Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.995

c8.995

MUD RĀS. When he recites the mantras a Māntrika should use different kinds of gestures with his hands to suit the recital. They are called Mudrās. The Mudrās in general are given below: The first mudrā is called Añjalimudrā. Añjali means a cavity formed by folding the hands and joining the open hands together. If the hands thus folded are placed on the breast it becomes a Vandinī mudrā. The hands should be placed on the breast with a slight slant to the left for Vandinī mudrā. The third mudrā is called Ūrddhva mudrā. Hold the left hand first in such a way that the thumb comes on the top and then with the fingers of the right hand bind the thumb of the left hand. The thumb of the right hand should also come to the top. This is called Ūrddhva mudrā. The lowering of the left palm opened up is called Varāha-mudrā. (Chapter 26, Agni Purāṇa).