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'''Mudra''' (Skt. ''mudrā''; Tib. [[ཕྱག་རྒྱ་]], ''chakgya''; [[Wyl.]] ''phyag rgya''), which literally means 'seal', is most commonly used in the context of [[Vajrayana]] practice and in iconography to refer to ritual hand gestures, which, together with [[mantra]], are intended to enhance [[samadhi]]. Such gestures can represent particular [[deity|deities]], aspects of [[enlightenment]] or offering substances. It is common to speak of mantra, mudra and samadhi as a triad, wherein mantra corresponds to enlightened speech, mudra to enlightened body, and samadhi to enlightened mind. In fact, the word mudra can refer to the deity's form as a whole or to their insignia. The teachings also refer to [[four mudras|four kinds of mudra]]. Mudra is, together with mantra, the tenth of the [[ten topics of tantra]] described in the teachings connected with the ''[[Guhyagarbha Tantra]]''.
'''Mudra''' (Skt. ''mudrā''; Tib. [[ཕྱག་རྒྱ་]], ''chakgya'', [[Wyl.]] ''phyag rgya''), which literally means 'seal', is most commonly used in the context of [[Vajrayana]] practice and in iconography to refer to ritual hand gestures, which, together with [[mantra]], are intended to enhance [[samadhi]]. Such gestures can represent particular [[deity|deities]], aspects of [[enlightenment]] or offering substances.  


==Mudras which Are Common to All [[three yanas|Three Yanas]]==
It is common to speak of mantra, mudra and samadhi as a triad, wherein mantra corresponds to enlightened speech, mudra to enlightened body, and samadhi to enlightened mind. In fact, the word mudra can refer to the deity's form as a whole or to their insignia. The teachings also refer to [[four mudras|four kinds of mudra]]. Mudra is, together with mantra, the tenth of the [[ten topics of tantra]] described in the teachings connected with the ''[[Guhyagarbha Tantra]]''.
 
==Subdivisions==
The four kinds of mudra are:
{{:Four mudras}}
 
Depending on the context, mudras of hand gestures could be either samaya mudras or activity mudras.
 
==Mudras (Hand Gestures) Which Are Common to All [[three yanas|Three Yanas]]==
*[[Mudra of supreme generosity]] (Skt. ''varadamudrā'')
*[[Mudra of supreme generosity]] (Skt. ''varadamudrā'')
*[[Mudra of teaching the Dharma]] (Skt. ''dharmacakramudrā'')
*[[Mudra of teaching the Dharma]] (Skt. ''dharmacakramudrā'')
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*Vitarka mudra
*Vitarka mudra
*Bhumisparsha mudra
*Bhumisparsha mudra
*Añjali mudra
*[[Añjali mudra]]


==External Links==
==External Links==
*[http://huntingtonarchive.osu.edu/resources/downloads/webPresentations/mudraInAsianBuddhism.pdf Mudra in Pan Asian Buddhism]
*[http://huntingtonarchive.osu.edu/resources/downloads/webPresentations/mudraInAsianBuddhism.pdf Mudra in Pan Asian Buddhism]
*[https://www.himalayanart.org/search/set.cfm?setID=4933 Hand Gestures Page at Himalayan Art Resources]


[[Category:Key Terms]]
[[Category:Key Terms]]
[[Category:mudras]]
[[Category:Mudras]]
[[Category:Vajrayana]]
[[Category:Eleven Topics of Tantra]]

Latest revision as of 23:18, 18 March 2024

Mudra (Skt. mudrā; Tib. ཕྱག་རྒྱ་, chakgya, Wyl. phyag rgya), which literally means 'seal', is most commonly used in the context of Vajrayana practice and in iconography to refer to ritual hand gestures, which, together with mantra, are intended to enhance samadhi. Such gestures can represent particular deities, aspects of enlightenment or offering substances.

It is common to speak of mantra, mudra and samadhi as a triad, wherein mantra corresponds to enlightened speech, mudra to enlightened body, and samadhi to enlightened mind. In fact, the word mudra can refer to the deity's form as a whole or to their insignia. The teachings also refer to four kinds of mudra. Mudra is, together with mantra, the tenth of the ten topics of tantra described in the teachings connected with the Guhyagarbha Tantra.

Subdivisions

The four kinds of mudra are:

  1. the great mudra (Skt. mahāmudrā; Wyl. phyag rgya chen po) (see mahamudra)
  2. the dharma mudra (Skt. dharmamudrā; Wyl. chos kyi phyag rgya)
  3. the samaya mudra (Skt. samayamudrā; Wyl. dam tshig gi phyag rgya)
  4. the activity mudra (Skt. karmamudrā; Wyl. las kyi phyag rgya)

Or alternatively:

  1. the dharma mudra (Skt. dharmamudrā; Wyl. chos kyi phyag rgya)
  2. the great mudra (Skt. mahāmudrā; Wyl. phyag rgya chen po)
  3. the primordial wisdom mudra (Skt. jñanamudrā; Wyl. ye shes phyag rgya)
  4. the activity mudra (Skt. karmamudrā; Wyl. las kyi phyag rgya)

Depending on the context, mudras of hand gestures could be either samaya mudras or activity mudras.

Mudras (Hand Gestures) Which Are Common to All Three Yanas

External Links