In the Mathura School of Art, Buddha's images are largely carved in

The Mathura School of Art, which flourished under the Kushan and Gupta periods, is renowned for its distinct Indian style using red sandstone [3]. In this school, the Buddha is most frequently depicted in the Abhaya Mudra, the gesture of fearlessness [2]. This mudra is characterized by the right hand being raised to shoulder height with the palm facing outward, while the left hand often holds the hem of the garment [2]. Early Mathura sculptures, such as the 'Katra stele' and the 'Kapardin' statues, prominently feature this gesture. While other mudras like Dhyana (meditation) and Dharmachakra (teaching) exist in Buddhist art, the Abhaya Mudra is the hallmark of the classic standing and seated Buddha figures produced in the Mathura workshops. This style emphasized fuller figures and a sense of benevolence compared to the Greco-Roman influenced Gandhara style [4].

Sources

1. [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Age of Reorganisation > THINK ABOUT IT > p. 140
2. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 6: Polity and Society in Post-Mauryan Period > Art and Literature > p. 82
3. [2] https://nationalmuseumindia.gov.in/uploads/collections/1621409820_NM_Korea%20Animation-Virtual%20Exhibition%2024%20April.pdf
4. [4] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 9: Cultural Development in South India > Architecture and Sculpture > p. 128