64 Kalas (चतुःषष्टिः कलाः)
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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 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[1]:
- 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[2]
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:
| Text | शैवतन्त्रम्[3][4][5] | शुक्रनीतिसार | शिवतत्वरत्नाकरः |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | गीतम् ॥ Geeta (Singing) | नर्तनम् ॥ Nartana (Dancing) | History |
| 2 | वाद्यम् ॥ Vadya (Playing on various musical instruments) | वादनम् || Vadana (Playing musical instruments) | Poetry |
| 3 | नृत्यम् ॥ Nrtya (Dancing) | वस्त्रालङ्कारसन्धानम् || Vastralankara sandhana (Decoration by dress and ornaments) | Calligraphy |
| 4 | नाट्यम् ॥ Natya (Acting, gesticulation, mimicry) | अनेकरूपाविर्भावकृतिज्ञानम् || Anekaroopavirbhavakrti jnana (Knowledge of sundry mimicry and antics) | Metrical compositions |
| 5 | आलेख्यम् ॥ Alekhya (Drawing, Painting, Calligraphy) | शय्यस्तरणसंयोगपुष्पादिग्रथनम् || shayyastaranasamyoga pushpadi grathana (Laying out of beds and furniture and weaving of garland) | Dancing |
| 6 | विशेषकच्छेद्यम् ॥ Visheshakacchedya (Painting figures of various designs on the various parts of the body with musk paste and other fragrant substances) | द्युताद्यनेकक्रीडा || Dyutadyanekakreeda (Entertaining people with gambling and various tricks of magic) | Evaluating precious stones |
| 7 | तण्डुलकुसुमयलिविकाराः ॥ Tandula kusumayalivikara (Preparing for use in worship various designs with grains of rice, flowers, etc) | अनेकासनसन्धानैः रतेः ज्ञानम् || Anekasanasandhanaih rateh jnaana (Knowledge of different aspects of giving pleasure) | Wrestling |
| 8 | पुष्पास्तरणम् ॥ Pushpaastarana (Preparing a bed of flowers) | मकरन्दादीनां मद्यादीनां कृतिः || Makarandadinam madyadinam krti (Distillation of wines and spirituous liquors from flowers) | Cooking |
| 9 | दशनवसनाङ्गरागाः ॥ Dashana vasananga raga (Colouring the teeth and other limbs and articles of wearing apparel) | शिराव्रणव्याधे शूल्यगूढाहृतौ ज्ञानम् || Shiravranavyadhe shulyagudhahrtau jnana (Extrication of thorns and relieving pain by operating on the wounds of a vein) | Magic |
| 10 | मणिभूमिकाकर्म ॥ Mani bhumika karma (Paving a floor with Precious stones) | हिङ्ग्वादिरससंयोगाद् अन्नादिपचनम् || Hingvadi rasasamyogad annadi pachana (Cooking of food by intermixtures of various tastes) | Shoe-making |
| 11 | शयनरचनम् ॥ Shayana rachana (Preparing a bed) | वृक्षादिप्रसवारोपपालनादिकृतिः || Vrkshadiprasavaropapalanadi krti Udakaghat (Planting, grafting and preservation of plants) | Thieving |
| 12 | उदकवाद्यम् ॥ Udakavadya (Using a pot full of water as a musical instrument and treading on water) | पाषाणधात्वादिहतिस्तद्भस्मोकरणम् || Pashanadhatvadi hatistadbhasmokarana (Melting and powdering of stones and metals) | Iron smithery |
| 13 | उदकघातः ॥ Udakaghata (Sprinkling with water cannons) | इक्षुविकाराणां कृतिज्ञानम् || Ikshuvikaranam Krtijnana (Using preparations from sugarcanes) | Painting |
