The Hasthalakshana Deepika: The Book of Hand Gestures in Kathakali Mudras

The “Hasthalakshana Deepika,” a book of hand gestures, follows 24 Basic Mudras (hand gestures) that, in turn, guide Kathakali. Each Basic Mudra has additional symbols, using either single-hand (Asamyutha) mudras or double-hands (Samyutha). Altogether, these Mudras and their divisions make up a total of 470 symbols used in Kathakali.

1. Pathaaka (Flag):

pathaaka

There are 36 double-hand symbols and 10 single-hand symbols using this Mudra.

Single hand symbols: 1. Day, 2.Movement, 3. Tongue, 4. Forehead, 5.Body, 6.That thing, 7.Noise, 8.Messenger, 9.Sandbank, 10.Sprout

Double Hand Symbols: 1. Sun, 2.King, 3. Elephant, 4. Lion, 5.Ox, 6.Crocodile, 7.Arch, 8. Climbing Plant, 9. Flag, 10.Series of waves, 11.Path, 12.Hell, 13.Earth, 14.Hip, 15.Pot, 16.Multi-storied building, 17.Evening, 18.Noon, 19.Cloud, 20.Anthil, 21.Thigh, 22.Servant, 23.Travel, 24.Wheel, 25.Stool, 26.Lord Indra’s weapon, 27.Gate Tower, 28.Rampart, 29.Vehicle, 30.Peaceful, 31.Crooked, 32.Door, 33.Pillow, 34.Trench (ditch), 35.Leg, 36.Bolt

2. Mudraakhyam:

Mudraakhyam

There are 13 double-hand symbols and 12 single-hand symbols using this Mudra.

Single hand symbols:
1. Mind, 2.Thought, 3. Desire, 4. By oneself, 5.Reminding, 6.Wisdom, 7.Creation, 8. Life, 9. Defame, 10.Future, 11.No, 12.Fourth

Double hand symbols:
1. Growth, 2.Movement, 3. Heaven, 4. Ocean, 5.Thick, 6.Forgetting, 7.Everything, 8. Announcement, 9. Thing, 10.Death, 11.Meditation, 12.Sacred Thread, 13.Straight

3. Katakam (Golden Bangle):

Katakam

There are 20 double-hand symbols and 9 single-hand symbols using this Mudra

Single hand symbols:
1. Flower, 2.Mirror, 3. Female, 4. Offering holy materials to the sacrificial fire while chanting ‘mantras’, 5.Sweating, 6.A little, 7.Quiver, 8. Smell, 9. Which one

Double hand symbols:
1. Vishnu (God), 2.Krishna (God), 3.Balaraman
4. Arrow, 5.Gold, 6.Silver, 7.A female demon, 8.Sleep, 9. Main woman, 10.Goddess of wealth, 11.Veena, 12.Stars, 13.Chain, 14.Lotus/ water, 15.Demon, 16.Crown, 17.Weapon, 18.Peculiarity/ special news, 19.Chariot, 20.With

4. Mushti:

Mushti

There are 25 double-hand symbols and 15 single-hand symbols using this Mudra

Single-hand symbols: 1. In vain, 2.Extremely, 3. Filupon, 4. King’s advisor, 5.Crossing, 6.Bearing, 7.Donation, 8. Consent, 9. Victory, 10. Bow, 11. we, 12. Single sentence, 13. Agedness, 14.Robbing, 15.Food

Double hand symbols: 1. Driver of chariot, 2.Prefix, 3. Beauty, 4. Purity, 5. Spirit of Ghost, 6.Binding, 7.Qualification, 8. Condition, 9. Ankle, 10.Pulling, 11.Tail of the animal (a whisk), 12.Destroyer/ Yama, the god of death, 13.Mud, 14.Medicine, 15.Curse, 16. Swing, 17.Gift/ donation, 18.Circumambulation, 19.Digging, 20.Giving up, 21.Lance, 22.Heroism, 23.Hot (Sunor fire)/ grieve, 24.Vomiting, 25.Delivery/childbirth

5. Kartharee Mukham (Scissor’s sharp point):

Kartharee Mukham

There are 16 double-hand symbols and 10 single-hand symbols using this Mudra.

