Mudras in Buddhist and Hindu practices

380 Pages·2001·9.938 MB·English

by  Bunce, Frederick W

Mudras occupy an important place in Fredrick W. Bunce, a PhD and a
Buddhist and Hindu religious cultural historian of international
practices as these signify special eminence, is an authority on ancient
meanings, associated with specific iconography and Buddhist arts. He has
been honoured with prestigious
divinities and rites, which cannot be
awards/commendations and is listed
represented any other way.
in Who’s Who in American Art and the
This book is a dictionary of mudras in International Biographical Dictionary,
Hindu and Buddhist religious 1980. He is currently Professor
practices that lists the various mudras Emeritus of Art, Indiana State
— deity-centred, rite-centred, yogic- University, Terre Haute, Indiana. He
centred, and so on — illustrating each has authored the following books all
with a simple drawing drawn published by D.K. Printworld:
generally from the perspective of one • Buddhist Textile of Laos, Lan Na and
holding the mudra. It contains the Isan — The Iconography of Design
detailed notes that give numerous Elements.
references to literary and other • A Dictionary of Buddhist and Hindu
sources that reveal a lot about the Iconography.
mudras — their descriptions in the • An Encyclopaedia of Buddhist Deities,
texts, rites associated with the mudras Demigods, Godlings, Saints and
in the texts as well as the varied Demons (2 vols.).
interpretations of a number of mudras • An Encyclopaedia of Hindu Deities,
in the different texts. The book also Demigods, Godlings, Demons and
has an introduction on Hindu and Heroes (3 vols.).
Buddhist mudras that goes into • The Iconography of Architectural
iconographic features associated Plans — A Study of the Influence of
with deities along with the technical Buddhism and Hinduism on Plans of
descriptions and the subcategories South and Southeast Asia.
and further divisions into which • Islamic Tombs in India — The
mudras are arranged. It scrutinises the Iconographical and Genesis of their
work done by a number of scholars on Design.
the subject to throw further light on • Monuments of India and the
the subject. Indianized States.
• The Mosques of the Indian
The volume will prove indispensable
Subcontinent — Their Development
to all students and scholars who are
and Iconography.
engaged in study of Hindu and
• Numbers — Their Iconographic
Buddhist religious traditions and
Consideration in Buddhist and Hindu
practices.
Practices.
• Royal Palaces, Residences and
Pavilions of India — An Iconographic
Consideration.
Second impression, 2009, xxx, 346 p.; 715 line-
• The Sacred Dichotomy: Thoughts and
drawings, Appendices; Bibliography; 29 cm.
Comments on The Duality of Female
and Male Iconography in South Asia
and the Mediterranean.
Hardbound
• The Tibetan Iconography of Buddhas,
ISBN 13: 978-81-246-0312-3
Bodhisattvas and other Deities — A
ISBN 10: 81-246-0312-X
Unique Pantheon.
• The Yantra of Deities and their
Numerological Foundations — An
Rs. 1500
Iconographic Consideration.
US $ 75.00
Mudrās
in Buddhist and Hindu Practices

Cataloging in Publication Data — DK
[Courtesy: D.K. Agencies (P) Ltd. <[email protected]>]
Bunce, Fredrick W. (Fredrick William), 1935-
Mudrās in Buddhist and Hindu practices :
an iconographic consideration / by Fredrick
W. Bunce.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. )
ISBN 13: 9788124603123
ISBN 10: 812460312X
1. Mudras (Buddhism) — Encyclopedias. 2.
Mudras (Hinduism) — Encyclopedias. 3.
Gesture — Encyclopedias. 4. Idols and images
— Encyclopedias. I. Title.
DDC 704.948 943 21
ISBN 13: 978-81-246-0312-3
ISBN 10: 81-246-0312-X
First Published in India in 2005
Second impression in 2009
© Author, 2001
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written
permission of both the copyright holders, indicated above, and the publisher.
Published and printed by:
D.K. Printworld (P) Ltd.
Regd. office: “Sri Kunj”, F-52, Bali Nagar,
Ramesh Nagar Metro Stn., New Delhi - 110 015
Phones: [phone]; 2546 6019; Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.dkprintworld.com
Contents
List of Figures............................................................. vii
User’s Guide............................................................. xvii
Preface and Introduction......................................... xxiii
Mudras ......................................................................... 1
A .................................................................................... 2
B ....................................................................................28
C ................................................................................... 42
D ................................................................................... 56
E ................................................................................... 65
F ................................................................................... 66
G ................................................................................... 68
H ................................................................................... 78
I .................................................................................... 87
J ................................................................................... 89
K .................................................................................. 98
L ................................................................................. 127
M .............................................................................. 131
N ................................................................................. 146
O ..................................................................................157
P .................................................................................. 159
R ................................................................................. 190
S .................................................................................. 198
T .................................................................................. 235
U ................................................................................. 245
V ................................................................................. 250
W ................................................................................ 281
Y ................................................................................. 282
Z .................................................................................. 286
Addendum ................................................................ 287
Notes ...................................................................... 289
Bibliography .......................................................... 309
Appendix A
Descriptive Term Designations ....................,317
Appendix B
Thai Postures of the Lord Buddha.................321
Appendix C
Mudra List .................................................... 329
Acknowledgements .................................................. 345

