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Karana Mudra

Last updated: December 21, 2023

What Does Karana Mudra Mean?

Karana mudra is a sacred hand gesture or "seal" used during yoga and meditation practice as a means of channeling the flow of vital life force energy known as prana.

The karana mudra helps to dispel negativity, anxiety, fear and depression whilst enhancing feelings of happiness and contentment. It stimulates Fire and Ether elements within the body, represented by the thumb and middle finger respectively.

Karana mudra is a hasta mudra, which means it is carried out with the hands. To perform this mudra, the left hand is brought up to the heart, palm facing forward. The ring and middle fingers fold in toward the center of the palm, held down gently by the tip of the thumb. The index and little fingers point straight upward.

There are no contraindications to this mudra and it should be held for a minimum of 15 minutes.

Karana mudra is also known as the "gesture for warding off evil."

Karana Mudra

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Yogapedia Explains Karana Mudra

Karana mudra is popular within the Buddhist tradition, and the Buddha is often depicted performing this gesture. In Buddhism, karana mudra is believed to remove obstacles, cultivate inner peace and guide the practitioner towards enlightenment.

In yoga, this gesture is used to cultivate a strong energy that has the power to eliminate negative prana from body, mind and spirit.

Although karana mudra may be used during asana practice, it is most commonly performed during meditation. Chanting a mantra may help to enhance the benefits of karana mudra, particularly those which are intended to overcome obstacles such as Ganesha Mantra.

Ironically, karana mudra is similar to the Western gesture "sign of the horns," generally used as a symbol of the devil. Not only is karana mudra used to ward off rather than represent evil, but the two gestures differ slightly in that sign of the horns generally does not use the tip of the thumb to hold down the middle and ring fingers. Instead, the thumb is either extended or the entire length of the thumb covers the middle and ring fingers.

According to Feng Shui principles, images of the Buddha performing karana mudra should not face the front door, as this space should have a welcoming energy. They should also not be placed in a bedroom or children’s room.

The best placement for karana mudra in the home is a problem area which is either low in energy or in need of a strong energetic clearing,


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Synonyms

Warding Off Evil Mudra

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