Padma Mudra is a symbol of purity, light, and beauty emerging from the darkness. By practicing this beautiful mudra you’re opening yourself to the light and coming to a realization that the greatest sense of steadiness in life is an open heart. Hence Padma mudra also helps you to open and balance your Heart Chakra (Anahata).
In this article, I will share with you the benefits of Padma mudra and how to properly practice it.
What Is A Mudra?
“Mudra” can be translated as “seal”, “mark”, or “gesture”. Hence Mudras are symbolic gestures practiced with the hands and fingers.
Connecting the fingers in certain combinations, we can activate the meridians and direct energy throughout the body. Different positions of the fingers have the ability to close or clear the energy channels. In addition, performing this or that mudra, we affect the biologically active points of the palms and fingers.
Mudras are invented for the correct redirection of energy in the body, for the control of prana and for changing the psycho-emotional state. Also, with their help, you can eliminate problems in the body and in the mind by pressing on particular acupuncture points.
What Is Padma Mudra?
“Padma” in Sanskrit means “Lotus flower”. Lotus symbolism is common throughout Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism philosophies.
Just think about it – a lotus flower takes root down in the mud and rises up through the water to blossom at the water’s surface. The path of the lotus is similar to the journey to enlightenment. It is the journey from darkness to light.
The mud where a lotus flower takes its roots represents our ego, our habits, our emotions. It represents our life’s challenges, our shadow.
The water through which the lotus must rise is cleansing and purifying. It is our spiritual practice, inner work, and personal development. It takes action and awareness.
The lotus flower’s rise from the mud up to the water’s surface requires action, it is a period of growth.
The fully bloomed lotus flower represents our fully awakened self. Pure and beautiful.
Padma mudra is often associated with Lakshmi. Goddess Lakshmi graces us with the gifts of auspiciousness, compassion, and love. She gives us abundance, both spiritual and material.
Lotus Mudra Benefits
The Lotus Mudra helps to heal a “broken heart”, strengthens unconditional love for all living beings or for a particular person, opens the heart, helps to attract a soul mate, drains out the misunderstanding, and helps to release tension. It is also practiced to enhance the fire element in the body.
Other Benefits:
- Develops intuition;
- Eliminates negative karma;
- Helps to find mercy, compassion, love, understanding within your heart;
- Grants purity and freedom from obscuration;
- Reminds us of our own inner beauty;
- Opens and balances the Heart chakra;
- Strengthens the psyche;
- Inspires purity and perseverance;
- Gives positivity and optimism;
- Has a calming effect to the mind;
- Helps eliminate negative subconscious programs;
- Protects against psychic attacks, etc.
How To Perform Padma Mudra?
It is recommended to perform this mudra daily at sunrise or sunset for 10-15 minutes.
Take a cross-legged position. Bring the base of the palms together at the heart center, touching the thumbs and pinky fingers together. Spread the rest of the fingers out like the lotus flower opening toward the sunlight. Close your eyes and take several deep and long breaths.
Visualization:
Visualize a Lotus Bud in your heart that is opening more and more with each breath. When the flower blooms completely, it begins to absorb the sunlight, it is filled with love, joy, warmth, light. Imagine and try to feel how love and compassion for all people are growing in your heart. Visualize and feel that there is so much love in your heart that there is no more room for loneliness, sadness or any other negative emotions.
Mantra
To make your mudra practice even more powerful start chanting the following mantra for 108 times:
Om Padme Padme Mahapadme Padmavati Maye Svaha
Affirmations
You can also combine your Lotus Mudra practice with affirmations. For example, you can use the following affirmations:
- My heart is pure!
- I radiate love and compassion!
- I rise above life’s challenges with ease and grace.
- I am calm and blissful!
- I open myself to the Light!
- My inner light shines brightly!
- My heart is pure!
You can also include Love affirmations into your Padma Mudra practice.
The Bottom Line
Padme Mudra will help you to stay connected to your roots, open yourself to the light and realize that the greatest sense of steadiness in life is an open heart. Be patient and consistent and very soon you will start noticing the benefits of your practice!