Vara

Vara

"welfare", "mercy", "good"

Often, the connected word Varada (वरद) is used. Varada – giving good, fulfilling desires.

Vara-mudra (varada-mudra) – a gesture symbolizing the gift of grace: an open palm with the fingers down. Vara-mudra is an attribute of many Deities, especially Lakshmi, Ganapati.

In the image of Lakshmi, Devi holds left hand in varada-mudra, and the right hand in abhaya-mudra.

A list of the main mudras can be found here.