Samyukta Hastas (Two-Hand Gestures)

Anjalishcha Kapothashcha,
Karkatas SvasthikasthaThaa.
Dolahasthah Pushpaputah,
Uthsangah Shivalingakah.
Katakaavardhanshchaiva
Kartharee SvasthikasthaThaa.
Shakatam Shankha Chakre Cha,
Samputah Passhakeelakau.
Mathsyah Koormo Varaahashcha,
Garudo Nagabandakah.
Khatavaa Bherunda ithyethe
Sankhyaathah Samyuktah Karaah.

Anjali: When both hands in the Pathaka gesture are brought together such that the palms touch each other, the gesture is called ‘Anjali’.

Uses: Anjali is used in salutation to Gods, teachers and elders.


Kapotha: When in the Anjali gesture, only the tips of the fingers and the bottom of the hands are joined, the gesture is called ‘Kapotha’.

Uses: Kapotha is used in conversation with a teacher, salutation and accepting something respectfully.


Karkata: When the fingers of one hand are clubbed between the fingers of the other hand, the gesture is called ‘Karkata’.

Uses: Karkata is used to indicate closeness of a group, showing a belly, filling a conch by blowing, twisting or stretching of limbs or bending a branch.


Swasthika: When the Pathaka hands are held across each other at the wrist, the gesture is called ‘Swasthika’.

Uses: Swasthika is used to indicate sky, ocean and vast expanse.


Dolahastha: When the two Pathaka hands are placed in line with the thighs, it is called ‘Dolahastha’.

Uses: Dolahastha is normally used in the beginning of a dance.


Pushpaputaah: When in the Sarpasheersha gesture, both hands touch each other on one side and held horizontally, the gesture is called ‘Pushpaputah’.

Uses: Pushpaputah is used to indicate waving a lighted lamp around, taking of fruits and water, offering sacred water in the evening and offering sanctified flowers.


Uthsanga: When in the Mrgsheersha gesture, both hands are placed on the upper arm of the opposite hand; the gesture is called ‘Uthsanga’.

Uses: Uthsanga is used to indicate embrace, bashfulness, showing of armlets and coaching of children.


Shivalinga: When the right hand in the Shikhara gesture is placed on the palm of the left hand which is held in the Ardhachandra, the gesture is called ‘Shivalinga’.

Uses: Shivalinga gesture is used to indicate a 'Shivaling'.


Katakaavardhana: When both hands in the Katakamukha gesture are placed across each other at the wrist, the gesture is called ‘Katakaavardhana’.

Uses: Katakaavardhana is used to indicate coronation, worship and marriage.


Kartharee-Swasthika: When both hands in Karthareemukha are placed across each other at the wrist, the gesture is called ‘Kartharee-Swasthika’.

Uses: Kartharee-Swasthika is used to indicate branches, peak of hills and trees.


Shakatah: When both hands are held in the Bhramara gesture with the middle finger and thumb close to each other but not touching, and held above the chest, the gesture is called ‘Shakatah’.

Uses: Shakatah is used to indicate demons.


Shankha: When the thumb of one hand is enclosed fully by the Shikhara fingers of the other hand such that the Shikhara thumb touches the upright fingers of the other hand, the gesture is called ‘Shankha’.

Uses: Shankha is used to denote a conch.


Chakra: When both the Ardhachandra hands are held criss cross with the palms touching each other, the gesture is called ‘Chakra’.

Uses: Chakra is used to denote a wheel.


Samputah: When the fingers of the one of the Chakra hands are bent and closed in, the gesture is called ‘Samputah’.

Uses: Samputah is used to indicate a casket or covering up a thing.


Paasha: When both hands in Soochee have their index fingers locked up, the gesture is called ‘Paasha’.

Uses: Paasha is used to indicate mutual quarrel or a chain or a twisted rope.



Keelaka: When both hands in Mrgsheersha have their little fingers locked up, the gesture is called ‘Keelaka’.

Uses: Keelaka is used to indicate friendship and a veiled speech.


Mathsyah: When one hand is placed on top of the other with the palms facing the ground and the thumbs and little fingers a bit outstretched, the gesture is called ‘Mathsyah’.

Uses: Mathsyah is used to indicate a fish.


Koormah: When in the Chakra gesture, if the fingers are curved and locked and the thumb and the little fingers are clearly visible, the gesture is called ‘Koormah’.

Uses: Koormah is used to indicate a tortoise.


Varaaha: When both hands in Mrgsheersha are placed one over the other and the thumbs and the little fingers meet each other, the gesture is called ‘Varaaha’.

Uses: Varaaha is used to indicate a boar.


Garuda: When the Ardhachandra of both hands are held criss cross at the wrists and the thumbs are locked up with each other, the gesture is called ‘Garuda’.

Uses: Garuda is used to indicate an eagle.


Naagabandha: When both hands in Sarpasheersha are held across each other at the wrist, the gesture is called ‘Naagabandha’.

Uses: Naagbandha is used to indicate intertwined serpents.


