ASAMYUKTA HASTA OR SINGLE HAND GESTURE

Asamyukta hastas are done using single hand. The Natyshastra mentions about 28 Mudras ie upto Trishula Mudra. There are four new mudra added to this list ie Kataka, Vyagraha, Ardhasuchi and Palli. These Hand Gestures are a Part of Angika Abhinaya. I shall be explaining each of these Mudras with reference to the shlokas of Abhinayadarpana. 1. Pataka 2. Tripataka 3. 4. 5. 6. Ardhapataka Kartarimukha Mayura Ardhachandra

7. Arala 8. Shukatunda 9. Mushthi 10. Shikhara 11. Kapitta 12. Katakamukha 13. Suchi 14. Chandrakala 15. Padmakosha 16. Sarpashirsha 17. Mrigashirsha 18. Simhamukha 19. Kangula 20. Alapadma 21. Chatura 22. Bhramara 23. Hamsasye 24. Hansapakshika 25. Sandamsha 26. Mukula 27. Tamrachuda 28. Trishula 29. Ardhasuchi 30. Vyagraha 31. Palli 32. Kataka

PATAKA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

Pataka means Flag. Pataka is done with all fingers held straight like the Stop sign. There should be no gap between the fingers. Following are the uses (viniyoga) of Pataka:

It says Pataka Mudra is used to denote the following ;

At the beginning of Natyarambha Clouds Forest Denial of objects Bosom night river Realm of Divinity Horse Cutting Wind To show one is going Prowess Bless Moonlight Fierce heat Pushing and opening the doors

Vibhakti Tides Entering the lane Equanimity Smearing oneself Taking oath Silence Palmarya Leaf An ideal king To show a location Sea Series of meritorious actions To address some one Step forward grasping a sword Month, Year A drizzly day A sweeping with broom

TRIPATAKA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

Tripataka means three parts of the flag. In this Mudra, all the fingers are held straight and close together like the stop sign except for the ring finger which is bent.

It says Tripataka is generally used to denote the following:

A crown A tree An arrow Thunder Lord Indras Weapon (Vajraayudha) To Apply Tilak Ketaki flower A Lamp Flames of Fire A pigeon

ARDHAPATAKA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

Ardhapataka means Half Flag. It is done by bending the little finger after doing the Tripataka.

Shloka says that Ardhapataka is used to denote the following:

Leaves A board or a Slab for writing Bank of the river To Indicate Both A knife A banner A Tower An Animal Horn

KARTARIMUKHA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

DeathA kartarimukha Mudra is done when the little finger and the ring finger is bent and pressed against the thumb. While the index finger and the Middle finger is stretched to show a scissor.

Kartarimukha is used to denote the following:

A Scissors Separation of a couple Opposition Looting To show two different things Corner of an eye Death Lightning Sleeping Falling an Weeping Creeper

MAYURA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

The ring finger and the tip of the thumb touch each other while the other fingers are held straight without any gap.

Mayura can be used to denote the following

Mayura means Peacock. It depicts a peacocks neck A Creeper A Bird Vomiting Separating the hair locks Applying Tilak on the forehead Dispersing water of the river Something Famous Discussing the Shastras

ARDHACHANDRA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

In Ardhachandra all the finger are held straight and together, except the thumb finger which is held apart. It is just like the Pataka gesture , but the thumb finger is held straight and not bent like in Pataka.

It is used to denote the following:

It denotes the eight phase of the wanning fortnight of the moon. (Half Moon) A hand seizing the throat A Spear Consecrating and bathing an image A dinning Plate source or beginning Waist contemplation Meditation prayers Touching of ones limbs Accosting ordinary people

AARALA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

It is done when the Index finger is bent while doing the Pataka Mudra. Here the index finger is bent along with the thumb, while the other fingers are held straight.

It is used to denote the following.

Drinking poison , nectar etc Violent wind

SHUKATUNDA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

When the Ring finger of the Arala mudra is bent we get Shukatunda Hasta.

Shukatunda is used to denote the following:

Shukatunda literally means a Parrots Head A shooting of an arrow A spear Remembering ones Abode Saying of Mystic things A violent mood

MUSHTHI HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

In simple words it is a closed fist position of the palm. When the four fingers are pressed closely against the palm, while, the thumb is held tightly between the palm and the other four fingers.The thumb can also be placed on the four fingers

It is used to Denote the following :

Grasping objects Combative position of the wrestlers Steady fastness of a person.

