Mudras/Hastas in Mohiniyattam – II (Various Uses)

Continued from [Mudras/Hastas in Mohiniyattam – I]


Mudras can be called the alphabets of classical dance which help in conveying expressions more profoundly. Alphabets form words, similarly, combining Mudras forms meanings. Hence these combinations of Mudras are divided into three:

1. Asamyuktha Mudras: Showing a Mudra with just one hand. E.g. Showcasing 'woman' with the Hasta Katakam
2. Samyuktha Mudras: Showing the same Mudra on both hands. E.g. Showcasing the 'King' - having the Hasta Pataka on both hands.
3. Sankalana Mudras: Showing different Mudras on both hands at the same time or showing different Mudras with the same hand. E.g. Showcasing the 'Cow' – Katakam on the left hand & Pathaka on right hand. The 'Tree' – Hold Araala first and then followed by Soochikamukha.

The table below gives a small description of the various uses of the 24 Mudras according to the classification above:-

Hastas	Asamyuktha Hasta	Samyuktha Hasta	Sankalana Hasta
Pathaka	Singing, Way, Throat, Distance, Tongue, Forehead, Day, Ray of Light	Earth, King, Sun, Wind, Ox, Lion, Creeper, Vessel, Crown, Devotee, Companion, Path, Foot, Seat, Crocodile, Hell, Banner, Body, Door, Wedding, Sweet	Dance, Dancers, Elephant, Shepherd, Empire, Cow, Night
Mudrakya	Desire, Doubt, Announcement, Heart, Thought, Knowledge, Peak	Mind, Sacred Thread worn by Brahmins, Movement, Everything, Life, Clothes, Sage	Ocean, Heaven, Equal, Saying No, Blow, Grow, Noble Person, Happiness, Virtue, Slightly, Hence, Death, Forget, Wealth
Katakam	Woman, Mirror, Bracelet, Fragrance	Krishna, Vishnu, Stars, Blue Lotus, Anklet, Waistband, Gold, Silver, Flower Garland, Holy Sacrifice, Lakshmi, Chariot, Sleeping, Precious Stone, Arrow, Ear Rings	Flower Arrow belonging to Kamadeva, Veena, Flower, Lord Ram, An Asura (Demon), Garden, Playing, Female Cuckoo, Beautiful Girl, Little Girl, Daughter
Mushti	Bow, Courageous Man, Asking what/ why/ how	Good Quality, Strength, Describing, Wear, To Start, Pulling	Mountain, Rising, Sunset, to give birth, to abandon, to mock, to tolerate, to stay, Father, Lord Indra, Truth, the most, to bless, to tie, Win, Cursing, to accept
Kartharimukha	Speak, Hear, Procrastinate, Human, Come, Slowly	Brahmin, Listen, Fame, Sin, Hunger, Cold, Animosity, Boy	Family, People, Nearby, Face, Open space, Parasuraman, Commencement, Home, Girl, Imagination, Addressing you, Addressing by Name
Shukathunda	Bird, Hook	Decision, Quarrel	Male Parrot, Female Parrot
Kapitha	Showing Two	Reason, Inquiring, Fault, Climbing, Drinking, Walking
Hamsapaksha	Me, Enough, Saying No, To lie down, Saying before, Hair	To bow, Matted Hair, Betrayal, Sandalwood Paste, Lord Manmata, To fill up, To save, Fish, Saying No, Addressing someone with respect, Laying the bed, Friendship, The Gods, Cheek	Moon, Lord Manmatha (Kamadeva - The God of Love), To Kill, Moonlight, To understand, Lord Shiva, Anger, Bless, Hair, to beg
Shikharam	Eyes, Mark on the forehead, Lightning	Walking, Climber	Centre, Lord Indra, To See
Hamsasya	Odour	Colour, Rice, Mercy, Love, Soft, Dust	Lips, Lover (Male & Female), Lotus Stalk
Anjali		To Give, To receive, Bowing to God, Bowing to one’s Guru (Teacher), Deer, Worship, Retching
Ardhachandra	Asking who/ when/ where/ how, Mind, Insult, Leaf	Happiness, Fatigue, Lake	Noble person, Laughter, Smile, Beauty
Mukhuro	Bee, Enemy	Separation from dear ones	Brother, Right Method
Bhramaro	Song, Exists, Drink holy water	Peacock, Rain, Cloud, Fear, Water, River, wings, Elephant Ears, Crying
Soochikamukha	Showing someone, Saying like that, Proper, showing the number One, Difficulty, Forehead, showing the world, showing quietness, showing eyebrows, showing something else, Crying, Drowsiness	Proper, Showing one by one, Showing a get-together, World, Climate, Break, Fall down	Tree, Death, Listen, Showing slightly, Hence, Beauty
Pallava	Plastering, Saying Now, Food offered to Gods, Any Offering to Deity, Far, Enemy	Book, Peak
Tripathaka	Saying No	Conversing with God, Gods
Mrigashirsha	Animal, Salt reed grass	Supreme being, Lotus petal
Sarpashiras	Snake, Child	Elephant Head, Gift, Serpent Head, Flower Offering, Drinking water, Snakes	Food for animals
Vardhamanaka	Lower lip, Kind of mark on the forehead, oblation to ancestors	Honey, Jewel
Araala	Cruel Man, Pride, Teeth, Bud, Showing the round shape of the Full Moon, To Think	Poison, Sin, Plant	Tree
Oornanabha	Ball	Snow, Lake,Fire, Light, Lotus, Horse, Heat, Jackal	Blooming of a flower, To play, Beauty, Garden, Roar, Crying aloud
Mukula	Eat, Mongoose, the number 5, Monkey, To wither	Luck, Purity, Auspicious Deed	Smile, Shepherd
Katakamukha	Heart, Ascetic’s water pot	Domestic Help, Intoxication, Warrior, Tied Up	To Kill, War

