Utsanga hasta (Hand Gesture)

Holding Mrigashirsha hasta in both the hands, crossing the hands and touching the shoulders.

Viniyoga slokam:

Alingena cha Lajjayam angadadipradarshane
balaanaam shikshanechayam utsange yujyate karaha

Meaning:

Used to denote embrace, to show shyness, to show body(angam), Teaching (shikshai)  children.

Puspaputa Hasta (hand gesture)

Puspaputa hasta can be shown by sarpasheersha held in both the hands and joined together.

Viniyoga slokam:

Neeranjanavidhau variphaladigrahanepi cha
sandhyayamardhyadane cha mantrapushpe cha yujyate


Meaning :
To show Arathi (lamp offering) to god,  to accept fruits, Sandhya means evening so to pray to sun in the evening, offering flowers(Puspam) during prayer.

Dola Hasta (Hand Gesture)

Dola hasta is shown by using pataka hasta in both the hand facing down side. With the arm stretched and elbows slightly bend.

Viniyoga slokam:

Natyarambhe prayoktva
eti natyavidho viduhu

Meaning for sloka:

This hasta is used in the starting of dance( Natyarambhe).

Swastika Hasta (Hand Gesture)

Holding pataka hasta in both the hands and crossed at the wrist to show swastika mudra. This mudra is auspicious sign in Hindu culture.

Viniyoga slokam and meaning:

Samyogena Swastikakhyo Makarrathe Niyujyate
Hasta used to denote Aligator

Bhayavade vivdecha Keertanae Swastikobhavet
Talk in fear, to Argue and to praise

Karkata Hasta (Hand Gesture)

Karkata hasta is shown by bringing both the hands and interlocking the fingers together.

Viniyoga slokam:

Sammuhagamane tundadarshane shankhapurane
anganam motane shakhonnamane cha niyujyate

Meaning of slokam:

Used to denote crowd, thick articles,  blowing of shankhu(conch), twisting of limbs,and bending tree branch.

Kapota Hasta (Hand Gesture)

In kapota hasta is more like anjali hasta but palms should not touch. Tip,bottom and border of the hands are touched.

Viniyoga slokam:

Praname guru sambhashe
vinayange kruteshvayam


Explanation of the slokam:

Salutation, conversation with Guru, to be polite down to earth, to accept or agree this hasta is used.

Anjali Hasta (Hand Gesture)

Anjali  mudra is often used in our culture to greet people, offer prayer to god and so on..
Holding pataka hasta in both hands and joining them makes Anjali mudra.

Viniyoga slokam :

Devataguruvipranam namaskareshavanukramat
karyaha shiromukhorastho viniyoganjalirbudhaihi

Explaining of the slokam:

This madra is use to salute(namaste or pranam) God, elders. It is kept in center of our face , above the head and in front of the chest.

Double hand gestures

Samyutha hastas or double hand gestures.

Samyutha means combined or together in sanskrit. As the name denotes we have have to use both the palms to convey the message or meaning. There are 24 double hand gestures. The viniyoga sloka will explain easch hastas in detail. Viniyoga means usage.  Iike pathaka (single hand gesture) is used to denote clouds , forest, sky..

This is the slokam for samyutha hastas:

Anjalishcha kapothashcha karkata swasthikasthathaa Dolahastha pushpaputaha utsangah shivalingakaha Katakavardhanashchaiva kartari swastikasthathaa Shakatam shanka chakrecha samputa paasha keelakau Matsya kurmo varaahashcha garudo nagabandhakaha Khatwaa berunda ithyethe sankhyaatha samyutaa karaahaa.

Meaning:

1. Anjali
2. Kapotha
3. Karkata
4. Swastika
5. Dola
6. Pushpaputa
7. Utsanga
8. Shivalinga
9. kataka vardhana
10. Kathari swastika
11. Shakatam
12. shanka
13. Chakra
14. Samputa
15. Paasha
16. keelaka
17. Matsya
18. Kurma
19. Varaaha
20. Garuda
21. Nagabandha
22. Khatava
23. Bhairunda
24. Avahitta

