✋

Shambhavi Mudra

शाम्भवी मुद्रा

Energy/HealingFire

Etymology

Shambhavi (शाम्भवी) refers to Shiva's consort, representing divine feminine wisdom

Finger Position

No finger involvement - eye gazing technique

Duration

Start 2-3 minutes, gradually increase to 10-15 minutes

Difficulty

Advanced

Associated Chakras

Ajna(Third Eye)

Bija Mantra: VARUNA OM

Highlighted fingers indicate active contact points

MGN Notation

# No hand involvement - eye gazing technique
# EYES: FOCUSED_UPWARD_INWARD, GAZING(EYEBROW_CENTER)
# Hands typically in meditation position:

HAND(LEFT)
  PALM(UP)
  WRIST(STRAIGHT)
  T: STRAIGHT
  1: STRAIGHT
  2: STRAIGHT
  3: STRAIGHT
  4: STRAIGHT
  FINGERS(TOGETHER)

HAND(RIGHT)
  PALM(UP)
  WRIST(STRAIGHT)
  T: STRAIGHT
  1: STRAIGHT
  2: STRAIGHT
  3: STRAIGHT
  4: STRAIGHT
  FINGERS(TOGETHER)

Instructions

⚠️ ADVANCED PRACTICE REQUIRING PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION ⚠️ This concentrated gazing technique requires qualified guidance and medical clearance. Research on ocular concentration practices shows potential benefits for attention training but significant risks without proper preparation (Newberg et al., 2010). Formation: EDUCATIONAL ONLY - Gentle upward eye focus toward eyebrow center while maintaining meditation posture. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Eye disorders (glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy), recent ...

Quick Start Checklist

1[ ] Gaze gently at space between eyebrows (Shambhavi)
2[ ] Hands in meditation position; no strain in eyes
3[ ] Breathe naturally; cultivate inner vision
4[ ] Practice 3-10 minutes; rest eyes frequently

Benefits

Physical

•Strengthens eye muscles
•calms mind by arresting thought flow
•reduces stress and anger
•balances brain hemispheres

Mental

•Develops sustained attention
•improves concentration
•may reduce mental restlessness and anxiety

Spiritual

Traditional texts describe this as "developing concentrated attention and inner focus" — their terms for how sustained upward eye focus activates the parasympathetic nervous system's calming functions. Practitioners often report that this technique helps develop what ancient sources called "one-pointed concentration" — the deeply focused mental state that can support meditation and stress reductio

Precautions

!Should be practiced with caution by those with glaucoma
!diabetic retinopathy
!or recent eye surgery

Clinical Applications

Guided Practice

Gaze softly between the eyebrows without straining eyes. This concentrated gazing practice activates prefrontal cortex and enhances meditative focus (Newberg et al., 2010). SAFETY: Those with eye disorders, glaucoma, or visual disturbances should avoid. Never force the eye position or create strain. Start with 1-2 minutes maximum. Feel how this gentle internal focus naturally calms mental activi

Symbolism

Traditional yoga texts describe this technique as representing focused attention and withdrawal from external distractions. Ancient practitioners believed this formation represented what they called 'pratyahara' - the drawing of attention inward to support concentration and meditative stability.