6) What is Mudra?

                     " मुदम आनंदम रती ददाती"

                  (Mudam anandam rati dadati)

That means "what gives happiness".  In Indian classical dance there are two types of MUDRAS , a) one hand gestures or ASAMYUKTA MUDRA ,    b) double hand gestures or SAMYUKTA MUDRA . Mudra should be meaningful or simply aesthetic. They also accompany a wider bodily expression that will give full meaning to the dance. In Bharatnatyam ASAMYUKTA Mudras 28 in number , SAMYUKTA mudras are 23 in number , according to ABHINAYA DARPANA . 

A) ASAMYUKTA Mudras --- 

" पताकास्ट्रीपताकोरद्धापताका कर्तरीमुख।

मयुरक्खोर्द्धाचंद्रश्च अराल शुकोतुखनदक।।

मुस्टिष्चा शिखराख्यश्चा कपित्थ कताजमुख।

सूची चन्द्रकला पदमकोश सरपशिरस्ताथा।।

मृगशीर्ष सिंघामुख कंगुलासचलादमका ।

चतुर भ्रमार्शचैबा हनमसास्या हंसापक्षक।।

संदांगशो मुकुलोष्चैब तम्रचुराष्ट्रिसुलका ।

इत्यसमयुक्ताहस्ता नमस्तबिंगशतीरिरिता।। " 

In this Shloka , 28 ASAMYUKTA Mudras are mentioned. They are ----

1.Pataka ,

2.Tripataka, 

3. Ardhapataka, 

4. Karttarimukha, 

5. Mayura, 

6. Ardhachandra , 

7. Arala , 

8. Sukatundaka,

9. Musthi, 

10. Shikhara ,

11. Kapittha, 

12. Katakamukha , 

13. Suchi

14. Chandrakala 

15. Padmakosh

16. Sarpashisha

17. Mrigashursha

18. Singhamukha

19. Kangula

20. Alapadma

21. Chatura

22. Bhramara

23. Hangsasya

24. Hansapaksha

25. Sangdangsha

26. Mukula

27. Tamrachura

28. Trishula 

                  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

29. Byaghra

30. Ardhasuchi

31. Katak

32. Palli

These 4 mudras also mentioned in ABHINAYA DARPANA. 

In the next lesson I will provide you SAMYUKTA mudras

©Step-by-step-with-rids.blogspot.com