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Buddha Poses: The 'Earth Touching' or 'Earth Witness'

translates from Sanskrit to mean 'touching the earth.' gesture or motion of the hands and body to express a feeling.|Mudras are gestures or motions of the body and hands used  to communicate a feeling or thought non-verbally.]  Mudras are [an important part of Buddhist meditation rituals.|Buddhist meditation rituals are based on the many different mudras.] The earth touching pose is most often seen in [statues of Buddha and is also referred to as the 'earth witness' mudra.|Buddha statues are often depicted in the earth touching mudra which is also known as 'the earth witness' position.]

The earth touching mudra [is performed by extending the five fingers of the right hand and placing them on the ground with the palm facing inward toward the body.|To perform this mudra, the hand is placed on the ground with all fingers touching. The palm faces inward.] It is [a symbol of the moment when Buddha summoned the Earth goddess to witness the moment in which he achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.|It's believed that Buddha assumed the earth touching position after he achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree to call the goddess Shthavra to witness the event.] Occassionally, you may see this mudra referred to as 'Summoning the Earth Goddess to Witness.'

In the earth touching pose, the right arm rests on the right knee with the fingers extended downward. This position is one of the most common mudras seen in Buddha statues. The left hand rests in the lap, palm up in the mudra of meditation (dhyana mudra). This is believed to symbolize the marriage of wisdom and method or Nirvana and Samasara. (Buddhist teachings tell the tale of how Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, assumed the earth touching pose to resist against the temptations and distractions of the demon Mara who sought to lure the Buddha from his spiritual life.|The teachings of the Buddhist faith speak of how the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, resisted the temptations of the demon Mara by taking the earth touching pose.] In Buddhist folklore, Mara was viewed as everything from an all powerful demon to a gremlin-like nuisance. This demon was a symbol of temptation who summoned beautiful temptresses to distract the Buddha for his spiritual journey much like the sirens of Greek Mythology

The second of the Five Great Buddhas (Five Dhyani Buddhas), Akshobhya, is depicted in the earth touching pose. Akshobhya is a manifestation of strength, confidence and determination and the use of the Bhumisparsha mudra is a reflection of that. The concept of the Five Great Buddhas was an evolution of the Buddhist theology. Initially only two existed, wisdom and compassion.

Akshobhya sits in the Eastern position and is thought to possess the mirror wisdom that converts anger to wisdom. He is associated with the element water, mirror-like itself and symbolic of Akshobhya's ability to help people see things as they truly are.

The simple beauty of this mudra is a welcome reminder that temptation can be confronted by strength and this is the reason many Buddhists display Buddha decor in the earth touching pose.

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