Healing Practice
Viparitakarani Mudra
Sanskrit: Viparītakaraṇī Mudrā
The "Inverted Action Seal" — a simple inversion the Hatha Yoga Pradipika describes as reversing the natural downward tendency of the body's vital fluids.
- Tradition
- Yogic Tradition
Introduction
Viparita (inverted/reversed) and karani (action/doing) name this practice. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika describes a simple inversion — the legs and lower body raised and supported, the head remaining low — said to reverse the natural downward tendency of the body's subtle vital fluids and preserve vitality within the text's own traditional framework.
This classical, simpler description is understood as a precursor to the more developed inversions of the later yoga canon, such as Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) and Headstand (Sirsasana), both already covered elsewhere in this encyclopedia. As with any inversion, it calls for caution with neck issues, high blood pressure, glaucoma, and during menstruation or pregnancy; those new to inverted postures should learn from a qualified teacher.
Sources & References
- The Hatha Yoga Pradipika — Svatmarama; trans. Pancham Sinh, The Panini Office (Sacred Books of the Hindus, vol. XV) (1914) · Link
Public domain. Classical c. 15th-century Sanskrit hatha yoga text; this early-20th-century English translation is the standard public-domain edition consulted for these entries.