Touching the Earth Mudra

[Jessie Fong]

The mudra of Buddha's right hand in the picture above is known as the Touching the Earth Mudra.

The one hand that reaches down to touch the Earth below.  It represents the moment that Buddha finally overcame Mara and gained Enlightenment.

Mara, the Tempter, asks who will stand as witness to his right to gain Enlightenment. Buddha reaches down and touches the Earth as he says, "The Earth is my witness."

It is considered a gesture of unshakability; thus Akshobhya (the Unshakable) is usually depicted with this mudra.

What other hand mudras are there and what do they represent?

[bambi]

Interesting post Jessie! I do know of one mudra and that is Tsongkapa's mudra! The ever famous Dharmachakra Mudra. The gesture of teaching usually interpreted as turning the Wheel of Law. The hands are held level with the heart, the thumbs and index fingers form circles. The three other fingers of each hand are extended. Often the left palm is turned toward the body and the right palm away from the body.

"Dharmachakra" means "dharma wheel." This mudra recalls the Buddha's first sermon, which is sometimes referred to as the turning of the dharma wheel. It also represents the union of skillful means (upaya) and wisdom (prajna).

[diablo1974]

Mudras are interesting, they are like sign languages. I think so far Buddhism is the only religion that mass using of signs to translate and relate messages to its objects. In fact, these mudras can both be literally and explicitly explained with Dharma.

[pgdharma]

In Buddhist iconography a mudra is a body posture or gesture with special meaning.  They are symbolic sign based on finger patterns and are used to evoke in the mind ideas symbolizing divine powers or the deities themselves. The composition of a mudra is based on certain movements of the fingers; they constitute a highly stylized form of body or hand language.
 
"Gesture of Meditation with bowl" http://www.buddhas-online.com/mudras2/M12.gif

The Gesture of Meditation is also shown with a begging bowl, but not with any other kind of bowl.

The gesture of meditation, or concentration (Sanskrit: Dhyana Mudra or Samadhi Mudra), is performed by resting either the left hand or both hands in the lap, with the palms facing upward and the fingers extended.  When only the left ‘wisdom’ hand makes this mudra, the right ‘method’ hand may be represented in any mudra, or may hold the specific attribute of the deity.  Many Buddha forms make this gesture with their left hand as a symbol of the stability of their meditative equipoise.  They often also hold an alms-bowl upon this upturned left palm as a symbol of their renunciation.  When both hands rest upon the lap, the right hand always rests upon the left hand.  This symbolizes that the perfections of method (right hand) are supported by the perfection of wisdom (left hand).  The tips of both thumbs usually touch when both hands united in dhyana mudra.  This represents the main psychic channels of white and red bodhichitta, which terminate in the thumbs, and which carry the united energies of method and wisdom respectively.  The dhyana mudra is the specific gesture of the Primordial or Adi-Buddha of the Nyingma transmissions, Samantabhadra, and also of the red Buddha of the west, Amitabha, the Buddha of ‘Infinite Light’.

[RedLantern]

Buddha's left hand here rest on the lap,with upturned open palm,while the right hangs downward,the middle finger gently touching the earth in the so called "position of touching the earth".( bhumi-sparsha mudra)
This attitude,which is one of the most common in figures of the seated Buddha,refers to that great moment when,on the seat of enlightenment, he called the earth to testify that he had fulfilled all the requirements prerequisite to the attainment of illumination by practicing the highest virtues of self -abnegation throughout his career as a bodhisattva;and the earth,with a mighty roar,then testified that he had done so.
Seated on a double-layered lotus pedestral,the Shakyamuni Buddha is adorned with an ornately embroidered upper garment which covers both of his shoulders.

[Manjushri]

There are also hand mudras representative of offerings.

The most common is the hand mudras for offering the 8 sensory offerings:

[the below copied from : http://www.khandro.net/practice_mudras.htm]

We can make the traditional offerings of a ritual of symbolic or mental worship using gestures to stand for actual physical acts of generosity.  Usually, the mudras work to enhance or underscore the acts of generosity.  Some believe they have an actual effect on the environment in a way that is similar to mantras.

The traditional offering mudras are
1.argham -- water to refresh the mouth (Pouring a beaker.)
2.padyam -- water to refresh the feet (A basin.)
3.pushpam -- flowers for delighting the eyes (Two blossoms.)
4.dhupam -- incense for clearing and perfuming the air (Sticks of incense.)
5.alokam --  light to brighten the space (Two waving lamp wicks.)
6.ghande -- scented washing water (Parting a cloth.)
7.nevityeh -- refreshment (The universal sign that indicates a display set out.)
8.shabda -- music to delight (Clashing a pair of cymbals.)

Also, watch this video of Geshela Tenzin Zopa teaching his students how to do the hand mudras for the 8 offerings. It's very elegant!