Fwd: Yoni mudra

[Guest guest]

, "Srinath Ram" <srinath_atreya>

wrote:

 

|| Jai Sadguru Dutta ||

 

 

The word "Yoni" has the general meaning "the source of creation". The

Mundaka Upanishad proclaims thus: "Karthaarameesham puruSham

brahmayOnim" [the "Parabrahman" - the supreme being itself is known

to be "brahmayOni" or just "yOni".]. The same principle is upheld in

the 21st mantra of the famous Purusha sooktham: "...thasya Dheeraah

parijaananthi yOnim...".

 

 

In the Lalithaa sahasranaamam, we find the following in this regard:

 

1. "ayOnyaie namah" - 894

 

2. "yOni nilayaayaie namah" - 895

 

3. "yOni mudraayaie namah" - 987

 

 

Superficially, the first two mantras may sound contradicting but in

reality, they are proclaiming the same truth differently. The first

of these (894) means "the one who has no creator"; the second one

means "the creator (mother) of all".

 

Such a divine term called "yOni" is interpreted as the female genital

part in many tantras like the Vaamakeshwara tantra and the

Kankaalamaalini tantra. According to these tantras semen and

menstural blood represent the masculine (purusha) and feminine

(prakrthi) aspects of the Parabrahman and thus are the main articles

of worship. In ancient Bhaarath, such sexual matters were not viewed

with disdain or disgust. Not dwelling on the details of such a

worship, I would like to summarize that from the Advaitha point of

view, everything - literally everything is brahma and there is no

discretion such as high-low or good-bad. The Vaamamaarga is good in

its own ways but then, it is highly dangerous in that most of the

vama-sadhaks fall a permanent prey to ignorance, materialism and deep

stupour since they fail to understand the very essence and goal of

their practices. This is the reason why Jagadguru Shree Adi Shankara

has condemned and prohibited Vaamamaarga and has directed us to

adhere to the

Dakshinamaarga which embodies the spirit of the Vedas in a simple and

straight forward way.

 

>From the yoga shastra point of view, "yoni" means the Kundalini

power. In the Shree Yantram (chakram), triangles are called

as "yoni"s. This is because, the 3 aspects of nature viz: agni(heat),

vaayu(air) and soorya(light) are primarily responsible for all

creation. And these 3 aspects represent the 3 corners of the

triangles [see "thrikONagaa" - L.S. 986]. Hence we have the maha-

vyaahrthi: "Om BhoorBhuvassuvah". This trinity is manifesting itself

in many ways such as: [Reference: thaiththareeya upanishad - 1st

part: sheekshaavalli, section: brahmOpaasanaanga vyaahrthi upaasana -

"Bhooh ithi vaa agnih | Bhuvah ithi vaayau | suvarithyaadhithyah |

etc]

 

1. maatha - pita - guru

["maathah poorva roopam | pitOtthara roopam ||"]

 

2. 'a'kaara - 'u'kaara - 'm'kaara [the constituent phonems of "Om"]

 

3. creation (brahma) - preservation (vishnu) - destructtion (rudra)

 

4 jaagrath - swapna - sushupthi

 

5. ida - pingala - sushushmna

 

6. rgveda - yajurveda - saamaveda

 

7. vaak koota - kaama koota - shakthi koota

 

8. icChaa shakthi - jnaana shakthi - kriyaa shakthi

 

9 soorya - chandra - aakaasha

 

etc etc etc.

 

In the Vedas, the word "yOni" is used to denote the Supreme Being

from which (whom) all creation has taken place. It is also worthwhile

to ponder over the meaning of the following mantra:

 

" namasthE dhEvi gaayathri saavithree thripadhaakShare |

ajare amare chaiva brahmayOni namOsthuthE ||"

 

In the karmakaanda of upaasana, the formation of different gestures

by joining the fingers of one or both the hands is called as "mudraa

darshan", and has a special significance both form the yoga as well

as Jnaana kaanda point of view. According to the "niruktha" [a branch

of the Vedas dealing with phonetics], the term "mudra" means sealing.

