Though the 'Natya shastra' and the 'Abhinaya Darpanam' limit themselves to
twenty six and twenty eight gestures respectively, several more have crept
in. Here the single -hand gestures are divided into different groups .
Group I
This group consists of eight mudras whose basic sign is the Pataka hasta.
The
other mudras are variations of this gesture. The eight mudras are
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1.Pataka Hasta
(Flag ) |
2.Tripataka hasta
(Flag in three parts ) |
3.Ardha -Pataka hasta
(Half-flag) |
4.Mayura Hasta
(Peacock) |
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5.Kartari -Mukha Hasta
(Arrow -Shaft) |
6.Ardha -Chandra Hasta
(Half -moon) |
7.Suka -Tunda Hasta
(Parrot's Beak) |
8.Arala Hasta
(Bent or crooked hand ) |
Pataka Hasta can be represent the wind, the abode of the gods, a year, a
river and various other actions and objects.
Group II
The basic sign of this group is the Musti.
The Mudras under this group
are
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1.Musti hasta
(fist) |
2.Sikhara Hasta
(spire ) |
3.Kataka Hasta
(crab) |
4.Kapittha Hasta
(wood -apple) |
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5.Chandra Kala Hasta
(Digit of the moon ) |
6.Suchi Hasta
(Needle ) |
7.Tamara Kuda hasta
(Cock's Comb) |
8.Kataka -Mukha hasta
(Crab-face) |
The musti hasta may imply a wrathful mood, gripping of the hair, holding reins or carrying a shield.
Group III
The Padmakosa hasta is the basic sign of this group. The remaining
gestures in the group are variations.
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1.Padmakosa
Hasta
(lotus bud) |
2Mukula
Hasta
(Flower Bud) |
3.
Ardha-Suchi Hasta
(Half needle) |
4.Bhramaram
Hasta
(Bee) |
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5.
Chatura Hasta
(Four Fingered) |
6.
Sarpa- Sirsa
(Snake's hood) |
7.
Mrga- Sirsa Hasta
(deer) |
8.
Simha- Mukha Hasta
(Lion's Face) |
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| 9.Bana
Hasta
(Arrow) |
10.
Hamsasya Hasta
(Swan's bill ) |
11.
Hamsa paksha Hasta
(parrot's beak) |
12.
Langula or kangula Hasta
(tail) |
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13.UrnaNabha Hasta
(spider) |
14.SamdamsamHasta
(tongs) |
15.TrisulaHasta
(trident) |
The basic sign of the Padmakosa Hasta can be indicate the opening of a
lotus, picking up food, strewing flowers
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