Nagesh Haldipur Bhatt is the head priest of the main Chitrapur Mutth, or spiritual center, for the Konkani speaking community at Shirali, Karnataka. On June 16th we interviewed him at the Bangalore branch of the Chitrapur Mutth. Nahesh Bhatt spoke in Konkani as he described his experiences with hasta mudras in specific Hindu rituals such as pujas, or ritual worship.

U.S. Krishna Rao, here a 92 yr old Bharata Natyam dance master and choreographer, who along with his late wife, Chandrabhaga Devi, were a popular Bharata Natyam duo. We interviewed him at his residence in Bangalore where he spoke of his early days as a young dance student learning hastas. He spoke from the perspective of someone who has taught and performed for more than 75 years.

[U S Krishna Rao (1912 – 2005)
Bharatanatyam guru U S Krishna Rao passed away at 8:38 am in Bangalore on March 6, 2005. He was 92 and is survived by two sons. U.S. Krishna Rao was a dancer, choreographer, renowned teacher and author of books on dance.]

Maya Rao, the renowned Kathak dancer/choreographer spoke to us in her native Bangalore about the traditional use of gesturing in the style of Kathak dance. She also elaborated upon the impact this has made in her personal life as someone who has attempted innovative choreography.

Acharya Parvati Kumar is a self-taught scholar, master and choreographer of Bharata Natyam who devised a notation and teaching system by researching the ancient texts. He spoke to us about his interpretation of the ancient texts and the importance of meaning in the use of hasta mudras.

Daksha Mushruwalla, is a dancer/teacher of Odissi dance residing in Mumbai, who spoke articulately about the use of expression in hasta mudras. She also posed her own questions about the use of mudras in dance and choreography as she pondered our discussion.

We met Darshana Jhaveri, one of the surviving dancer sisters of the former dance group, Jhaveri Sisters in Mumbai. An exponent of Manipuri dance from Eastern India, she spoke of the specific use of mudras within ritual dances of creation and their interpretation within the classical genre.

Jhelum Paranjape is a dancer/teacher of Odissi dance in Mumbai who talked about her unique use of hastas in new choreography within the Odissi style. She has created several new works using traditional hand gestures in a modern context.

Dr. Raghav Someshwar, a yoga teacher at the Arya Samaj in Mumbai, spoke of the various practises and uses of hasta mudras for healing as used in yoga and pranayam. He reiterated the tremendous healing power of the hands that is harnessed in traditional healing arts.

Rupa Chingorani is a yoga teacher who teaches children in an elementary school setting. She spoke of the powerful use of mudras for healing various physical conditions in children, who respond quickly to such practices.

Swami Premanand Giri is head of the Raghavanand Mutth in Mumbai and a practitioner of tantric upasana (a form of ritual worship). He spoke at length of the use of mudras in upasana (puja)and their various effects on the mind and body.

Pandit Venugopal Pillai and his wife, Jayashree, is a husband and wife team of dance masters and choreographers of Bharata Natyam in Mumbai who spoke to us about preserving the use of traditional mudras in dance today. Panditji shared various practices that ensure the preservation of these hand symbols to the next generation of dancers.

Jayashree Behn spoke of the powerful effects of mudras and the differences in their use between yoga and dance.