Mudras and Marks

Every Buddhist image communicates through a system of mudras (hand gestures) and lakshanas (body marks). The earth-touching mudra (bhumisparsha) recalls the moment of enlightenment. The meditation mudra (dhyana) shows palms resting in the lap. The teaching mudra (dharmachakra) turns the wheel of law.

Lakshanas are the physical marks of a great being — canonical features that signal who the figure is. The ushnisha, a cranial bump, suggests expanded wisdom. The urna, a tuft or dot between the brows, marks spiritual insight. Long earlobes recall the heavy jewelry the Buddha wore as a prince before he gave up his wealth. Read together, these signs let any viewer identify a Buddha at a glance.