Single Hand Gestures (Asanyukta) in Indian Classical Dance Kathak, Bhartnatyam

Pataka (Pah-tah-kah)

The open palm is held outward facing, the four fingers and thumb are held close together.

Used to express opening/closing of door, beginning of dance, flowing river water, saying "no", clouds, forest, taking oath, cutting, wind, horse, take rest, enter into a narrow road, blessing, moonlight, sunlight, slap, touching, rain

TriPataka (Tree-pah-tah-ka)

The palm face is held outwards. The thumb, first and second and little finger are kept straight. The third finger is bent into the palm.

Used to express crown, tree, lamp, applying "tikka", fire flames, turning around, Indra's, thunderstorms, vajra weapon, pigeon arrow, writing a letter

 ArdhaPataka (Ar-dah-pah-tah-ka)

The hand is rested with the palm facing outwards. The first and second fingers are extended straight and the third and the little finger are bent into the palm.

Used to express riverbank, flag, leaves, a saw, a tower, a knife, horn, saying "both", writing on a board

KartariMukh (Kar-tar-e-moo-kah-ha)

The hand is raised with the palm facing outwards. The 1st, 2nd and little fingers are extended straight up, the 3rd finger is bent into the palm and the thumb is placed to touch the tip at the 3rd finger.

Used to express separation between a women and man, opposite directions, falling, corner of eyes, death, electricity, sleeping after separation from beloved, stealing

Mayur (My-you-ra)

The hand is raised with the palm outwards. The 1 st, 2nd and little fingers are extended straight; the 3rd finger is bent.

Used to express peacock, creeper, bird of omen, throwing up, stroking hair, "tikka" on a forehead, the flow & direction of river water, sprinkling of holy water, becoming popular etc

ArdhaChandra (Ard-hah-chan-drah)

The palm faces upward slightly. All fingers are stretched together and the thumb is stretched to its fullest at right angles to the rest of the fingers.

Used to express moon, 8th day of dark fortnight, a hand seizing the throat, a spear, abhishekh (offering) to deities, a big platter, creation, waist, anxiety, self meditation, prayer, telling to our soul, to touch a limbs, greeting the forefathers

Aral (Aah-rah-l)

The palm is raised and faces outward. The 2nd, 3rd and little fingers are stretched straight. The 1 st finger is crooked or curved and the thumb is a little bent beside it and almost touching the tip of the finger.

Used to express drinking poison, drinking nectar, show peacock feathers, to write letter or to show beautiful women like Draupadi.

ShukaTunda (Shu-kah-toon-dah)

The palm is raised facing outwards. The 1st and 3rd fingers are stretched and the 2rd and little fingers are curved forward, while the thumb is bent a little beside them.

Used to express shooting an arrow, spear, remember the past, talk in astonishment, expressing contempt

Mushti (Moosh-tee)

Four fingers bent into the palm and the thumb set on them.

Used to express grasping hair, to lift something, wrestling, holding a weapon, climbing on a rope

Shikhar (She-car-ah)

The palm is raised outwards. The four fingers are bent into the palm and the thumb is extended straight out.

Used to express Kamdev (God of love), bow, pillar, certainty, offerings to ancestors, upper lips, entering, teeth, questioning, shiv-ling, saying "no", remember, recollection, ringing bell, applying "tilak" to men's forehead

Kapitha (Kap-pik-tha)

The palm is raised outwards. The 2nd, 3rd and little fingers are bent into the palm and the 1 st finger is bent forward and the thumb is bent to touch the tip of the 1st finger.

Used to express goddesses Laxmi and Saraswati, milking cows, a girl holding flower, grasping the end of the rope, hold the "Anchal", "ghungat", offering incense and lamp

KataKaMukh (Kah-tah-kah-moo-kah-hah)

The palm is raised outwards. The 3rd and little finger are extended and bent very slightly, the 1st finger and thumb are curved forward to touch at the tips and the 2nd finger is bent to touch the base at the thumb.

Used to express wearing a necklace, offering Betel leaves, grinding paste for mask, drawing a bow slowly, applying scent, speech, glancing

Suchi (Su-chee)

The palm is raised outwards. The 3rd and little fingers are bent very slightly, the 1st finger is stretched straight and the 2nd finger is either kept straight or bent to touch the tip of the thumb and the thumb is bent a little forward.

