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.
Hasta’s can be classified as single-hand or double-hand gestures. When woven together with angās or upangās (limbs) and drishti bhedās (eye movements), they create a form of sign language; the same gesture may convey multiple meanings based on the context of its use.
The Nātya Shāstra provides 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
Patāka | Flag hand
Usages: It is used to denote the clouds, forest, forbidding things, bosom, might, river, horse, cutting, wind, lying down, attempt at going, prowess, favour, moonlight, strong sunlight, forcing open doors, seven Sanskrit grammatical case endings, wave, entering a street, equality, anointing the body of one’s self, taking an oath, silence, palmyra leaf, shield, touching things, referring to ‘such and such a place’, the sea, succession of good deeds, addressing a person, going forward, holding sword, denoting a month, year, rainy day, cleaning with a broom.
Tripatāka | Flag in three parts
Usages: It is used to denote a crown, a tree, vajra (thun der-bolt of Indra), and the bearer of vajra (Indra), ketakī flower, a lamp, rising flames, a pigeon, patterns drawn on the face of breast (patralekhā), an arrow, and turning round.
Ardhapatāka | Half flag
Usages: It is used to denote leaves, a board for writing or painting, the bank of a river saying both, a knife, a banner and a tower and a horn.
Kartarīmukha | Scissors face
Usages: It is used to denote (Stri) which is woman, (Punsayostu Vishlesha) that line means the difference between a man and a woman, (Viparyasa padetiva) exact opposites, (Lunthane) stealing, (Nayanancha) which is eyes, (Marane) death, (Bheda bhavane) is difference, (Vidyurtarthepi) lightning, (Ekashayya viraha) loneliness, (Patanay) fallen, (Latayam) creeper, these are all the different ways of showing the kartari hasta.
Mayūra | Peacock
Usages: It is used to denote the peacock’s neck, a creeper, a bird, vomiting, removing hair, an ornamental mark on the forehead (tilaka), scattering (agitating) river water, discussing the Sᾱstras, and a famous thing.
Ardhachandra | Half moon
Usages: It is used to denote 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, self musing, mediation, prayers, touching limbs and greeting by the ordinary common people.
Arāla | Bent
Usages: It is used to denote drinking poison, nectar, violent wind
Sukatunda | Parrot head
Usages: It is used to denote release an arrow (spear), to reminisce about a home, saying mystic things an violent mood
Mushti | Fist
Usages: It is used to denote the stability, tying hair in knot, firmness, pick up objects, strength, creating war like emotion, these are the various forms of the
Musti Hasta
Shikhara | Peak
Usages: It is used to denote a crown, a tree, vajra (thun der-bolt of Indra), and the bearer of vajra (Indra), ketakī flower, a lamp, rising flames, a pigeon, patterns drawn on the face of breast (patralekhā), an arrow, and turning round