Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c74.s3.22

v2.c74.s3.22

**Jñāna-Mudrā** :—Rao says, ‘the tips of the middle finger and the thumb are joined together and held near the heart, with the palm of the hand turned towards the head’. Bharhut railings typify this pose as an early example in Ajakālaka Yakṣa and other representations. The front right hand of the figure of Nārāyaṇa in the Nara-Nārāyaṇa relief at Deogarh, is its Gupta period illustration. Dhyan Budha figures of early period also illustrate this. It may be remarked that this mudrā is particularly associated with Śiva’s Dakṣiṇāmūrti and unfortunately its correct representation in early art is yet to come to light.