A practice to help one transcend the bounds of the body and mind, meditation is a potent instrument for spiritual development. Yoga teachers and users have personally observed meditation and yoga’s numerous psychological and physical advantages. These experiences have been supported by increasing scientific investigations and meditation research in recent years.
‘Gesture’ is what the word ‘mudra’ denotes. Every mudra has an impact on your energy, your mind, and your body. The mudras, according to yogis, are positions that control energy flow and can link a person’s body’s energy with the force of the universe. Shambhavi Mahamudra is one such mudra that is an amalgamation of various breathing procedures and several limbs of yoga, as mentioned by the father of Yoga, Patanjali.
What is Shambhavi Mahamudra?
A very potent mudra that aids in raising our consciousness and achieving bliss is the Shambhavi Mahamudra. Shambhavi is frequently misunderstood as a breathing exercise or as meditation, but it is a lot more than that. Shambhavi kriya or mudra lets you access the mighty and uplifting forces of the cosmos. Internal Shambhavi Mahamudra and Shambhavi mahamudra are two variants of this Mahamudra. You can use the internal Shambhavi Mahamudra while closing your eyes. This version uses a range of yoga asanas and intensities of meditation to accomplish several benefits.
Studies on Shambhavi Mahamudra benefits have considered many different aspects. Some have looked especially at diseases associated with menstruation, while others have looked at how this meditation affects heart rate, sleeping schedule, and brain activity. Other investigations into regular meditators’ overall health and enhanced attention spans. To energise your pranas by practising this unique form of yoga, take a look at how to perform it and learn about the numerous benefits of Shambhavi Mahamudra kriya.
Steps to Perform Shambhavi Mahamudra.
It is important to do this mudra in order and in the correct form to gain Shambhavi Mahamudra benefits.
The steps are as follows:
Step 1: Choose a comfortable meditation asana.
Step 2: Your hands should be on your knees, and you should keep your head and spine straight. Utilise both hands to form the Gyan mudra. In the Gyan mudra, a circle can be made by connecting the thumb’s tip and the index finger. Put your palms on your knees while maintaining the straightness of your other fingers.
Step 3: Then, relax by closing your eyes.
All facial muscles, particularly those in the forehead, eyes, and area behind the eyes, should be relaxed.
Step 4: Keep your head and entire body calm and quiet as you slowly open your eyes and concentrate your gaze forward at a certain point.
Step 5: Then, as you look upward or inward, concentrate on the centre of your brow.
Step 6: As you slowly inhale, lift your eyes.
Step 7: The head should not budge at all.
Step 8: While you continue to make the mudra, hold your breath.
Step 9: If done correctly, the two arched brows will create a V-shaped impression at the bridge of the nose. This is the eyebrow’s nucleus.
Step 10: The eyes’ concentration is off if the V-formation is not seen.
Step 11: Only briefly hold the focus at first; if you experience discomfort, let it go. Eyes should be closed and relaxed throughout the entire procedure.
Step 12: Slowly exhale as you shift your attention.
Step 13: Reposition yourself slowly, and then, open your eyes.
Benefits of doing Shambhavi Mahamudra
The important health benefits of Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya are described further.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
One of the primary benefits of Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya is its ability to reduce stress and anxiety. Deep breathing exercises and meditation techniques help calm the mind and relax the body, thus reducing the production of stress hormones like cortisol. With regular practice, Shambhavi Mahamudra can help reduce feelings of anxiety and promote a sense of calm and well-being.
Enhances Mental Clarity and Focus
Shambhavi Mahamudra benefits include enhanced mental clarity and focus. The practice involves meditation techniques that promote concentration and focus, thereby helping to improve cognitive function and overall mental performance. With regular practice, practitioners of Shambhavi Mahamudra may experience improved memory, increased creativity, and greater mental clarity.
Balances the Nervous System
One of the benefits of Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya is that it can help balance the nervous system, which can be beneficial for people who suffer from conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other chronic pain conditions. Deep breathing exercises and meditation techniques help calm the nervous system, reducing the production of stress hormones and promoting a sense of calm and relaxation.
Enhances Sleep Quality
The deep relaxation and meditation techniques of Shambhavi Mahamudra can help enhance sleep quality. The practice can help reduce stress and promote relaxation, helping people fall asleep easily and stay asleep long. Additionally, regular practice of Shambhavi Mahamudra may help reduce the symptoms of insomnia and improve overall sleep quality.
