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Credits and Reference.

Reference :

1. www.onlinebharatanatyam.com.
2. www.google.com.

Credits:

Lisa Gye- Lecturer (HAM 420) for giving this wonderful opportunity to express my interest on blogging and also learning new information about the dance form which i was ever loving to learn.Sincere Thanks.

Double Palm Gesture.

These are the different forms of Double palm gestures.

1. Anjali: (salutation)

2. Kapota: (humble)

3. Karbta: (Crab)

4. Swastika: (praising)

5. Dola: (Swing)

6. Pushpaputa: (Flower casket)

7. Utsanga: (Embrace)

8. Shiva-(Linga)

9. Kataka Vardhana

10. Kar/ari-Swastika: (Crossed arrowshafts)

11. Shakata: (Car)

12. Garudapaksha: (Garuda wing)

13. Nishedha: (Warning)

14. Shankha: (Conch shell)

15. Chakra: (wheel)

16. Gamputa: (box)

17. Pasha: (a chain)

18. Kilaka: (affection)

19. Matsya: (fish)

20. Kurma: (tortoise)

21. Varaha: (boar)

22. Garuda: (bird)

23. Nagabandha: (the coil of a snake.)

24. Khatwa: (Cot)

25. Bherunda: (pair of birds)

26. Makara: (sea)

27. Vardhamana: (Increase)

28. Viprakirna: (Loose)

29. Arala-Katakamukha: (giving pieces of betel leaf)

30. Suchasya: (Needle-face)

31. Ardha Rechita: (invitation)

32. Kesha-Bandha: (Tying the hair)

33. Mushthi-Swastika

34. Nalini-Padmakosha: (cluster of flowers)

35. Urdhestitals-Padma: (indicating desires)

36. Ulbana: (Abundance)

37. Lalita: (mountain)

Single palm Gesture.

The Single palm gesture is divided into three different groups.

Group 1:

1. Pataka Hasta (Flag)

2. Triputaka Hasta (Flag in 3 parts)

3. Ardha-Pataka Hasta (Half-Flag)

4. Mayura Hasta (Peacock)

5. Kartari-Mukha Hasta (Arrow-Shaft)

6. Ardha-Chandra Hasta (Half moon)

7. Suka-Tunda Hasta (Parrots Beak)

8. Arale Hasta (Bent or crooked hand)

Group 2:

1. Musti Hasta (Fist)

2. Sikhara Hasta (Spire)

3. Kataka Hasta (Crab)

4. Kapittha Hasta (wood-apple)

5. Chandra Kala Hasta (Digit of the moon)

6. Suchi Hasta (Needle)

7. Tamara Kuda Hasta (Cocks comb)

8. Kataka Mukha Hasta (Crab face)

Group 3:

1. Padmakosa Hasta (Lotus Bud)

2. Mukula Hasta (Flower Bud)

3. Ardha-Suchi Hasta (Half needle)

4. Bhramaram Hasta (Bee)

5. Chatura Hasta (Four fingered)

6. Sarpa-sirsa (snakes hood)

7. Mrga-sirsa Hasta (Deer)

8. Simha-Mukhe Hasta (Lions Face)

9. Bana Hasta (Arrow)

10. Hamsaya Hasta (Swans bill)

11. Hansa Paksha Hasta (Parrots beak)

12. Langula or Kangula Hasta (tail)

13. Urna Nabha Hasta (spider)

14. Samdamsam Hasta (tongs)

15. Trishula Hasta (trident)

These all the gestures of single palm.

Importance of Hand Gesture

In Bharatanatyam the Hand gesture also called as "Hasta Mudra"(sanskrit language),Palm movements, this plays a vital role. usually this gestures are used to express the emotions,mood,some object,animal,and a person.

There are two major varieties in these gestures.

1. Single-Palm Gesture - "Asamyukta" (sanskrit language)
2. Double-Palm Gesture - "Samyukta" (sanskrit language)

In single palm gesture there are three different groups.

Hand Gesture 9:"Karkata".

In this gesture the fingers of both the hands interlocked with each other.

• It symbolize the Arrival of people (Get together)
• Blowing the conch
• Twisting and stretching of Limbs.

Hand Gesture 8:"Kapota".

When the Anjali Mudra is slightly bulging at the knuckles of the palm we get the Kapota Hasta. In this gesture the palms touch each other only at the Tips and the base of the palm. The center is cupped.

• Respectful salutations.
• Its a mark of acceptance or obedience.

Hand Gesture 7:"Pushpaputa".

When both the Palms are joined together at the little finger and slightly hollow at the centre of the Palms. The inner palm facing up.