List of Figures
Figure page Figure page
1. abhaya mudra I ...................................................... 2 41. anuja mudra ......................................................... 19
2. abhaya mudra II .....................................................3 42. anzan-in (mudra) ................................................ 20
3. abhaya mudra III ................................................... 3 43. apan mudra ......................................................... 20
4. abhaya mudra IV.................................................... 3 44. apan-vayu mudra ............................................... 20
5. abhisheka mudra .................................................... 4 45. arala mudra I ....................................................... 21
6. abhisheka-guhya mudra ........................................ 5 46. arala mudra II ...................................................... 21
7. Achala-agni mudra ................................................ 5 47. arala mudra III ..................................................... 21
8. adara gassho (mudra) I ......................................... 6 48. arala-kataka-mukha mudra ............................... 22
9. adara gassho (mudra) II ........................................ 6 49. archita mudra ....................................................... 22
10. adho-mukham mudra ............................................ 7 50. ardhachandra mudra I ........................................ 22
11. adhishthana mudra ................................................ 7 51. ardhachandra mudra II ....................................... 23
12. adho-mushti-mukula mudra .................................. 7 52. ardha-mukha mudra.............................................. 23
13. agni-chakra mudra ............................................... 8 53. ardhanjali mudra................................................... 23
14. agni-chakra-shamana mudra I ............................... 8 54. ardha-pataka mudra ............................................ 24
15. agni-chakra-shamana mudra II .......................... 8 55. ardha-rechita mudra ............................................ 24
16. agni-jvala mudra .................................................. 9 56. argham mudra ...................................................... 24
17. agni-shala mudra ................................................. 9 57. Arjuna mudra I .................................................... 25
18. agraja mudra ......................................................... 9 58. ashoka mudra ....................................................... 25
19. ahayavarada mudra ............................................. 10 59. ashta-dala-padma mudra ................................... 25
20. ahvana mudra ...................................................... 10 60. ashva-ratna mudra ............................................... 26
21. aja-mukha mudra ................................................ 10 61. avahana mudra ..................................................... 26
22. Ajanta temborin-in (mudra) ................................ 11 62. avahittha mudra ................................................... 27
23. akka-in (mudra) ................................................... 11 63. aviddha-vakra mudra ........................................... 27
24. alinga mudra ........................................................ 12 64. bahya-bandha mudra ........................................... 28
25. aloke mudra ......................................................... 12 65. baka mudra .......................................................... 28
26. Amida-butsu seppo-in (mudra) I ......................... 13 66. baku jo in (mudra) ............................................... 28
27. Amida-butsu seppo-in (mudra) II ........................ 13 67. Balaramavatara mudra ........................................ 29
28. Amida-butsu seppo-in (mudra) III .......................14 68. BAM mudra ..........................................................29
29. Amida-butsu seppo-in (mudra) IV........................14 69. bana mudra .......................................................... 29
30. Amida-butsu seppo-in (mudra) V ........................ 14 70. basara-un-kongo-in (mudra) I .............................. 30
31. Amida-butsu seppo-in (mudra) VI .......................15 71. basara-un-kongo-in (mudra) II ............................ 30
32. anchita mudra ........................................................15 72. bhartri mudra ....................................................... 31
33. Angarakha mudra .................................................16 73. bhartri-bhratri mudra ........................................... 31
34. an-i-in (mudra) .....................................................17 74. bherunda mudra .................................................. 32
35. an-i-shoshu-in (mudra) ........................................ 17 75. Bhima mudra ....................................................... 32
36. anjali mudra I .......................................................17 76. bhinnanjali mudra ................................................ 32
37. anjali mudra II ..................................................... 18 77. bhramara mudra ................................................... 33
38. anjali mudra III .................................................... 18 78. bhumisparsha mudra ............................................ 34
39. ankusha mudra .................................................... 19 79. bhutadamara mudra ............................................. 34
40. anuchitta mudra ................................................... 19 80. bihararieisata gassho (mudra) .............................. 35
vii
List of Figures
Figure page Figure page
81. boda gassho (mudra) .......................................... 35 126. chitta-guhya mudra.............................................. 52
82. bon jiki-in (mudra) .............................................. 36 127. cho butsu fu-in (mudra)....................................... 52
