an integral part of many spiritual practices and is used as a tool to focus the mind, reduce stress, open the heart chakra, and cultivate inner peace.

⚫ How to Do?

📌 To perform this pose, bring both palms together at the heart level so that they touch lightly at their fingertips while bowing slightly forward.

📌 To begin, sit in a comfortable position with your spine erect.

📌 Place both of your hands together at the center of your chest level, palms facing each other and fingers pointing upwards towards the sky.

📌 Focus on creating a feeling of balance between your two hands by pressing them together gently in order to create energy between them.

📌 Allow yourself to feel the sensation created by this gesture and take deep breaths until you reach a calm state of being.

7. Bhumisparsha Mudra

This specific mudra cultivates inner focus, patience, and compassion. 

When practicing Bhumisparsha Mudra, it is important to be mindful of one’s body language while holding this pose.

⚫ How to Do?

📌 To perform Bhumisparsha Mudra, begin by sitting in a comfortable seated position with your spine straight and your feet flat on the ground.

📌 Bring your palms together facing down and rest them on top of your lap.

📌 Gently curl your index fingers inwards towards each other until they touch lightly at the tips.

📌 Relax your shoulders away from your ears and keep your elbows slightly bent as you press downwards into the palms of your hands with equal pressure.

📌 Close your eyes if desired and hold this posture for several minutes while breathing deeply.

📌 Gently focus your attention on your breath and the sensation of your hands in the mudra position.

📌 Allow your mind to settle and rest in this present moment. You can hold the mudra for as long as you like, incorporating it into your regular meditation practice.

Get to know how to unblock chakras with meditation.

✅ Bottom Line

Hand mudra meditation is one of the powerful tools and an effective practice that reduces stress, improves focus, and even boosts our mood. Yoga mudras only require a few moments of your day, making it simple to fit into any busy schedule. Plus, no special equipment or materials are needed; all you need is your hands! Even if you have never meditated before, simple hand position meditation is a great place to start.