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mudra

A symbolic hand or body gesture used in Hindu and Buddhist ritual, dance, and yoga.

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Where does the word "mudra" come from? It comes from Sanskrit mudra, and was adopted directly into English (1811).

Read the full story

Where does the word "mudra" come from? It comes from Sanskrit mudra, and was adopted directly into English (1811).

Mudra’s story begins in Sanskrit: mudra meant “seal, sign, gesture.” Meant 'seal, mark, gesture'. It reached English by 1811 as mudra. Adopted in English writing on Hindu and Buddhist ritual and yoga. Today, mudra means a symbolic hand or body gesture used in Hindu and Buddhist ritual, dance, and yoga.

  1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient mudra "seal, sign, gesture", meant 'seal, mark, gesture'.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1811 mudra "a symbolic hand gesture used in ritual and yoga", adopted in English writing on Hindu and Buddhist ritual and yoga.

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