SHIKHARA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

Here all the fingers are bent and pressed against the Palm except the thumb. The thumb is raised and held erect. (like the thumbs-up Sign)

It is used to denote the following:

An Armour A Bow A Pillar Making offering to Manes Upper lips A tooth Questioning Saying No Recollection Pulling a griddle An act of embracing Sounding of Bells Drinking

KAPITTA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

While doing Shikhara mudra, bending the pointer finger and pressing it over the thumb is the Kapitta mudra.

It is used to denote the following:

Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati Milking Cows Holding Cymbals Holding Flowers at the time of making Love. Grasping the end of the robes Offering Insense or Light Collyrium (applying Kajal)

KATAKAMUKHA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

Katakamukha means Opening in a Bracelet. Its done by bringing together the index finger, middle finger and thumb. The ring finger and the little finger are raised at angles as shown.

Katakamukha is generally used to express the following

Plucking or picking flowers Holding a necklace or a garland Pulling the bow string Talking and Seeing To show preparing a paste of sandal or musk Offering Beetle leaves

SUCHI HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

The Middle finger, Ring finger and Little finger is pressed against the thumb, while the forefinger is held straight.

It is used to denote the following

A Neddle Number one The Supreme soul One hundred The Sun A City The world Saying like that or that which Lonliness Threatening Growing slim A rod Body Astonishment Matted locks An Umbrella

Capability Hair Beating Drums A potters wheel Circumference of a wheel Declining of the Day Enquiry

CHANDRAKALA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

Chandrakala means Digit of the Moon. Release the thumb in Suchi Mudra and hold it straight (like in Shikhara gesture).

It is used to denote the following

Moon Face Objects of the similar shape Extent between the thumb and the Index finger The crescent on Lord Shivas Head The Ganga river A club (weapon)

PADMAKOSHA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

All the fingers are stretched and slightly brought closer to form Padmakosha.

Padmakosha is used to denote the following:

Indicate fruits such as wood-apple and Bel (Bel is a native of India. From time immemorial it has been regarded as a medicinal herb. It is round in shape and resembles a wood-apple. It is of the normal ballsize. It is sweet in taste. It contains a lot of seeds.)

Bosoms of women Circular movement Ball Cooking pot Bell Bunch of flowers Hibiscus Ant-hill Lotus Egg Taking meals Mango Flower bud Scattering of Flowers

SARPASHIRSHA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

This mudra is like the snakes hood. When the Hand is held in Pataka Mudra and the fingers are bend from the tip to form a hollowed palm we get Sarpashirsha Mudra.

This Mudra is used to denote the following.

A Snakes Hood Sandal Paste Middle tone Sprinkling Nourishing Giving water to Gods and sages Moving to and fro Movement of protrusion of Elephants head Show the Arms of wrestlers

MRIGASHIRSA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

Fingers are bent from the knuckles except for the little finger and the thumb which is held straight.

It is used to denote the following:

A Deers head Lord Krishna (when held with both hands) Womens cheek A Wheel Fears Quarrel Costume or dress Tripundraka made on the forehead (Tilak on lord Shivas forehead) A lute Massage on the feet Female reproductive organ Holding Umbrella Stepping and calling the beloved

SIMHAMUKHA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

When the middle finger and the ring finger press against the thumb, while the other fingers are held straight we get the Simhamukha Hasta. Simhamukha means Lion -faced. In the Hindu Mythology lord Narashimha Murthy (an incarnation of Vishnu) has the face of a Lion. He is Known as the Great Protector of his Devotees .

The shloka says that this hasta can be used to denote :

A fire Sacrifice (Homa or Havan) A Rabbit Elephant Movement of darbha grass. This grass is used by the pujari to make rings and worn during the time of pooja to sprinkle holy water. It is regarded as sacred and is a must for all Hindu rituals. It is also called as Kusha or Munja. Garland made of lotus Face of a Lion Preparation of Medicine by physicians

KANGULA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

In kangula, the ring finger in bent while the other fingers are stretched out.

Kangula Mudra can be used to denote the following

To represent Lakuca fruit Bell Bells worn by children Chakora bird Betel-nut tree The bosoms of young maiden White Lilly flower Coconut Caataka bird. (Skylark)

ALAPADMA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

Alapdma means Fully Bloomed Lotus. Here the fingers are held in such a manner as if to ask why. The little finger points up and thereafter the other fingers follow.

