Mudra
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.
Mudras which Are Common to All Three Yanas
- Mudra of supreme generosity (Skt. varadamudrā)
- Mudra of teaching the Dharma (Skt. dharmacakramudrā)
- Abhaya mudra
- Meditation mudra (Skt. dhyānamudrā or samādhimudrā)
- Vitarka mudra
- Bhumisparsha mudra
- Añjali mudra