# Indian Palmistry/References to Hand

PLATE I.—THE REFERENCE HAND.
REFERENCES TO HAND.
No. 1.
Name.—Mount of Jupiter.
Location.—Root of forefinger.
Interpretation.—When very fully shown denotes pride, tyranny; when deficient in size denotes idleness and vulgarity; when there are concentric circles shown by the pores of the skin, here they indicate sure success in religion, marriage and monetary matters, ambition; broken circles or elongated, slightly less powerful; entirely void, no success thereby.
No. 2.
Name.—Mount of Saturn.
Location.—Root of middle finger.
Interpretation.—When fully marked denotes wisdom, prudence; when very full, taciturnity, sadness; when concentric circles are placed here success in all Saturnian affairs; when absent or elongated the person will never make much headway with such things and persons.
No. 3.
Name.—Mount of the Sun, "Apollo."
Location.—Root of ring finger.
Interpretation.—When prominent it gives art, genius, intelligence; when very full, denotes a greedy and untruthful disposition; when flat or small, then it causes the person to be dull; when concentric circles appear here, the person will be very powerful, have riches and honour by the state, or marry a high-born person; elongated or none, shows the person will have mean preferment, or none, as the case may be.
No. 4.
Name.—Mount of Mercury.
Location.—Root of little finger.
Interpretation.—When prominent and full, and with concentric circles thereon, it denotes science, inventiveness, wit and success in all Mercurial matters, as writings, professions, especially church and law, and journeys; when very large and with elongated circles, it denotes theft, lying, cunning; when flat or none, it shows a negative life, and unfortunate in all above.
No. 5.
Name.—Girdle of Venus.
Location.—A curved line from root of forefinger to root of little finger.
​Interpretation.—When this line is clear it shows a natural desire for the opposite sex; when double it denotes an intemperate and lustful life; when broken, it shows terrible loss and infamy through lusts, a filthy person.
No. 6.
Name.—Via Combusta.
Location.—Extends through hollow of hand to mount of middle finger.
Interpretation.—See Lines (8) page 36.
No. 7.
Name.—Via Solis.
Location.—A curved line running from root of ring finger to the mount of the Moon.
Interpretation.—When straight and uniformly composed and well coloured, it promises the favour of great men and great honours; if dissected or uneven judge the contrary, or the frowns or ill favour of great people, with impediments in life or envy.
No. 8.
Name.—Line of Fortune.
Location.—A line extending from the mount of Jupiter to the mount of Mercury.
Interpretation. When long and with incisures, ​denotes that the principal members of the body are strong, constancy; if shorter crooked, the contrary; if severed, the same; when it stops at the mount of Saturn, it shows a vain lying person; if it branches on mount of Jupiter it denotes honours; if single or without branches, it shows poverty and want.
No. 9.
Name.—Liver line.
Location.—A curved line running through the palm of the hand, between the line of Fortune and the Life line.
Interpretation.—When straight and not dissected by obscure little lines, denotes a healthy body; if extending only to the hollow of the hand, or short, it denotes a short life, or full of disease; the longer this line, the longer may the life be; if cut at end poverty in old age.
No. 10.
Name.—Line of Life.
Location.—A curved line running round the root of the thumb.
Interpretation.—When broad and uniform, denotes a long and healthy life, and but few diseases; if slender, short or cut, or with little obscure lines running through, it denotes feebleness of body, sickness, short life, except line be strong; if ​sloping nicely to Liver line, and beautified in the angle with parallels or little crosses, it shows a good wit and even temper.
No. 11.
Name.—Line of Saturn.
Location.—A line extending from the wrist lines up to middle finger.
Interpretation.—If it extend to the middle finger it indicates profound meditations, and if fortunate, events in counsels and actions; if short (without other testimony) misfortunes; if bent towards the mount of the Moon, in the hollow of the hand, imprisonment.
No. 12.
Name.—Line of the Head and Brain, called by some the line of Health.
Location.—A line running from the wrist, or line of Saturn, and extending up to the mount of Mercury.
Interpretation.—If this line be uniform and not intersected, it forms with the line of Life and Liver line (sometimes called the Head line) a triangle on the plane of Mars, if of good colour, it denotes prudence, manly wit and fair fortune; the more perfect this triangle, the better will be the person's wit and courage; if obtuse it shows an evil nature and a rude man; no triangle shows a fool or a knave.
No. 13.
Name.—Line of the Moon.
Location.—A line running from the line of Saturn and line of the Brain to the mount of the moon called sometimes the Via Lactea.
Interpretation.—This line being uniformly composed, proportionate and continued, denotes fortunate journeys both by land and sea; also a good brain, the favour of women (the mount of Venus being also unafflicted), a composed and graceful speech; if it be cut or distorted it argues infelicity and proneness to lies; if whole and ascending up to little finger it denotes great happiness.
