Kali Mudra is a sacred hand gesture with immense spiritual and physical benefits. Here’s all you need to know about this powerful mudra and how to do it.
What is Kali Mudra? Its Meaning, References, and Mythology
According to Hindu Mythology, Kali is a goddess of fearlessness.
She is also considered the epitome of Empowerment. Kali also represents the power that is hidden within ourselves; this is the power that we are not aware that we have. The courage that we have to fight difficulties.
So, if we simplify this Mudra, then.
The word Kali stands for fearlessness and hidden power,
The Word Mudra stands for Hasta Mudra or hand gesture/seal.
According to Hindu Mythology, she is also considered a destroyer. She destroys negativity within us.
Besides this, Kali Mudra also represents female power. Most Yogic texts consider Moon as feminine energy that has a calm or subtle response. Therefore, this Mudra can be practiced in restorative yoga sequences. It brings positive changes within ourselves. Therapeutic yoga sequences are designed to relax our bodies; they aim to let go of all the negativities. Restorative practices also help to get rid of everything that is causing stress, anxiety, and depression. We are familiar that these three terms have become like bad neighbors to us.
Whom you should never permit to enter your house; at this point, I am seriously hoping that you have good neighbors. Otherwise, you can take this example quite literally. To sum it up, practicing this Mudra will help you to Relax.
This Mudra helps to destroy the darkness that you experience within your mind and illuminates a brighter light. You feel more active and less burdened. So, if your mind has a bad habit of keeping negative thoughts within itself, then it will help to get rid of all of such thoughts.
This Mudra also helps to activate the upper Chakras. To experience this Mudra’s effects on your body, you can start by sitting in any meditative posture and practicing some form of meditation with the intention of removal of all the negativity. Try choosing a meditation technique that has more emphasis on the removal of negativity.
This is one of the Mudras that you might have been doing when stressed but you had no idea about.
Also See: Online Yoga Teacher Training
How to Do Kali Mudra?
- Kali Mudra does not require you to perform while seated in any meditative posture. You can perform it while practicing standing postures such as warrior poses(Virabhadrasana) or sitting postures such as Lotus pose and Auspicious Pose.
- It is believed that to maximize the benefits of this Mudra, you should practice it during meditation. If done right during the meditation practice, then it will help you to overcome the negativities that have surrounded you.
- Join your palms together in Namaskar or Anjali Mudra. Keep it at heart level but slightly away from the body. However, you can practice this Mudra while extending your arms up or while resting the arms on the pubis.
- Now, slowly and gently interlace your fingers together in such a manner that you keep your right fingers over the left one while interlacing them.
- Gently extend your index fingers and join them from their roots to their tips.
- Keep your neck and spine comfortably straight to avoid any backache.
- Completely close your eyes.
- Practice deep breathing; if possible, try to keep a 1:2 inhalation and exhalation ratio. This will enable you to remove negativity from your body in the form of carbon dioxide.
- You can perform this Mudra while practicing different forms of meditation and pranayama. But to gain maximum benefits keep an intention to remove the negativity around you.
Benefits of Kali Mudra
- Kali Mudra has immense benefits; it helps in the removal of negativity. It keeps the body energized and active.
- It destroys Stress, Anxiety, and depression.
- It also destroys negative emotions. We all sometimes face negative emotions; if we do not have good emotional intelligence, it could cause problems. This Mudra can improve our emotional intelligence as well.
- It also detoxifies our internal organs and systems.
- It improves energy flow inside and outside of our bodies.
- Helps in Insomnia as well.
Precautions and Contraindications of Kali Mudra
- One should take adequate rest.
- Drink plenty of water and practice Pranayamas.
- Remember to be gentle with your hands and body.
- Practice it during meditation to gain maximum benefits.
- This Mudra should not be practiced for too long.
When and How long to do Kali Mudra?
- You can practice this if you want to remove negative energies in and around you.
- This Mudra can be practiced when you feel that you want to clean your internal body.
- This Mudra can be practiced if you feel you are suffering from an unknown emotional cause.
- If you want to detoxify your mind and body.
Morning is the ideal time to do any yoga or Mudra. In the morning, at this time during the daytime, our brain is at its best. So, you are more likely to be able to concentrate easily. Therefore, you should practice this Mudra from 4 am and 6 am to get the most effective outcomes.
If you are having difficulty with this during the morning hours, you can do this Mudra later in the evening too.
Practicing this Mudra for a minimum of 20-25 minutes daily is recommended. Whether you wish to complete it in one stretch or in two threes that last between 10 and 15 minutes, it’s up to you. Based on research, the best way to practice an exercise for at least 20 minutes is to get the best benefits of that particular Mudra.
Breathing in Kali Mudra
There are several types of breathing that we can practice with this Mudra. However, the most suitable breathing technique for this Mudra is:
- You should practice deep breaths with a ratio of 1:2 inhalation and exhalation ratio. This will enable you to add a layer of detoxification and negative energy removal.
Visualization in Kali Mudra
Visualize the following picture. You are practicing this Mudra on the bank of the holy Ganges (Ganga) river. When you exhale, you shred the negativities later purified by the sacred Ganges. Relax and let go of all the negativities. Liberate yourself from all the impurities.
Affirmation in Kali Mudra
While practicing this, Keep a positive intention. Start with: I am letting go of all the negativities within me. I am pure.
Conclusion
The Kali Mudra is a hand gesture that has many meanings and references. It is named after the Hindu goddess Kali, who is known as the destroyer of evil. This mudra can be used for protection, strength, and power. If you are interested in learning more about this powerful mudra or want to know how to do it yourself, consider enrolling in our Mudra Certification Course. In this course, you will learn about the 108 different mudras and how to use them for personal growth and development.
