Mudras of India

A Comprehensive Guide to the Hand Gestures of Yoga and Indian Dance

Cain Carroll and Revital Carroll
Foreword by Dr. David Frawley

For thousands of years hand mudras have been used in India for healing, storytelling, emotional expression, and to evoke and convey elevated spiritual states. For the first time, the elaborate system of mudras-as applied in yoga and Indian dance-has been organized into a comprehensive, fully-indexed and cross-referenced format that allows readers access to this still esoteric body of knowledge.

Mudras of India presents over 200 photographed hand mudras each with detailed instructions on technique, application, health and spiritual benefits and historical background. The authors have extensively researched the usage of mudras and their significance in the larger context of Indian spiritual systems, and taken painstaking efforts to ensure each mudra is rendered with correct Sanskrit name, transliteration and translation to English.

The book will appeal to spiritual seekers, students and teachers of yoga and Indian Dance, scholars and lay people, and anyone interested in the rich cultural heritage of Indian mudras, and the transformative effects of these powerful hand gestures.

Contents

Blessing. Foreword. Acknowledgements. Sanskrit Pronunciation Guide. Introduction: The History and Heritage of Mudras. Getting Started. The Mudras. Notes. Appendix A: Energy Anatomy. Appendix B: Gayatri Mudras. Appendix C: Dance Mudra Sets. Glossary. Bibliography. Index. About the Authors.

Reviews

“The art and science of hasta-mudras in Indian classical dances and yoga, is a complete language in itself. It has been handed down through the ages from seers and sages to those interested. Documenting these mudras at length, this book becomes a seminal compilation, with illustrations and text, and brings aesthetic and artistic sensibilities to an otherwise academic subject. Congrats!”

– Professor Ashish Mohan Khokar, reputed scholar on arts and culture of India and Chair of the Dance History Society of India

"This well-designed presentation of mudras brings together a significant feature of both yoga and Indian classical dance, instrumental toward revealing the metaphysical understanding of non-duality. Mudras of India is a welcome addition to traditional codifications with explanations, techniques, applications, and usage structured to make this knowledge accessible to a broad readership."

- Sharon Lowen, renowned classical Indian dancer of Odissi, Manipuri and Chhau, New Delhi, India

"Mudras of India by Cain and Revital Carroll is a comprehensive, exhaustive study of 'Mudras', both in Yoga and Classical Indian dance. The text delves into mudras in various cultures and explicates their possible therapeutic uses. The book is a must-read for students of classical Indian dance and yoga, as also for those seeking curative and preventative healing."

- Ratna Roy, PhD, Senior Professor, Dance, The Evergreen State College, Senior Guru, Odissi Classical Dance, and Artistic Director, Urvasi Dance Ensemble

"Mudras of India is a much-needed compendium that beautifully illustrates the incredible variety and versatility of the hand gestures that play a key role in India's sacred traditions. Every dancer, yogi, or yogini will want to keep a copy on hand!"

- Roxanne Kamayani Gupta, PhD, author of A Yoga of Indian Classical Dance: The Yogini's Mirror

Author information

Cain Carroll teaches yoga, qigong, meditation and self-healing worldwide. He has trained extensively under the guidance of Daoist, Buddhist and Indian Yoga masters. His journeys have taken him to remote areas of India, China, Nepal, Tibet, Thailand and South America, where he received private instruction in many rare and powerful practices. Cain is co-author of Partner Yoga and creator of three self-healing DVDs. His website can be visited at www.caincarroll.com.

Revital Carroll has been dedicated to the study of Indian spiritual arts since childhood. Intensive study and practice of yoga and meditation in the Himalayas led her to discover her passion for Odissi Indian Dance. She is the creator of three instructional DVDs and she offers classes, workshops and performances worldwide. Visit www.shaktibhakti.com for more information.