Maha Bheda Mudra – The Great Piercing Attitude

Maha Bheda Mudra or the Great Piercing Attitude is mentioned in both Hatha Yoga Pradeepika and Gheranda Samhita. In Sanskrit, Maha means great, Bheda means to pierce and Mudra means a gesture, attitude or seal. Maha Bheda Mudra is to be practiced along with Maha Mudra and Moola Bandha. It is highly recommended by yogis.

Maha Bheda Mudra is a practice to pierce the seven chakras. It forms part of Hatha Yoga as well as Kriya Yoga practices. Each chakra has its own level of consciousness. As the awareness is taken from Mooladhara to Sahasrara Chakra, one pierces through the various levels of consciousness. During this process, the practitioner maintains the focus on the pure witness state without any distractions.

This mudra should be taken up only with proper guidance. Those suffering from hypertension and heart complaints should seek expert advice before attempting this as holding of breath is involved. Perform it during early morning, when the stomach is empty. Also, it is good to do the purification of the body through Shatkarmas before taking with the practice of Mudras.

How to do Maha Bheda Mudra (The Great Piercing Attitude)?

1. Sit on the floor with legs stretched out. Fold the left leg and press the perineum with the left heel.
2. The right leg remains stretched out in front throughout the practice.
3. Bend forward and hold the big toe of the right leg with the hands. Exhale while bending forward.
4. Now perform Maha Bandha. It comprises of the three Bandhas or locks Jalandhara Bandha, Uddhiyana Bandha and Moola Bandha done together.
5. Perform nose tip gazing or Nasikagra Dhristi.
6. Now begin to rotate the consciousness between the three chakras – Mooladhara, Manipuraka and Vishuddhi Chakra. Keep the consciousness at each chakra for few seconds. Remember that the breath is held outside during the entire round.
7. Continue with the rotation of consciousness as long as you are comfortable holding the breath outside.
8. To release the locks, release Moola Bandha first, followed by Uddhiyana Bandha and then Jalandhara Bandha.
9. To release the mudra, inhale slowly and straighten out the body and place the hands on the knees. This is one round of Maha Bheda Mudra. This can be repeated few times.
10. The same can be repeated with the right leg folded.
11. One can also do this with both legs stretched out.

Benefits of Maha Bheda Mudra (The Great Piercing Attitude)

1. Maha Bheda Mudra gives physical and spiritual benefits. It gives all the benefits of Maha Bandha.
2. It harnesses the energy at the three chakra and induces concentration of the mind.
3. Maha Bedha Mudra prepares the mind for meditation.
4. A yogi should perform Maha Mudra, Moola Bandha and Maha Bheda Mudra. It supposed to give siddhis and perfection to the yogi.
5. According to the Hatha Yoga Pradeepika, this mudra gives siddhis, destroys old age and grey hair, increases appetite and gives steadiness to the body.
6. According to Gheranda Samhita, there is no fear of death and decay does not come to a yogi who practices Mahe Bheda Mudra.