Hastas

Hastas are symbolic hand gestures, each imbued with unique identity and significance. While some Nritta hastas serve ornamental purposes, their placement and angle lend each gesture a life of its own, enhancing the mood within a dancer’s act of storytelling. These gestures constitute a form of visual dialogue, propelling the narrative forward as a key component of Abhinaya – the very soul of the performance.

Hastas can be classified as single-hand or double-hand gestures. When woven together with angas or upangas (limbs) and drishti bhedas (eye movements), they create a form of sign language; the same gesture may convey multiple meanings based on the context of its use.

The Natya Shastra and the Abhinaya Darpana provide a detailed exposition on these hand gestures, highlighting their role in communicating with the divine. For dancers, they evolve into acts of worship and meditation, enriching the storytelling process with their profound significance.

Single hand / Asamyukta hastas

Pataka | Flag hand

Usage: At the beginning of Natya, it denotes the clouds, a forest, forbidding things, bosom, might, a river, region of Gods, the horse, cutting, wind, lying down, an attempt at going, prowess, favour, moonlight, strong sunlight, forcing open doors, the meaning of seven case-endings, a wave, entering a street, equality, anointing the body of ownself, taking an oath, silence, palmyra leaf, shield, touching things, benediction, the ideal king, saying 'such and such a place', the sea, a succession of good deeds, addressing a person, going forward, holding a sword, a month, a year, a rainy day, and cleaning with a broom.

Tripataka | Flag in three parts

Usage: It denotes a crown, a tree, the vajra (thunderbolt of Indra), the bearer of vajra (Indra), the ketaki flower, a lamp, raising flames, a pigeon, patterns drawn on the face or breast (patralekha), an arrow, and turning round.

Ardhapataka | Half flag

Usage: It denotes leaves, a board or slab for writing or painting, the bank of a river, the word 'both', a knife, a banner, a tower, and a horn.

Kartarimukha | Scissors face

Usage: It denotes the differentiation between male and female or used as praraphrase, overturning or opposition, plundering, a corner of the eye, death, estrangement, lightning, sleeping alone, separation, falling and weeping.

Mayura | Peacock

Usage: It denotes the peacock's neck, a creeper, a bird, vomiting, removing hair, an ornamental mark on the forehead (tilaka), scattering (agitating) river water, discussing the Shastras, and a famous thing.

Ardhachandra | Half moon

Usage: It denotes the phase of the moon on the eighth day of the dark fortnight, a hand seizing the throat, a spear, consecrating an image, a dining plate, origin, waist, musing, one's own self, meditation, prayers, touching limbs, and greeting by the common people.

Arala | Bent

Usage: It denotes drinking poison, nectar etc., and violent wind.

Sukatunda | Parrot head

Usage: It denotes the shooting of an arrow, a spear, remembering one's abode, saying of mystic things, and a violent mood.

Mushti | Fist

Usage: It denotes steadfastness, grasping one’s hair, holding things, and the fighting mood of wrestlers.

Shikhara | Peak

Usage: It denotes amour (or god of love), a bow, a pillar, certainty, spiritual offerings made to deified ancestors, the upper lip, something entered, a tooth, questioning, the phallic symbol, saying 'no', recollection, intimate suggestion or close-up acting, pulling at the girdle, the act of embrace, and sounding a bell.