Shunya Mudra
The mirror of Akash Mudra: the middle finger is folded to the base of the thumb and held there. This is the classical first-response for earache, and the mudra most reliably reported to give relief within minutes.
Meaning of the name
The seal of emptiness — literally, of the zero. It empties out excess space where space has become a void that aches.
How to practise
- 1
Fold the middle finger down so its tip rests in the mound at the base of the thumb.
- 2
Press the thumb firmly over the folded middle finger — firmer here than in most mudras.
- 3
Keep the index, ring and little fingers extended and easy.
- 4
Hold for 40 to 60 minutes in the case of earache, or 15 minutes as maintenance.
- 5
Release slowly and let the hand rest before standing.
Benefits
- Relieves earache, blocked ears and tinnitus, often within thirty minutes
- Helps vertigo, travel sickness and loss of balance
- Reduces numbness in the limbs and the sensation of pins and needles
- Eases gum and tooth pain, and throat discomfort
- Steadies the emotions during grief, where the chest feels hollow
What happens in the nervous system
Balance and hearing both depend on the vestibulocochlear nerve, and the eustachian tube that equalises middle-ear pressure is opened by muscles supplied by the trigeminal and vagus nerves. Sustained pressure at the thumb base with the jaw released tends to open that tube — which is a plausible mechanism for the rapid relief of fullness and pain that practitioners describe.
Related practices
KSN Yoga & Healing