Just like we seal the cash locker, esoterically, mudra means that

which arrests and seals off the elements of "avidyaa" - ignorance -

the enemy of divinity. Obviously, when there is no trace of avidyaa,

the real, pure "vidyaa" manifests in its full strength and glory,

thus leading us from humanity to divinity. Hence, "mudamraatheethi

mudraah" - mudras are the ones which enchant (the gods) and helps us

to experience the divine bliss.

 

As explained before, by the formation of the "yoni mudra", the

Kundalini is not only awakened but also its path of ascending is

cleared by the untying of different "granthis" (knots).

 

"oorDhwa rEtham viroopaakSham vishwa roopaaya vai namO namah"

 

- yajna mahanarayaNa upanishad

 

 

Again, there are different forms of this yoni mudra like the ardha

yoni, mahayoni, sarvayoni, go-yoni etc. It is true that when formed

correctly, the yoni mudra resembles the female genital. During such

times, the sadhak has to forcibly shed his silly animal instincts and

contemplate on the Motherly aspect of the Parabrahman. Only the fire

of knowledge and detachment can burn our silly desires.

 

 

Regarding the question on usage of fingers to close the eyes and

ears, the answer is that this type of "Yoni-mudra" completely blocks

out, or seals off all distractions. Here "yoni" means "uterus"

because like the feotus in the uterus, the sadhak cuts off himself

from all external contact with the outside world, and therefore, is

able to turn his consciousness inwards. The physical posture that is

recommended, therefore, is siddhasana, because it is thought the best

for sealing off the lower apertures. This is the 5th stage

in "aShtaanga yOga" - "prathyaahaara". Refer to the following verse

in the Lalithaa sahasranaamam:

 

"antharmuKha samaaraadhya bahirmuKha sudurlaBhaa"

 

and

 

"apaanam oorDhwagam krthwaa samaanO nEnayOjayEth, swaathmaanancha

shivam DhyaayEdhamrtha plaavananthathah" - RgVeda.

 

 

 

Also, see thaiththareeya upanishad - 1st part: sheekshaavalli,

section: manOmayatwa aadi guNaka brahmOpaasanayaa swaaraajya siDhdhih

and the last section (jnaana yajnah) of the yajna mahaanaaraayaNa

upanishad.

 

Please note that practicing pranayama while assuming such a yoni-

mudra is actually called as "Bhraamari praanaayam". The details of

this can be seen in the following texts/books:

 

1. Gheranda Sanhitha

2. Yogathaaraavali - Shri Adi Shankaraacharya

3. Light on Pranayama - B.K.Iyengar

4. Light on Yoga - B.K.Iyengar

5. Kundalini Tantra - Dr. Narayan Dutt Shrimali

6. Mudra Vijnaan - Acharya Keshav Daas

 

You can witness the practical demonstration of such rare yogic

practices by Yogiraj Swami Ramdevji Maharaj either on Sanskar TV or

Aasthaa TV.

 

"dasha mudras" - the 10 great mudras used in Shrividya are:

 

(in the order from first avarana)

 

1. sarva sankShOBhiNi

2. sarva vidhraaviNi

3. sarva aakarShiNi

4. sarva vaShankari

5. sarva unmaadhini

6. sarva mahaankusha

7. sarva Khechari

8. sarva beeja

9. sarva yOni

10.sarva thriKhanda

 

[COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME]

 

|| namasthe jagadeka maathah ||

 

 

 

, "saikumar_durga"

<saikumar_durga> wrote:

> Pranam,

>

> Yoni mudra is depicted differently at diff web sites. Most common

one

> I have seen is using the fingers to close ears, eyes, nostrils and

> mouth. (but what does this have to do with the name 'yoni'). There

> are two other variations in which fingers are used to get the shape

> of yoni. (but here again there is diff in how the shape is

> reperesented). Why are variations present for this mudra?

> Can someone please let me know where I can get the exact

> representation. Also I would be very greatful if someone could

> mention the names of the dasa mudras.

> Jai Bhavanai,

> Sai.

--- End forwarded message ---