Awaken your energies with Indian Temple Dance Mudras
Born in the temples, Indian Dance is an ancient sacred art and practice to cultivate beauty, balance, devotion, wisdom and inner power. Being a deep path of transformation as Yoga, Temple Dance brings a profound awakening in the body, mind and spirit. The proper use of hand gestures, in Sanskrit ‘Mudras’, is one of the doors to unfold this divine path.

Mudras: the benefit
In Indian Dance, mudras are utilised to facilitate the channeling and flow of energy in the hands and in all the whole body. The conscious and proper practice of mudra allows to be focused and to be present. Specific positions and movements of the hands are in fact connected to certain areas of the brain, that are unlocking the free flow of activity in the body, removing toxins and harmonising body and mind and spirit.
In Yoga, mudras are mostly utilised in meditation and pranayama practices, as vehicle to channel prana and reach a state of calmness and concentration. It is possible also to use mudras in the yoga asana practice: in Padmasana or in Vajarasana, for example, hand gestures are used to enhance the power of the position. Anjali (or namaste) mudra, brings attention, conciseness, calmness and also it expresses dedication of the practitioner.
The ancient text  “Hatha Yoga Pradipika” underlines the importance of hand gestures in yogic practice, specially for the activation of the kundalini shakti, or else the feminine creative power.

Mudra in Indian Dance
In Indian classical dance, mudras are a sacred language, a pure vocabulary and a sublime form of communication – with an incredible enchantment and mystyc allurement.,
Born during the rituals in the holy temples, this ancient language of the feminine maintains a liberating and healing force. Mudras are both an aesthetically embellishment of the movement, with a strong symbolical and expressive value, and they are also a healing journey for the self.
According to the tradition, this is a real divine alphabet, granted from the Gods and Goddess to the mythological Apsaras and then transmitted for centuries orally by the devadasis, or else the priestess of the temples of India. Carrying a millenary history, philosophy and power, Mudras in Indian dance have en energetic, sacred and ritualistic value.
The classification of the mudras of Indian classical dance is described very precisely in the text of the “Natya Shastra” and “Abhinaya Dharpana“: the illustration is based on the sophisticated theory of the bhava- rasa, or else the refined art of communication of feelings and emotions with the gestures and body movements.
Mudras are categorized in Asamyutha Hasta single hand gesture and Samyutha Hasta, double hands gesture. There are many mudras according to different classical dance styles.

The proper practice of Mudras requires attention, dedication and devotion. It is a real yogic path, challenging for sure for the beginners, as a new secret languages should be!
This practice though is very rewarding, as it brings beauty, wellness and a deep sense of connection.

Three Temple dance Mudra: a ritual of beauty
 
Here three of the main Temple Dance Mudras, to cultivate inner beauty ad get initiated to the mysteries of the priestess art!

Anjali Mudra: hands together, it is one of the major mudras. It represents bhakti, or else the devotion. This gesture is a salutation, as it used to invoke the divine. It reprents symbolicalyl the union between male and female and the great equilibrium. It is a pause. It is as important as the silence between the words.

Alapadma: it means literally ‘open lotus’ . You can practice it opening all your fingers, creating a special flower shape gesture. It is a great way to express the open heart: it means beauty, abundance, joy, grace, sweetness of life.

Hamsasyo: it represents the swan. This gesture symbolises the elegance and the refinement of the movement. It is the grace of the goddess. It brings infinite focus, sensuality and elegance.
Simply, unite the first an the second fingers, creating a lovely feather with the others.

Find yourself in a calm environment. Practice these hand gestures in Padmasana (or a stable and comfortable position), and bring first the attention to the flow of breath.
You can sequence these mudras, giving yourself time to connect with the emotions, sensations and the effects of each of the gestures. Namaste!

Daniela Riva
www.danielariva.com

Come and learn how to be present, align and chant the prayers of Shiva, the cosmic dancer. Come and salute divine mother in the form of the earth, Bhumi Devi! Become enthralled by the beautiful mudras, mantras and elegant steps of the priestesses India. 
https://devadasi-temple-dance-school.teachable.com