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A mudra is a bodily posture or symbolic gesture. In Buddhist iconography every buddha is depicted with a
characteristic gesture of the hands. Such gestures correspond to natural gestures (of teaching, protecting, and so
on) and also to certain aspects of the Buddhist teaching or of the particular buddha depicted.
Here mudras accompany the performance of liturgies and the recitation of mantras. They also help to actualize
certain inner states in that they anticipate their physical expression; thus they assist in bringing about a
connection between the practitioner and the buddha visualized in a given practice.
The most important mudras are:
1.) Dhyani Mudra.................(gesture of meditation)
2.) Vitarka Mudra................(teaching gesture)
3.) Dharmachakra Mudra.....(gesture of turning the wheel of the teaching)
4.) Bhumisparsha Mudra......(gesture of touching the earth)
5.) Abhaya Mudra...............(gesture of fearlessness and granting protection)
6.) Varada Mudra................(gesture of granting wishes)
7.) Uttarabodhi Mudra.........(gesture of supreme enlightenment)
8.) Mudra of Supreme Wisdom
9.) Anjali Mudra...................(gesture of greeting and veneration)
10.) Vajrapradama Mudra....(gesture of unshakable confidence)
1.)Dhyani Mudra
In this mudra, the back of the right hand rests on the palm of the other in such a way that the tips of the thumbs
lightly touch one another. The hands rest in the lap. The right hand, resting on top, symbolizes the state of
enlightenment; the other hand, resting below, the world of appearance. This gesture expresses overcoming the world
of appearance through enlightenment, as well as the enlightened state of mind for which samsara and nirvana are one.
In a special form of this mudra, the middle, ring, and little fingers of both hands lie on top one another and the
thumbs and index finger of each hand, touching each other, form a circle, which here also symbolizes the world of
appearance and the true nature of reality.
2.)Vitarka Mudra
The right hand points upward, the left downward; both palms are tuned outward. The thumb and index finger of each
hand form a circle. The right hand is at shoulder level, the left at the level of the hips. In a variant of this teaching
gesture, the left hand rests palm upward in the lap, and the right hand is raised to shoulder level with its thumb and
index finger forming a circle. In a further form of this mudra, the index finger and little fingers of both hands are
fully extended, the middle and ring fingers somewhat curved inward. The left hand points upward, the right downward.
3.)Dharmachakra Mudra
The left palm is tuned inward (toward the body), the right outward, and the circles formed by the thumbs and index
fingers of each hand touch one another.
4.)Bhumisparsha Mudra
The left hand rests palm upward in the lap; the right hand, hanging over the knee, palm inward, points to the earth.
Sometimes the left hand holds a begging bowl. This is the gesture with which the Buddha summoned the Earth as
witness to his realization of buddhahood. It is considered a gesture of unshakability; thus Akshobhya (the
Unshakable) is usually depicted with this mudra.
5.)Abhaya Mudra
Here the right hand is raised to shoulder height with fingers extended and palm turned outward. This is the gesture
of the Buddha Shakyamuni immediately after attaining enlightenment.
6.)Varada Mudra
The right hand, palm facing out, is directed downward. When Shakyamuni is depicted with this mudra, it symbolizes
summoning Heaven as witness to his buddhahood. This mudra is also seen in representations of Ratnasambhava. In a
variant, the thumb and index finger of the downward extended hand touch one another. Frequently the abhaya and
varada mudras are combined: the right hand makes the gesture of fearlessness, the left that of wish granting.
7.)Uttarabodhi Mudra
Both hands are held at the level of the chest, the two raised index fingers touch one another, the remaining fingers
are crossed and folded down.; the thumbs touch each other at the tips or are also crossed and folded. This mudra is
frequently seen in images of Vairochana.
8.)Mudra of Supreme
Wisdom The right index finger is grasped by the five fingers of the left hand. This mudra, characteristic of
Vairochana, is the subject of many interretations in esoteric Buddhism, most which have to do with the relationship
between the empirical world of manifoldness and the principle that is its basis-the unified world principle, the
realization of unity in the manifold as embodied in Buddha.
9.) Anjali Mudra
The palms are held together at the level of the chest. This is the customary gesture of greeting in India. Used as a
mudra, it expresses "suchness" (tahata).
10.)Vajrapradama Mudra
The fingertips of the hands are crossed. This is gesture of unshakable confidence.
Source: The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen
characteristic gesture of the hands. Such gestures correspond to natural gestures (of teaching, protecting, and so
on) and also to certain aspects of the Buddhist teaching or of the particular buddha depicted.
Here mudras accompany the performance of liturgies and the recitation of mantras. They also help to actualize
certain inner states in that they anticipate their physical expression; thus they assist in bringing about a
connection between the practitioner and the buddha visualized in a given practice.
