Also called: jal mudra, varuna mudra.
How to do Varun Mudra
- Sit with a tall, relaxed spine: cross-legged, kneeling or on a chair with your feet flat. Rest the backs of your hands on your thighs or knees.
- On each hand, bend the little finger and bring its tip to the tip of your thumb.
- Keep the index, middle and ring fingers straight but soft, pointing away from you.
- Press the two fingertips together only lightly, just enough to feel the contact.
- Close your eyes and breathe slowly through your nose for 5–15 minutes. Then release the fingers and gently shake out your hands.
Traditional benefits
- Traditionally used for dryness: dry skin, dry eyes and a dry mouth
- Traditionally used to balance the water element, which Ayurveda links to fluids and suppleness
- Traditionally used as a cooling, calming practice in hot weather
- Traditionally used as a daily reminder to drink enough water
- Gives you a few still minutes of slow breathing, which can ease everyday stress
Keep in mind
- Many teachers skip it when you have a cold, cough, a lot of mucus or swelling from fluid retention
- It does not replace drinking water, skin care or any prescribed treatment
- Ongoing dry eyes, dry mouth or skin problems can have medical causes, so get them checked by a doctor
The best-known Varun mudra benefits are traditional ones linked to water: people use this simple hand gesture for dry skin, dry eyes and a feeling of heat or tension. You join the tip of the little finger to the tip of the thumb, keep the other three fingers straight, and breathe quietly. Below: its meaning, timing, the honest evidence and who should skip it.
Varun mudra meaning and tradition
A mudra is a hand position held during breathing or meditation. The Varuna mudra meaning comes from Varuna, the Vedic god of water, rain and the oceans, so it is often called the gesture of the water.
The tradition behind it is the five-element theory of the fingers. Each finger stands for one element: the thumb for fire, the index finger for air, the middle finger for space, the ring finger for earth and the little finger for water. Touching a fingertip to the thumb is said to strengthen that element, so Varun mudra is meant to add "water" – moisture, flow and softness. What is the significance of the gesture today? For most people it is simply a steady point of attention.
If you saw a hand with only the little finger and thumb touching and wondered which mudra is this, it is Varun mudra. It is easy to confuse with Prithvi mudra (ring finger to thumb, for grounding) and with Gyan mudra, whose name in English is the gesture of knowledge (index finger to thumb, for focus). Unlike many Varun mudra images online, the diagram above shows the fingertip contact clearly.
How to do Varun mudra correctly (Varun mudra kaise karen)
The steps above cover the basic shape. These details make it comfortable:
- Gesture and posture go together. Sit in Easy pose, Vajrasana or on a chair. A slumped back makes the hands tense, so lift through the crown of your head.
- Light touch. Squeezing tires the hand and pulls attention from the breath.
- Both hands. Form the shape on both hands at the same time.
How long to do Varun mudra, and when
Most mudra teachers suggest 15 minutes, up to three times a day, or 30–45 minutes in total. If you are new, start with 5 minutes and build up. Morning and early evening suit most people.
Pair it with slow nasal breathing. Try four counts in and six out, or combine it with Anulom Vilom by holding the mudra on your resting hand. Use the meditation timer so you are not checking the clock; a soft bell tells you when to stop.
Varun mudra benefits (Varun mudra ke fayde): tradition and evidence
Traditional mudra books describe it as helpful for dry skin, cracked lips, dry eyes and a dry mouth. Varun mudra benefits for skin and hair are the most common claims you will read, along with a cooling effect, so it is often suggested as a mudra to reduce body heat. The Varun mudra spiritual benefits are described as emotional flow and letting go.
Be clear about the evidence: there are no good clinical trials on this mudra. What you can reasonably expect is the effect of sitting still and breathing slowly for 15 minutes, which many people find calming. Varun mudra benefits on skin will not replace drinking water, a moisturiser or a dermatologist; a mudra for skin problems is at best a quiet companion to proper care.
Varun mudra for loose motion or fever?
Some websites list Varun mudra for loose motion and fever. These are not conditions to treat with a hand gesture. Diarrhoea needs fluids and oral rehydration salts, and a fever that is high or lasts more than two days needs a doctor.
Varun mudra side effects and who should skip it
The gesture itself is physically harmless. The traditional cautions are about the water element: many teachers skip it when you already have a cold, a cough, heavy mucus or swelling, because tradition says those are signs of too much water. It is sometimes promoted as a mudra to reduce high BP (blood pressure) or improve blood circulation; it treats neither, so keep taking any prescribed medicine. For a mudra for heart health in the traditional sense, see Apana Vayu mudra (also spelled Apan Vayu), and keep in mind that any heart problem belongs with your doctor.
Related mudras
There is no one mudra for all problems, and no single best mudra for overall health. The benefits of Gyan mudra centre on focus, Prithvi mudra benefits on stability, and the benefits of Vayu mudra on gas and bloating. The benefits of Chin mudra are similar to Gyan but with the palms down. Browse our list of mudras with pictures to compare all hand mudras and their benefits side by side.
वरुण मुद्रा (Varun Mudra) — हिंदी में: आराम से बैठें और दोनों हाथों की सबसे छोटी उंगली के सिरे को अंगूठे के सिरे से हल्का-सा मिलाएँ। बाकी तीन उंगलियाँ सीधी रखें। धीमी साँस लेते हुए 15 मिनट तक, दिन में तीन बार तक करें। परंपरा के अनुसार यह जल तत्व को संतुलित करती है और त्वचा व आँखों के रूखेपन में सहायक मानी जाती है। सर्दी, खाँसी या सूजन हो तो इसे न करें; यह दवा का विकल्प नहीं है।
Where this practice is used
Chakras: Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra)
Yoga for: Kidney Stones · Glowing Skin and Acne · Psoriasis and Eczema · Dry Eyes · Varicose Veins
More mudras
Frequently asked questions
What is Varun mudra?
Varun mudra is a hand gesture in which the tip of the little finger touches the tip of the thumb and the other three fingers stay straight. It is named after Varuna, the god of water, and is traditionally used for dryness and a cooling, calm feeling.
How long to do Varun mudra each day?
Hold it for 15 minutes up to three times a day, or 30–45 minutes in total. Beginners can start with 5 minutes and build up over a week or two.
What are the Varun mudra benefits and side effects?
Traditionally it is used for dry skin, dry eyes and a dry mouth, and to cool the body. It has no known physical side effects, but many teachers avoid it during a cold, cough or when there is swelling from fluid retention.
Is Varun mudra good for skin and hair?
Varun mudra benefits for hair and skin are traditional claims that have not been tested in studies. Drink enough water, use a moisturiser and see a doctor for skin problems that do not settle.
Varun mudra kaise karte hain, and what are the Varun mudra ke labh?
Sit comfortably, touch the tip of the little finger to the tip of the thumb on both hands, keep the other three fingers straight and breathe slowly for 5–15 minutes. The traditional labh (benefits) are relief from dryness and a cooling, calm feeling.
Can I read the Varun (Varuna) mudra benefits in Hindi, Tamil or other languages?
Varun (Varuna) mudra benefits in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali and English are the same, because the practice does not change with language. This page has a short Hindi summary, and YogaMitra’s guided sessions speak 28 languages.
What are mudras in yoga and their benefits?
Mudras are hand gestures held during breathing and meditation. Tradition links each one to a quality such as focus, calm or energy. Research on specific health effects is limited.
Mudras are a traditional practice for focus and relaxation. Research on specific health effects is limited; use them alongside, not instead of, medical care.