Mohiniyattam Adavus - Thaganams (1 to 7)

THAGANAM - I

Chollu: THAI -THAI- THI- THTHI

Starting Posture: Aramandalam posture. Hands in Namaste Position in front of the chest.

THAI - From Aramandalam, move the right leg slightly apart and simultaneously move the left leg next to the right leg and place it there on the toes. Hand should be kept steady in front of the chest.Body should move gracefully in semi-circular movement and bring the Namaste hands in front of the nose. Eyes should follow in semi-circular movement.

THAI - Move the left leg slightly apart and simultaneously move the right leg next to the left leg and place it there on the toes. Hand should be kept steady in front of the chest.Body should move gracefully in semi-circular movement and bring the Namaste hands in front of the nose. Eyes should follow in semi-circular movement.

THI - Same as first THAI except that the body moves from left to right instead of from front to right.

THTHI - Body should be steady continuing the posture of THI, slightly slanted. eyes should be looking straight ahead above the Namaste in front of the face.

The entire Adavu is repeated on the left side.

THAGANAM - II

Chollu: THI-THAA- THI-THTHI

Starting Posture: Aramandalam posture. Both hands - Tripathaka one in front of the chest and other in Dola.

THI - Stretch right leg diagonally in front from Aramandalam position and simultaneously stretch the left leg fully at the back.  Right hand in Tripathaka in  should move in semicircular motion from front of the chest and be placed in front of shoulder stretched with the elbow bend slightly. Eyes & head should follow the movement of the hand.

THAA - Hand, legs and eyes should do the reverse of 1st THI  i.e the body should come back the same way it moved while doing 1st THI and bring right leg to Swasthikam near left leg

THI  - While sitting in the posture with right leg in Swasthikam, and right hand in Tripathaka in front of the chest, only the torso should move up & down .Eyes and head should be looking down on to the left side.

THTHI - Same movement as 2nd THI

Repeat the entire Adavu on the left side.

THAGANAM - III

Chollu: THAI-THAI-THI THTHI THAI

Starting Posture: Aramandalam posture. Both hands in front of the chest - Tripathaka - palms facing down.

THAI - Raise the right leg slightly and keep it down. Body and head should sway slightly to the right side and right palm should turn and should face up. Eyes should move to the right side.

THAI - Raise the left leg slightly and keep it down. Body and head should sway slightly to the left side and left palm should turn face up while the right hand turns to its previous position where the palm faces down. Eyes should move to the left side.

THI - Right leg should move slightly forward with the knee bend. Right hand should again turn with palm facing up and also move it slightly forward along with the right leg . Head and eyes should up straight.

THTHI - While maintaining the same posture as THI  , raise the left leg up slightly and keep it down .

THAI - Right leg will come back up to Aramandalam position and right hand will also come back near the chest and palms will face down.

Repeat the entire Adavu on the left side.

THAGANAM - IV

Chollu: THI-THAA- THI-THTHI THTHAI
Starting Posture: Aramandalam posture. Both hands in front of the chest - Hamsasya

THI - Bend body slightly  from right to left. Keep right leg behind left leg in Swasthikam. Change right hand from Hamsasya to Ardhachandra and left hand still in front of the chest in Hamsasya.

THAA - Come back to Aramandalam posture with right leg still in Swasthikam . Change right hand from Ardhachandra to Hamsasya.

THI - Take  a step back with right leg while keeping both hands in front of the chest in Hamsasya.

THTHI - Take  a step back with left leg while keeping both hands in front of the chest in Hamsasya

THTHAI - Bring both legs together in Aramandalam while keeping both hands in front of the chest in Hamsasya

Repeat the entire Adavu on the left side.

THAGANAM - V

Chollu: THI-THTHI -THTHAI
Starting Posture: Aramandalam posture. Both hands in front of the chest - Hamsasya

THI - Keep right leg in diagonally in front on the heels and change the right hand from Hamsasya to Ardhachandra upright. 

THTHI - Keeping the same posture as THI , raise the left leg and keep it down.

THTHAI - Change the right hand from Ardhachandra to Hamsasya while slightly turning the torso along the right hand. Bring back the right leg to Aramandalam posture.

Repeat the entire Adavu on the left side.

THAGANAM - VI

Chollu: THI-THTHI -THTHAI
Starting Posture: Aramandalam posture. Both hands in front of the chest - Hamsasya

THI - Bend body slightly to from right to left. Keep right leg behind left leg in Swasthikam. Change right hand from Hamsasya to Ardhachandra and left hand still in front of the chest in Hamsasya.

THTHI - Keeping the same posture as THI , raise the left leg and keep it down.


THTHAI - Change the right hand Ardhachandra to Hamsasya while slightly turning the torso from right to leg along with the right hand. Bring back the right leg to Aramandalam posture.

Repeat the entire Adavu on the left side.

THAGANAM - VII

Chollu: THAI-THAA-THA-THTHAI-THAI-THAI-THOM
Starting Posture: Samam. Both hands on the left hip.

THAI - Place right leg in front. Turn head and eyes to the right side -diagonally looking straight. 

THAA-THA-THTHAI- Stay in the same position as 1st THAI

THAI- Place left leg alongside the right leg. Move head and eyes in semi-circular motion by slightly raising the head  from right side to straight down . Rotate right shoulder slightly during the movement to make it more graceful.

THAI THOM - Stay in the same position as 2nd THAI

This Adavu is done in 3 speeds though the Chollu is said in one speed constantly i.e. the 1st speed and head  moves only in the 1st speed. It's only the speed of the leg that changes.



These are the 1st set and the more easier  Thaganams. The next set of Thaganams shall be explained in the next post.