Ganesha Mudras

Elephant-headed Ganesha is the Indian god who helps overcome all obstacles. What better way to start the New Year that with this mighty deity at your side? Ganesha is beloved in India, where he is also called Vighnaharta, the “Lord and Destroyer of Obstacles.” When people seek success in work or school, they turn to this jolly elephant god. I keep a little bronze statue of a supine Ganesha on my computer.

Mudra is a type of yoga you do with your hands. It is also called “finger power points.” This is a portable yoga that you can do anywhere—on the bus, on the phone, at your desk, even walking down the street. This is a marvelous way to calm yourself and handle stress. Buddha statues are usually shown with the hands in a mudra position.

The very easy Ganesha mudra begins with you holding your left hand in front of your chest with the palm facing outward, away from your body. Bend your fingers. Grasp your left fingers with your right finders bent, toward your body. Move the hands to the level of your heart, right in front of your chest. Exhale vigorously and gently try to pull your hands apart without releasing the grip. This will create tensions in your upper arms and chest area, exercising those muscles.

Now relax those muscles while inhaling. Repeat these steps six times, then place both your hands on your sternum in the Ganesha clasping position. Note the energy and heat you feel in your body. Now repeat six times with your hands facing in the reversed positions.

The Ganesha mudra opens the fourth chakra and gives us “heart”—courage, confidence, and good feelings toward others. It opens us up to fresh encounters and positive new experiences. Performed once a day, this is a marvelous way to strengthen your upper body. It is also believed to open the bronchial tubes and stimulate the lung area.

Use the rituals in this chapter to become one with yourself and find peace within. May you use this learned tranquility to better participate in other rituals that focus on important aspects of your life.

Ayurveda is the ancient Indian “Science of Life” that has become very popular in the past few years, Aromatic plants and the oils derived from them are a major part of this wellness wisdom tradition. Herbaceous species used for ayurvedic healing include tulsi (holy basil), coriander, fennel, and various sages and mints, as well as aromatic roots including vetiver, valerian, and calamus. Ayurvedic flowers include roses, jasmine, champa, marigolds, and lotuses. Woody and tree species include agar, cedar, eucalyptus, pine, and sandalwood. Fragrant resins are utilized, including frankincense and myrrh. As you might expect, Ayurveda is also rich in spices, including cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, long pepper, ginger, nutmeg, and clove. Several aromatic grasses, such as lemongrass, are found in the tradition as well.