Chapter 26 - Hands denoting Animals

Hands that indicate the Lion and other Animals.—

Lion, the Siṃha-mukha hand, i. e., right hand Siṃha-mukha, and left hand Patāka applied to the back of the right, the fingers being freely moved;

Tiger, the Ardha-candra hand held face downwards;

Boar, the Saṅkīrṇa-makara hand, i. e. in the aforesaid Matsya hand, the right hand is held downwards and shaken, the five fingers being severally held apart, indicating bristles;

Monkey, the Adho-muṣṭi-mukula hand is used, i. e. the thumb and second finger of the Muṣṭi hand are joined;

Bear, left hand Padmakośa face downwards, right hand Patāka placed on the back of the left;

Cat, the Ardha-mukula hand, i. e. the thumb and third finger of the Muṣṭi hand are joined;

Yak, the hands touching at the wrists, left hand Muṣṭi, right hand Mudrikā, making the Muṣṭi-mudrā hand;

Iguana, Tala-patāka hand, i. e. the thumb and little finger of the Patāka hand are slightly raised;

Porcupine Deer, the Candra-mṛga hand, i. e. the forefinger of the Mṛga hand is raised;

Antelope, the Mṛga-śīrṣa hand;

Black Antelope, the Muṣṭi-mrga hand, i. e. the thumb and little finger of the Muṣṭi hand are extended;

Mule, Nāga-bandha hands directed upwards, indicating ‘Cow-ear’;

Mouse, the Khaṇḍa-mukula hand, i. e. the forefinger of the Mukula hand is fully extended;

Mole (?) (girikā), the Khaḍga-mukula hand, i. e. the forefinger of the Mukula hand is bent and moved to and fro (tiryak prasārita);

Hare, the Tala-patāka hand is moved horizontally (tiryak);

Scorpion, the Karkaṭa hand is directed downwards;

Dog, the Madhya-patāka hand, i. e. the little ñnger of the Patāka hand is bent;

Camel, the Kaṇḍāñjali hand, i. e. the thumbs of the Añjali hand are bent and moved up and down;

Goat, Śikhara hands in contact face to face;

Ass, the Bhinnāñjali hand, i. e. the forefingers of the Khaṇḍāñjali hand are bent in contact;

Bull, the Tala-siṃha^[1] hand, i. e. the second and third fingers are bent to touch the palm, and the thumb placed over them, and the two other fingers extended;

Cow, the Saṅkīrṇa-mudrā hand, i. e. the middle finger is bent, and all the others extended, also indicating Yantra-bheda.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

i. e. Siṃha-mukha, with the back of the hand in the horizontal plane. Plate XIII A.