Also called: aakash mudra, shuni mudra.
How to do Akash Mudra
- Sit upright on a cushion or a chair with your feet flat, and rest the backs of your hands on your knees or thighs.
- On each hand, bring the tip of your middle finger to the tip of your thumb so they touch lightly.
- Keep your index, ring and little fingers straight but soft, spread a little apart.
- Close your eyes, relax your jaw and breathe slowly through your nose, noticing the space around sounds.
- Stay for 5–15 minutes, then open the fingers, shake the hands gently and open your eyes.
Traditional benefits
- Traditionally used for patience and a calmer, less reactive mind
- Traditionally used for calm listening and meditation on sound or silence
- Traditionally used to balance the space element (akasha) in Ayurvedic mudra theory
- Traditionally used in Kundalini yoga (as shuni mudra) for steadiness and commitment
Keep in mind
- Akash mudra does not replace medical care. Keep taking prescribed medicine and see a doctor for ear, heart or blood pressure problems.
- If you feel spacey, dizzy or anxious, stop and switch to prithvi mudra or simply rest your palms on your thighs.
- Keep the touch light if your finger joints are stiff or painful.
Akash mudra (also written aakash mudra or akasha mudra) is a simple hand gesture in which the tip of the middle finger touches the tip of the thumb and the other three fingers stay open. In yoga it is used for patience, calm and meditation. In Kundalini yoga the same shape is called shuni mudra.
Akash mudra meaning
Akasha is Sanskrit for space, sky or ether, and mudra means seal or gesture. So the akash mudra meaning is "gesture of space". In Hindi it is written आकाश मुद्रा (aakash mudra).
The finger diagram above is clearer than most akash mudra images online, which often blur which finger touches the thumb.
Indian mudras are hand gestures with a meaning, much like Buddhist mudras are sacred hand gestures in statues and art. In the Ayurvedic model each finger stands for one of the five elements: thumb for fire, index for air, middle finger for space, ring finger for earth and little finger for water. When a fingertip meets the thumb tip, that element is said to be balanced and strengthened. Akash mudra therefore works with space, the element linked with sound, hearing and openness.
This is a traditional model, not anatomy. Why do we use mudras at all? Mostly because a clear hand position gives the mind a steady point to rest on during meditation and slow breathing.
How to do akash mudra well
The steps above cover the basic shape. A few details make it easier:
- Touch, do not press. Pressing hard makes the forearm tense and pulls your attention to effort.
- Keep the wrists soft. Let the backs of the hands rest fully on the thighs so the shoulders can drop.
- Choose a steady seat. Easy Pose (Sukhasana), Vajrasana or a chair all work.
- Listen. A good practice is to notice every sound near and far, then the silence between the sounds.
Start with 5 minutes and build to 15. Early morning or the evening, away from meals, is the usual time. Our meditation timer rings a soft bell so you do not need to watch the clock.
Akash mudra benefits
The akash mudra benefits described in yoga books are mostly mental and are best seen as traditional uses:
- Patience and calm: the middle finger is linked with patience in Kundalini yoga, so shuni mudra is used when you feel rushed.
- Meditation and focus: it is a good mudra to increase concentration during sound meditation or Bhramari (humming bee breath).
- Spiritual benefits: the akash mudra spiritual benefits are said to be a sense of openness and inner space. Some teachers link the space element with the throat chakra, which is why akash mudra appears in lists of mudras (hand gestures) for chakras; see our 7 chakras guide.
Some mudra books also list akasha mudra benefits for the ears, bones, heart health, skin problems or body heat, and a few call it a mudra to reduce body heat. Charts of all hand mudras and their healing properties repeat these claims. There is no research on these claims, so treat them as tradition only and keep your medical care. For stress, pair the mudra with yoga for stress relief.
Akash mudra vs shunya mudra
Akasha mudra and shunya mudra use the same finger but do opposite things in mudra theory:
| Akash mudra | Shunya mudra | |
|---|---|---|
| Middle finger | Tip touches thumb tip | Folded to the base of the thumb, thumb presses it |
| Space element | Increased and balanced | Reduced |
| Typical use | Patience, calm listening, meditation | Ear discomfort, dizziness, motion sickness |
If you already feel light-headed or "spaced out", choose shunya mudra or the grounding prithvi mudra instead.
Akash mudra side effects
No harmful akash mudra side effects are known. Because the tradition says it increases space (and with it the airy vata quality), some people feel restless or dreamy after long sits. Shorten the practice and ground yourself with slow breaths through the nose.
Other hand mudras and their benefits
There is no single best mudra for overall health, and no mudra heals disease. Mudras in yoga and their benefits work best as part of calm breathing and meditation. Each mudra and its benefits suit a different aim. The benefits of gyan mudra are focus and calm, see gyan mudra. The benefits of vayu mudra are traditionally for gas and stiffness, the benefits of kubera mudra for clear goals, and prana mudra is the usual mudra for an energy boost. Touching the earth mudra (bhumisparsha) is a Buddhist gesture: the right hand reaches down to touch the ground. Browse all hand mudras and their benefits on our mudras page.
Akash mudra benefits in English are the same as akash mudra benefits in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada (akasha mudra benefits in Kannada) or Marathi: patience, calm and a quiet mind. Our guided sessions speak these languages too.
आकाश मुद्रा (Akash Mudra) — हिंदी में: आराम से सीधे बैठें और हथेलियाँ ऊपर की ओर घुटनों पर रखें। मध्यमा उंगली के सिरे को अंगूठे के सिरे से हल्का-सा मिलाएँ, बाकी उंगलियाँ सीधी रखें। आँखें बंद करके 5–15 मिनट धीरे-धीरे साँस लें। आकाश मुद्रा के फायदे: धैर्य, शांत मन और ध्यान में मदद। यह दवा का विकल्प नहीं है।
Where this practice is used
Chakras: Vishuddha (Throat Chakra)
More mudras
Frequently asked questions
What is akash mudra?
Akash mudra is a hand gesture in which the tip of the middle finger touches the tip of the thumb while the index, ring and little fingers stay straight. It is linked with the space element and used for patience and meditation.
Is akash mudra the same as shuni mudra?
Yes, the finger position is the same. Shuni mudra is the name used in Kundalini yoga, where the middle finger is linked with patience and discipline.
What is the difference between akash mudra and shunya mudra?
In akash mudra the middle fingertip touches the thumb tip. In shunya mudra the middle finger folds to the base of the thumb and the thumb presses it. Tradition says the first increases space and the second reduces it.
How long should I hold akash mudra?
Start with 5 minutes and build to 15 minutes, once or twice a day. Stop earlier if you feel dizzy or restless.
Akash mudra ke fayde kya hain?
Akash mudra ke fayde (benefits) in tradition are patience, a calmer mind and deeper meditation. They are not proven medical effects, so keep your treatment.
What are the benefits of aakash mudra?
The traditional aakash mudra benefits are patience, calm listening and a sense of inner space during meditation. They are not proven medical effects.
Does akash mudra have side effects?
No harmful side effects are known. A few people feel light-headed or dreamy during long sits; shorten the time or switch to prithvi mudra.
Mudras are a traditional practice for focus and relaxation. Research on specific health effects is limited; use them alongside, not instead of, medical care.