Symbolic Hand Gestures in Buddhist Art

1. Mudrā • Buddhasand bodhisattvas often are depicted in Buddhist art with stylized hand gestures called mudras. • The word "mudra" is Sanskrit for "seal" or "sign," and each mudra has a specific meaning. • Buddhists sometimes use these symbolic gestures during rituals and meditation.

2. Dhammacakka Mudra • Dharmachakra, in Sanskrit means the wheel of Dharma. • Thus, the Dharmachakra mudra represents the setting into motion of the wheel of the teaching of the Dharma. • Generally, the Dharmachakra mudra is shown being used by Gautam Buddha, the historical Buddha. • The Dharmachakra mudra is formed when the thumb and index finger of both the hands touch at their tips to form a circle.

3. This particular circle symbolizes the Wheel of Dharma. • Similarly, this circle also means, in the metaphysical term, the union of method or Upaya and wisdom or Prajna. • Both the hands are held against the chest in Vitarka, while the left hand is facing inward which covers the right hand facing outward. • The three remaining fingers of both the hands remain extended and they have their own symbolic importance: • The middle finger of the right hand represents the 'hearers' of the teachings of the Buddha, the index finger represents the 'realizers’ of the teachings and the little finger represents the Mahayana or 'the great vehicle.

4. Similarly, the three extended fingers of the left hand represent the three jewels of the Buddhist principles. • They are: the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. • As the gesture is performed with the hands held in front of the left side of the chest, or in front of the heart, the Dharmachakra mudra represent the teachings are straight from the Buddha's heart.

5. There are many variants of the Dharmachakra mudra such as the ones in the frescoes of Ajanta in India where both the hands are separated and the fingers do not touch each other. • In the meantime, in the Indo-Greek style of the Gandhara Buddha statues, the right fist overlooks the fingers joined to the thumb on the left hand. • And in the Japanese Horyu-ji pictures, the right hand is seen to be overlapped on the left. In the same way, the AmitabhaBuddhas originating before the 9th Century in Japan are also seen using the Dharmachakra mudra.

6. Abhaya mudra (mudra of no-fear) • It represents protection, peace, benevolence, and dispelling of fear. • InTheravada Buddhism, it is usually made with the right hand raised to shoulder height, the arm bent and the palm facing outward with the fingers upright and joined and the left hand hanging down while standing.

7. The mudra was probably used before the onset of buddhism as a symbol of good intentions proposing friendship when approaching strangers. • In Gandhara art, it is seen when showing the action of preaching. It was also used in China during the Wei and Sui eras of the 4th and 7th centuries. • The gesture was used by the Buddha when attacked by an elephant, subduing it as shown in several frescoes and scripts. • In mahayana Buddhism , the northern schools' deities often paired it with another mudra using the other hand.

8. One of the most common and popular mudras which are found depicted in Buddha Statues is the Bhumisparshamudra, translated as the earth touching gesture. • Buddha statues with this mudra are commonly known as the "earth-witness" Buddha and these iconographic representations are one of the most popular Buddhas you can find anywhere in the world.

9. In Buddha statues with the Bhumisparshamudra, the Buddha, more specifically, the historical ShakyamuniBuddhais seen seated with his right hand as a pendant over the right knee reaching toward the ground with the palm inward while touching the lotus throne. • In the meantime, the left hand can be seen with the palm upright in his lap. • This gesture represents the moment of the Buddha's awakening as he claims the earth as the witness of his enlightenment.

10. Just before he realized enlightenment, it is believed that the demon Mara tried to frighten him with the armies of demons and monsters including his daughters who tried to tempt him to get out of meditation under the Bodhi tree. • While the demon king Mara claimed the throne of enlightenment for himself, his demon army claimed to be the witness for Mara's enlightenment. • Marathen challenged Siddhartha about the witness. Then the former prince reached out his right hand to touch the earth as it is believed that the earth itself roared "I bear you the witness!" Hearing the roar from the earth herself, the demon king disappeared.

11. The following morning saw the first appearance of the one who is awakened, the Buddha. Hence, it is believed that the Bhumisparshamudra, or "the earth witness" mudra commemorates the Buddha's victory over the temptation by the demon King Mara. • This particular mudra does not only represent the defeat of Mara and his demonic army by the Buddha, it also represents the unwavering or firmness shown by the Buddha while he was in the pursuit of enlightenment by meditating under the Bodhi tree.

