Vara is a boon, Varada is to grant a boon. This mudra symbolizes the blessings, or the boon granted by the Buddha. The main boon is that of healing with compassion, Buddha specifically came to teach the doctrine of non-violence and compassion. They are the main boons that we can give others.
In this article, we provide a deep look at how to perform the Varada 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 Varada Mudra?
This gesture is made with the left hand and the right hand is kept in the abhaya or the fearless mudra. A combination of abhaya and varada mudra is called Segan semui in or yogan semui in Japan. The five extended fingers generally mean generosity, morality, patience, effort, patience, meditative concentration.
When Should I Perform the Varada Mudra?
The Varada mudra is useful for:
- Improving concentration
- Meditation practices
- Akin to Reiki giving energy
- Connects one to the heling power within
- When we bless and heal others we get the blessing back
- When combined with Abhaya Mudra it heals the self and brings healing to others
- Natures way of giving is the more you give the more you get, you get immense blessings
- Heals the mind
- Grounds the self
Precautions When Practicing Varada Mudra
This mudra gives full effect if we practice understanding the Dharmic aspect of the mudra. The true meaning is given in the Dharmic Buddhic texts and meant to heal the heart and the mind. Nature has abundance, when this abundance is given nature This needs to be understood and practiced with a full heart. When done we will feel lighter and stronger.
What Chakras Does Varada Mudra Activate?
Varada Mudra heals the emotional sacral chakra. When we have all the wants without a desire to give we become greedy and stressed. This also causes a lot of suffering. Therefore we have to overcome this suffering by charity. Charity heals many karmas and heals the mind. When we bless we have to be equal to all and when we bless or give blessings we know it is the energy of the universe that we are just transferring. We will need to be charitable to gain more spiritual qualities and cultivate peace and happiness
Related Mudras
Varuna Mudra, Abhaya Mudra, Vitarka mudra, Dharmachakra Mudra, Suchi Mudra, Prana Mudra, Gyan mudra, Samana Mudra give similar or complimentary effects to Varada Mudra.
Related Yoga Poses
There are no equivalent yoga poses to this mudra. However when an asana is practiced as a spiritual meditation you get a similar effect.
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
- Lotus Mudra
- Musti Mudra
- Prana Mudra
- Prithvi Mudra
- Rudra Mudra
- Shakti Mudra
- Shankha Mudra
- Shunya Mudra
- Surya Mudra
- Udana Vayu Mudra
- Uttarabodhi
- Vayu Mudra
- Vitarka Mudra
- Yoni Mudra