02/20/2026
The wrapping of bandage or PATTA BANDHA.
“It is used in three ways. Wrapping around the forehead is siropatta bandha, around the eyes, netrapatta bandha, and around both, Sironetra patta bandha.
This wrapping of a bandage is identical to Şanmukhi mudra. The effect of Sanmukhi mudra is to make the senses to withdraw from the external world to the inner world within the body.
The senses of perception, eyes and ears are closer to the brain and mind and any disturbances in them distract the brain and mind of a person. If the eyes are the windows of the brain, ears are the windows of the mind or consciousness. The eyes puff out quickly when the brain is active. In sleep too, movements in the eyes occur if there is disturbance.
Sound disturbs the mind and the brain feels the stress. A mild vibration of sound reacts on the ears faster than an electronic machine, affecting both the mind and the brain. Though the ears do not show physical movement but hardness to hear is felt. The eyes react fast and become hard and tense.
Şanmukha means six-faced. According to Indian mythology, the six-faced Kartikeya (son of Lord Shiva) is the leader of the divine army. Mudra means a seal or a stamp. Kartikeya is considered to be a great warrior filled with valour. In man, the eyes, nose, tongue, skin, ears and mind are the six faces.
Due to the gentle pressure of the bandage, the muscles and nerves on the floor of the brain gets softened. The vibration in the senses of perception and throbbing in the brain and tossing of the mind come to a standstill. It arrests fluctuations and brings the brain and mind to a state of alert passivity experiencing manolaya and citta nirodha.
Wrapping the bandage brings the blood pressure to normalcy in Salamba Sirsasana , Salamba Sarvangasana, Halasana, Setu Bandha Sarvangasana and Viparita Karni.”
BKS Iyengar
Astadala Yogamala
Vol 7 Cô Lâm