Upasaṁhāra – Kara-nyāsa

Translation

Om aiṁ, salutation to the two thumbs. Om hrīṁ, to the two index fingers. Om klīṁ, to the two middle fingers. Om cāmuṇḍāyai, to the two ring fingers. Om vicce, to the two little fingers. Om aiṁ hrīṁ klīṁ cāmuṇḍāyai vicce, to the palms and the backs of the hands.

Word by word

aṅguṣṭhābhyām

to the two thumbs

tarjanībhyām

to the two index fingers

madhyamābhyām

to the two middle fingers

anāmikābhyām

to the two ring fingers

kaniṣṭhikābhyām

to the two little fingers

karatalakarapṛṣṭhābhyām

to the palms and the backs of the hands

namaḥ

salutation

Meaning

The parts of the mantra are placed on the hands. With the index fingers touch both thumbs; with the thumbs touch both index fingers, then the middle, ring and little fingers; for the last line rub the palms and the backs of the hands together. Tradition explains that by placing the mantras on the fingers, and then on the limbs, the reciter becomes one with the mantra, is protected by its deities, and is purified within and without for the practice.