Mudra is a Sanskrit word, which means ‘attitude’ or ‘gesture’. The Mudras can be best explained as emotional, aesthetic, psychic, devotional and spiritual attitudes or gestures. Being a combination of subtle physical movements, Mudras deepen concentration and consciousness by altering attitude, mood and perception. This article is about the Kriya Method and Benefits of Manduki Mudra. Manduki Mudra is one of the 20 Kundalini Kriyas of Kriya Yoga. The Kundalini Kriyas are said to be the most effective technique for evolving the consciousness systematically. Manduki Mudra is also called as manduki kriya and it is the 8th Kriya of the 20 Kundalini Kriyas. The meaning of the word Manduki is 'frog', therefore this kriya is also known as ‘Frog Attitude’ or ‘Gesture of the Frog’. The sitting posture of the manduki mudra bears a resemblance to the sitting position of a frog.
Now, let's come to the proper Manduki Mudra Technique.
Manduki Mudra Technique
Sit in your preferred Bhadrasana pose from above three poses. Make sure that your buttocks are firmly resting on the floor or on the top of the folded blanket. Hold the head and spine erect, and relax the arms. Close your eyes and relax the entire body.
Open your eyes after sometime and then perform nasikagra drishti (nose tip gazing) by focusing both eyes on the tip of nose.
Be acquainted with the natural flow of breath from the nostrils and envisage that the flow of breath of both nostrils gathers at the eyebrow centre. The flow of breath from two nostrils meets with each other at eyebrow centre as you breathe in. And as you breathe out, the two flows deviate from the eyebrow centre and move outwards from nostrils. Be completely acquainted with this natural flow of breath, which alternately converges and diverges. Feel it.
At the same time, be acquainted with smell, all smells. Here the aim is trying to smell the astral body, which has a subtle aroma that is said to be similar to the pervading fragrance of sandalwood.
Keep on to be acquainted with both the flow of breath and the sense of smell.
If your eyes become exhausted, then let them rest for a minute prior to performing nasikagra drishti again. Keep on the practice until you feel ecstasy, and the senses and mind become introverted. Proceed directly to the next kriya, when you feel some ecstasy.
Manduki Mudra has no fixed duration period. It should be performed until you experience a feeling of ecstasy, but do not wait eagerly for hours and hours. Appropriate duration of practice is 5-10 minutes.
Breathing
Breathing must be deep and slow.
Awareness
You should be acquainted with both the breathing process and sense of smell.
Eyes’ Position
Your eyes should be focused on the nose tip correctly. If you will do this properly then the end of your nose will look like a lingam. Fix your concentration on this nose lingam. Consider also that the eyes should be neither completely closed nor widely open. The eyes must be half closed that is the same as saying that they must be half open.
Light
Manduki Mudra cannot be performed in darkness. It has to be performed in mild light; hence one can see the tip of the nose.
Smell and Muladhara chakra
There is a definite connection among the muladhara chakra and the sense of smell. This fact is clearly depicted in many yogic scriptures and you can also feel it for yourself.
Sequence
This kriya should be performed instantly after maha bheda mudra and before tadan kriya.
The body retains vigor and health.
Perfectly done Manduki Mudra leads directly to meditation.
Video of Manduki Kriya (kriya 8) from Youtube:
The Kriya Method
Firstly talking about the Sitting Pose; the sitting position required for manduki mudra is ‘Bhadrasana,’ also known as ‘the gentleman's pose’. There are 3 variations in the Bhadrasana pose, and you can choose the one which is best suited to you.
1) Traditional Method
This one is a complicated Bhadrasana method and it can be done only by the people who have very flexible legs. The traditional method can be done as follows:
Sit in Vajrasana pose. Place the feet in a way that they point opposite to each other and away from the body. Move the knees away from each other as far as possible without strain, and allow the buttocks to rest firmly on the floor. Put your hands on the knees by situating the palms down-wards. Hold the head and spine upright. That’s it; this is the final pose of Traditional Bhadrasana method.
2) Alternative Method
This one is a much easier Bhadrasana method and it is more commonly used by people who practice the kriya yoga. This method is almost similar to the traditional method with only one exception; here the feet point towards each other with the soles pointing in upward direction. Rest is same as the above method. Move the knees away from each other as far as possible and allow the buttocks to rest on the floor. Place the hands on the knees by situating the palms down-wards and hold the head and spine upright.
3) Method for Beginners
There are many people for whom both the above method sounds very difficult. Are you one of them??? Just don’t worry, prefer any of the above 2 techniques according to the flexibility of your legs. Fold a blanket several times and place under the buttocks. It will apply a firm pressure on muladhara chakra trigger point. The main motto of this sitting pose is pressing the muladhara chakra trigger point; no matter whether it is done by the floor or by the top of the blanket.
Now, let's come to the proper Manduki Mudra Technique.
Manduki Mudra Technique
Sit in your preferred Bhadrasana pose from above three poses. Make sure that your buttocks are firmly resting on the floor or on the top of the folded blanket. Hold the head and spine erect, and relax the arms. Close your eyes and relax the entire body.
Open your eyes after sometime and then perform nasikagra drishti (nose tip gazing) by focusing both eyes on the tip of nose.
Be acquainted with the natural flow of breath from the nostrils and envisage that the flow of breath of both nostrils gathers at the eyebrow centre. The flow of breath from two nostrils meets with each other at eyebrow centre as you breathe in. And as you breathe out, the two flows deviate from the eyebrow centre and move outwards from nostrils. Be completely acquainted with this natural flow of breath, which alternately converges and diverges. Feel it.
At the same time, be acquainted with smell, all smells. Here the aim is trying to smell the astral body, which has a subtle aroma that is said to be similar to the pervading fragrance of sandalwood.
Keep on to be acquainted with both the flow of breath and the sense of smell.
If your eyes become exhausted, then let them rest for a minute prior to performing nasikagra drishti again. Keep on the practice until you feel ecstasy, and the senses and mind become introverted. Proceed directly to the next kriya, when you feel some ecstasy.
Some Points of Consideration
DurationManduki Mudra has no fixed duration period. It should be performed until you experience a feeling of ecstasy, but do not wait eagerly for hours and hours. Appropriate duration of practice is 5-10 minutes.
Breathing
Breathing must be deep and slow.
Awareness
You should be acquainted with both the breathing process and sense of smell.
Eyes’ Position
Your eyes should be focused on the nose tip correctly. If you will do this properly then the end of your nose will look like a lingam. Fix your concentration on this nose lingam. Consider also that the eyes should be neither completely closed nor widely open. The eyes must be half closed that is the same as saying that they must be half open.
Light
Manduki Mudra cannot be performed in darkness. It has to be performed in mild light; hence one can see the tip of the nose.
Smell and Muladhara chakra
There is a definite connection among the muladhara chakra and the sense of smell. This fact is clearly depicted in many yogic scriptures and you can also feel it for yourself.
Sequence
This kriya should be performed instantly after maha bheda mudra and before tadan kriya.
Benefits of Manduki Mudra
The nose tip gazing or nasikagra drishti affects the brain centers associated with our most deep-rooted drives and instincts, and calms the fluctuations and disturbances of the mind. As well, it balances the nadis (nerves) ‘ida’ and ‘pingala’, and thereby brings balance between extroversion and introversion.The body retains vigor and health.
Perfectly done Manduki Mudra leads directly to meditation.
Video of Manduki Kriya (kriya 8) from Youtube:
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