Benefits of Brahma Mudra and How to Do it By Dr. Himani Bisht

Introduction:

Yoga, in its true sense is more than just an exercise, it is a lifestyle. Yoga shows tremendous potential in the prevention and management of many diseases. Mudras are a type of yoga. Mudra is a Sanskrit term which mean gestures. They are simple in nature and can provide a range of benefits. 

Mudras are often performed using hand gestures or by the movement of the head and eyes. Mudras are meant to lock and guide energy flow through the body. There are many types of mudras, and brahma mudra is one of them.¹ 

In this modern day and age, neck pain has become a very common issue as we are constantly glued to our devices. Are you also suffering from neck pains? Brahma mudra is just right for you! Let us see more interesting benefits and aspects of brahma mudra. 

What is Brahma Mudra?

Brahma mudra is one of the types of mudras. Brahma is a Sanskrit word meaning divine, sacred or complete. Brahma mudra is also known as purna mudra or kanthasana. Brahma mudra involves the coordination of the head, neck and fingers along with Omkar chanting sounds.³ 

‘Bija’ or ‘beeja’ is a Sanskrit term meaning seed. ‘Bija’ sounds or seed mantras are short mantras that balance and align our chakras.¹³ The usage of single or compound letters is characteristic of ‘bija’ mantras. These letters are called ‘bija akshara’.¹⁴ They involve the chanting of vibrational sounds like AAA, EEE, UUU and MMM, which collectively make the Omkar sound.³ 

Brahma mudra is practised by moving your head in four different directions, which is believed to help us look at different viewpoints and make an informed decision.¹⁵ 

How to Do It?

One must sit comfortably in a quiet environment to get optimum results. You should wear loose clothing and remove any kind of jewellery and ornaments which may obstruct the flow or get caught in clothes while performing brahma mudra. The following are the steps to perform brahma mudra: 

• Sit in a comfortable position like vajrasana or padmasana, and keep your spine as straight as possible. 
• Vajrasana is a kneeling pose where you kneel on the floor with your toes and ankles aligned and sit on the back of your legs as you exhale. 
• In padmasana, a person sits in a cross-legged manner with their feet placed on the opposite thighs. 
• Then make fists with both your hands and place the thumb inside the fist at the base of the palm. 
• Place both your hands in front of the navel with the opposite knuckles of the hands touching each other. 
• Close your eyes and relax the head, neck and spine area. 
• Keep all your focus on breathing deeply. 
• Inhale to a count of six and move your head to the right.  
• Now turn your head back to the central position and exhale while making vibrational sounds like AAA. 
• Slowly move your head to the left, inhaling to a count of six. Then move your head back to the central position and exhale while making the vibrational sound UUU. 
• Lift your chin slowly, as if trying to look up at the sky, and inhale for six counts. Now exhale and make the sound EEE as you return your head to the centre. 
• Lastly, as you inhale for six counts, lower your head and bring your chin to your chest. Slowly return the head back to the central position while exhaling and making the sound MMM. 
• Perform three to nine rounds of this practice at each sitting.^2,3 

I think that by incorporating Brahma Mudra into your routine, you might experience a soothing sensation in your head and neck area. This yoga technique may bring a relaxing and revitalising effect to your head and neck, promoting a sense of calm and rejuvenation.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

Do You Know?

Here are some fun facts about brahma mudra: 

• The word Brahma mudra is derived from the name of a Hindu creator god- Brahma, meaning divine or sacred. 
• The mudra is also known as ‘the gesture of the god of creation’ or ‘the gesture of all-pervading consciousness’. 
• Brahma mudra has been mentioned in Rigveda, where it is advised to clarify the senses. 

