Monday 10 August 2015


Mudras – expressive hand gestures

Our arms, with our hands at the tip, are considered to be our creative channels. Creative energy flows most abundantly from our heart center through our arms, culminating in the potential to create and heal through our palms and fingers. We experience the healing/creative potential in our own hands through myriad daily activities such as writing, cooking, painting, etc. and touching someone with love and care goes a long way.
In Yoga and in Indian dance, mudras are considered to be seals of energy, creating a Nero-connection in the body that facilitate transition of energy. Hand gestures are both a way to trigger movement of physical energy into spiritual consciousness, as well as capturing the audience attention and telling the story of the dance.









In BHARATANATYAM, MUDARS are classified as 3 types:

Asamyukta Hasta – Single hand Mudras – 28 Prakar (gestures)
Samyukta Hasta – Joint hand Mudras – 24 Prakar (gestures)
Nrutya Hasta – “Pure Dance” Mudras (Select few out of the above categories).
This Mudra system is derived from the Abhinaya Darpana by Nandikeshavara. Below is a list of the Asamyukta and Samyukta Hasta Mudras 

1)Asamyukta Hasta Mudras (Single Hand):

Pataka- Flag
Tripataka – Three parts of a flag
Ardhapataka – Half flag
Kartarimukha – Scissors face
Image result for dance bharatanatyam mudrasMayura – Peacock
Ardhachandra – Half moon
Arala – Crooked
Sukhatunda – Parrot’s Beak
Mushti – Fist
Shikhara – Spire
Kapittha – Wood apple
Kataka Mukha – Type of bird
Suchi – Needle
Image result for dance bharatanatyam mudrasChandrakala – Dark moon
Padmakosha – Half open lotus flower
Sarpashirsha – Serpent head
Mrigashirsha – Dear head
Simhamukha – Lion Face
Kangula – Bulb
Alapadma – Fully open lotus flower
Chatura – Smart /Square
Bramhara – Bee
Hamsasaya – Wild Goose or Swan
Hamsapakshya – Wild Goose or Swan’s wing
Samdamsa – Firefly
Mukula – flower bud
Tamrachuda – Rooster
Trishula – Trident (Emblem of Shiva)

2)Samyukta Hasta Mudras (Joint Hand):

Anjali – Salutation
Kapota – Dove
Karkata – Crab
Swastika – Cross
Dola – Swing
Pushpaputa – Flower casket
Utsanga – Embrace
Shivalinga – Masculine principal
Katakavardhana – Link of increase
Kartariswastika – Crossed arrows
Shakata – Cart
Shankha – Conch shell
Chakra – Wheel
Samputa – Casket
Pasha – Noose
Kilaka – Bond
Matsya – Fish
Kurma – Turtle
Varaha – Wild boar
Image result for dance bharatanatyam mudrasGaruda – Eagle
Nagabandha – Serpent tie
Khatva – Cot
Bherunda – Two-headed bird / pair of birds
Avahita – Holding things

Image result for dance bharatanatyam mudras 





Image result for dance bharatanatyam mudras 







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