Also called: earth touching mudra, bhumi sparsha mudra.
How to do Bhumisparsha Mudra
- Sit cross-legged, ideally in Lotus or Half Lotus, or on a cushion with your spine upright.
- Rest your left hand in your lap, palm up, just below the navel (the one-hand form of Dhyana mudra).
- Let your right hand hang over your right knee, palm turned in toward the knee.
- Keep all five right fingers straight and relaxed, and let the fingertips reach down to touch the floor or mat lightly.
- Breathe slowly and feel the ground under your fingertips, your seat and your legs.
- Stay for the whole sitting, or 10–20 minutes, then lift the right hand back into your lap.
Traditional benefits
- Traditionally used for grounding: a direct, physical contact with the earth
- Traditionally used for steadiness and resolve when doubt or distraction arises
- Traditionally used to recall the Buddha's calm confidence at the moment of awakening
- Traditionally used to finish a sitting with a sense of commitment to practice
Keep in mind
- If your shoulder or wrist aches, place a folded blanket or block under the fingertips so you do not have to reach so far.
- Bhumisparsha mudra is a meditation gesture and a sacred symbol; it does not treat high blood pressure or any illness.
- Show respect to Buddha statues: do not place them on the floor, in bathrooms or below your feet.
Bhumisparsha mudra, the earth-touching gesture, is one of the most important hand positions in Buddhist art. The right hand hangs over the right knee, palm inward, with the fingertips touching the ground; the left hand rests in the lap. It shows the Buddha at the moment he called the earth to witness his awakening under the Bodhi tree.
Bhumisparsha mudra meaning
In Sanskrit bhumi means earth and sparsha means touch, so the meaning is simply "earth-touching gesture". You will also see it written bhumi sparsha mudra, or called the earth touching mudra or Maravijaya mudra, "victory over Mara". In Hindi it is भूमिस्पर्श मुद्रा. When people ask about the bhumisparsha mudra of Buddha in Hindi, the answer is the same: धरती को साक्षी बनाने की मुद्रा, the gesture of calling the earth as witness.
The story: the Buddha, Mara and the earth as witness
Siddhartha Gautama sat under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya and vowed not to rise until he was awakened. Mara, who stands for desire, fear and doubt, tried to stop him, first with armies and temptations, then with a challenge: what right did he have to that seat, and who would speak for him?
Siddhartha did not argue. He reached down with his right hand and touched the earth. The earth itself bore witness to his many lives of good deeds, and Mara's armies scattered. In Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar this is told with the earth goddess, Phra Mae Thorani, who wrings a flood of water from her long hair to wash Mara's army away. That same night Siddhartha became the Buddha.
What Bhumisparsha mudra symbolizes
What is the significance of the gesture, and of bhumisparsha mudra in Buddhism? It symbolizes steadiness, the victory of clarity over doubt, and a truth that needs no argument, only a witness. The left hand in the lap stands for meditation; the right hand touching the earth stands for action grounded in that stillness. In Vajrayana Buddhism it is also the gesture of Akshobhya, the "immovable" Buddha.
Bhumisparsha mudra in Buddha statues
This is the most common gesture in seated Buddha statues across Thailand and Myanmar, and in the great stone images of the Pala period in Bihar and Bengal. The main image in the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, the place of the story, shows it. At the Ajanta Caves, the large carved panel of Mara's assault in Cave 26 shows the Buddha seated in bhumisparsha mudra.
A common mix-up: the famous 5th-century seated Buddha from Sarnath shows the Dharmachakra mudra, not this one. Sarnath is where the Buddha gave his first teaching; Bodh Gaya is where he touched the earth. Bhumisparsha mudra questions in UPSC and other Indian art and culture exams often test that difference.
When you look at bhumisparsha mudra photos, museum pieces or a vintage statue collection, check the posture and hand sign: legs crossed, right hand over the right knee with fingertips down, left hand palm up in the lap. If the right hand is lowered with the palm facing out instead, it is Varada mudra; varada mudra benefits are described as generosity. A raised palm is Abhaya mudra, and abhaya mudra benefits are described as courage. Gestures around the world differ, but these Buddhist hand signs are read the same way from Sri Lanka to Japan.
