________________
66
Fundamentals of Ancient Indian Music and Dance
Poses of hands
Various poses of different limbs (anga ) and sub-limbs (pratyanga) have been prescribed. Some of hese are applicable in dance, while others are used in acting ( abhinaya ) It is not possible, within the limited space of this little book, to describe all of them. We, therefore, confine ourselves to a description of the hand-poses alone. Among these again, we shall describe only a few prominent ones.
Some of the roses are prescijbed for the single hand, while others are to te made with both the hands togeiher.
Poses of the single hand Patāka
In it, the thumb is bent, touches the root of the forefinger; the palm and fingers are outstictched and the fingers are pressed against one another. Arāla
In it, each finger, beginning with the forefirger, is se parated from the next with increasing inte vals, and is higher and higher and slightly bent, while the forefinger is curved like bow and the thumb bent. Padmakośa
In it. the thumb and the other fingers are bent like a bow, separated from each other with tips not attached to one another. Musţi
In it, the tips of fingers remain compact in the middle of the palm, not covered (by the fingers ), and the thumb is pressed against the middle finger. Sikhara
It takes place when the thumb of the Musţi pose is turned upwards. Kapittha
In it, the tip of the forefinger of Sikhara touches the tip of the thumb.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
www.
