Antique Buddha Statue
Mudra is a hand position and holds special meanings.
It tells us about some of the most important moments of Buddha's life.
One of the most common and popular mudras is the Bhumishparsha mudra. It's also being called
the earth-touching mudra or the gesture of enlightenment. Let me explain you a
little bit more about Buddha statues with the Bhumishparsha mudra.
In Buddha statues with the Bhumishparsha mudra the Buddha is seen seated with his right hand
as a pendant over his right knee reaching towards the ground with the palm inwards
while touching the lotus throne or the ground. 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. Just before he realized enlightenment
it is believed that the demon Mara tried to frighten him with the army 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
the demon army claimed to be the witness for Mara's enlightenment. Mara then 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. The following morning saw the first appearance of the one
who has awaked the Buddha. Hence it is believed that the Bhumishparsha mudra or the earth witness
mudra commemorates the Buddha's victory over the temptation by the demon king Mara. In Buddhism
it is believed that the Bhumishparsha mudra helps us in the transformation from rage and anger
to wisdom. You can find hundreds of Buddha statues with their hands in Bhumishparsha mudra
on our website originalbuddhas.com