• Its a way to pray to god asking him what you need.
• And also to show offering to god like flowers,fruits,water etc.,
• Mainly it indicates waving of light to god.

Hand Gesture 6:"Anjali"

When both the palms in Pataka are joined together we get the Anjali Mudra. In the Indian culture this Mudra is very often used for greeting elderly people or anyone whom we are meeting for the first time.

• This mudra is used to offer salutation to the God, Elders, and Teachers.
• It is used to show the respect and greetings to the people whom we meet.
• Mostly this hand gesture will be used as the first pose before starting the dance.

Hand Gesture 5:"Kartariswastika"

When both the hands are crossed in Kartarimukha Mudra we get the "Kartariswastika".

this gesture is not often used. This gesture is used to denotes

• Stems and branches of the trees.
• A huge tree
• A hill top or its peak.

Hand Gesture 4:"Chakra"

When the Palms in Ardhachandra mudra touch each other vertically and horizontally we get the Chakra Mudra. The right palm is vertically held and the left palm is horizontally placed over it.

• This Mudra denotes the Wheel.
• In the traditional language called "sanskrit" this chakra denotes the wheel.
• This chakra is a Divine weapon with sharp edges and is supposed to spin like a Disc.
• This Mudra is often used in this dance.

Hand Gesture 3:"Shakata".

When the Bhramara hasta is held in both hands, we get the "Shakata".

• It says that the Shakata hasta is used to enact a demon.
• Thus when shakata hasta is held close the face , it indicates vicious teeth of a demon.
• Also when it is held at the eye level it denotes the protruding eyes.

Hand Gesture 2:"Shivalinga".

This hand gesture is called "Shivalinga".Hold Ardhacandra in the left hand, palm facing up.

Hold shikhara in the right hand and place it on the left hand.

• The shloka say that this Mudra indicates a Linga of lord Shiva. Linga means sign, mark or symbol. Thus a Shivlinga is a symbol that represents Hindu God lord Shiva
• Linga is derived from the Sanskrit word lingam, which comes from li meaning, “to dissolve” and gam “to move on”.

Hand Gesture 1:"Shankha".

This Hand gesture is called "Shankha" (a conch shell).Hold the thumb of your left hand with the forefingers of right hand, Touch the right thumb to the left palms middle finger.

It is one of the divine Conch shell or sea shell, which is one of the insignia in the Hindu God Vishnu's hands.

• The Shankha is used to alarm enemies and to start off war.
• It also represents awakening.
• The sound emitted from Shanku when blown, is too divine, that is used for regular rituals for Vishnu.

Indian Classical Dance

Indian classical dance is a dance style that is the national dance of India Bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam is a classical dance the originates from Tamil Nadu, a state in South India and is accompanied by traditional Tamil music. This dance is an art of communicating the emotions through dance such as laughter and sadness and so forth. The name Bharatanatyam translates to a combination of three elements: Bhavanai (means expression), Ragam (meaning music) and Talam (rhythm).

As this dance style is based on the different human emotions. I will demonstrate through images the nine human emotions that this form of dance is based around. These are: love, peace or tranquility, laughter , kind-heartedness or compassion, courage, anger, fear, disgust and surprise. Not only the emotions Bharatanatyam also deals with many hand gestures with ample of meanings to that, which i'm going to explain through some pictorial representations and the meanings for the same.

image source: Toorpaqets Indian Traditional Dance
http://www.toorpaqets.com/Natya%20_Shastra.jpg

Why I Chose Dance as My Blog!!!

As I was brought up in a village in South India I remember my granny cooking up colourful spicy feasts. Feasts so sumptuous and exploding with flavour, flavours that were different to any other village in India. You may be wondering, what on earth has my granny's Indian feasts in my home village got to do with dance? While my granny would cook with many pots and pans she would make clinking noises like 'tink tink tink' or 'sizzzle pow!' then i noticed something amazing. My feet would start tapping to her cooking sounds! My granny would make music with her pots and pans and I would look down as a child and see my feet going crazy dancing to the beat!

I also grew up watching Bollywood and Tamil films where my favourite film heros would do spectacular dance numbers. I knew from that young age as a child in the villlage in my hometown that all I wanted to do was DANCE! I danced my way through my teenage years and then in my university undergraduate degree in India I joined dance competitions and became a dance teacher in India. It was my absolute passion!

This blog is to continue my passion for dance and to share with you my favourite dance numbers which are so inspiring. I will then teach through guided step by step photographs of Indian classical dance.

Do You Think You Can Dance.....

Getting ready with more steps....