Also called: dharma chakra mudra, wheel mudra.
How to do Dharmachakra Mudra
- Sit upright in a cross-legged seat or on a chair and bring both hands up in front of your chest, at heart level.
- On each hand, join the tip of the index finger and the tip of the thumb to make a circle; keep the other three fingers open.
- Turn your right palm to face outward, away from your body, with the fingers pointing up.
- Hold your left hand a little lower, palm turned in toward your chest, and bring its circle up to touch the circle of the right hand.
- Keep your elbows soft and away from your ribs, and breathe slowly, resting your attention on the point where the two circles meet.
- Stay for 5–15 minutes, then lower your hands to your lap and rest.
Traditional benefits
- Traditionally used for teaching, study and clear explanation
- Traditionally used for reflection on what you have learned
- Traditionally used to recall the Buddha's first sermon and the path it describes
- Traditionally used as a focus point for attention, since the touching circles need a light, steady hold
Keep in mind
- If your shoulders or arms tire, rest your forearms on a cushion in your lap or hold the gesture for shorter periods.
- Dharmachakra mudra is a sacred Buddhist symbol and a meditation aid, not a medical treatment.
- Keep the finger circles light; people with arthritis in the hands can hold a looser version.
Dharmachakra mudra is the gesture of turning the wheel of Dharma. Both hands are held at the heart: each thumb and index finger form a circle, the right palm faces out, the left palm faces in, and the two circles touch. In Buddhist art it marks the Buddha's first sermon, when he began to teach what he had realised.
Dharmachakra mudra meaning
Dharma means the teaching or the truth, chakra means wheel, and mudra means gesture. So the meaning is "gesture of the wheel of Dharma". Its full name is dharmachakra pravartana mudra, the gesture of setting the wheel of Dharma in motion. You may also see it written dharma chakra mudra or called the wheel mudra. In Hindi, dharmachakra mudra is written धर्मचक्र मुद्रा.
What is the Dharmachakra, and what does it represent?
The Dharmachakra is the wheel that stands for the Buddha's teaching. It usually has eight spokes, which represent the Noble Eightfold Path: right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration. The wheel is one of the oldest Buddhist symbols. India's national flag carries a 24-spoked wheel, the Ashoka Chakra, taken from the Lion Capital that Emperor Ashoka set up at Sarnath.
The Buddha's first sermon at Sarnath
After his awakening at Bodh Gaya, shown by Bhumisparsha mudra, the Buddha walked to the Deer Park at Sarnath, near Varanasi. There he taught five former companions the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. This first sermon is called "turning the wheel of Dharma". That is the turning of the wheel the gesture shows: the circles of the fingers are the wheel, and the teaching hand sets it moving.
The most famous dharmachakra mudra Buddha statue is the seated sandstone figure from Sarnath, made in the Gupta period around the 5th century CE and now in the Sarnath Museum. Carved deer and a wheel on its base recall the Deer Park. For UPSC and other Indian art and culture exams, remember the pairs: Sarnath with Dharmachakra mudra, Bodh Gaya with Bhumisparsha.
Dharmachakra mudra significance and symbolism
Teachers explain the dharmachakra mudra symbol in several ways. The circle made by thumb and index finger stands for wholeness and the unity of wisdom and method. The right hand, facing out, is the teaching given to others; the left hand, facing the heart, is the truth held within. The three open fingers on each hand are often linked with the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. In Vajrayana Buddhism, dharmachakra mudra belongs to Vairochana, and it is often shown on Maitreya, the future Buddha.
"Turning the wheel" meaning in everyday English
English uses the same picture. The meaning of "get the wheels turning" is to start a process moving, and "the wheels are turning" means work is under way. A "turn of the wheel" means a change of fortune, and phrases like "the wheel of time turns" describe cycles. The Buddhist idea is close to the first one: the Buddha got the wheels turning for a teaching that is still moving 2,500 years later.
