The Meaning Behind The Dispelling Fear Pose Of The Buddha


by Rob Mabry - Date: 2010-01-04 - Word Count: 421 Share This!

The Abhaya Mudra is referred to as the "pose of dispelling fear."   It is the Sanskrit word 'fearlessness' and this pose or mudra is one of the most common Buddha statue poses.   It symbolizes peace and protection and is believed to create energy that removes fear and doubt. This pose is achieved by extending the right arm. In the dispelling fear mudra, the palm of the hand faces out at shoulder height and the arm is slightly bent.

As a Buddhist symbol of fearlessness, it emphasizes the spiritual power of the bodhisattva or Buddha who makes it.  A bodhisattva is an enlightened being who has embraced Buddhahood. The gesture can also be considered symbolic of friendship as the empty hand is devoid of weapons.  The position is often misinterpreted by Westerners as an indication to "stop, but" it really courage in the face of danger.  

The Abhaya Mudra is believed to be the gesture that the Buddha Shakyamuni made after gaining enlightenment.  Tales from the Buddhist religion pipe often tell of the Buddha's use of the dispelling fear pose to pacify potential enemies. Only a Buddha statue or bodhisattva sculpture would be seen in the dispelling fear pose, as it is only useful to those who have achieved enlightenment. 

In Laos and Thailand, the dispelling fear pose is most commonly seen in images of Buddha in a standing position.This mudra is most identified with the fifth Dyhani Buddha, Amoghasiddhi.  The five Dyhani Buddhas are the 5 wisdom Buddhas or great Buddhas who symbolize the essence of the Buddhist philosophy.

They are often represented as the cardinal directions - North, South, East, West and then Center .   Those wishing to remove negative feelings like jealousy and emphasize one's own accomplishments.  Since jealousy can be considered a form of the fear, the use of the pose makes sense.In most statues of Buddha in the dispelling fear pose the right hand assumes the Abhaya Mudra while the left hand hangs at the Buddha side.

Sometimes the left-hand makes the varada mudra, a gift-giving gesture.  The dispelling fear pose can also be interpreted as the action of preaching in some Buddhist art.  This is most common in Chinese and Gandhara Buddha interpretations.  

Display of a Buddha statue in the dispelling fear pose can have many purposes within the home beyond Asian decor.  It's most obvious use is as a symbol of protection and safety.  It also reminds us of the value of of inner strength and the need to emphasize our spiritual journey to eliminate doubt and fear.

Related Tags: mudra, asian decor, buddha statue, dispelling fear, buddha statues, buddah statue

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