In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: Vaisnava Agamas And Visnu Images

Āhūyavarada (आहूयवरद) or Āhūyavaradahasta refers to the “hand gesture of invitation and charity” and represents one of the various hand-poses (hastas or mudrās) defined in treatises such as the Pāñcarātra, Pādmasaṃhitā and Vaikhānasa-āgamas, extensively dealing with the technical features of temple art, iconography and architecture in Vaishnavism.—Āhūyavarada-hasta almost resembles the siṃhakarṇa-mudrā. This gesture indicate both the invitation (āhvāna) and charity (varada). Liebert states that this resembles kaṭaka-mudrā but which displays a quarter of the degree of turning shown therein o that the upper side of the hand is turned upwards. Thus, it has much the same meaning a the varada-mudrā, though not resembling that hand pose.

This Āhūyavarada gesture is found in the sculpture of South India alone. The hand is displayed palm outward. turned towards the worshipper with the fingers raised. In many icons, this gesture is shown on the left side, balancing abhaya-mudrā on the right. This is typical in south Indian sculpture especially of Pallava and their contemporaries viz. Pandiya, Muttaraiyars and Atiyas.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Ahuya, Varada.

Full-text: Varadamudra.

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