Āñjali Mudrā

Āñjali Mudrā (आञ्जलि मुद्रा) is a gesture of reverence in which the palms are pressed together at the heart center, fingers pointing upward. It is the universal Indian gesture of greeting, prayer, and salutation, used across Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions.

Overview

Āñjali Mudrā is derived from the root “añj” meaning to honor or celebrate. The gesture symbolizes the meeting of the two sides of the self — the active and receptive, the solar and lunar, the right and left — in a state of reverence and unity. It is the physical expression of the greeting “Namaste” or “Namaskāra,” which acknowledges the divine in the other person. The mudrā is used in pūjā, temple worship, yoga practice, and daily social interactions.

Method

The practitioner brings the palms together at the heart center (anāhata chakra), with fingers pointing upward and thumbs resting lightly against the sternum. The elbows are relaxed and slightly away from the body. The gesture may be held at the heart, at the forehead (for deeper reverence), or above the head (for salutation to the divine). In yoga, it is commonly used at the beginning and end of practice.

Benefits and Purpose

Traditional texts claim Āñjali Mudrā:

• Expresses reverence and devotion
• Balances the right and left hemispheres of the brain
• Activates the anāhata (heart) chakra
• Calms the mind and fosters a sense of inner peace
• Is the foundational gesture of all spiritual practice

Verification Notes

• Widely described in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain texts.
• The gesture is universal across South and Southeast Asian cultures.
• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).