Theabhayamudra (Sanskrit:अभयमुद्रा,romanized: abhayamudrā,lit. 'gesture of fearlessness')[2] is amudra (gesture) that is the gesture of reassurance and safety, which dispels fear and accords divine protection and bliss in Hinduism, Buddhism, and otherIndian religions. The right hand is raised to shoulder height, with the palm is facing outward and the fingers pointing upwards[3] This is one of the earliest mudras found depicted on a number ofHindu,Buddhist,Jain, andSikh images.
The abhayamudra represents protection, peace, benevolence and the dispelling of fear. A form of the Hindu godShiva,Nataraja, is depicted with the second right hand making the abhayamudra, bestowing protection from both evil and ignorance to those who follow the righteousness ofdharma. InTheravada Buddhism, it is usually made with the right hand raised to shoulder height, the arm bent and the palm facing outward with the fingers upright and joined and the left hand hanging down while standing. In Thailand and Laos, this mudra is associated with theWalking Buddha, often shown having both hands making a double abhayamudra that is uniform.
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The abhayamudra was probably used before the onset of Buddhism as a symbol of good intentions proposing friendship when approaching strangers. In the art ofGandhara, it is present when showing the action of preaching. It was also used in China during theNorthern Wei andSui eras of the 4th and 7th centuries.[citation needed]
The gesture was used byGautama Buddha to subdue the elephant when attacked by a drunk elephant set off byDevadatta (some says byAjātasattu),[4] as shown in severalfrescos and scripts.[citation needed] InMahayana Buddhism, deities often paired it with another mudra using the other hand.
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