The Meaning of the Mudra

The word Mudra means "sign" or "seal" in Sanskrit. A Mudra is a symbolic hand position or gesture. Its purpose is to evoke specific concepts of Buddhist philosophy in the mind during meditation or as part of Buddha iconography. The role of the Mudra in Buddhist art is very similar to that of symbols used in Christian art such as the cross. A Buddha statue, sculpture or painting will always depicted the Buddha in Mudra. Along with their symbolic role, Mudra also play a role in ritual meditation, particularly in Tibetan Buddhism.

There are ten core Mudras, five of which are most often used in Buddha statues and paintings. There are five Dhyani Buddhas (the Five Wisdom Buddhas) and each is most closely associated with one of five Mudras: earth touching, teaching, mediation, giving and fearlessness. In addition to its symbolic meaning, Mudras are a form of nonverbal communication and expression. The symbolic finger patterns are intended to spark in the mind concepts that represent divinity and the Buddhist deities. They are the external representation of the core philosophy of Buddhism which is "inner resolve." The use of Mudras suggests that nonverbal communication can be more powerful than use of the spoken word.

Mudras go beyond the symbolic, they are an intricate part of the practice of meditation. By combining Mudras with Bhandas ( specific positions of the body with targeted muscle contraction), meditation allows the redirection of energy flow to combine personal energy with universal force. It's believed that each area of the hand produces a specific reflexive action in the brain. The Mudras are designed to isolate and guide energy through the body to the mind to produce distinct positive brain activity.

Mudras are also used as a form of "healing." It's believed that each finger on the hand is associated with organs in the body. The thumb is believed to contain the lung's energy and by varying the posture of the fingers within the Mudra, positive energy is channeled to specific organs in the body.

Along with the therapeutic properties ascribed to each finger, there is a symbolic meaning as well. Each of the fingers starting with the thumb is attributed to one of the five elements: air, wind, fire, water and earth. The varied finger positions of the Mudra represent the synthesis of the elements. This is noteworthy because every object in the universe is thought to be composed of some combination of these elements. The Mudra's finger gestures are then viewed as a means to combine the elements and create conditions that favor the presence of the deities.

At its most basic the Mudra is a simple position or gesture of the hand and fingers. However, it's religious, symbolic, artistic and therapeutic influence cannot be understated.