Buddha Image Postures and Hand Gestures

Images of the Buddha can be found in four basic postures:

1. Seated
   By far, most images in Thailand depict the Buddha in the seated position. Seated images can further be divided into three poses:
   1. With the legs folded over each other.
   2. With the legs folded over each other and the soles of the feet facing up - the "lotus postion". Perhaps the most common pose.
   3. Seated as on a chair.
2. Standing
3. Walking
   True walking images are quite rare in Thailand. The best examples are found in ancient Sukhothai. Standing Buddhas with one foot forward should not be confused with walking Buddhas.
4. Reclining
   Reclining Buddhas can simply represent the Buddha at rest, but more commonly they are meant to show the last moments of the Buddha's life before the final state of enlightenment.

Hand Gestures

Perhaps more important than the pose are the hand gestures of the Buddha image. These gestures are properly called mudra. While there are just a few different overall poses for a Buddha image, there are dozens of possible mudra combinations. However, the variations are, for the most part, combinations of just six basic gestures:

1. Touching the Earth
   The right hand rests on the leg with the fingers extended downwards to the ground. This is by far the most common Buddha gesture in Thailand, where it's commonly referred to as "Subduing Mara".
2. Meditation
   The hands rest on the Buddha's lap with the palms facing upward.
3. Charity
   The right arm is extended straight to the side, with the palm of the open hand facing to the front.
4. Absence of fear
   One or both arms are bent at the elbow, and again at the wrist with the fingers pointing upward, so that the palms face away from the Buddha.
5. Reasoning and exposition
   The arm is positioned the same as in the "absence of fear" pose, except the thumb and fore-finger are bought together.
6. Setting the wheel in motion
   Similar to the "reasoning and exposition" pose, except the fingers of the left hand rest on the palm of the right. This mudra is very rare.