🤲Illustration coming soonINDEX and MIDDLE fingers fold down to the base of the thumb; the thumb, ring and little fingers stay extended. The right hand is raised to the nose so the thumb can close the right nostril and the ring finger the left.
Vishnu Mudra
Viṣṇu Mudrā
VISH-noo MOO-drah
Energy & vitalityElement: air + space (regulated)
Vishnu Mudra (Viṣṇu Mudrā) is a energy & vitality hand mudra formed with the index + middle folded, thumb/ring/little free, associated with air + space (regulated).
Vishnu Mudra folds the index and middle fingers into the base of the thumb while the thumb, ring, and little fingers stay extended, so the right hand can close the nostrils in turn. Tradition uses it for alternate nostril breathing.
The gesture
The gesture
INDEX and MIDDLE fingers fold down to the base of the thumb; the thumb, ring and little fingers stay extended. The right hand is raised to the nose so the thumb can close the right nostril and the ring finger the left.
Fingers
index + middle folded, thumb/ring/little free
Element
air + space (regulated)
Palm
toward face
Hands
right
Hold for
for the length of a Nadi Shodhana round (5–15 minutes)
Also called
Nasagra Mudra, Nostril-Control Mudra
How to do Vishnu Mudra
Sit in Easy Pose, Lotus Pose, or Hero Pose with the spine tall, the chin level, and the shoulders relaxed.
Rest the left hand on the left knee or thigh, in a hand position you prefer, such as Gyan Mudra.
Raise the right hand to the face with the palm turned toward the face.
Fold the index and middle fingers down to the base of the right thumb, keeping the thumb, ring finger, and little finger extended.
Place the right thumb lightly against the side of the right nostril, and the right ring finger against the side of the left nostril.
Close one nostril at a time with light pressure as the breath guides, for a Nadi Shodhana round of 5 to 15 minutes.
To release, lower the right hand to the knee, take a few natural breaths, and sit quietly.
Quick check: do you know this mudra?
Benefits
Traditionally used to control the nostrils in alternate nostril breathing.
Said to balance the left and right channels, known as ida and pingala.
Practitioners use it to keep the breath steady and unhurried.
The folded fingers keep the hand light and the movement efficient.
Gives a clear signal to the mind that breathing practice has begun.
When to use it
Use it for alternate nostril breathing in a seated pranayama practice, after a few rounds of calm natural breathing.
Cautions
If your nose is blocked or you have a cold, avoid pressing or forcing the breath; breathe naturally or skip the practice.
Press lightly on the nostrils; pushing hard can bruise tissue and restrict breathing.
Rest the elbow against the ribs or support it with the other hand if the shoulder or arm tires.
Vishnu is the preserver in the Hindu trinity, and the mudra is named for him, also being called Nasagra Mudra, from nasa, “nose,” and agra, “tip.” Classical hatha yoga texts describe closing the nostrils with the fingers during pranayama, and the Vishnu hand shape with the index and middle fingers folded is the common modern form taught for Nadi Shodhana. It is mainly a practical technique rather than a symbolic gesture. By the finger-element scheme, the thumb is fire and the ring finger is earth, and the folded index (air) and middle (space) fingers are put aside, which is why the shape is described as regulating air and space.
How to practice
Sit in Easy Pose, Lotus Pose, or Hero Pose with a tall spine. Rest the left hand on the knee. Fold the right index and middle fingers to the base of the thumb, keep the other three extended, and raise the right hand to the nose with the palm toward the face. Close the right nostril with the thumb and the left with the ring finger as the breath requires. This hand is used for Nadi Shodhana, also taught as Anulom Vilom, and for Chandra Bhedana and Surya Bhedana, single-nostril breaths. Practice for 5 to 15 minutes.
Tips and common mistakes
The folded fingers are index and middle, and the extended fingers are thumb, ring, and little. The palm faces the face, and only the right hand is used.
Unlike Vayu Mudra, where only the index finger folds to the base of the thumb and the other three fingers are extended, Vishnu folds both the index and middle fingers.
Unlike Shunya Mudra, where only the middle finger folds under the thumb, Vishnu folds both the index and middle fingers to the base of the thumb.
Unlike Apana Vayu Mudra, where the index finger is folded and the thumb tips touch the middle and ring fingertips, Vishnu leaves the thumb, ring, and little fingers extended and uses the hand to close the nostrils.
Keep the elbow down and the shoulder relaxed, and use gentle finger pressure.
Tradition vs. evidence
Mudras have little clinical research behind them, and the claims about balancing the energy channels for this one are traditional. What is defensible is that this hand shape is a practical tool for closing one nostril at a time, and that the ritual of the hand movement can help pace a slow breathing practice.
Honest note: hand mudras have very little clinical research behind them. What is defensible is that a held gesture is a reliable anchor for attention and pairs naturally with slow breathing; the traditional claims are described here as tradition, not as medical advice.