Asamyuta Hastas. Single Hands Gestures
ANGUSTHA: THUMB FINGER
TARJANI: FORE FINGER
MADHYUMA: MIDDLE FINGER
ANAMIKA: RING FINGER
KANISHTHA: LITTLE FINGER
SHLOKA:
PATAKAS TRIPATAKASCHA
TATHA VAI KARTARIMUKAHA
ARDHACHANDRO HERALASCHA
SHUKATUNDASTATHAIVA CHA
MUSHTISCHA SHIKHARAKYASCHA
KAPITHA KATAKAMUKAHA
SUCHASYA PADMAKOSHASCHA
TATHA VAI SARPASIRSHAKAHA
MRIGASIRSHA PARO GNEYO
HASTABHINAYA YOKTRIBIHI
LANGULO HELAPADMASCHA
CHATURO BHRAMARASTATHA
HAMSASYO HAMSAPAKSHASCHA
SAMDAMSO MUKULASTATHA
URNANABHA TAMRACHUDAHA
CHATURVIMSADIME KARAHA
In this shloka 24 Asamyuta Hastas are enumerated. Below are descriptions and
main meanings of each hasta.
1. PATAKA (Flag)
PRASARITAGRAAH SAHITA
YASYANGULYO BHAVANTIHI
KUNCHITASCHA TATHANGUSTHA
SA PATAKA ITI SMRUTAHA
Meaning: When all fingers are straightened and kept close to one another, it is
the Pataka hasta.
Usages: This hasta is used to describe clouds, forest, river; to open a door, to
beat; it is used in Natyarambhe position (the beginning of dance).
2. TRIPATAKA (Flag with three fingers)
 PATAKE
TU YADA VAKRANAMIKA
TVANGULIBHAVET
TRIPATAKAH SA VIGNEYAHA
KARMACHASYANIBODHATA
Meaning: If in the Pataka hasta the ring finger is kept bend, it is the
Tripataka hasta.
Usages: crown, a tree, raising tongues of flame, a lamb, an arrow.
3. KARTARIMUKHA (Scissors' blades)
 TRIPATAKE
YADA HASTE
BHAVETPRUSHTAVALOKINI
TARJANI MADHYAMAYASCHA
TADASAU KARTARIMUKAHA
Meaning: When in the Tripataka hasta the index finger faces the back of the
middle finger, it is the Kartarimukha hasta.
Usages: separation, corner of an eye, lightning.
4. ARDHACHANDRA (Crescent Moon)
 YESYANGULASTU
VINATAHA
SAHANGUSTHENA KAPARAM
SORDHACHANDRO HI VIGNEHAKARA
KARMASYA VAKSYATE
Meaning: When the thumb is bent outside, the rest of the fingers are brought
together and the shape resembles a bow, it is the Ardhachandra hasta.
Usages: half Moon, a waist, to greet people of lower castes.
5. ARALA (Bent)
 ADYA
DHANURLATA KARYA
KUNCHITANGUSTHAKA TATHA
SESHA BHINNORDHVAVALITA
HYARALANGULYA SMRUTAHA
Meaning: When the index finger is bent like a bow and the thumb is bent without
touching the other fingers and the rest of the fingers are straightened and kept
closely together, it is the Arala hasta.
Usages: drinking nectar, poison, pride, courage, beauty, contentment, a gesture
of blessing.
6. SHUKATUNDA (Parrot's beak)
 ARALASYA
YADA VAKRA ANAMIKA
TVANGULIR BHAVET
SHUKATUNDASTU SA KARAHA KARMA
CHASYA NIBODHATA
Meaning: When the ring finger of Arala hasta is bent, it is the Shukatunda hasta.
Usages: a parrot's beak, shooting an arrow.
