Top image: Sloka showing Krishna's peacock feather and flute, YM&YWHA (August 2026)
What are hastas?
- Hastas (also called “mudras”) are hand gestures that are used in Bharatanatyam for storytelling.
- Gestures are used with facial expressions for narrative purposes; the same gesture can have many meanings depending on context.
- Bharatanatyam has several single-handed and double-handed gestures.
- Gestures using one hand can be found here.
- Gestures using both hands can be found here.
Using hastas in Bharatanatyam
- Below are three examples of short slokams (poems) showing how hastas are used for storytelling.
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PUBLICATIONS ON THE USE OF BHARATANATYAM FOR CREATIVE AGING
- Iyengar S. More Than Metrics: Using Insights from Conservation to Evaluate Arts-in-Health. Link here.
- Iyengar S. Bharatanatyam and Neuroscience for Creative Aging. Narthaki, August 2026. Link here.
- Iyengar S. Communicating Science through Bharatanatyam Dance. BMJ Medical Humanities. Link here.
- Iyengar S. Bharatanatyam for Creative Aging. BMJ Medical Humanities. Link here.
The Use of Hand Gestures (Hastas) in Bharatanatyam for Creative Aging (full-text below)
Indian dance (Bharatanatyam) to ease social loneliness and isolation in older adults (full-text below)