Used to express number one, to think, saying "thus" or "what" or "he", sun, city, world, playing with own hair, umbrella, capability, beating the drum, both hands, turning the potter's wheel, circle, explanation, evening

Chandrakala (Chan-dra-ka-lah)

The palm is raised facing outwards. The 2nd, 3rd and little fingers are bent facing forward parallel to the palm and the first finger and the thumb are stretched apart and extended straight.

Used to express moon, face, Lord Shiva's crown, River Ganga

PadmaKosh (Paad-ma-kho-shah)

The palm is hallowed and faces outwards. The four fingers are bent. A part of the little finger and the thumb is moved towards the bent fingers.

Used to express fruit, ball, flower bud, to eat, mango, bunch of flowers, lotus, anthill, breast, eating meals, rain, bell shape

SarpaShirsh (Sarpa-Shir-sha)

The palm is hallowed slightly, raised and faces outwards. The fingers and the thumb are close together and extended as the hood of the snake.

Used to express "gandh (sandal wood paste), snake, low tone, looking after animals, sprinkling holy water, offering holy water to God and Sages, to lift a baby, to hold a earthen pot, giving blessings

MrugShirsha (Mru-gah-shir-shah)

The palm is raised facing outwards. The little finger is extended straight, the other fingers are bent parallel to the base of the palm and the thumb is bent slightly backward behind the 1st finger.

Used to express women, cheek, fear, argument, playing Veena, calling someone or inviting, mark on forehead like "tilak", head of a dear, massaging the feet, applying makeup power on face, calling the beloved, house, umbrella, stairs

SinhaMukh (Sim-hah-mook-hah)

The palm is raised facing outwards. The 1st and little fingers are stretched straight; the 2nd and 3rd fingers are bent parallel to the palm and the thumb touches their tips.

Used to express animals like rabbit, elephant and homa, lion face, grass, lotus petals, preparing medicines, garland of lotus

Kangul (Khan-gu-lah)

The palm is raised facing outwards and all but the little finger touch at the tip. The little finger is bent inward and touches the base of the thumb.

Used to express grapefruit, bells and big bells, small bangles, bird, beetle nut, child's chest, white water lily, coconut

AlaPadma (Al-ah-pud-ma)

The palm is faced upwards and hallowed. All the fingers are spread out and bent to form a petal led circle.

Used to express bloomed lotus, fruit, circular movement, separation from beloved, yearning for beloved, mirror, full moon, beauty, half knot, village, anger, lake, bird, to praise, height, to ask what, why and where

Chatura (Cheh-two-rah)

The palm is faced outwards and hallowed. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers and the thumb are bent like a hooded snake and the little finger is extended straight.

Used to express eyes, oil, ghee, incense, musk, a little, copper, iron, to taste aesthetic pleasure, sorrow, the difference of casts, proof of promise, sweetness, charming, slow walk, breaking into pieces, face

Bhramara (Bra-mah-rah)

Used to express bee, parrot, crane, wing, cuckoo

The palm is raised facing outward and very slightly hallowed. The little finger is extended straight. The 3rd finger is also extended but is bent slightly and the 1st and 2nd fingers are bent forward to touch the thumb at the tips.

Used to express act of painting, wick of lamp, tie a knot, blessings, tying a Mangalsutra (symbol of marriage), teaching wisdom, jasmine flower, drop of water, dam

HansaPakshya (Hahm-sah-puk-sha)

The palm is raised facing outward and very slightly hallowed. The finger is extended straight and the other 3 fingers are bent forward, while the thumb bends over to touch the center of the 2nd finger on the inside.

Used to express climbing, making bridge, making marks with the nail, to cover, number six

Sandanshya (Sah-dum-shah)

The palm is raised facing outwards. The 1st finger is bent down to touch the thumb at the tip and the other three fingers are extended forward and very slightly bent at the joints.

Used to express stomach, offerings to God, wound, worm, fear, worship, number five

Mukula (Moo-koo-lah)

The palm is raised facing outwards. The four fingers are bent forward together and the thumb bent to touch the tip of the fingers.

Used to express eating, to show flower bud, water lily, Kamdev (God of love), holding a seal, navel, plantain flower.

TamraChud (Taam-raa-chu-da)

The palm is raised facing outwards. The 3rd and the little fingers are bent into the palm. The 1st finger is bent and touches its own base, the 2nd finger is bent forward and the thumb goes to touch it at the first joint.

Used to express cock, crane, camel, calf, writing, a child.

Trishul (Tree-shoe-lah)

Used to express leaf, number three, trident