Dance Elements.. The Versatile Pataka Hasta Mudra
A look into the Source of Pataka Hasta Viniyoga!
Ah, in storytelling and abhinaya, this humble pataaka hasta, is used in so many many ways. With all the five fingers held together, it could point to literally anything. In our day to day body language, don’t we keep using it?
This! That! Yesterday! Stop!
The Sanskrit student in me was quite delighted finding this song. पटकहस्तविनियोगः From passing seasons of time, to places and actions.. What a beautiful song encoding the multiple usecases! It seems, the large expanse of space and time, and the seven contexts of nouns सप्तविभक्त्यर्थे is unfolded by the dance of pataaka hasta
पटकहस्तविनियोगः
नाट्यारम्भे वारिवाहे वनवस्तुनिषेधने।
कुचस्थले निषायां च नद्याममरमण्डले॥
तुरङ्गे खण्डने वायौ शयने गमनोद्यमे।
प्रतापे च प्रसादे च चन्द्रिकायां घनातपे॥
कवाटपाटनैः सप्तविभक्त्यर्थे तरङ्गके।
वेथे प्रवेशभावेऽपि सान्त्वे चाङ्गरागके॥
आत्मार्थे शपथे चापे तुष्णीभावनिदर्शने।
तालपत्रे च खेते च द्रव्यादिस्पर्शने तथा॥
आशीर्वादक्रियायां च नृपश्रेष्ठस्य भावने।
तत्र तत्रेति वचने सिन्धौ च सुकृतौ क्रमः॥
संभोधनैः पुरोगेऽपि खड्गरूपस्य धारणे।
मासे संवत्सरे वर्षदिनैः सम्मार्जने तथा॥एवमर्थेषु युज्यन्ते पटकहस्तभावनाः॥
At the very beginning of the Natya.. as though hands opening the curtains and doing a Namaskaara
नाट्यारम्भे
In meaning of the rains.. the gliding action of the hands
वारिवाहे ..
In meaning of a wide forest.. In meaning of rejecting objects..
वन -वस्तुनिषेधने
In meaning of bosom.. indicating something close to the heart
कुचस्थले
In meaning night, river or the heavenly spheres
निषायाम् .. नद्याम् .. अमरमण्डले
In meaning of the galloping horses.. shattering..or the wind
तुरङ्गे .. खण्डने .. वायौ
In meaning of sleep.. movement.. or readiness
शयने .. गमनोद्यमे
In meaning pf POWER or GRACE
प्रतापे .. प्रसादे
In meaning the gentle moonlight, or the scorching heat
चन्द्रिकायाम् .. घनातपे
In opening of doors..
कवाटपाटनैः
In the context any of the 7 vibhaktis..
सप्तविभक्त्यर्थे
Or in the gentle ripples of waves..
तरङ्गके
In the context of pathway.. or an entrance
वेथे .. प्रवेशभावे
In the context of Calming
सान्त्वे
Even in meaning of applying body care products
अङ्गरागके
आत्मार्थे शपथे चापे तुष्णीभावनिदर्शने।
तालपत्रे च खेते च द्रव्यादिस्पर्शने तथा॥
In showing the Self, Taking an oath, In showing silence
In showing palm manuscript, In act of touching materials
आशीर्वादक्रियायां च नृपश्रेष्ठस्य भावने।
तत्र तत्रेति वचने सिन्धौ च सुकृतौ क्रमः॥
In the act of blessing, In the feeling of an Emperor’s Majesty
In the words of telling ’there there’, In showing the mighty ocean, or anything Good
संभोधनैः पुरोगेऽपि खड्गरूपस्य धारणे।
मासे संवत्सरे वर्षदिनैः सम्मार्जने तथा॥
In addressing, In the leading position, In wielding the shield
In the passing of months, years, annual-days.. In the act of sweeping cleaning
एवमर्थेषु युज्यन्ते पटकहस्तभावनाः॥
Thus, in these various meanings, the Pataka Hasta is applied.पटकहस्तभावनाः.. पटकहस्त is felt..