How to do Dharmachakra mudra: steps and practice
The steps above describe the dharmachakra mudra hand sign, or hand gesture, in full. The trickiest part is the left hand: turn it so the palm faces your chest, then lift it until its circle meets the right circle. In many statues the left middle finger also touches the right circle; either version is fine. Look at the diagram above if the dharmachakra mudra images you have seen are confusing.
For a simple dharmachakra mudra meditation, hold the gesture and reflect on one thing you have learned recently, or one idea you want to explain clearly. This is how to do mudra meditation with a purpose rather than just a hand shape. Study our meditation for beginners guide if you are new to sitting.
- Time: 5–15 minutes. The arms are raised, so start short.
- Best for: before study, teaching or a talk. As a mudra for memory power it has no proven effect, but a calm, focused start helps; see yoga for memory and concentration.
- Walking: this gesture is for sitting. Which mudra is best while walking? A relaxed Gyan mudra works better.
What is a mudra in Buddhism? Other key gestures
A mudra in Buddhism is a symbolic hand gesture that shows a moment in the Buddha's life or a quality of mind. How many mudras are there in Buddhism? Tantric traditions use hundreds, but Buddhist art uses about six main ones:
- Dhyana mudra: meditation. What is it, and how to do Dhyana mudra? The hands rest in the lap, right on left, thumbs touching.
- Bhumisparsha mudra: touching the earth; bhumisparsha mudra benefits are described as steadiness.
- Abhaya mudra: fearlessness; abhaya mudra benefits, in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and English sources alike, are courage and calm.
- Varada mudra: giving; varada mudra benefits are generosity and compassion.
- Vitarka mudra: discussion, with one thumb-and-index circle raised.
- Dharmachakra mudra: teaching, as described on this page.
If you see a statue and wonder which mudra is this, check the list above first. Lotus mudra benefits are described as an open, loving heart; see how to do lotus mudra on our Padma mudra page. The benefits of Gyan mudra and chin mudra are focus and calm. No gesture is one mudra for all problems or the best mudra for overall health; mudras in yoga and their benefits differ, and learning how to practice mudras well matters more than knowing many. Our mudras page works as an illustrated guide to mudras, with all hand mudras and their benefits.
धर्मचक्र मुद्रा (Dharmachakra Mudra) — हिंदी में: इसका अर्थ है "धर्म का चक्र घुमाने की मुद्रा"। सारनाथ में अपने पहले उपदेश के समय बुद्ध इसी मुद्रा में दिखाए जाते हैं। दोनों हाथ छाती के सामने लाएँ, दोनों में तर्जनी और अंगूठे का गोला बनाएँ, दायीं हथेली बाहर की ओर और बायीं हथेली छाती की ओर रखें, और दोनों गोलों को मिलाएँ। 5–15 मिनट धीरे साँस लें। यह शिक्षा, अध्ययन और चिंतन की मुद्रा है।
More mudras
Frequently asked questions
What does Dharmachakra mudra mean?
It means "gesture of the wheel of Dharma". It shows the Buddha giving his first sermon at Sarnath, which Buddhists call setting the wheel of Dharma in motion.
How do you do Dharmachakra mudra?
Hold both hands at the heart. Make a thumb-and-index circle with each hand, turn the right palm out and the left palm in, and let the two circles touch.
Where is the famous Buddha in Dharmachakra mudra?
The best-known example is the 5th-century seated Buddha from Sarnath, now in the Sarnath Museum in Uttar Pradesh, India.
What are the benefits of Dharmachakra mudra?
It is traditionally used for teaching, study and reflection. It is a spiritual and symbolic gesture; there is no research on health effects.
What does the Dharmachakra wheel represent?
The wheel represents the Buddha's teaching. Its eight spokes stand for the Noble Eightfold Path.
What is the difference between Dharmachakra and Vitarka mudra?
Vitarka uses one raised hand with a thumb-and-index circle, the gesture of discussion. Dharmachakra uses both hands, with the two circles touching at the heart.
Mudras are a traditional practice for focus and relaxation. Research on specific health effects is limited; use them alongside, not instead of, medical care.