Devatha Hastas

According to Natyashastra , a dancer expresses through Angikam (body), Vachikam (words),  Sattvikam(emotions) and Ahaaryam(costume). The most striking feature of Bharatanatyam is the use of hand gestures – Hasthas, (in the Angikabhinaya). It is of great importance both in the enactment of Abhinaya (Expressing emotions) and in Nritta (pure dance gestures)

Hastas used to depict the deities in Bharatanatyam are called Devatha Hastas.

Below are the Devatha Hastas:

Devatha Hasta	Meaning	Hasta	How to do
Bramha	Creator of the Universe		Left hand in Chatura, right hand in Hamsasya.
Shiva	Dissolution of the evil		Left hand in Mrigashirsa, right hand in Tripataka.
Vishnu	Protector of the Universe		Tripataka with both hands
Saraswathi	Goddess of knowledge		Right hand in Suchi, left hand in Kapittha
Parvathi	Consort of Lord Shiva		Right hand in Ardhachandra held vertical (abhaya hasta), left hand in Ardhachandra held facing down (varada hasta)
Lakshmi	Goddess of wealth		Kapittha hands near the shoulders held vertically
Ganesha	God of wisdom		Kapittha hands on the waist held horizontally
Karthikeya/Skanda	God of light		Kartikeya is depicted by holding left hand in Trishula hasta and right hand in Shikara hasta
Manmatha	Cupid		Left hand in Shikhara, and right hand in katakamukham, both held at the level of the chest
Indra	God of rain		Tripataka swastika held above the head or near the right shoulder.
Agni	God of fire		Right hand in Tripataka and left hand in Kangula
Yama	God of death		Left hand in Tamrachuda and right hand in suchi held horizontally
Niruthi	Guardian of the directions		Right hand in Shakatam and left hand in Khatva
Varuna	God of ocean		Right hand in Pataka and left hand in Shikhara
Vaayu	God of wind		Right hand in Arala and left hand in Ardha Pataka.
Kubera	God of wealth		Right hand in Mushti (gada or mace on shoulder) and left hand in Padmakosha (lotus)

By – Artistic Director Himalayan School of Traditional Dance – Radha Subramanian 

Edited and Published by – Team HSTD (Copyright HSTD)