ASMYUKTA MUDRAS
PRESENTED BY :-
DANCE DEPARTMENT
DR. POOJA MINHAS
Mudras In Dance�
The dictionary has many meanings of gesture, but this word holds special significance in the view of classical dance.
In Indian dances, in the modern age, mudra is called the gesture of hands. The word Mudra is derived from the Sanskrit verb “mud” which literally means pleasure. The words amod, pramod, etc. are also derived from this verb. The word mudra is formed by adding the suffix “ra” to it, meaning “to give”. Kathak Dance From Which State
The meaning in the scriptures is defined as the following - a hand gesture is the formation of our hands which pleases the gods and the worshiper is free from all enmity, anger, and other vices.
In ancient Indian dance scriptures, these hand gestures have also been referred to as “Hasta-abhinaya” (hasta + abhinaya). The ancient scriptures of Bharata's Natyashastra, Abhinaya Darpan, etc. have described “Hasta-abhinaya” in detail.
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Various forms of dance that have independent scriptures have elaborated on this topic keeping Bharatmuni’s knowledge as the base. In all these texts, hand gestures are considered to have the same importance as the alphabet in the language of dance. Online Kathak Dance Classes
Bharata Muni has divided hand gestures into three categories: asamyukta, samyukta, and nritta hasta. The gestures made with one hand is known as asamyukta hasta, whereas gestures made with the support of both hands is known as samyukta hasta. The hand gestures used in dance are called nritta hasta.
According to Bharata's Natyashastra, the total number of hand gestures is 64, out of which 24 are asamukyta, 13 are samyukta, and 27 are nritta hasta, while according to Abhinaya Darpan, there are 32 asamyukta hasta and 23 samyukta hasta with a total of 55 hand gestures.
Asamyukta Hasta�(Single Hand Gestures)
1. Pataka: This hand gesture is formed by keeping all fingers straight and together, and bending a thumb so that it touches the end of the index finger. It is used to show clouds, wind, door closing, etc.
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2.Tripataka: In Pataka, when the ring finger is bent, it is known as Tripataka. It is used to show the crown, or tree, etc.
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3.Ardhpataka: In Tripataka hasta, when the little finger is bent, it becomes Ardhpataka. It is used to donate leaves, flag, etc.
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4.Kartarimukh: In Ardhpataka, when the index finger and little finger are spread, it becomes Kartarimukh. It is used to indicate men and women, the corner of the eye, separation, etc.
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5.Mayur: In Kartarimukh Hasta, when the ring finger and thumb are joined, and the little finger is raised, then it is known as Mayur. It is used to denote a peacock, creeper, braid, etc
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6.Ardhchandra: In Pataka, when the thumb is stretched outward whilst separating it from other fingers, it is known as Ardhchandra. It is used to denote the moon on Janmashtami, holding someone’s neck, prayer, etc.
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7.Aral: In Pataka, when the index finger is bent, it is known as Aral hasta. It is used to denote poison, honeydew, etc.
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8.Shuktund: In Aral, when the ring finger is bent, it is known as Shuktund hasta. It is used to denote flood, wound, shock, etc.
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9.Mushti: When all four fingers are joined to form a fist and the thumb is placed on top, it is known as Mushti. It is used to denote firmness, etc.�
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10. Shikhar: In Mushti, when the thumb is raised upwards, it is known as Shikhar. It is used to denote Kamdeva, bow, determination, etc.
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11.Kapitth: In Shikhar hasta, when the first finger is bent and joined with the thumb on top, it is known as Kapitth. It is used to show Lakshmi, Saraswati, holding the aanchal (dupatta) etc.
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12. Katkamukh: In Kapitth, when the middle finger is placed alongside the index finger, it is known as Katkamukh. It is used to denote plucking flowers, a necklace, garland, etc.
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13.Soochi: In Katkamukh hasta, when the index finger is raised upright, it is known as Soochi. It is used to denote one God, the world, refusal, fact/statement, etc.�
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14. Chandrakala: In Soochi, when the thumb is stretched outward and separated from other fingers, it is known as Chandrakala. It is used to denote a crescent, Lord Shiva’s moon on the head, etc.
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15.Padmakosh: When all the fingers are spread slightly whilst remaining inwards is known as Padmakosh. It is used to denote fruit, ball, bud, etc.
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16. Sarpsheesh: In Pataka, when the fingers are bent slightly, it becomes a Sarpsheesh mudra. It is used to denote a snake, a low-frequency sound, the burning of Gods and saints, etc.
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17.Mrigasheesh: In Sarpsheesh, when the little finger and thumb is stretched upright, it becomes Mrigasheesh. It is used to denote clothes, massaging of feet, calling the lover, etc.�
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18. Sinhamukh: When the middle and ring finger are joined together with the thumb, whilst spreading the other two fingers, it becomes Sinhamukh. It is used to denote rabbit, medicines prepared by old-age doctors, etc.
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19. Kangul: In Padmakosh, when the ring finger is bent completely inwards, it is known as Kangul. It is used to denote monkey fruit, small bangles, coconut, etc.
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20. Alpadma: On spreading all fingers yet ending them slightly is the formation of Alpadma. It is used to denote a full-grown flower, asking “why”, etc.
21. Chatur: On stretching the little finger straight and making the thumb touch the bottom-most part of the ring finger is the formation of Chatur hasta mudra. It is used to denote a little but of Kasturi, proof, etc.�
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22. Bhramara: By folding the index finger completely and making the middle finger and thumb touch whilst spreading the ring and little finger, the Bharamara mudra is made. It is used to denote bee, parrot, etc.
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23. Hansaasya: In Aral hasta, when the index finger is placed on the thumb, it becomes Hansaasya. It is used to denote the light of candles, tying of thread, notice, etc.
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24. Hanspaksha: In Sarpsheesh, when the little finger is stretched and made straight, it is Hanspaksha. It is used to denote the number six, bridge, etc.
25. Sandansh: In Padmakosh, when the fingers are repeatedly opened and shut, it is Sandansh. It is used to denote sacrifice, wound, great levels of fear, etc.
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26.Mukul: On joining all the finger tips, Mukul hasta mudra is formed. It is used to denote Lotus flower, food, Kamadeva, etc.
27.Tamrachud: In Mukul, by raising the index finger whilst keeping it crooked forms the Tamrachud hasta mudra. It is used to denote chicken, camel, writing, etc.
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28. Trishool: By joining the tips of the little finger and the thumb, whilst spreading the other three fingers results in Trishool mudra. It is used to denote three-aspects, trident (trishool), etc.
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29. Vyaaghra: In the Mrigasheesh mudra, on bending the little finger and the thumb, Vyaaghra is formed. It is used to denote frog, monkey, etc.
30. Ardhsoochi: In the Kapitth hasta, on raising the index finger, is Ardhsoochi. It is used to denote seed, bird, etc.
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31. Katak: In Sandansh mudra, if the middle and ring finger are stretched straight, it is Katak mudra. It is used to denote “calling” someone, looking, walking, etc.
32. Palli: In Mayur hasta, when the index finger is placed behind the middle finger, it is known as Palli. It is used to denote a village or slum.