Hasta Bheda : Speaking Through Mudras

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

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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.

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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

1. Pataka- Flag
2. Tripataka – Three parts of a flag
3. Ardhapataka – Half flag
4. Kartarimukha – Scissors face
5. Mayura – Peacock
6. Ardhachandra – Half moon
7. Arala – Crooked
8. Sukhatunda – Parrot’s Beak
9. Mushti – Fist
10. Shikhara – Spire
11. Kapittha – Wood apple
12. Kataka Mukha (1,2 & 3)– Type of bird
13. Suchi – Needle
14. Chandrakala – Dark moon
15. Padmakosha – Half open lotus flower
16. Sarpashirsha – Serpent head
17. Mrigashirsha – Dear head
18. Simhamukha – Lion Face
19. Kangula – Bulb
20. Alapadma – Fully open lotus flower
21. Chatura – Smart /Square
22. Bramhara – Bee
23. Hamsasaya – Wild Goose or Swan
24. Hamsapakshya – Wild Goose or Swan’s wing
25. Samdamsa – Firefly
26. Mukula – flower bud
27. Tamrachuda – Rooster
28. Trishula – Trident (Emblem of Shiva)

Samyukta Hasta Mudras

Conjunctive Hand Gestures – 23 Prakar

These hand gestures are shown with both the hands joined together

1. Anjali – Salutation
2. Kapota – Dove
3. Karkata – Crab
4. Swastika – Cross
5. Dola – Swing
6. Pushpaputa – Flower casket
7. Utsanga – Embrace
8. Shivalinga – Masculine principal
9. Katakavardhana – Link of increase
10. Kartariswastika – Crossed arrows
11. Shakata – Cart
12. Shankha – Conch shell
13. Chakra – Wheel
14. Samputa – Casket
15. Pasha – Noose
16. Kilaka – Bond
17. Matsya – Fish
18. Kurma – Turtle
19. Varaha – Wild boar
20. Garuda – Eagle
21. Nagabandha – Serpent tie
22. Khatva – Cot
23. 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.

1. Pataka
2. Ardhapatak
3. Mayura
4. Hansasya
5. Chatura
6. Ardhachandra
7. Alapadma
8. Katakamukha
9. Suchi
10. Sikhara
11. Kapitha
12. Sukachanchu
13. Anjali
14. Swastika
15. Karkata
16. Dolahasta
17. Puspaputa

Parampara Hasta Mudra

Parampara Hasta Mudras are traditional Mudras commonly used during dance for easy understanding

1. Bastra – Cloth
2. Tambula – Betel (Paan)
3. Puspa – Flower
4. Bana – Bow
5. Sukachanchu-
6. Padma – Lotus
7. Gabakshya – Window
8. Mayura – Peacock
9. Ubhaya Kartati – love and affection
10. Pradeepa – Oil Lamp