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(Śri) Hastamuktāvali: Nṛttahastas (Dance hands (single and combined))

1350 CE - 1550 CE - by Śubhaṅkara Kavi

Nṛttahastas - Dance hands (single and combined)

(Śri) Hastamuktāvali - Language: Sanskrit

A text which is purely devoted to hand (hasta) movements as the name suggests. The author describes it as "very elaborate", and I would have to agree. The number of verses per gesture seems to be among the highest that I've seen. The author also mentions the influence of the Natya Shastra and Saṇgītaranākara, but very little influence from the Abhinaya Darpana. The best I can tell, the work is affiliated with the "eastern tradition", although I know very little of what that constitutes. I also see the author most often referenced as part of the Bengali literary tradition.

Descriptions and Meanings

Caturaśra
Śrihastamuktāvali

:871

If the two Khatakamukhas are placed eight angulas away from the heart, the two elbows being held straight, it is Caturasra hasta.

Udvṛtta
Śrihastamuktāvali

:872

If the two Hamsapaksas are placed in front of the heart, as if preparing to play on two talas (cymbals), it is Udvrtta hasta.

Viprakīrna
Śrihastamuktāvali

:878

If the two Hamsapaksas are held facing down, and then moved from . the two sides of the chest to the sides, it is Viprakirna hasta.

Arālakaṭakamukha
Śrihastamuktāvali

:881-82

If the right Khatakamukha is placed at the front of the heart, and the left Arala is obliquely extended with its back on Khatakdmukha, it is Aralakhatakamukha hasta.

Āviddhavakraka
Śrihastamuktāvali

:879

If the two Aralas are held up with the two elbows joined together, and then are made to face down tremblingly, it is Aviddhavaktra

Recita
Śrihastamuktāvali

:869

If the two Hamsapaksas are brought from the lap quickly to the two sides and then brought back and this is repeated, it is Recita

Ardharecita
Śrihastamuktāvali

:870

If there be one Recita hasta and one Khatakamukha, dance experts should take that to he Ardharecita.

Uttānarecita
Śrihastamuktāvali

:893

If the two Tripatakas are obliquely extended to the sides and the two elbows are bent a little, it is Uttanarecita hasta

Pallava
Śrihastamuktāvali

:873

If the two Padmakosas are obliquely placed in the front at a distance from the heart like two trees rich with foliage, it is Pallava hasta

Nitamba
Śrihastamuktāvali

:868

If the two Tripatakas are brought down to below the buttocks, it is Nitamba hasta

Keśabandha
Śrihastamuktāvali

:867

If the two Tripatakas are taken out from the lock of hair to a distance and then brought back to the hair, it is called Kesabandha hasta

Latā
Śrihastamuktāvali

:875

If the two Tripatakas in Recita, facing up, are held in the front, a little trembling, it is Lata hasta.

Natamukha
Śrihastamuktāvali

:876

If the two Hamsapaksas, facing down, are placed in the front facing each other, it is Natamukha hasta.

Karihasta
Śrihastamuktāvali

:889

If one Tripataka is extended tremblingly to the side while the other Tripataka is brought near the ear, it is Karihasta

Pakṣavañcita
Śrihastamuktāvali

:874

If one of the two Tripatakas is placed over the head and the other placed over the waist, it is Paksavancita hasta.

Pakṣapradyota
Śrihastamuktāvali

:888

If one Tripataka is placed over the buttocks and the other Tripataka is put on the head, and the places are exchanged swiftly, it stands for Paksapradyotaka hasta.

Danḍapakṣa
Śrihastamuktāvali

:890

if the two Hamsapaksas are extended to the two sides, and they are gracefully brought to the top by making them alternately face up and down, it is Dandapaksa hasta

Garuḍapakṣa
Śrihastamuktāvali

:891

If the two Tripatakas are obliquely extended to the two sides with the two bent elbows joined together, it is Garudapaksa hasta

Urdhvamaṇḍali
Śrihastamuktāvali

:886

If the two Padmakosas are joined at the elbow, it is Urdhvamandali

Pārśvamaṇḍali
Śrihastamuktāvali

:885

If one (right) Alapadma is moved round the right breast, and the left Arala is taken round the left breast, it is Parsvardhamandalihasta

Uraḥpārśvārdhamaṇḍala
Śrihastamuktāvali

:884

If the (left) Aral is moved round the (left) breast and the (right) Alapadma is moved round the (right) breast, it is Uraḥpārśvārdhamaṇḍala hasta.

Muṣṭisvastika
Śrihastamuktāvali

:887

If the two Aralas are contracted back from the front to form two Khatakamukhas on the shoulders, it is called Mustikasvastika

Nalinīpadmakośa
Śrihastamuktāvali

:894

If the two Padmakosas, facing up, are taken to and from near the knees, being shaken all the time, it is Nalinipadmakosa hasta

Alapadmonnata
Śrihastamuktāvali

:892

If the two Alapadmas are held up high, it is Alapadmonnata

Svastika
Śrihastamuktāvali

:877

If the two Hamsapaksas are held with their tips up and with their wrists sticking to each other, it is Svastika hasta.

Vakṣōmaṇḍalina
Śrihastamuktāvali

:883

If one {Pataka) hasta is held up and the other {Pataka) low, going round the chest, it is Vaksomandali hasta

Sūcyāsya
Śrihastamuktāvali

:880

If the two Sarpasirasas are extended a little with the two elbows contracted, it is Sucyasya hasta.

Related Combinations