Hindu Dance

Bharata Natyam
In Bharata Natyam, the Classical Dance of India, approximately fifty-five root mudras (hand/finger
gestures) are used to clearly communicate specific ideas, events, actions, or creatures in which
thirty-two require only one hand, and are classified as `Asamyukta Hasta', along with twenty-three
other primary mudras which require both hands and are classified as 'Samyukta Hasta. [NB these
fifty-five are the roots; the branches permit of many more mudra, some of which are used primarily
as aesthetic or decorative enhancements.]
Asamyukta hastas (single hand gestures)

Translation(s) in Other
Name in Sanskrit Illustration
English Meanings

Pataka Flag

Tripataka Three Parts of the Flag

Ardhapataka
Half flag
/ardhapataka-hand-gesture-
mudra/

Kartarimukha Arrow shaft Scissors

Mayura Peacock Or peacocks

Ardhachandra Half moon
Arala Peak of the Mountain
Shukatunda Beak of a parrot
Mushthi Closed fist

Shikhara Heroism

Posing to Goddess of Wood apple

Kapitta
Wealth tree
Katakamukha Crab
Suchi Needle

Chandrakala Waxing moon

Padmakosha Lotus bud

Sarpashirsha Hood of a snake

Mrigashirsha Head of a deer

Simhamukha Face of a lion

Langula or Kangula Water Lily

Alapadma Flowering lotus

Chatura Clever and Witty

Bhramara Bee
Hamsasya Head of a swan

Hamsapaksha Wing of a swan

Sandamsha Tongs
Mukula Flower bud

Tamrachuda Cock

Trishula Trident

Ardhasuchi Half needle

Vyagraha Tiger
Palli Knot
Kataka Resting Place
Samyukta mudras (double hand gestures)

Name in Other
Translation(s) in English Illustration
Sanskrit ;' Meanings

Anjali Offering

Kapotam Dove

Karkatam Crab

Swastikam Auspicious sign

Dola-Hastam Drummer's hands

Pushpaputam bag of flowers l

Utsangam embrace

Shivalingam sign of Lord Shiva

Kataka-
chain
vardhanam

Shakatam carriage
Shankha Conch-shell

Chakram Rotating disc

Pasha Ropes

Kilaka bolt

Samputa round shaped casket

Matsya Fish

Kurma Tortoise

Varaha Boar

Half-eagle, half-human mount of Lord

Garuda
Vishnu, a bird/birds flying

Nagabandham snakes entwined

Khattva cot

Bherunda A pair of birds

Bharatanatyam, sometimes referred to
as Bharathanatiyam or Sadir,[1] is a major genre of Indian
classical dance that originated in Tamil Nadu.[2][3][4] Traditionally,
Bharatanatyam has been a solo dance that was performed
exclusively by women,[5][6] and expressed Hindureligious themes
and spiritual ideas, particularly of Shaivism, but also
of Vaishnavism and Shaktism.[2][7][8]
Bharatanatyam's theoretical foundations trace to the ancient
Sanskrit text by Bharata Muni, Natya Shastra,[7] its existence by
2nd century CE is noted in the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram,
while temple sculptures of 6th to 9th century CE suggest it was a
well refined performance art by mid 1st millennium
CE.[6][9] Bharatanatyam may be the oldest classical dance tradition
of India.[10]
Bharatanatyam style is noted for its fixed upper torso, legs bent or
knees flexed out combined with spectacular footwork, a
sophisticated vocabulary of sign language based on gestures of
hands, eyes and face muscles.[9] The dance is accompanied by
music and a singer, and typically her guru is present as the
director and conductor of the performance and art.[2] The dance
has traditionally been a form of an interpretive narration of
mythical legends and spiritual ideas from the Hindu texts.[5] The
performance repertoire of Bharatanatyam, like other classical
dances, includes nrita (pure dance), nritya (solo expressive
dance) and natya (group dramatic dance).[5][11]
Bharatanatyam remained exclusive to Hindu temples through the
19th century,[9] was banned by the colonial British government in
1910,[12]the Indian community protested against the ban and
expanded it outside the temples in the 20th century.[9][12][13] Modern
stage productions of Bharatanatyam have incorporated technical
performances, pure dance based on non-religious ideas and
fusion themes.[6][9]
Bharatanatyam, sometimes referred to
as Bharathanatiyam or Sadir, is a major
genre of Indian classical dance that
originated in Tamil Nadu. Traditionally,
Bharatanatyam has been a solo dance that
was performed exclusively by women, and
expressed Hindureligious themes and
spiritual ideas, particularly of Shaivism, but
also of Vaishnavism and Shaktism.
Bharatanatyam's theoretical foundations
trace to the ancient Sanskrit text
by Bharata Muni, Natya Shastra, its
existence by 2nd century CE is noted in
the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram,
while temple sculptures of 6th to 9th
century CE suggest it was a well refined
performance art by mid 1st millennium
CE.Bharatanatyam may be the oldest
classical dance tradition of India.
Bharatanatyam style is noted for its fixed upper torso, legs bent or
knees flexed out combined with spectacular footwork, a
sophisticated vocabulary of sign language based on gestures of
hands, eyes and face muscles.The dance is accompanied by
music and a singer, and typically her guru is present as the
director and conductor of the performance and art. The dance has
traditionally been a form of an interpretive narration of mythical
legends and spiritual ideas from the Hindu texts.

The performance repertoire of Bharatanatyam, like other

classical dances, includes nrita (pure dance), nritya (solo
expressive dance) and natya (group dramatic dance).