Linga Mudra: How to Do, Benefits, Precautions, and More

• Meaning
• Benefits
• How to Do?
• Effect on Doshas
• Duration
• Time
• Preparatory exercise
• Precautions

Linga Mudra is made by interlocking the fingers of both hands together (knuckle pointing out) and then upright the thumb.

This mudra is known to have the potential impact of generating heat and enhancing breathing capacity in the body. Upright thumb position in this mudra is considered a symbol of the Hindu god Lord Shiva.

Meaning & Significance

The shape of the hands and upright thumb in linga mudra looks similar to the erect penis (phallus). In Sanskrit, the phallus is termed as Linga, hence this mudra is called Linga mudra. It’s also called “upright mudra”.

Interlocked fingers in linga mudra make the firm oval-shaped foundation that holds the upright formless structure. The bottom interlaced fingers represent the Supreme Power that holds the entire Universe on it and the straight thumb shows the creation.

In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is worshipped in many forms, and Shiva Linga as Lingeshwara; lord of the phallus is most common among all. The reason for worshipping Shiva Linga ¹ comes from the fact it symbolizes masculinity and has the power of creation.

Benefits of Linga Mudra

The main benefit of Linga mudra is its ability to generate heat within your body. This heat generation can help your body fight many infections, common cold, mucus production, general lung disorders, bronchial cold, and fever regulation.

The core heat helps you enhance your metabolism and respiratory functions. And the fever regulation benefits your immunity and infection-fighting ability. Linga mudra has few prominent appendage benefits as well:

• Effective in weight loss
• Have proved beneficial in increasing oxygen level ²
• Relieves cold and flu
• Fights bacterial and viral infections
• Reduces mucus production and mobilized accumulated mucus
• fights bronchial infections and disorders
• Improves digestion
• Eliminates lethargy and laziness
• Increases self-confidence and willpower
• Fortify immunity system
• Enhance sexual potency and health
• Can ease menstruations in women

How to Do Linga Mudra?

To begin with, come in any comfortable position. Then bring your hands in front of the chest.

Interlock the fingers of both hands so that knuckle pointing outward. Point your right thumb straight upward, and take your left index finger and left thumb around your right thumb. Join the fingertips of your left index finger and left thumb together behind your right thumb.

Alternatively practice linga mudra by sticking up your left thumb, and encircling it with right index finger and right thumb. You can rest your hand on your lap next to your solar plexus. Ideally this mudra should be practiced for 45 minutes per day. At a stretch or three parts of 15 minutes each. However, you can start by practicing in three parts, with 5 minutes in each part.

Body postures to perform linga mudra

Linga mudra can be performed in different seated and standing positions. You can casually sit in a chair, with an erect spine and try this mudra. This is the most casual way of practicing. However, in a yoga way, perform mudra sitting in a sukhasana, padmasana, or any other cross-legged sitting pose. The cross-legged sitting poses will enhance your immunity, metabolism, and concentration. You can also sit in a Vajrasana that will enhance the digestion benefits.

However, if one wants, one can do linga mudra in the standing or walking position as well. While doing so, stand straight with your legs hip-width apart. Keep your spine erect, maintain length in your spine, press your shoulders down, and push back your head in the line of your hip.

Effect on 3 Doshas

The five fingers in your hands represent five elements (and thus different groups of energies, Vata, pitta, Kapha,) fire, air, space, earth, and water.

The finger interlocking technique of Linga Mudra allows the elements air, space, and earth to merge and overlap and lets the elements air and fire stand out. This mudra will increase the interaction between air and fire elements; air always helps the fire to spread. The fire represents the heat and vitality of your body. This mudra uses the air element to stimulate the fire element and spread the force of vitality and vigor throughout your body and mind.

The Linga Mudra establishes Pitta (air and fire)- Kapha (water and earth) balance in your body. Pitta stimulating nature (stimulation to digestion and metabolism) of linga mudra will ensure, the Kapha energies are in check. Excessive Kapha energies can cause issues like depression, lethargy, asthma, and weight gain.

How long to practice?

Yoga mudras are generally practiced for 45 minutes a day. It is important that even for Linga mudra you strictly adhere to this time duration.

Overdoing linga mudra can increase your body temperature beyond safe limits. Overdoing may break the Pitta-Kapha balance and could make you feel sluggish or feverish. Also, it can show side effects such as high blood pressure, heavy sweating, nausea, and dehydration.

As a matter of fact, these sensations can be considered as duration-determining parameters. Once you start to get these sensations, it is for sure that you need to reduce your overall duration.

Different people have different constructs so if you start feeling heating sensations, even before 45 minutes of practice, you will have to shorten your duration further. For starters don’t attempt 45 minutes at a stretch but in three parts of 15 minutes each.

When to perform?

Linga mudra can be performed at any time, it’s just you will have to ensure that before performing your body temperature is normal and cardiac and respiratory vitals are normal.

You can practice linga mudra in the morning and evening. Morning and evening practice sessions will boost the immunity and temperature regulation benefits of the mudra. Since this mudra helps with digestion, it might be an instinct to practice directly after meals, but that would be a bad idea. The digestive benefit is more of an indirect benefit. The direct benefit however is increasing your body temperature, which can be counterproductive on a full belly.

Preparatory exercise

Linga Mudra will optimize your body temperature and immunity system. But some preparatory exercise can further enhance these benefits. One such exercise is practicing “Throw The Illness Behind You,” before Linga Mudra.

• Stand straight with your spine erect
• Keep your legs a little wider than hip-width distance.
• Raise your hands straight in front of your body at shoulder levels.
• Bend your legs at your knees, and slightly bend down like squatting.
• While inhaling throw your arms at the back and turn to your right looking over the shoulder.
• Then while exhaling, turn your head and hand to the initial position.

The linga mudra also goes pretty well with meditation. Calm your mind and focus on eliminating your negative thoughts. If necessary use means like single point concentration, music concentration, or even mantras. You can even chant simple self-affirmative slogans like, “I offer all negative qualities in the fire of transformation.”

Precautions and contradictions

Linga mudra precautions are very basic; since the mudra is a potent booster of body heat, you must not consume excess body heating food like red meat, animal fat, processed food, and fatty dairy before its practice.

Additionally, avoid body temperature increasing activities throughout the course of your day, and especially after practicing Linga Mudra. If you are practicing other workout routines, then you will have to careful with your exercise selection and duration as well.

You must avoid practicing linga mudra if you have ailments like menopause, thyroid disorders, ulcer, hypertension, migraine, or a recent stroke.

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