64 Kalas (चतुःषष्टिः कलाः)

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 गुरुकुलम् ॥ Gurukula. They are called as चतुःषष्टिः कलाः ॥ Chatusshashti Kala since they are 64 in number.

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

भारतवर्षः ॥ 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."

ज्ञानम् ॥ Jnana (Knowledge) has been at the centre of all speculations in India. There are three terms that appear in all discussions related to knowledge:

• दर्शनम् ॥ Darshana
• ज्ञानम् ॥ Jnana
• विद्या ॥ Vidya

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

The tradition always talks of a combination 18 major विद्याः ॥ Vidyas (disciplines of knowledge) and 64 कलाः ॥ kalas (arts) while referring to the curriculum of Ancient Indian Education

The 18 विद्याः ॥ Vidyas include:

• चतुर्वेदाः ॥ The Four Vedas: ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda, यजुर्वेदः ॥ Yajurveda, सामवेदः ॥ Samaveda and अथर्ववेदः ॥ Atharvaveda
• चत्वारः उपवेदाः ॥ The Four subsidiary Vedas: आयुर्वेदः ॥ Ayurveda (medicine), धनुर्वेदः ॥ Dhanurveda (weaponry), गान्धर्ववेदः ॥ Gandharvaveda (music) and शिल्पशास्त्रम् ॥ Shilpashastra (architecture)

• चत्वारि उपाङ्गानि ॥ The Four Upangas: पुराणम् ॥ Purana, न्यायः ॥ Nyaya, मीमांसा ॥ Mimamsa, धर्मशास्त्रम् ॥ Dharma Shastra

• षड्वेदाङ्गानि ॥ The Six Vedangas (Auxiliary Sciences): शिक्षा ॥ Shiksha (phonetics), व्याकरणम् ॥ Vyakarana (grammar), छन्दस् ॥ Chandas (metre), ज्योतिष् ॥ Jyotish (astronomy), कल्पः ॥ Kalpa (ritual) and निरुक्तम् ॥ Nirukta (etymology)

However, as far as the कलाः ॥ kalas (arts) are concerned, there are competing enumerations of 64.

Which are the 64 Kalas ?

As mentioned above, there are slight variations regarding the enumeration of the 64 कलाः ॥ Kalas (arts). The mention of these arts occur in:

• शैवतन्त्रम् ॥ Shaivatantra
• महाभारतम् ॥ Mahabharata by व्यासमहर्षिः ॥ Vyasa Maharshi
• कामसूत्रम् ॥ Kamasutra by वात्स्यायनः ॥ Vatsyayana
• नाट्यशास्त्रम् ॥ Natya Shastra by भरतमुनिः ॥ Bharatamuni
• भगवतपुराणम् ॥ Bhagavata Purana by व्यासमहर्षिः ॥ Vyasa Maharshi
• शुक्रनीतिः ॥ Shukraneeti by शुक्राचार्यः ॥ Shukracharya
• शिवतत्त्वरत्नाकरः ॥ Shivatattvaratnakara by बसवराजेन्द्रः ॥ Basavarajendra

The list of the 64 Kalas in some these texts have been juxtaposed in the following table:

चतुःषष्टिः कलाः ॥ Chatusshashti Kala (64 Arts)

