- Author: Vidwan D Guruprasad Bhat
- Translation : Akshay Venkatesh
While performing the daily ritualistic duties, especially while seated for meditation or recital of Gayatri and other mantras, it is essential to exhibit the jnana mudra. Like exhibiting the prana mudras while offering oblation (naivedya) during the ritualistic worship, the jnana mudra is essential during meditation to enhance one’s concentration. The shastras put forth a beautiful thought and concept behind this mudra. The thumb always falls apart when the palms are stretched. Evidently, the four other fingers are away from the thumb. The thumb dominates (is mightier than) the rest.
The index finger follows the thumb and it indicates a person (self or others) or the soul. It is a directive finger, so a person uses it to address others. As qualified earlier, the thumb represents the Almighty God. The index finger (soul) is not with thumb (God) but with the other fingers – middle, ring and little fingers that signify ignorance, desire and duty respectively.
That is to say, the soul is always away from God, and the reason for it is ignorance. Ignorance breeds desire and the performance of duties with such desire is often found in the world. The jnana mudra is formed when the index finger joins the thumb and it signifies the soul leaning towards God, away from ignorance, desires and worldly deeds. The soul should lean towards God himself through righteous deeds. God will not lean towards souls (as souls are attached to ignorance etc.,). The jnana mudra thus signifies the efforts of the soul to direct himself towards God.
Through righteous deeds, the soul must destroy ignorance and do his duties without any (worldly) desires. Such a soul will attain God’s love. He shall attract the soul by showering his blessings. The trio (ignorance etc.,) are isolated when the soul and God combine. When the soul thus turns towards God, through sadhana, concentration of the mind can be achieved. Thus, jnana mudra helps in meditation. Meditative rituals performed without jnana mudra leads to a wavering mind. The index finger when with others, implies an ignorant mind inclined towards worldly desires. For this very reason, during meditation and chanting of the Gayatri mantra and other vedic mantras, it is important to exhibit jnana mudra.
When tested from a scientific perspective, meditation with jnana mudra is more effective in achieving concentration. The reason being, the union of thumb and index finger, significantly improves the soul’s focus towards God. As per the saying – “Shaastrartha-yukta-anubhavaha pramanam”, the experience of the seeker is the main testament. Experimenting the two scenarios – meditation with jnana mudra, and without jnana mudra yields the following result – the former leads to a state of continued concentration.
In this way, God has given us a righteous body, and through each part of the body like the palm, fingers etc., he has indoctrinated a spiritual message. Let him thus prompt us always to perform righteous deeds.
Ramaa-kalatrana Daasa-vargake Namipenanavarata || Always at the humble feet of Sri-Hari’s dasas!!
Very nice explanation…