Mudrā
'The Sanskrit word ‘mudra’ is translated as ‘gesture’ or ‘attitude.’ Mudras can be described as psychic, emotional, devotional and aesthetic gestures or attitudes. Yogis have experienced mudras as attitudes of energy flow, intended to link individual pranic force with universal or cosmic force. The Kularnava Tantra traces the word mudra to the root ‘mud,’ meaning ‘delight’ or ‘pleasure,’ and ‘dravay,’ the causal form of ‘dru,’ which means ‘to draw forth.’ Mudra is also defined as a ‘seal,’ ‘short-cut’ or ‘circuit by-pass.’
'Mudras are a combination of subtle physical movements which alter mood, attitude and perception, and which deepen awareness and concentration. A mudra may involve the whole body in a combination of asana, pranayama, bandha and visualization techniques, or it may be a simple hand position. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika and other yogic texts consider mudra to a be a yoganga, an independent branch of yoga, requiring a very subtle awareness. Mudras are introduced after some proficiency has been attained in asana, pranayama and bandha, and gross blockages have been removed… Practical instruction from a guru was always considered to be a necessary requisite before attempting them. Mudras are higher practices which lead to awakening of the pranas, chakras and kundalini and which can bestow major ‘siddhis,’ psychic powers, on the advanced practitioner. '
- Swami Satyananda Saraswati, in 'Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha.'
'Mudras are a combination of subtle physical movements which alter mood, attitude and perception, and which deepen awareness and concentration. A mudra may involve the whole body in a combination of asana, pranayama, bandha and visualization techniques, or it may be a simple hand position. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika and other yogic texts consider mudra to a be a yoganga, an independent branch of yoga, requiring a very subtle awareness. Mudras are introduced after some proficiency has been attained in asana, pranayama and bandha, and gross blockages have been removed… Practical instruction from a guru was always considered to be a necessary requisite before attempting them. Mudras are higher practices which lead to awakening of the pranas, chakras and kundalini and which can bestow major ‘siddhis,’ psychic powers, on the advanced practitioner. '
- Swami Satyananda Saraswati, in 'Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha.'