Mahāmudrā

Modifications

Question to T Krishnamacharya –
Q: What must form an essential part of a person’s daily practice?
A: A minimum of ten minutes in Antaḥ Trāṭakam, Ṣat Mukhī Mudrā
or Mahā Mudrā is essential.
– Śrī Krishnamacharya – The Pūrnācārya – published by the KYM in 1997

“I had one student who could do all the Āsana and was shocked to discover that she was unable to stay in Mahāmudrā for eight breaths! She was so flexible that she took her body for granted.
Mahāmudrā requires more than suppleness of the body.
We must be able to stay and breathe in this posture.”
– TKV Desikachar Religiousness in Yoga Chapter Four Page 45

“The best Āsana for doing Bandha are inverted, lying flat, or sitting with the back straight.
A classic posture is Mahā Mudrā, which is in fact, Mahā Mudrā only if the Bandha are used.”
– TKV Desikachar ‘The Concept, Preparation and Techniques of Bandha’
Religiousness in Yoga Chapter Fourteen Page 200

“Another simple posture is Adho Mukha Śvan Āsana.
the next step is to try them in some sitting postures such as Mahā Mudrā.
These Bandha can also be done in the headstand.
It is easy to do Bandha in this position because the lifting,
Uḍḍīyana Bandha, and holding up, Mūla Bandha,
of Apāna to the flame is almost automatic
because now the Apāna is above the flame.
If we can do the three Bandha in these postures,
we are ready to introduce them in our Prāṇāyāma.”
– TKV Desikachar ‘The Concept, Preparation and Techniques of Bandha’
Religiousness in Yoga Chapter Fourteen Page 197

“Another thing that he made very simple,
and practical, is the use of Mahāmudrā.
This is a very well known posture now,
but when you start looking at the texts, nothing is clear there.
He has incorporated the Āsana part,
the breathing part, and the Mudrā part,
and, he feels, Mahāmudrā,
if practiced every day, prevents ill health.”
– TKV Desikachar Switzerland 1981.

“Even with my students they teach a posture
because it has been taught to them.
Like a rubber stamp.
This is not Viniyoga.
People have rigid ideas.
For example, why Cakravākāsana for this lady
after Śīrṣāsana, whereas something else,
say Mahāmudrā for somebody else.
So it does not follow what is good for me
is good for everybody.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983

“It must be remembered that Śīrṣāsana is
one form of the Viparīta Karaṇī Mudrā.
For those who cannot do Śīrṣāsana
or any other inverted posture,
alternatives do exist.
Mahāmudrā is one such alternative
which would yield similar benefits.”
– TKV Desikachar KYM Darśanam February 1994

“Prāṇāyāma, as with Āsana and Dhyānam, was taught according
to the principles of Cikitsā, Rakṣaṇa and Śikṣaṇa Krama.
Thus we have breathing practices ranging from Cikitsā,
using simple ratio to settle an irregular breath, to Rakṣaṇa,
with competence and fluidity with various basic techniques and mild ratios,
to Śikṣaṇa and mastery of all techniques, and ratios and especially,
the Kumbhaka with long holds both after the inhale and the exhale.
The Vinyāsa Krama or steps in the evolution of practice are measured
by our practice abilities and consistency and potential within our life situation.
The longer term measure of our Prāṇāyāma potential is determined by
our skilful efforts with all four components of the breath in Āsana.
For example can we maintain 8.8.8.8. in Parśva Uttānāsana or 12.6.18.12 in Mahāmudrā?
These days though, it seems that there is not much place for or interest in the use of Kumbhaka within breathing practices, if used at all, appear to be mainly Cikitsā or about recovery,
or at best Rakṣaṇa or constitutional, rather than Śikṣaṇa and developmental.”
– Paul’s Yoga Practice Overview & Theory Posts – Collected & Collated

“Mahāmudrā is the bridge between Āsana and Prāṇāyāma.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“Mahāmudrā is a rock on which to take a seat,
amidst the swirling waves in the ocean that is the Citta.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“To experience the intention behind
the Bandha, the body must be prepared.
For example if the pulse remains increased
after their use, it is an indicator that we are not ready.
If excessive tension is felt in the areas where they are used,
then an indicator that we are not ready for Bandha in Mahāmudrā.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“In the quest for stability amidst striving in Mahāmudrā.
Do not lose the seat at the expense of holding the foot.
So hold the ankle or shin, or bend the knee slightly.
This will allow the seat to be firm and the spine to work.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“When working with the inhale in Mahāmudrā try
to create an effect of upward movement in the spine,
as if within Bhujaṅgāsana inhaling from the top down,
whilst arching the spine upwards through the inhale.
So straightening the spine lifting the chest upwards,
whilst keeping the Jālandhara Bandha locked down.”
– 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers

“The longer term measure of our Prāṇāyāma
potential is determined by our skilful efforts
within all four components of the breath in Āsana.
For example, can we maintain a ratio of 8.8.8.8.
in Parśva Uttānāsana or 12.6.18.12 in Mahāmudrā?”
– 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers

“The longer term measure of our Prāṇāyāma potential is determined by
our skilful efforts with all four components of the breath in Āsana.
For example can we maintain 8.8.8.8. in Parśva Uttānāsana or 12.6.18.12 in Mahāmudrā?
These days though, it seems that there is not much place for or interest in the use of Kumbhaka and breathing practices, if used at all it appears to be mainly Cikitsā or about recovery,
or at best Rakṣaṇa or constitutional, rather than Śikṣaṇa and developmental.”
– 108 Yoga Practice Pointers

– Āsana and Mudrā Planning Questions
“Design an Āsana and Mudrā practice to
– stay 8 breaths in Baddha Koṇāsana
– stay 8 breaths each side in Mahā Mudrā.
Choosing and justifying the ratio used within it.”
To Download or View this Question as a PDF Study Sheet
– Yoga Practice Planning and Theory Questions – Collected & Collated

– Āsana and Mudrā Planning Questions
“Design an Āsana and Mudrā practice to
– stay 12 breaths each side in Mahā Mudrā.
Choosing and justifying the ratio used within it.”
To Download or View this Question as a PDF Study Sheet
– Yoga Practice Planning and Theory Questions – Collected & Collated

– Āsana and Mudrā Planning Questions
“Design an Āsana and Mudrā practice to
– stay 12 breaths each side in Mahā Mudrā with Uḍḍīyāna Bandha.
Choosing and justifying the ratio used within it.”
To Download or View this Question as a PDF Study Sheet
– Yoga Practice Planning and Theory Questions – Collected & Collated

– Āsana and Mudrā Planning Questions
“Self Planning & Self Practice Project around Mahā Mudrā…
– using Mahā Mudrā to explore the following breathing ratios:
1.1.1.1./1.1.2.0./1.1.2.1./1.0.2.1.”
To Download or View this Question as a PDF Study Sheet
– Yoga Practice Planning and Theory Questions – Collected & Collated

– Āsana Mudrā and Prāṇāyāma Planning Questions
“Design and Experiment with a Practice around
Jaṭhara Parivṛtti, Mahā Mudrā and Pratiloma Ujjāyī Prāṇāyāma.
– Staying in Jaṭhara Parivṛtti and Mahā Mudrā for a minimum of 8 breaths each side and Pratiloma Ujjāyī Prāṇāyāma with a crown of 16 breaths.”
To Download or View this Question as a PDF Study Sheet
– Yoga Practice Planning and Theory Questions – Collected & Collated

Links to Related Posts:

• Glossary of Āsana & Mudrā Practice Techniques
  – Grouped into Standing, Kneeling, Lying, Inverted, Backbend, Seated & Sitting
• 108 Mudrā Practice Pointers
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Viniyoga
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Vinyāsa Krama
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Pratikriyāsana
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on the Breath
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Śikṣaṇa
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Rakṣaṇa
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Cikitsā
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Laṅghana
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Bṛṃhaṇa
• Glossary of Prāṇāyāma & Bandha Practice Techniques
  – Grouped into Primary, Secondary & Ancillary Techniques
• Compendium of Quotes from TKV Desikachar on the Yoga of T Krishnamacharya……
• cYs Practitioner Training Programme Retreat Extract 4 – Self Planning & Self Practice
• Examples of Vinyāsa Krama for Sitting Āsana within a Single Practice…
• Religiousness in Yoga Study Guide: The Concept, Preparation and Techniques of Bandha
• Self Planning & Self Practice Project around Mahāmudrā…
• Śīrṣāsana as a Viparīta Karaṇī Mudrā
• Vinyāsa Krama for the Catur Bandha in Mahā Mudrā for an advanced Āsana student……

–  Last Updated 11th April 2022