Bhairava Mudra invokes Lord Shiva
A
mudra (
i/muˈdrɑː/;
Sanskrit mudrā, "seal", "mark", or "gesture";
Tibetan: ཕྱག་རྒྱ་
THL chakgya) is a symbolic or ritual gesture in
Hinduism and
Buddhism. While some mudras involve the entire body, most are performed with the hands and fingers. A mudrā is a spiritual gesture and an energetic seal of authenticity employed in the
iconography and
spiritual practice of
Indian religions.
One hundred and eight mudras are used in regular
Tantric rituals.
In
yoga, mudras are used in conjunction with
pranayama (yogic breathing exercises), generally while seated in
Padmasana,
Sukhasana or
Vajrasana pose, to stimulate different parts of the body involved with breathing and to affect the flow of
prana in the body.