Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c74.s3.23

v2.c74.s3.23

**Cinmudrā** :—It is described by Rao thus-‘the tips of the thumb and the forefinger are made to touch each other, so as to form a circle, the other fingers being kept open. ‘The plam of the hand is made to face the front’. ‘The hand in this pose is usually raised upwards near the breast and it appears that this is the exact counterpart of jñāna-mudrā’—Bannerjea. This mudrā is adopted when an explanation or exposition is being given, hence it is also called Vyākhyāna-mudrā and Sandarśana-mudrā. Illustrations :—1. The extreme right section of a large panel in the cave temple of Rameśvara at Ellora depicts Subrahmaṇya teaching his father Śiva the significance of Om; the right hand of polycephalous god is shown in the Vyākhyāna pose, a rosary being shown in the palm; 2. The two-armed figure of Nara in the Deogarh relief just referred to, shows his right hand in the same pose, a rosary being also placed in the hand. 3. ‘One of the earliest representations of a teacher expounding his lessons or doctrines is to be found at Bharhut where the sage Dīrghatapasvī is shown in the attitude of instructing his pupils’—Bannerjea.