palm facing upwards), and the two thumbs touching each other. Sometimes a bowl is placed above his palms. Here the meditating hand gesture represents a state of deep meditation and the unity of wisdom and compassion. Abhaya Buddha Mudra – Amoghsiddhi : Abhaya mudra represents the hand gesture of fearlessness and protection. The gesture of fearlessness and protection, usually shown as the left hand with palm turned outward and all fingers extended upwards. The symbolic meaning of the dispelling fear pose is an interpretation of the action of preaching. It is said that one gains fearlessness by following the Bodhisattva path. Images of Buddha showing him reclining, represent his Parinirvana or departure into final nirvana at death. Other times he is holding various symbolic objects, or making symbolic mudras (gestures). The clothing also varies with national styles. In East Asia it tends to follow local monastic dress, with the arms covered. In India early depictions, especially from hotter regions, such as art of Mathura, Buddha is often shown with very thin robes or topless, with most of the body uncovered, or appearing so. See also Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta Samaññaphala Sutta Mahaparinibbana Sutta Physical characteristics of the Buddha Relics associated with Buddha Leela Attitude Māravijaya Attitude Meditation Attitude Naga Prok Attitude Iconography of Gautama Buddha in Laos and Thailand Aniconism in Buddhism Knowing Buddha References Further reading Nirmal C. Sinha, Buddharupa observation of the evolution of the Buddha image, Bulletin of Tibetology, Vol. 1–3, pp. 18–22 External links Buddhist art Buddhist iconography