Meaning of Abhaya Mudra or Gesture of Fearlessness:
There are various meanings attached to the word Abhaya. Many years before, when Indians used to have Sanskrit as their communication language then, the Abhaya word was used a lot. In those days, Abhaya used to mean fearlessness.
You can also attach the meaning of protection, peace and silence with Abhaya. You can also say that Abhaya mudra symbolizes the detachment of fear and evil from our lives. It is believed that this symbol was used much before the onset of Buddhism.
The idea behind the origin of this symbol was to approach strangers with a friendly gesture. But it was believed that you should not be over-friendly with strangers, and people used to avoid talking and meeting with strangers.
So, this concept was evolved from Abhaya mudra, wherein people used to meet and greet strangers happily. Another theory surrounding this gesture is that it was introduced when Gautam Buddha was being attacked by an elephant. It is known that the elephant immediately got calmed after he saw this gesture of Gautam Buddha. The people who practise Buddhism say that Gautam Buddha stood up his hands in an act of fearlessness.
This mudra is very popular in other historical traditions too. It was even seen in a number of scriptures of Gandhara. In Gandhara art, this act was used mostly for preaching. This mudra was very common in china too, especially in the northern Wei and Sui areas of the 4th and 7th centuries. This gesture is also very popular in the fifth Dhyani Buddha, which is also known as Amoghasiddhi. It is believed that if you practise Amoghasiddhi for quite a long time, you will be able to get over your jealousy, and this will help you in the long run to achieve new accomplishments in your life. In Thailand and Laos, this mudra is popularly known as the walking Buddha.
Read: Top Benefits of Adi Mudra
How To Do Abhaya Mudra:
So, after knowing all about this mudra the major question arises as how to do this mudra. Worry not. We will help you out of this. Before doing any kind of mudra it is a prerequisite that your body should be loose. If you over exert or make your body too tight because of the pressure and stress then you are not doing it right. You need to get over all the worldly affairs and then concentrate on the mudra form. Then only expect any benefits out of it in the long term. If you are doing this mudra by thinking that you are not going to achieve the result or in other words over thinking then you are not going to achieve the results.
Here are some simple steps to perform Abhaya Mudra, all you have to do is follow these steps:
- Sit in a lotus or a very easy half sitted position. The first condition of any mudra exercise is comfort. You must be in a comfortable position to do this exercise. Next, we suggest you to sit on a mat or either on a light carpet. This is because many fitness experts and dieticians have suggested that you should not sit on bare floor. A bare floor emits and brings out radiation which is not good and healthy while doing mudra. You can keep your eyes open or closed as you wish. Closed eyes definitely ensure more concentration.
- Raise your right hand, up to your shoulder height.
- Now, bent your arms and your palms facing outwards with the fingers upright.
- Now, join it with your left hands while standing only.
- Free your mind of any unnecessary thoughts and stay relaxed.
- You can chant OM for more concentration.
- At this stage, do not try to control your breathing.
- Perform three repetitions of this posture for about 10 to 12 minutes.
- When done, gradually open your eyes and release the fearless Mudra after bringing your hand down.
Read: Gesture of Awareness of Inner Space
Tips and Tricks to Do Abhaya Mudra:
There is no specific time as and when to do this mudra. You can do this mudra as and when you wish. Since this mudra also does not involve any specific sitting pattern. Abhaya mudra can easily be done while standing so you can do it even when you are on a run. You can do it in the office while you are bored of your job and want to enjoy your break. Do Abhaya mudra then you can also overcome your fear. So, in this vastly competitive world, it is imperative that you should get over your fear and jealousy. Then only you can succeed and compete in the long race of life. Thus, it is a must that you should practise Abhaya mudra regularly. With the prolonged practice of Abhaya mudra you can see and feel positive changes in your life and lifestyle. This mudra is extremely popular. Even doctors recommend Abhaya mudra to get over your fears.
But you must remember that Abhaya mudra cannot be excelled over in a day. Any unhealthy practices can only be gained in a day. It takes time to excel over things and much more time to gain out of them. Thus, our suggestion is to keep practising this mudra for a long time and then only you can overcome your fear and your jealousy. This is more of a mental overcome than a physical change thus, it is much more time taking. So don’t get dishearten over the fact that you are not achieving results. With time and a bit of patience you will definitely achieve results if you are confident enough and you are doing it right.
Benefits of Abhaya Mudra:
Out of all the hasta mudras in yoga, The Abhaya mudra is pretty easy to perform and has several benefits. Some of the significant benefits of including Abhaya mudra into your daily routine are:
1. It Helps Soothe Your Mind:
You can control emotions like irritability, anger, anxiety, etc., by performing Abhaya mudra, thereby helping you keep your body and mind calm. Once your mind controls all these negative emotions, your body naturally calms down in the process.
2. It Helps Enhance Spiritual Energy:
Abhaya mudra has several spiritual and health benefits. First, it allows the body’s free flow of spiritual energy by awakening the chakras. In addition, this whole process creates a sense of spiritual security within oneself.
3. It Helps You Conquer Fear:
Keeping fear at bay is one of the essential benefits of practicing Abhaya mudra. Control of fear is vital to attain success because fear is an instinct in many situations. Therefore, practicing the Mudra of fearlessness is particularly helpful if you feel that your fear is holding you back in life.
Side Effects of Abhaya Mudra:
You will attain peace, good intentions, and openness of mind by practicing Abhaya mudra. This hand gesture doesn’t usually cause any side effects. However, stop doing Abhaya mudra immediately if you feel uncomfortable while performing it.
Abhaya Mudra or any mudra is an integral part of yoga. When combined with meditation, this Mudra helps fight the fear that lurks within you. By practicing this Mudra regularly, you can bring peace, silence, and security into your life. Don’t forget to let us know if you found this article helpful!
Read: Powerful Apana Mudra Benefits for Health
Disclaimer: The content in this article is purely educational and based on research and not a replacement for professional advice. Take the guidance of a certified professional if you are unsure.
