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Mudras of Indian Dance

The most common mudras from Indian Dance which represent animals, plants, and other things from the natural world.

Arala Mudra
Seal of the Bent Hand

Hold hand with palm facing forward all fingers gathered alongside each other with middle joint of index finger bent at a right angle.
Denotes:

Originates from Agastya while he drank the seven seas
Courage and dignity, or drinking water

Ardhachandra Mudra
Seal of Half Moon

Hold hand with palm flat and facing forward, fingers active. Reach thumb out at a right angle
Denotes:

Originated from Shiva's desire for ornaments (moon)
The moon on the eighth day of its waning cycle

Ardhapataka Mudra
Seal of the Half Flag

Hold hand with palm facing forward, thumb tucked beside base of index finger, middle joint of ring and little fingers bent at a right angle.
Denotes:

Used in Hindu ritual to evoke a deity
Flag, leaf or two people together

Avahita Mudra
Seal of Holding

Turn palms upwards with fingers stretched apart with little finger toward side of palm and other fingers fanned out evenly away from each other. Hold hands with palms facing up and right wrist crossed over the left.
Denotes:

Patron deity of Markandeya
Graceful elegance or yearning for the beloved

Bherunda Mudra
Seal of Two Birds

Curl middle, ring and pinkie fingers into palm and press thumb nail into pad of index finger.
Denotes:

Fierce two-head bird of Hindu mythology and an incarnation of Vishnu

Chakra Mudra III
Seal of the Wheel

Hold hands with palms open and thumbs at a right angle from index finger. Hold right palm in front of shoulder facing froward, fingers pointing up. Hold left palm facing inward against right palm, left fingers face the right and left thumb points upward; base of left hand is just above where right thumb extends.
Denotes:

Vishnu's spinning discus weapon

Chatura Mudra
Seal of the Jackal

Touch side of thumb to base of ring finger. Bend base joint of middle, ring and pinkie finger at right angle keeping fingers together, extend pinkie finger straight.
Denotes:

Originated when Garuda (see below) wanted to acquire the nectar of immortality (amrita), he asked his father Kashyapa who used this gesture to give permission
A clever enemy or protection from danger

Dola Mudra
Seal of Swing

Cross right wrist over left with wrists limp and hands relaxed.
Denotes:

Patron deity of Bharati
Beautiful hand, grace, femininity or infatuation

Garuda Mudra II
Seal of the Eagle

Cross wrists in with palms facing the chest with right closest to body, Hook thumbs and keep fingers gathered together.
Denotes:

In Hindu mythology the deity Garuda was a mythological eagle and the vehicle of Vishnu. He emerged from his egg as a fully formed being. This reminds us that our true nature is already within us rather than something that we gain as we practice, we are born with that connection and it simply needs to be discovered.

Hamsapaksha Mudra
Seal of the Swan's Wing

Hold hand with palm facing down, fold index, middle, and ring finger at a right angle at the first joint, extend pinkie finger upward.
Denotes:

Originated when Tandu created the Tandava dance form in front of Shiva
Completion of work or concealment

Hamsaya Mudra
Seal of the Swan's Face

Join pads of index finger and thumb together while fanning out other extended fingers.
Denotes:

Originated from Dakshinamurti described the Tattva system
Denotes "So ham", (I am that)
Accomplishing a task, Speaking, or singing

Hamsi Mudra
Seal of the Containing the Spirit

Touch the tips of middle, ring and little fingers with the thumb extending the index finger. Hold with palm facing forward.
Benefits:

Removes obstacles
Eases depression and sadness, invokes laughter

Kangula Mudra II
Seal of the Hand

Curl ring finger into center of palm and extend remaining fingers and thumb.
Denotes:

Originated when Shiva created a pellet of poison from the ocean of milk at the beginning of time.
Rudraksha seed

Kapittha Mudra II
Seal of the the Wood Apple

Curl middle, ring, and little fingers into center of palm; press tip of thumb into pad of index finger.
Denotes:

Originates from beginning of time when Vishnu used this mudra to pull Mt. Mandara from the ocean of milk.