| 14 | चित्रायोगाः ॥ Chitrayoga (Herbal preparations for weakening of enemy) | धात्वौषधीनां संयोगक्रियाज्ञानम् || Dhatu Aushadhinam samyoga Kriya jnana (Knowledge of mixtures of metals and medicinal plants) | Gardening |
| 15 | माल्यग्रथनविकल्पाः ॥ Malyagrathana vikalpa (Preparing chaplets and wreathe of flowers) | धातुसाङ्कर्य्यपार्थक्यकरणम् || Dhatu sankaryaparthakya karana (Analysis and synthesis of metals) | Carpentry |
| 16 | केशशेखरापीडयोजनम् ॥ Keshashekharapeeda yojana (Ladies hair styling) | धात्वादीनां संयोगापूर्वज्ञानम् || Dhatu adinam samyogapoorva jnana (Preparation of alloys) | Hair-dressing |
| 17 | नेपथ्ययोगाः ॥ Nepathyayoga (Modes of beautifying the body with cloths and ornaments of various kinds) | क्षारनिष्कासनज्ञानम् || ksharanishkasana jnana (Preparation of salts) | Hunting |
| 18 | कर्णपत्रभङ्गाः ॥ Karnapatrabhanga (Painting ornamental figures on the ears) | पदादिन्यासतः शस्त्रसन्धानविक्षेपः || Padadinyasata shastrasandhana vikshepa (Use and arrangement of arms by proper arrangement of legs). | Trading |
| 19 | गन्धयुक्तिः ॥ Gandhayukti (Making perfumes and cosmetics) | सन्ध्याघाताकृष्टिभेदैः मल्लयुद्धम् || Sandhyaghatakrshribhedaih Mallayuddha (Duelling with various artifices) | Agriculture |
| 20 | भूषणयोजनम् ॥ Bhushanayojana (Making ornaments of various designs) | मल्लानामशस्त्रं मुष्टिभिः बाहुयुद्धम् || Mallanamashastram mushtibhih bahuyuddha (Hand to hand fight) | Animal husbandry |
| 21 | इन्द्रजालम् ॥ Indrajala (Jugglery) | बलदर्पविनाशान्तं नियुद्धम् || Baladarpavinashantam Niyuddha (Niyuddha for destruction of enemy's power and vanity) | making medicines, |
| 22 | कौचुमारयोगाः ॥ Kauchumarayoga (the art of beautification) | सन्निपातावघातैश्च कृतं निपीडनम् तन्मुक्तिः || Sannipatavaghataishcha Krtam nipeedanam tanmukti (Attack by duellers and method of extricating oneself from these) | leather work, |
| 23 | हस्तलाघवम् ॥ Hastalaghava (Sleight of hand) | अभिलक्षिते देशे यन्त्राद्यस्वनिपातनम् || Abhilakshite deshe yantradyasvanipatana (Throwing of arms and implements towards some fixed point) | driving, |
| 24 | चित्रशाकापूपभक्ष्यविकारक्रिया ॥ Chitrashakapupabhakyavikara kriya (Culinary art) | वाद्यसङ्केततो व्यूहरचना || Vadyasanketato Vyuharachana (Formation of battle arrays according to signals given by musical instruments) | fishing, |
| 25 | पानकरसरागासवयोजनम् ॥ Panakarasaragasava yojana (Making drinks of various tastes and colours and spirituous liquors of various kinds) | गजाश्वरथगत्या युद्धसंयोजनम् || Gajashvarathagatya Yuddhasamyojana (Arrangement of horses, elephants and chariots in war) | speech-making |
| 26 | सूचीवापकर्म ॥ Suchivapakarma (Weaving and needle-work of various kinds) | विविधासनमुद्राभिः देवतातोषणम् || Vividhasanamudrabhih devatatoshana (Propitiation of Gods by various seats and postures) | singing |
| 27 | वीणाडमरुकसूत्रक्रीडा ॥ Veena damaruka sutra kreeda (Making musical instruments of various kinds and working puppets by strings) | सारथ्यं च गजाश्वादेर्गतिशिक्षा || Sarathyam cha Gajashvadergatishiksha (Driving horses and elephants) | playing musical instruments |
