Mudra
These expanded in number from 3 in the Amritasiddhi, to 25 in the Gheranda Samhita, with a classical set of ten arising in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
Along with āsanas ("seated postures"), they are employed statically in the meditation and dynamically in the Nāṭya practice of Hinduism.
According to Jamgön Kongtrül in his commentary on the Hevajra Tantra, the ornaments of wrathful deities and witches made of human bones (Skt: aṣṭhimudrā; Wylie: rus pa'i rgyan phyag rgya) are also known as mudra "seals".
The Abhayamudra "gesture of fearlessness"[5] represents protection, peace, benevolence and the dispelling of fear.
In Theravada Buddhism it is usually made while standing with the right arm bent and raised to shoulder height, the palm facing forward, the fingers closed, pointing upright and the left hand resting by the side.
This mudra was probably used before the onset of Buddhism as a symbol of good intentions proposing friendship when approaching strangers.
The bhūmisparśa or "earth witness" mudra of Gautama Buddha is one of the most common iconic images of Buddhism.
In the legend, Buddha was challenged by the evil one, Mara, who argue for a witness to attest his right to achieve it.
[7][8] In East Asia, this mudra (also called the Maravijaya attitude) may show Buddha's fingers not reaching as far as the ground, as is usual in Burmese or Indian depictions.
The mida no jōin (弥陀定印) is the Japanese name of a variation of the dhyāna mudra, where the index fingers are brought together with the thumbs.
This was predominantly used in Japan in an effort to distinguish Amitābha (hence "mida" from Amida) from the Vairocana Buddha,[11] and was rarely used elsewhere.
The Varadamudrā "generosity gesture" signifies offering, welcome, charity, giving, compassion and sincerity.
It is nearly always shown made with the left hand by a revered figure devoted to human salvation from greed, anger and delusion.
In Tibetan Buddhism, it is the mystic gesture of Tārās and bodhisattvas with some differences by the deities in Yab-Yum.
The Jñāna mudrā ("mudra of wisdom") is done by touching the tips of the thumb and the index together, forming a circle, and the hand is held with the palm inward towards the heart.
[15] The karana mudrā is the mudra which expels demons and removes obstacles such as sickness or negative thoughts.
It is nearly the same as the Western "sign of the horns", the difference is that in the Karana mudra the thumb does not hold down the middle and ring finger.
The classical sources for the yogic seals are the Gheranda Samhita and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
[24] Mula Bandha, the Root Lock, consists of pressing one heel into the anus, generally in a cross-legged seated asana, and contracting the perineum, forcing the prana to enter the central sushumna channel.
[20] Mahamudra, the Great Seal, similarly has one heel pressed into the perineum; the chin is pressed down to the chest in Jalandhara Bandha, the Throat Lock, and the breath is held with the body's upper and lower openings both sealed, again to force the prana into the sushumna channel.
For example the "knife hand" or shuto gesture is subtly concealed in some Koryu kata, and in Buddhist statues, representing the sword of enlightenment.
