(“hand”) A hasta is a
hand posture used in Indian dance, sculpture, and ritual.
In some circumstances, the hasta's name may merely describe
the form of the hand, as in varada hasta, or the "gift-giving"
gesture; in other cases, the hasta's name may only describe the hand's shape,
as in kataka hasta, in which the tips of the fingers are loosely linked to the
thumb.
All of these movements have several symbolic connotations in
the context of dance, and the dancer may utilize them to convey a narrative via
her motions.
The terms hasta and mudra ("seal"), which are both
used to describe hand movements, have considerable overlap in meaning and are
often used interchangeably.
Mudras, on the other hand, are more clearly defined and
stylized than hastas.
They emphasize finger positions rather than full hand
postures; the fingers are constantly in extremely particular positions.
Mudras have highly unique symbolic connotations at all times.
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