ARTICLE
Bhumisparsha Mudra
One of the five common mudras or sacred gestures in Buddhist iconography and practice, the bhumisparsha or ‘earth touching’ mudra represents the moment of prince Siddhartha’s attainment of Buddhahood or enlightenment. It symbolises his invocation of the earth-goddess to witness the overcoming of the final barrier towards enlightenment, and is also known as the ‘earth witness’ mudra. Performed while seated cross-legged on the ground, the mudra is formed with the right hand reaching over the knee so that all four fingers extend downwards to touch the earth. Among the five celestial Tathagata or Dhyani Buddhas, considered to represent cardinal qualities, the bhumisparsha mudra is associated with Akshobhya.
The mudra is associated with Siddhartha’s defeat of the demon king Mara — a popular narrative and important episode in the Buddhist canon. In the final stages of Siddhartha’s meditation under a pipal tree, Mara is said to have appeared to claim the throne of enlightenment for himself, producing his army of demons as witness. In response, Siddhartha is believed to have reached out to touch the ground and declare the earth as his witness; Mara is defeated and Siddhartha attains enlightenment. The gesture is thus understood as a symbol of unshakeability; of moral triumph over temptation and evil intention; and of the liberation of the spirit from its worldly trappings. Accordingly, it is also linked with mastery over one’s senses and emotions, emphasised in Buddhist teachings as the means to achieve true awakening.
When the left hand is simultaneously placed upturned on the lap in the dhyana mudra, the posture is thought to signify the union of skillful means and wisdom — upaya and prajna respectively.
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