Bhumisparsha mudra meditation: how to practise
You do not need to be Buddhist to use the gesture with respect. Sit in Lotus Pose, Half Lotus or any steady cross-legged seat on a cushion low enough that your fingertips can reach the floor or a block. Follow the steps above.
- Begin with both hands in the lap in Dhyana mudra. That is how to do Dhyana mudra: right hand resting in the left, thumbs touching.
- When doubt or restlessness comes, move the right hand down to touch the earth. Say silently, "I am here."
- Feel the contact: fingertips, seat, knees. Let the breath settle.
- Finish by returning the right hand to the lap, or stay in the gesture to the end. Our meditation timer keeps time with soft bells.
Early morning suits this practice well. The Buddha's awakening is said to have come at dawn, and yoga tradition praises the benefits of brahma muhurta, the quiet hour before sunrise, for meditation.
Bhumisparsha mudra benefits
The traditional bhumisparsha mudra benefits are grounding, steadiness and resolve. Buddha mudra benefits in general are about the mind, not the body: these gestures give meditation a clear shape and meaning. That is also why we use mudras at all. Dhyana mudra benefits are described as calm and deep focus, and they read the same in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada or Marathi.
The earth theme links it with the benefits of Prithvi mudra, the yoga "earth" gesture. It is not a mudra for high BP, and there are no mudras to control high BP or reduce it. Slow breathing and regular yoga may help a little alongside medicine; see yoga for high blood pressure.
Mudras in yoga and their benefits each have their own aim, and none is the best mudra for overall health on its own. The benefits of kubera mudra (kuber mudra benefits in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu books centre on focus), vayu mudra and abhaya hridaya mudra differ again, and each mudra and its benefits should be judged on its own. Compare all hand mudras and their benefits on our mudras page.
भूमिस्पर्श मुद्रा (Bhumisparsha Mudra) — हिंदी में: इसका अर्थ है "धरती को छूने की मुद्रा"। बोधगया में बोधि वृक्ष के नीचे बुद्ध ने मार की चुनौती पर दाएँ हाथ से धरती को छूकर उसे साक्षी बनाया। अभ्यास के लिए पालथी मारकर बैठें, बायाँ हाथ गोद में हथेली ऊपर रखें और दायाँ हाथ दाएँ घुटने के ऊपर से नीचे लटकाकर उंगलियों से ज़मीन को हल्का छुएँ। यह स्थिरता और दृढ़ संकल्प की मुद्रा है।
Where this practice is used
Chakras: Muladhara (Root Chakra)
More mudras
Frequently asked questions
What does Bhumisparsha mudra mean?
It means "earth-touching gesture". It shows the Buddha touching the earth to call it as witness to his awakening, after Mara challenged his right to sit under the Bodhi tree.
Which hand touches the earth in Bhumisparsha mudra?
The right hand hangs over the right knee with the fingertips touching the ground and the palm facing in. The left hand rests palm up in the lap.
Where can I see Bhumisparsha mudra?
In the main image of the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, in Pala-period sculpture from Bihar and Bengal, in Cave 26 at Ajanta and in most seated Buddha statues in Thailand and Myanmar.
Is the Sarnath Buddha in Bhumisparsha mudra?
No. The famous seated Buddha from Sarnath shows Dharmachakra mudra, the gesture of teaching. Bhumisparsha belongs to Bodh Gaya and the night of awakening.
What are the benefits of Bhumisparsha mudra?
It is traditionally used for grounding, steadiness and resolve during meditation. It is a spiritual gesture, not a treatment for any health condition.
Can I practise Bhumisparsha mudra on a chair?
Yes. Sit near the front of the chair, rest the left hand in your lap and let the right hand hang beside the right knee, fingertips toward the floor or resting on a block.
Mudras are a traditional practice for focus and relaxation. Research on specific health effects is limited; use them alongside, not instead of, medical care.