Text	शैवतन्त्रम्	शुक्रनीतिसार	शिवतत्वरत्नाकरः
1	गीतम् ॥ Geeta (Singing)	नर्तनम् Geet - Singing	History
2	वाद्यम् ॥ Vadya (Playing on various musical instruments)	वादनम् Vadya – Playing musical instruments	Poetry
3	नृत्यम् ॥ Nrtya (Dancing)	वस्त्रालङ्कारसन्धानम्	Calligraphy
4	नाट्यम् ॥ Natya (Acting, gesticulation, mimicry)	अनेकरूपाविर्भावकृतिज्ञानम् Visheshakchhadya - Forhead decoration with paper, leaves etc.	Metrical compositions
5	आलेख्यम् ॥ Alekhya (Drawing, Painting, Calligraphy)	शय्यस्तरणसंयोगपुष्पादिग्रथनम् Tandul-kusumabalivikar - use of colored rice grains and flower for worship.	Dancing
6	विशेषकच्छेद्यम् ॥ Visheshakacchedya (Painting figures of various designs on the various parts of the body with musk paste and other fragrant substances)	द्युताद्यनेकक्रीडा PushpastaraN - Floral carpets	Evaluating precious stones
7	तण्डुलकुसुमयलिविकाराः ॥ Tandula kusumayalivikara (Preparing for use in worship various designs with grains of rice, flowers, etc)	अनेकासनसन्धनैः रतेः ज्ञानम् Dashnavsanangrag - Decaration of nails and body	Wrestling
8	पुष्पास्तरणम् ॥ Pushpaastarana (Preparing a bed of flowers)	मकरन्दादीनां मद्यादीनां कृतिः Manibhumika karma - Floor decoration with pearls or precious stones.	Cooking
9	दशनवसनाङ्गरागाः ॥ Dashana vasananga raga (Colouring the teeth and other limbs and articles of wearing apparel)	शिराव्रणव्याधे शूल्यगूढाहृतौ ज्ञानम् Shayanrachana – Bed arrangement.	Magic
10	मणिभूमिकाकर्म ॥ Mani bhumika karma (Paving a floor with Precious stones)	हिङ्ग्वादिरससंयोगाद् अन्नादिपचनम् Udakvadya - Jalataranga-Series of water pots for creating music.	Shoe-making
11	शयनरचनम् ॥ Shayana rachana (Preparing a bed)	वृक्षादिप्रसवारोपपालनादिकृतिः Udakaghat - Sprinkling with water cannons.	Thieving
12	उदकवाद्यम् ॥ Udakavadya (Using a pot full of water as a musical instrument and treading on water)	पाषाणधात्वादिहतिस्तद्भस्मोकरणम् Chitrashycha yoga – Herbal preparations for weakening of enemy	Iron smithery
13	उदकघातः ॥ Udakaghata (Sprinkling with water cannons)	इक्षुविकाराणां कृतिज्ञानम् Malyagranthanvikalpa - Preparation of floral garlands and hair bands	Painting
14	चित्रायोगाः ॥ Chitrayoga (Herbal preparations for weakening of enemy)	धात्वौषधीनां संयोगक्रियाज्ञानम् Shekarkapidyojan – Ladies hair styling.	Gardening
15	माल्यग्रथनविकल्पाः ॥ Malyagrathana vikalpa (Preparing chaplets and wreathe of flowers)	धातुसाङ्कर्य्यपार्थक्यकरणम् Nepathyaprayog - Body make-up with cloth, ornaments and flowers.	Carpentry
16	केशशेखरापीडयोजनम् ॥ Keshashekharapeeda yojana (Ladies hair styling)	धात्वादीनां संयोगापूर्वज्ञानम् KarNapatrabhanga - Ear ornaments preparation.	Hair-dressing
17	नेपथ्ययोगाः ॥ Nepathyayoga (Modes of beautifying the body with cloths and ornaments of various kinds)	क्षारनिष्कासनज्ञानम् Gandhayukti - Making scented dhupa.	Hunting
18	कर्णपत्रभङ्गाः ॥ Karnapatrabhanga (Painting ornamental figures on the ears)	पदादिन्यासतः शस्त्रसन्धानविक्षेपः BhushaNyojan - Ornamental make-up	Trading
19	गन्धयुक्तिः ॥ Gandhayukti (Making perfumes and cosmetics)	सन्ध्याघाताकृष्टिभेदैः मल्लयुद्धम् Endrajal – Magic / mesmerism.	Agriculture
20	भूषणयोजनम् ॥ Bhushanayojana (Making ornaments of various designs)	मल्लानामशस्त्रं मुष्टिभिः बाहुयुद्धम् Kauchumaryog - the art of beautification	Animal husbandry
21	इन्द्रजालम् ॥ Indrajala (Jugglery)	बलदर्पविनाशान्तं नियुद्धम् Hastlaghav- Hand magic.	making medicines,
22	कौचुमारयोगाः ॥ Kauchumarayoga (the art of beautification)	सन्निपातावघातैश्च कृतं निपीडनम् तन्मुक्तिः Vichitrashakayushbhakshyavikar kriya- Culinary preparations- sweets etc.	leather work,
