Maarg Manthan · Topic 5.5

Mudras and Hand Gestures

Art & Culture › Dance Forms · Topic 5.5

Mudras are hand gestures used in Indian classical dance, yoga, ritual and sacred art to express meaning and feeling. In dance they are described in the Natya Shastra and the Abhinaya Darpana of Nandikeshvara, and are divided into Asamyuta hastas (single-hand, 28 in Abhinaya Darpana) and Samyuta hastas (double-hand, 23 in Abhinaya Darpana). Well-known examples are Pataka (flag), Tripataka, Katakamukha, Mayura (peacock), Alapadma (lotus) and Anjali (salutation, a double-hand mudra). In Buddhist and Hindu images mudras such as Abhaya (fearlessness), Varada (boon), Bhumisparsha (earth-touching) and Dharmachakra (teaching) are asked often in the exam.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Dance Forms

At a Glance

Text Abhinaya Darpana, Natya Shastra
Single hand Asamyuta hasta
Double hand Samyuta hasta
Count 28 and 23 in Abhinaya Darpana
Also used in Yoga, ritual, Buddhist art
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Dance Forms

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the eight classical dance forms and explains the gesture language shared by all of them. The same mudras also appear in sculpture and painting. Previous topic: Eight Classical Dance Forms (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Sattriya). Next topic: Folk Dances (Bihu, Garba, Ghoomar, Chhau, Dandiya).

What Are the Main Asamyuta and Samyuta Hastas?

Type	Mudra	Meaning or use
Asamyuta (single hand)	Pataka	Flag. Fingers straight, used for cloud, forest, river, blessing
Asamyuta	Tripataka	Three parts of flag; ring finger bent, used for crown, tree, lamp
Asamyuta	Ardhapataka	Half flag, used for leaf, knife, tower
Asamyuta	Kartarimukha	Scissors face; used for separation, lightning
Asamyuta	Mayura	Peacock; used for peacock, applying tilak, creeper
Asamyuta	Shikhara	Peak; used for bow, pillar, love
Asamyuta	Katakamukha	Opening in a bracelet; used for picking flowers, garland, pulling the bow
Asamyuta	Alapadma	Fully opened lotus; used for beauty, full moon, a village
Samyuta (double hand)	Anjali	Folded palms; salutation, prayer, respect
Samyuta	Kapota	Dove; used for greeting, humility, taking an oath
Samyuta	Karkata	Crab; used for a conch, a stout person, stretching
Samyuta	Swastika	Crossed wrists; used for crossing and for the swastika sign
Samyuta	Dola	Swing; used for the starting position and a swing
Samyuta	Pushpaputa	Handful of flowers; offering

Which Mudras Are Seen in Buddhist and Hindu Images?

Mudra	Gesture	Meaning and example
Abhaya	Right palm raised, fingers up	Fearlessness and protection; seen in Buddha and Jain Tirthankara images
Varada	Palm open facing down	Granting a wish, giving a boon, charity
Bhumisparsha	Right hand touching the earth	Buddha calling earth as witness at Bodh Gaya; Buddha statue in sitting posture
Dharmachakra	Both hands in front of the chest, forming a wheel	First sermon at Sarnath, setting the wheel of law in motion
Dhyana	Both hands in the lap, palms up	Meditation; in Buddha and Shiva images
Vitarka	Thumb and forefinger touch, others raised	Teaching and discussion
Anjali	Folded hands	Greeting, Namaste, prayer
Chin and Gyan	Thumb and forefinger form a circle	Knowledge and consciousness in yoga

What Else Should You Remember?

Hasta: the Sanskrit word for hand; mudra means seal, sign or gesture. In dance both words are used, though hasta is more precise
Natya Shastra count: the Natya Shastra lists 24 Asamyuta, 13 Samyuta and 13 Nrittahastas, while the Abhinaya Darpana counts 28 Asamyuta and 23 Samyuta, so the numbers depend on the source
Other gesture groups: besides hands, dance uses drishti bheda (eye movements), shiro bheda (head), griva bheda (neck), and pada bheda (foot movements)
Kathakali: uses a system of 24 basic mudras with many more combinations, and is the most mudra-rich dance form
Natya Shastra and gesture: Nandikeshvara, the author of the Abhinaya Darpana, is a mythical sage, a companion of Shiva
Yoga mudras: in yoga and tantra, mudras such as Gyan, Prana and Apana are used in meditation and breathing practice
Buddhist art: Bamiyan, Ajanta, Sarnath and Gandhara images show Buddhist mudras, a theme asked in questions on sculpture
Gandhara and Mathura: the Gandhara school mostly shows Abhaya and Dhyana mudras, and the Mathura school shows Abhaya and Varada
Hand and rasa: mudras carry the sense of the song, while the face carries the rasa, as in Rasa and Bhava Theory
Jain and Hindu: Jain Tirthankaras are shown in Kayotsarga (standing) and Padmasana (seated); Hindu gods are shown with Abhaya and Varada mudras
Training: students learn mudras early, usually from the shloka that names each gesture, and practise them in front of a mirror before combining them into phrases of a song
Spelling variants: Mudra may be written mudra or mudraa, Abhaya as Abhay, and Bhumisparsha as Bhumisparsh

