Photo Gallery
Video Gallery
Hand Gesures
Hand Gestures
(Nritta hastas or Hasta Bhedas)
As we understand Bharatanatyam better, we shall see that the whole body is used to express and reach out to the audience. The gestures using one or two hands are an important part of this expression. Just take some time and think of what gesture you would use for following situations:
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
Obviously, we have used some gesture or the other to express the above. So hand gestures are a basic mode of communication. Gesture is a symbolic action by which a thought, a feeling or intention is expressed. Nritta hastas are a very integral part of any classical Indian dance. These hastas are more or less common for all the classical dances.
In Bharatanatyam, hand gestures are used both in Nritta and Nritya in Bharatanatyam, hand gestures are divided into two categories:
- Asamyukta Hasta –That which is done with one hand or single hand gestures. They are 32 in number.
- Samyukta Hasta - That which is done using both hands and double hand gestures. They are 23 in number.
Each hand gestures have many applications or Viniyogas which are described in Sanskrit Slokas of the natayashastra. For eg. Tripataka used in the Nattu Adavu is used to represent a crown, tree, thunder, applying Tilak etc. The interpretation of the gesture is based on the context in which it is used.
Samayukta Hastas or Double Hand Gestures in Bharatanatyam
Samyukta Hastas are also called as double hand gestures or combined hand gestures. Unlike Asamyukta hastas, these gestures require use of both the palms to convey the message or a particular meaning. For example the Anjali Mudra is a simple gesture where both the palms are joined to mean a Namskara or to imply salutations. I have also put some images of double hand gestures. Each gesture has its own uses which are termed as Viniyoga. Mentioned below are some names and image formats of these Hasta mudras:
|
1. Anjali 2. Kapotam 3. Karkatam 4. Swastikam 5. Dola 6. Pushpaputam 7. Utsangam 8. Shivalingam 9. Kataka-vardhanam 10. Kartari-swastikam 11. Shakatam 12. Shankha 13. Chakram 14. Pasha 15. Kilaka 16. Samputa 17. Matsya 18. Kurma 19. Varaha 20. Garuda 21. Nagabhandham 22. Katava 23. Bherunda |
|
Asamyukta Hasta or Single Hand Gesture
Asamyukta hastas are done using single hand. The Natyshastra mentions about 28 Mudras i.e. up to Trishula Mudra. There are four new mudra added to this list i.e. 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 Abhinayadarpanam. Following are the list of all the Single hand Gestures:
|
|
