What Are the 13 Basic Kathak Mudras for Beginners in Online Dance Classes?

16th Mar, 2022

Hand mudras or hasta mudras are an essential part of a classical dance form such as Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kathak etc. If you share the same passion and love for dance, you can enroll in online dance classes and learn about hand gestures from expert artists. Several mudras come with different meanings and depend on the setting of the story. It makes it easier for the audience to decode them. Mudras communicate a lot and make the dance form look graceful and elegant. In this blog, you will learn about some of the essential mudras of Kathak.

Kathak Hand Gestures ft Kumar Sharma | KAFQA ACADEMY

1. Mudra - Pataka in Online Dance Class

In Pataka Mudra, All Your Hand Fingers Should be Straight and Close to Each Other

You need to bend your thumb in such a way that it reaches the end of your index finger.
Every nritta hastas use this popular mudra, which is why it is one of the most common hand gestures applied in Kathak dance form.

Pataka Mudra Signifies a Lot of Things, Such as -

To signify slap
Attainment of happiness
Portray scorching heat
Show torrential rain
Arrogantly refer to one’s self
The shallow pool of water
Present of flowers
Speedy movement of ocean waves and wind-breaking against the seashore
Uprooting or holding up a hill
Of representing woman and man

2. Mudra - Tripataka

In your Kathak classes, you will learn about Tripataka. To denote this expression, you need to start with Pataka.
After that, bend your ring finger and keep all the other fingers straight and firm.

Tripataka Can be Used to Show the Following Things

Draw a line
Represent monarch
Show a tilak or a bindi
Placing on a crown
Showing of Jyoti or a lamp

3. Mudra - Ardhapataka

In Ardhapataka, start with Tripataka first.
The only difference between Ardhapataka and Tripataka is that you need to bend your little finger along with your ring finger.

Ardhapataka is Used to Denote the Following Meanings

Leaves
Bank of the river
A knife
An animal horn

4. Mudra - Kartarimukha

In this mudra, you need to bend your ring and little fingers.
Press these fingers against your thumb while stretching the middle and index fingers to denote a scissor.

You Can Use Kartarimukha in Kathak to Denote the Following Things

Eye
Show two different things
Separation of a couple
Creepers
Lighting

5. Mudra - Ardhachandra

In Ardhachandra, you need to hold your thumb and finger apart.
Place the rest of your fingers together and straight.
It is pretty similar to the first one, Pataka. All you need to remember is to separate your thumb from the rest of them.

Ardhachandra is Used to Denote the Following Things

Crescent moon
Ornaments
Mirror
Blocking of a path

6. Mudra - Arala

In Arala, you need to curve your forefinger precisely like a bow.

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7. Mudra - Mushti

In Mushti, you need to clench all your fingers at first.
Wrap your thumb around them and form a fist.

A Mushti Represents a Lot of Things Such as

White milking of cows
To represent beating
Grasping weapons

8. Mudra - Shikhara

In Shikhara, bend all your fingers at first except your thumb.
Presse those fingers against your palm
Raise your thumb and hold it straight and upright

Shikhara Represents the Following Things Such as

A bow
Toe around the waist
Delineation of lips

9. Mudra - Kapittha

In Kapittha, you need to start with Shikhara first.
After that, bend your pointer finger and keep it over your thumb.

Kapittha Represents the Following Things Such as

Weapons
Thunderbolts
A bird

10. Mudra - Katakamukha

Katamukha is another mudra that you will learn in your Kathak classes. You need to bring your middle, index and thumb together.
After that, raise your little finger and the ring finger at a specific angle.

Katakamukha Represents the Following Things Such as

Drawing reins
Holding a fan
Holding a mirror
Drawing a pattern
Wearing a garland
Arranging a pearl necklace
Churning
Gathering ends of a cloth
Plucking flowers
Drawing of an arrow
Showing a rope
Holding a stick or a long whip
Representing a woman

11. Mudra - Suchimukha

In Suchimuka, you need to press your ring finger, middle finger and little finger against your thumb.
Always keep the forefinger straight

Suchimukha Represents the Following Meanings Such as

To show lighting
To represent the discus
To portray discus
To show number one
To indicate no or to speak
Hair, anger, decoration, perspiration
Shiva’s third eye

12. Mudra - Padmakosha

In Padmakosha, stretch all your fingers in the upward direction.
Bring them closer to one another and place them in such a way that shows that you are holding a glass or a cup

Padmakosha is Used to Represent the Following Things Such as

Breasts of a woman
Buds and flowers
Depict bloomed water lily or lotus
Offering puja to a deity

13. Mudra - Sarpashirah

In Sarpashirah, you will have to raise your fingers and place your palm in the front direction.
Bend your fingers slightly and form the head of a snake.

Sarpashirah Can Be Shown to Denote the Following Meanings Such as

Movements of serpents
Offering of water
The motion of the frontal globes of an elephant

The Bottom Line

These are some of the primary and essential Kathak mudras that you will learn in your online dance classes. You can get in touch with https://kafqa.com/ if you need additional information.

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