Buddhist Mudras: Sacred Hand Gestures

[angelscandle]

Mudras are symbolic gestures, used symbolically in Buddha images and in practice to evoke particular ideas or buddhas in the mind during Buddhist meditation or ritual.

Like symbols held by saints in Christian art or by gods in Hindu art, Buddhist mudras indicate the identity of a Buddha or a particular scene being depicted.

Mudras are also used in ritual meditation, especially in Tibetan Buddhism, to generate forces that invoke a particular Buddha or deity.

While there are a large number of esoteric mudras, there are ten main ones, of which five are most commonly used in Buddha images. Each of the Five Dhyani Buddhas is assigned one of the five mudras, with which they are invariably depicted in art.

Follow a link below to learn more about each of the five main mudras and see examples of Buddha images featuring those mudras.

Abhaya Mudra (Fearlessness)
The gesture of fearlessness and protection, representing spiritual power. This mudra is most often seen in standing Buddhas.

Bhumisparsha Mudra (Earth Witness)The gesture of "earth witness," which the Buddha is said to have made at the time of his Enlightenment.

Dharmachakra Mudra (Wheel Turning)The gesture of "wheel-turning" or the turning of the wheel of the dharma, representing the Buddha's teachings.

Dhyana Mudra (Meditation)
The gesture of meditation.

Varada Mudra (Gift Giving)
The gesture of gift-giving or bestowal.

Sources
1.Mudras: Sacred Hand Gestures - BuddhaNet 2.Buddhist Art and Architecture: Hand Mudras - BuddhaNet
3.The Ten Most Important Mudras - Neurotopia
4.Buddhist Hand Gestures - Government of Tibet in Exile
5.Mudras: Hand Positions of the Buddha - Lotus Sculpture

[markings]

Most of the mudras mentioned can be found here
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudra#Abhaya_Mudr.C4.81

[markings]

Ohh! The pictures are back!
Good job.

[jesusrose]

Thank you markings

I have a few buddha's around my home but haven't ever given thought to the gestures. Always just brought home what felt good!

Rose
xxx

[markings]

It is a sad reflection on modern day churches that they continue to neglect the power of gestures, movement in general, and sounds.

[clara927]

Thank you for posting this angelscandle and thanks for reviving this thread markings.

I've been interested in mudras for a while now, mostly from watching traditional dances from Southeast Asia.

I think modern day churches dismiss the "power of gestures, movement and sounds" for the same reason astrology and numerology are dismissed; they don't have knowledge of these things and feel that knowledge of these things are somehow related to witchcraft/ sorcery. Also, it's easier to control a flock/ congregation who can't decipher the meanings of sounds, gestures and symbols.

In my opinion, I think that church structure would completely fall apart if these things were introduced because they fly in the face of many things Christians were taught to believe for many years.

[sparklekaz]

An interesting observation you have made Clara, I would agree that christian religions tend to view anything outside of their own beliefs with suspicion. Though they use symbols and hand gestures themselves.

The blessing with the sign of the cross for instance and how we hold our hands in formal prayer. In the catholic faith they genuflect when approaching the altar and the priest touches his mouth and heart before reading the bible.

Ultimately, I feel it is more to do with a reluctance to believe in anything outside of their own faiths, then a real fear that the gestures and symbols themselves are negative. I believe one day those things will change and that all religions will come to realise we are all praying for the same thing in our own way.

Thank you for sharing.

Love and light
Kaz

[markings]

Mudras and gestures form a big part of our ordinary lives and thus also one's spiritual life even in Christianity.
In ordinary life think of pointing out the way for someone, a hand stop/go sign, the middle finger, the peace symbol, etc.
What we have forgotten about, or wilfully ignore, is the esoteric meaning and power that goes with them. I think it would be greatly beneficial to Christian churches, in terms of numbers and enthusiasm generated in the followers, to recover old practices and where necessary modernize and rejuvenate them.
The problem is that the followers cannot be more advanced than the leaders, or if they are they have no option but to leave their church. There is a massive crisis of leadership in probably all Churches.
If you are interested mudras and gestures, a guy using the name Luxamore has some interesting articles on that on the internet.

[markings]

OK you can find the PDF's on this webpage

www.indotalisman.com/Downcatalog.html

P.S. There seems to be no part 6, maybe the numbering went wrong.