Ever heard of Shambhavi Mahamudra the ‘eyebrow center gazing’ meditation technique? Sounds foreign? The ancient tradition of Shambhavi Mahamudra essentially involves gazing at the eyebrow center, and to bring the mind into a state of balance and experience higher consciousness.
Shambhavi Mahamudra technique originates from several ancient Indian texts. A powerful gesture in meditation, this is a highly regarded practice and yogic and tantric text. The word mudra means a seal - you lock it. When you activate your third eye chakra, you gain insight into the true nature of things. There is another gesture named Sambhavi Mahamudra Kriya, which according to some is a development over the traditional Shambhavi Mahamudra. Both these techniques are said to activate your third eye chakra also Anjana Chakra - the sixth primary chakra according to Hindu tradition. When you achieve this you can get insight into the true nature of things. Beyond this you’ll also gain great intuitive and psychic insights.
There are more than 50 mudras and Shambhavi Mahamudra is one of the most powerful of them all.
Scientific studies have revealed that for people who practice Shambhavi Mahamudra meditation technique, the cortisol awakening response is remarkably higher. The cortisol awakening response marks different levels of wakefulness.
Sambhavi Mahamudra is a powerful technique and the key to doing it successfully is to be gentle. A novice student may often get headaches because the technique requires holding tension in their eyes. Hence, getting a certified and expert teacher should be the way to approach this meditation technique. Here’s the Shambhavi Mahamudra steps to follow.
Sit in a meditative asana with your legs crossed when practicing Shambhavi Mahamudra. Your posture should be upright and comfortable. You can sit on a pillow for comfort.
Rest your hands on the knees with palms open. Keep your fingers in ‘Jnana mudra’ position. In Jnana, you hold the thumb and index finger together, and this bond links the inner and outer worlds.
If you're wearing glasses, please remove and keep it aside.
Shut your eyes for a brief moment and then reopen them and focus your gaze on a fixed spot.
Without moving your head, look up.
Focus your gaze on the spot in the middle of your eyebrows and concentrate on this area. Meditate on it. Let go of thoughts, as you would in a regular meditation.
You should be seeing your eyebrows as a V shape, with your gaze fixed in the middle of the V.
Maintain this focus and chant the mantra ‘Om’. Meditate on the sound of ‘Om’ reverberating around the spot you are gazing at.
Do not strain your eyes. Keep them relaxed at all times.
Continue for 5 minutes.
Now close your eyes and keep your gaze on the same spot in the middle of the eyebrows.
Chant Om silently while meditating on the sound.
Begin to last individual Om last longer. Breathe deeply through your nose.
Continue for 6-10 minutes.
You should do this meditation either on an empty stomach or at least 2 hours after food.
Sambhavi Mahamudra can also be done with eyes closed, mostly done by advanced students after they have mastered the eye brow gazing technique
Helps you connect with your intuition.
It helps to transcend your mind and help you reach higher states of consciousness.
Activates the Anjana chakra (the third-eye). But to attain this you need constant practice.
Improves interpersonal communication skills.
It cleans out your eyes. You might notice your cry when you do this mudra. And, It’s quite normal. Your eyes are letting out toxins in the form of tears. Amazing isn’t it?
Helps us reach ‘Samadhi’, the highest state of concentration. In yoga and Hindu beliefs, this is a state when we achieve union with the divine.
Another powerful belief about Shambhavi Mahamudra is that Gheranda Samhita (a Sanskrit text of Hinduism) declares that one who masters this mudra becomes equal to the divine trinity Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer).
Another great benefit of this mudra is that it is a good exercise for your eye and strengthens your eye muscles. Sounds great!
Helps us awaken our being.
Lasty, but not the least, it develops psychic power.
