Makara Mudra: Meaning, Benefits, and How to Do

Learn about the Makara Mudra – its meaning, benefits, and how to do it. This Mudra is great for improving your overall health and well-being.

Definition – What is Makara Mudra and its Meaning, References, and Mythology?

The Makara Mudra is Hasta Mudra or hand gesture/seal. In Sanskrit, the word “Makara” describes a Crocodile.

This Mudra is also known as Crocodile Gesture. According to Yogic beliefs, they are caused by the loss of positive energies and when negative energies take over within our bodies. Today our lives are deeply affected by stress, anxiety, and depression.

Makara also represents the union of opposites or different powers, such as the water and earth elements, as crocodiles symbolize survivability on the water and Earth.

This Mudra also helps to put our hidden power/energy to use. It helps to channelize our hidden energies.

This Mudra also helps to activate the Swadisthan Chakra or the Sacral Chakra. Sacral Chakra is located below the Navel region. If there is any emotion or stress within this region, then this Mudra helps to alleviate it. If you practice it in the right way with proper techniques, then it will help you to awaken your Swadisthan Chakra. Swadisthan Chakra has a mantra, “Yam” if you start practicing meditation with mantra and by assuming this Mudra, you can get the maximum benefits. It helps you to liberate yourself from your emotions. You learn to keep control of your emotions, and you teach your body that you are the master and your mind should do as you desire.

It also helps to activate energies that are stored within your kidneys. Your kidneys produce a very important hormone called Corticosteroids. This hormone helps our body in various ways, such as it controls our body’s temperature. It also helps to control the water inside the body. Our kidneys are mainly responsible for the elimination of water waste. This also helps to control your stress response.

You might have seen that nowadays, many doctors advise taking steroids if they find that condition of a person requires it. On the other hand, many individuals take steroids in their gymnasiums. However, steroids should not be taken for a purpose like that. Practicing this Mudra can improve your natural corticosteroid level to an optimum mark. This Mudra also helps to produce energies that are required to perform various tasks in your day-to-day activities

Alternate Name of Makara Mudra

Crocodile Gesture.

How to Do Makara Mudra?

• This is one of the Mudras that can be practiced while holding different postures if you feel comfortable.
• However, similar to other Mudras, to gain maximum benefits from this Mudra, you can start by sitting in any comfortable meditative posture (Sukhasana, Padmasana, or Swastikasana). The only criterion is that you should be comfortable practicing this Mudra for 10-15 mins. Keep your spinal health in check.
• Keep your neck and spine comfortably erect.
• Rest both of your palms comfortably on your knee. Palms facing upward towards the sky.
• Gently close your eyes.
• Start by keeping the right palm over the left palm in such a manner that they feel like they are crossing each other.
• Then, form a gap between the little finger and the ring finger of your right hand and pass the left thumb through it such that the left thumb should touch the middlemost part of the right palm.
• Join the thumb and the ring finger of your right hand while the other fingers remain extended and spread them out.
• Observe the dark space behind your eyes.
• Witness your entire mind and body. Witness your breath without losing awareness of your breath.
• Breathe deeper and longer. With every passing breath, make your breathing even deeper.
• You can practice it with different Pranayamas, such as Ujjayi Pranayama and Bhastrika Pranayama, and with different yogic postures.

Makara Mudra Benefits

• It makes you more aware and mindful at work, home, etc.
• It stimulates the kidneys and the adrenal glands system around it, which produces energy to do moderate to difficult activities. So you feel more energized.
• It makes you more confident and promotes positive energies within you.
• It can help to awaken the Swadisthan Chakra or the Sacral Chakra.
• It helps to regulate the flow of energy in our bodies.
• It helps to overcome bad feelings.
• It improves mental concentration.

Makara Mudra Precautions and Contraindications

Similar to all other Mudra practices, it has no side effects.

However, there are a few things to consider:

• Do not firmly press your finger against each other. They should be slightly touching each other and not put excessive pressure.

• Keep your spine comfortably erect.

When and how long to do Makara Mudra?

• This Mudra can be practiced if you want to awaken your Sacral Chakra.

• You can practice this Mudra if you want to focus more on your life, as it also increases concentration.

• If you want to become more active and joyful, you should try it.

• If you have stress issues, then it serves a great value.

Morning is the ideal time to do any yoga or Mudra. Our brain is at its best in the morning and during the daytime. 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, you can do this Mudra later in the evening too.

Practicing this Mudra for a minimum of 30-40 minutes daily is recommended. Whether you wish to complete it in one stretch or 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 Makara Mudra

There are three types of breathing we can practice with this Mudra.

• Abdominal Breathing.

• Thoracic Breathing.

• Yogic Breathing (Abdominal Breathing, Thoracic Breathing & Clavicle breathing.)

Visualization in Makara Mudra

• Visualize a pond of blue water.
• The water is so pure and clear.
• You can see through everything inside.
• Visualize different objects of concentration, such as fish and crocodiles, within it.

Affirmation in Makara Mudra

“Cosmic energies are always there to support me whenever I need them; I cannot fall.”

Conclusion

Makara Mudra is a gesture that has both spiritual and physical benefits. The mythology and references to the Mudra are vast and can be seen in many cultures worldwide. If you want to learn more about this Mudra or explore its possibilities for your practice, consider signing up for our Mudra certification course. In this course, you’ll learn all 108 Mudras, their benefits, and how to use them effectively.