Shakyamuni Buddha is depicted in this mudra, symbolises the point in time at which the Buddha awakens and declares the world to be the proof of his enlightenment. It is thought that the demon Mara attempted to scare him just before he attained enlightenment by sending armies of demons and monsters, including his children, to tempt him to leave his meditation under the Bodhi tree. The demon king Mara asserted his own claim to the throne of enlightenment, but his army of demons professed to have witnessed Mara's enlightenment. After that, Mara questioned Siddhartha regarding the witness. The ground is said to have yelled, "I bear you the witness!" when the former prince extended his right hand to touch it. The demon king vanished upon hearing the roar emanating from the earth itself. The Buddha, the enlightened one, made his first appearance the next morning. Therefore, it is thought that the Bhumisparsha mudra, also known as "the earth witness" mudra, honours the Buddha's triumph against the demon King Mara's temptation.