Khatvaa: When the middle fingers of one chatura hand touch the other chatura hand with the little and the index fingers released and touching the ground, the gesture is called ‘Khatvaa’.

Uses: Khatva is used to indicate a cot or a palanquin.


Bherunda: When both the hands in Kapitha are held across at the wrists, the gesture is called ‘Bherunda’.
Uses: Bherunda is used to indicate a pair of birds.

Asamyukta Hastas (One-Hand Gestures)

Pathakas, thripathako, ardha pathakaah,
Karthareemukhah.
Mayooraakhyo ardhachandrashcha araalah,
Shukathundakah.
Mushtishcha shikhrakhyashcha kapithah,
Katakaa mukhah.
Soochee chandrakalaa padmakoshah,
Sarpashirasthathaa.
Mrgsheersha simhamukhah kaangulaashcha,
Alapadmakaah.
Chathuro bhramaraashchaiva hamsassyo,
Hamsapakshakah.
Samdhamsho mukulashchaiva thaamrachoodas,
Thrisoolakah.
Ithyasamyuktah hasthanaam astha
Vimshathireeritha.

Pathaka (Flag like hand gesture): When the other fingers held straight and with the thumb slightly bent are brought close to each other, the hand gesture is called ‘Pathaka’.

Uses: Pathaka is used to denote clouds, forest, a prohibited thing, bosom, night, a river, heaven, a horse, cutting, wind, lying down, trying to go, valor, blessing, moonlight, scorching heat of the sun.It indicates forcing open closed doors, waves, entering a street, equality, applying sandal paste, the soul, swearing, keeping mum, palm-leaf, shield, touching things.

While blessing, gesticulating a foremost king, sea, calling a person going ahead, taking a sword, pointing to a month, a year, rainy day, sweeping – Pathaka has to be used.

ThriPathaka: In Pathaka gesture, when the ring finger is also bent, it is called ‘Thripathaka’.

Uses: Thripathaka is used to indicate crown, a tree, thunderbolt, God Indra, kethakee flower, a lamp, leaping flames of fire, a pigeon, writing a letter, an arrow and turning around.

ArdhaPathaka: In Thripathaka gesture, when the little finger is also bent, it is called ‘Ardhapathaka’.

Uses: Ardhapathaka is used while denoting a slab, a river bank, fresh sprouts, knife, scissors, flagstaff, a tower and a horn.

Karthareemukha: When the middle finger and the index finger are held vertically (with the middle finger slightly bent forward) and the other fingers touch the thumb, it is called ‘Karthareemukha’.

Uses: Karthareemukha is used to denote the separation of a man and a woman, rivalry, looting, corner of the eye, death, separation and to indicate a creeper.

Mayura: When the ring finger touches the thumb with the other fingers held vertically, the gesture is called ‘Mayura’.

Uses: Mayura is used to indicate the face of a peacock, a bird, vomiting, and while brushing aside the hair, applying tilak, while pushing aside the waters of a river, a debate on scriptures and to represent popularity.

ArdhaChandra: With all other fingers held together and the thumb standing apart (the gap between them looking like the arc of the moon), the gesture is known as ‘Ardhachandra’.

Uses: Ardhachandra is used to indicate the shape of the moon, strangling of the throat with the hand, a spear, offering sacred bath to the deities, origin of the waist, to represent thought within oneself, meditation, prayer, in touching one’s own limbs and wishing the commoners.

Araalah: In the Pathaka gesture, if the index finger is bent, the gesture is called ‘Araala’.

Uses: Araala is used to indicate drinking of nectar, poison, blowing of a strong wind.

Shuktundakaah: In the Araalah gesture if the ring finger is also bent, the gesture is called ‘Shutundakaah’.

Uses: Shuktundaka is used to indicate shooting of an arrow, throwing a spear, recollecting one’s place, saying mystic things and angry mood.

Musthi: When all the fingers are held and bent together touching the palm and the thumb on the top of others, the gesture is called ‘Mushti’.

Uses: Mushti is used to indicate firmness, grasping something, holding things and a fight between wrestlers.

Shikhara: If in Mushti gesture, the thumb is held upright, the gesture is called ‘Shikhara’.

Uses: Shikhara is used to indicate cupid, a bow, pillar, certainty, offering to the departed forefathers, upper lip, something entered, teeth, questioning, to suggest it is not there, recollecting, pulling the girdle knot, hug and ringing a bell.

Kapitha: In the Shikhara gesture, when the index finger is bent to touch the thumb, the gesture is called ‘Kapitha’.

Uses: Kapitha is used to denote Lakshmi and Saraswati, holding of cymbals, milking a cow, applying collyrium, holding flowers for sport, holding ends of a saree, collecting clothes and while showing incense or sacred lamp to deities.

Katakamukha: In the Pathaka gesture, when the middle and the index finger touch the thumb, the gesture is called ‘Katakamukha’.

