महा वेध

Mahā Vedha

The great piercing

Sources: Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā 3.26-31 · Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā 3.21-24

Meaning

Mahā (महा) means “great”. Vedha (वेध) means “to pierce”, “to penetrate” or “to traverse”. Mahā Vedha is “the great piercing” —the technique that completes the trilogy of major mudrās and whose specific purpose is to make kuṇḍalinī traverse the granthis (psychic knots) and ascend through suṣumṇā.

It is the third of the three great mudrās and is only practiced after mastering Mahā Mudrā and Mahā Bandha. Together they form a coherent system: Mahā Mudrā purifies the channels, Mahā Bandha seals the energy, and Mahā Vedha propels it upward.

Technique

Position

  1. Adopt the Mahā Bandha position (left heel in perineum, right foot on left thigh)
  2. Place palms on the ground on either side of the hips
  3. Keep the spine erect

Practice

  1. Inhale deeply
  2. Apply all three bandhas (Jālandhara, Uḍḍīyāna, Mūla) as in Mahā Bandha
  3. Retain the breath
  4. Press palms against the ground
  5. Slightly raise the body
  6. Gently tap the buttocks against the ground 3 times
  7. Maintain the bandhas throughout the process
  8. Release the bandhas and exhale
  9. Repeat switching leg positions

Important technical aspects

The “strike” is not violent but controlled. The idea is to create a vibration that travels up the spine and helps kuṇḍalinī pierce through blockages. Classical texts compare it to striking a container to make its contents rise.

The lift should be minimal —just a few centimeters— and the impact absorbed by the gluteal muscles, never by the spine.

Effects

Physical level

  • Stimulates the entire spinal nervous system
  • Creates a vibration that travels through the nerve plexuses
  • Activates circulation in the pelvic area
  • Stimulates the adrenal glands

Energetic level

  • Completes the work of Mahā Mudrā and Mahā Bandha
  • Propels kuṇḍalinī upward
  • Helps pierce the three granthis:
    • Brahma granthi (root) — attachment to the physical body
    • Viṣṇu granthi (heart) — emotional attachment
    • Rudra granthi (eyebrow center) — attachment to spiritual ego
  • Definitively unites prāṇa and apāna

Effects mentioned in the texts

The HYP (3.29-30) describes that Mahā Vedha:

  • Grants eternal youth
  • Destroys wrinkles and gray hair
  • Is revered by all adepts
  • Without it, Mahā Mudrā and Mahā Bandha are useless

The complete trilogy

The three Mahā-mudrās form a system:

MudrāFunctionMetaphor
Mahā MudrāPurifies the channelsClearing the path
Mahā BandhaSeals the energyClosing the gates
Mahā VedhaPierces the knotsPropelling upward

Practice them in sequence, preferably in the same session:

  1. Mahā Mudrā (3 times each side)
  2. Mahā Bandha (3 times each side)
  3. Mahā Vedha (3 times each side)

In the classical texts

“Just as the beauty of a woman is useless without a man, so Mahā Mudrā and Mahā Bandha are useless without Mahā Vedha.” — Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā 3.26

“Seated in Mahā Bandha, with concentration, the yogi performs breath retention. Supporting the hands evenly on the ground, he gently strikes the buttocks against the earth. This is Mahā Vedha.” — Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā 3.27-28

“The air leaves Iḍā and Piṅgalā and enters Suṣumṇā. Then immortality is produced. A death-like state occurs, followed by a deep exhalation.” — Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā 3.29

“Mahā Vedha grants great siddhis. It destroys old age, wrinkles and gray hair. Therefore it is cultivated by the best practitioners.” — Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā 3.30

Precautions

  • Coccyx or sacrum problems
  • Disc herniation
  • Osteoporosis
  • Heart problems or severe hypertension
  • Pregnancy
  • Severe hemorrhoids

This is an advanced practice requiring prior mastery of:

  • Prolonged breath retention
  • The three individual bandhas
  • Mahā Mudrā and Mahā Bandha

The strike against the ground should be soft and controlled. Never practice on hard surfaces without padding. Use a folded blanket or thick mat to cushion the impact.