Abhayamudrā

Statue of the Buddha displaying the abhayamudrā (“mudra of fearlessness”), Japan.

abhayamudrā (T. skyabs sbyin gyi phyag rgya སྐྱབས་སྦྱིན་གྱི་ཕྱག་རྒྱ་; C. shiwuwei yin 施無畏印). Literally, “the mudra of fearlessness” or “mudra of protection”. A mudra typically performed with the right hand held up at shoulder height, palm facing out; it symbolizes protection, peace, and the dispelling of fear.

The Princeton Dictionary states:

This gesture is associated with Shakyamuni Buddha immediately following his enlightenment, and standing buddha images will often be depicted with this mudrā, portraying a sense of the security, serenity, and compassion that derive from enlightenment. This gesture is also commonly associated with Amoghasiddhi.

Sources

• Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University