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Ardhaçandra

Asaṃyuta Hasta - Single Hand Gestures

Descriptions and Meanings

200 BCE - 200 CE
The Natysasastra (NS) - Adya Rangacharya
Description:
9

With the thumb on one side, and the other fingers spread out

Meaning:
9:

forming a crescent moon young trees, crescent moon, pot, woman’s girdle or waist, etc. are suggested.


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Not included elsewhere
200 BCE - 200 CE
The Natya Sastra (NS) - Board of Scholars
Description:
9:42

The hand wherein the fingers along with the thumb are kept bent depicting a bow is well known as Ardhacandra. Its application (function) is being mentioned.

Meaning:
9:43:

Small plants the diget of the moon, the conch, the pot, bracelet, forcible forward thrust, excessive exertion, slenderness of the waist the girth etc. should be represented by means of this hand.


9:44:

With this Ardhacandra alone should be represented the girdle, hips, waist, the face, the Talapatra (leaflike ornament for ears) and the Kundala (the ear ornment that hangs down suspended) of women.


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200 BCE - 200 CE
The Natyasastra, Volume I (NS) - Dr. Manomohan Ghosh
Description:
9:42-44

Ardhacandra (crescent moon)—the fingers and the thumb so bent as to make a curve like a bow.

Meaning:
9:42-44:

With this should be represented young trees, crescent moon, conch shell, jar (kalaśa), bracelet, forcible opening, exertion, thinness and drinking. With this [very] Ardhacandra hand women should represent girdle, hip waist, face, Tālapatra and earring.


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400 CE - 500 CE
Visnudharmottarapurana (VDP) - Dr. Priyabala Shah
Description:
26:22

In Ardhacandra, Anāmika (ring-finger) touches the thumb.

Meaning:
26:23:

It is used to denote young (rising) moon, children, tala trees, girdle, jaghana (hips) and ear-rings (kundalas).


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1000 CE - 1100 CE
Hastalakṣaṇadīpikā (HL) - Sudha E. K.
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Description:
1:1

samyutahastas

Meaning:
1:1:

God, remembrance, grass and hair of men.


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Description:
1

If the fore finger and the thumb are stretched out and the other fingers are bent slightly, the hasta is Ardhacandra

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Description:
1

…and four asarnyutahastas.

Meaning:
1:

Asumyutahastas are - to set out, smile, contempt, 'what'.


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1100 CE - 1200 CE
The Mirror of Gesture (AD) - Ananda Coomaraswamy
Description:
No verse annotation

Ardhaçandra (half-moon): the thumb of the Patāka hand is stretched out.

Meaning:
No verse annotation:

the moon on the eighth day of the dark fortnight, a hand seizing the throat, a spear, consecrating an image, a platter, origin, waist, anxiety, one’s self, meditation, prayer, touching the limbs, greeting common people.


Description:
No verse annotation

According to another book: same definition. This hand originates from the desire of Siva for ornaments, of which the moon is one. Its sage is Atri, its race Vaisya, its colour smoky, its patron deity Mahadeva.

Meaning:
No verse annotation:

bangle, wrist, mirror, astonishment, effort, intemperance, entirety, beating time, tying up the hair, supporting the cheek in grief, the ear of an elephant, ex¬pelling evil-doers, wiping sweat from the brow, adolescence, ability, moon, greeting common people, consecration, eyebrow, cloth, bow, preeminence, tightening the girdle, making a vessel, the body, movement of the feet, carrying a child, the back, white colour, Vaisya caste.


1100 CE - 1200 CE
Nandikeśvara's Abhinaya Darpaṇam, 3rd edition (AD) - Dr. Manomohan Ghosh
Description:
1:111

Ardhacandra (half-moon): If the thumb of the Patāka hand is stretched out, the latter is called Ardhacandra.

Meaning:
1:112-113:

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, musing, one’s ownself, meditation, prayers, touching limbs, and greeting by common people.


1100 CE - 1200 CE
Abhinaya Darpanam of Nandikeswara (AD) - P.S.R. Apparao
Description:
7:266-268

If the thumb of the Patāka hasta is streched out it becomes Ardhaçandra hasta.

Meaning:
7:266-268:

Ardhaçandra hasta is used to represent the following: the moon on the


Description:
7:269-274

When the thumb of Pataka hasta is stretched away from the other fingers, it beocmes Ardhaçandra hasta.

