Name: Varun Mevada

Guide: Prof. Ravi Poovaiah

Course: Visual Communication

Illustrating Iconography of Buddhism

Mudras are a nonverbal mode of communication and self-expression, consisting of hand gestures and finger-postures. It is an external expression of ‘inner resolve’, suggesting that such non-verbal communications are more powerful than the spoken word. Mudras are thus, gestures which symbolize divine manifestation.

 

Each of the fingers, starting with the thumb, is identified with one of the five elements, namely the sky, wind, fire, water, and the earth. Their contact with each other symbolizes the synthesis of these elements. This contact between the various elements creates conditions favourable for the presence of the deity at rites performed for securing some desired objective. That is, mudras induce the deity to be near the worshiper.

This project give an emphasize on Mudras in Buddhism and through the series of posters, an attempt has been made to illustrate the deeper meaning behind these Mudras.

This series of posters aims to focus on mudras (hand gestures) shown by Buddha. It illustrates the meaning behind mudras shown at various stages of Buddha’s life. Incorporated text in the posters give details of the Mudra.

Contrasting colours are purposefully taken to show the difference between the enlightened Buddha and the people (for who his teachings became life transforming).

The process includes digital as well as traditional method. I went through a number of rough drafts to come up with the final layout.

The iterations let me chose the best from a number of options. I maintained the same process to come up with the final graphic form of the hand gestures.