According to Yogapedia,” The word is Sanskrit meaning “gesture,” “mark” or “seal.” Mudras are most commonly known as hand positions in yoga and meditation, which are believed to affect the flow of energy in the body and unblock chakras.”

Mudras are found in cultures all over the world. They are used in religious practices and dance in India, in the gestures of the Catholic Mass, and in martial arts. In addition, they are part of everyday rituals such as blowing a kiss and the handshake that seals an agreement. The origin of mudras is not known, but they do have a long tradition in Tibetan Buddhism and Tantric philosophy. Some believe that they may have originated in Egypt. Many sacred paintings and sculptures show gods, goddesses, Buddhas or avatars holding their hands in positions that signify their teachings or spiritual states. Our fingers have nerve terminals connected to our endocrine glands when the fingers touch in a certain format, it creates an electromagnetic field, which helps to restore the balance of the body.

The hands play an important role in healing experiences. First, because of their connection with the heart meridian, and secondly, because each finger represents an element. “Mudras” are hand positions that channel specific forms of energy through the body.

Mudras are most commonly associated with hand gestures which result in subtle energy effects by balancing the flow of energy throughout the energetic channels the integrated body/mind/spirit.

The human body is a miniature of this Universe, and you can find everything that is available in the Universe, available in the human body as well. The Universe is made up of five elements viz, Fire, Air, Earth, Water, and Space, similarly, the human body is made up of these five elements, and each finger represents an element. Each mudra has a specific effect on the body and mind, by clearing the psychic centres and energy channels and thus improving the health of a human being. The entire Mudra Vigyan is based on the concept that a particular kind of energy or Electro Magnetic Waves is continuously emitted from our hands. And this concept is the base of may healing modalities including Reiki, Acupressure, and so on.

In the Indian tradition these fingers represent:

  • Thumb – Fire
  • Index or Jupiter finger – Air
  • Middle or Saturn finger – Ether/Space
  • Ring or Sun finger – Earth
  • Little or Mercury finger – Water