Single hand symbols:
1. You, 2.Word, 3. Change of mood/ time, 4.Gradation, 5.We, 6.Human being, 7.Face, 8. Enmity, 9. Child, 10.Mongoose

Double hand symbols:
1. Sin, 2.Tiredness, 3. Male member of Brahmin caste, 4. Fame, 5.Skull, 6.House, 7.A religious vow, 8.Purity, 9. Bank, 10.Dynasty, Bamboo, 11.Hunger, 12.Hearing, 13.Telling, 14.Gathering, 15.End, 16.Hunting

6. Sukathundam (Parrot’s peek):

Sukathundam

Double hand symbols:

1. Goad, 2.Bird, 3. Engagement

7. Kapidhakam (The fruit of a tree):

There are 10 double-hand symbols:

1.Net, 2.Doubt, 3. Tail feather of a peacock, 4. Drinking, 5.Touching, 6. Prevent, 7.In the open expanse of land, 8. The outer side, 9. Descend, 10. To step

8. HamsaPaksham (Swan’s wing):

HamsaPaksham

42 single-hand symbols and 11 double-hand symbols can be shown using this Mudra.

Single hand symbols: 1. Moon, 2.Air, 3. Kamadeva, 4. Gods, 5.Mountain, 6.Valley, 7.Everyday, 8. Relatives, 9. Bedding, 10.Rock, 11.Happiness and comfort, 12.Chest, 13.Female breast, 14.Cloth, 15.Vehicle, 16. Lie, 17. Lying down, 18.Falling, 19.Croud, 20.Beating, 21.Covering, 22.Spreading, 23.Found, 24.Coming, 25.Salutation, 26.Game, 27.Sandal, 28. Embrace, 29. Follow, 30. Escaping, 31. Reach, 32. Mace, 33.The cheek region, 34.Shoulder, 35.Hair, 36.Humility, 37.Blessing, 38.Sint, 39.Thus, 40.Fish, 41.Worship, 42.Tortoise

Double hand symbols: 1. You, 2.Sword, 3. Anger, 4.Now, 5. I, 6.In front of, 7.Axe, 8. Light, 9. Calling, 10. Getting nearness 11. Prevent

9. Sikharam (Peak):

Sikharam

There are 8 single hand symbols and 3 Duble hand symbols using this Mudra

Single hand symbols: 1. Walking, 2.Legs, 3. Eyes, 4. Sight, 5.Path, 6.Search/ detection, 7.Ears, 8. Drinking

Double hand symbols using this Mudra: 1. Garudan (a hawk in Purana), 2.Swan 3. Jatayu.

10. Hamsaasyam (Swan’s peek):

Hamsaasyam

There are 4 single hand symbols and 8 Duble hand symbols using this Mudra

Single-hand symbols: 1. Beginning of the rainy season, 2.Hair of the head, 3.The line of hair on the abdomen, 4.The three folds of skin above the navel of a woman

Double hand symbols: 1. Iris, 2.Smoothness, 3. Dust, 4. Whiteness, 5.Blue colour, 6.Red, 7.Mercy, 8. Hairs of the body

11. Anjaly (Folded hands in Salutation):

Anjaly

There are 2 single hand symbols and 15 Duble hand symbols using this Mudra

Single hand symbols: 1. Twigs of the tree, 2.Anger

Double hand symbols: 1. Excessive rain, 2.Vomiting, 3. Fire, 3. Horse, 4. Loud noise, 6.Light, 7.Hair, 8. Ear-ring, 9. Heat or sorrow, 10.Anxiety, 11.Always, 12.Blood, 14.River, 15.Flowing

12. Ardhachandram (Half moon)

Ardhachandram

There are 9 double-hand symbols and 4 single-hand symbols using this Mudra.

Single hand symbols: 1. Starting, 2.Smiling, 3.What (This can be done with single and double hands), 4.Contempt

Double hand symbols: 1. If, 2.For what? 3. Helplesness, 4. Sky, 5.Blessed man, 6.God, 7.Memory, 8. Grass, 9. Hair of a man

13. Mukuram (Mirror):

Mukuram

There are 11 double-hand symbols and 9 single-hand symbols using this Mudra.