No. 14.
Name.—Mount of the Moon.
Location.—The outside part of hand, opposite to root of thumb, between mount of Mercury and wrist.
Interpretation.—Imagination, refinement, poetry; if very large or full it denotes despair, caprice and almost lunacy; when flat and hollow, denotes dullness, want of speech, positiveness.
No. 15.
Name.—Plane and place of Mars. The mount of Mars.
Location.—The place of Mars is twice represented, one on the side of the palm by the mount of Mars, ​and the other in the palm between the line of Life and the Liver line, called the plane or place of Mars.
Interpretation.—The mount of Mars shows courage; when in excess, passion; when small, temerity.
(Vide marks, etc., specially numbered.)
No. 16.
Name.—Mount of Venus.
Location.—In the root of the thumb.
Interpretation.—Love of beauty and pleasure; where large, inconstancy, coquetry; when small, coldness.
No. 17.
Name.—Dragon lines or Bracelets.
Location.—Lines to be found on the wrist.
Interpretation.—If double or triple and forming a right and continuous tract, it shows good composure of body; thrice, indicates health, wealth and prosperity; a star or cross here shows tranquillity in old age; if a line extends to the mount of Moon or Mercury from Dragon lines, it shows esteem and life in a foreign country.
No. 18.
Name.—Plane of Mensa, or place of Fortune.
Location. The space between the line of Fortune and the Liver line.
​Interpretation.—Great and broad and forming a nice figure, it declares a liberal man, magnanimous and long-lived; if small and narrow, it argues slender fortune, niggardliness and fearfulness; a star or cross in this space, clear and well-proportioned, especially under the mount of the Sun, shows honours and dignities to follow.
No. 19.
Name.—Egyptian Staff.
Location.—Just below chain of Fortune.
Interpretation.—Great renown in antiquities a great commander and ofttimes a great statesman, a lover of ancient research.
No. 20.
Name.—Chain of Fortune.
Location.—Small crosses or stars between the line of Life and the Liver line, under the mount of Jupiter.
Interpretation.—These denote wit and an even nature; riches and honours, or wealth by position of noted kind.
No. 21.
Name.—Sun place.
Location.—A small circle on the line of Life opposite to the mount of the Moon.
​Interpretation.—The loss of eyesight; two circles, the loss of both eyes.
No. 22.
Name.—Envy line.
Location.—A line running from the root of the thumb, near the Dragon lines, to the line of Saturn.
Interpretation.—Denotes envy.
No. 23.
Name.—Perilous line.
Location.—A small line running from the Life line and passing through the point formed by the cutting of line of Saturn and Liver line.
Interpretation.—This indicates perils of all kinds, and disease, and sometimes sudden death or misfortune.
No. 24.
Name.—Line of Friendship.
Location.—A small line starting from the line of Life, about midway, and passing through the Saturn and Liver lines, forming a small triangle, and extending to the mount of the Sun.
Interpretation.—This shows honours and favours from great ladies of rank and fortune.
No. 25.
Name.—Cross of Indigence.
​Location.—A star on the Liver line or natural mean, near or on mount of the Moon.
Interpretation.—Poverty in old age.
No. 26.
Name.—Path of Mars.
Location.—A small line running midway from line of Life to plane of Mars with a small star on or near the end.
Interpretation.—Hurts and wounds.
No. 27.
Name.—Dragon's Head.
Location.—A star on Dragon line or Bracelets.
Interpretation.—Tranquillity in life, in old age.
No. 28.
Name.—Dragon's Tail.
Location.—A line running from second Bracelet into the mount of Venus.
Interpretation.—Adversities from kindred or wife.
No. 29.
Name.—Line of Mars.
Location.—A line running parallel with the line of Life on mount of Venus.
Interpretation.—This augments and strengthens the things signified by the line of Life; it ​particularly promises good success in war and a robust constitution.
No. 30.
Name.—Mars Cross.
Location.—Cross or star on the mount of Mars.
Interpretation.—Fortunate journeys.
No. 31.
Name.—Oracle of Jove.
Location.—The sign Jupiter under the mount or on the mount of Apollo.
Interpretation.—Denotes honours and ecclesiastical dignities.
No. 32.
Name.—Line of Calamity.
Location.—A small line running from line of Life up through second joint of thumb.
Interpretation.—This signifies a violent death and danger from married women.
No. 33.
Name.—Cross bars.
Location.—Small lines on the second joint of thumb.
Interpretation.—This is an indication of contention and brawling; small hair lines running ​horizontally to thumb shows riches in second part of life.
No. 34.
Name.—Girdle of Pollux.
