YONI MUDRA
Fifth limb of Ashtanga yoga is ‘Pratyahar’. It is the bridge of raj and
hath yoga. It takes the practitioner to the highest stage of
development in the spiritual path and no further technique of
practice will be necessary for him. He will thereafter enjoy
realization of Supreme spirit. Pratyahar has the purpose of
controlling of the senses from their wayward and outward travel
and turning them inward in order to channelize all the faculties in
man towards contemplation of the self. Without this no one can
achieve anything worthwhile in yoga.
Nature of our senses is always running outside. Eyes always want
to see or watch, nose always smell, tongue tastes, etc. They are
sources of exhausting our vital energy. 75 % of our energy is
exhausted by our eyes through its activities. We must have
noticed that after feeding her child, mothers make their kids sleep.
If child is awake, his/her energy will be exhausted. In sleeping,
food energy helps child to grow. Since, child eats less, energy is
also less.
Getting our senses inward is called pratyahar. How a tortoise pulls
all his organs inside, the same way we need to orient our senses
inwards. Generally man is able to utilize only ten per cent of his
energy. Control over the senses will give a hundred per cent use of
the forces available in him and channelize them all to the search of
the spirit. Our yogis have given much careful thought to this
important aspect of utilization. The non-use of 90 per cent occurs
because it is dissipated in and through the senses of sight, hearing,
smelling, etc. for temporary and worthless pleasure. If the senses
can be arrested and dissipation of vital energy is prevented, man
can develop tremendously in all ways. He can then realize the
noble purpose of his life.
Yoni mudra is the best among the techniques designed for
effective pratyahar. It results in relaxation, centralization of
thoughts, inward search for the spirit, disassociation of the mind
from the outside world and visualization of the God. It frees the
practitioner from the grip of the mundane ties and enables his
spiritual journey to yogic path.
The practitioner is advised to perform kapalbhati or pranayama
first. It will condition him well and produce the right attitude to
derive maximum benefit from yonimudra. He should start with
saluting his spiritual master or guru first.
Method-
Sit in any meditative pose, preferably ardha padmasana.
Close the ears with the thumbs of the respective hands.
Close your eyes and put index fingers on them gently.
Close the nostrils with the middle fingers.
Close the mouth well with the help of ring and small finger.
The arms are to be kept at shoulder plates.
The spine should be erect, head straight up, and chest
forward. T
The abdomen should be under control.
Suck the anus upward.
You will visualize a different light in front of your eyes,
concentrate on that light.
Otherwise, there would be some different sound,
concentrate on the sound.
We can either concentrate on sound or light.
We should do it regularly, it becomes sanskara.
!0-15 min. practice is required to get the maximum
benefits of yonimudra.
Suggestions-
Yonimudra practice is to be done only after practitioner
has had ample and sound experience of many other
practices, meditative and therapeutic asanas,
pranayama and kriyas, and has gained sufficient
physical ability and power of endurance and patience.
If he does not qualify himself well, the practice of
yonimudra will not give him wonderful benefits it is
capable of conferring.
All the attention should be on yoni mudra.
It should be practiced after pranayama.
While doing this, we should not press the eyeballs or
nostrils forcefully. It should be possible for the
practitioner to breath slowly and peacefully.
If pain is observed at the elbows of the hands by
holding them on the level with the shoulders, thereis
no n\harm in allowing them elbows come down a little,
Duration- 5 mins in the beginning to be increased
gradually to atleast 30 mins.
Benefits-
By engaging our mind on sound or light, we hear
the sound of ‘naad brahma’. By regular practice, we
can control our senses.
We can develop will power and mental power. It is
starting practice of tapa.
It also develops endurance power.
It also helps to reduce pulse rate and breathing
palpitation rate. It reduces high blood pressure.
It turns mind inwards.
It develops the concentration power of mind.
It gives inner strength and removes fear.
It calms the emotions.
Practitioner gets a feeling of satisfaction and
happiness, and has a wonderful experience as
never before.
All frustration and depression is removed.
Cheerfulness resulting from the practice lasts for
many hours after it is stopped.
The eyes get a refreshingly cool feeling.
The practitioner feels so happy after completing the
mudra that he does not like to talk for sometime
after it, because he is so engrossed in enjoying his
experience mentally.
It is a foundation of listening inner sound that is
‘naad brahma’.
It is one of the effective psycho-somatic practice to
cure hypertension, heart problems, depression etc.
It can be done after meal also in vajrasan posture.
