always depicted with very long earlobes. This is attributed to his earlier life as a prince, weighed down by material possession, but has since come to symbolize wisdom. Posture and dress The Buddha may be depicted in one of four postures: Sitting: If seated, the Buddha may be shown in one of three different positions In the "heroic posture" (vīrāsana), with the legs folded over each other In the "adamantine posture" (vajrāsana; also known as "lotus position"), with the legs crossed so that the soles of both feet are turned up In the position of a person sitting in a chair (pralambanāsana) Standing: If standing, the Buddha may be shown either with his feet together, or with one foot forward Walking Reclining: The reclining posture may represent the Buddha resting or sleeping, but more usually represents the mahāparinabbāna: the Buddha's final state of enlightenment before his death The Buddha is nearly always depicted wearing a monastic robe, of the type worn by Buddhist monks today. The robe may be shown as worn in the "covering mode" (draped over both shoulders) or in the "open mode" (leaving the right shoulder and breast uncovered). The robe is a representation of the Buddha's humility. (Gautama was originally a prince, who renounced the world to seek enlightenment, and his original robe was made from the shroud of a corpse.) The robe is sometimes shown as diaphanous, transparent or billowing mysteriously, suggesting the spiritual power emanating from the Buddha. Buddha images are often draped with real robes, which are renewed periodically, usually at major festivals. The Buddha may also be shown wearing royal attire, but this is uncommon. Hand gestures The most important aspect of the iconography of the Buddha is gestures made with the hands, known as mudrā. These gestures have meanings which are known throughout the Buddhist world, and when combined with the postures described above, give a complete representation, usually associated with a particular incident in the life of the Buddha. The six mudrā associated with the Buddha are: Touching the earth (Bhūmiśparṣa mudrā) (มารวิชัย; pang maa-rá-wí-chai): the right arm rests on the right thigh with the fingers pointing downwards, but not always touching the earth (as can be seen in the image at the top of this page). The left hand rests in the dhyāna mudrā position in the Buddha's lap. This mudrā is called in Pāḷi and Sanskrit "calling the