Pataka Hand Gesture (Mudra)
Pataka means “Flag”. Pataka is done with all fingers held straight like the Stop sign. There should be no gap between the fingers. Following are the uses (viniyoga) of Pataka:
Lets see the Viniyoga shloka (sanskrit verses that explain the uses) :
Natyarambhe varivahe vanay vastunishedhane
Kuchastale nishayam cha nadya-mamaramandale
Turange khandane vayo shayane gamanodyame
Pratape cha prasade cha chandrikayam ghanatape
Kavatapatane saptavibhaktyarthe tarange
Vethepraveshabhavepi samtve chagaragake
Atmarthe shapathe chape tushnibhavnidharshane
Talapatre cha khete cha dravyadishparshane tatha
Ashirvadekriyayam cha nrupashreshthasya
Tatra tatreti vachane sindhyo cha sukrutikrame
Sambhodhane purogepi khadgarupasya dharane
Mase sanvatsare varshadine sammarjane tatha
Evamartheshu yujyante patahastabhavanaha
It says Pataka Mudra is used to denote the following ;
- At the beginning of Natyarambha
- Clouds
- Forest
- Denial of objects
- Bosom
- night
- river
- Realm of Divinity
- Horse
- Cutting
- Wind
- To show one is going
- Prowess
- Bless
- Moonlight
- Fierce heat
- Pushing and opening the doors
- Vibhakti
- Tides
- Entering the lane
- Equanimity
- Smearing oneself
- Taking oath
- Silence
- Palmarya Leaf
- An ideal king
- To show a location
- Sea
- Series of meritorious actions
- To address some one
- Step forward
- grasping a sword
- Month, Year
- A drizzly day
- A sweeping with broom
The gesture is mainly used in Sarikal Adavu & Murka Adavu.
Related posts:
- Sandamsha Hand gesture (Mudra)
- Kartarimukha Hand Gesture (Mudra)
- Ardhachandra Hand Gesture (Mudra)
- Aarala Hand Gesture (Mudra)
- Swastika Hand Gesture (Mudra)
Tags: Bharatanatyam · Bharatnatyam · class · Classes · Dance · Gesture · Hand · Learning · lessons · Mudra · online · Pataka · photos
8 responses so far ↓
Thanks for sharing them. Though am not aware of these gestures and in fact bharatanatyam itself, i appreciate this art to the core. Unlike the common modernized ones which everyone get to see in movies and channels, this has a class of it own. Amen to this art form and the people who carry it forward.
Hi, i wonder if u could post a movie on the uses of the hastas viniyoga along with the sloka. i liked all those instructional adavus by various artistes, maybe u could do it for the theory?
How do you show month using pathaaka?..I mean what is the position the hasta is to be held to depict “month” ?…could you please let me know…thanks
There are various interpretations to it. I hold the Pataka hasta close to the right shoulder for a month, the inner palm facing the left side.
i am living in pune and i am having class of bharatnatyam i love it my teacher is vaishali parasnis sucheta chaphekar great student my 2 year is going on &i am still 11 years old but i like western dances also not kathak in our school there is kathak but i dont keep attention because i dont like kathak i just hate western &bharatnatyam till now i have studied till natadav 7 my class is on sat & sun
Anjali,
I would love it if you were able to put up pictures or even better a video of the uses of pataka.
Thanks
B
Anjali, your website and dancing lessons are so nice. I need some help for Pataka hand gesture series, like natyarambhe, varivahe, vane–I need actions of these, can you help me where could I get?
@rajini:The site will be updated with these information soon. meanwhile you can refer Cd’s on hasta abhinayam called “bharatanatyam percepts and practice”available in the market.