Buddhi Mudra

Buddhi Mudra

Buddhi (Sanskrit word for intellect or perception) + mudra (gesture). 

Ayurvedic Element – Water, Fire

Fundamentals

With this mudra (hand position), the yogi can experience a beautiful coming together of two elements: water and fire. Both unite to allow us to experience a deeper sense of intuition.

Buddhi Mudra is also known as Jal Vardhak (the Hindu God of Water). A lot of emphasis is placed on the water here: on its depth and clarity. 

Buddhi is a representation of our intellect and is also called the seal of mental clarity.

Vardhak, also means “enhance.” If we combine the two meanings, we have the enhancement of water. And, while it is most often used as a purifying and calming force, it also has the ability to highlight the excess of water as well as the excess of emotions and their instability.

Commonly practiced in Kundalini yoga, The practice of this mudra allows one to maintain a healthy balance of water within their body and mind. We have the opportunity to calm the fluctuations of the mind and begin to experience true stillness, clarity, and energy flow.

Ayurvedic Element – Water and Fire

According to Ayurveda, the thumb represents the fire element and the little finger represents water.

And even though water is the predominant force here, fire can also be strongly felt.

On a spiritual and emotional level, the water element brings clarity and deeper intuitive psychic development. It has a soothing healing capacity that enables us to reduce obstacles and stress levels in our daily lives. It opens us to new experiences, especially those that are not easily seen with the eye.

On a physical level, it helps to improve skin-related issues (eczema). It comes in handy when facing kidney-related difficulties, unbalanced digestion, and disorders linked to blood (anemia).

How does the fire element function in this context? It provides the needed boost and strength to pursue, to stabilize, and perhaps the force to release when it is needed.

Chakras – Crown Chakra

Buddhi Mudra has a close connection to the Crown Chakra, which is tightly linked to every other chakra within our body. It is based at the very top of our heads, and it is known to be responsible for our overall awareness and intelligence. 

The crown chakra’s natural element is thought. And once we feel that our thoughts and mental capacity are clouded, we recognize that some inner and outer work has to be done.

It is through this center that we are able to connect with the universal conscience and gain profound wisdom.

By adding Buddhi Mudra to our daily practice, we begin to open new pathways to self-knowledge.

With dedication and consistent mudra incorporation, we might begin to notice how our awareness expands and how we start to perceive things not as we see them but as they truly are.

Meridians – Heart & Small Intestine Meridians

The pinky finger, which is pressed in the Buddhi gesture, is connected to two meridians: the Heart and the Small Intestine. 

The Heart Meridian speaks about compassion and how well we are able to allow feelings of love, appreciation, and care to flow through us. Are we able to accept the kind gestures of others? Do we recognize the love within ourselves as well as outside ourselves?

The imbalance of this meridian is easy to detect because it mostly manifests as jealousy, guilt, and constant longing. We might feel as if we are somehow disconnected from our true selves, unable to see and feel clearly. 

The Small Intestine Meridian is responsible for the overall well-being of our digestive system. All the intolerances, imbalances, and other digestive issues can be identified here.

Buddhi Mudra Benefits

• Gives you the opportunity to hone your intuitive abilities and tap into your psychic abilities.
• Enhances communication skills and the ability to express oneself more clearly.
• Whenever we are feeling a lack of mental clarity, Buddhi mudra can enhance our mindful state. It has the capacity to bring us closer to the present moment. 
• The practice of mudra aids in digestive issues.
• Beneficial for people who experience skin-related issues It balances the water element within all areas of the body body, allowing the skin to feel nourished and plump. 
• Mudra practice helps with bladder and kidney-related problems.
• In confusing moments or situations, it allows us to see the right perception and ways to cope with the current obstacles.

Contraindications 

You should be able to maintain this hand gesture with ease, so if you are experiencing any discomfort in your fingers, please take a minute to stop practicing and return to it once you feel comfortable doing so. 

How-To Perform Buddhi Mudra

1. Firstly, come into a comfortable sitting position of your choice.

2. Begin by allowing yourself to settle slowly into the space you are in. You can do this by gently following your natural breathing and noticing how the air comes in and how it comes out.

3. Then bring the tip of the thumb to touch the tip of your pinky finger.

4. Keep the index finger (air), ring finger (earth), middle finger (space) pointed upward, palm facing forward.

5. All three fingers should be close together.

6. Once you have made the gesture, allow yourself to find comfort within your mind and the space you are in. There should be a sense of ease and contentment. If you are feeling unsettled or have other unpleasant emotions, give yourself some time and try again. 

Bonus tip:

Make sure to build patience and also enjoy the process itself. Come into Buddhi Mudra practice without any expectations.

When To Use Buddhi Mudra

Meditation

• This mudra will help to declutter the chatter within your mind during meditation.
• While there may not be an immediate response and clarity, your meditation can reach deeper levels of self-recognition and acceptance with dedicated mudra incorporation. 
• Consider placing the left hand over your heart center, and the right hand in the mudra.

Mantra

• Buddhi Mudra is closely related to the planet Mercury. This planet is responsible for our communication; it shows in the way we express ourselves verbally and how we are able to express our thoughts. Work with Mercury’s energy using the following mantra:
• “Aum Bum Buddhaya Namaha” (I bow down to Buddha, god of the planet Mercury).
• “Aum braam breed braum sah budhaya namah” (Mercury – the prince of planets).

Pranayama

• You can experiment with Ocean Breath (Ujjayi Pranayama) or try Cooling Breath (Shitali Pranayama).

Where and When:

• It is advised to incorporate this mudra into your yoga practice with the eyes closed for 5–100 breaths. Observe how long you can hold the hand gesture comfortably and then progress from there.
• There is no specific time of day required for this practice; you can experiment with practicing in the early hours as well as in the evening. Notice what works better for you and during what hours you can maintain a calmer state of being.

For more in-depth asana resources, check out our free Mudra Library. Here you’ll find complete guides to each and every yoga mudra to deepen your yoga knowledge.

Each mudra page features high-quality photos and illustrations, insights into the meridian, chakra, and ayurvedic element systems, as well as tips on how, why, and when to practice each mudra.