Question

Lord Buddha's image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture, called 'Bhumisparsha Mudra'. It signifies

Options

• Buddha's calling of the Earth to watch over Mara and to prevent Mara from disturbing his meditation.

• Buddha's calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Mara.

• the gesture of debate or discussion/argument

• Buddha's calling of the Earth to watch over Mara and to prevent Mara from disturbing his meditation and Buddha's calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Mara.

Answer 1

Lord Buddha's image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture, called 'Bhumisparsha Mudra'. It signifies-Buddha's calling of the Earth to watch over Mara and to prevent Mara from disturbing his meditation and Buddha's calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Mara.

Explanation:
Bhumisparsha means 'touching the earth'. It is more commonly known as the 'earth witness' mudra. This mudra, formed with all five fingers of the right hand extended to touch the ground, symbolizes the Buddha's enlightenment under the bodhi tree, when he summoned the earth goddess, Sthavara, to bear witness to his attainment of enlightenment.