Alapadma is used to express the following:

A fully bloomed Lotus To show fruits such as Apple Circular movement Bosom A full Moon Hair knot Show Beauty Separation from dear one A Mirror A Village Cakravaka Bird High Altitudes

CHATURA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

When the thumb in Mrigashirsa mudra is held at the base of the Index, middle and ring finger we get the Chatura Hasta.

Following are the instances where Chatura can be used

To indicate lesser quantity Musk Gold Copper Iron Dampness Grief Aesthetic pleasures Eyes Difference in caste Proof Sweetness Slower gait Breaking into pieces Face Oil and ghee

BHRAMARA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

When the Index finger in the Katakamukha mudra, is placed in between the middle finger and the thumb we get the Bhramara mudra. The Index finger can also be curled and placed. Bhramara looks like a Bee and thus it is called Bee shaped.

It says that Bhramara can be used to denote

A Bee A Parrot A Wing A Heron A Cuckoo Some other birds

HAMSASYE HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

In Hamsasye the Thumb and the Index finger touch each other at the tips, while the other fingers are straight, separated and stretched. Hamsasye means a Swans Beak.

It states Hamsasye Mudras can be used to denote:

An auspicious occasion or festival Tying thread Ascertaining the imparted instructions Horripilation (Romancha) Pearl Light a lamp A touchstone (stone meant to test gold) Flowers like Jasmine To draw picture Impeding the current of water.

HANSAPAKSHIKA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

While in the Mrigashirsha mudra only the thumb is bent along with the other fingers.

It is used to denote the following :

Swans wing Number six Construction of a bridge Engraving with nails and covering

MUKULA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

Mukula means a Bud. When all the five finger are brought together and touch each other at the tip, we get the Mukula hasta.

This sloka talks about the various uses of Mukula. It can denote the following :

A lily flower Eating Manmatha with his arrows. (God of love or the churner of hearts) Holding the Signet Navel Flower or a Bud

TAMRACHUDA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

When the Index finger of the Suchi Mudra is bent, we get the Tamrachuda hasta. Also while the doing the Mukula hasta, if the Index finger is held like a question mark, we get the Tamrachuda. Tamrachua means a Cock or a Cocks head.

This shloka says that tamrachuda can denote :

A Rooster, Cock A birds head A Heron, Crane A Crow A Camel A Calf A pen that is used to engrave.

TRISHULA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

In Sanskrit Tri means three and Shula means a spear. Thus Trishula is a kind of spear with Three sharp points rather than one. It is one of the popular symbols of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is called also as Trishula Dhara ie one who holds the Trishula. When the Thumb and the little finger are bent or meet each other, while the Index, Middle and the ring finger are held straight. This Gesture looks like the weapon Trishula.

The shloka says that Trishula Mudra can be used to denote :

A holy trinity (Brahma, Vishnu , Mahesh) Or an Idea of Three Bilva leaves ( A holy leaf used to worship lord Shiva)

ARDHASUCHI HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

If in the Kapitta gesture, the Index finger is kept straight and the thumb is slightly moved up, we get Ardhasuchi hand gesture.

It says that Ardhasuchi is used to denote 1. Sprouts

2. Chicks or small ones of the birds 3. Big Worms

VYAGRAHA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

When the hands are held like paws of a tiger we get Vyagraha Hasta.

Shloka says that such a gesture is used to denote 1. A Tiger

2. A frog 3. An Ape 4. Nacre. Nacre is crystalline aragonite or calcium carbonate. Shellfish and mollusks excrete it when they are exposed to a parasite or a foreign body introduced into a shell. Nacre is Known for its shine and iridescence, and its coating on shells is called mother of pearl.

KATAKA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

While in the Simhamukha hand gesture, the Middle finger and the ring finger is bent to form an arch. Also the thumb is slightly bent. Thus a C shape is formed with the Middle finger, Ring finger and the thumb. The other fingers are Erect.

This Hasta can be used to denote:

A Bracelet Holding of Dumro (drums) by lord Nataraja. An Animal head.

SANDAMSHA HAND GESTURE (MUDRA)

Sandamsha involves closing and opening of fingers. It means all the finger get closer touching each other at the tip and then open up separating.

Lets study the viniyogas Samdamsha hasta :

Sandamsha means a Pincer. (It is also called as Chimta or Pakkad in some parts of India) A belly Offerings made to deities Wound Worms To show number five To show great anxiety Worship