The mandala mudra (Sanskrit: Mandala Mudra) is performed to represent the offering of the entire physical universe to the enlightened Buddhas and teachers.  Although this gesture is not actually made by the deities, it is extensively employed during the ritual visualization practice known as the ‘mandala offering’.  In this rather complex mudra the third fingers of both hands are placed back-to-back and point upwards, whilst the second and forefingers are crossed or entwined horizontally across the palms.  The thumbs are then extended across the palms to press upon the tips of the fourth fingers, and the index fingers are curved backwards to press upon the tips of the second fingers.  The two upward extended third fingers represent Mt. Meru, the crossed second and fourth fingers represent the great salt ocean surrounding Mt. Meru.  During the ritual of the mandala offering the practitioner’s rosary is often coiled within the palms and around the raised ring fingers to represent the seven ranges of golden mountains and lakes that surround Mt. Meru.

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