7. MUSHTI (The first)
 ANGULYO
YASYA HASTASYA
TALAMADHU GRASAMSTITAHA
TASAMUPARI CHANGUSTAHA SA
MUSHTIRITI SANGNITAHA
Meaning: When all fingers are bent towards the palm and the thumb is placed on
top of the other four fingers, it is the Mushti hasta.
Usages: holding hair, fighting, showing strength.
8. SHIKHARA (Peak)
 ASYAVA
TU YADA MUSHTE
URDHVANGUSHTA PRAYUJATE
HASTA SA SHIKHARO NAMA TADA
GNEYA PRAYOKTRIBIHI
Meaning: If the thumb of the Mushti hasta is lifted up, it is the Shikhara hasta.
Usages: a bow, lips, painting feet, a pillar; to show how hair stands on end.
9. KAPITTA (Wood apple)
 ASYAVA
SHIKHARAKHYASYA
MUKHENGUSHTHENIPIDITA
YADA PRADESINI VAKRA SA
KAPITTHASTADA SMRUTAHA
Meaning: When in Shikhara hasta the forefinger is kept curved and pressed to the
thumb, it is the Kapitta hasta.
Usages: weapons (a sword, a bow), throwing a spear, shakti (female energy),
milking a cow, an arrow.
10. KATAKAMUKHA (Bracelet's lock)
 UTKSHIPTAVAKRA TU YADA
ANAMIKA SAKANIYASI
ASYAIVA TU KAPITTASYA
TADASOU KATAKAMUKAHA
Meaning: If the ring finger and the little finger of the Kapitta hasta are
raised up and the middle finger is bent forward, then it is the Katakamukha
hasta.
Usages: Hotra (sacrifice), Havya (a ritual of fire offering), an umbrella, a
garland of flowers, churning.
11. SUCHI (Needle)
 KATAKAKHYE YADA HASTE
TARJANI SAMPRASARITA
HASTA SUCHIMUKHO NAMA TADA
GNEYA PRAYOKTRIVIHI
Meaning: When the forefinger of the Kapitta hasta is stretched out, it is the
Suchi hasta.
Usages: it is used to describe number one; the whole world.
12. PADMAKOSHA (Lotus bud)
 SYANGULSTU VIRALAHA
SAHANGUSHTENA KUNCHITAHA
URDHVA HYAMSAGATAGRASCHA SA
BHAVET PADMAKOSHAKAHA
Meaning: All the fingers including the thumb are kept separately and their ends
are slightly curved, it is the Padmakosha hasta.
Usages: lotus, fruits of a Bilva tree, women breasts.
13. SARPASIRSHA (Snake's head)
 ANGULYA SAHITA SARVA
SAHANGUSHTENA YASYA TU
TATHA NIMNATALASCHAIVA SA TU
SARPASIRA KARAHA
Meaning: When all fingers including the thumb are kept close to one another and
are slightly bent towards the palm, it is the Sarpasirsha hasta.
Usages: a snake's hood, the offering of water to gurus and sages, pouring water,
the movement of the Earth.
14. MRIGASIRSHA (Deer's head)
 ADHOMUKHINAM SARVASAM
ANGULNAM SAMAGAMAHA
KANISHTANGUSHTAKAURDHVU
SA BHAVET MRIGASIRSHAKAHA
Meaning: If all fingers of the Sarpasirsha hasta are stretched out and bent
forward (besides the thumb and the little finger which are raised up), then it
is the Mrigasirsha hasta.
Usages: To express a woman, calling, deer's head, cheeks.
15. LANGULA
 TRETAGNI SAMSTITA MADHYA
TARJANYANGUSHTAKASTATHA
ANGULENAMIKA VAKRA TATHA
CHORDHVA KANIYASI
Meaning: When the little finger is raised up, the ring finger is kept bent and
the other three fingers are separated, it is the Langula hasta.
Usages: various fruit, fire, angry objections of a woman.
