Indian Sculpture and Painting, Illustrated by Typical Masterpieces, with an Explanation of their Motives and Ideals c10.188

c10.188

The right hand of Buddha is pointing towards the earth in what is termed the "witness-bearing" gesture, referring to the legend of his temptation by Mâra, the spirit of evil, under the bodhi-tree at Gaya. When Mâra denied the good deeds in former existences through which Gautama was to attain his Buddhahood, and called upon him to prove them, he touched the earth and summoned it to bear witness for him. The earth trembled, and Mâta, the goddess, bearing in her hand a garland and riding on a tortoise, appears before them and says, "I will be thy witness!" Then, wringing her hair, a mighty flood came out from it, and swept away Mâra with all his vile myrmidons.