Many famous mudras serve as "shorthand" for the most pivotal moments in the life of Siddhartha Gautama.
On the night of his enlightenment, the demon Mara challenged the Buddha's right to his seat. The Buddha touched the ground with his right hand—the Bhumisparsha Mudra —calling the Earth goddess to witness his lifetimes of merit. The Earth trembled in response, and Mara was defeated.
The Dharmachakra Mudra (Turning the Wheel of Law) commemorates the moment the Buddha delivered his first teachings in Deer Park. 3. The Science of the "Five Elements"