Asamyukta Hastas or Single hand gesture

Asamyukta Hastas or Single hand gesture Asamyukta hastas are done using single hand. In Abinaya darpan dancers express the meaning of song through hand gesture. there are two types of hand gesture asamyutha hastas and samyutha hastas. In natya satstam there are 32 single hand mudras and 23 double hand mudras. In this post I will explain in detail about single hand gesture. This is the slokam for single hand gesture. Pataka tripatakordhapataka kartareemukhaha Mayurakyordhachandrashcha arala shukatundakaha Mushtishta shikarakyashcha kapitha katakamukhaha Suchee chandrakala padmakosham sarpashirastata Mrugasheersha simhamukho langulasolapadmakaha Chaturo bramarashchiva hamsasyo hamsapakshakaha Samdamsho mukulashchiva tamrachooda trishoolakaha Explanation: Pataka: Means flag ,this mudra used to denote clouds, some one is going, forest..... Tripataka: Means three parts of a flag, this mudra used to denote a tree,a pegion, arrow, a crown. Used in Nattu adavu and Tirmanam adavu. Ardhapataaka: Means half flag, this mudra uded to denote leaves, animal horn, to indicate both, a tower.... Kartharimukha: Means Arrow shaft or scissor, this mudra used to denote two diffrent things, seperation, to show eyes, a scissor... Mayura: Means peacock, this mudra used to denote a peacock , a bird, creeper, to apply tilagam... Ardhachandra: Means half moon, this denotes, a spear , waist, half moon.. Aarala: Means peak of the mountain , used to denote drinking nector, wind.. Sukatunda: Means beak of parrot, used to denote shooting arrow, parrot head.. Mushthi: Means closed fist, used to denote wrestlers, speed of a person, .. Shikhara: Means heroism, used to denote questioning, drinking, a bow... Kapitta: Means goddess of wealth, used to denote goddess Lakshmi and Saraswathi, milking cow, holding flowers... Katakaamukha: Means crab, used to denote picking flowers , holding garland, its used in most of the adavus. Suchi: Means needle, used to denote sun, number one, world, city... Chandrakala: Means moon, used to denote moon,face, river ganga.. Padmakosha: Means lotus bud, used to denote ball, bell, mango,lotus bud... Sarpashirsha: Means snake hood, used to denote snake hood, to and fro movement, sandle paste.. Mrigashirsa: Means head of a deer, used to denote costume, deer head, to call someone, massaging the feet... Simhamukha: Means face of lion, used to denote homam, lion's face,rabbit, elephant... Kangula: Means water lily, used to denote bell, fruit,coconut, Lilly.. Alapadma: Means bloomed lilly, used to denote beauty, bloomed lotus, a full moon, village.. Chatura: Means 4 sides (square) Used to denote gold, copper, iron,grief,sweetness.. Bhramara: Means bee, used to denote a bee, parrot or some other bird.. Hamsasye: Means head of a swan, used to denote tying thread,pearl,flower like jasmin,to draw a picture... Hansapakshikaa: Means wing of a swan, used to denote swan wings,  constructin of bridge,numbr six... Sandamsha: Means tongs, used to denote pincer, belly,wound, worms, number five.. Mukula: Means flower bud, used to denote a flower or bud, eating .. Tamrachuda: Means cock or cock head, used to denote a camel, calf, rooster, rooster head... Trishula: Means trident or spear ,used to denote Bhrama,vishnu sadasiva,vilva leaves, trishulam.. Ardhasuchi: Used to denote sprouts, small ones of the bird.. Vyagraha: Means tiger , used to denote a tiger,frog,ape.. Palli: Means knot, used to denote a hut. Katakaa: Used to denote a bracelet, drum of lord shiva, an animal head.

Eye movement

Dhrishti Bhedas or Eye movement.

Dhrishti means sight in sanskrit. Movement of eye sight or eye ball is classified in this bhedas.

Slokam for Dhrishti Bhedas:

Samam Alokitam Saachi pralokita Nimility
Ullokita-anuvritte cha tatha chaiva-avalokitam

Meaning:

1. Samam- straight without any movement

2. Alokitam- rolling eyes in circular motion(dizze ,anger)

3. Sachi- looking to one corner of eyes (to peek at some one)

4. Paralokita- moving eyes side to side ( used to ensure nobody looking at you , doing some mischievous thing)

5. Nimilitham- half closed eyes

6. Ullolita- looking up( to show sky , god..)

7. Anuvritte- looking up and down( to show anger)

8. Avalokitam- looking down(to show earth or something down)

Head movements

Shiro bhedha or head movements.


Shiro bhedha is otherwise called as head movements. Shira or sirasu means head in Sanskrit.
There are 9 head movements while expressing a bhavam.

Shiro bhedha slokam:

Sama udvahitam adhomukha-lolitam Dhutam
kampitam cha paravrittam ukshiptam parivahitam
navdhakathitam shirasa natyashastra visharadaihi.

Explanation for the sloka is
1. Sama or samam- Keeping your head straight or nutral
2. Udvahitham-  Head raised upwards, used to show sky, god ....
3. Adhomukham- Looking down, used to show some thing is down ,shy...
4. Alolotam- Circular or rotating movement of head , showing your dizzy
5. Dhutam- side to side movement of head, used to saying no
6. Kampitam- Up and down movement, used saying yes
7. paravrittam- Brisk head turn towards the side ,used to ignore some one in anger
8. Ukshiptam- Head tilted upwards in slant position, used to show your thinking or dreaming
9. Parivahittam- Head moving side to side like ,small shakes like shivering or showing satisfaction

Bheda

We are going to look at the most important part of dace movements.

Bhedhas in dance terminology means a variety of movements for a particular anga(major limbs) or pratyanga(subsidiary) limbs as a part of communication.

These rules shows us different ways to hold our head , neck, legs and so on...

Greeva bheda or neck movements , shiro bheda (head movements), Dhrishti bhedas (eye movements)

This is the slokha for Greeva bheda ,

"Sundari cha Tirashchina tathaiva Parivartita

Prakampita cha bhavagnair gneya greeva chaturvidha"

The four types of Neck movements are,

1. Sundari :  Neck is moved from side to side. It is also called as Attami's (AH-tah-mi) used as ornamentation in Nritta. This movement used  in Alaripu, asking what are you doing?, your looking nice and so on..

2. Tirashchina:  Neck is moved in a V-shape . Paravritham with attami.This movement used for searching some one.

3. Prarivartita: Neck moved in a semi circle form from side to side. This  movement used for showing your shy or anger.

4. Prakampita: Here the neck is moved forward and back or in and out. This movement used for showing birds like duck, peacock.....