Mudra

A mudrā (Sanskrit, मुद्रा, literally "seal") is a religious gesture, normally made with a hand or fingers, that is said to have deeper symbolic meaning and power. Mudras are an important part of Hindu and Buddhist iconography, and they are frequently utilized in Indian meditation, yoga, and devotional practice. There are numerous types of mudras and they are said to have specific qualities that can allegedly be imparted to practitioners.

In Indian religious practice the role of mudras is parallel to the use of prayer in the Abrahamic religions. In each case, the adherants use their hands to concentrate their minds and hearts on the power and glory of divinity, in whatever way it is understood.

Famous Mudras

Some of the most famous mudras are described below:

Abhaya Mudrā

On of the most well-known mudras in Buddhism is the outward-facing open palm known as Abhaya (without fear) mudrā. This gesture is often assocaited with depictions of the Buddha who is frequently shown in frescoes as subduing an elephant when it attacked him. The mudra represents protection, peace, benevolence, and is supposed to dispel all fear of the devotee. In the Theravāda tradition of Buddhism the mudra is usually made with the right hand raised to the shoulder's height, the arm bent and the palm facing outward with the fingers upright and joined and the left hand hanging down on the right side of the body while standing. In Thailand and Laos this mudrā is associated with the walking Buddha who is often shown having both hands making a double Abhaya mudrā that is uniform.

The mudrā was probably used before the onset of Buddhism as a symbol of good intentions proposing friendship when approaching strangers. In Gandhāra Art it is seen used during showing the action of preaching and also seen in China during the Wei and Sui eras of the 4th and 7th centuries. In Mahāyāna Buddhism, the northern schools' deities often used the mudrā paired with the other hand. In Japan, when the Abhaya Mudrā is used with the middle finger slightly projected forward it is a symbol of the Shingon Sect.

Bhūmisparśa Mudrā

The Bhūmisparśa "Earth-touching" Mudrā literally represents the Buddha as taking the earth as witness. It represents the moment when Buddha took the earth as testimony when he had resolved the problem of cessation of suffering while he was under the papal tree at Bodh-Gaya. Usually represented by the historical Buddha and Akṣobhya sitting in the lotus position. The right hand touches the ground with the fingertips near the right knee extended or with only the index pointing down touching the ground with the left hand commonly resting on the lap with the palm facing up. It can also represent the subjugation of the demon horde of Māra. Akṣobhya is often seen using this mudra while clutching part of his rode with his left hand. In Korea confusion of the high period led to rare imagery where Amitābha was using the Bhūmisparśa Mudrā. (Japanese- Goma-in, Anzan-in, Anchi-in, Sokuchi-in; Chinese- Chudi Yin)

Dharmachakra Mudrā

The Dharmachakra Mudrā represents a central moment in the life of Buddha when he preached his first sermon after his Enlightenment, in Deer Park in Sarnath. Gautama Buddha is generally only shown making this Mudrā, save Maitreya as the dispenser of the Law. This Mudrā position represents the turning of the wheel of the Dharma. Dharmacakra Mudrā is formed when two hands close together in front of the chest in Vitarka having the right palm forward and the left palm upward, sometimes facing the chest. There are several variants such as in the frescoes of Ajanta, India the two hands are separated, and the fingers do not touch. In the Indo-Greek style of Gandhāra the clenched fist of the right hand seemingly overlie the fingers joined to the thumb on the left hand. In pictorials of Horyu-ji in Japan the right hand is superimposed on the left. Certain figures of Amitābha, Japan are seen using this mudrā before the 9th century. (Japanese: Tenborin-in, Chikichi-jo, Hoshin-seppo-in; Chinese: Juanfalun Yin)

