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As an extension of the Vedic mudras, the Tantric tradition of Kerala also accepted a system of gestures. If Vedic mudras were intended to the correct implication of the meaning while chanting, the Tantric mudras were used to please the deities at the time of worship. The mudras formed the medium to communicate with the proposed powers. The ultimate aim is to please the deity. That is why the word mudra got its name which is really meaningful. As mentioned elsewhere in the thesis, mudra is modanat sarvadevanam dravanat papasantateh | tasmat mudreti sa khyata sarvakamarthasadhini || Tantric mudras are highly symbolic. One mudra can comunicate a lot of meaings. Each mudra is a complete perfect entity. By closely examining the Tantric mudras one could see the pattern in which a mudra 200

is originated as said by 34 Bharata i.e. shape, nature, proximity etc. May be, Bharata got the idea of the mudras from the Tantric treatise of the mudras. 201 In Indian theatre, in Krsnanattom the mudras are used as symbols but not upto the level of Tantric mudras. In Bharatanatyam the mudras are shortened and the rest of the abhinaya is compensated by Vacika. But in Kutiyattom and Kathakali the mudras developed into a level which communicate any idea even without the help of Vacika i.e. the development of the language of gestures reached its peak. Here the Tantric mudras and the mudras of the Hastalaksanadipika or those used in Kerala theatre are compared and tabulated. The Tantric mudras are got from Padmasamhita which is a book about Vaisnava Tantra. 34. akrtya cestaya cilairjatya vijnaya vastutah | svayam vittarkya kartavyam hastabhinayanam budhaih || Natyashastra IX 154

NOMENCLATURE OF THE RECOMMENDED USE MUDRA IN PADMASAMHITA SIMILAR MUDRA RECOMMENDED USE IN THE Hastalaksanadipika/K.T. 1. Vasudevamudra To show Vasudeva Anjali To salute 2. Pradyumnamudra To fulfil desires Sikhara (Abhinaya-darpana) Wedding 3. Visnumudra To show Visnu No reference Not used as such 202

A A NOMENCLATURE OF THE RECOMMENDED USE MUDRA IN PADMASAMHITA SIMILAR MUDRA RECOMMENDED USE IN THE Hastalaksanadipika/K.T. 4. Brahmamudra To show Brahma Anjali Not used as such 5. Rudramudra To show Rudra Sikhara (Abhinaya-darpana) To live 6. Gangamudra To show the river Ganges Kartarimukha (Approx) Not used as such 203 207

NOMENCLATURE OF THE MUDRA IN PADMASAMHITA 7. Ajayamudra RECOMMENDED USE SIMILAR MUDRA IN THE Hastalaksanadipika/K.T. RECOMMENDED USE (Visnu) ascending on Garuda (at the end of the puja) Musti and Hamsapaksa Medicine 8. Anantamudra Ananta (right hand) Sarpasiras Serpent 9. Kiritamudra Nil Kapota (Natyashastra) To show respect and obeisance. 204 204

NOMENCLATURE OF THE RECOMMENDED USE MUDRA IN PADMASAMHITA SIMILAR MUDRA RECOMMENDED USE IN THE Hastalaksanadipika/K.T. 10. Sankhamudra Conch Anjali and Sikhara (Abhinaya-darpana) Conch 11. Padmamudra The seats of Goddesses like Laksmi etc. Variation of Lotus and relatively Anjali in large flowers. samyuta form 12. Pasamudra Nil Bana (B.B) Several uses in practice 205 205

NOMENCLATURE OF THE RECOMMENDED USE MUDRA IN PADMASAMHITA SIMILAR MUDRA RECOMMENDED USE IN THE Hastalaksanadipika/K.T. 13. Angusamudra Nil Sukatunda Not used as such 14. Mustimudra To perform sacrifice Musti Not used as such 15. Krodamudra For homa Mrgasirsa Not used as such 206 206

NOMENCLATURE OF THE MUDRA IN PADMASAMHITA RECOMMENDED USE SIMILAR MUDRA IN THE Hastalaksanadipika/K.T. RECOMMENDED USE 16. Homamudra For putting sesamum rice, barly etc. into Mrgasirsa Not used as such fire 17. Hrdayamudra Nil Musti Not used as such 18. Kumbhamudra Bath Anjali Not used as such 207 27

NOMENCLATURE OF THE MUDRA IN PADMASAMHITA RECOMMENDED USE SIMILAR MUDRA RECOMMENDED USE IN THE Hastalaksanadipika/K.T. 19. Tatvamudra Nil Mudrakhya Not used as such 20. Yajnopavitamudra Nil Mayura (Balarama-bharata) Not used as such 21. Akalpamudra Nil Trisula (Abhinaya-darpana) Not used as such 208 200