abhayamudra means A Buddhist gesture of reassurance and safety, in which the right hand is held upright, and the palm is facing outwards. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.
Why “abhayamudra” is a great word
ABHAYAMUDRA — [Noun] A symbolic hand gesture in Buddhist iconography, made with the right hand raised and palm facing outward, representing reassurance, protection, and the dispelling of fear. From the Sanskrit अभय (abhaya, "fearlessness, safety") and मुद्रा (mudrā, "seal, sign, hand gesture"). Unlike the vitarka mudra, which signifies intellectual discourse, or the dhyana mudra, which denotes inward meditation, the abhayamudra is an active, outward-facing bestowal of peace. It is the stilled hand halting a stampede, the open palm quieting a child's nightmare, and the silent signal that turns a battlefield into a sanctuary—the oldest promise, made without a word, that there is nothing left to fear.
Etymology
From Sanskrit अभय (abhaya, “fearlessness”) + मुद्रा (mudrā, “sign, hand gesture”).
noun
- A Buddhist gesture of reassurance and safety, in which the right hand is held upright, and the palm is facing outwards.