Prelims 2012 · archive
MediumLord Buddha’s image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture called ‘Bhumisparsha Mudra’. It symbolizes
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) Buddha’s calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Mara
In the Bhumisparsha (earth-touching) mudra the Buddha touches the ground with his right hand, calling the Earth to witness his right to enlightenment and his purity of resolve against Mara's challenge. NCERT describes the Buddha at the Mara Vijaya shown with his right hand pointing to the earth as witness.
- ✗ (a) The Earth is called as a witness to the Buddha's purity, not as a guard to stop Mara.
- ✓ (b) Touching the ground, the Buddha calls the Earth to witness his purity and resolve against Mara's temptations.
- ✗ (c) This is a reflection on impermanence, not the meaning of the gesture.
- ✗ (d) Statement (a) is wrong, so (d) fails.
Remember · Bhumisparsha mudra: right hand touching the ground, Earth as witness to the Buddha's enlightenment (Mara Vijaya).
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Ch 4 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 11 · An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Chapter 4 “According to the narrative, there is a dialogue between the Buddha and Mara, and the Buddha is shown with his right hand indicating towards earth as a witness to his generosity.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2012, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 2012: the answer shown is the one the sources above support. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·