The Mudras



During my visit to Tōdaiji, I noticed the Buddha was using some hand gestures. I looked into the meaning and a little history behind the gestures the Buddha was using. The hand signs are called mudras, and they are symbolic gestures the Buddha uses to teach us about his attributes. In the beginning of Buddhism, the Buddha was mostly depicted with single mudras. However, the temple of Tōdaiji is special because it shows the Buddha using two mudras. The two mudras the Buddha uses here are reassurance and gift-giving.

Starting with his right hand, the sign for reassurance is given. This is usually depicted as a raised right hand with the fingers almost closed, almost telling us to pause or wait. This mudra represents him reassuring our worries and concerns. It lets us know that we don't have to be afraid, which is why it's sometimes also called the "fear not" gesture.

The second mudra, represented in his left hand, is the gift-giving gesture. The gift-giving gesture is usually depicted as the hand stretched out, palm up, as if there is a gift he wants us to receive. This gesture could be seen as giving the gift of enlightenment. Enlightenment is something that Buddhists strive for, as they believe it's essential to receiving nirvana or eternal life.

The two of them combined at the Tōdaiji show that they want people to see the reassurance and gifts that the Buddha gives us. They want you to feel at peace when in the presence of this great Buddha, as well as receive enlightenment at the same time. I believe this ties in well with other themes around the temple, like guardian figures and a pillar where you crawl through to receive enlightenment.



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