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To convey striking, driving, joy, pride, etc. With both hands and fingers moving, it suggests rain, showering of flowers, etc. Both hands forming a Swastika suggests something falling down; and loosening and tightening the Swastika position suggests opening and conceal¬ment, etc.

This gesture is applied when it is required to represent continuous shower of blows, warming near the fire, nudging others, excessive delight and proud indication of oneself. 

When it is required to represent flames of fire, shower of flowers, heavy downpour etc. 

Presentation of flowers and sprouts, flourishing growth of grass and things arranged on the ground

an object is opened, some¬thing is protected, another thing is covered and made dense and something indicated as a secret.

 is to be applied when the gust of wind, waves of water, agitation of the seashore and flood art to be indicated.

Should be employed to represent incitement of people, a crowd of many participants, loftiness, beating of musical in instrument of percussion, and upward flight of birds.

can represent the act of washing, breeding, pressing, cleansing, uprooting and lifting up of a mountain.

To represent an administration of blows, scorching heat, urging, attainment of happiness and arrogant reference of one’s ownself this hand is to be raised on a level with the forehead. To represent the glare of heat, torrential rain and shower of flowers two Patāka hands with the fingers separated and moving, are to be joined together. A shallow pool of water, present of flowers, grass and any design [lit. object] made on the ground are to be represented by two such hands separated from the Svastika position. The same Patāka hands with their fingers pointing downwards are to be used to represent anything closed, made open, protected, covered, dense or private (to be concealed). This very hand with its fingers pointing downwards and moving up and down, is to express the speedy movement of wind and [ocean] waves, [ocean waves] breaking against the shore, and an objection. The Recaka of this hand should be used to represent encouragement, many [in number], a great crowd of men, height, beating of drums, and flight of birds upwards. And anything washed, pressed, cleansed, pounded, or holding up a hill or uprooting it, should be represented by the palms of two such hands rubbing each other. This is also the manner of representing man and woman.

This is used in giving a blow, in obstructing a blow and in throwing down. When the fingers are moving it shows wind and rain.

When it goes upwards it shows enthusiasm and when it moves downwards it shows umbrella etc. When it gives Tala on Puskara (drum) the hand is even and the fingers are moving.

When it is raised on a side it is Recitaka (whirling) movement and when raised straight, it is used for holding or supporting something.

The Patakahasta is used to indicate the Sun, a king, elephant, lion, ox, crocodile, decoration, creeper, flag, wave, path, the mythical world below the earth (Patalam), the Earth, the buttocks, bowl, palace, evening, after-noon, cloud, ant-hill, thigh, servant, foot, wheel, seat, lightning, gate-tower, coldness, vehicle, serenity, crooked, curved, door, pillow, trench, foot, bolt.

day, going, tongue, forehead, body, 'like this ' , noise, messenger, sand bank and tender leaves.

beginning a dance, cloud, forest, forbidding things, bosom, night, river, world of the gods, horse, cutting, wind, reclining, walking, prowess, graciousness, moon¬light, strong sunlight, knocking, meaning of the seven cases, wave, entering a street, equality, applying sandal paste, one’s self, taking an oath, silence, benediction, a good king, palmyra leaf, slap, touching, saying “Such and such”, the sea, the way of good deeds, addressing (a person some distance away), going in front, the form of a sword, month, year, rainy season, day, sprinkling water.

saying “Victory, victory!”, clouds, forbidding things, forest, night, saying “Go!”, going, conveyance, wind, chest, front, merit (punya), preeminence, flow, abode of the wise, crying “Ha! ha!”, moonlight, sunlight, abode of the gods, removal of hindrance, wall, cutting, pleasing others, cheek, applying sandal paste, mustering an army, boundary, removing fear, having no refuge, decrease, covering, reclining, the earth, flame, pouring rain, wave, wings of a bird, petitioning a king, saying “Thus”, eye, saying “Like what?” and “Like that”, slap, touching, lake, massage, closing a dispute, strong wind, end of the robe (ancala), cold, heat, radiance, shadow, ear, season, half-year, day, fortnight, month, purity, high birth, approach, saying “Protect”, or “Caress”, Brahmana caste, pure colour.

It is used in the beginning of a natya and to denote the clouds, a forest, forbidding things, bosom, might, a river, region of gods, the horse, cutting, wind, lying down, attempt at going, prowess, favour, moonlight, strong sunlight, forcing open doors, meaning of seven case-endings, wave, entering a street, equality, anointing the body of one’s ownself, taking an oath, silence, palmyra leaf, shield, touching things, benediction, the ideal king, saying ‘such and such a place’, the sea, succession of good deeds, addressing a person, going forward, holding a sword, a month, a year, a rainy day, and cleaning with broom.