12. Similarly, the Bhumisparsha mudra also signifies the union of skillful means or Upaya which is well represented by the right hand touching the earth, and wisdom or Prajna, which is represented by the left hand with its palm facing upward on the lap in the meditation position. • As the story tells about the earth being the witness of the Buddha's enlightenment, the Bhumisparshamudradepicts the Buddha's firm belief and effort while pursuing the path of enlightenment.

13. DhyanaMudra • The Dhyana mudra is the gesture of meditation and of the concentration of the Good Law. • The two hands are placed on the lap, right hand on left with fingers fully stretched (four fingers resting on each other and the thumbs facing upwards towards one another diagonally), palms facing upwards; in this manner, the hands and fingers form the shape of a triangle, which is symbolic of the spiritual fire or the Triratna (the three jewels).

14. The Dhyana mudra is used in representations of the Sakyamuni Buddha and Amitabha Buddha. • Sometimes the Dhyana mudra is used in certain representations of Bhaisajyaguruas the Medicine Buddha, with a medicine bowl placed on the hands. • It originated in India most likely in the Gandharaand in China during the Wei period. The Dhyana mudra was used long before the Buddha as yogis have used it during their concentration, healing, and meditation exercises. • It is heavily used in Southeast Asia in Theravada Buddhism ; however, the thumbs are placed against the palms.

15. Namaskara Mudra • The Namaskara mudra / Anjali mudra is the gesture of greeting, prayer and adoration. • Anjali in Sanksrit, has different meanings. These meanings may be for offering, a gesture of reverence, salutation. This particular term means to honor or to celebrate. • The Namaskara or the Anjali Mudra is usually taken as the mudra of gesture of offering and devotion. It is also a gesture of prayer with the palms folded together. • The Namaskara / Anjali mudra is also the gesture of greeting, prayer and adoration.

16. The gesture of Namaskara is a hand gesture which is practiced throughout many countries in Asia and used as a sign of respect and greeting in countries like Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, etc. • This gesture is used in many yoga asanas too. • Mudra means "seal" or "sign", the translation or the meaning of the phrase "Anjali Mudra" is "salutation seal" or a "greeting seal". • This mudra is also known as the Hridayanjali Mudra, which means admiration to the heart seal from the soul. • In this particular mudra, the hands of the subjects are generally held at the level of the stomach or the thighs, the right above the left, the palms upwards, fingers extended and thumbs touching at the tips.

17. Vitarka Mudra • Vitarka mudra is one of the much commonly found mudra or poses. • Vitarka Mudra is the mudra or a gesture representing the discussion and transmission of the teachings by the Buddha. • It is also taken as the hand gesture which induces the energy of the teachings and discussions of the spiritual principles which may also involve the arguments of the ideas. • These discussions may also feel like the transmission of a particular teaching without the use of words.

18. The Vitarka Mudra is usually performed by joining the tips of the thumb and the index fingers together while keeping the other fingers straight, which is pretty much similar to Abhaya as well as Varada mudra but with the thumbs touching the index fingers. • The circle formed by the thumb and the index finger symbolizes the constant flow of energy and information. • The hand with the tips of the thumb and index finger joined together is held closer to the chest than in that of the Abhaya Mudra while the palm is facing outward. • The other three fingers of the hand are pointed upwards.

19. Varada Mudra • The Varada mudra (favourable mudra) signifies offering, welcome, charity, giving, compassion and sincerity. • The Varada mudra is nearly always shown made with the left hand by a revered figure devoted to human salvation from greed, anger and delusion. • The Varada mudra can be made with the arm crooked and the palm offered slightly turned up or in the case of the arm facing down the palm presented with the fingers upright or slightly bent.

20. The Varada mudra is rarely seen without another mudra used by the right hand, typically the Abhaya mudra. • It is often confused with the Vitarka mudra, which it closely resembles. • In China and Japan during the Wei and Asuka periods respectively the fingers are stiff and then gradually begin to loosen as it developed through time, eventually leading to the Tang Dynasty were the fingers are naturally curved. • In India the Varada mudra is used in images of Avalokitesvarafrom the Gupta Period of the 4th and 5th centuries.