Dhyan Mudra (also known as Dhyana Mudra) is a powerful hand formation that infuses us with meditative consciousness. It can be used to enhance meditation and focus, and can help you with a range of tasks including studying, focused reading, taking exams, passing an interview, and more.
In this article, we provide a deep look at how to perform the Dhyan Mudra, as well as its numerous benefits and important precautions.
What are Mudras?
Mudras are hand gestures that activate a certain element or energy in the body. The five fingers represent the five elements. The energy activation point lies on the fingertips. When the fingertips are connected, the subtle energy in your body gets activated. The thumb represents the fire element. This element represents agni within the body, and it serves to activate all the other elements.
The index finger represents air, middle finger ether, ring finger earth and the little finger represents the water element.
When different hand formations, or mudras, are formed, the combination of subtle elements has a powerful effect on the mind and body.
How Can Mudras Heal?
There is a spiritual force that mediates our mind-body connection. Ayurveda says that when the elements in our body are balanced, our bodies and minds are healthy. Whenever imbalance arises, we can attain balance by activating specific elements using various mudras. Acupuncture is another method that involves activating specific points in the body and improving the flow of energy. Mudras act in a similar way. The tips of our fingers act like electrical potential points, and when the mudras are formed, they create an electrical circuit that circulates energy throughout the body. As this energy circulates, we feel a healing effect. The most astonishing fact is that our brain uses about 60% of its surface area to process the movements and sensations of the hands.
RECOMMENDED: For a complete guide to the many mudras and their benefits, check out Healing Mudras: Yoga of the Hands by Yogi Nataraj.
How to Perform the Dhyana Mudra?
The Dhyana Mudra activates the fire of healing. In Ayurvedic texts it is explained that the digestive fire is the root of all energy. The fire of the stomach that digests our food is known as jataragni, and the fire of the mind that activates our thoughts is known as the Tejas Agni. Tejas is the fire of intelligence within the body. Dhyana mudra activates the fire of intelligence which burns up toxic thoughts and improves healthy thoughts.
First sit comfortably in Siddhasana, Padmasana, or any meditative sitting posture. If you cannot sit cross-legged, you can also sit comfortably on a chair. Keep the palms on top of each other. You can keep the left palm on the right or the right palm on the left, both variations are fine. The palm has all the activation points of the body like acupressure. Hence a deft touch relaxes all the organs of the body. When we touch the tips of the thumbs after placing the palms that way activates the fire of intelligence. The longer we practice the better it gets. You can gradually adjust the thumbs until you can feel your pulse in your fingertips. Be aware of the outflow and inflow of energy going from and to the heart. Practice this mudra minimum for about 15-20 minutes.
When Should I Perform the Dhyana Mudra?
The Dhyana mudra is useful for:
- Improving concentration
- Meditation practices
- Calming the mind
- Treating depression and lack of enthusiasm
- Finding clarity in your thoughts
- Overcoming stress
- Treating insomnia
- Enhancing the endocrine system
- Improving serotonin in the brain
- Heals the damaged areas of the brain by rewiring
- Reduces anxiety levels
- Lowering the frequency of panic attacks
- Relaxes the heart muscles
Remember that it is very important to feel your pulse while performing this mudra. The Vayu Mudra can be used in all sitting meditative poses, or even while practicing walking meditation to relieve high blood pressure, minor aches and pains in the body. Astrologically Vāyu mudra is useful for Saturn lines on the hand. Vayu mudra should be practiced along with Prāṇa mudrā for better benefits.
Precautions When Practicing Dhyana Mudra
Dhyana mudra is very safe to practice. It can be used with any sitting posture, and can be beneficial for anyone.
Suggested Sequence
- Sit in a comfortable position.
- Join your hands in a prayerful, meditative position.
- Straighten your back.
- Place your left hand on the right as shown and touch the tips of the thumbs.
- Hold the Dhyana Mudra for 10-20 minutes.
- Practice Prana Mudra for 10 minutes.
- Join your hands together and end with a prayer.
What Chakras Does Dhyana Mudra Activate?
The Dhyana Mudra activates the third eye chakra, the chakra of intuition. A refined intelligence emerges and heals the intuition levels. Intuition is very subtle however the fire of intelligence influences the intuition. This helps in decision making.
Related Mudras
The following are all complimentary mudras and will give similar effects as Dhyana Mudra
- Gyan mudra
- Akasha mudra
- Surabhi Mudra
- Hakini mudra
- Samana Mudra
Related Yoga Poses
All meditative poses in Yoga are complimentary to the Dhyana mudra. This mudra can be performed in Bhadrasana (the gracious pose), Vajrasana (the diamond pose), Siddhana (the accomplished pose), Padmasana (the lotus pose). These poses give powerful effects and Dhyana mudra amplifies these powerful healing effects.
List of Mudra Guides
Mudras are very beneficial when performed with proper understanding. Mudras deal with individual elements, combinations of elements, the vital airs, the vital functions and even moods and feelings. Regular practice of each mudra based on our needs and present condition can help us achieve the specific results we are looking for. Please explore our various mudra guides and try out the practices that suit your needs
Chakra Mudras
- Mudras for the Root Chakra
- Mudras for the Sacral Chakra
- Mudras for the Navel Chakra
- Mudras for the Heart Chakra
- Mudras for the Throat Chakra
- Mudras for the Third-eye Chakra
- Mudras for the Crown Chakra
Mudra Sequences
Individual Mudra Guides
- Abhaya Mudra
- Adi Mudra
- Agni Mudra
- Akasha Mudra
- Anjali Mudra
- Apana Vayu Mudra
- Bhumisparsha Mudra
- Brahma Mudra
- Dharmachakra Mudra
- Ganesha Mudra
- Gyan Mudra
- Kundalini Mudra
- Lotus Mudra
- Musti Mudra
- Prana Mudra
- Prithvi Mudra
- Rudra Mudra
- Shakti Mudra
- Shankha Mudra
- Shunya Mudra
- Surya Mudra
- Udana Vayu Mudra
- Uttarabodhi
- Varada Mudra
- Vayu Mudra
- Vitarka Mudra
- Yoni Mudra