The right hand gesture is in Vitarka mudra with the right hand raised to heart level with the palms facing outwards with the tip of the forefinger and thumb touching each other, the remaining three fingers, slightly bent extend upwards.

Vitarka mudra is a symbolic hand gesture that represents reasoning, discussion, or teaching. The word vitarka comes from Sanskrit and means “deliberation” or “consideration”, while mudra means “seal” or “mark”. Vitarka mudra is also known as the gesture of debate or the discussion mudra. Vitarka mudra is often seen in statues or images of Buddha, especially those depicting his first sermon at Sarnath, where he shared his wisdom and teachings with his disciples. It is believed that this gesture transmits the energy and essence of his teachings to the viewers.

Vitarka mudra is similar to gyana mudra, which is the gesture of knowledge or wisdom. The difference is that in vitarka mudra, the index finger and thumb touch to form a circle, while the other fingers are extended upwards. The circle symbolizes the flow of information and energy, while the extended fingers signify openness and receptivity.