Karkata Mudra
Seal of the Crab

Hold hands with palms facing down and loosely interlace the extended fingers keeping palms apart.
Denotes:

Patron deity of Vishnu
Coming together or lamentation

Kartarimukha Mudra I
Seal of the Arrow Face

Hold hand with palm facing forward and index and middle fingers extended in a V, touch tips of thumb, ring, and little fingers together.
Denotes:

Originated when Shiva slayed the demon Jatadhara
Death or disagreement

Kartarimukha Mudra II
Seal of the Arrow Face

Hold hand with palm facing forward, bend base of little and ring fingers at a right angle, extend the index and middle fingers in a V shape, press thumb to side of index finger.
Denotes:

Same as above

Kartarisvastika Mudra
Seal of the Crossed Arrows

Touch tips of thumbs, ring, and little fingers together while extending index and middle fingers in a V shape. Cross wrists with palms facing body, right hand closest to body,
Denotes:

Tree branches or hill top

Katakamukha Mudra I
Seal of the Link in a Chain

Touch pad of thumb to middle crease of index and middle fingers, extend ring and little fingers upward.
Denotes:

Originated from Guha when he drew a bow in Shiva's presence
Dance, or picking flowers

Katakamukha Mudra II
Seal of the Link in a Chain

Curl ring and little fingers into center of palm, touch pad of thumb to middle crease of index and middle fingers.
Denotes:

See above

Katakamukha Mudra III
Seal of the Link in a Chain

Press tip of the thumb against pad of index finger, point middle finger downward and extend ring and little fingers.
Denotes:

Drawing an arrow in a bow
Pure dance

Katakavardhana Mudra
Seal of the Link of Increase

Touch pad of thumb to middle crease of index and middle fingers, extend ring and little fingers upward. Cross wrists in front of chest with right hand closest to body, palms facing outward.
Denotes:

Ritual or marriage

Khatva Mudra
Seal of the Square

Touch pads of thumb to pads of middle and ring fingers, extend index and little fingers. Hold hands with middle and ring fingers together and point extend fingers downward.
Denotes:

Resting place of a deity

Kilaka Mudra II
Seal of the Bond

Hold index, middle, and ring finger nails down with thumb pad. Hook little fingers together with right palm facing up and left facing down.
Denotes:

Affection, love

Kurma Mudra II
Seal of the Tortise

Gently clasp palms together in front of abdomen with left palm facing up and right palm facing down; wrap index, middle, and ring fingers around opposite hand; extend thumbs and little fingers outward.
Denotes:

Second incarnation of Vishnu

Kurma Mudra III
Seal of the Tortise

Curl index, middle and ring fingers into palms extending thumbs and little fingers. Hold left palm facing up and right facing down and bring thumbs, backs of knuckles, and little fintertips together.
Denotes:

See above

Mayura Mudra I
Seal of the Peacock

Touch tip ring finger to thumb and hold hand at shoulder with palm facing forward and other fingers straight.
Denotes:

Denotes the thunderbolt weapon (vajra) of Indra

Mayura Mudra II
Seal of the Peacock

Hold left hand at shoulder with fingers spread wide and palm facing forward. Touch tip right ring finger to thumb and hold right hand in front of left with palm facing forward.
Denotes:

Peacock symbolizing love and immortality

Nagabandha Mudra
Seal of Serpent Lock

Cross wrists with right closest to chest, keeping fingers close together, curl them slightly to resemble the hood of a cobra, palms face away from each other.
Denotes:

Cobra

Padmakosha Mudra
Seal of the Lotus Bud

Hold palm upwards with finger tips and thumb almost touching, fingers slightly curved and palm hollow.
Denotes:

Originated from Narayana while worshiping Shiva with Lotus flowers

Pasha Mudra
Seal of the Noose

Press pad of thumbs to nails of middle, ring and little fingers. Hook curled index fingers together with left palm facing upward and right palm facing downward.
Denotes:

A quarrel

Pataka Mudra
Seal of the Flag

Hold palm at shoulder with fingers extended and pointing upwards.
Denotes:

