Kamala Mudra, also known as Lotus Mudra, is a powerful hand formation that can open the heart lotus and activate the heart chakra. This mudra leads to healing of mind related illnesses and calms down stress.
In this article, we provide a deep look at how to perform the Lotus 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 Lotus Mudra?
The Lotus Mudra activates the air element within the body. Join the base of the palms and connect the thumbs to each other and the little fingers of both the hands to each other. Now open up the all the fingers as shown just as a flower bloom in full joy. Keep a gentle smile on your face. Open up your heart and feel the healing. Depending on your need and practice you can practice this mudra for up to an hour.
When Should I Perform the Lotus Mudra?
The Lotus Mudra is useful for:
- Lightening the Heart
- Meditation
- Calming the mind
- Treating depression and a lack of enthusiasm
- Gaining clarity in your thoughts
- Improving your mood
- Opening the heart chakra
- Relaxing the heart muscles
- Improving blood pressure
Remember that it is very important to feel your pulse while performing this mudra. The Lotus Mudra can be used in all sitting meditative poses, or even while practicing walking meditation. Other names for the Kamala (Lotus) mudra include Abhay Kamala (Lotus) mudra, Vayu Vardhak mudra, Purna Kamala (Lotus) mudra, Dhyan mudra.
Precautions When Practicing Lotus Mudra
This mudra can be performed without any restriction.
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 the Lotus Mudra Activate?
The heart chakra and the throat chakra are the most important chakras activated by the Lotus mudra. The heart is where the feelings are located and from where prana moves. The air element is dominant in the heart chakra improving circulation and moving prana and healing the body and mind. The heart has a subdosha of the kapha called as avalambaka kapha. Avalambaka kapha holds on to the emotions and when these repressed emotions build up we have high cholesterol, blood pressure and high levels of irritability. Lotus mudra can open up the heart and soothe it. The heart chakra gets completely rejuvenated.
Related Mudras
The following mudras will all give similar effects as the Lotus Mudra:
- Apana Vayu mudra
- Gyan mudra
- Akasha Mudra
- Rudra mudra
Related Yoga Poses
Sirshasana (Head Stand), Sarvangasana (Shoulder stand), Padmasana (Lotus pose), Halasana (Plough pose), Dhanurasana (Bow pose) give similar effects. This particular mudra can me performed in any of the standard sitting positions like Siddhasana (accomplished pose), Padmasana (lotus pose), Vajrasana (diamond pose).
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
- Dhyan Mudra
- Ganesha Mudra
- Gyan Mudra
- Kundalini 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