MUDRA TANTRA: Medicine in Hand; Mudra Index (abridged)

The Mudra Index lists various names and their translations, describes the hand gesture, the particular posture, breathing, visualization, affirmation, repetition, duration, and frequency associated with practice, as well as compares variations in practice and cross-cultural similarities with other hand gestures based on their posture. The index also assesses religious traditions, and mudra energetic indications [ie. element (mahabhuta), energy center (chakra), meridian (nadi), point (marma)] based on elemental relationships, while interweaving spiritual, mental, and physical functions, etiology and therapeutic notes, and including comparable/conjunctive herbal remedies. The appendices survey supplemental hand modalities (eg. Chinese Palmistry, Korean Hand Acupuncture, Hand Reflexology and Acupressure) which may be considered to have developed out of the traditions of mudra practice. The combination of supplemental appendices with the mudra practicum provides a more complete and developed system of medicine in hand. Mudra Tantra is published in two versions: the Comprehensive Text, and the Index (or pocket guide). © 2012. (176 pgs); The main book [MUDRA TANTRA: Medicine in Hand; Comprehensive Text (unabridged); © 2012. (463 pgs); found only at lotusspace.com] combines hand modalities (diagnostic and therapeutic) from various oriental medical systems, founded upon a philosophy-religion in harmony with nature, in order to thoroughly evaluate, diagnose and treat the human body through the hand alone. Mudra Tantra surveys these hand modalities in chronological sequence according to their emergence and/or flourishing in world (oriental) culture. This book concisely yet completely compiles information from selected text sources, and organizes the information into tables and figures to be referenced quickly. The main text systematically surveys Vedic-Tantric Mudra (hand gestures, or divine seals) as mental yoga in the hands, an extension or completion of yoga posture (asana); primary active therapy. Mudra meditation for alchemical/spiritual transformation via hand gesture is an active therapy, rather than a passive therapy (eg. patient receiving acupuncture, or reflexology massage). The main text surveys Ayurveda History (Vedic Medicine and Tantric Mysticism), Vedic Cosmology, Tantric (Yogic) Energetic Theory (these initial sections are excerpts from Marmashastra: Ayurveda Bio-Energetics, by Hamilton), and tabularizes practical (therapeutic, spiritual) data via the Mudra Index (the text’s practical focus), to provide the reader with a deeper cosmological hence therapeutic understanding of the origins of mudra theory and intentions behind mudra function. Read more