It is used in depicting the following: Beginning of dance, (water bearing) cloud, forest, forbidding things, breast, night, river, heaven, horse, cutting, wind, reclining, walking, prowess, graciousness, moonlight, scorching sunlight, opening or knocking the door, indicating the seven cases, waves, entering the street, equality or composure, applying sandal paste etc., one's self, taking an oath, keeping silence, palmyra leaf, shield (capeté = slap on the cheek-Nida), touching the things, benediction, a good king, saying there there, sea, doing good things, addressing, going in front, holding a sword, month, year, rainy day (or rain, day), cleaning or sprinkling water.

Patåka hasta is used to denote the following: saying 'victory', clouds, forbidding, forest, night, saying 'go', going, conveyance, wind, chest, front, merit, pre eminence, flow of water, abode of gods or the wise, crying "haha!", moonlight, sunlight, group of gods or heavens, removing the bolt or hindrance, wall, cutting, pleasing others, cheek, applying sandal paste, sword, stopping the flow of water, group, mustering an army, oath or boundary, removing fear, having no refuge, decrease, covering, reclining, the earth, flame, pouring rain, wave, wings of a bird, petitioning a king, saying 'here', saying like what like that, slap, touching the objects, lake, massage of limbs, false praise, prowess, offering to gods, embracing on bothsides, flag, strong wind, end of a robe, cold, heat, radiance, shadow, year, season, half-year, day, fortnight, month, purity, high birth, approaching, saying 'protect-caress', brahmin race and white colour.

This Hasta when done with the fingers together is used to depict cutting, pride, patting the arm, happiness and cutting a creeper. Patāka Hasta with the fingers separated is used to depict moving the hands through the hair, pushing, falling of flames and giving blessings. While depicting lightening and forbidding the fingers are moved and point upwards. While depicting rain and showering of flowers, the Hasta faces downwards,

It is used in pāta (tāla), playing the drum and to console the tension etc.

Happiness, pride, beating, etc require that the patāka hand be held at the forehead. It can be used in a slap, granting a boon and granting refuge.

The fingers must be separated and made to shake to depict a rain of flowers, etc. the palm is to face downward while showing the rain of flowers.

In offering flowers and wild grass, the patākas are crossed and fingers separated. In cleansing, squeezing and washing, the patākas are rubbed against each other.

When a stone is being uprooted, etc. the palms of this hand face each othe and are held at a distance. While depicting the movement of the bird’s wings the fingers are loosened and the hand moves upwards from the waist region.

The patāka hasta is used with a recita (an outbound movement) to show causing energy, large number, long objects, etc. The patākas shaking at the sides represent prohibiting and saying ‘no’, ‘does not exist’ and ‘don’t’. The patāka is turned downwards while striking percussion instruments.

the fingers are shaking and the ends stretched obliquely, it represents breeze or the speed of wave or the force of the sea water. The palms of the above said hasta upwards to represent the flow of water.

The Pataka hasta is applied to indicate water, the world, shame, numbers, a form, a forest, an anklet, a foot, hair on the crown of the head, the forehead, meditation, ornaments,

the night, the directions, the intervening directions, accosting a person, different actions, appeasement, a cheerful mood, boons,

gift, the red colour, a flag, a seat, clothes, proximity, prohibition, a lotus-fibre, prayers, ‘this much’,

composition, fear, honour, the words ‘let you understand’, birth, victory, sight, the word ‘you’, the word T, a king,

a leader, a husband, concentration of the mind in the Spirit, repudiating, the anguish of amours, the prowess of a king, burning,

the sound ‘Ah’, beating, a mountain, a tree, other big things, die wielder of a weapon, big river, small river, bowing, a god,

embrace, the earth, an earring, the Sun, the Kalki form of Visnu, the thigh, the back, a hand,

a month, a fortnight, a year, a play at dice, a bulky tiling, the mind, sickness, a soft thing, a pond, a well, a hole, low ground,

a wife, a cowherd, a fruit of the bread fruit tree, a load, love, desire, a cottage, a big building, a city,

a breeze, a yak’s tail, a group, the whole, a cover, movement, controlling, a crown, urging, delight,

the ego of ‘I’, fire, rain, scattering of flowers, presentation of flowers, tender grass, objects placed on the ground, a lake,

closing down, opening up, childhood, things under cover, secret matters, everything, speed, a wave, sea-shore, current, disturbance of the heart,

encouragement, great honouring, a high object, praise, the beating of a drum, the raising up of wings,

rubbing, grinding, washing, crushing, the holding of rocks, the raising of mountains—all these being shown by rubbing the two palms on each other,

a dragon, a cave, a male, a woman, separation, a round ball, anger, dissection, collyrium,

the sands on a river, the joint hands in salute, a place, sleeping, surprise, a camel, a donkey, a horse, other horn-less animals,

a trysting woman, a woman making ready to welcome her lover, a stick, a devoted wife, Rahu,

the act of disappearing, a castle, a wall, a cover, a great giver, a great warrior, a Ksatriya, a great war,

a shield, a shieldsman, an ear of an elephant, great fever, a sword, the control of desire, the removal of a quarrel,

a heavenly car, the sky, a view of the sun, a door, frost, the golden age, the month of Jyaistha,

consolation, heating the body by the side of a fire and the like, the combing of the hair, trembling, the cold season, the meaning of ‘Yes’, a season,

early winter, late winter, the spring season, the summer season, the rainy season, the autumn, leaves of trees, serving of food,

the snapping of a thread, etc., beard, coat of arms, new leaf, sun-set, coolness, good character, character, the non-pareil, the wonderful,

a priceless thing, a new thing, a white thing, revelation, a bright thing, a lame person, a short thing, a hump-backed person, a child, a young animal,

darkness, mud, silence, fish, and the bank of a river. I shall now give details how the Pataka hasta is to be applied to different subjects.