Meaning:
7:269-274:

Ardhaçandra hasta is used to denote the following: bangle, wrist, mirror, astonishment, fatigue or effort, unlimitedness, entirety, beating time, tying up the hair, young tree, supporting the cheek in grief, the ear of an elephant, the youth, ability, moon, greeting common people, consecration, eye brow, fine cloth, bow, plenty, tightening the girdle, making a (mud) vessel, the body, movement of the feet, carrying a child, the back, gowra varna, Vaisya jāti.


1126 CE - 1234 CE
The Nṛtyavinōda of Mānasôllāsa, A Study (NVoM) - Hema Govindarajan
Description:
4:1169-1171

Ardhacandra: The thumb of the Ahiphana Hasta is stretched out.

Meaning:
4:1169-1171:

When facing downwards this Hasta is used to depict sweeping, mixing and clasping the waist. When facing upwards it is used to depict surprise and the moon, ...


Based upon:

Sarpaṡīrsha (Ahiphaṇa) - 4:1166-1168

Not included elsewhere
1138 CE - 1400 CE
Śri Pārśvadeva's Saṅgítasamayasāra (SS) - Dr. M. Vijayalakshmi
Description:
7:44

Ardhacandra: If the fingers are kept together with bowing them like half circle excluding the thumb, it is ardha candra.

Meaning:
7:44:

It shows the waning moon.


No dependencies
Mentioned by:
Sarpaṡīrsha (Ahiphaṇa)
1200 CE - 1300 CE
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I (NrtN) - Pappu Venugopala Rao and Yashoda Thakore
Description:
2:156

If the thumb of the sarpaṡīrṣa hasta is separated, it is called ardhacandra.

Meaning:
2:156:

It finds usage in forcible removal, pitcher,


2:157:

the crescent on the day before or after the new moon, the string around the waist, belly, earrings and conch. Generally it is also used in love-sport and other emotions of women.


Based upon:

Sarpaṡīrsha (Ahiphaṇa) - 2:108

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1350 CE - 1550 CE
Śrihastamuktāvali (HM) - Maheswar Neog
Description:
:40-41

The hasta, in which the fingers, from the fore-finger to the little one, are bent a little close together, and the thumb also is bent (in its own place), is Ardhacandra, looking a bow.

When the middle finger, ring-finger and little finger are formed into a fist, and the fore-finger and the thumb are kept wide apart, it is called Ardhacandra hasta. Of these two Ardhacandra hastas one that befits a particular situation is to be applied.

Meaning:
:379:

The full moon, crescent moon, a conch, Aruna—the charioteer of Surya, a pitcher, the mid part of the body, a beautiful woman, a young woman,


:380:

exhibiting, despatching, a plump one, a small tree, an eclipse, a woman’s girdle of tinkling bells, sleeping, the fire under the sea,


:381:

the buttocks, the thighs, the mouth, half the body, fuel, bangles, bracelet, ear-ring, ear-beads,


:382:

an armlet, an ornament, a child, the air, money, a widespread thing, an uneven thing, a fortress, the vital wind, a mule,


:383:

the days of a lunar month, the day of new moon, the day of full moon, a hut with' the nails, a high wall, a cover, a river, frost, a woman offended with her husband, a bashful woman,


:384:

the thin moon of the second briglit lunar night, the digits of the moon—in all these the hasta ardhacandra is prescribed. Detailed Description of the Subjects of Ardhacandra Hasta


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Description:
:385

If over the head of the left Ardhacandra the right Ardhacandra's index-finger is moved in a circle a number of times,

Meaning:
:385:

it is an indication of the full moon.


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Description:
:386

If Ardhacandra is placed in front of the mouth

Meaning:
:386:

it indicates a crescent moon.


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Description:
:386

If the two Ardhacandras are placed together at the front,

Meaning:
:386:

it is a conch-shell.


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Description:
:387

If Ardhacandra is placed on the hip in a position of kneeling down with both the knees and with the eyes looking asquint at the sky,

Meaning:
:387:

it is the brother of Garuda (that is Aruna ).


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Description:
:388

If the two Ardhacandras are raised, making with both a rounded shape,

Meaning:
:388:

it is a pitcher.


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Description:
:388

If the middle and ring-fingers of the two Ardhacandras are made together and are held at a distance in front,

Meaning:
:388:

it depicts the middle part of the body.


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Description:
:389

If the left Ardhacandra is raised up a little from near the waist,

Meaning:
:389:

it means a beautiful woman. It means a young woman.


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Description:
:389

If Ardhacandra is pushed to the front,

Meaning:
:389:

it means exhibition of a thing. It means despatching (a thing or person).


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Description:
:390

by Ardhacandra taking different dimensions as called for

Meaning:
:390:

The plumpness of a person is indicated.


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Description:
:390

If the two Ardhacandras are raised from below to an upper position,

Meaning:
:390:

it means a small tree.


