A Mudra is a symbolic hand gesture used in Hindu and Buddhist iconography, performing arts, and spiritual practice, including yoga, dance, drama and tantra.
There are a total of 28 mudras in the Abhinaya Darpan or the The Mirror of Gesture. It mentions that the dancer should sing the song by the throat, express the meaning of the song through hand gestures, show the state of feelings by eyes and keep track of the time with feet. From the Natya Shastra, the ancient Hindu treatise on the performing arts written by sage Bharata, this quotation is often taught to Indian classical dancers:

Translation
Where the hands are, the eyes follow
Where the eyes are, the mind follows
Where the mind goes, there is expression
Where this is expression, mood is evoked
Understanding the dance mudras and executing them correctly is a part of building yourself as a powerful performer. Each finger in our hand plays an important role in reciting the story of dance. So let us first begin with naming our fingers.

- ANGUSTHA: Thumb
- TARJANI: Fore Finger
- MADHYUMA: Middle Finger
- ANAMIKA: Ring Finger
- KANISHTHA: Little Finger
Mudras in Odissi Dance are divides in four parts as follow:
Asamyukta Hasta Mudra – Single hand Mudras – 28 Prakar (types)
Samyukta Hasta Mudra– Joint hand Mudras – 23 Prakar (types)
Nrutya Hasta Mudra – 17 Prakar “Pure Dance” Mudras (Select few out of the above categories).
Parampara Hasta Mudra – 10 Prakar- Traditional Mudras commonly used for easy understanding
Asamyukta Hasta
Single hand Mudras – 28 Prakar
These hand gestures are shown on single hand or on both hands separately
- 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 (1,2 & 3)– 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)
Samyukta Hasta Mudras
Conjunctive Hand Gestures – 23 Prakar
These hand gestures are shown with both the hands joined together
- 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
Nrutya Hasta Mudra
These are hand gestures or pure dance mudras that are frequently used during performances. They are a collection of some Asumyukta and Sumyukta Hasta Mudras.
- Pataka
- Ardhapatak
- Mayura
- Hansasya
- Chatura
- Ardhachandra
- Alapadma
- Katakamukha
- Suchi
- Sikhara
- Kapitha
- Sukachanchu
- Anjali
- Swastika
- Karkata
- Dolahasta
- Puspaputa
Parampara Hasta Mudra
Parampara Hasta Mudras are traditional Mudras commonly used during dance for easy understanding
- Bastra – Cloth
- Tambula – Betel (Paan)
- Puspa – Flower
- Bana – Bow
- Sukachanchu-
- Padma – Lotus
- Gabakshya – Window
- Mayura – Peacock
- Ubhaya Kartati – love and affection
- Pradeepa – Oil Lamp