Mudras are gestures of hands which imparts the expression of thought nd emotion. This mudras are prevelant from the time of the vedas and still used by the priests while chanting manthras. In Kathakali stories conveyed by mudra from tragedy to exultation. Each mudra has got a different meaning. Depending upon the context the meaning changes. The actor should learn about 600 mudras during training. The alphabet of the hand, as mudras are, form a complete vocabulary of more than 500 words which most commonly occur in a dance story and which describe concrete objects or express an emotional situation or relate an incident in simple words.

Example

Pathaka.  Is formed by streching all the fingers of the hand except the ring finger which is bent inwards the palm. Its origin is traced from mythology which symbolises victory as shown by Brahma.
Single  : Day, tongue, fore head, etc...
Double : Sun, King, Lion etc.