Decoding Bharata Natyam - The Hand Gestures Part I – Asamyukta Hastas

Using your hands to communicate is one of the oldest forms of communication. In the Vedic age, hands were used to recite mantras. In dance, each hand gesture or “mudra” has a particular divine origin. A common example can be the “Abhaya Hasta” that is known across religions all over the world as a gesture of protection. The Hindu deities, Jesus, Buddha, Mahavir – to name a few, all have one hand positioned in front of them in a gesture of protection and blessing.

We Indians greet each other with joined palms or namaskar  – a mudra known as “Anjali” in dance. So you see, the hands translate conscious thought to the universe.

Types of Hand Gestures/Hasta Bhedas

The Abhinaya Darpana cites two major types of mudras – Asamyukta (Single Hand) and Samyukta (Double Hand).

There are twenty eight Asamyukta Hastas:

1. 1.       Pataka
2. 2.       Tripataka
3. 3.       Ardha Pataka
4. 4.       Kartari Mukha
5. 5.       Mayura
6. 6.       Ardha Chandra
7. 7.       Arala
8. 8.       Shuka Tunda
9. 9.       Mushti
10. 10.   Shikhara
11. 11.   Kapitha
12. 12.   Kataka Mukha
13. 13.   Suchi
14. 14.   Chandra Kala
15. 15.   Padma Kosha
16. 16.   Sarpa Shirsha
17. 17.   Mriga Shirsha
18. 18.   Simha Mukha
19. 19.   Langula
20. 20.   Alapadma
21. 21.   Chatura
22. 22.   Bhramara
23. 23.   Hamsasya
24. 24.   Hamsa Paksha
25. 25.   Samdamsa
26. 26.   Mukula
27. 27.   Tamra Chuda
28. 28.   Trishula

Pataka or Flag: 

Bend the thumb to touch the fingers. Hold other fingers together and extended.

Origin: Brahma greeted Parabrahma by saying “victory!” abd held his hand like a flag. This has since been known as pataka.

Usage Examples: Beginning of a dance, forbidding something, flag, sword and so on.

Tripataka:

From Pataka, bend the third finger.

Origin: Lord Indra lifted his weapon Vajra using the Pataka hand but leaving out the third finger.

Usage Examples: A crown, tree, thunderbolt, weapon, fire flames and so on.

Ardhapataka:

From Tripataka, bend the little finger.

Origin: Unknown

Usage Examples: Sprouts, small knife, tower, horn, and so on.

Kartari Mukha:

From Ardhapataka, bend the forefinger and little finger.

Origin: When Sashanka Sekhara went to slay Jalandha, the Rakshasha, he drew a circle with his forefinger in the center of the earth.

Usage Examples: Separation of husband and wife, to show eyes, lightning, falling, creeper and so on.

Mayura:

From Kartari Mukha, join the third finger to the thumb and extend the other fingers.

Origin: Unknown

Usage Examples: Peacock, Vulture, creeper, tilak (auspicious mark on the forehead), sprinkling water, wiping tears, and so on

Ardha Chandra:

From Pataka hand, stretch out the thumb.

Origin: Shiva took the moon as an ornament. Understanding his desire for an ornament in the shape of a flower, the moon became the half moon.

Usage Examples: moon, catching by the throat, begging plate, waist, and so on.

Arala:

From the Pataka hand, bend the first finger.

Origin: Indra tok Arjuna to slay the rakshashas who were causing havoc in the heavens. Some rakshashas hid under the ocean and could not be caught. The Gods then approached Sage Agastya for help and while Arjun waited on the shore, Agastya drank the seven seas to expose the hidden Rakshashas.

Usage Examples: Drinking position or nectar, and strong wind

Shukatunda:

From the Arala hand, bend the third finger.

Origin: While dancing with Shiva, Parvati used this gesture in a lover’s quarrel.

Usage Examples: Releasing an arrow, throwing a spear, ferocious.

Mushti:

Bend the four fingers together into the plam and place the thumb upon them.

Origin: Vishnu used this hand while fighting the rakshashas, Madhu and Kaitaba

Usage Examples: Immobility, grasping the hair, firmness and so on

Shikhara:

From the Mushti hand, raise the thumb.

