詳しいガイド（英語）
Meaning and tradition
Bhairava is a fierce, awe-inspiring form of Shiva in Hindu and Tantric traditions, so Bhairava Mudrā is named for that form. The word is often glossed as “fearsome” or “terrifying.” The mudra is described in Hatha yoga and Tantric sources and is widely taught today. Right-over-left is the standard form, often read as the union of the right and left sides of the body, or of the masculine and feminine principles. With the left hand on top, the same shape is called Bhairavi Mudra, named for the female counterpart. Like Dhyana Mudra, the whole stacked shape is read as a balance of all five elements.
How to practice
Sit in Lotus Pose or Easy Pose, or lie in Corpse Pose with the hands resting on the belly. Place the left hand in the lap, palm up. Rest the right hand on top of the left, also palm up, with the fingers aligned. Let the thumbs lie relaxed and apart; they do not touch. Breathe with Sama Vritti or a smooth Dirga Breath. Hold for 10 to 30 minutes, then release.
Tips and common mistakes
- Let the thumbs rest. If they stiffen or press, ease them back to neutral.
- Keep the hands low and the shoulders dropped, and use a cushion if the forearms tire.
- Unlike Dhyana Mudra, the thumbs do not touch and no oval forms between them.
- To switch to Bhairavi Mudra, place the left hand on top of the right instead.
- The stacked hands are always palm up. Turning the top hand palm down is a different gesture.
Tradition vs. evidence
Tradition attaches Bhairava Mudra to fearlessness and to the union of opposites, which are symbolic readings from Tantric sources. Hand mudras have little clinical research behind them. What you can say is that a relaxed, stacked hand position is a simple ritual cue and a steady place to rest the hands during long sits.