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

Mayura – Peacock

Ardhachandra – Half moon

Arala – Crooked

Sukhatunda – Parrot’s Beak

Mushti – Fist

Shikhara – Spire

Kapittha – Wood apple

Kataka Mukha – Type of bird

Suchi – Needle

Chandrakala – 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

Garuda – Eagle

Nagabandha – Serpent tie

Khatva – Cot

Bherunda – Two-headed bird / pair of birds

Avahita – Holding things