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Questions Regarding the Word Mudra: A Preliminary Survey of Gestures on Indian Icons and their Designation
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Fig. 11: The God Heruka
11th century
India: Bengal
Gilt copper alloy
6 ¼ in (15.9 cm).
Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
The Buddhist tantric deity is dancing, with two hands crossed in front; right holds ghanta or bell, left holds vajra or thunderbolt, in the gesture called vajrahuṁkara, thunderbolt-and-making-a-hum-sound. In the catalog, Pal notes some minor differences of this sculpture from the description of the deity in the Sādhanamāla.