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Description:
:391

If the right Sucimukha with the right Ardhacandra on its back is placed on the head,

Meaning:
:391:

it indicates an eclipse of the Sun or the moon.


Based upon:

Sūçī (Sūçīmukha) - :43

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Description:
:392

If the two Ardhacandras circle around the waist,

Meaning:
:392:

a woman’s girdle with tinkling bells is pictured.


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Description:
:392

If Ardhacandra is placed near the ear,

Meaning:
:392:

it means sleeping.


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Description:
:392

If Ardhacandra is placed near the mouth,

Meaning:
:392:

it is the fire under the sea.


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Description:
:393

by placing itself in the proper place and taking the proper shape in each case

Meaning:
:393:

Ardhacandra will stand for all the subjects from ‘the buttocks’ to ‘a cover’


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Description:
:394

If the two Ardhacandras move from the right to the left,

Meaning:
:394:

it indicates a river.


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Description:
:394

If the two Ardhacandras, facing downwards, are held at the front,

Meaning:
:394:

it is falling of frost.


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Description:
:394

If Ardhacandra is slowly brought near the eyes,

Meaning:
:394:

it means a woman offended with her husband or a bashful woman with the display of the proper state of mind.


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Description:
:395

If the ring finger, middle finger and the small finger of Ardhacandra are closed in a fist,

Meaning:
:395:

it would indicate the crescent of the second day of the bright half of the month or the digits of the moon.


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1500 CE - 1600 CE
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3 (NN) - R. Sathyanarayana
Description:
7:87

Holding the fingers of pancasya close together but separating the thumb is ardhacandra.

No associated meanings
Based upon:

Pañcānana - 7:86

Mentioned by:
Makara
Dardura
1600 CE - 1650 CE
Saṅgītanārāyaṇa (SN) - Mandakranta Bose
Description:
3:348

When the fingers are curved with the thumb like a bow resembling the crescent moon, the hand is known as ardhacandra.

Meaning:
3:349-350:

By usage it is also used in forcible ejection. it is moved around making a circle.


3:349-350:

To indicate a bangle on a wrist


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Mentioned by:
Vṛṣabha
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Description:
3:349-350

The same [hand], turned away,

Meaning:
3:349-350:

indicates fatigue.


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Description:
3:349-350

The [same hands], curved in the middle, face each other and are joined in the same way

Meaning:
3:349-350:

to indicate earrings when held near the ears.


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Description:
3:351

The hands are separated and held upwards

Meaning:
3:351:

to indicate a young tree.


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Description:
3:351

The same hands are placed at the front of the mouth

Meaning:
3:351:

to indicate a conchshell.


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Description:
3:351

they are placed forward facing the front.

Meaning:
3:351:

To indicate a water-pot,


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Description:
3:351

The [same] hands point downwards touching the hips

Meaning:
3:351:

to indicate a girdle.


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Related Combinations

1000 CE - 1100 CE
Hastalakṣaṇadīpikā (HL) - Sudha E. K.
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Contents:
2

the middle part should be shown by both Ardhacandra and Musti,

1100 CE - 1200 CE
Nandikeśvara's Abhinaya Darpaṇam, 3rd edition (AD) - Dr. Manomohan Ghosh
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Contents:
1:207-208

Parvati; Parvati is to hold Ardhacandra with the right hand held up, and Ardhacandra should be held by the left hand also, but it should be held down. The two hands should be in Abhaya (fear-dispelling) and Varada (giving a boon) poses respectively.

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Contents:
1:232-233

Mother: If Ardhacandra is held by the left hand and Sandamsa by the right one, and the left hand is turned round over the belly, the result will be the mother hands.  Use: It is used to denote a mother and a virgin.

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Contents:
1:234-235

Father: If the right hand of the mother hands holds Sikhara, the result will be the father hands. It is used to denote a father and a son-in-law.

1100 CE - 1200 CE
Abhinaya Darpanam of Nandikeswara (AD) - P.S.R. Apparao
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Contents:
10:597-598

When right hand holds Sucihasta and left hand holds Ardhacandra hasta, then it is Saraswati hasta.

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Contents:
10:599

When two Ardhacandra hastas are held by the left hand and the right hand as Varada hasta and Abhayahasta, respectively and extended upward (left hand) and down ward (right hand) respectively, it is known as Parwati Note: In practice, it is understood, that the left hand will be downward and the right hand will be upward. (Abhaya - dispelling fear . Varada = giving boon).

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Contents:
10

Parwati Hasta: To hold Ardhacandra hastas with both hands as Varada and Abhaya hastas