In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, mudras are more than hand gestures; they are "seals" ( mudrā in Sanskrit) that trigger joy and channel vital energy ( prana ).

When a rampaging elephant was unleashed to kill the Buddha, he stood calm and raised his hand in the Abhaya Mudra (Gesture of Fearlessness). The beast, overcome by his compassion, stopped and bowed its head.

In Indian classical dance like Bharatanatyam , mudras are used to weave complex myths. For example, the Kataka-mukha mudra (the "link in a chain") is said to have originated when the war god Guha practiced archery before Shiva. 2. The Buddha’s Turning Points

The Dharmachakra Mudra (Turning the Wheel of Law) commemorates the moment the Buddha delivered his first teachings in Deer Park. 3. The Science of the "Five Elements"