The Kechari Mudra is regarded as the supreme mudra. The Sanskrit words “Kha” and “Chara” both denote Brahman or the Supreme Reality. Kechari Mudra facilitates movement within the endless happiness of Brahman consciousness for the practitioner. The sophisticated technique of Кechari enables the yogi to achieve greater realms of consciousness.
Perhaps you have heard, of yogis drinking nectar from inside of their heads. In Hatha Yoga Pradipika, yogis consider Khechari mudra a practice to taste the bliss of nectar.
What is Khechari Mudra?
Khechari mudra is a type of Mana Mudra (mudra involves the head) in which the tongue is rolled up & back and drawn deep to the nasopharynx (nasal cavity). Then the language is locked back there into the nasal cavity, behind the palate (so it’s called ‘tongue lock’).
The khichuri mudra is the most powerful mudra because it stimulates the pituitary gland, which is located behind the nasal cavity. The pituitary gland is the third eye’s spiritual equivalent, and it is thought to elevate yogis to a higher state of consciousness.
A practitioner should first practice rolling their tongue before performing this mudra.
- The tongue can extend to the back of the throat with regular exercise because it becomes flexible.
- This is the location from which the Amrita, or “nectar of Immortality,” starts to flow upon stimulation.
Another kriya yoga technique is Кechari mudra, which is preceded by Talavera kriya (the tongue-palate exercise). The tongue is continually extended in and out during the Talavaya Kriya in order to make it flexible and long enough to do the Khechari mudra.
When a practitioner is unable to contact the uvula, they use “Nabho mudra,” an easier variation of the Khechari Mudra (lower part of the nasal cavity). Only the soft palate is rubbed against in this mudra. Another name for it is “little Кhechari mudra.”
Khechari Mudra Meaning
Khechari has two root words, Kha and Chara
- Kha is an infinite symbol for Brahman or space.
- “Obstacle-free moving” or “flying” is what Chara signifies.
- Mudra means a symbolic gesture.
Khechari mudra is a sign of unrestricted movement in the limitless realm of Brahman. How is that so?
In order to activate the pituitary gland, the Кhichri mudra allows the tongue to pierce to the top. Practitioners experience the joy of roaming freely in the limitless realm of Brahman when this gland begins to secrete.
Swami Nityananda Giri, a teacher of kriya yoga, explains and demonstrates the Кhechari mudra in this video.
Preparation
To practice Khechari mudra, Hatha Yoga Pradipika mentioned frenum (skin below the tongue that links it with gums) should be cut in order to increase the extension of the tongue (ONLY recommended under the guidance of an experienced teacher).
However, as described in Kriya Yoga and Raja Yoga, it is possible to achieve without cutting your frenum. It is possible to become ready for Khechari Mudra;
- By engaging in Talavera kriya with the tongue
- For the first few months, practice the Nabho Mudra, or tongue to the soft palate.
- Like other muscles, the tongue can be stretched. Before beginning actual practice, the tongue is milked for a few months to prepare it for the Кhechari mudra.
Khechari Mudra-Steps & Stages
- One should sit in a meditative pose and fix one gaze on the center space between eyes i.e. Third eye chakra.
- Take a few deep breaths, close your mouth, and then resume regular breathing.
(If you’re just starting out, keep your mouth open to be more conscious of tongue movement.)
Khechari Mudra Stage 1 – Soft Palate to Uvula
- Start the Khechari mudra by reaching your tongue up and rolling it back as far as you can. The tongue may initially hardly touch the hard palate. Slide your tongue up to the soft palate by simulating swallowing. Repeat it three to four times until your tongue is at ease at the soft palate.
- Try now to insert your tongue even further inside your mouth. If straightforward methods are ineffective, you can use a clean finger to press the tongue’s back.
- Using your tongue, touch the Uvula at the bottom of your mouth (a punching bag-like structure in your mouth hanging over your tongue).
- Do it three to four more times when you get this far to make sure your tongue is at ease.
Khechari Mudra Stage 2 – Passing The Uvula
- Now swiftly open your lips and glottis to blow a little air down your throat as your tongue touches the uvula.
- Your tongue will be prepared to enter the nasopharynx as a result of this powerful air burst, which will push your rolled tongue behind the uvula.
Khechari Mudra Stage 3 – Slipping Tongue Into The Nasopharynx
- Once the tongue has moved past the uvula, it is time to discover a location behind the uvula where the tongue won’t return to its original position. The tongue will start to slip naturally at this point, although there will be a tremendous need to eject the tongue at this point.
- Continue to breathe slowly while keeping an eye on your mouth. One simply needs to observe the situation to overcome this temptation.
- Your tongue will eventually begin to enter the nasopharynx, which is located behind the soft palate. By doing so, the tongue will reach its highest point and come into contact with the pituitary gland, a bony structure.
Khechari Mudra Stage 4 – Pressing Pituitary to Secrete Nectar
- The tongue has extended past the top of the throat up to this stage. Reaching this point will make you feel as though your mouth is empty.
