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Kala (Samskrit: कला) or Art is a vital component of the Ancient Indian Education System. They are disciplines, a student acquires knowledge of, during the course of training in the Gurukula. They are called as Chatusshashti Kalas (चतुःषष्टिः कला-s) since they are 64 in number.

Kala (Samskrit: कला) or Art is a vital component of the Ancient Bharat's Education System. They are disciplines, a student acquires knowledge of, during the course of training in the Gurukula. They are called as Chatusshashti Kalas (चतुःषष्टिः कला-s) since they are 64 in number.

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction  ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction  ==

Bharatavarsha (Ancient Indian Sub-continent) has always attached great value to knowledge. Talking of India's knowledge tradition, Kapil Kapoor says, ''"India's'' ''knowledge tradition is ancient and uninterrupted like the flow of the river Ganga."''  

Bharatavarsha (Ancient Bharat's Sub-continent) has always attached great value to knowledge. Talking of India's knowledge tradition, Kapil Kapoor says, ''"India's'' ''knowledge tradition is ancient and uninterrupted like the flow of the river Ganga."''  

Jnana (ज्ञानम् | Knowledge) has been at the center of all speculations in India. There are three terms that appear in all discussions related to knowledge<ref>Kapoor Kapil and Singh Avadhesh Kumar, [http://iks.iitgn.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Indian-Knowledge-Systems-Kapil-Kapoor.pdf Indian Knowledge Systems], Vol.1, NewDelhi: D.K.Printworld, Pg.no.11</ref>:

Jnana (ज्ञानम् | Knowledge) has been at the center of all speculations in India. There are three terms that appear in all discussions related to knowledge<ref>Kapoor Kapil and Singh Avadhesh Kumar, [http://iks.iitgn.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bharat's-Knowledge-Systems-Kapil-Kapoor.pdf Bharat's Knowledge Systems], Vol.1, NewDelhi: D.K.Printworld, Pg.no.11</ref>:

* दर्शनम् ॥ [[Shad Darshanas (षड्दर्शनानि)|Darshana]]

* दर्शनम् ॥ [[Shad Darshanas (षड्दर्शनानि)|Darshana]]

* ज्ञानम् ॥ Jnana

* ज्ञानम् ॥ Jnana

Darshana literally means "a point of view" which leads to Jnana (knowledge). When this knowledge, gathered about a particular domain is organized and systematized for purposes of Chintana (चिन्तनम् | reflection) and Adhyapana (अध्यापनम् | pedagogy), it attains the status of Vidya (विद्या | discipline).

Darshana literally means "a point of view" which leads to Jnana (knowledge). When this knowledge, gathered about a particular domain is organized and systematized for purposes of Chintana (चिन्तनम् | reflection) and Adhyapana (अध्यापनम् | pedagogy), it attains the status of Vidya (विद्या | discipline).

The tradition always talks of 18 major Vidyas (disciplines of knowledge) and 64 kalas (arts) while referring to the curriculum of Ancient Indian Education<ref name=":0">Kapoor Kapil and Singh Avadhesh Kumar, [http://iks.iitgn.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Indian-Knowledge-Systems-Kapil-Kapoor.pdf Indian Knowledge Systems], Vol.1, NewDelhi: D.K.Printworld, Pg.no.18</ref>

The tradition always talks of 18 major Vidyas (disciplines of knowledge) and 64 kalas (arts) while referring to the curriculum of Ancient Bharat's Education<ref name=":0">Kapoor Kapil and Singh Avadhesh Kumar, [http://iks.iitgn.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bharat's-Knowledge-Systems-Kapil-Kapoor.pdf Bharat's Knowledge Systems], Vol.1, NewDelhi: D.K.Printworld, Pg.no.18</ref>

The 18 Vidyas include:

The 18 Vidyas include:

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|देशभाषाज्ञानम्  ॥ Deshabhasha jnana (Fluently talking in the different Indian dialects)

|देशभाषाज्ञानम्  ॥ Deshabhasha jnana (Fluently talking in the different Bharat's dialects)

|<nowiki>मार्जने गृहभाण्डादेः विज्ञानम् || Marjane Grhabhandadeh Vijnana (Cleansing of domestic utensils)</nowiki>

|<nowiki>मार्जने गृहभाण्डादेः विज्ञानम् || Marjane Grhabhandadeh Vijnana (Cleansing of domestic utensils)</nowiki>

