SSC
The hand gestures used in Indian classical dances are called:
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Answer: Option B — Mudras
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Mudras. Mudras, also called hastas, are the hand gestures used in Indian classical dance to convey meaning. They form a language through which a dancer can show objects, animals, people, gods, actions, ideas and emotions, and they are a central part of abhinaya (expression).
The texts on dance describe two main types of mudras. Asamyuta hastas are single-hand gestures, and samyuta hastas are double-hand gestures. The Abhinaya Darpana of Nandikeshvara, which is followed in Bharatanatyam, lists 28 single-hand gestures and 24 double-hand gestures. The Hastalakshana Deepika, followed in Kathakali and Mohiniyattam, describes 24 basic gestures. Each mudra can have many meanings, depending on how and where it is held and on the facial expression that goes with it. For example, the pataka hasta (a flat hand with all fingers held together) can represent a cloud, a forest, a river, a blessing, a wave, or the beginning of a dance. The kapitha hasta can represent the goddess Lakshmi or Saraswati, or the holding of cymbals. The use of mudras is especially important in dance-dramas such as Kathakali, where the actors do not speak and tell the whole story through gestures and expressions.
About the other options:
Karanas are the basic units of dance movement, combining positions of the hands, feet and body. The Natyashastra describes 108 karanas, and they are carved on the gopurams of the Nataraja temple at Chidambaram.
Bhavas are the emotions or moods that a dancer expresses, which create rasa (aesthetic experience) in the audience.
Talas are the rhythmic cycles of Indian music, such as Adi tala (8 beats) in Carnatic music and teentaal (16 beats) in Hindustani music.
💡 Exam tip
Mudras are hand gestures, karanas are units of movement, bhavas are emotions and talas are rhythms. Questions may also ask about the number of hand gestures in the Abhinaya Darpana (28 single and 24 double) or the Hastalakshana Deepika (24 basic).💬 Discussions on this question
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Ask a doubtMore Indian Dance Forms Questions
View all ›- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?
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- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:
Indian Dance Forms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Indian Dance Forms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
Indian dance forms are one of the most frequently tested areas of static GK. This topic covers the eight classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Sattriya), the folk and tribal dances of every state, and related terms such as mudra, abhinaya, lasya and tandava. Most questions ask which state a dance belongs to, which community performs it, or which feature identifies a classical style. Learn the classical dances with their state and one signature feature each, such as the face make-up of Kathakali or the brass plate of Kuchipudi. For folk dances, group them state by state, since exams often list three or four dances and ask for the common state. Watch for dances shared by more than one state, such as Chhau, which has three styles. Practise the Indian dance forms questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.