23	हस्तलाघवम् ॥ Hastalaghava (Sleight of hand)	अभिलक्षिते देशे यन्त्राद्यस्वनिपातनम् Panakrasa Ragasav yojan- Making sharbat or syrups.	driving,
24	चित्रशाकापूपभक्ष्यविकारक्रिया ॥ Chitrashakapupabhakyavikara kriya (Culinary art)	वाद्यसङ्केततो व्यूहरचना Suchivan Karm –Needle work-Embroidery	fishing,
25	पानकरसरागासवयोजनम् ॥ Panakarasaragasava yojana (Making drinks of various tastes and colours and spirituous liquors of various kinds)	गजाश्वरथगत्या युद्धसंयोजनम् Sutra krida –Hand puppets show	speech-making
26	सूचीवापकर्म ॥ Suchivapakarma (Weaving and needle-work of various kinds)	विविधासनमुद्राभिः देवतातोषणम् Veenadamruvadya-Playing musical instruments like veena or damru	singing
27	वीणाडमरुकसूत्रक्रीडा ॥ Veena damaruka sutra kreeda (Making musical instruments of various kinds and working puppets by strings)	सारथ्यं च गजाश्वादेर्गतिशिक्षा Pahelika - Solving riddles.	playing musical instruments
28	प्रहेलिका ॥ Prahelika (Solving riddles)	मृत्तिकाकाष्ठपाषाणधातुभाण्डादिसत्क्रिया Pratimala- An interesting style of reading text or poem.	preparing manuscripts
29	प्रतिमा* ॥ Pratima (Sculpture)	Durvachakyog - Reciting text which is difficult to pronounce and understand.	garland-making,
30	दुर्वचकयोगाः ॥ Durvachaka yoga (Skill in uttering tongue twisters)	Pustak Vachan –Book reading	dyeing
31	पुस्तकवाचनम् ॥ Pustaka vachana (The art of reading manuscripts easily and quickly)	Natakakhyalika darshan -Dramatics	body-care
32	नाटिकाख्यायिकादर्शनम्  ॥ Natika Akhyayika darshana (Dramaturgy and story writing)	चित्राद्यालिखनम् Kavya Samasyapurti – Solving riddles.	use of weapons
33	काव्यसमस्यापूरणम् ॥ Kavya samasya purana (Completion of incomplete verses or part verses)	तडागवापीप्रासादसमभूमिक्रिया Pattikavetrayanvikalpa - Furniture making.	making moulds
34	पट्टिकावेत्रवाणविकल्पाः ॥ Pattikavetravana vikalpa (Making ligatures, canes, arrows)	घट्यादानेकयन्त्राणां वाद्यानां कृतिः Takshyakarm –Cutting wood to proper size and shape.	performing pUjll (daily worship)
35	तर्कूकर्माणि ॥ Tarkukarma (Spindle work)	हीनमध्यादिसंयोगवर्णाद्यै रञ्जनम् TakshyaN - Carpentry.	inlay work
36	तक्षणम् ॥ Takshana (Carpentry)	जलवाय्वग्निसंयोगनिरोधैश्च क्रिया Vastuvidya - Civil engineering / architecture.	arranging flowers
37	वास्तुविद्या ॥ Vastuvidya (Architecture)	नौकारथादियानानां कृतिज्ञानम् Roopyaratna Pariksha - Valuations of gems and coins.	preparing scents
38	रूप्यरत्नपरीक्षा  ॥ Roopya ratna pariksha (Testing valuable metals and precious stones)	सूत्रादिरज्जुकरणविज्ञानम् Dhatuwad- Mixing of metals like brass.	bangle-making
39	धातुवादः  ॥ Dhatuvada (Alchemy)	अनेकतन्त्तुसंयोगैः पटबन्धः Maniragakar Dyana- Idientification of pearls and gems.	stitching
40	मणिरागज्ञानम्  ॥ Maniraga jnana (Colouring precious stones)	रत्नानां वेधादिसदसज्ज्ञानम् Vrukshaurveda- knowledge of Botany.	making ornaments
41	आकरज्ञानम् ॥ Akara jnana (Knowledge of latent minerals)	स्वर्णादीनां याथात्म्यविज्ञानम् Meshkukkutlavakyuddhavidhi – Knowledge of bird/ animal fighting for gambling.	making sweets
42	वृक्षायुर्वेदयोगाः ॥ Vrkshayurveda yoga (Nursing and treating plants)	कृत्रिमस्वर्णरत्नादिक्रियाज्ञानम् Shukasarika Pralapan - training of bird to speak.	home-planning
43	मेषकुक्कुटलावकयुद्धविधिः ॥ Mesha kukkutalavaka yuddhavidhi (Setting game rams, cocks, quails to fight as sport)	चर्मणां मार्दवादिक्रियाज्ञानम् Utsadan-Samvahan-Keshmardankaushal- Body massage and hair care.	training animals
