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Anjali (ahn-gel-ee)
The palms are kept open and two hands are
joined with the fingers and thumb extended and
held close together. Fingers of both hands
touch each other face to face.
Used to express a salute to God, teacher or
Brahma, this Mudra can be performed in front of
head, face or chest.
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Kapota (kah-poe-tah)
The palms of the two hands are slightly
hallowed facing toward oneself and arc joined
at the side and the top. The little fingers
touch along their sides. All fingers are
extended and slightly bent.
Used to express Namaskar, to show respect to
the teacher and elders, humbleness
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Karkatt (kar-ka-ta)
The fingers of the two hands are clasped
with each other and the hands are kept with the
knuckles facing outwards.
Used to express arrival of group, stoutness,
blowing the shell, stretching the limbs,
bending the branch of a tree
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Swastika (Swa-sti-ka)
Two Pataka hands are crossed at the wrists
where the bases of the palms touch and the left
hand is placed above the right i.e. the right
hand with fingers and thumb stretched are held
close together pointing upwards, and the left
hand with fingers and thumb in the same way
also pointing up and crossed at the wrists with
the left hand on the right hand.
Used to express crocodile, alligator, to
talk in fear, to argue
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Dola (Dolah)
Two Patakas are used in this. That is the
hand with the fingers and thumbs stretched are
placed with the back of the palms resting on
the thighs. The right hand is placed on the
right thigh and left on the left thigh.
This Mudra is used in the beginning of the
dance performance
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Puspaputa (poosh-pah-pu-tah)
The palms are hallowed slightly and face one
another, fingers and thumb close together, and
slightly bent at the top, the finger tips and
bases of the palm in each hand are placed to
touch each other.
Used to express Arati, water, offering a
light, accepting a fruit, offering to the sun
in the evening and to chant holy
prayers
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Utsang (Ut-sangh)
The palm is raised facing outwards and three
fingers are bent towards the palms and the
thumb is bent slightly backwards. In this case,
the hands are held to touch the opposite
shoulders at the fingertips. The little finger
is extended in both the hands.
Used to express hug, shyness, happiness,
teaching the children
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Shivling (Shi-va-lingha)
Here is a combination of the Ardhachandra
with the left hand and Shikhara with the right
hand.
Used to express Shiva-ling.
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Katakavardhan (Kah-tah-ka,var-dha--nah)
The palms are raised outward and extend and
bent to touch the base of the thumb. The 2nd
finger and thumbs are curved forward to touch
the tips. The 1st finger is also curved forward
parallel to the 2nd finger. The hands are
crossed at the wrists with the hands slightly
thrown back and facing in the opposite
direction
This is used to express marriage,
coronation, worship
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KartariSwastik (Kar-tar-E-sva-sti-ka)
In this mudra, there is combined use of the
Kartari Mukha hands. The hands are crossed
raising palms facing outwards.
This is used to show branches of a tree,
summit of a mountains and trees
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Shakat (shah-kah-tah)
The palm; are raised. The 2nd, 3rd and
little finger* are stretched straight and the
1st finger; are bent and curved in half to
touch the thumb and the thumbs arc slightly
bent outwards to touch each other.
This is used to show the gestures of
Rakshasa (demons).
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Shankh (shan-kah)
In this mudra, there is combined use of the
Shikhara Hast.
Used to express Shankh (shell) or things
like shell
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Chakra (Cha-ka-ra)
Here there is combined use of the Pataka
hand slightly modified as if to clap.
This is used to express Chakra (weapon of
Lord Vishnu)
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Samput (Saam-poo-tah)
Here there is a slight deviation and
modification of the Chakra Hast. It is the same
as Chakra Hast except that the 1st, 2nd and the
3rd fingers are slightly bent instead of being
stretched straight.
Used to cover things and to show the sacred
box in which the idols are places, to give
somebody a gift, shuffle the dice
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Pash (Pah-sha)
The 2nd, 3rd and little fingers are bent
into the palm and the 1st finger is bent and
interlaced with the 1st finger of the other. In
the other hand, 2nd finger is slightly bent and
the 3rd and 4th fingers are bent into the
palm.
This is used to show playful quarrel,
chains, rope
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Kilaka (Key-la-kah)
The palms are raised. The little fingers are
extended straight with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd
fingertips touch the center of the palm. Hands
are crossed at the wrists facing in opposite
directions and the extended little fingers are
interlocked.
Used to show affection, conversation of
intimate friends and lovers
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Matsya (Mat-sya)
The open palm of the right hand faces
outward and the four fingers and the thumb arc
extended but the thumb instead of being placed
beside the other fingers as in Pataka is spread
apart. The left hand with the palm facing down
is placed over the right hand so that the
fingers of each hand point in the same
direction.
Used to show fish and also one of the
"avatars" from Vishnu's ten incarnations.
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Kurmah (Koor-mah)
The hands are clasped together with the
palms touching and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers
of each hand are bent over to touch the back of
the other hand. The thumbs and the little
fingers are stretched.
Used to show tortoise and also one of the
"avatars" from Vishnu's ten incarnations.
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Varaha (Vah-rah-ha)
The palms are bent down. 1st, 2nd and 3rd
fingers of one hand overlap 2nd, 3rd and 4th
finger of the other hand. The thumbs are
stretched outwards.
The little fingers are extended "straight.
Used to show wild boar.
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Garuda (Ga-rooh-dah)
The hands are raised with palms facing
outwards. The four fingers are stretched and
the thumbs are extended away from the rest of
the fingers. The hands are then crossed at the
wrists and the thumbs are interlocked. The
palms of the hands face inwards.
Used to show Eagle.
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Nagabandha (Nah-gah-bun-dah)
The palm is slightly hallowed and faces
outwards. The four fingers and thumb are
extended close together like the hood of a
snake. These hands are crossed at the
wrists.
Used to show snakes, to describe Atharva
Veda shlokas.
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Khatva (Kat-vah)
The open palms are held facing outwards, the
1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers and the thumb are held
closely together and the little fingers are
stretched straight downwards. The hands are
slowly moved to and fro with grace at the
elbows.
Used to express bed, crib for the baby or
"Palkhi" (a carrier to carry people).
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Bherund (Bay-rune-dah)
Similar to Bhramara except that the first
and little fingers are bent and come closer to
the thumb.
Used to express bird couple
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