Uses: Katakamukha is used to indicate collecting flowers, holding a pearl necklace, or wearing it, drawing a mid-portion of a bow, presenting betel leaves, preparing a paste of musk and sandal, applying scents to something, speaking and glancing.

Soochee: If the index finger is held straight with all the other fingers joined together and the thumb on top of them, the gesture is called ‘Soochee’.

Uses: Soochee is used to indicate number one, the supreme soul, number hundred, the sun, city, the world, to indicate sense of similarity, sense of loneliness, threatening, becoming lean, a rod, body, wonder, locks of hair, an umbrella, competence, indicate line of hair, sounding of drums, rotation of wheels of the potter, circumference of a wheel, deliberation and end of the day.

Chandrakala: In the Soochee gesture, if the thumb is separated and held horizontally straight, the gesture is called ‘Chandrakala’.

Uses: Chandrakala is used to denote the moon, face, refer to objects of particular measurement, space between the thumb and the index finger, crown of Siva, river Ganges and a club.

Padhmakoshah: When all the fingers are bent towards each other but kept separated from each other to create a hollow in the palm, the gesture is called ‘Padhmakoshah’.

Uses: Padhmakoshah is used to indicate a rotation, a cooking pot, and act of taking food, high point of a woman’s breasts, a flower bud, mango, and shower of flowers, bunch of flowers, bell, company, ant-hill, lotus and an egg.

Sarpashirsha: In the Pathaka gesture, when all the fingers are bent a little, the gesture is called ‘Sarpashirsha’.

Uses: Sarpashirsha is used to indicate sandal, serpent, middle tone, sprinkling, and nourishing, offering water to deities, patting on the temples of the elephant and patting on the biceps of wrestlers.

Mrgsheersha: In the Pathaka gesture, when the middle three fingers are bent downwards and the thumb and the little finger are held upright, the gesture is called ‘Mrgsheersha’.

Uses: Mrgsheersha is used to indicate women, cheek, a wheel, limit, fear, quarrel, costume or dress, triprundraka mark on the forehead, face of a deer, a lute, massaging the feet, prosperity, holding an umbrella and while calling the beloved.

Simhamukha: If the middle and the ring finger are bent to touch the thumb and the other two fingers are held upright, the gesture s called ‘Simhamukha’.

Uses: Simhamukha is used to indicate a sacred occasion, rabbit, elephant, and lotus garland, face of a lion and preparation of medicines by physicians.

Kangulaah: When the ring finger is completely bent while the other fingers are held straight in a cluster, the gesture is called ‘Kangulaah’.

Uses: Kangulaah is used to indicate bell, partridge, betel nut, water lily and the coconut.

Alapadhma: When the fingers beginning from the little finger are separated from one another and bent a little, the gesture is called ‘Alapadhma’.

Uses: Alapadhma is used to indicate a full-blown lotus, elephant apple, circular movements, and separation from the beloved, looking glass, full moon, beauty, hair-knot, anger, village, a lake, a wheel, murmuring sound and praise.

Chaturah: When the index, middle and the ring fingers are held close to each other and bent a little with the thumb placed at the foot of the ring finger and the little finger held straight, the gesture is called ‘Chaturah’.

Uses: Chaturah is used to indicate musk, little quantity, gold, copper, iron, dampness, grief, aesthetic pleasure, eye, difference of cases, proof, elegance, breaking to pieces, face, ghee and oil.

Bhramara: With the index finger rounded, the middle finger touching the thumb and the other fingers outstretched, the gesture is called ‘Bhramara’.

Uses: Bhramara is used to indicate a bee, parrot, wing, crane, cuckoo and other birds.

Hamsaasyah: With the index finger touching the thumb and the other fingers stretched out, the gesture is called ‘Hamsaasyah’.

Uses: Hamsaasyah is used to indicate auspiciousness, tying the sanctified thread, getting instructions clarified, pearls, pushing the wick of a lamp, touchstone, painting, drawing, mosquito and storage of water.

Hamsapaksha: In the Pathaka gesture, if the middle three fingers are slightly bent forward, the gesture is called ‘Hamsapaksha’.

Uses: Hamsapaksha is used to indicate number six, building of a bridge, imprinting nail marks and shutting or covering.

Sandhamshah: In the Padhmakoshah hasta, if the contact between the fingers is broken and revived again and again, the gesture is called ‘Sandhamshah’.

Uses: Sandhamshah is used to indicate stomach, wound, worm, fear, worship and number five.

Mukula: When all the five fingers are brought close to each other and cling together, the gesture is called ‘Mukula’.

Uses: Mukula is used to indicate eating, cupid, holding a token of recognition and navel.

Thamrachoodah: In the Soochee posture, if the index finger is slightly bent, the gesture is called ‘Thamrachoodah’.

Uses: Thamrachoodah is used to indicate a cock, crane, crow, camel, calf of a cow and writing.

Thrishoolaka: When the thumb and the little finger are joined with the thumb on the top and the other fingers are held upright, the gesture is called ‘Thrishoolaka’.

Uses: Thrishoolaka is used to indicate the bilva leaf and trinity.