(THE SCIENCE AND ART OF COMMUNICATION THROUGH FINGERS)
In the present age “ Impressing in the first 90 seconds”, “ Speak with your mouth shut”, “ Listening to the unspoken “, jargons like this are very common . Communicating without speaking is the new norm in corporate communication and communication strategies. Non- verbal communication also gives a peek into the psyche of the individual. What can be masked with the intelligent play of words might be revealed through our eyes, hands & body posture.
It is now more widely acknowledged that nonverbal communication is a more effective tool in ones kit. Testimony to this are the phrases like “Actions speak louder than words”,’’ Appreciate your kind gesture”. Long before the western world woke up to this, our ancient Indian Rishis had mastered the art of communicating with oneself & the outside world with a sophisticated nonverbal mode of communication called MUDRAS. The subconscious use of various MUDRAS to communicate basic emotions, feelings & ideas is common throughout the humankind, however it is only in India that this human phenomenon has been observed, codified, structured, refined, documented & extensively used as the science & the art of MUDRAS.
Basically MUDRA means a Gesture.
- One of the esoteric meaning of the word MUDRA is “to seal”, or “to close”.( one of the methods by which MUDRA achieves its purpose is by bringing various diverse flows of Pranic energy into a closed circuit ).
- Word MUDRA is derived from the Sanskrit words MUD + DHARA or Bliss + Dissolving means that which dissolves duality & brings together different entity ( like the Deity & the Devotee).
- MUDRA is also defined as neuro-muscular activity stimulating into action, involuntary muscles with (or without) a remittent activity of the endocrine (or exocrine) glands.
- MUDRAS are an external expression of the “inner resolve”, suggesting that nonverbal communications are more powerful than the spoken words.
- In its highest form, it is a magical art of symbolic gesture through which invisible forces on the earthly sphere can be harnessed.
In India, from time immemorial, MUDRAS are extensively employed at three levels
- In classical dance forms.
- In Hindu ritualistic worship.
- In yoga & Tantra.
MUDRAS IN INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE
Mudras are extensively used in Indian dance forms like Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam & so on. In dance they are called HASTAS. Bharatha muni has elaborately described & prescribed the usage of HASTAS in his seminal work NATYASHASTRA also called as the PANCHAMA VEDA as it is a treatise on theatre, music, dance, sculpture & everything of visual & fine arts. This shloka illustrates the significance of the Hastas in dance
Yatho hastas thatho drishti
Yatho drishtis thatho manaha
Yatho manas thatho bhava
Yatho bhavas thatho rasaha
Which translates into
Where the hand goes, there follows the eyes
Where the eyes go, there follows the mind
Where the mind goes, there follows the expression & only when the Bhava is expressed there is the complete enjoyment of RASA ( a particular emotional state). Hence the primary vehicle the performer employs to guide the psyche of the audience towards the desired direction is HASTAS.
The mudra in Bharatanatyam is more of an inter-personal communication. The subtle emotions & spiritual experiences which are hard to be conveyed verbally are eloquently expressed through the trained glances of the eye, position of the hands, the feet & the body.
Another class of hand positions or hastas are more graphical & descriptive. The hastas used in dance are classified according to the purpose they serve. Some of them are Samyutha hastas, Asamyutha hastas, Bandhavya hastas, Devatha hastas, & so on. The position of the fingers are very clearly described for each hasta along with their usage.
MUDRAS IN HINDU RITUALISTIC WORSHIP
No Hindu temple architecture will depict a deity or a statue whose hands are not held in any MUDRA. Every ritualistic worship in Hinduism has a set of prescribed Mudras associated with them. Simplest, significant & the most commonly used MUDRA is the NAMASKARA mudra. Most of the deities are seen in ABHAYA or VARADA Mudra.
Starting from PRANAYAMA, SANDHYAVANDANAM, YAGAS, YAGNAS etc. all have a clearly demarcated set of mudras to be followed in a particular order. Mudras, Mantras & Mandalas form an integral part of Hindu rituals.
Unlike the Mudras used in dance forms, Mudras in rituals are used as a tool to harness the invisible forces of nature for the benefit of mankind.
MUDRAS IN YOGA
Mudras are extensively used in yoga where the basic essentials are the Asana, Mudra & the Breathing technique. It is basically used by the yogis to communicate spiritually within himself & the universal self. Unlike the Mudras in dance, Mudras in yoga are employed to turn the attention towards the inner self. It acts as a mode for self-realization. Every finger/digit on the palm/foot represents an element of nature. The Pranic energy is channelized & directed as desired with the help of Mudras in yoga. Mudras in yoga are used for prevention & healing of diseases as well. The healing power of mudras is itself a topic for mammoth research.
For example, the thum
b represents the energy of the ATMAN (Universal self- in physiological terms, the energy of the central nervous system or sushumna nadi) and the index finger represents the energy of the JIVA (Individual self – in physiological terms, the right & the left peripheral nerves of the Ida & the Pingala nadis).
In yogic parlance, the energies of the individual self are united to the energies of the universal self & the high meditative state is achieved. Every Mudra has a particular effect on the body, emotion, mind nervous system & the pranic flow with the human organism. The Mudra in yoga is an intra –personal communication tool.
Author- POORNIMA RAJINI
REFERANCES
THE HEALING POWER OF MUDRAS
NATYASHASTRA
ABHINAYA DARPANA
MUDRAS
