Karana

(祠堂)The Karana Mudra is generally a Buddhist mudra that focuses on removal of obstacles and fear and helps eradicate negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, depression, and foster positive emotions like happiness and contentment. Also known as the “gesture for warding off evil ” and called the Tao or Sword Gesture, it is said to be the most important Taoist mudra by priests to conduct rituals, deliver incantations and perform other Taoist ceremonies including consecrating Taoist statues. Many Taoist and Buddhist rituals use this mudra to cast out demons, malevolent spirits and negative energy and, purify/cleanse infected spaces and protect the Dharma against corruption. Performed by one or both hands, the thumb holds the tips of the middle and ring finger while the little and the index fingers are extended upwards or sideways. Some believe it also symbolizes the connection of heaven and earth reflecting the Taoist belief that all energies are united. In our collection we have several monks or priests on horseback using the Karana mudra.