འཕགས་པ་འཇམ་དཔལ་གྱ་རྩ་བའ་རྒྱད 353

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the kuṣmāṇḍas and so forth, the piśitāśas, all the ḍākinīs,²³³⁹ the vyantaras, the kaśmalas, and others. If one forms four fingers into hooks, this is the mudrā of all the kaśmalas.

“One performs summoning with the mudrās of summoning, and dismissing with the mudrās of dismissing.²³⁴⁰ If one employs one’s own mind, one will accomplish all activities. Using only these mudrās according to need, one can combine them only with the mantras assigned to them. One must not use other [mudrās], or perform activities other than [those assigned to these mudrās]. One can only employ a mantra with whatever mudrās they are designated to.

“These mudrās, blessed by all the buddhas,
Must not be used in a transgressive way.
Through merely beholding the mudrā,
No being will be capable of feeling anger.²³⁴¹

“Those who use the mudrās transgressively will perish. By violating a mudrā one breaks one’s samaya and transgresses against all the vidyās. The violator will certainly fall into the Raurava or Avīci hell. Creators of obstacles will fall deep down into one of the great hells. Those, on the other hand, who keep their samayas regarding the mudrās will experience long-lasting great happiness, will be reborn in the gods’ realms, and will certainly progress toward the final goal of awakening.

“In short, many different types of mudrās have been taught by the primordial buddhas and the bodhisattvas of great power. It is impossible for any being to fathom, enumerate, or learn them.

“Briefly, there is in the family of the Victorious One a single-syllable mantra, the vidyārāja, the cakravartin.²³⁴² Its corresponding mudrā, used for protection,²³⁴³ is formed as follows: First one should make the left and right hands into fists, except for the middle fingers, which should be extended forth together, each bent at the first joint.²³⁴⁴ As for the index fingers, each should be bent at both joints and touch the other at the fingernail. [Their tips] should be above the fingernails of the thumbs.