Vishnu-sustainer god, pervader god,
Mudra, seal, gesture

Vishnu Mudra is the hand position used for the second (Nadi Shodhana) and fourth (Surya and Chandra Bhedana) pranayama in the Ashtanga Pranayama sequence.

To perform vishnu mudra bring the right hand up in front of your face, palm facing inwards, draw your index and middle fingers into a tight curl, place the tip of the ring finger on the left nostril and the tip of the thumb on the right nostril. Keep the pinky finger next to the ring finger. Curl the index and ringer fingers towards the nose. All the other fingers curl into a relaxed claw like gesture. Apply only delicate pressure. Remember that during the kumbhaka's, retentions you want to close both nostrils every time.