Also called: Chaturbhut Hasta · The four elemental hands · Earth Air Fire Water hands

Where on the hand: Determined from the whole hand by two measurements only: the shape of the palm, and the length of the fingers relative to it.

What it looks like: Measure palm length (wrist crease to base of fingers) against palm width at the widest point — roughly equal gives a square palm, noticeably longer gives a rectangular or oblong palm. Then measure the middle finger against the palm length — roughly equal gives long fingers, noticeably shorter gives short fingers.

Two measurements produce a two-by-two grid and four hand types: Earth (square palm, short fingers), Air (square palm, long fingers), Fire (rectangular palm, short fingers) and Water (rectangular palm, long fingers). This is the standard modern Indian chirognomy and the fastest way to characterise a hand.