The bhumisparsha-mudra of the Buddha relates to the event of his enlightenment. It is stated that when Shakyamuni had seated himself under the sacred Bodhi-tree with a strong resolution that he would not vacate it until the attainment of complete enlightenment (Bodhi); Mara, the demon tempter or evil-god raised the question of his worthiness and attacked him along with his army with weapons and temptations. The purpose of Mara was to prevent Siddhartha from total enlightenment, but he could not hurt or sway him from his chosen path. Finally, Siddhartha brushed the surface of his body with his right hand and then touched the earth with his fingertips, calling on the earth goddess to be witness to the countless compassionate deeds he had performed and the merit he had accumulated over his previous life times, thereby attesting to his right to reach final and complete enlightenment. The earth goddess thereafter appeared as eyewitness for his countless compassionate deeds and attested his right strongly to reach complete enlightenment. The evil forces were then conquered. It is said that by this gesture, the Buddha Shakyamuni destroyed all the demons of the earth.
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