Gesture and peculiarities of its use in Buddhist iconography

The article is devoted to Buddhist iconography, that is to mudra. Mudra is a symbolic ritual position of hands, a ritual language of gestures. In Sanskrit, the word «mudra» (literally, «seal» or «sign») is one of the forms of non-verbal communication that refers to symbolic gestures imbued with variety of spiritual senses. Mudras symbolize these or those abstract forms of teaching or feeling. They are widely used during prayers and rituals.