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Counts: Asamyuta and Samyuta numbers, which depend on the source
Names: Pataka, Tripataka, Anjali and their meaning
Buddhist art: Abhaya, Varada, Bhumisparsha, Dharmachakra, Dhyana
Text: Abhinaya Darpana of Nandikeshvara
Common errors: mixing Dharmachakra with Bhumisparsha, or placing Anjali as a single-hand mudra

As an analytical point, mudras are a sign language that connects dance, ritual, sculpture and yoga. They show how a single visual vocabulary can carry meaning across religion and art.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Types Single and double hand
Buddhist art Mudra identification
Text Abhinaya Darpana

What Came Next?

The next topic covers folk dances of India such as Bihu, Garba, Ghoomar, Chhau and Dandiya. Next topic: Folk Dances (Bihu, Garba, Ghoomar, Chhau, Dandiya).

Key People and Terms

Mudra Gesture or seal
Hasta Hand
Asamyuta Single hand
Samyuta Double hand
Pataka Flag gesture
Anjali Salutation

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Text: Abhinaya Darpana.
Single hand: Asamyuta; double: Samyuta.
Fearlessness: Abhaya.
Earth-touching: Bhumisparsha.
Teaching: Dharmachakra.

Do Not Confuse With

Asamyuta and Samyuta One hand versus two hands
Bhumisparsha and Dharmachakra Calling earth versus first sermon
Abhaya and Varada Protection versus boon

Memory Hook

One hand, Asamyuta; two hands, Samyuta; palm up, no fear; palm down, a boon.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for links between art forms. These points give a frame.

Common language Dance, sculpture, yoga
Continuity Texts to modern practice
Teaching Training of young dancers

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Mudras connect dance, sculpture and ritual in Indian culture. Explain.”

How to Answer

Meaning Define mudras.
Types Hands and others.
Link Dance, Buddhist art.
Way Teach and document.

GS Relevance

Prelims: types of hastas, texts, common mudras, mudras in Buddhist art. GS Paper 1: Indian heritage and culture, dance and sculpture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are mudras in Indian dance?

Mudras are standard hand gestures used in Indian classical dance to show objects, ideas and emotions. They are described in the Natya Shastra and the Abhinaya Darpana and are combined with face and body movement. The Sanskrit word hasta is also used for hand gestures.

What is the difference between Asamyuta and Samyuta hasta?

Asamyuta hastas are gestures made with a single hand, such as Pataka, Tripataka and Mayura. Samyuta hastas are made with both hands together, such as Anjali, Kapota and Karkata. The Abhinaya Darpana lists 28 Asamyuta and 23 Samyuta, while the Natya Shastra lists 24 and 13.

Which text describes mudras in Indian dance?

The Abhinaya Darpana, attributed to Nandikeshvara, is the best known text on dance gestures and counts 28 single-hand and 23 double-hand mudras. The Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni is the older source that lists 24 single-hand and 13 double-hand gestures.

What is Bhumisparsha mudra?

Bhumisparsha, meaning earth-touching, is a Buddhist gesture in which the right hand touches the ground. It shows the Buddha calling the earth to witness his enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. It is seen in seated images of the Buddha from India and Southeast Asia.

What does Abhaya mudra mean?

Abhaya mudra is a gesture in which the right hand is raised with the palm facing outward. It means fearlessness, protection and peace. It appears in images of the Buddha, in Jain Tirthankara figures and in many Hindu deities, including Shiva and Vishnu.

Why are mudras important for UPSC?

They matter because Prelims asks about the names, types and meaning of mudras, especially in Buddhist art, and the Abhinaya Darpana. Mains uses them to link dance, sculpture and ritual, so they connect several GS Paper 1 heritage topics.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Anjali is a double-hand mudra.

True

It is a Samyuta hasta of folded palms.

2 Pataka is a double-hand gesture.

False

It is a single-hand Asamyuta hasta.

3 The Bhumisparsha mudra shows the Buddha calling the earth as witness.