Every finger of hands relates to one of the five element of the nature. The thumb relates to fire, the index finger to air (matter in gaseous form), the middle finger to ether (space), the ring finger to earth (solid matter), and the little finger to water (liquids) and the palm of the hand relates to the mind.
When mudras are formed by using thumb (fire element) to lightly stimulate one or more of the other elements as you touch the tip, nail, knuckle or base of a finger. So, we can
- stabilize the influence of the linked element by joining the tip of corresponding finger,
- decrease the influence of the linked element by touching the back of the corresponding finger (nail or knuckle)
or
- increase the influence of the linked element by bring thumb to the base of the corresponding finger
Lets analyze the Vata Nashak Mudra:
Vata is formed with air and ether and these correspond to index finger and middle finger. Vata being combination of air and ether, is dry, light, cold, rough, moving and always changing. Because of such nature, those who have predominantly vata dosha are mostly energetic, creative and lively. They are light sleepers with sensitive digestion. When vata gets out of balance, they can get anxious, have insomnia, lose weight and suffer from indigestion.
The position of fingers and thumb may be interpreted from the above principle on how an element is decreased, increased or stabilized. Mudra illustrated in this figure is meant to decrease the vata. When vata is decreased, it surely helps slows the movement not only physical but mental also and therefore improves the sleep. Therefore, it is called Vata Nashak Mudra.
Now, we come to the Prana mudra during which we touch the tip of the thumb with the ring finger and the little finger together, while keeping the other two fingers straight.
So, we see that the ring finger is related to earth (solid matter), and the little finger to water (liquids). Now this combination of earth and water is Kapha. And therefore it is also called kapha kaarak mudra as it enhances effects of kapha. Vata is responsible for instability of mind where as kapha for stability and calmness of the mind. Thus, we see that reducing the influences of hyper-vata and increasing the deficient kapha complements the influences of each other.
