Anjali
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| Meaning | Prayer or salutation |
|---|---|
Anjali is one of the most common hand gestures, used in dance and yoga, to show prayer and salute another individual. As part of the spiritual side of culture of the East and West, the Anjali mudra is also used to humble oneself and to surrender to the greatness of life.
Application
The Anjali mudra is used when bowing to deities, teachers, and/or highly respected individuals. For deities, the hands are held high above the head. For elders and teachers, in front of the face, and in front of the chest for general respect. There are many other uses for this mudra as well, including:
- showing obedience
- clapping a beat
- indicating a form of Shiva
- meditation
- awaiting instruction from one's guru
