Known by many names, the ‘earth touching’ pose of the Buddha is the Bhumisparsha mudra, which means literally ‘touching the earth.’ A mudra is a motion or gesture of the hands and body to express a thought or feelilng.  The Earth Touching mudra is commonly seen in Buddha figurines and art.  Buddhist meditation rituals are based on the many different mudras. Buddha statues are often depicted in the earth touching mudra which is also known as ‘the earth witness’ position.

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 goddess, Shthavara to witness the moment in which he achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. For this reason, the pose is also known 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 statues of Buddha. The statue shows the Buddha with his left hand resting in his lap with the palm skyward in the meditation mudra (dhyana mudra). The combination of mudras is intended to symbolize the union of wisdom and method, Nirvana and Samasra. 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. Mara existed in many incarnations in Buddhist lore, from all powerful, evil creature to impish nuisance. One story tells of how Mara summoned his daughter’s to seduce the Buddha and distract him from his spiritual journey. This has parallels to the mythology of other cultures, similar to Greek sirens.

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. Akshobhya and Amithaba were the two Buddhas who represented wisdom and compassion respectively. The Buddhist theology evolved to include the Five Dhyani Buddhas who each represent an aspect of the Buddhist philosophy.

Akshobhya is the wise Buddha of the East, believed to possess a mirror-like 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.

Display of an earth touching pose Buddha figurine can be a prompt us to remember the Buddha’s resolve and need to channel our anger into wisdom.