| 28 | प्रहेलिका ॥ Prahelika (Solving riddles) | मृत्तिकाभाण्डादिसत्क्रिया || Mrttika bhandadi satkrya (Cleansing, etc of earthen vessels) | preparing manuscripts |
| 29 | प्रतिमा* ॥ Pratima (Sculpture) | काष्ठभाण्डादिसत्क्रिया || Kashtha bhandadi satkrya (Cleansing, etc of wooden vessels) | garland-making, |
| 30 | दुर्वचकयोगाः ॥ Durvachaka yoga (Skill in uttering tongue twisters) | पाषाणभाण्डादिसत्क्रिया || Pashana bhandadi satkrya (Cleansing, etc of stone vessels) | dyeing |
| 31 | पुस्तकवाचनम् ॥ Pustaka vachana (The art of reading manuscripts easily and quickly) | धातुभाण्डादिसत्क्रिया || Dhatu bhandadi satkrya (Cleansing, etc of metal vessels) | body-care |
| 32 | नाटिकाख्यायिकादर्शनम् ॥ Natika Akhyayika darshana (Dramaturgy and story writing) | चित्राद्यालिखनम् || Chitradyalikhana (Picture drawing) | use of weapons |
| 33 | काव्यसमस्यापूरणम् ॥ Kavya samasya purana (Completion of incomplete verses or part verses) | तडागवापीप्रासादसमभूमिक्रिया || Tadagavapiprasada samabhumi krya (Construction of tanks, canals, palaces and squares) | making moulds |
| 34 | पट्टिकावेत्रवाणविकल्पाः ॥ Pattikavetravana vikalpa (Making ligatures, canes, arrows) | घट्यादानेकयन्त्राणां वाद्यानां कृतिः || Ghatyadanekayantranam vadyanam krtih (Construction of clocks, watches and musical instruments) | performing pUjll (daily worship) |
| 35 | तर्कूकर्माणि ॥ Tarkukarma (Spindle work) | हीनमध्यादिसंयोगवर्णाद्यै रञ्जनम् || Hinamadhyadisamyogavarnadyai ranjana (Dyeing by application of inferior, middling and other colours) | inlay work |
| 36 | तक्षणम् ॥ Takshana (Carpentry) | जलवाय्वग्निसंयोगनिरोधैश्च क्रिया || Jalavayvanisamyoga nirodhaishcha krya (Putting down actions of water, air and fire) | arranging
flowers |
| 37 | वास्तुविद्या ॥ Vastuvidya (Architecture) | नौकारथादियानानां कृतिज्ञानम् || naukarathadiyananam krti jnana (Preparation of boats, chariots and conveyances) | preparing scents |
| 38 | रूप्यरत्नपरीक्षा ॥ Roopya ratna pariksha (Testing valuable metals and precious stones) | सूत्रादिरज्जुकरणविज्ञानम् || Sutradirajjukarana vijnana (Preparation of threads and ropes) | bangle-making |
| 39 | धातुवादः ॥ Dhatuvada (Alchemy) | अनेकतन्त्तुसंयोगैः पटबन्धः || Anekatantusamyogaih Patabandha (Weaving of fabrics) | stitching |
| 40 | मणिरागज्ञानम् ॥ Maniraga jnana (Colouring precious stones) | रत्नानां वेधादिसदसज्ज्ञानम् || Ratnanam vedhadisadasad jnana (Testing of gems) | making ornaments |
| 41 | आकरज्ञानम् ॥ Akara jnana (Knowledge of latent minerals) | स्वर्णादीनां याथात्म्यविज्ञानम् || Svarnadinam yathatmya vijnana (Testing of gold and other metals) | making sweets |
| 42 | वृक्षायुर्वेदयोगाः ॥ Vrkshayurveda yoga (Nursing and treating plants) | कृत्रिमस्वर्णरत्नादिक्रियाज्ञानम् || Krtrimasvarnaratnadi krya jnana (Preparation of artificial gold and gems) and स्वर्णाद्यलङ्कारकृतिः लेपादिसत्कृतिः ॥ Svarnadi alankara krti lepadisatkrti (Making of ornaments with gold and other metals and enamelling) | home-planning |
