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UPSC 2012: Lord Buddha's image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture called ‘Bhumisparsha Mudra’. It symbolizes
(a)Buddha's calling of the Earth to watch over Māra and to prevent Māra from disturbing his meditation
(b)Buddha's calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Māra
(c)Buddha's reminder to his followers that they all arise from the Earth and finally dissolve into the Earth, and thus this life is transitory
(d)Both the statements (a) and (b) are correct in this context
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Not attemptedCorrect Answer: (b) Buddha's calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Māra
In the bhūmisparśa (‘earth-touching’) mudrā the Buddha touches the earth to call the Earth-goddess as witness to his past merits and purity when Māra tries to tempt or challenge him during meditation. It is an ‘earth-witness’ gesture, not a general reminder of impermanence. Hence only statement (b) correctly explains the symbolism. ([metmuseum.org](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/38317?utm_source=openai))
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct answer to this UPSC 2012 Art & Culture question?▼
The correct answer is option (b): Buddha's calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Māra. Watch the detailed video explanation in our Sherlocking Prelims course on UnlockIAS.
Which year was this Sculpture & Iconography question asked in UPSC Prelims?▼
This question was asked in UPSC CSE Prelims 2012, GS Paper 1, as Question 72. It falls under Art & Culture > Sculpture & Iconography.
What is the difficulty level of this UPSC question?▼
This question is rated "easy". It tests basic recall and most well-prepared aspirants should answer it correctly.
How many UPSC Prelims questions have been asked from Sculpture & Iconography?▼
UPSC has asked 8 questions from Sculpture & Iconography (under Art & Culture) across multiple years. Visit the topic page to see the full list and year-wise trends.