Bharata Natyam
Elizabeth Kelly
Alapadma (Sõlapadma)
Asaṃyuta Hasta - Single Hand Gestures
Descriptions and Meanings
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Sola-padma (full-blown lotus) (Ala-padma) all the fingers separated, turned about the little finger.
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full-blown lotus, elephant-apple etc., turning, breast, yearning for the beloved, mirror, full-moon, a beautiful vessel, hair-knot, moon¬-pavilion (candra-sala), village, height, anger, lake, car, cakra- tidka (bird), murmuring sound, praise.
Avahittha
Udveṣṭitālapadma
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1:146
1:146
Alapadma: When fingers beginning from the little finger are bent and separated from one another, the hand is called Alapadma.
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It is used to denote a full-blown lotus, elephant-apple, circular movement, a breast, separation from the beloved, looking-glass, the full moon, beauty, the hair-knot, a moon-tower, (turret) a village, height, anger, a lake, a cart, a cakravaka, murmuring sound, and praise.
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7:373-375
7:373-375
If all the fingers are separated and slightly bent sideways towards the palm, it becomes Alapadma hasta (Alapadma or Sõlapadma=full-blown or shaking lotus).
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Alapadma hasta is used to denote the following: full-blown lotus, wood apple etc. circular movement or whirl-pool, breast, yearning for the beloved, mirror, full-moon, thinkin about beauty (or a beautiful vessel), hair-knot, moon pavilion, village, height, anger, lake, vehicle, cakravāka brid, kalakalam or murmuring sound and praise.
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4:1182-1184
4:1182-1184
Alapadma The fingers move sideways, are separated from each other and bent towards the centre of the palm.
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This Hasta is used to depict praising oneself, forbidding, enquiring 'who are you?' and emptiness,
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7:54
7:54
Alapadma: In the padmakośa hasta if the fingers are revolved one by one inwards, it is Alapadma.
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It is used in negation and nandyavarta etc.
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:36
:36
That hasta is called Alapadma, in which all the fingers, separated from each other, are turned inwards.
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:285:
Radhika, Ghrtaci, Menaka, Tilottama, Rambha, Urvasi,
:286:
other apsaras in general, Laksmi, Parvati, Sarasvatl, daughters of Nagas, Gandharva women,
:287:
Satyabhama, women’s breasts, the youth of women, a citrus fruit, a favour, a man of mixed caste, bondage, certainty,
:288:
an eddy, a lily, a lotus, flowers in bloom, a cocoanut, a palmyra palm fruit, an eunuch, a penniless fellow,
:289:
prohibition, a work achieved, meaninglessness, courage, an umbrella, an utkanthita nayika (a woman longing for union with the separated lover)—in all these the Alapadma hasta should be employed. Detailed Description of the Subjects of Alapadma Hasta
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:290
:290
If the left Alapadma is demonstrated on the left,
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all the thirteen subjects, from ‘Radhika’ to ‘Satyabhama’ are indicated.
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:290
:290
If Alapadma is held near the heart,
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it denotes a woman’s breasts; it speaks of woman’s youth.
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:291
:291
It Alapadma is held at the front,
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it indicates all the few subjects from ‘a citrus fruit’ to ‘meaninglessness’.
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:292
:292
If Alapadma is placed over the heart with force,
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it means courage.
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:292
:292
If Alapadma is raised to the head,
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it is an umbrella.
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:293
:293
If the dancer plays at hide-and-seek with the left Alapadma,
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it stands for an utkanthita nayika.
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7:94
7:94
The opposite of alapallava [in hastakarana] is alapadma.
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Related Combinations
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:250
:250
The Sun: If Alapadma and Kapittha are shown by two hands near about the throat, the Sun’s hands arc formed.
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:251
:251
The Moon'. If Alapadma is shown by the left hand and Pataka by the right one, hands produced are called that of the Moon.
