History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c92.277

v7.c92.277

The Śāradātilaka (23. 106–114) names only nine mudrās and defines them, while the Viṣṇusaṁhitā (VII) says that mudrās are innumerable (verse 45), names about thirty and defines them and Jñānārṇava (IV), mentions at least nineteen. The Jayākhyasaṁhitā (8th Paṭala) has about 58 mudrās. The Tāntrik¹⁸⁴⁰ works provide that mudrās should be practised secretly under cover of a garment and not in the presence of many people and should not be announced to another as otherwise they become fruitless. The Kāmakalāvilāsa of Puṇyānanda expressly mentions (in verse 46) Trikhaṇḍā-mudrā and refers to the fact that there are nine mudrās.¹⁸¹¹ The Nityāṣoḍaśikārṇava (3rd viśrāma) first defines Trikhaṇḍā, then names and defines nine mudrās most of which bear names different from those in the Śāradātilaka. The Mudrās mentioned by Nityāṣoḍaśikā apart from Trikhaṇḍā, are: Sarvasaṅkṣobhakāriṇī, Sarvavidrāviṇī, Ākarṣiṇī, Sarvāveśakarī, Unmādinī, Mahāṅkuśā, Khecarī, Bījamudrā, Yonimudrā.