Shambhavi Mahamudra benefits for the heart
Systolic blood pressure is the force your heart applies to the blood vessel walls when it pumps blood to all of your organs. Systolic blood pressure improvement may better cardiac performance. In 2019, Parthasarathy et al. investigated the impact of yoga poses and the Shambhavi Mahamudra on systolic blood pressure. It showed that systolic blood pressure improved after 6 weeks of yoga. However, additional research might be required to pinpoint the precise effect of Shambhavi Mahamudra on the heart. Therefore, you should seek medical advice for the diagnosis and treatment of any heart-related conditions you may have before executing the Shambhavi Mahamudra.
Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya benefits for the Brain
The left and right portions of the brain are more allied or integrated when the kriya is practised. Higher IQ, EQ, creativity, and flexibility correlate with the higher levels of integration within the brain. Greater brain coherence results in faster signals from the brain and greater information exchange, which also improves the brain’s ability to coordinate with other organs.
The brain generates alpha, beta, theta, and delta impulses. Shambhavi practitioners exhibit stronger alpha powers, which suggests that their stress levels are lower. Beta power is used to describe how meditation causes a reduction in mental tension and anxiety. A spike in theta and delta activity indicates the growth of consciousness into a deeper degree of meditation.
Advantages of Shambhavi Mahamudra for the eyes
Shambhavi Mahamudra has the potential to bolster the muscles that control vision. The pressure around the eyes may also be relieved with its help. It could therefore aid in preventing eye issues. It should be done with your trainer’s supervision, but you must first consult a doctor because it could have adverse effects.
Shambhavi Mahamudra benefits for kids
It includes a chance to halt the pineal gland from deteriorating through the regular use of the mudra. The pineal gland is crucial to keep the brain functioning and hormonal equilibrium. For kids above the age of 8 years, it might also aid in their emotional growth. But before you begin this practice, you should speak with your child’s paediatrician or another expert.
Menstrual health regulation
For women, a topic of concern is menstrual health. Many women experience menstrual-related problems, including PCOD, PCOS, and other issues. The person is affected socially and psychologically by their menstrual health. In the long run, using contraceptive tablets as a part of the prescription is not helpful for fertility. A lifestyle change is suggested as the only treatment for PCOD. Even medical administrators advocate incorporating yoga into a regular schedule.
Step-by-step Shambhavi Mahamudra practice, meditation stance, and upside-down hands are all recommended.
Locate a Kundalini point on the forehead above the eyes and concentrate there. Keep your attention on the Ajna Chakra as you perform the Shambhavi Mahamudra.
Shambhavi Mahamudra is a fundamental posture. It not only purifies the body and mind, but it also fosters interpersonal contact. It improves mental steadiness and focus, which are necessary for establishing samadhi. Shambhavi Mahamudra connects to the lower body, indirectly stimulating the liver, heart, and bladder.
Side Effects of Shambhavi Mahamudra and Ways to Avoid Them
You can suffer headaches, fatigue, and migraines if you perform Shambhavi Mahamudra incorrectly. Furthermore, you can face several other side effects when you indulge in an improper attempt. To keep yourself from potential harm, make sure to follow the points below.
- Remove your glasses and contact lenses before starting.
- Too tight of a gaze hold could harm your eyes.
- You shouldn’t practice this mudra if you have glaucoma.
- If you’ve had eye surgery, avoid performing the Shambhavi Mahamudra without first visiting your physician.
- The excessive practice of the Shambhavi Mahamudra might cause headaches and dizziness.
- Make sure to keep a relaxed gaze.
- You might get phantasmagoric visuals while practising. Stop if it happens.
More important facts about the practice of Shambhavi Mahamudra
The practice known as Shambhavi Mahamudra locks the energy and channels it for positive ends. It incorporates mudras, pranayama, mantra, and other techniques in addition to the basic benefits of meditation. Shambhavi encourages neurochemical changes that enhance both the brain and body’s functionality by focusing on the third eye or amplifying the Ajna Chakra.
The mudra’s magnetic energy puts the mind in a powerful state. The pressure on the third eye pushes people closer to spiritual growth, which may lead to more opportunities for dhyana. The neurochemical alterations result in the feelings of power, constant tranquillity, fulfilment, and focus. The discipline of meditation entails developing a state of mindfulness, practising being alert to one’s surroundings, and remaining undisturbed.
The contemporary sage Sadhguru teaches the Shambhavi Mahamudra technique used at the Isha Institute. Shambhavi Mahamudra needs to be practised with an expert teacher or a Yoga Guru; it cannot be done by simply reading online instructions.
You can achieve a state of tranquillity by using the Shambhavi Mahamudra technique. It is a mudra with advantages for psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being. Your energy levels will change, and you’ll start to connect with your inner dimension rather than falling victim to the surrounding materialistic world.
