Asamyuta hastas: single-hand gestures
A hasta (also called mudra) is a hand position that carries meaning. Asamyuta hastas use one hand. The text Abhinaya Darpana by Nandikeshvara lists 28:
Pataka, Tripataka, Ardhapataka, Kartarimukha, Mayura, Ardhachandra, Arala, Shukatunda, Mushti, Shikhara, Kapittha, Katakamukha, Suchi, Chandrakala, Padmakosha, Sarpashirsha, Mrigashirsha, Simhamukha, Kangula, Alapadma, Chatura, Bhramara, Hamsasya, Hamsapaksha, Sandamsha, Mukula, Tamrachuda, Trishula.
Each hasta has a list of uses called viniyoga. Examples:
- Pataka (flag): all fingers straight and together, thumb bent. Shows clouds, forest, a blessing, "stop".
- Tripataka: pataka with the ring finger bent. Shows a crown, a tree, a lamp flame.
- Ardhachandra (half moon): pataka with the thumb stretched out. Shows the moon on the eighth day, a plate, the waist.
- Mushti (fist): firm holding, courage.
- Shikhara (peak): fist with the thumb up. Shows a bow, a pillar, a question "who?".
- Suchi (needle): index finger pointing. Shows the number one, "this".
- Mrigashirsha (deer head): thumb and little finger up, others bent.
- Alapadma (bloomed lotus): fingers spread and curved. Shows beauty, the full moon.
Samyuta hastas and deity hastas
Samyuta hastas use both hands together. Abhinaya Darpana lists about 23:
Anjali, Kapota, Karkata, Swastika, Dola, Pushpaputa, Utsanga, Shivalinga, Katakavardhana, Kartariswastika, Shakata, Shankha, Chakra, Samputa, Pasha, Kilaka, Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Garuda, Nagabandha, Khatva, Bherunda (some versions add Avahittha).
- Anjali: two pataka hands joined palm to palm, for greeting gods, teachers and elders.
- Swastika: two pataka hands crossed at the wrists; can show a tree or fear.
- Pushpaputa: two hollowed palms side by side, as when offering flowers.
- Dola: two pataka hands hanging loosely by the thighs, used at the start of a dance.
Deva (deity) hastas
Special hasta pairs show gods. Vishnu: tripataka in both hands held at the shoulders. Shiva: mrigashirsha in one hand and tripataka in the other. Brahma: chatura in one hand and hamsasya in the other. Texts and teaching schools differ in small details, so learn your school's form. There are also hastas for the ten avatars (dashavatara), relationships and planets.
Padabhedas: mandalas, jumps and bhramaris
Padabheda means the ways of using the feet. Abhinaya Darpana groups them as:
- Mandalas (about 10 positions), such as sthanaka/samapada (standing with feet together), ayata or aramandi (half sitting with knees turned out, the basic Bharatanatyam stance), muzhumandi (full sitting on the toes, knees out), alidha and pratyalidha (lunges to the side) and swastika (legs crossed).
- Utplavanas: 5 kinds of jumps.
- Bhramaris: 7 kinds of turns: utpluta (jumping turn), chakra (wheel-like turn), garuda, ekapada (on one foot), kunchita (with bent knee), akasha (in the air) and anga (whole-body turn).
- Charis: 8 movements of the feet while moving.
- Gatis: 10 gaits copying animals, birds and people, such as hamsi (swan), mayuri (peacock), gaja (elephant) and simha (lion).
A good aramandi keeps the back straight, heels together, knees pushed out over the toes and weight evenly spread.
The sapta talas and the five jatis
A tala is a repeating cycle of beats, shown by the hand (kriya). It is built from angas:
| Anga | Symbol | Shown by | Beats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laghu | I | a clap + finger counts | depends on jati |
| Drutam | O | a clap + a wave | 2 |
| Anudrutam | U | one clap | 1 |
The sapta (seven) suladi talas: Dhruva (I O I I), Matya (I O I), Rupaka (O I), Jhampa (I U O), Triputa (I O O), Ata (I I O O), Eka (I).
The laghu has five jatis: Tisra 3, Chatusra 4, Khanda 5, Misra 7, Sankeerna 9. So 7 talas × 5 jatis = 35 talas.
Examples: Adi tala = chatusra jati triputa = 4 + 2 + 2 = 8 beats. Chatusra jati dhruva = 4 + 2 + 4 + 4 = 14 beats. Misra jati jhampa = 7 + 1 + 2 = 10 beats.
Basics of Carnatic ragas
The seven swaras (notes) are Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Ni. Sa and Pa are fixed; the others have different forms, giving 12 note positions (swarasthanas) in an octave.
A raga is a chosen set of swaras with rules: an arohana (ascending order) and an avarohana (descending order), typical phrases and ornaments (gamakas). Each raga has its own mood.
- Melakarta (parent) ragas: 72 ragas that use all seven swaras in order going up and down (sampurna). Examples: Mayamalavagowla (15, used for first lessons), Kharaharapriya (22), Shankarabharanam (29), Kalyani (65).
- Janya (derived) ragas come from a melakarta, often dropping or bending notes. Example: Mohanam has 5 notes, S R G P D Ṡ, leaving out Ma and Ni.
In a dance item, the raga sets the mood and the tala sets the rhythm that the dancer's feet follow.
Try it: the 3D and at home
In free play, choose each hasta and copy it with your right hand in front of a mirror. Then pick Triputa with Chatusra jati (Adi tala) and clap it: clap + 3 finger counts, clap + wave, clap + wave. Count to 8.
Now switch to Khanda jati Ata tala. Predict the beats before you look (5 + 5 + 2 + 2 = 14), then check.
Key formulas and definitions
- Asamyuta hastas = 28 (one hand); samyuta hastas ≈ 23–24 (two hands)
- Tala angas: laghu I = jati count; drutam O = 2; anudrutam U = 1
- Jatis: Tisra 3, Chatusra 4, Khanda 5, Misra 7, Sankeerna 9
- Sapta talas: Dhruva IOII, Matya IOI, Rupaka OI, Jhampa IUO, Triputa IOO, Ata IIOO, Eka I
- 7 talas × 5 jatis = 35 talas; Adi = chatusra triputa = 8
- Bhramaris = 7; utplavanas = 5; charis = 8; gatis = 10; melakarta ragas = 72
Worked examples
1. How many beats are in chatusra jati triputa tala (Adi tala)?
Triputa = I O O. Laghu = 4, drutam = 2, drutam = 2. Total = 8 beats.
2. Find the beats in tisra jati triputa.
Laghu = 3, so 3 + 2 + 2 = 7 beats.
3. Find the beats in khanda jati ata tala.
Ata = I I O O. 5 + 5 + 2 + 2 = 14 beats.
4. Find the beats in misra jati jhampa tala.
Jhampa = I U O. 7 + 1 + 2 = 10 beats.
5. Which hasta is formed by bending only the ring finger of pataka, and what can it show?
Tripataka. It can show a crown, a tree or a lamp flame.
6. Is Mohanam a melakarta raga? Explain.
No. A melakarta uses all seven swaras in both directions. Mohanam uses only five (S R G P D), so it is a janya (derived) raga.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up tripataka (ring finger bent) and pataka (all straight).
- Counting drutam as one beat. Drutam = 2 beats (clap + wave); anudrutam = 1.
- Thinking Adi tala is a separate eighth tala. It is chatusra jati triputa.
- Calling every raga a melakarta. Only the 72 sampurna parent ragas are melakartas; the rest are janya ragas.