Mahasirs Mudra (Head Gesture): how to do it and benefits for headache

Also called: mahashirsha mudra, mudra for headache.

How to do Mahasirs Mudra

1. Sit upright on a chair or on the floor and rest your hands on your thighs, palms facing up.
2. On each hand, fold your ring finger into the palm so its tip rests near the base of the thumb.
3. Bring the tips of your index finger and middle finger to the tip of your thumb, so three fingertips meet.
4. Keep your little finger straight and relaxed.
5. Close your eyes, soften your forehead and jaw, and breathe slowly through the nose.
6. Stay for 5–10 minutes, up to three times a day, then release the fingers and rest.

Mahasirs mudra (also spelled mahashirsha mudra) is a hand gesture in which the index and middle fingertips touch the thumb tip, the ring finger folds into the palm and the little finger stays straight. In mudra books it is the classic mudra for headache, especially a tense, heavy head or pressure around the sinuses.

Mahasirs mudra meaning

The name comes from Sanskrit: maha means great and shirsha means head. So the mahasirs mudra meaning is "mudra of the great head", or simply "head gesture". The spelling varies (mahasirs, mahashirsha, maha sirs) but the hand shape is the same.

Why do we use mudras? They give the hands and mind one clear position to rest in. A mudra in Buddhism is a sacred hand sign; Indian mudras are used in yoga, meditation and dance (the hand gestures in Bharatanatyam mudras), and in meditation, mudras used as hand positions keep attention steady. In the yoga model each finger stands for an element: thumb fire, index air, middle space, ring earth, little water. Mahasirs mudra joins air and space with fire, and tucks the earth finger in, which is said to release heaviness and "blocked" pressure from the head.

Mahasirs mudra: how to do it well

If you see a hand with three tips joined, one finger curled into the palm and the little finger straight, and wonder which mudra is this, it is mahasirs mudra. The finger diagram above shows the exact shape more clearly than most mahasirs mudra images. Tips for good practice:

• Relax the face first. Unclench your teeth, let the tongue rest and soften the space between the eyebrows.
• Breathe out slowly. A longer out-breath helps tense muscles let go. Try Bhramari (humming bee breath) for a few rounds.
• Mahasirs mudra duration: 5–10 minutes, up to three times a day, is enough. Longer is not better.
• Any seat works. A chair at your desk is fine; lying on your back in Savasana also works.

Mahasirs mudra benefits

The traditional mahasirs mudra benefits are listed in the box above. In daily life people use it:

• For tension headache: after hours at a screen, with tight neck and shoulders. Gentle neck stretches help too; see yoga for neck pain.
• For sinus pressure: as a calm pause while you breathe through the nose. Our yoga for sinusitis page adds steam and neti advice.
• For a busy mind: the slow breathing that goes with it is a simple way to settle stress.

There are no studies on this mudra itself. Relaxation and slow breathing may ease tension-type headaches for many people, and the mudra gives that practice a clear focus.

Mahasirs mudra for migraine and headache: what to expect

During a migraine attack, rest in a dark, quiet room, and take your medicine as your doctor advised. Mahasirs mudra can be held while you rest, but it does not stop a migraine. Between attacks, regular relaxation, sleep and gentle yoga may help reduce how often headaches come; see yoga for migraine and headache. Avoid head-down poses during an attack.

Some lists also call it a mudra to reduce blood pressure, a mudra for heart problems, blood circulation or an energy boost. There is no evidence for these mudra health benefits, and no mudras control high BP, so keep your prescribed treatment.

Mahasirs mudra benefits and side effects

No harmful mahasirs mudra side effects are known. Some people feel a pull in the ring finger at first. If a headache gets worse while you practise, stop, and see a doctor if headaches are new, frequent or different from usual.

Many mudras (hand gestures) for chakras exist. In chakra teaching the mahasirs mudra chakra link is the brow (ajna) chakra, the point between the eyebrows. See our 7 chakras guide.

Related mudras and how to practice mudras

There is no one mudra for all problems and no best mudra for overall health. Mudras in yoga and their benefits are traditional aids for specific needs. Kalesvara mudra benefits are said to be calm and fewer racing thoughts; to do kalesvara mudra, join the middle fingertips and the first joints of the index fingers, thumbs touching and pointing to the chest (see kalesvara mudra). To do shanmukhi mudra, close the ears with the thumbs and rest the other fingers over the eyes, nose and lips. The benefits of gyan mudra and chin mudra are calm focus, and the benefits of vayu mudra are traditionally for gas and stiffness.

A simple way to do mudra meditation: sit upright, form the mudra, breathe slowly and let your attention rest on the fingertips. There are many different types of mudras; our mudras chart is a list of mudras with pictures, showing all hand mudras and their names, meanings, uses and benefits, so you can compare each mudra hand position and its meaning.

More mudras

Mudras are a traditional practice for focus and relaxation. Research on specific health effects is limited; use them alongside, not instead of, medical care.