Single hand symbols: 1. Dissenting person, 2.Beetle, 3. Ray, 4. Anger, 5.Excellent, 6.Bangle, 7.Neck, 8. Armlet, 9. Negative

Double hand symbols: 1. Tusk, 2.Separation, 3. Forlimb, 4. Waist, 5.Vedam, 6.Brother, 7.Pillar, 8. Mortar, 9. Speedy, 10.Devil, 11.Growth

14. Bhramaram (Beetle)

Bhramaram

There are 5 double hand symbols and 4 single hand symbols using this Mudra

Single hand symbols: 1. Demi-god (Gandharva), 2.Birth, 3. Fear, 4. Weeping

Double hand symbols: 1. Wing of a bird, 2.Song, 3.Water, 4.Umberlla, 5.Ear of the elephant

15. Soochimukham (Needle’s sharp point)

Soochimukham

There are 10 double-hand symbols and 14 single-hand symbols using this Mudra

Single hand symbols: 1. One person, 2.What a pity!, 3.Dull, 4. Another, 5.Plural, 6.Ear, 7.A digi of the moon, 8.In olden times, 9.This man, 10.These people, 11.Kingdom, 12.A little, 13. Witness, 14. Give up

Double hand symbols: 1. Broken, 2.Jumping up, 3.Universe, 4. Lakshmana, 5.Fall, 6.The other thing, 7.Month, 8. Eyebrow, 9. Loose, 10.Tail

16. Pallavam (Sprout)

Pallavam

There are 9 double hand symbols and 6 single-hand symbols using this Mudra

Single hand symbols: 1. Distance, 2.Pledge, 3. Fume, 4. Tail, 5.Cane, 6.Grain

Double hand symbols: 1. The weapon of Lord Indra, 2.Mountain peak, 3.Ears of cow, 4.Length of the eye, 5.Male buffalo, 6. Pestle made of iron, 7. Spear, 8. Horn, 9. Circling

17. Thripathaaka (Flag with three colours):

Thripathaaka

There are 6 double hand symbols using this Mudra

Double hand symbols: 1. Sunset, 2.Commencement, 3.’Hey’, 4. Drinking, 5.Body, 6.Begging

18. Mrigaseersham (Deer’s head)

Mrigaseersham

There are 2 double hand symbols using this Mudra

Double hand symbols:

1. Animals, 2.The supreme being

19. Sarpasirassu (Serpent’s head):

Sarpasirassu

There are 9 double-hand symbols using this Mudra. Apart from these symbols, this Mudra is used to show the symbols: Sprinkle, clapping hands, breaking the skull of the elephant, chertishing, giving water to god and message of wrestlers.

Double hand symbols:

1. Sandal, 2.Snake, 3. Slowness, 4. Worship of god using 8 substances, 5.Vomiting, 6.Saint, 7.Swinging of elephant’s ears, 8.Escaping, 9. Massage

20. Vardhamanakam (Seedling)

Vardhamanakam

There are 6 double hand symbols and 3 single-hand symbols using this Mudra

Single hand symbols: 1. Whirlpool, 2.Navel, 3.Well

Double hand symbols: 1. Ear-ring of a female, 2.Diamond necklace, 3.Knee, 4.One who practices Yoga, meditation, 5.Drawn, 6.Man look after the elephant

21. Araalam (Curved)

Araalam

There are 5 double hand symbols using this Mudra

1. Fool, 2.Tree, 3. Wedge, 4. Bud, 5.Sprout

22. Oornanabham (Spider)

Oornanabham

There are 7 double hand symbols using this Mudra

1. Horse, 2.Fruit, 3. Tiger, 4. Butter, 5.Snow, 6.Plenty, 7.Lotus flower

23. Mukulam (Bud)

Mukulam

1. Fox, 2. Monkey, 3. Fading, 4. Forgetting

24. Katakaamukham

Katakaamukham

There are 6 double hand symbols using this Mudra

There are two types of Mudras:

1. Samaana Mudras (Same Mudras):- The same Mudra is used to show two different symbols. For example, the Mudra

“Karthareemukham” shows the symbols ‘Time’ and ‘Near’.

Karthareemukham

2. Misra Mudras (Mixed Mudras): Some symbols are shown using two different Mudras in both hands. There are 68 Mixed Mudras. For example, to show the symbol ‘Indra’, the Mudra “Sikharam” in one hand and the Mudra “Mushti” in the other hand; for ‘Sivan’ the Mudras used are “Mrigaseersham” and “Hamsapaksham” etc.