Maha Mudra is a SANSKRIT word that means Maha means "Great" and Mudra means "Symbol". It's a "Great Symbol". Tibetan Buddhism uses Mudra as a means to view the world as it exists. For all its beauty and perfection. it is a way to achieve harmony and experience bliss in our bodies. Governs and improves the control over the sexual energy. This pose is a key to awakening kundalini.
Maha Mudra is a combination of all the three Bandhas used at the same time such as Jalandhara, Mula, and Uddiyana.
Sit properly on the floor with the leg stretched. One leg is folded heel presses against the perineum. Breathe out, and slowly bends forward to hold the big toe of the outstretched leg. The head is raised upwards, with the gaze fixed between the eyebrows. after breathing in, the breath should be retained while performing Mula bandha. stay pose as you are comfortable and relax and repeat the same steps with another leg.
Benefits of Maha Mudra yoga:
There are the most important health benefits of Maha Mudra are,
1. Maha mudra poses help strong and flexible muscles such as the shoulder, upper back, buttocks, thighs, and legs. Maha Mudra also contracts and expands the abdominal muscles.
2. At the time of performance, it massages the abdominal organs which help to activate the digestive system. It helps to aid in better digestion also. and reduce abdominal problems.
3. Maha mudra stimulates the internal organs like the liver, pancreas, kidneys, gall bladder, etc. Performing a long time of this asana is very useful for spleen ailments and enlargement of the prostate gland.
4. This asana helps to increase the immune system and fight against health diseases like infections and viruses.
5. This pose helps to improve reproductive health. during the time of mudra, the heel is pressed against the perineum the reproductive organs are activated.
6. The pose helps to improve the respiratory system. It improves the efficiency of the lungs to store oxygen and enhance the respiratory system.
Respiratory ailments like tuberculosis, asthma, and bronchitis can be caused by maha mudra.
7. All the three bandhas, Mula root, uddiyana, and Jalandhardhara. also stimulate the Nah aidra. It also help Blood circulation.
8. This pose helps to maintain health as well as physical health, it relaxes the mental blocks, prevent negative thoughts, and improves memory, and concentration.
9. This pose helps to control sexual energy and activates the kundalini. this pose helps to spreads the energy throughout the chakra system. It helps in gaining spirituality.
Step by Maha Mudra yoga:
1. Sit on the floor with the legs extended straight in front. (Step 1)
2. Curve the left knee and move it to the left, keeping the outer side of the left thigh and the left calf on the floor.
3. Put the left heel upon the inner side of the left thigh near the perineum. The big toe of the left foot should touch the inside of the right thigh. The angle between the stretch right leg and the bent left leg should be a right angle of 90 degrees.
4. Extend the arms forward towards the right foot and hook the big toe with the thumbs and forefingers.
5. Lower the head to the trunk until the chin rests in the hollow between the collar bones just above the breast-bone.
6. Keep the spine fully extended and do not allow the right leg to tilt to the right.
7. Breath in completely. Tighten the entire abdomen from the anus to the diaphragm. Pull the abdomen back towards the spine and also up as to the diaphragm.
8. Loose the abdominal tension, then breath out, again breath in and hold the breath, maintaining the abdominal hold. Stay in this posture as stated above from one to three minutes. (Step 2)
9. Loose the abdominal tension, breath out, raise the head, release the hands and straighten the bent leg.
10. Repeat on the other side, keeping the left leg straight and the right one curved for an equal amount of time.
