IMPORTANT MUDRAS & BANDHAS
These are several varieties in Mudras
and Bandhas, viz., Maha Bandha, Jalandhara Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha, Mula Bandha, and Maha Mudra, Maha Vedha, Nabho, Khechari,
Viparita Karani, Yoni, Sambhavi, Asvini, Pasini, Matangi, Kaki, Bhujangini and Yoga Mudras.
Cough, asthma, enlargement of spleen and liver, sex-sublimation, venereal diseases, consumption,
chronic constipation, leprosy and all sorts of incurable diseases are also cured. These Mudras and Bandhas will bestow on
you all that you want.
1. MAHA MUDRA
Press the anus carefully with the left heel . Stretch out the right leg. Catch hold of
the toe with the two hands. Inhale and retain the breath (Kumbhaka). Press the chin against the chest firmly, Jalandhara Bandha.
Fix the gaze at the Trikuti, Bhrumadhya Drishti. Retain the posture as long as you can. Practise first on the left leg and
then on the right leg. This cures consumption, haemorrhoids or piles, enlargement of spleen, indigestion, Gulma (chronic gastritis),
leprosy, constipation, fever, etc. Life is increased. It confers Siddhis on the practitioners. When you do this Mudra, the
posture will be almost similar to Janusirshasana.
2. KHECHARI MUDRA
‘Khe’ means in sky and ‘Char’ means to move. The Yogi moves in
the sky. Hence this is known as Khechari Mudra.
This Mudra can be performed by a man only if he has undergone the preliminary
exercise under the direct guidance of a Guru who is practicing Khechari Mudra. The preliminary portion of this Mudra is in
making the tongue so long that the tip of the tongue might touch the space between the two eyebrows. The Guru will cut the
lower tendon of the tongue with a bright, clean knife, little by little every week. By sprinkling salt and turmeric powder,
the cut edges may not join together again. Rub the tongue with fresh butter and draw it out. Take hold of the tongue with
the fingers and move it to and fro. Milking the tongue means taking hold of it and drawing it as the milkman does under the
cow during milking.
Cutting the lower tendon of the tongue should be done regularly, once a week, for a period varying
from six months to two years. By all these means you can lengthen the tongue to reach the forehead. This is the preliminary
portion of Khechari Mudra.
Then turn the tongue upwards and backward by sitting in Siddhasana so as to touch the palate
and close the posterior nasal opening with the tongue and fix the gaze at the space between the two eyebrows. The respiration
will stop. The tongue is on the mouth of the well of nectar. This is Khechari Mudra.
By practice of this Mudra the Yogi
is free from fainting, hunger, thirst and laziness. He is free from diseases, decay, old age and death. This Mudra makes one
an Urdhvareto Yogi. As the body of the Yogi is filled with the nectar, he will not die even by virulent poison. This Mudra
gives Kaya Siddhi to Yogins. Khechari is the best of all Mudras.
3. VAJROLI MUDRA
This is an important Yogic Kriya in Hatha Yoga. You will not have to work hard to get
full success in this Kriya. There are very few people who are experts in this act. Yogic students draw water first through
a silver tube (catheter, specially made) passed into the urethra (urinary canal) for 12 inches inside, then milk, oil, honey,
etc. They draw mercury in the end. Later on they can draw these liquids directly through the urethra without the help of the
tube. This Kriya is of immense use in the establishment of Brahmacharya. On the first day you should send the catheter inside
the urethra for one inch only, the second day two inches, third day three inches, and so on. You must gradually practice till
you are able to send 12 inches of the catheter inside.Raja Bhartrihari could do this Kriya very dexterously. Even a drop of
semen cannot come out of the Yogi who practices this Mudra. Even if it is discharged, he can draw it back through this Mudra.
The Yogi who draws this semen up and preserves it conquers death. Good smell emanates from his body. Lord Krishna was a skilled
expert in this Mudra. That is the reason why He was called a Nitya Brahmachari though he was amidst several Gopis.
4. VIPARITAKARANI MUDRA
Lie on the ground. Raise the legs up straight. Support the buttocks with the hands. Rest
the elbows on the ground. Remain steady. The sun dwells at the root of the navel and the moon at the root of the palate. The
process by which the sun is taken upward and the moon downward is called Viparitakarani Mudra. The positions of the sun and
moon are reversed. On the first day do it for a minute. Gradually increase the period to three hours. After six months wrinkles
on the face and grey hair will disappear. The yogis who practice this for three hours daily conquer death. As the gastric
fire is increased those who practice this for a long time should take some light refreshment such as milk, etc., as soon as
the Kriya is over. Sirshasana posture also is called Viparitakarani Mudra.6. More on Mudras & Bandhs in Yoga & Meditation Part II