44	शुकसारिकाप्रलापनम्  ॥ Shuka sarika pralapana (teaching parrots and other birds to imitate human speech)	पशुचर्माङ्गनिर्हारक्रियाज्ञानम् Akshyarmushti kathan-Secret word codes for communication or Mushti sanket - Secret communication through fingers (used by traders in auctions).	training birds
45	उत्सादनम्  ॥ Utsadana (Making an enemy quit his place by means of a charm)	दुग्धदोहादिविज्ञानम् Mlenchhit Vikalpa- Secret communication through gestures.	coding
46	केशमार्जनकौशलम्  ॥ Keshamarjana kaushala (Cleaning and dressing the hair)	घृतान्तम् Deshbhasha vidyan –Knowledge of foreign languages.	making instruments/machines
47	अक्षरमुष्टिकाकथनम् ॥ Aksharamushtika kathana (Reading letters removed from one's sight and divining the nature of substances held within one's palm)	सीवने कञ्चुकादीनां विज्ञानम् Pushpashakatika- Decoration of vehicles with flowers.	training memory
48	म्लेच्छितकविकल्पाः ॥ Mlecchitaka vikalpa (Knowledge of books written in the language of Barbarians)	बाह्वादिभिः जले तरणम् Nimittadyana – Knowledge of auspicious date and time for a particular work.	physical exercise
49	देशभाषाज्ञानम्  ॥ Deshabhasha jnana (Fluently talking in the different Indian dialects)	मार्जने गृहभाण्डादेः विज्ञानम् Yantramatruka- Knowledge of instruments or machines	yogic practices
50	पुष्पशकटिकानिमित्तज्ञानम् ॥ Pushpashakatika nimitta jnana (Decoration of vehicles with flowers and Reading good or bad omens)	वस्त्रसम्मार्जनम् DharaNmatruka- Remembering heard sentences.
51	यन्त्रमातृका ॥ Yantramatrka (Making diagrams by means of letters arranged in different orders as mystical formulae to be worshipped or worn as an amulet)	क्षुरकर्म Sampathya-
52	धारणमातृका ॥ Dharanamatrka (Remembering heard sentences)	तिलमांसादिस्नेहानां निष्कासने कृतिः Manasi Kavya Kriya – To complete incomplete poem or its part.
53	सम्पाट्यम् ॥ Sampatya (Splitting hard substances such as diamonds into two or more pieces of different shapes)	सीराद्याकर्षणे ज्ञानम् Abhidhankosha-
54	मानसीकाव्यक्रिया ॥ Manasikavya kriya (Reading the thoughts of others and bringing them out in a verse)	वृक्षाद्यारोहणे कला Chandodyan
55	क्रियाविकल्पाः ॥ Kriyavikalpa (Poetry forms)	मनोऽनुकूलसेवायाः कृतिज्ञानम् Kriyakalpa –Poetry forms
56	छलितकयोगाः ॥ Chalitayoga (Conceal body or speech)	वेणुतृणादिपात्राणां कृतिज्ञानम् Chalitak Yog –Conceal body or speech.
57	अभिधानकोषच्छन्दोज्ञानम् ॥ Abhidhanakosh chanda jnana (lexicography and prosody)	काचपात्रादिकरणविज्ञानम् Vastragopan – covering parts of body with cloth.
58	वस्त्रगोपनानि ॥ Vastragopana (Showing off one's clothes as made of a superior texture than what they actually are)	जलानां संसेचनं संहरणम् Dhyutavishesh-
59	द्यूतविशेषः ॥ Dyutavishesha (Playing at dice)	लोहाभिसारशस्त्रास्त्रकृतिज्ञानम् Aakarsh kriya - Playing with dices.
60	आकर्षणक्रीडा ॥ Akarshana kreeda (Attracting remote objects)	गजाश्ववृषभोष्ट्राणां पल्याणादिकिया Balakridanak
61	बालकक्रीडनकानि ॥ Balaka kreedanaka (Playing childrens' games)	शिशोः संरक्षणे धारणे क्रीडने ज्ञानम् Vainayiki dyna – Behavior with known and unknown persons.
62	वैनायिकीनां विद्यानां ज्ञानम् ॥ Vainaayiki vidya jnana (The Practice of charms)	अपराधिजने मुयुक्ताताडनज्ञानम् Vaijayiki Dynan –Knowledge of victory.
63	वैजयिकीनां विद्यानां ज्ञानम् ॥ Vaijayiki vidya jnana (Fore knowledge of the party going to win in a debate)	नानादेशईयवर्णानां सुसम्यग् लेखने Vyayam –Physical exercise.
64	वैतालिकीनां विद्यानां ज्ञानम्  ॥ Vaitaliki vidya jnana (Keeping goblins and vampires under one's control)	ताम्बूलरक्षादिकृतिविज्ञानम्

*The शब्दकल्पद्रुमः ॥ Shabdakalpadruma mentions प्रतिमाला ॥ Pratimala (Capping verses) instead of प्रतिमा ॥ Pratima (Sculpture)