The most important mudras are:
1.) Dhyani Mudra.................(gesture of meditation)
2.) Vitarka Mudra................(teaching gesture)
3.) Dharmachakra Mudra.....(gesture of turning the wheel of the teaching)
4.) Bhumisparsha Mudra......(gesture of touching the earth)
5.) Abhaya Mudra...............(gesture of fearlessness and granting protection)
6.) Varada Mudra................(gesture of granting wishes)
7.) Uttarabodhi Mudra.........(gesture of supreme enlightenment)
8.) Mudra of Supreme Wisdom
9.) Anjali Mudra...................(gesture of greeting and veneration)
10.) Vajrapradama Mudra....(gesture of unshakable confidence)
1.)Dhyani Mudra
In this mudra, the back of the right hand rests on the palm of the other in such a way that the tips of the thumbs
lightly touch one another. The hands rest in the lap. The right hand, resting on top, symbolizes the state of
enlightenment; the other hand, resting below, the world of appearance. This gesture expresses overcoming the world
of appearance through enlightenment, as well as the enlightened state of mind for which samsara and nirvana are one.
In a special form of this mudra, the middle, ring, and little fingers of both hands lie on top one another and the
thumbs and index finger of each hand, touching each other, form a circle, which here also symbolizes the world of
appearance and the true nature of reality.
2.)Vitarka Mudra
The right hand points upward, the left downward; both palms are tuned outward. The thumb and index finger of each
hand form a circle. The right hand is at shoulder level, the left at the level of the hips. In a variant of this teaching
gesture, the left hand rests palm upward in the lap, and the right hand is raised to shoulder level with its thumb and
index finger forming a circle. In a further form of this mudra, the index finger and little fingers of both hands are
fully extended, the middle and ring fingers somewhat curved inward. The left hand points upward, the right downward.
3.)Dharmachakra Mudra
The left palm is tuned inward (toward the body), the right outward, and the circles formed by the thumbs and index
fingers of each hand touch one another.
4.)Bhumisparsha Mudra
The left hand rests palm upward in the lap; the right hand, hanging over the knee, palm inward, points to the earth.
Sometimes the left hand holds a begging bowl. This is the gesture with which the Buddha summoned the Earth as
witness to his realization of buddhahood. It is considered a gesture of unshakability; thus Akshobhya (the
Unshakable) is usually depicted with this mudra.
5.)Abhaya Mudra
Here the right hand is raised to shoulder height with fingers extended and palm turned outward. This is the gesture
of the Buddha Shakyamuni immediately after attaining enlightenment.
6.)Varada Mudra
The right hand, palm facing out, is directed downward. When Shakyamuni is depicted with this mudra, it symbolizes
summoning Heaven as witness to his buddhahood. This mudra is also seen in representations of Ratnasambhava. In a
variant, the thumb and index finger of the downward extended hand touch one another. Frequently the abhaya and
varada mudras are combined: the right hand makes the gesture of fearlessness, the left that of wish granting.
7.)Uttarabodhi Mudra
Both hands are held at the level of the chest, the two raised index fingers touch one another, the remaining fingers
are crossed and folded down.; the thumbs touch each other at the tips or are also crossed and folded. This mudra is
frequently seen in images of Vairochana.
8.)Mudra of Supreme
Wisdom The right index finger is grasped by the five fingers of the left hand. This mudra, characteristic of
Vairochana, is the subject of many interretations in esoteric Buddhism, most which have to do with the relationship
between the empirical world of manifoldness and the principle that is its basis-the unified world principle, the
realization of unity in the manifold as embodied in Buddha.
9.) Anjali Mudra
The palms are held together at the level of the chest. This is the customary gesture of greeting in India. Used as a
mudra, it expresses "suchness" (tahata).
10.)Vajrapradama Mudra
The fingertips of the hands are crossed. This is gesture of unshakable confidence.
Source: The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen
| OM Shanti |
Our lovely and colorful adaption of the ancient Hamsa, a palm shaped amulet popular in the
Middle East and North America and is believed to be a defense against the evil eye.
Length: 70 inches
Width: 53 inches
*** Free Shipping in the continental USA
History
The hamsa is an ancient Middle Eastern amulet symbolizing the Hand of God. In all faiths
it is a protective sign. It brings it's owner happiness, luck, health, and good fortune.
The hamsa hand is known by many names—hamsa, hamsa hand, hamesh, hamesh hand, khamsa,
and chamsa. It is also called the Hand of Miriam, named for Moses and Aaron’s sister.
There are two main styles of a hamsa hand: the most popular is the stylized hamsa hand
with two symmetrical thumbs, but there are also hamsa hands that are not symmetrical and
shaped like actual hands.
Either hamsa hand can be worn with the fingers pointing up or down, and both are believed
to offer its owner happiness, peace, and prosperity, as well as protection from the ayin
ha'ra, or the evil eye.
Middle East and North America and is believed to be a defense against the evil eye.
Length: 70 inches
Width: 53 inches
*** Free Shipping in the continental USA
History
The hamsa is an ancient Middle Eastern amulet symbolizing the Hand of God. In all faiths
it is a protective sign. It brings it's owner happiness, luck, health, and good fortune.
The hamsa hand is known by many names—hamsa, hamsa hand, hamesh, hamesh hand, khamsa,
and chamsa. It is also called the Hand of Miriam, named for Moses and Aaron’s sister.
There are two main styles of a hamsa hand: the most popular is the stylized hamsa hand
with two symmetrical thumbs, but there are also hamsa hands that are not symmetrical and
shaped like actual hands.
Either hamsa hand can be worn with the fingers pointing up or down, and both are believed
to offer its owner happiness, peace, and prosperity, as well as protection from the ayin
ha'ra, or the evil eye.