- Space between your third eye, which you were encouraged to focus on at the start of this meditation, and your tongue touching at this highest point are all that are present. This is where the “Pituitary gland,” the body’s master gland, is located physiologically.
- It becomes excited when the tongue is rubbed up against this.
- While saliva would begin to build up in your mouth, it wouldn’t be ingested as long as your tongue was raised.
- Once your tongue is in its natural position, slowly lower it until you can taste the saliva that has built up inside your mouth.
- The fact that it would initially taste bitter is an indication that your body is detoxifying. But as you continue to practice, you’ll notice that the bitter taste gradually gives way to delicious flavors like honey, strawberries, and butter. In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, it is referred to as Amrita, or “the happiness of honey.”
Working of Khechari Mudra
The first five chakras (connected with the first five elements) and the last two chakras in our body meet near the throat (beyond the earthly elements). This junction disrupts the passage of prana at the throat level, depriving our brain centers of sufficient “Prana – vital energy.” As a result, whenever we attempt to concentrate on a single concept or location, our brains frequently wander.
The tongue forms a lock at this intersection when it is extended up to the pit of the throat in the Khechari mudra. Thus, it is also known as the tongue-lock mudra. Now that this bypass has been created, Prana may easily reach the upper chakras (Ajna and Shahsarara chakra). As a result, Prana begins to flow freely and the mind becomes calm and concentrated.
Khechari Mudra Benefit
One who accomplishes this Khechari mudra is neither troubled by diseases, nor death, lassitude, sleep, hunger, thirst, or unconsciousness. Hatha Yoga Pradipika, 3.39
- This mudra unblocks clogged salivary glands and alleviates uncomfortable symptoms of ailments of the salivary glands. [efn note] Yoga’s applicability to dentistry education http://www.ym-kdham.in/article.asp?issn=0044-0507;year=2018;volume=50;issue=1;spage=10;epage=15;aulast=Deshpande [/efn_note].
- Khecahri mudra promotes the parasympathetic nervous system while stimulating the pituitary gland (PNS). Your body conserves energy when the PNS is activated by lowering your breathing rate (5 to 8 breaths per minute) and making you feel at ease.
- When dealing with hearing loss and forgetfulness (dementia), Khechari mudra with Bhramari pranayama is particularly efficient [efn note]. Tinnitus and hearing loss: frequency-modulated Bhramari Pranayamhttp://www.indianjotol.org/article.asp?issn=0971-7749;year=2018;volume=24;issue=4;spage=209;epage=213;aulast=Taneja [/efn_note].
- Rolling the tongue inside is a metaphor for controlling our senses’ outward movement. Additionally, it is quite challenging to communicate to yourself if the tongue is frozen in one position (like in this mudra) [efn note] Using Your Tongue to Think.https://thebestbrainpossible.com/thinking-with-your-tongue/ [/efn_note] – eventually, thoughts get reduced. This way, Khechari mudra is very helpful to draw the mind inwards which makes meditation much easier.
- Khechari mudra regularly used eliminates signs of aging. It activates the pituitary gland, which releases growth hormone—also known as the anti-aging elixir—into the body.
- The thyroid gland’s secretion is balanced by the Khechari mudra and ujjayi breathing. For a healthy metabolism, ideal body weight, growth, and development, the thyroid gland’s balanced secretion is crucial.
- Khechari mudra brings many spiritual powers like third-eye chakra awakening, precognition, and extrasensory perception.
- It’s a purifying exercise that also detoxifies the body through nectar release, clears the tongue, and avoids bad breath (halitosis).
- Khechari mudra meditation is an effective technique for being in a tranquil state of mind. This mudra locks the air inside the lungs and prevents exhalation in deep meditation, which doesn’t let our awareness be scattered.
- It increases the tongue’s sensitivity to the flavor of each individual component. Therefore, by understanding this mudra, panch tattva dominancy or deficiency (five elements) can be easily remedied.
Sweet is associated with the earth, sour with the air, salty with the water, pungent with the ether, and bitter with the fire.
Precautions
While maneuvering the tongue to reach the end of the nasal cavity, one may see blood sticking to the tip of the tongue, but there are no other negative repercussions of the Khechari mudra. There is nothing to be alarmed about, however, one should take the following safety measures;
- Without any direction from a knowledgeable teacher, it is not advisable to perform this mudra.
- While doing this mudra, one should consume a low-protein diet.
- It can take between 6 and 7 months of practice to master just stages 1 and 2, so it’s not advisable to practice all of them on the first day. Stage 1 should be practiced until it becomes natural for a beginner.
- Early frenum cutting is strongly advised, and it is done under guru guidance.
Final Words
The Khechari mudra, which can activate the body’s master gland, is known as the “King of all mudras.” Even if you are a beginner and cannot perform the full Khechari mudra, the little Khechari mudra (nacho mudra) has several physical advantages.
This mudra can be used at any time, however, it is especially advised during meditation periods. Hold your tongue against your soft palate as you meditate to discover how much easier it is to regulate your thoughts and how few they are.