83. Brahma mudra ..................................................... 36 128. cho kongo renge-in (mudra)................................ 52
84. Brahmana mudra ................................................. 37 129. cho nen ju-in (mudra) .......................................... 53
85. Brihaspati mudra ................................................. 37 130. chonmukhmukham mudra I .............................. 53
86. bu bosatsu-in (mudra) ......................................... 38 131. chonmukhmukham mudra II ............................... 54
87. Buddhalochani mudra ........................................ 38 132. cho zai-in (mudra) ............................................... 54
88. buddhashramana mudra I .................................. 38 133. dai kai-in (mudra) ............................................... 56
89. buddhashramana mudra II ................................ 39 134. dai ye-to no-in (mudra) ....................................... 56
90. Budha mudra ....................................................... 39 135. damaruhasta (mudra) ......................................... 57
91. buku-in (mudra) ................................................... 39 136. dampati mudra .................................................... 57
92. bu mo-in (mudra) ................................................. 40 137. danda mudra ........................................................ 58
93. buppatsu-in (mudra) ........................................... 40 138. Dharani-Avalokiteshvara mudra ...................... 58
94. butsu bu sammaya-in (mudra) .......................... 40 139. dharmachakra mudra ......................................... 58
95. bu zo-in (mudra) ................................................. 41 140: dharmachakra-pravartana mudra .................... 59
96. chaga mudra ........................................................ 42 141. dharmachakra-pravartana-bodhisattva-
97. chakra mudra I .................................................... 42 varga-mudra .................................................... 59
98. chakra mudra II ................................................... 42 142. dharma-pravartana mudra ................................ 59
99. chakra-ratna mudra .............................................. 43 143. Dharmaraja mudra .............................................. 60
100. chakravaka mudra ............................................... 43 144. dhenu mudra I ..................................................... 60
101. chakravartin mudra ............................................. 43 145. dhenu mudra II .................................................... 60
102. chakshur mudra ................................................... 44 146. Dhritarashtra mudra ............................................ 61
103. champaka mudra ................................................. 44 147. dhupa mudra I ..................................................... 61
104. Chandra mudra .................................................... 44 148. dhupa mudra II .................................................... 61
105. chandrakala mudra I ........................................... 45 149. dhyana mudra I ................................................... 62
106. chandrakala mudra II .......................................... 45 150. dhyana mudra II .................................................. 62
107. chandra-mriga mudra .......................................... 45 151. dola mudra ........................................................... 63
108. chapetadana mudra ............................................. 46 152. dvi-mukham mudra ............................................ 64
109. chaturahasta mudra ............................................ 46 153. fu ko-in (mudra) .................................................. 66
110. chatura mudra I ................................................... 46 154. fukushu gassho (mudra) ...................................... 66
111. chatura mudra II .................................................. 47 155. fu ku-yo-in (mudra) ............................................ 67
112. chatura mudra III ................................................. 47 156. funnu ken-in (mudra) .......................................... 67
113. chaturashra mudra ............................................... 47 157. fu tsu ku yo-in (mudra) ...................................... 67
114. chatur-dig-bandha mudra ................................... 48 158. gada mudra .......................................................... 68
115. chatur-mukham mudra ....................................... 48 159. Gaganaganja mudra I .......................................... 68
116. chi ken-in (mudra) I ............................................ 48 160. Gaganaganja mudra II ......................................... 68
117. chi ken-in (mudra) II ........................................... 49 161. gaja(hasta) mudra ................................................ 69
118. chiku cho sho-in (mudra) .................................... 49 162. gajadanta mudra ................................................. 69
119. chin mudra I ........................................................ 49 163. gandha mudra I ................................................... 69
120. chin mudra II ....................................................... 50 164. gandha mudra II .................................................. 70
121. chintamani mudra I ............................................. 50 165. gandharan temborin-in (mudra) .......................... 70
122. chintamani mudra II ............................................ 50 166. gandhararattha mudra ....................................... 71
123. chintamani mudra III .......................................... 51 167. gandharva mudra ............................................... 71
124. chintamani mudra IV .......................................... 51 168. gardabha mudra ................................................... 71
125. chintamani mudra V ........................................... 51 169. garuda mudra ...................................................... 72
viii