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abhaya mudra

The abhaya mudra (see MUDRAS) is an important

gesture in Indian iconography. In it, the right

hand is raised and opened, straight up and

facing forward (divinities with more than two

hands raise one of their right hands). Abhaya

literally means “no fear,” and the gesture indi-

cates blessing, protection, and reassurance. The

gesture is ancient and widespread and is found

in the iconography of Buddhists, Jains, and

Hindus.

The Buddha(s) and the TIRTHANKARAs are fre-

quently seen using this hand gesture. The Lord

SHIVA in his NATARAJA, or divine dancer, pose has

his upper right hand in the abhaya mudra. In

fact, this mudra may be used when any divinity

is represented in Indian dance/dramas.

Further reading: Fredrick W. Bunce, A Dictionary of

Buddhist and Hindu Iconography, Illustrated: Objects,

Devices, Concepts, Rites, and Related Terms (New Delhi:

D. K. Printworld, 1997); Eva Rudy Jansen, The Hindu

Book of Imagery: The Gods and Their Symbols (Havelte,

Holland: Binkey Kok, 1995); Margaret Stutley, An

Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography (Boston:

Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1985).

Abhedananda, Swami (1866–1939) pioneer

Hindu leader in the United States

The Indian monk Swami Abhedananda founded

the New York City Vedanta Society at the end of

the 19th century, pioneering the spread of Hindu

thought in America.

Abhedananda was born Kaliprasad Chandra

in Calcutta (Kolkata). As a teenager, he was

interested in yoga, philosophy, and the religious

life and, though quite intelligent, did not attend

college. Rather, at the age of 18 he had his first

meeting with Sri RAMAKRISHNA, who immediately

recruited the youthful Kaliprasad to his inner

circle. Kaliprasad moved into the Ramakrishna

residence at Dakshineswar, where he lived until

Ramakrishna died two years later.

Shortly after Ramakrishna’s passing, Kaliprasad

joined the other men who had gathered around

the master in taking the vows of the renounced

life (see SANNYASI), at which time he took the name

Abhedananda. He spent the next several years

in concentrated study of the Hindu holy books

and in meditation. For a brief period he left his

brother monks to wander around India.

In 1893, one of his fellow monks, Swami VIVE-

KANANDA, traveled to America to address the WORLD