it indicates water.

the dance experts call it the world.

it indicates bashfulness.

it indicates the number ten. If the two Patakas are placed once again in this position, it would mean twenty. If the hastas are placed twice in that position, it would mean thirty. The number would go on increasing by ten till one lakh for each repetition of this movement.

it indicates a form,

it would mean a forest.

it would mean an anklet.

they would indicate the feet.

it would stand for combed up hair on the crown.

that would mean the forehead.

it indicates meditation.

all this would mean ornaments.

makes clear a picture of the night.

it indicates the directions (vidik like the north-east and dik like the east).

means accosting (addressing) a person; it also indicates all actions like eating.

it indicates appeasement.

it indicates the cheerful mood.

it means boons and gifts.

it would mean the red colour.

it would mean a flag

it means a seat; it also means clothes.

it means proximity. If the left-hand Pataka is placed on the chest and the right Pataka stands at the front to say ‘No’,

it would mean lotus fibre.

it means prayers.

“This much”.

that would mean composition (construction).

the action would mean fear.

it would mean doing honour according to experts in dance.

it would bring out the meaning saying, ‘Let you understand’.

then they speak of the birth of an animal.

it would mean victory as Subhankara says.

it is applied by the wise to mean sight.

it would mean ‘You’.

it would say, ‘I’.

it means a king. It means a leader. It stands for husband.

it would signify concentration of the mind in the Spirit.

it would mean repudiation.

it stands for the anguish of lust. It may mean the prowess of a king. It may stand for flaming up.

means disturbance of the heart.

it indicates encouragement.

it signifies greatly honouring.

means an object of great height.

it means praise.

to be indicating playing on drums.

mean the raising up of wings (by birds).

it means the rubbing of looking glass and other things.

it means grinding.

it indicates the washing of clothes.

it means crushing things.

that indicates the holding up of mountains, etc.

it means a dragon.

then it represents a cave.

means a male person.

it indicates a woman.

it signifies separation.

it stands for a round thing.

it suggests anger.

it shows dissection.

it is indicative of collyrium.

it depicts a stretch of sand on the bank of a river.

they form a salute. ||

it means sleeping.

it expresses surprise.

it stands for a camel. It indicates a donkey. It also means a horse. It also bespeaks of any other horn-less animal.

it indicates a camel, or a donkey, or a horse, or any other animal with no horns.

it exhibits a trysting woman.

it points to a woman making ready to welcome her lover to bed.

it denotes a staff.

it means a devoted wife.

it would mean the demon, Rahu, son of Sirhhika.

it would mean hiding. It may also indicate a castle, or a wall, or a cover.

it would mean a great donor.

it speaks of a great warrior, or a Ksatriya, or a great war.

it would suggest a shield, or a shieldsman.

it would mean ears of an elephant. It can also mean high fever.

it is taken for a sword by experts in dance.

it means the crushing of desire.

it signifies the removal of quarrel.

it pictures forth a heavenly car, or the sky.

it means taking a view of the sun.

it would speak of a door.

it means frost.

it signifies the golden age,

it is the month of Jyaistha.

then it means combing of the hair.

it means trembling. It stands for the cold season.

it means saying, ‘yes’.

it means a season.

it means early winter (hemanta).

it is late winter (sisira).

 it means the autumn. 

it means a fit person and also leaves of trees.

that would stand for the snapping of yarns.

it would mean a beard

that would stand for a coat of mail.

it is to be counted as tender leaf.

it indicates sun-set.

it would mean coolness, good character, character, the non-pareil, the wonderful, a priceless thing, a new thing, a white thing, revelation, or a bright thing.

it would mean a lame person, a short thing, a hump-backed person, a child or a young animal.

it would mean darkness.

it would stand for mud.

it would mean silence.

it means a fish.

all this stands for the bank of a river.

It is applied in touching, slapping, [showing] a flag or clapping.

Patāka is also applied to rubbing, crushing and wiping quickly and to hold or to pull up heavy materials such as stone, etc.

To indicate flame,

To indicate rain

they [the fingers] indicate the wings of a bird.

[To indicate] fainting

[to indicate] beating the drums.

it indicates lifting in [the art of] acting.

To face an object.

it indicates negation and separation.

It is applied in raising and separating

[denote] the quick motion of wind and waves.

To indicate a lake or a pond

to indicate gait as well as cutting, hiding, showing, talking and destroying.

to indicate the coast, an opening, a marine animal, home or a cave.