Dhyāna Mudrā

Hands of Amitābha statue at Kotokuin

The Dhyāna Mudrā is the gesture of meditation, of the concentration of the Good Law and the Sangha. The two hands are placed on the lap, right hand on left with fingers fully stretched and the palms facing upwards, forming a triangle, symbolic of the spiritual fire or the Triratna, the three jewels. This Mudrā is used in representations of the Buddha Śākyamuni and the Buddha Amitābha. Sometimes the Dhyāna Mudrā is used in certain representations of Bhaiṣajyaguru as the Medicine Buddha, with a medicine bowl placed on the hands. It originated in India most likely in the Gandhāra and in China during the Wei period. This mudrā was used long before the Buddha as yogins have used it during their concentration, healing, and mediation exercises. It is heavily used in Southeast Asia in Theravāda Buddhism however the thumbs are placed against the palms. (Dhyāna Mudrā, Samadhi Mudrā, Yoga Mudrā; Japanese- Jo-in, Jokai Jo-in; Chinese- Ding Yin)

Varada Mudrā

The Varada Mudrā signifies offering, welcome, charity, giving, compassion and sincerity. It is nearly always used with the left hand for those whom devote oneself to human salvation. It can be made with the arm crooked 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. The Varada Mudrā is rarely seen without using another mudra used by the right hand, typically with the Abhaya Mudrā. It is often confused with the Vitarka Mudrā, 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 mudrā is used in images of Avalokitesvara from the Gupta Period of the 4th and 5th centuries. The Varada mudrā is extensively used in the statues of Southeast Asia. (Japanese- Yogan-in, Segan-in, Seyo-in; Chinese- Shiynan Yin)

Vajra Mudrā

Vajra Mudrā

The Vajra Mudrā is the gesture of knowledge. It is made making a fist with the right hand, index extending upward, and the left hand also making a fist and enclosing the index.

A good example of the application of the Vajra Mudrā is the seventh technique (out of nine) of the Nine Hand Seals, using the mudra with mantras in a ritual application. Here is a video of a sanskrit prayer to set the mind in a sacred state, followed by a quick version of the kuji-in ritual, using the Japanese kanji pronunciation (sanskrit mantras are usually offered to the serious seeker). http://www.livemaster.org/archive/KujiIn_front_low.wmv

Vitarka Mudrā

Vitarka mudrā, Tarim Basin, 9th century

The Vitarka Mudrā is the gesture of discussion and transmission of Buddhist teaching. It is done by joining the tips of the thumb and the index together, and keeping the other fingers straight very much like Abhaya and Varada Mudrās but with the thumbs touching the index fingers. This mudra has a great number of variants in Mahāyāna Buddhism in East Asia. In Tibet it is the mystic gesture of Taras and Bodhisattvas with some differences by the deities in Yab-yum. (Sanskrit: Prajñāliṅganabhinaya, Vyākhyāna mudrā; Japanese: Seppo-in, An-i-in; Chinese- Anwei Yin)

Jnana mudra

The Jnana mudra is the mudra of teaching. It resembles the vitarka mudra, and is done by joining the tips of the thumb and the index together, and keeping the other fingers straight. The fingers are somewhat kept straighter and rather horizontal, and the hand is held at the level of the chest.

Karana mudra

The Karana mudra is the mudra which expells demons, and removes obstacles such as sickness or negative thoughts. It is made by raising the index and the little finger, and folding the other fingers. It is rather similar to the gesture known as corna in the West.

An example of a mudra done without the hands would be Kechari mudra, done with the tongue.

External links

• Mudras Photo Gallery
• A Kuji-in ritual using 9 mudrās
• A description of a few Hindu mudrās
• Exotic Indian Art website article, in-depth, on Hindu mudra Namaskar/Namaste
• Mudras in Buddhism
• Mudras of the Great Buddha: Symbolic Gestures and Postures
• The Ten Most Important Mudras (with Pop up)
• About Yoga Mudras
• Many Yoga Mudras to Try. Home of Mudra Makers
• View mudras with mudra slide show
• Yoga Mudras for Balancing the Five Vital Elements
• How to Create your Own Mudra

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