Buddhist symbolism - The Mudras

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Buddhist symbolism, Buddhist symbolism - Early aniconic symbols, Buddhist symbolism - International symbols of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, Buddhist symbolism - The 32 signs of a Great Man, and 80 Secondary Characteristics, Buddhist symbolism - The Mudras, Buddhist symbolism - The eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan & Nepali Buddhism, mandala, Religious symbolism, Tibetan art

ARTICLES RELATED TO Buddhist symbolism - The Mudras

Buddhist symbolism - The Mudras: : Buddhist symbolism

Buddhist symbolism appeared from around the 3rd century BCE, and started with aniconic symbolism, avoiding direct representations of the Buddha. Anthropomorphic symbolism appeared from around the 1st century CE with the arts of Mathura and the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara, and were combined with the previous symbols. Various symbolic innovations were later introduced, especially through Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhist symbolism - Early aniconic symbols. Among the earliest and most common symbols of Buddhism ar ...

Including:

Buddhist symbolism - Early aniconic symbols
Buddhist symbolism - The 32 signs of a Great Man, and 80 Secondary Characteristics
Buddhist symbolism - The Mudras
Buddhist symbolism - The eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan & Nepali Buddhism
Buddhist symbolism - International symbols of the World Fellowship of Buddhists

Including:

Buddhist symbolism - The Mudras: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist symbolism - The eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan & Nepali Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhists make use of a particular set of eight auspicious symbols, ashtamangala, in household and public art. Some common interpretations are given along with each symbol although different teachers may give different interpretations: The right-turning white conch shell, representing the beautiful sound of the spread of the dharma teaching The endless knot, representing the inter-twining of wisdom and compassion The golden fish, representing the state of fearless suspension in a harmless ocean o ...

Including:

Read more here: » Mudra: Encyclopedia - Mudra

Buddhist symbolism - The Mudras: Encyclopedia II - Gesture - Social significance

Gestures play a major role in many aspects of human life. Many animals, including humans, use gestures to initiate a mating ritual. This may include elaborate dances and other movements. Religious and spiritual gestures are also common, such as the Christian sign of the cross. In Hinduism and Buddhism, a mudra (Sanskrit, literally "seal") is a symbolic gesture made with the hand or fingers. Each mudra has a specific meaning, playing a central role in Hindu and Buddhist iconography. An example is the Vitarka mudra, the gesture o ...

Menander I, Menander I - A renowned Indo-Greek king, Menander I - Menander and Buddhism, Menander I - The Milinda Pañha, Menander I - Other Indian accounts, Menander I - Menander the Just King of the Dharma, Menander I - The question of Menander's change of title, Menander I - Menander's death, Menander I - Succession, Menander I - Legacy, Menander I - Buddhism, Menander I - Representation of the Buddha, Menander I - Geography, Menander I - Notes

Buddhist symbolism - The Mudras: Spiritual - Theosophy Dictionary on Mudra

Mudra (Sanskrit) A symbol of power over invisible evil influences, whether as a simple posture or a posture considered as a talisman. Applied to certain positions of the fingers practiced in devotion, meditation, or exoteric religious worship, thought by some to imitate ancient Sanskrit characters, and therefore to have magic efficacy and to have a particular esoteric significance. Used both in the Northern Buddhist Yogacharya school and by the Hindu Tantrikas, with both symbolic and practical meanings.

(See also: Mudra, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Buddhist symbolism - The Mudras: Theosophy Occultism Mysticism Dictionary on Mudra

A Theosophical definition of Mudra :

Mudra

(Sanskrit) A general name for certain intertwinings or positions of the fingers of the two hands, used alone or together, in devotional yoga or exoteric religious worship, and these mudras or digital positions are held by many Oriental mystics to have particular esoteric significance.

They are found both in the Buddhist statues of northern Asia, especially those belonging to the Yogachara school, and also in India where they are perhaps particularly affected by the Hindu tantrikas.

There is doubtless a good deal of hid efficacy in holding the fingers in proper position during meditation, but to the genuine occult student the symbolic meaning of such mudras or digital positions is by far more useful and interesting. The subject is too intricate, and of importance too small, to call for much detail of explanation here, or even to attempt a full exposition of the subject.

See also: Mudra, Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddhist symbolism - The Mudras: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist symbolism - Early aniconic symbols

Among the earliest and most common symbols of Buddhism are the dharma wheel and the lotus flower. The dharma wheel, traditionally represented with eight spokes, can have a variety of meanings. It initially only meant royalty (concept of the "Monarch of the Wheel, or Chakravatin), but started to be used in a Buddhist context on the Pillars of Ashoka during the 3rd century BCE. The Dharma wheel is generally seen as referring to the historical process of teaching the buddhadharma; the eight spokes refer to the Noble Eightfold Path. The lotus, as well, can have several meanings, ...