Lakshmi Amman's Homepage

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

The hand in which all the fingers are simultaneously extended and the thumb is bent is called Patāka.

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.

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

In this Patāka hand, when the Anāmika (ring-finger) is bent, it is called Tripatāka.

It should be used in calling a person and also in the acting of a crown. When fingers are moved, it indicates small birds.

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

With that Anāmika (ring-finger) the tears are wiped off. To indicate auspicious touch it should be put on the head.

It should be also used for covering the ears. It should be used by a person lying on the ground with face raised, for the acting the movements of serpents and the bumble-bees, (Bhramaras).

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

When Tarjani (forefinger) of Tripatāka hands looks at the back (of Madhyama), it should be known as Kartarīmukha.

It should be done for indicating walking on the road, cutting and falling.

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

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

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

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

In Arāla hand Pradeśini (fore-finger) is bent like a bow, the thumb is bent and the remaining fingers are separated, raised upwards and then curved.

It is used to express profundity, spiritedness, heroism and gathering the hair and wiping the sweat etc.

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

When the Anāmika (ring-finger) in Arāla hand is bent, it becomes Ṡuka-tuṇḍa.

The learned should do this acting to say "I am not you" and in the beginning (atha) and in the end (iti).

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

When front part of the fingers are bent in to the palm and the thumb is set on them, it is called Muṣṭi.

It is used in giving a blow, physical exercise, pressing hard the breast, firmly holding the sword and the stick and in seizing a spear and a staff.

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

When in the above (Muṣṭi) hand, the thumb is raised, it becomes Ṡikhara hand.

It should be done in holding the reins, bow and a goad.

Research 
Elizabeth Kelly 

When the thumb is inside the Muṣṭi hand, it is called Kapittha.

That type of acting should be done suggesting the holding of a disc or an arrow.

Research 
Elizabeth Kelly 

When the same Kapittha hand, the Anāmikā (ring-finger) and the little fingers (Kanīyasī) are raised and bent, it becomes Khaṭakāmukha.

That acting should be freely done to suggest sacrifice, holding the umbrella, dragging and fanning, holding a garland or a rope.

In this Khaṭakāmukha hasta if the Tarjani (forefinger) (threatening finger) is stretched, it is called Sūcīmukha.

It is used to show day and night and the eyes of Indra and Mahesa.

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

In this Sūcīmukha hand if the fingers are kept apart and curved with the thumb and raised upward like the mouth of a swan, it becomes Padma-Kośa.

In Patāka hand if the thumb is clinching and the middle part is hollow, it becomes Ahiśīra.

With the help of that (Ahiśīra) hand offering of water and Sūcana (indication) should be done.

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

When all the fingers are bent down together and the little finger (Kaniṣṭhikā) and the thumb erect, the hand becomes Mṛgašīrsha.

It should be made to indicate piercing with a needle, making a hole and in brandishing the 'Sakti' weapon.

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

When the middle finger is between Tarjani  (forefinger) and the thumb kept like Trātagni and Anāmika (ring-finger) is bent and the Kanīyasī (little finger) is erect, the hand becomes Kāngula.

With the help of this kind of hand fruits should be denoted.

When the fingers are moved, separated and made to move in order in the palm, the hand is called Kola-padma.

It should be used for saying 'No' and to denote void and non¬existence.

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

When three fingers are stretched out, the Kanīyasī is erect and the thumb resting on it in the middle, the hand is called Catura.

It should be used to explain the practical actions of speech and recitation.

With this kind of action the colours should be denoted, when raised it shows white, when it is semi-circular it suggests red, when in circle it shows yellow and when compressed it shows blue. Similarly when in normal position it shows black and the remaining colours.

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

When the middle finger and thumb are in Samdamsa position (i.e. compressed so as to form pincers) and the fore-finger is curved and he remaining fingers are separated and raised, the hand is Brahma.

This pose should be done in holding the lotus etc. and also to show ear-rings

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

When the tarjani (forefinger) madhyama and the thumb without any interspace between them are placed like Tretagni (three sacrificial fires) and the remaining fingers are outspread, the hand becomes Haṁsa-Vaktra.

It should be used to show slimness, lightness, fragility and softness.

Research 
Elizabeth Kelly 

The hand in which Kaniṣṭhikā (little-finger) is raised obliquely and made into the round shape and the thumb is bent is called Haṁsapaksha.

It should rest on the cheeks to show dinner, acceptance of gift, touching, anointing, and shampooing

When in Arāla hand, the fore-finger and the thumb are pressed together in a way to form pincers and the middle of the palm is bent, it is called Samdamsa. One should know that Saṁdaṁṡa is of three types : Agraja, Mukhaja and Parsvakrta. Now hear the work of each one.

Agraja Saṁdaṁṡa hand should be done for holding and for extracting thorn etc. Mukhaja Saṁdaṁṡa hand is posed to express plucking a flower from its stalk, filling in the receptacle with chips for anointing the eye. Parsva Saṁdaṁṡa hand is used in colouring a drawing, in Yajnopavita (sacred-thread), in pressing the breast and in showing head.

Bharata Natyam 
Elizabeth Kelly 

When in Padmakośa hand tips of all the fingers are joined together, the hand becomes Mukula Hand.

It should be done for worshipping the deities and offering oblations and denoting the lotus.