Theory

Asamyutha and Samyutha Hastaha

Introduction

Hand gestures and facial expressions play an essential role in dance, as it helps communicate the lyrics’ meaning.  Even in day-to-day life, many of us use hand gestures to communicate when there is a language barrier. Some of us are highly dependent on hand movements for communication; restricting one’s hand movements would be challenging for many of us even to express our ideas clearly. Hence, the hand gestures are inculcated in dance, symmetrically and sometimes asymmetrically, so that the dancer can communicate the feeling, emotions, and meaning of the lyrics.

 

There are two types of hand gestures in Bharatanatyam.

  1. Asamyutha Hasta – Single hand gestures
  2. Samyutha Hasta – Double hand gestures.

These hand gestures are capable of conveying not just meaning of the lyrics. Instead they are also capable of conveying abstract concepts and ideas such as, beauty, truth, interpret, describe or narrate several actions and ideas.

 

ಅಸಂಯುತ ಹಸ್ತ ಶ್ಲೋಕಗಳು 

  1. ಪತಾಕಸ್ ತ್ರಿಪತಾಕೋ ಅರ್ಧಪತಾಕಸ್ ಕರ್ತರಿಮುಖ:
    ಮಯೂರಾಖ್ಯೋ ಅರ್ಧಚಂದ್ರಶ್ಚ ಅರಾಳ ಶುಕತುಂಡಖ:
  2. ಮುಷ್ಟಿಶ್ಚ ಶಿಖರಾಖ್ಯಶ್ಚ ಕಪಿತ್ತ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಮುಖ:
    ಸೂಚಿ ಚಂದ್ರಕಲಾ ಪದ್ಮಕೋಶ ಸರ್ಪಶಿರಸ್ ತಥಾ
  3. ಮ್ರಿಗಾಶೀರ್ಷ ಸಿಂಹಮುಖ ಕಾಂಗೊಲಶ್ಚ ಅಲಪದ್ಮಕ:
    ಚತುರೋ ಭ್ರಮರಸಚೈವ ಹಂಸಾಸ್ಯೋ ಹಂಸಪಕ್ಷಕ:
  4. ಸಂದಂಶೋ ಮುಕುಲಸಚೈವ ತಾಮ್ರಚೂಡಸ್ ತ್ರಿಶೂಲಕ:
    ಇತ್ಯಾಸಂಯುಕ್ತ ಹಸ್ತಾನಾಂ ಅಷ್ಟಾವಿಂಶತಿ ರೀರಿತಃ”

Asamyutha hasta shloka-s:

  1. Pathakas Tripathako Ardhapathakas Kartharimukhaha
    Mayoorakhyo Ardhachandrascha Araala   Shukathundakaha
  2. Mushtischa Shikharakhyascha Kapitha Katakhamukhaha
    Suchi Chandrakhala Padmakosha Sarparhirasthathaa
  3. Mrigashirsha Simhamukhaha Kaangoolascha Alapadmakaha
    Chaturo Bhramaraschaiva Hamsasyo Hamsapakshakaha
  4. Samdamsho Mukulaschaiva Thaamrachooda Trisoolakaha
    Ithyaasamyukta Hastanam Ashtavimshati reerita”

There are 28 Asamyutha hasta-s. They are mentioned as follows.