Origin: When Shiva held the mountain meru in the center using it as a bow, he used this hand.

Usage Examples: Madana or God of Love, bow, pillar, phallus husband, and so on.

Kapitha:

From the Shikhara hand, bend the forefinger over the thumb.

Origin: Vishnu used this hand to pull the mountain Mandara while churning the ocean for nectar.

Usage Examples: Laxmi, Saraswati, milking cows, beating cymbals, and so on.

Kataka Mukha:

From Kapitha, join the thumb, forefinger and middle finger.

Origin: Shiva used this hand to instruch Kumara in archery. Alternatively, Shiva used it to instruct Parashurama in archery.

Usage Examples: Plucking flowers, to show a necklace, drawing a bow, and so on.

Suchi:

From Kataka Mukha, raise the forefinger only.

Origin: Brahma used this hand to say “I am the One”.

Usage Examples: Showing one, Parbrahma, hundred, sun, city, world, and so on.

Chandrakala:

From the Suchi hand, separate the thumb.

Origin: Unknown

Usage Examples: Crescent moon, span of an object, Ganga, and so on.

Padma Kosha:

Stretch out the fingers then bend them slightl;y, hollowing the palm to make a flower shape.

Origin: Narayana used this hand while worshipping Shiva with lotus flowers to obtain the sacred discus.

Usage Examples: Fruit, wood apple, breats, rounded, ball, and so on.

Sarpa Shirsha:

From Pataka, curve the top of the fingers.

Origin: When Vamana, the fifth avatar of Vishnu promised the Gods his protection against King Bali, he used this hand.

Usage Examples: sandal paste, snake, slowness, and so on.

Mriga Shirsha:

From Sarpa Shirsha, extend the thumb and little finger.

Origin: When Gauri decided to worship Shiva for the second time, after Madana’s death, she used this hand to draw three lines with sacred ashes.

Usage Examples: Women, cheek, makeup, drawing three lines, and so on.

Simha Mukha:

Join the middle finger and third finger to the thumb at the tips, with the rest extended.

Origin: Unknown.

Usage Examples: Sacrifice, hare, elephant, grass moving, lion, and so on.

Kangula:

From Padma kosha, bend the third finger inwards.

Origin: Shiva used this hand to make a pill out of the poison that arose from the ocean of milk.

Usage Examples:  Grapes, betel nut, breasts of a young girl, cluster of coconuts, and so on.

Alapadma:

Follow the little finger with the others, separated and curved.

Origin:  Shri Krishna used this hand to steal the freshly made butter.

Usage Examples: Full blown lotus, fruit, elephant, praise, full moon, and so on.

Chatura:

Combine the first three fingers and extend them. Curve the thumb to touch the base of the third finger.

Origin: When Garuda wanted to steal the nectar, Kashyapa used this hand to show him the way.

Usage Examples: Musk, a little, gold, copper and other metals, ghee, oil, and so on.

Bhramara:

Touch the second finger to the thumb, keeping the forefinger bent and the other finges extended.

Origin: Kashyapa used this hand to make earrings for his wife, Aditi.

Usage Examples:   A bee, parrot, wings, and so on.

Hamsasya:

Extend and separate the middle and last two fingers, joining the forefinger and thumb.

Origin: Shiva used this hand to teach the Tattva system of philosophy to the sages.

Usage Examples: Tying the mangalsutra, teaching of wisdom, string of pearls, and so on.

Hamsapaksha:

From Sarpa Shirsha, extend the little finger.

Origin: The Rishi Tandu used this hand to learn the Tandava.

Usage Examples: Showing the number six, covering, arrangement and so on.

Samdamsa:

Repeatedly open and close the Padma Kosha hand.

Origin: Unknown

Usage Examples: Giving, insect, showing the number five, and so on.

Mukula:

From Padmakosha, bring the five fingers together.

Origin: When Hanuman tried to grasp the sun, thinking it was a fruit, he used this hand.

Usage Examples: Water lily, eating, five arows of the God of Love, and so on.

Tamra Chuda:

From Mukula, bend the forefinger.

Origin: Unknown.

Usage Examples: Cock, crane, crow, and so on.

Trishula:

Bend the thumb and the little finger.

Origin: Unknown:

Usage Examples: Bel tree leaf and to show three togther.