Mudra
The Sanskrit word mudra is translated as ‘gesture’ or ‘attitude’. Mudras can be described as psychic, emotional, devotional, and aesthetic gestures or attitudes. Yogis have experienced mudras as attitudes of energy flow, intended to link individual pranic force with universal or cosmic force.”
The Kularnava Tantra traces the word mudra to the root mud meaning ‘delight’ or ‘pleasure’ and dravay, the causal form of dru which means ‘to draw forth’. Mudra is also defined as a ‘seal’, ‘short-cut’, or ‘circuit by-pass’. Mudras are a combination of subtle physical movements which alter mood, attitude, and perception and deepen awareness and concentration.
A mudra may involve the whole body in a combination of asana, pranayama, bandha, and visualization techniques or it may be a simple hand position. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika and other yogic texts consider mudra to be a yojana, an independent branch of yoga, requiring a very subtle awareness. Mudras are introduced after some proficiency has been attained in asana, pranayama, and bandha, and gross blockages have been removed.
HATHA YOGA PRADIPIKA 3.5
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयात्नेन प्रबोधायितुमेश्वरम।
ब्रह्मद्वारमुखे सुप्तम मुद्राभ्यासम् समचारेत।
Tasmaatsarvaprayatnena prabodhayitumeeshvaram.
Brahmadvaaramukhe suptaam mudraabhyaasam samaacharet.
Therefore the goddess sleeping at the entrance of Brahma’s door should be constantly aroused with all effort, by performing mudra thoroughly.
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