Journey through Jyotir Mudra

                                             Journey through Jyotir Mudra

At the time of creation light or Prakash rotates clockwise and darkness rotates anti-clockwise. It is also mentioned in the scriptures ‘Yatha Brahmande tatha Pinde (यथा ब्रह्माण्डे तथा पिण्डे)’, i.e. ‘As is the cosmos so is the body’. The great cosmos, which is outside, a similar miniature cosmos is present in inside us too. As the rotation of light and darkness takes place outside during creation, same takes place inside too but is known only to yogis. From the chaos or cacophony of sound in the outside world when one descends into the depth of sound of silence (नाद/ Naad) only then one starts in presence of the inner cosmos. This is seen in the Chitakash (चित्ताकाश) by the yogi when he passes from Chitra (चित्रा) to Brahm Nadi (ब्रह्म नाडी) in the Sushumana (सुषुमना). This is perceived in the jyoti mudra (ज्योति मुद्रा).

The jyoti mudra circle comprises of three circles and a central bindu. Bindu (बिन्दु) is held by inner most circle, around which is 2nd circle, which is further enclosed in the 3^rd circle. Third circle or outer circle is expanding or outward going energy centre while inner circle is inward drawing circle, while the middle circle is where Shakti (शक्ति) moves in both ways.

Now in our spine, we have three main nadis in the form of Ida-Pingla (इडा-पिङ्गला) and Sushumana. Ida-Pingla are the carriers of ‘mind’ and ‘pran’ and are outward directed and throw us in the world (माया/ maya), while Sushumana is central axis, which is activated during inner journey of the sadhak (साधक).

The two paths of from the middle circle are connected to these three nadis (नाडी). Outer flowing path may be connected to the Ida-Pingla co-join while Inner flow pathway may be connected with the Sushumana. Sushumana also has three parts in the name of Sushumana (सुषुमना), Vajra (वज्रा) and Chitrani (चित्रणी), while the central axis of these three telescopic coaxial capillaries is called Brahm Nadi (ब्रह्मनाडी) which carries all the lotuses on it. This is the nadi which helps the sadhak to cross over piercing the ‘bindu’ in Jyoti mudra circle (ज्योति मुद्रा वृत्त).

As we breath, our pran (प्राण) and apan (अपान) move in opposite directions. Their opposite motion is life while movement in same direction is death. As per the Swara Shastra (स्वर शास्त्र), in an hour 56 minutes our Ida (इडा) or Pingla (पिङ्गला) is activated while only 4 minutes Sushumana (सुषुमना) operates. Hence it means that we are created to be more outwards than inwards by the mother-nature. Yogi intends to reverse this process as he wants to stay more and more in Sushumana than in Ida or Pingla.

This dual movement of pran in Ida-Pingla and Sushumana, has to be regulated through some mechanism in our body. As we have two-way -valves designed for various applications in the outside world, here also nature has devised a method of operating this outward and inward movement of energy in our body. As we are aware that creation takes place during ‘clockwise’ movement, so we can hypothesize that when jyoti mudra circle rotates clockwise then ‘shakti (शक्ति) or power’ is forced outside or down. This flow activates ‘Ida and Pingla’ which pushes us into Maya or outside creation. Similarly when it moves ‘anti-clockwise’, then the above flow is stopped and the second channel of inner flow opens and allows the sadhak to return back to the source through ‘Brahm Nadi’. When 'Brahm-nadi (ब्रह्मनाडी)' fully activates, 'Jyoti mudra' becomes mirror like, third eye open, all circles collapse, all around effulgence engulfs the forehead, view changes from circular to  four sided, sadhak pierces the bindu and goes to the other side and thus becomes a ‘yogi (योगी)’.

This is a short hypothetical explanation of what happens inside, though there are many other details which one cannot discuss in such a short article. But when a practitioner will perform his practices with full faith and sincerity, then he will experience all the things himself slowly as understanding will grow with evolution………….Om!................Shaktanand.