SangeetKalaKendraKolkata

Next in the series comes the Nava Graha Hastas.  Navagraha   is a combination of two words,   Nav   meaning nine and   Graha   meaning planet. As per ancient Hindu texts there are nine planets -    Surya, Chandra, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Shurkra, Shani, Rahu   and   Ketu . Modern science do not agree to this. However as a student of Indian Classical dance we need to understand and learn the NavaGraha Hastas. Name of the Graha English Name Left Hand Right Hand Surya Sun Alapadma Hasta Kapitha Hasta Chandra Moon Alapadma Hasta Pataka Hasta Kuja\Mangala\Angaraka Mars Suchi Hasta Mushti Hasta Budha  Mercury Mushti Hasta, Pataka Hasta horizontally Bruhaspati or Guru Jupiter Shikhara Hasta Shikhara Hasta, both hands held like showing the sacred thread. Shukra  Venus Mush...

Deva Mudras are an integral part of learning Indian Classical dance. These mudras are taught at a very early age to the students in order to achieve fluency. Abhinayadarpana talks about deva hastas. These hastas are not only used in depicting Gods and Goddessess during a play or dance, it is also used for sculptures of these deities. Natyashastra talks about how to decorate the stage.  Bharata also talks about which corner/ side of stage belongs to which God. This concept is extensively used in Vastu Shastra and Agama Shastra. These are called  Deva Hastas and AshtaDikpal Hastas.    Sl No. Deity Right Left 1. Bhrama Hamsasya (Chest Level) Chaturam (Facing Upward, chest level) 2. Vishnu Tripataka at waist level Tripataka at waist level 3. Shiva Tripataka (at the side of the ear) Simhamukham ((at the side of the e...

Samyukta mudra are double hand gestures as in both the hands are used for  performing these. Once all the Asamyukta Mudras are learnt by the students only then they should be introduced to the Samyukta mudra. As per Natya Shastra there are following Samyukta Mudras.                                                          Name Mudras Usage Anjali Hasta Hold Pataka in both the hands & join the palms to show Anjali Hasta. To salute God, teacher & learned hold the Anjali above the head, in front of the face  chest Kapota Hasta In Anjali Hasta, only the borders of the hands are Joined (Palm not to touch one another) To make promise, Speak to the teacher, To be Polite,agree this hasta is used. Karkata Hasta Bring the fingers of both the hands betwee...