Mudras for the Gods

Name of Gods	Right Hand	Left Hand
Brahma (The Creator)	Hamsapaksha	Katakam
Ganapathi (Lord of Beginnings and Remover of Obstacles)	Pathaka	Katakamukha
Subramanian/ Muruga(God of war and victory)	Kartharimukha	Kartharimukha
Agni (God of Fire)	Mukula	Mukula
Agni (God of Fire)	Oornanabha	Oornanabha
Yama (God of Death)	Katakamukha	Katakamukha
Varuna (God of Water & Sky)	Mudrakya	Mudrakya
Varuna (God of Water & Sky)	Pathaka	Pathaka
Vayu (God of Wind)	Hamsapaksha	Hamsapaksha
Kubera (God of Wealth)	Kataka	Kataka
Saraswathi (Goddess of Knowledge, Music, Arts and Science & Brahma’s consort)	Kataka	Kataka
Parvati (Lord Shiva’s consort)	Kataka	Mrigashirsha
Vishnu (The Preserver)	Kataka	Kataka
Shiva (The Destroyer/ Transformer)	Tripathaka	Mrigashirsha

Mudras for Dasavatar

Dasavathar (10 Incarnations of Vishnu)	Right Hand	Left Hand
Matsya (Fish)	Hamsapaksha	Hamsapaksha
Koorma (Tortoise)	Clasping both the hands and bending the middle fingers
Varaha (Boar)	Anjali	Anjali
Narasimha (Half Man – Half Lion)	Pathaka	Kartharimukha
Vamana (Dwarf)	Katakamukha	Mushti
Parashurama	Kartharimukha	Mushti
Sri Ram	Kataka	Mushti
Balarama	Kataka	Kataka
Sri Krishna	Kataka	Kataka
Kalki	Mushti	Oornanabha/Katakamukha

Mudras for Relatives

Relative	Right Hand	Left Hand
Father	Hold Mudrakya & then leave	Mushti
Mother	Kataka	Kataka
Son	Hold Mudrakya & then leave	Kartharimukha
Daughter	Hold Mudrakya & then leave	Kataka
Female Friend	Pathaka	Kataka
Male Friend	Pathaka	Pathaka
Husband	Mushti	Mushti(Thumb should rise)
Wife	Hold the left hand	Mukula
Older Brother	Mudrakya	Mushti
Younger Brother	Mukura	Mushti
Sister	Mukura	Kataka

A noticeable factor in the above Mudras representing relatives are that the female relatives have Kataka as a common Mudra while for male relatives, the Mushti Mudra is most common.

Mudras for Certain Mythological Characters

Character	Right Hand	Left Hand
Ravana (Main Antagonist in the Ramayana)	Pathaka	Kartharimukha
Duryodhana (Eldest Kaurava – Main Antagonist in the Mahabharata)	Pathaka	Kartharimukha
Dushasana (Duryodhana’s brother)	Pathaka	Araala
Dharmaputra/Yudhishtra (Eldest Pandava – Protagonist in Mahabharata)	Pathaka	Mudrakya
Bheema (2nd Pandava)	Pathaka	Katakamukha
Keechaka (A Villain in the Mahabharata)	Mushti	Mushti
Sugreeva (Monkey King who assisted Sri Rama in the Ramayana)	Pathaka	Mukula
Karna (Illegimate son of Queen Kunti {mother of Pandavas} in the Mahabharata)	Kataka	Kataka
Daksha (Son of Brahma)	Hamsapaksha	Mushti
Bali (Older of brother of Sugriva - slain by Sri Rama in the Ramayana)	Pathaka	Mukula
Hanuman (Monkey God & ardent devotee of Sri Rama in the Ramayana)	Hamsapaksha	Hamsapaksha

Some of the character representations are the same in the above table. For E.g. Ravana & Duryodhana have the same Mudras but this can be identified in accordance to the narration or the story which is being depicted.

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.