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Nartananirṇaya: Nṛttahastas (Dance hands (single and combined))

1500 CE - 1600 CE - by Puṇḍarīka Viṭṭhala

Nṛttahastas - Dance hands (single and combined)

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

Caturaśra
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:111

If two khaṭakāmukhas facing away from each other, are placed at the chest with eight aṅgulas (Indian inches) in between, such that the elbows are even with shoulders, it is declared to be caturasra.

Udvṛtta
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:112

If two haṁsapakṣas, facing away from each other are held at the chest in front it is udvṛtta.

Talamukha
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3
7:112

If the udvṛtta [saṁyutahasta] are held obliquely at the sides, it is recognised to be talamukha.

Viprakīrna
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:113

If the svastika hastas are quickly separated, then it is said to be viprakīrṇa.

Arālakaṭakamukha
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:114

If in the selfsame (viprakīrṇa) hasta one is arāla and the other, khaṭakā (mukha) [it becomes] arālakhaṭakamukha.

Āviddhavakraka
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:114

If the self same hands are reversed and displayed with sportful movements of the forearm, elbow and shoulder [it becomes] āviddhavaktra.

Sūcīmukha
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:115

The midfinger and thumb of two sarpaṡīrsha hastas [are joined together and move across] the forefingers (stretched) outward to give sūcī (mukha).

Recita
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:115

If in this (same) patākas or haṁsapakṣas move rapidly, it is recita.

Ardharecita
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:116

If one of these hands is caturasra (hasta) it is ardharecita.

Utthānavaṁcita
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:118

If tripatāka hands are held in front of the cheeks, it is then uttānavañcita.

Pallava
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:117

Pallava is opined to be formed by slackly held svastika hands facing downward.

Nitamba
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:116

Movement [of these hands [? patākas?] from the shoulder to the region of hips is nitamba.

Keśabandha
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:117

In keśabandha (these) move from the region of the hair along the sides (to the region of the hips).

Latā
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:118

If tripatāka hands are transversely (obliquely) moved swingingly, it is latākara hasta.

Karihasta
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:119

Karidanta hasta is [formed] with khaṭakā(mukha) with one hand and latā with the other, held at the ear.

Pakṣavañcita
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3
7:119

Placing tripatāka hastas in front of the waist and the head gives pakṣavañcita.

Pakṣapradyota
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3
7:120

If the selfsame are exchanged, it is declared to be pakṣapradyota.

Danḍapakṣa
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:120

When the shoulder in haṁsapakṣa moves sideways, it is danḍapakṣa.

Garuḍapakṣa
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3
7:121

Latāviddha-hastas held downward should be understood as garuḍapakṣa. 

Urdhvamaṇḍali
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:121

Ūrdhvamaṇḍalin hasta occurs by the turning round of kesa [bandha] haste executed upwards.

Pārśvamaṇḍali
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:122

The selfsame, displayed at the sides are declared to be pārśvamaṇḍalin.

Uromaṇḍali
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:122

[If the same] are turned round each other outward and inward [at chest level] at the front, it is uromaṇḍalin.

Uraḥpārśvārdhamaṇḍala
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:123

When alapallava and arāla hands execute a half circle around the upper region of the chest to the side, it should be understood as uraḥpārśvārdhamaṇḍalin.

Muṣṭisvastika
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:124

When khaṭakā (mukha) hastas are crossed repeatedly < avrttau > it is mustika- svastika.

Nalinīpadmakośa
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:124

Two padmakosahands, turning inward [make] nalinīpadmakośa.

Alapallava (Alapadmaka)
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:125

[The same] turning outward in the region of the chest [give] alapallava.

Alapadma
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:125

If the same are moved to the region of the respective shoulder, it is alapadma.

Ulbaṇa
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:126

Two aviddha(vaktra) hands stretched upward, should be understood as ulbaṇa.

Lālita
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:126

Two pallava hands got to the region of the head are said to be lālita.

Valita
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:127

Two lata hands [displayed] crosswise at the elbows, [form] valita.

Svastika
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3
7:113

Two haṁsapakṣas are crossed without touching [each other] it is opined to be svastika.

Varadābhayada
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

7:127

Two arāla hands, (placed) on the hip and (in the region of the )head [constitute] varadābhayada.

Related Combinations