I recommend integrating Brahma Mudra into your routine as it might enhance focus, concentration, and mental clarity. This powerful yoga practice is especially beneficial for students, as it may strengthen the mind and improve mental strength.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Benefits of Brahma Mudra:

Brahma mudra is one of the simplest gestures and has many potential benefits. Here are some probable benefits of brahma mudra: 

1. Benefits of brahma mudra for neck pain

A study was done by Jagadevan et al. in 2021 on the additive effects of brahma mudra on non-mechanical neck pain. The study was done for six weeks in two groups: one group with brahma mudra practice as an additive therapy and a group which did not do the gesture. The Brahma mudra group showed a notable decrease in pain and helped in the betterment of neck mobility. However, further studies are required to check if brahma mudra may be beneficial in managing neck pain. Therefore, it is recommended to consult your doctor.⁴ 

2. Benefits of brahma mudra on the heart

A study was conducted by Bhavanani et al. in 2016 on the cardiovascular parameters of the transgender population. Heart rate and blood pressure were monitored in a group of 106 people before and after attending the yogic relaxation programme. The results showed a healthy reduction in the heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac indices of the patients. Although there is a potential for brahma mudra to be used in managing heart diseases, further studies are required to ensure its practice. Therefore, it is advised to consult your doctor if you are experiencing any cardiovascular issues.⁵ 

3. Benefits of brahma mudra for blood pressure

Hypertension is one of the most prevalent disorders. A study was done by Bhavanani in 2011 on the normalization of blood pressure using yoga. The study showed the possible benefits of brahma mudra with other yoga therapies in the management of hypertension. However, more research is yet to be done to confirm if brahma mudra may be beneficial for lowering or managing blood pressure. Therefore, you must consult your doctor for abnormal blood pressure instead of self-medicating.⁶ 

4. Benefits of brahma mudra for diabetes

Balaji et al. in 2019, carried out a study on the role of adjuvant yoga therapy in diabetic patients along with modern medication. In patients having diabetes, the lungs are also affected, which may lead to pulmonary dysfunction. The results showed a significant role of brahma mudra, along with other yoga therapies in the management of diabetes and an improvement in pulmonary function. More research, however, is required to demonstrate the impact of brahma mudra on diabetes. Therefore, please see your doctor for better health outcomes.⁷ 

Other benefits of brahma mudra:

• It may have potential benefits in voice training, showing an improvement in the acoustic parameters of the teachers. 
• It might be beneficial in the cognitive development of children in terms of attention, perception and observation. 
• It may be performed to reduce stress. 
• It also might be beneficial for normalizing reflex mechanisms. Reflex mechanisms are the involuntary response of our body to external stimuli. This means brahma mudra may have an effect on improving the reduced reflex responses. 
• It might help increase oxygen saturation in covid-19 patients.^8–11 

Yoga practice might be useful to stimulate the mind and body. That being said, it should not be used as an alternative to any medicine. One should not rely on yoga alone to treat any condition. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional who will be able to assess your condition properly. Moreover, it is important to practice and learn yoga under the supervision of a certified yoga teacher to avoid any injuries.   

From what I’ve noticed, Brahma Mudra is a meditative mudra that might assist the mind in reaching higher states of meditation. By practising this mudra, you may create a conducive environment for deepening your meditation practice and bringing a sense of calm to the mind.

Dr. Smita Barode, B.A.M.S, M.S.

Risks of Brahma Mudra:

Some common risks associated with performing brahma mudra are as follows: 

• Brahma mudra requires neck movement. This should be done carefully and slowly without any strain on the neck. Sudden or jerky movements may put you at risk of pulling a muscle. 
• You should avoid practising brahma mudra or perform it under the guidance of a professional if you are suffering from conditions like arthritis, or vertigo or if you suffer from chronic nose bleeding. 
• You should also avoid performing brahma mudra if you have any neck or head injuries. 
• If done improperly, there might be a risk of injury to the spine or stomach muscles. 
• Pregnant women, the elderly and children should be careful while performing this gesture. 
• For people with breathing disorders, it is recommended not to perform brahma mudra for a long period of time.¹² 

With the guidance of an experienced and certified yoga instructor, we can further analyse the risk factors and continue to practice exercise with precautions. 

Conclusion:

Mudras have been used for decades. Brahma mudra is said to be mentioned in the ancient literature of Rigveda. In Sanskrit, the term brahma means divine or sacred and mudras define gestures for the hand, head and eyes. Brahma mudra finds its potential benefits in the management of neck pain, blood pressure, diabetes and hypertension. It may also be used for the cognitive development of children and in the management of stress disorders. 