  1. Pathaka – translates to a flag – Four fingers of the hand are stretched with the bent thumb finger.
  2. Tripathaka – translates to a flag with three – Bend the ring finger in Pathaka hasta.
  3. Ardhapathaka – means a half flag – Adopt the Tripathaka hasta and bend the little finger.
  4. Kartharimukhaha – Scissor face – Adopt Ardhapathaka hasta, push the index finger back and middle finger forward and touch the thumb finger to ring and little fingers.
  5. Mayura – Peacock – Adopt Pathaka hasta; slowly move the thumb finger towards the ring and touch the tip.
  6. Ardhachandra – Half moon – Adopt Pathaka Hasta, push the thumb finger outward and group the other four fingers.
  7. Araala – Means Bent – Adopt the Pathaka hasta and bend the index finger.
  8. Shukathundakaha – Parrot’s beak – In Araala, bend the ring finger.
  9. Mushti – Fist – Fold all four fingers and place the thumb finger on them.
  10. Shikhara – Peak – In Mushti, open the thumb finger.
  11. Kapitha – Elephant apple – In Shikara, curve the index finger and place it on the thumb finger to touch its tip.
  12. Katakhamukhaha – Bracelet face – There are two variations of doing this hasta.
    • – According to Natya Shastra – In Kapitha hasta, stretch the last finger and ring finger.
    • – According to Abhinaya Darpana – In Kapitha hasta, apply the forefinger and middle finger to the thumb finger.
    • Over the years, stretching straight all the first three fingers and joining them is practised. But some dancers consider this way of representing Hamsasya, not Katakamukha.
  13. Soochi – Needle – Stretch the index finger straight, pointing upwards, and touch the tip of the middle finger with the thumb finger.
  14. Chandrakala – Digit of the moon – In Soochi hasta, stretch the thumb outward.
  15. Padmakosha – Lotus bud – Stretch all the fingers of the hand, bringing them close to each other without touching them.
  16. Sarpasheersha – (Snake hood) – Bend the tip of all the fingers forward in Pathaka hasta.
  17. Mrigashirsha – Deer head – In Sarpasheersha hasta, the three fingers from the index, middle and ring fingers are bent in a stretch position. The thumb and little fingers are straightened.
  18. Simhamukha – Lion face – In Mrigashirsha, straighten the index finger and bend the thumb finger to touch the middle and ring fingers.
  19. Kangoolah – Tail – In Padmakosha hasta, the ring finger is curved and bent inside to touch the base of the thumb finger.
  20. Alapadmakaha – Full-blown lotus – All fingers stretched apart, and the index finger extended with the little finger bent inwards.
  21. Chathura – Square – Stretch the three fingers from index to ring, keeping all three fingers close to each other. Bend the thumb finger obliquely to touch the base of the ring finger. The little finger is stretched and separated from the other fingers.
  22. Bhramari/a – Bee – Touch the tip of the middle finger to the thumb finger, with the index finger curved and bent between the middle and thumb fingers. The last two fingers are stretched out.
  23. Hamsasya – Swan beak – The index finger is bent to touch the tip of the thumb finger, and the other three fingers are searched out.
  24. Hamsapakshakaha –Swan wing – In Sarpasheersha hasta, stretch the little finger, and bend the middle three fingers horizontally and thumb touching the base of the index finger.
  25. Sandamsha – Pincers – In Padmakosha, open and close all the fingers in a vibrating motion.
  26. Mukula – Bud – The tip of all the fingers and the thumb touch one another in a bud formation.
  27. Thaamrachooda – Crane – The index finger is curved up in Mukula hasta.
  28. Thrishoola – Trident – The last and thumb fingers bend and touch the tip of each other. The rest three fingers are held straight.