16. ALAPADMA (Lotus)
 AVARTI NYA KARATALE
YASYANGULYO BHAVANTI HI
PARSVAGATAVIKIRNASCHA SA
BHAVET ALAPADMAKAHA
Meaning: When all fingers are separated from one another and are turned towards
the palm in a circular way, it is the Alapadma hasta.
Usages: a lotus, a breast, beauty.
17. CHATURA (Four)
 TYSRAH PRASARITA YATRA TATHA
CHORDHVA KANAYASI
TASAM MADHYASTATHANGUSHTAHA
SA KARASCHATURASMRUTAHA
Meaning: When three fingers are spread out, the little finger is lifted up and
the thumb is kept within the palm, it is the Chatura hasta.
Usages: to show something little, artfulness.
18. BHRAMARA (Bee)
 MADHYAMANGUSTASAMDAMSO
VAKRA CHAIVA PRADESHINI
URDHVAMANYA PRAKEERNA CHA
ANGULYO BHRAMARE KARE
Meaning: When the middle finger and the thumb touch each other and the
forefinger is bent and the other two fingers are separated and raised, it is the
Bhramara hasta.
Usages: a bee, a wing.
19. HAMSASYA (Swan's beak)
 TARJANIMADHYAMANGUSHTAHA
TRETAGNISTHA NIRANTARAHA
BHAVEYURHAMSVAVAKTRASYA
SESHA DVE SAMPRASARITE
Meaning: When the forefinger and the thumb are kept without any gap and the
remaining fingers are stretched out, it is the Hamsasya hasta.
Usages: softness, holding a garland, tying something up.
20. HAMSAPAKSHA (Swan's wing)
 SAMAHPRASARITASTISRA TATHA
CHORDHVA KANIYASI
ANGUSHTA KUNCHITASCHAIVA
HAMSAPAKSHA ITI SMRUTAHA
Meaning: If three fingers are held straightened like a wing of a swan and the
little finger is raised and the thumb is kept bent, it is the Hamsapaksha hasta.
Usages: touching the chin as a gesture of apologizing or embarrassment, showing
respect.
21. SANDAMSA (Pincers)
 TARJANYANGUSHTASANDAMSO
HIRALSYA YATHA BHAVET
ABHUGNATALAMADYASCHA SA
SANDAMSA ITI SMRUTAHA
Meaning: When the thumb and the forefinger of the Arala hasta are bent like
pincers and the palm is a little hollow, it is the Sandamsa hasta.
Usages: wearing a garland, picking up flowers, picking up blades of grass,
leaves, hairs or threads, holding or pulling out an arrow, removing a thorn;
painting eyes, writing a letter.
22. MUKALA (Bud)
 SAMANATAGRA SAHITA
YASYANGULYO BHAVANTI HI
URDHVA HAMSAMUKHASAIVA
BHAVEN MUKULAHA KARAHA
Meaning: When all the fingers of the Hamsasya hasta are bent and kept close to
one another on their tips, it is the Mukula hasta.
Usages: a lotus bud; taking food; blowing a kiss to somebody; giving something
as a present.
23. URNANABHA (Spider)
 PADMAKOSHASYA HASTASYA
ANGULYA KUNCHITA YADA
URNANABHA SA VIGNEYAHA
KESHACHOVRYAGRUHADISHU
Meaning: When the fingers in the Padmakosha hasta are bent harder, it is the
Urnanabha hasta because it resembles a spider.
Usages: scratching the head, receiving stolen property, leprosy, lions, tigers,
holding a stone.
24. TAMRACHUDA (Cock)
 MADHYAMANGUSHTASANDAMSO
VAKRA CHAIVA PRADESHINI
SHESHETALASHE KARTAVYA
TAMRACHUDE KARANGULI
Meaning: If the middle finger crosses with the thumb, the index finger is kept
bent and the remaining two fingers are pressed against the palm, it is the
Tamrachuda hasta.
Usages: to reproach, to strike, to beat time, to demonstrate self-confidence,
rapidity and thus to indicate any kind of gesticulation.
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