21. Preliminary mantra chanting (Purva mantra japa )
Once you have mentally established yourself as the deity and have completed the process, chant the Gayatri mantra 16 times.
22. Preliminary handlocks (Purva mudras)
Mudras are handlocks and they are used to capture the energy of the mantra. Gayatri sadhana has 24 handlocks that are performed before you begin the chanting and 8 that are performed after you are done chanting.
The 24 preliminary handlocks are as follows: Handlock (Mudra) Gesture with both hands सुमुखम्
(Sumukham)
Turn your palm downwards and join all the fingers of both hands.
सम्पुटम्
(Sampuṭam)
Form a bracket with your palms facing each other.
विततम्
(Vitatam)
Open your hands and let both palms face each other.
विस्तृतम्
(Vistṛtam)
Increase the distance between your palms from the previous mudra and turn them slightly up.
द्विमुखम्
(Dvimukham)
Join little and ring fingers of both hands.
त्रिमुखम्
(Trimukham)
Keeping the earlier mudra intact, join middle fingers as well now.
चतुर्मुखम्
(Caturmukham)
Keeping the previous mudra as it is, join the index fingers as well.
पञ्चमुखम्
(Pañcamukham)
Now join the thumbs too.
षण्मुखम्
(Ṣaṇmukham)
Keeping your hands joined, now unjoin and spread the thumbs and little fingers.
अधोमुखम्
(adhomukham)
Bend your fingers and turn your hands over so the back of the right-hand fingers touches the back of left-hand fingers.
व्यापकाञ्जलिकम्
(Vyāpakāñjalikam)
Turn these hands over and spread so both palms now face upwards with hands together.
शकटम्
(Śakaṭam)
Turn your hands over (palms facing down) and join the index fingers and thumbs.
यमपाशम्
(Yamapāśam)
Entwine your index fingers and let the right hand hang.
ग्रथितम्
(Grathitam)
Entwine all your fingers and form one fist.
उन्मुखोन्मुखम्
(Unmukhonmukham)
Bring all fingers together of both hands. First, rest your right hand on top of the left and then left on top of the right.
प्रलम्बम्
(Pralambam)
Turn both your hands and let the palms face down. Join gently at the tip of the thumbs.
मुष्टिकम्
(Muṣṭikam)
Keep your thumbs out and make fists with both hands.
मत्स्यः
(Matsyaḥ)
Rest your right hand on your left (Palms facing down). Spread your thumbs and twiddle your thumbs a bit.
कूर्मः
(Kūrmaḥ)
Spread your left hand. Turn the index and middle fingers keeping the other fingers extended. Do the same with your right hand. Now turn your right hand. Now turn your right hand so it’s facing down and let it rest on your left with index fingers, thumbs and little fingers touching at the tips. There are other ways of showing this mudra but this is the one I practice and got from my guru.
वराहकम्