Statue of buddha gesture of absence of fear, of protection 35 cm

abhaya-mudrā: gesture of absence of fear, of protection

The right hand is raised, palm turned outwards, fingers are stretched upwards.

A symbol of protection and fearlessness, this mudrā evokes the episode in which the Buddha was attacked by a furious elephant in the streets of Rajagriha. The animal, renowned for its bad character, came from the stables of Ajatasatru, king of Magadha; he had been intoxicated at the instigation of Devadatta, the "bad cousin" of the Buddha, who wanted to murder him ... But the elephant, arrived before the Master, was subjugated by his serenity, stopped dead and knelt down before him to pay him homage.

This gesture is also attributed to Buddha of the past Dīpaṃkara and Buddha-jina Amoghasiddhi.