History behind Thalaiva’s ‘Baba’ symbol

Apana Mudra helps in Body Detox and Digestion

In Sanskrit, Apana means downward moving force. Apana mudra governs the pelvic region of your body.

The pelvic region refers to the lower abdomen of the body. It contains digestive and reproductive organs.

In short, Apana mudra facilitates smooth and harmonious downward moving force in the digestive and reproductive organs of the body to regulate the movement of body toxins downward. In relieves constipation and makes the bowel movements regular. It increases sweating and urination also.

Also, it helps in regulating the menstrual cycles in women.

How to do Apana Mudra

• The tips of middle and index fingers would jointly touch the tip of the thumb. Remaining two fingers would be stretched out.
• This mudra should be done with both hands simultaneously.
• While in apana mudra, the hands can rest on the sides or just rest them on the lap.
• You can do it while sitting or walking or lying down.
• Breathe normally and try to observe the inhalation and exhalation process.
• For best results, it should be practiced in the sitting posture in the Vajrasana pose because Vajrasana itself aids in digestion by increasing the flow of blood to the pelvis.

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The symbol which shows the thumb holding down the ring and middle fingers is increasingly touted to be the official logo of his soon-to-be-announced party.

We first saw the symbol in the 2002 film Baba where he plays a good Samaritan atheist who develops faith after a meeting with Mahavatar Babaji, a sage who was reportedly spotted in the Himalayas between 1861 and 1935.

A-decade-and-a half later when the actor announced his political entry in December 2017, the stage was adorned by the same symbol seated on a lotus. In subsequent communications with the media, however, the lotus disappeared but the symbol remained.

So, what is the baba symbol and what does it represent? The internet has some theories.

Apana Mudra

The symbol from the film is supposed to be the apana mudra. The five fingers of the hand represent the five yogic elements: thumb is fire, index finger is air, middle finger is space, ring finger is earth and the little finger is water. In this mudra, the middle finger and the ring finger are held down by the thumb symbolically representing the calming down of the ether and the earth. According to Kriya Yoga, the repeated holding of that posture helps in digestion and improves stomach-related ailments. However, it is rather curious as a political symbol.

One theory is also that in Bharatanatyam, this symbol is used to show the face of the lion which would be more apt for an actor with a roaring popularity in India.

Similarities to Ramakrishna Mission’s logo

The serpent at the head of the symbol has caught the attention of everyone for encircling the hand. It is perhaps representative of the circle of life and death, much like the way a snake would shed its skin.

Rajinikanth told reporters that the snake represents divinity and depicts ‘Kundalini’, or static energy that supports all life. Often, this energy is depicted as a serpent.

In Hindu mythology, man’s ultimate goal is to be rid of the cycle of birth and death. Another reading could be the sheshnag which when uncoiled has the capacity to move time and make creation possible; the universe ends when the snake coils back.

Significantly, the logo of Ramakrishna Mission bears a similar symbol – with the serpent encircling a swan that is seated on a lotus, as the sun rises over the waters.

Rajinikanth is said to have been influenced by the teaching of the Ramakrishna Mission in his early days. Ramakrishna Mission was founded by Swami Vivekananda to spread the word of his guru Paramahansa Ramakrishna. Parahansa Yogananda who was fond of Parahansa Ramakrishna is said to have met Rajinikanth’s spiritual guru Mahadev Babaji as per the former’s account in his book the Autobiography of a Yogi.

[Sources: Spiritual Ray, Health Melody and The News Minute]