"Though nobody really knows how long ago hand gestures began to signify both religious and secular ideas, many expressive gestures used today-asking for calm and silence by raising a palm or emphasizing a point by lifting an index finger-echo ancient ceremonial traditions. In yoga, mudra evolved into a complex symbolic language that serves two purposes: transmitting esoteric concepts and, literally, embodying spiritual ideals. Probably the most common yoga mudras are those used in meditation poses."
"the tranquil beauty of a meditating Buddha, or any of the innumerable Hindu deities and Buddhist bodhisattvas, notice that each figure holds a stylized hand gesture. These gestures not only lend gracious expression to India's iconic art, they also tell stories and represent specific spiritual attributes. Famous Indian art historian Ananda Coomara-swamy called mudras "an established and conventional language in India.""
Lord Shiva is often depicted as Nataraja, the dancing king balanced on one foot with four hands, and his hand gestures remain consistent across regions. Hand gestures function as a vital component of religious activity and each deity or bodhisattva holds a stylized gesture. Mudras convey stories and specific spiritual attributes and trace at least to Vedic times; the language of mudra is considered easier to learn than Sanskrit. Many common gestures echo ancient ceremonial traditions. In yoga, mudra evolved into a complex symbolic language that transmits esoteric concepts and embodies spiritual ideals, with several mudras used specifically in meditation.
Read at Yoga Journal
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]