ಸಂಯುತ ಹಸ್ತ ಶ್ಲೋಕಗಳು

  1. “ಅಂಜಲಿಶ್ಚ ಕಪೋತಶ್ಚ ಕರ್ಕಟ  ಸ್ವಸ್ತಿಕಾಸ್ತಥಾ
    ಡೋಲಾಹಸ್ತ  ಪುಷ್ಪಪುಟ:  ಉತ್ಸಂಗ  ಶಿವಲಿಂಗಕ:
  2. ಕಟಕಾವರ್ಧನಶ್ಚೈವ ಕರ್ತರಿ  ಸ್ವಸ್ತಿಕಾಸ್ತಥಾ
    ಶಕಟಂ  ಶಂಖ  ಚಕ್ರೆಚ  ಸಂಪುಟ  ಪಾಶ  ಕೀಲಕಂ
  3. ಮತ್ಸ್ಯ ಕೂರ್ಮೋ ವರಾಹಶ್ಚ  ಗರುಡೋ  ನಾಗಬಂಧಕ:
    ಖಟವಾ  ಬೇರುಂಡಕಾಕ್ಯೆಶ್ಚ ಅವಹಿತಸ್ತಥೈವಚ:
    ಇತ್ಯೇತೇ  ಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ  ಸಂಯುತಾಃ  ಕರಾ:”
    ಇತ್ಯಾಸಂಯುಕ್ತ ಹಸ್ತಾನಾಂ ಅಷ್ಟಾವಿಂಶತಿ ರೀರಿತಃ”

Samyutha hasta shloka-s:

  1. Anjalishcha kapothashcha karkata svasthikasthathaa
    Dolahasthah pushpaputaha uthsangah shivalingakaha
  2. Katakaavardhanashchaiva karthareesvasthikasthathaa
    Shakatam Shanka Chakrecha samputah paashaa Keelakau
  3. Mathsyah Koorma Varaahashcha Garudo naagabandhakaha
    Khatvaa Berundakaakhyeshcha Avahithas

There are 24 Samyutha hasta-s. They are mentioned as follows

  1. Anjali – Salutation – Two Pathaka hasta joined to make Namaste.
  2. Kapotha – Pigeon – The palms are curved outwards in Anjali.
  3. Karkata – In Anjali, two wrists are kept apart, and the fingers of both hands are alternately crossed.
  4. Swasthika – Crossed – Two hands in Pathaka hasta are crossed at wrist level, and a small gap is maintained between them.
  5. Dola – Swing – The hands in Pathaka hasta are stretched down to the sides of the body.
  6. Pushpaputaha – a handful of flowers – Both the hands in Sarpasheersha are joined sideways with palms touching each other and facing upwards.
  7. Uthsangah – Embrace – Both the palms in Mrigashirsha are placed on the shoulders.
  8. Shivalinga – Linga of Shiva – Right palm in Shikara and left palm in Ardhachandra. The right palm is placed on the left palm.
  9. Katakavardhana – Bracelet increase –  The two hands in Katakamukha are crossed near the wrist.
  10. Karthari swastika crossed scissors – The hands in Kartharimukha are crossed at the wrist.
  11. Shakatam – Cart – When the middle fingers and the two thumbs in Bhramara are extended.
  12. Shankha – Conch – When the thumb of the Shikara hand meets the other thumb and is clung around by the fore finger.
  13. Chakra – Discus – The hands in Ardhachandra are brought together with the palms facing each other at a right angle.
  14. Samputah – Casket – If the fingers of both Chankra are curved, it becomes Samputa hasta.
  15. Paashah – String – The index finger of both the hands in Soochi are bent towards and interlocked in opposite directions.
  16. Keelakah – In Mrigasheersha, the little fingers of both hands are bent inwards and interlocked in opposite directions.
  17. Matsya – Fish – The two hands in Pathaka are placed one above the other with the thumb pointing outwards.
  18. Koormah – Tortoise – The two hands should be in Chakra with the middle three fingers folded.
  19. Varaha – Boar – The hands in Mrigasheersha should be placed one on top of each other with the thumbs and the little fingers stretched out.
  20. Garuda – Celestial Eagle god -The palms of the hands in Ardhachandra are kept one above the other with their palms facing inwards, keeping the thumbs together.
  21. Nagabandaka: Serpent fetter – The two hands in Sarpasheersha crossed at the wrist.
  22. Khatwa – Bedstead – The two hands in Chatura are joined together with index fingers and the little fingers pointing straight downwards.
  23. Berunda – Mythical bird with two heads – The two hands in Kapitha crossed at the wrist.
  24. Avahita – Love – The two hands in Alapadma crossed at the wrist.

 

Sriveena Narthana Shaale