A mudra is a movement or gesture of the hands and body to express a feeling or thought. Buddhist meditation rituals are based on the use of mudras. A prominent mudra is the Bhumisparsha mudra. Translated from Sanskrit it means ‘to touch the earth’. The earth-touching posture (or mudra) is most often seen on Buddha statues and is also known as the earth witness mudra.
To perform this mudra, the hand is placed on the ground with all fingers touching and extending towards the ground. The palm faces inward. It is symbolic of the moment when the Buddha summoned the Earth Goddess to witness his attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. For this reason, the pose is also known as ‘Invoking the Earth Goddess for her to witness’.
Buddha statues in the earth-touching mudra have the right arm resting on the right knee with the fingers of the hand extended downward. The statue shows the Buddha with his left hand resting on his lap with the palm facing the sky in the meditation mudra (dhyana mudra). The combination of mudras is intended to symbolize the union of wisdom and method, Nirvana and Samasra. Buddhist teachings tell the story of how Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, assumed the posture of touching the earth to resist the temptations and distractions of the demon Mara, who sought to lure the Buddha out of his spiritual life.
Mara existed in many incarnations in the Buddhist tradition, from all powerful and evil creature to mischievous nuisance. This demon was a symbol of temptation that summoned beautiful seductresses to distract the Buddha from his spiritual journey much like the sirens of Greek mythology.
The second of the Five Great Buddhas (Five Dhyani Buddhas), Akshobhya, is depicted in the earth-touching pose. Akshobhya is a manifestation of strength, confidence and determination and the use of the Bhumisparsha mudra is a reflection of this. The concept of the Five Great Buddhas was an evolution of Buddhist theology. Initially there were only two, wisdom and compassion.
Akshobhya sits in the eastern position and is believed to possess mirror wisdom that turns anger into wisdom. He is associated with the element of water, itself a mirror and symbolic of Akshobhya’s ability to help people see things as they really are.
The simple beauty of this mudra is a welcome reminder that temptation can be met with force. A popular Asian decor accent, the earth-touching Buddha statue can be a constant symbol of strength and determination in the home.