sambhavi mudra

(also, shambhavi mudra) "related to Shiva" There are several different techniques that go by this name, and English spellings are inconsistent. What is referred to in this text, is the "seal, or gesture, of the eyes," in which one turns the eyes upwards and inwards towards the "third eye," or "eye of Shiva," located at the brow center (Ajna Chakra). Turning the eyes up-and-left allows the brain to access remembered visual images. Turning them up-and-right allows it to construct new visual images. This technique has the right eye accessing remembered images while the left eye is accessing creative images. This produces at the cognitive level, a third way for the brain to see- creating almost literally a "third eye." It also strengthens the eye muscles. This dual-modality visual-accessing technique also has the effect of limiting ones ability to engage in internal dialog. Kechari or nabho mudras also help to suppress internal self-talk, by dampening the micro-motor movements of the tongue that are concomitant with internal self-talk and sub-vocalizations, whether conscious or unconscious. These two techniques (the eye lock and the tongue lock) are therefore often practiced together, and are excellent techniques to use while doing yantra and mantra meditations; because together, they help to control both the visual and the auditory processing modes of the brain.