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== Discussion ==

== Discussion ==

The Ancient Indian education model aimed at facilitating the four basic duties of a person viz. Dharma (Righteousness), Artha (Livelihood), Kama (Family life) and [[Moksha Dristipath|Moksha]] (Attainment of eternal peace).<ref>Pt. Shri Durgadutta Tripathi, [https://shekharsk.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/64-arts-of-ancient-india.pdf Sixty-four Arts of ancient India], Edited and Translated by – Dr. A.S. Nene</ref> The tradition talks of 18 major vidyas (theoretical disciplines), and 64 kalas (applied or vocational disciplines/crafts).These "crafts" have a direct bearing on day-to-day life of the people and most of them are still a part of the Indian life.<ref name=":0" /> It is interesting to note that these crafts are still important means of livelihood. There is a close relationship of these crafts with ordinary life.<ref name=":1">Kapoor Kapil and Singh Avadhesh Kumar, [http://iks.iitgn.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Indian-Knowledge-Systems-Kapil-Kapoor.pdf Indian Knowledge Systems], Vol.1, NewDelhi: D.K.Printworld, Pg.no.19</ref>

The Ancient Bharat's education model aimed at facilitating the four basic duties of a person viz. Dharma (Righteousness), Artha (Livelihood), Kama (Family life) and [[Moksha Dristipath|Moksha]] (Attainment of eternal peace).<ref>Pt. Shri Durgadutta Tripathi, [https://shekharsk.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/64-arts-of-ancient-india.pdf Sixty-four Arts of ancient India], Edited and Translated by – Dr. A.S. Nene</ref> The tradition talks of 18 major vidyas (theoretical disciplines), and 64 kalas (applied or vocational disciplines/crafts).These "crafts" have a direct bearing on day-to-day life of the people and most of them are still a part of the Bharat's life.<ref name=":0" /> It is interesting to note that these crafts are still important means of livelihood. There is a close relationship of these crafts with ordinary life.<ref name=":1">Kapoor Kapil and Singh Avadhesh Kumar, [http://iks.iitgn.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bharat's-Knowledge-Systems-Kapil-Kapoor.pdf Bharat's Knowledge Systems], Vol.1, NewDelhi: D.K.Printworld, Pg.no.19</ref>

It is also significant that no opposition is set-up in the Indian tradition between "art" and "craft." For the craftsmen, the craft is not only their profession, it is also their worship. These crafts were taught, are still taught, by a teacher to his disciples, for the learning of a craft requires watching the teacher at work, starting by doing odd, little jobs assigned by the teacher and then the long practice, abhyasa (अभ्यासः), on one's own. Only after considerable experience the learner refines his art and then may set-up on his own.We can see this even today in Indian dance, music and even automobile-repair. This is one reason why the craftsman is held in high esteem as a sadhaka, a devotee whose mind attaches with great reverence to his object. His training is a form of [[Tapas|tapa]] (तपः), a dedication and the primary virtue he has to acquire is concentration, ekagrata (एकाग्रता).<ref name=":1" />

It is also significant that no opposition is set-up in the Bharat's tradition between "art" and "craft." For the craftsmen, the craft is not only their profession, it is also their worship. These crafts were taught, are still taught, by a teacher to his disciples, for the learning of a craft requires watching the teacher at work, starting by doing odd, little jobs assigned by the teacher and then the long practice, abhyasa (अभ्यासः), on one's own. Only after considerable experience the learner refines his art and then may set-up on his own.We can see this even today in Bharat's dance, music and even automobile-repair. This is one reason why the craftsman is held in high esteem as a sadhaka, a devotee whose mind attaches with great reverence to his object. His training is a form of [[Tapas|tapa]] (तपः), a dedication and the primary virtue he has to acquire is concentration, ekagrata (एकाग्रता).<ref name=":1" />

The Indian tradition is replete with texts even for the crafts, which are "practical" disciplines.In each discipline, there are Schools; in each School there are thinkers and texts. In fact, one may talk of three kinds of texts — primary texts (Shastra) which lay down the foundational principles, samgraha texts (compendium of all Schools in that discipline) and commentary/expository texts (tika । टीका). These three kinds of texts are available in most disciplines — this is the way knowledge is organized and presented for purposes of pedagogy. However, it is true in the case of crafts just as it is true in the case of vidyas that the knowledge resides in the teacher, the guru. This is the root of the great reverence attached to the gurus in the Indian tradition as he is the source and the ultimate authority in the given domain of knowledge.<ref name=":1" />  

The Bharat's tradition is replete with texts even for the crafts, which are "practical" disciplines.In each discipline, there are Schools; in each School there are thinkers and texts. In fact, one may talk of three kinds of texts — primary texts (Shastra) which lay down the foundational principles, samgraha texts (compendium of all Schools in that discipline) and commentary/expository texts (tika । टीका). These three kinds of texts are available in most disciplines — this is the way knowledge is organized and presented for purposes of pedagogy. However, it is true in the case of crafts just as it is true in the case of vidyas that the knowledge resides in the teacher, the guru. This is the root of the great reverence attached to the gurus in the Bharat's tradition as he is the source and the ultimate authority in the given domain of knowledge.<ref name=":1" />  

== References ==

== References ==