On the night of his enlightenment, the demon Mara challenged the Buddha's right to his seat. The Buddha touched the ground with his right hand—the Bhumisparsha Mudra —calling the Earth goddess to witness his lifetimes of merit. The Earth trembled in response, and Mara was defeated.
In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, mudras are more than hand gestures; they are "seals" ( mudrā in Sanskrit) that trigger joy and channel vital energy ( prana ). Mudras Mudras
The earliest "story" began with the Vedas (c. 1500–500 BCE), where priests used mudras to regulate the rhythm and intonation of sacred chants. On the night of his enlightenment, the demon
Many famous mudras serve as "shorthand" for the most pivotal moments in the life of Siddhartha Gautama. On the night of his enlightenment