Used by Brahma as a blessing at the beginning

Samdamsha Mudra
Seal of Stinging

Hold palm upwards with finger tips and thumb almost touching, fingers slightly curved and palm hollow. Hold palm facing outward. Open and close fingers a few times.
Denotes:

Saraswati holding a mala
Sacrificial offering or worship

Sarpashirsha Mudra
Seal of the Serpent's Head

Hold hand with palm facing forward rounding fingers slightly to form the head of a cobra.
Denotes:

One of the incarnations of Vishnu

Shakata Mudra II
Seal of the Cart

Curl index finger into base of thumb, extending other fingers. Touch tips of thumbs and middle fingers together with palms facing forward. In dance, the hands begin together and then are separated and moved toward the sides of the head.
Denotes:

Demon

Shikhara Mudra
Seal of Mountain Peak

Curl index, middle, ring and little fingers into palm, keep thumbs extended and pointed upwards.
Denotes:

Shiva when he held Mt. Meru

Shukatunda Mudra
Seal of the Parrot's Beak

Hold hand with palm facing forward, Fold middle joint of index and ring finger at a right angle, extend middle and little fingers, keep thumb along side palm.
Denotes:

Parvati or Brahma's weapon

Simhamukha Mudra
Seal of Lion's Face

Touch pad of thumb to first joint crease of middle and ring fingers, extend index and little fingers upwards.
Denotes:

Fragrance
Coral or pearl

Svastika Mudra
Seal of the Cross

Hold hands palms flat and fingers and thumbs alongside each other, cross wrists in front of heart with right hand closest to body, palms facing inward.
Denotes:

Patron deity of Bharati

Tamrachuda Mudra
Seal of the Rooster

Hold middle, ring and little finger nails down with pad of thumb, hold index finger curled and palms face forward.
Denotes:

This mudra came into being when the three Vedas came into physical form

Tripataka Mudra
Seal of the Three Flags

Hold hand beside shoulder with palm facing forward and with fingers pointing upwards; fold middle joint of ring finger at a right angle.
Denotes:

Indra holds his thunderbolt weapon (vajra) with this gesture

Utsanga Mudra
Seal of the Embrace

Cross wrists with palms facing body right closest to body.
Right Hand: Create Chatura mudra by touching side of thumb to base of ring finger. Bend base joint of middle, ring and pinkie finger at right angle keeping fingers together, extend pinkie finger straight.
Left Hand: Create Arala mudra by holding hand with palm facing forward all fingers gathered alongside each other with middle joint of index finger bent at a right angle.
Denotes:

Patron deity of Guatama

Varaha Mudra I
Seal of the Boar

Cover the back of the left hand with the right palm, fold base of index, middle and ring fingers downward; extend pinkie fingers forward and thumbs out to sides.
Denotes:

Third incarnation of Vishnu

Varaha Mudra II
Seal of the Boar

Cross wrists in front of chest with right closest to body pressing backs of hands together; hook thumbs and little fingers; keep other fingers together and curl them slightly away from each other.
Denotes:

A wild boar

CITED REFERENCES:

MfHaT - "Mudras for Healing and Transformation", Le Page, Joseph and Lillian, 2013, Integrative Yoga Therapy
MHP - "Mudras and Health Perspectives", Chiplunkar, Suman K., 2008, Abhijit Prakashan
MoI - "Mudras of India", Carrol, Cain and Revital, 2012, Singing Dragon (MoI)
MtSS - "Mudra the Sacred Secret", Aurora, Indu, 2015, Yogsadhna & Indu Aurora
MYiYH - "Mudras: Yoga in Your Hands", Hirschi, Gertrud, 2000, Red Wheel/Weiser
tHPoM - "The Healing Power of Mudras", Menen, Rajendar, 2004, Singing Dragon
Photography, visualizations, and affirmations by Cheryl Fenner Brown (c) 2020

MUDRA PAGES QUICK LINKS

Mudras of Indian Dance

CITED REFERENCES:

(c) 2020 Cheryl Fenner Brown, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, YACEP