Nṛttahastas - Dance hands (single and combined)
Natya Sastra - Language: Sanskrit
The earliest available comprehensive work on dramaturgy. It includes dance - and much, much more - describing all aspects of theatrical production, of which dance is a significant part. Earlier works are referenced in literature, but to date, have not been found and/or translated. It is also the foremost source generally cited as the historical reference for all modern classical dance styles. There is a very wide range of dates attributed to the Natya Sastra. The early range of dates are based upon linguistic dating, asserting the time range as 500-300BC because the words, figures of speech, and location names are relevant to that time period, and no longer used at later periods. The later dates of 700-900 AD are an estimate based on linguistically dating the latest chapters in the 36-37 chapters available now. 200BC-200AD seems like a reasonable compromise and is a reasonable bet given that texts after this time seem to build from concepts in this text. The analysis around what date it, or all of its parts, may be deserves its own publication.
(a) Two Khataka Mukha hands are to be held eight Angulas away from the chest while the shoulders and elbows are on the same level. This is called Caturaśra.
Caturasra—two Kaṭakāmukha hands held forward eight Aṅgulīs away [from one’s chest] the two shoulders and elbows on the same level.
(b) Two Hamsapaksa hands are waved like Tiilavrnta (palm leaf fan). This should be known as Udvṛtta or Tālavṛntaka.
Udvṛtta—the two Haṃsapakṣa hands waved like a palm-leaf (fan). Its alternative name is the Tālavṛnta (palm-leaf).
(c) Two hands from Caturasra position are held obliquely facing each other. This is called Tālamukha.
Talamukha—the two hands from the Caturasra position to be held obliquely facing each other.
(d) Svastika. The Tala Mukha hands when placed crossed at the wrists in the shape of a Svastika are termed Svastika, when they are released they are called Viprakirna.
Svastika—the Talamukha hands crossed at the wrists; but released after this they are called Viprakīrṇa.
Two Alapallava hands palms up wards changed into Padmakosa hands are called Arālakaṭakā Mukha or Arālākhaṭaka.
Arālakhaṭakāmukha—the two Alapallava (Alapadmaka) hands with palms upwards changed into Padmakośa hands. Its another name is Arālakaṭaka.
The two hands are to have Kutila (oblique) movement after touching the opposite shoulder elbow and hands. Then the palms are moved and turned towards the back. This is known as Āviddhavakraka.
Āviddhavakraka—The two hands are to have a graceful (kuṭila) movement after touching [successively] the opposite shoulder, elbow and hands, and the palms [of the hands] moved are to turn towards the back.
When two Sarpasirsa hands have their tips stretched obliquely with the thumbs touching middle fingers it is remembered as Sūcīmukha.
Sūcīmukha—The two Sarpaśiraḥ hands with their thumbs touching middle fingers are to stretch their tips obliquely.
Recita. Two Hamsapaksa hands moving swiftly with the palms facing upward is called Recita. This is like the ordinary Recita of the hands.
Recita—the two Haṃsapakṣa hands swiftly moving with the palms facing upward. This is like the ordinary Recita [of the hands].
The left hand is as in the Caturasra and the right hand as in the Recita. This should be known by those convcrsent with the principles of dance as Ardharecita.
Ardharecita—The left hand should be as in the Caturasra and the right hand as in the Recita.
Two Tripataka [hands arc slightly bent obliquely and the shoulders and the elbows are moved. This is remembered as Uttānavancita.
Uttānavañcita—The two Tripatāka hands are slightly bent obliquely and the shoulders and the elbows are moved.
They taken out from the shoulder to the hip are termed Nitamba.
Nitamba—the two Patāka hands taken out from the boulder [to the hip].
Two hands are moved out from the Keśabandha (hair knot) and held on the sides are termed Keśabandha.
Keśabandha—the two hands moved out from the hair-knot (keśabandha) and held on the sides.
Karihasta. The Lata hand held up and swung from side to side and the other hand Tripataka is held on the ear. This is glorified as Karihasta.
Karihasta—the Latā hand held up and swung from side to side and the Tripatāka hand held on the ear.
A Tripataka hand is placed on the waist and the other on the head. The sponsors of dance programmes know this as Pakṣavañcitaka.
Pakṣavañcitaka—one Tripatāka hand placed on the waist and another on the head.
The hands in the Pakṣavancitaka change places (waist and head). Then they are remembered as Pakṣapradyotaka.
Pakṣapradyotaka—the Pakṣavañcitaka hands changing places (i.e. the hands placed on the waist to be put on the head and vice versa).
Two Hamsapaksa hands moved alternately and then held out like a staff are called Danḍapakṣa.
Daṇḍapaksa—the two Haṃsapakṣa hands moved alternately and then held out like a staff.
If the hands have circling movement near the upper part of the body they are called Urdhvamaṇḍali.
Ūrdhvamaṇḍalī—the two hands to have circling movement near the upper region (i.e. the upper part of the body).
The same with the movement made on one side is called Pārśvamaṇḍali.
Pārśvamaṇḍalī—the same movement made on one side.
One hand is to be raised up after the circling movements and the other is to be kept hanging down. Some movements are to take place near the breast. This is called Uromaṇḍali.
Uromaṇḍalī—after circling movements one hand to be raised up and the other to hang down, and movements to take place near the breast.
The Alapadmaka and Arala hands are moved by ' turns above the breast and on the sides. This should be known as Uraḥpārśvārdhamaṇḍala.
Uraḥpārśvārdhamaṇḍala—the Alapallava (Alapadmaka) and Arāla hands moved by turns above the chest and by the sides.
When two Khaṭakāmukha hands are bent at the wrists and moved round they shall be called Muṣṭisvastika.
Muṣṭikasvastika—the two Kaṭakāmukha hands bent at the wrists and moved round.
The hands are moved by turns with Vyavartita and Parivartita Karatja, from Padmakośa form. They should be known as Nalinī Padmakośa.
(movements not yet uploaded?)
Nalinīpadmakośa—the hands to be moved by turns with Vyavartita and Parivartita Karaṇa.
The hands have Udvestita Karana in their movements in Alapallava hand.
(Udvestita not uploaded yet)
Alapallava—the two hands to have the Udveṣṭita Karaṇa in their movements.
When they are stretched up and waved they are called Ulbaṇa.
Ulbaṇa—the two hands to be stretched up and waved.
Two Pallava hands are to be moved above the head. It is remembered as Lalita.
Lalita—two [Ala]-pallava (Alapadmaka) hands to be moved above the head.