Night Eight · See Her
Look at the Hands That Hold Nothing.
Veda kept looking.
One open palm faced outward.
The other reached gently downward.
They were not carrying weapons.
They were not holding objects.
But they were not doing nothing.
Veda:This hand looks like it is saying ‘stop.’
Ammomma smiled.
Ammomma smiled.
Ammomma:Or perhaps, you do not have to be afraid.
Golu Girl looked at the other hand.
Golu Girl looked at the other hand.
Akka:And that one?
Ammomma:That is a gesture of giving.
Veda looked from one hand to the other.
Veda looked from one hand to the other.
Mahagauri’s open hands are traditionally shown in two gestures.
Abhaya is associated with reassurance and freedom from fear.
Varada is associated with giving or bestowing.
They are different gestures.
But both turn outward—
toward the one who is looking.
Some hands speak without holding anything.
So far, we have been looking at Mahagauri’s hands. Now another question begins to appear. If one hand reassures and another offers— what happens on our side of the gesture? We do not answer yet. We carry the question forward.
Is it easier for you to give—or to receive?