🖐️ 28 Asamyukta Hastas (Single-Hand Mudras)
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Pataka – Flat hand, fingers together
Used for: Cloud, forest, denial, blessing -
Tripataka – Ring finger bent
Used for: Crown, tree, thunder -
Ardhapataka – Little finger bent
Used for: River bank, knife, tower -
Kartarimukha – Index and middle fingers spread
Used for: Separation, lightning -
Mayura – Ring finger touches thumb
Used for: Peacock, applying tilak -
Ardhachandra – Thumb stretched out from Pataka
Used for: Moon, prayer -
Arala – Index finger bent
Used for: Drinking nectar, poison -
Shukatunda – Index finger bent more sharply
Used for: Parrot’s beak, shooting arrow -
Mrigashirsha – Tips of fingers together
Used for: Deer face, flute -
Simhamukha – Middle and ring fingers bent
Used for: Lion face, garland -
Kangula – Little finger bent
Used for: Cucumber, bells -
Alapadma – Fingers spread like a lotus
Used for: Lotus, beauty -
Chatura – All fingers bent slightly
Used for: Smartness, offering -
Bhramara – Thumb and middle finger touch, index bent
Used for: Bee, Krishna’s crown -
Hamsasya – Thumb and index touch
Used for: Holding a flower, tying thread -
Hamsapaksha – Three fingers spread
Used for: Fan, showing numbers -
Sandamsha – Fingers open and close
Used for: Plucking, pain -
Mukula – All fingers together like a bud
Used for: Flower bud, eating -
Tamrachuda – Middle finger raised
Used for: Rooster’s crest -
Trishula – Index, middle, ring fingers straight
Used for: Trident of Shiva -
Suchi – Index finger points up
Used for: Number one, sun -
Chandrakala – Thumb and index form a crescent
Used for: Moon, face -
Padmakosha – Fingers curved like a bowl
Used for: Offering, fruit -
Sarpashirsha – Fingers curved like a snake head
Used for: Snake, water -
Mrigashirsha – Fingers shaped like a deer head
Used for: Deer, flute -
Simhamukha – Lion face gesture
Used for: Garland, lion -
Kataka Mukha – Thumb touches index and middle
Used for: Holding flowers, ornaments -
Kapitha – Thumb over bent index
Used for: Lakshmi, milking cows
🎉 Conclusion: Asamyukta Hastas in Bharatanatyam
The 28 Asamyukta Hastas are the foundation of expression in Bharatanatyam. Each mudra (hand gesture) has a specific shape and meaning, helping dancers tell stories, show emotions, and represent objects, animals, gods, and nature.
These mudras are:
- 🖐️ Precise in form
- 🎭 Expressive in storytelling
- 📚 Rooted in tradition from texts like the Natya Shastra and Abhinaya Darpana
Learning them helps dancers:
- Improve hand control and grace
- Understand symbolism and mythology
- Perform beautiful and meaningful dances