The word mudra is one of the common Sanskrit words in yoga which is derived from Mud and Dhra meaning ‘bliss’ and ‘dissolving’. It has a deep meaning but loosely it is translated as ‘that which dissolves duality and brings forth the bliss’.
Various hand mudras of yoga represent one or more of the five elements of body (ether, air, fire, water, and earth) based on hand fingers position.
Varun mudra is mudra of water element.
In this article, we will look into the benefits of Varun mudra, what are its therapeutic uses, and how to perform it correctly.
Also read: List of all yoga mudras
What is Varun mudra?
Varun mudra is a hand mudra that promotes the water content in the body. It’s formed by joining the pinky fingertip to the thumb tip while keeping the rest three fingers straight.
Varun mudra is also called ‘Jal Vardhak Mudra’ in Sanskrit, which literally means “water enhancer mudra”. If there is a scarcity of water in your body, then doing varun mudra is very beneficial to increasing the body’s water content.
Water is also used as a symbol of freedom and fluidity because of its flowing nature. Following this quality of water, varun mudra brings mental clarity and calmness. Hence, it is also called the ‘seal of mental clarity.’
Water constitutes a very large portion of our body and is present in all body organs, blood cells, hormones, enzymes, digestive juices, etc. Varun mudra protects the body from water-borne diseases such as dehydration, fatigue, obesity, skin dryness etc.
Benefits of Varun Mudra
- Keeps the body hydrated. Varun mudra re-hydrates body tissues at cellular level and provides relief from a range of disorders like constipation, dehydration, polyuria (frequent urination), etc.
- Balances the water content. Regular practice of varun mudra keeps the water content of your body in equilibrium. This will provide relief from oliguria (lack of urination), oligospermia (low semen), oligomenorrhoea (short menstruation), anemia (low hemoglobin), gastroenteritis, etc.
- Helps in reducing cholesterol. Varun mudra is helpful in reducing cholesterol and preventing the onset of stomach ulcers. It does so by regulating the process of elimination, which removes toxic wastes from the body.
- Purifies the blood. Varun mudra prevents the inadequate distribution of water by maintaining healthy circulation of blood vessels. This helps in regular detoxification of the blood and keeps it clean.
- Lubricates the joints. This mudra maintains the water content in the various cartilages, tissues, and muscles, preventing them from degenerating. This in turn reduces the chances of problems like Osteoarthritis.
- Moisturizes dry eyes. Varun mudra keeps the eyes lubricated, preventing dryness in the eyes and blurred vision.
- Helps glow the skin. Varun mudra helps in the distribution of water within the cell and prevents dead skin cells. By the regular practice of varun mudra, the flow of water gets better. This results in clear skin, reduced pimples, and wrinkles. Skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, rashes, or petechiae (red or purple spots) can be prevented by varun mudra.
- Improves saliva production. Your sense of taste improves with regular practice of varun mudra. It prompts better saliva production which also prevents dryness of the mouth.
- Stimulate Sacral Chakra. Since varun mudra is water element mudra, it gives power to the sacral chakra. Thus practising varun mudra alleviates any deficiency caused by imbalances of sacral chakra.
- Counters Vata imbalance. If you are a Vata person, then practising this mudra is very helpful for you to cure problems like dehydration, dryness of the skin & joint pain.
Also read: Mudras to get glowing skin
How to Do Varun Mudra?
To make varun mudra, first straighten your fingers then bend your little finger in such a way that the tip of the thumb touches the tip of the little finger. keep the rest three fingers straight. Make this gesture with both hands.
As varun mudra balances the level water element, it can be performed any time of the day, especially when the body feels dehydrated. During summers or on a sunny day, you can practice this mudra to keep your body nourished and cool.
The practice duration for varun mudra should be at least 20-30 minutes a day. Either practice it at a stretch in one sitting or divide it into 2-3 sessions of 10-15 minutes throughout the day.
If you want to regularize Varun mudra practice in meditation, follow these steps;
- Sit in your preferable meditative position such as Sukhasana (easy pose) or Padmasana (lotus pose). Take the time to settle in your position and keep your head and back straight.
- Close your eyes & bring your hands to your knees with the palms facing upwards.
- Join the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger on both hands. The rest of the fingers will remain relaxed yet straight.
- Practice this mudra for 10-15 minutes.
- Separate your fingers gently after your session is over but do not get up immediately.
- Stay seated for a couple of minutes, with your eyes closed, and slowly get aware of your surroundings.
Precautions and Contraindications
Do not practice varun mudra if you have problems like swelling, bloating, or puffiness, which is often caused by water retention. It may show adverse side effects when done in such conditions.
- When you are having cough and cold, avoid doing varun mudra. It may worsen your cough symptoms.
- People with Pitta and Kapha dosha should be cautious of practising varun mudra as it can lead to an imbalance of the water element in their bodies.
- Don’t press the tips too hard. It would hurt and be a cause of distraction in your practice.
Varun mudra affects on five elements and dosha
Out of five elements, varun mudra directly affects the water element.
The little finger in our hand represents the water element of the body. In varun mudra, when the thumb comes in contact with the ring fingertip, it boosts the water element associated with the ring finger.
Varun mudra is directly linked with Kapha and pitta dosha as water is a common element in these two doshas. The water element is usually increased in a person with Kapha or Pitta dosha. Since the water content is already high, varun mudra should be done in moderation by a Kapha and pitta dosha person.
On the other hand, there is a lack of water content in Vata Dosha person. So a person with Vata dosha can greatly benefit from varun mudra as it can counter skin dryness, dehydration, or any issues arising out of imbalanced space and earth elements. It also helps people who have excess internal heat to cool down their body.
Also read: Mudras for balancing Vata, Pitta and Kapha dosha
Conclusion
Practising varun mudra can give you a plethora of benefits, especially to your skin, eyes, and blood. Your body’s organs and bones will work properly if the water content is always at an optimal level. One of the important parts of detoxification and purification is water and varun mudra can be of immense benefit in keeping this process active.
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