Bharata Natyam
Elizabeth Kelly
Nartananirṇaya: Asaṃyuta Hasta (Single Hand Gestures)
1500 CE - 1600 CE - by Puṇḍarīka Viṭṭhala
Asaṃyuta Hasta - Single Hand Gestures
Nartananirṇaya - Language: Sanskrit
The author is thought to be a South Indian, who migrated between courts, eventually writing this text for the Emperor Akbar. The text talks about drama, music, and dance - much like the Natya Sastra, but includes more modern concepts. Bose describes it as the missing link between ancient and current classical dance.
Descriptions and Meanings
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3
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Wherein the thumb is well bent and rests at the root of forefinger, and the other fingers are held together and extended, it is patāka.
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Curving the ring finger of patāka [gives] tripatāka.
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Separating midfinger from forefinger of tripatāka [results in] kartarī.
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If the ring finger and thumb of kartarī are joined at the tips, it is mayūra.
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Holding the fingers of pancasya close together but separating the thumb is ardhacandra.
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When the thumb rests at the root of the forefinger in pancasya, it is caturmukha.
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In dvimukha, ring-finger, thumb and little finger of trimukha are held together.
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Curving [further] the bent forefinger of catura [gives] arāla.
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Curving the forefinger and ring finger of arāla [gives] śukatuṇḍa.
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Curving the midfinger of śukatuṇḍa over the thumb valgita (or encircling with the thumb) vartula [gives] skhalita.
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[In] musti the finger (inner) surfaces and finger tips surround the thumb.
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When the thumb of muṣṭi is stretched erect, it is said to be sikhara .
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If the forefinger is joined to the tip of the thumb, it is kapittha.
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By separating the thumb and forefinger of kapittha is [formed] kākatuṇḍa.
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By extending widely [the same, i.e. thumb and forefinger] of kākatuṇḍa is [formed] bālacandra..
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If the ring finger of kapittha is slightly raised, it is khaṭakāmukha.
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If in dvimukha thumb and middle finger (are held together) it is sūcīmukha.
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Curving the separated fingers and thumb like a bow is padmakoṡa.
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That in which midfinger of patāka is bent, is sarpaṡirsha hand.
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When all the fingers, together with thumb are separated and extended (from sarpaṡīrsha), it is pañcānana.
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When the forefinger of khadgasya is raised up, it is mṛgašīrṣa.
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Wherein the thumb of mayūra is held straight and erect, it is kāṇgūla.
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The opposite of alapallava [in hastakarana] is alapadma.
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If all fingers [and thumb] are separate and palm turned sideways, it is alapallava.
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If in gomukha thumb moves to the root of middle finger, it is catura.
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[In] bhramara the little finger and ring finger of tamracuda are separated..
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If the little finger of muṣṭi is extended, it is then, varāhamukha (= krodasya).
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If in patāka little finger is separated and extended, it is haṁsapaksha.
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If thumb of haṁsapaksa is [held] erect it is gomukha.
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If in catura little finger is made equal [with other fingers] it is nikuñca.
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Wherein the forefinger and thumb of pancasya are joined, it is sandaṁṡa.
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Stretching of thumb in haṁsasya sideways is raṇagṛdhra.
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If the ring finger also joins in haṁsasya, then it is khaḍgāsya.
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Wherein all the fingers, including the thumb are joined like a bud, it is the mukula.
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When the forefinger of sūcīmukha is bent, it is tāmracūḍa.
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If the little finger and thumb of caturmukha are joined it is trimukha.
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Bending [further] fingers and thumb of padmakoṡa is ūrṇanābha.