Vajrahūmkāra Mudrā
Strength Gesture
Saunders p. 114 Vajrahūmkāra Mudrā or Basara Mudrā
zhuànyuē luóhōng jīngāng yìn 䌸曰罗吽金钢印 縳曰羅吽金鋼印
This gesture, sometimes called the “diamond mudrā,” is made by closing both hands into fists (with the thumbs inside) and crossing the wrists in front of the chest. Although there are variants, usually the palm side of the wrist faces away from the body, and the right arm is closer to the chest than the left arm. (Sometimes the palms face in and the left arm is closer to the chest.)
Sometimes the right hand holds a vajra or stylized thunderbolt (symbolizing a method or path [or for that matter a thunderbolt or the male principle] and the left a ghaṇṭā or bell (symbolizing purpose or wisdom (or the female principle), although these objects may be left to the imagination. The two together are taken to mean path and purpose, here united. The gesture represents diamond-like strength and even great anger (!) in the cause of conquering error and illusion.