Location.—A ring round the thumb.
Interpretation.—This is an indication of hanging.
No. 35.
Name.—First phalanx of forefinger.
Location.—Small lines running parallel with joint.
Interpretation.—Indication of inheritance. This phalanx hollow or curved upwards indicates avarice; if turned backwards, extravagance.
No. 36.
Name.—Second phalanx of forefinger.
Location.—Small lines in the centre running vertical to joints.
Interpretation.—Indicates many children.
No. 37.
Name.—Third phalanx of forefinger.
Location.—Small lines running vertical to joints.
Interpretation.—Denotes a jovial disposition. This finger thick at the root denotes a greedy appetite.
No. 38.
Name.—Small star or cross.
Location.—On third phalanx of forefinger.
Interpretation.—Shows an unchaste and lascivious life.
No. 39.
Name.—Small star.
Location.—On second phalanx of middle finger.
Interpretation.—Denotes melancholy; a star near middle of third phalanx denotes unhappiness.
No. 40.
Name.—A line with star at bottom.
Location.—A small line running throughout middle finger, with a star on third phalanx.
Interpretation.—Denotes folly and madness.
No. 41.
Name.—Small lines running vertical to joint.
Location.—Second phalanx of ring finger.
Interpretation.—Indicates fame, especially if a straight and well-defined line passes up the middle of the finger.
No. 42.
Name.—Small cross bars.
Location.—Third phalanx of ring finger.
Interpretation.—Honours and riches.
No. 43.
Name.—Small cross or star.
Location.—On mount of Mercury close to joint.
Interpretation.—Eloquence.
No. 44.
Name.—Two small stars or indented line.
Location.—On mount of Mercury, one below the other, or a clear indented line on mount of Apollo.
Interpretation.—The first indicates a brilliant mind. The line on mount of Apollo also shows a noted and brilliant mind, but the loss of a dear male friend, sometimes death of wife.
No. 45.
Name.—Cross bars.
Location.—On second phalanx of little finger.
Interpretation.—Shows a thief or a very deceitful person.
No. 46.
Name.—Marriage lines.
Location.—Small lines on outside of hand on mount of Mercury.
Interpretation.—These, according to their number, denote the number of husbands or wives should the widow line also appear; without it they may mean lovers.
No. 47.
Name.—Crest of Hermes.
Location.—Small crosses or star on third phalanx of little finger, especially in the centre.
Interpretation.— Shows ingenuity and eloquence.
No. 48.
Name.—Small concentric circles formed by pores of the skin.
Location.—On first phalanx of all fingers.
Interpretation.—Denotes that the person will be always earning or inheriting money all his life, and in fact it is one of the most successful signs in the hand for pecuniary success.
No. 49.
Location.—On Mounts.
Name.—Concentric.
Interpretation.—The same on the mounts indicate money by or through persons or things indicated by the mount of the fingers, on the forefinger, a wealthy partner; on the mount of Saturn, wealth by lands, house property, legacies; on the ring finger by successful business, or profession and fame; on the mount of Mercury by writings, by profession, by eloquence, etc. Should these assume an elongated form, as seen on middle finger, then, if unbroken, the person will succeed by labour and many difficulties; if none appear, then ​they will never succeed in pecuniary matters, unless the hand is otherwise very strong.
No. 50.
Name.—Lapis Lazuli.
Location.—Tip of middle finger.
Interpretation.—Same as above on mount of Saturn but in foreign countries or from abroad.
No.—51.
Name.—Lapis Lazuli.
Location.—On mount of Saturn or middle finger.
Interpretation.—Same as No. 50.
No. 52.
Name.—Shell form shown by pores of skin.
Location.—On first phalanx of little finger.
Interpretation.—This is perhaps the best means of success, as shown above, in writing and speaking, etc., if other testimonies concur, but I prefer the complete circle.
No. 53.
Name.—Corn or diamond loops.
Location.—On joints of fingers.
Interpretation.—Should the lines on the joints, between the phalanges of the fingers, take the form of a barleycorn or diamond, the person may expect many and unexpected advantages, but much depends on the sum of these lines when counted.
No. 54.
Name.—Luna lines.
Location.—Near mount of Moon on outside of hand, below the Liver or Father line.
Interpretation.—Aptitude for travelling, a sailor, quietness, contentment, poetic imagination when regular; cross bars here give discontent, sometimes suicide, a morbid imagination.
No. 55.
Name.—Line of intuition.
Location.—A line running from the Liver line to the mount of the Moon.
Interpretation.—This shows poetic intelligence, seldom found except in highly imaginative and intellectual persons.
No. 56.
Name.—Line of Temper.
Location.—A line running vertically from mount of Mars to mount of Moon.
Interpretation.—This denotes determination and decision.