It is advised to do brahma mudra under the guidance of a certified yoga trainer or an experienced professional to get the maximum benefit.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

References:

1. Rajput M. The source, meanings and use of “Mudra” across religions. International Journal of Computational Research and Development [Internet]. 2016 [cited 22 September 2022];1(1):36-41. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shahid-Rajput/publication/308693036_The_Source_Meanings_And_Use_Of_Mudra_Across_Religions/links/58133ff908aedc7d8961c693/The-Source-Meanings-And-Use-Of-Mudra-Across-Religions.pdf    

2. BHAVANANI, Yogacharya Dr ANANDA BALAYOGI. “BASIC PRACTICE OF SOME PRANAYAMAS.” Available at: http://icyer.com/documents/36.pdf  

3. Bhavanani AB. Yoga for dental professional: Scope and simplified practices. Journal of Scientific Dentistry. 2017;7(1):1-1. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ananda-Bhavanani/publication/320615682_YOGA_FOR_DENTAL_PROFESSIONAL_SCOPE_AND_SIMPLIFIED_PRACTICES/links/59fe921eaca272347a27ef05/YOGA-FOR-DENTAL-PROFESSIONAL-SCOPE-AND-SIMPLIFIED-PRACTICES.pdf  

4. Jagadevan, Mohanakrishnan, et al. “Additive Effect of ‘Brahma Mudra’ on Pain, Proprioception and Functional Abilities in Non-Specific Mechanical Neck Pain.” Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, vol. 27, 2021, pp. 717–722., Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2021.06.015  

5. Bhavanani AB, Ramanathan M, Trakroo M, Thirusangu S. Effects of a single session of yogic relaxation on cardiovascular parameters in a transgender population. International Journal of Physiology. 2016 Jan;4(1):27-31. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hemamalini-Rv/publication/294103553_Prevalence_of_Microalbuminuria-An_Early_Detector_of_Diabetic_Nephropathy/links/5811adab08aea04bbcbd5ae3/Prevalence-of-Microalbuminuria-An-Early-Detector-of-Diabetic-Nephropathy.pdf#page=32 
6. Balaji, Rajasekar et al. “Effectiveness of Adjuvant Yoga Therapy in Diabetic Lung: A Randomized Control Trial.” International journal of yoga vol. 12,2 (2019): 96-102. doi:10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_20_18 Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6521747/  

7. Relekar SA, Mukundan G. Effect of a voice training program on acoustic voice parameters in secondary school teachers. Int J Health Sci Res. 2017;7:258-63. Available at: https://www.ijhsr.org/IJHSR_Vol.7_Issue.5_May2017/40.pdf  

8. Verma A, Shete SU, SinGh thAKU G. The effect of yoga practices on cognitive development in rural residential school children in India. Memory. 2014;6(2.80):6-24. Available at: https://njlm.net/articles/PDF/2015/4-%208281_CE(Ra)_F(Sh)_PF1(AGAK)_PFA(P).pdf  

9. Sharma T, Sharma AK, Meena R. IMPORTANCE OF YOGA AND AYURVEDA IN PREVENTION OF HEALTHY LIFE IN NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASE. Available at: https://wjpr.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/article_issue/f654d81bf909f8156debbfc88eabcdd5.pdf  

10. Ramanathan M, Bhavanani AB. Immediate effect of pranava pranayama on oxygen saturation and heart rate in healthy volunteers: A single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Available at: https://www.mjdrdypv.org/preprintarticle.asp?id=365373  

11. Sharma, Divyansh, and Deep Solanki. “Brahma Mudra: Meaning, Practice, and Benefits.” Siddhi Yoga, 7 Jan. 2023, Available at: https://www.siddhiyoga.com/yoga/practice/mudra/brahma-mudra.  

12. Dudeja JP. Scientific analysis of mantra-based meditation and its beneficial effects: An overview. International Journal of Advanced Scientific Technologies in Engineering and Management Sciences. 2017 Jun;3(6):21-6. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jai-Dudeja/publication/318395933_Scientific_Analysis_of_Mantra-Based_Meditation_and_its_Beneficial_Effects_An_Overview/links/5baa003192851ca9ed23aabd/Scientific-Analysis-of-Mantra-Based-Meditation-and-its-Beneficial-Effects-An-Overview.pdf  

13. Pandit MP. Japa (Mantra Yoga). Lotus Press; 1999. Available at: https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Japa_Mantra_Yoga/rrsYvUDnUK8C?hl=en&gbpv=0  

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