Hastas in Mohiniyattam - I

 
Mudras or Hastas plays the most important role in Angika Abhinaya. It has the place of alphabets in a language. Hastas convey the meaning of a song, helps in expressing an emotion better through gestures according to the situation and hence making it a visual treat for the Rasikas or the audience.

Each of these fingers has a name.

1. Little finger – Kanishta
2. Ring Finger – Anamika
3. Middle Finger – Madhyama
4. Index Finger – Tharjani
5. Thumb – Angushtam

 

These fingers are used to portray the 24 hand gestures or the Hastas which has been codified in the Hasta Lakshana Deepika which literally means the Lamp showing the Purpose of Hand Gestures (of which the author is unknown). It should been noted that the Asamyutha Hastas (Single Hand Gestures) classified in the Natyashastra is slightly different from those in Hasta Lakshana Deepika. Mohiniyattam follows the Abhinaya concepts written in Hasta Lakshana Deepika and Abhinaya Darpana(Mirror of Gesture) authored by Nandikeswara.

The Sloka for Hasta Lakshana Deepika :-

Hastah PatakoMudrakhya KatakoMushtirithyapi

Kartharimukhasamjascha Shukathunda Kapithakah

Hamsapakshashchah Shikaro Hamsasyah Punaranjali

ArdhachandrashchaMuhuro Bhramaro Soochikamukhah

Pallavastripatakashcha Mrigasheershahoyasthathaah

Punah Sarpashirasamjanjo Vardhamanakarithyapi

Araala Oornanaabhascha Mukhulah Katakamukhah

Chaturvimshathirithyathe Karaashastranjasamathaah

 

Pathaka, Mudrakya, Katakam, Mushti, Kartharimukha, Shukathunda, Kapithakam, Hamsapaksham, Shikaram, Hamsasyam, Anjali, Ardhachandram, Mukuram, Bhramaram, Soochikamukham, Pallavam, Tripathakam, Mrigasheersham, Sarpashiras, Vardhamanakam, Araalam, Oornanabham, Mukhulam, Katakamukham are the 24 hand gestures.

No	Hastas	Picture	Method
1	Pathaka		The Thumb should be close to the hand. Bend the ring finger from middle. Rest of the fingers are straight up.
2	Mudrakya		The tips of the thumb and the index finger should be touching each other and rest of the fingers are held straight up.
3	Katakam		Keeping the Mudrakya Hasta, fold the middle finger onto the palm near the thumb
4	Mushti		Fold all the fingers like a fist with the thumb across the index finger
5	Kartharimukha		The little finger is pointed up, the index finger, middle finger and ring finger is folded down like showing number 3 and the thumb is placed on the side of the index finger
6	Shukathuda		The index finger is held up folded like a hook. Rest of the fingers are folded into the palm with the thumb kept on top of the fingers.
7	Kapitham		Hold the index finger and middle finger up together. The ring finger & middle finger is folded with the thumb over the folded fingers.
8	Hamsapaksha		All the fingers are held up
9	Shikhara		Hold the Kapitha Mudra(No:7) and bring the middle finger forward & index finger back. Like showing scissors
10	Hamsasya		The tips of the index finger and middle finger are placed on the tip of the thumb. The other two fingers are held up.
11	Anjali		Hold all the fingers together. The palm should be slightly cupped.
12	Ardhachandra		The palm should be facing up and then open all the fingers.
13	Mukhura		The index finger and little finger is held up. The middle finger and ring finger is folded and also slightly bed in a rounded fashion without touching the thumb.
14	Bhramara		The index finger is folded and rest of the fingers are pointed up.
15	Soochikamukha		Only the index finger is pointed up like showing the number 1 and rest of the fingers are folded with the thumb across the folded fingers.
16	Pallava		All the fingers are pointed up except the thumb which is kept under the ring finger.
17	Tripataka		All the fingers are held close together with the tip of the thumb slightly bend
18	Mrigashirsha		The index finger and little finger is pointed up. The ring finger and the middle finger are folded straight with its tips touching the tip of the thumb.
19	Sarpasiras		All the fingers are held close together with its tip slightly bend on top
20	Vardhamanaka		Only the thumb is open. All the other fingers are bend with the index finger touching the middle of the thumb and rest on top of the other.
21	Araala		The index finger is held straight with the thumb and the middle finger touching either sides of the index finger. The little finger and ring finger is bent.
22	Oornanaabha		All the fingers are equally bent forward.
23	Mukula		All the fingers tips touch each other
24	Katakamukham		All the fingers are folded here with the thumb coming out in between the middle finger and ring finger.

These Mudras or hand gestures are portrayed by one hand or both hands at various positions depicting characters, words, describing the lyrics. The placement position of each Mudra is very important as each Mudra held at different positions has a meaning of its own. In the images below, you see the dance holding the same Mudra (Katakam) but the way of holding it is different hence depicting different meanings. In the first image, Katakam is held as a mirror & in the second image Katakams are depicting a flute.
 
 

Dancer holding Katakam as flute

Dancer holding Katakam as Mirror

 













These images  shows the importance of how & where the Mudras should be held.