| 43 | मेषकुक्कुटलावकयुद्धविधिः ॥ Mesha kukkutalavaka yuddhavidhi (Setting game rams, cocks, quails to fight as sport) | चर्मणां मार्दवादिक्रियाज्ञानम् || Charmanam mardavadi krya jnana (Softening of leathers) | training animals |
| 44 | शुकसारिकाप्रलापनम् ॥ Shuka sarika pralapana (teaching parrots and other birds to imitate human speech) | पशुचर्माङ्गनिर्हारक्रियाज्ञानम् || Pashucharmanganirhara krya jnana (Flaying of skins from the bodies of the beasts) | training birds |
| 45 | उत्सादनम् ॥ Utsadana (Making an enemy quit his place by means of a charm) | दुग्धदोहादिविज्ञानम् || Dugdhadohadi vijnana (Milking) | coding |
| 46 | केशमार्जनकौशलम् ॥ Keshamarjana kaushala (Cleaning and dressing the hair) | घृतान्तम् || Grtanta (Churning) | 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 || Seevane Kanchukadinam Vijnana (Sewing of covers) | training memory |
| 48 | म्लेच्छितकविकल्पाः ॥ Mlecchitaka vikalpa (Knowledge of books written in the language of Barbarians) | बाह्वादिभिः जले तरणम् || Bahvadibhih jale tarana (Swimming) | physical exercise |
| 49 | देशभाषाज्ञानम् ॥ Deshabhasha jnana (Fluently talking in the different Indian dialects) | मार्जने गृहभाण्डादेः विज्ञानम् || Marjane Grhabhandadeh Vijnana (Cleansing of domestic utensils) | yogic
practices |
| 50 | पुष्पशकटिकानिमित्तज्ञानम् ॥ Pushpashakatika nimitta jnana (Decoration of vehicles with flowers and Reading good or bad omens) | वस्त्रसम्मार्जनम् || Vastrasammarjana (Cleaning of clothes) | |
| 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 || Kshurakarma (Shaving) | |
| 52 | धारणमातृका ॥ Dharanamatrka (Remembering heard sentences) | तिलमांसादिस्नेहानां निष्कासने कृतिः || Tilamamsadisnehanam nishkasane krti ((Extraction of oil from seeds and fats from flesh) | |
| 53 | सम्पाट्यम् ॥ Sampatya (Splitting hard substances such as diamonds into two or more pieces of different shapes) | सीराद्याकर्षणे ज्ञानम् || Seeradyakarshane jnana (Drawing of ploughs) | |
| 54 | मानसीकाव्यक्रिया ॥ Manasikavya kriya (Reading the thoughts of others and bringing them out in a verse) | वृक्षाद्यारोहणे कला || Vrkshadyarohane kala (Climbing of trees) | |
| 55 | क्रियाविकल्पाः ॥ Kriyavikalpa (Poetry forms) | मनोऽनुकूलसेवायाः कृतिज्ञानम् || Manonukulasevayah krti jnana (Knowledge of pleasing in work) | |
| 56 | छलितकयोगाः ॥ Chalitayoga (Conceal body or speech) | वेणुतृणादिपात्राणां कृतिज्ञानम् || Venutrnadipatranam krti jnana (Making of vessels with bamboo straws) | |
| 57 | अभिधानकोषच्छन्दोज्ञानम् ॥ Abhidhanakosh chanda jnana (lexicography and prosody) | काचपात्रादिकरणविज्ञानम् || Kacapatradikarana vijnana (Making of glass vessels) | |
| 58 | वस्त्रगोपनानि ॥ Vastragopana (Showing off one's clothes as made of a superior texture than what they actually are) | जलानां संसेचनं संहरणम् || Jalanam sansechanam saharana (Pumping and withdrawing water) | |
| 59 | द्यूतविशेषः ॥ Dyutavishesha (Playing at dice) | लोहाभिसारशस्त्रास्त्रकृतिज्ञानम् || Lohabhisarashastrastra krti jnana (Preparation of tools and implements from iron) | |
| 60 | आकर्षणक्रीडा ॥ Akarshana kreeda (Attracting remote objects) | गजाश्ववृषभोष्ट्राणां पल्याणादिक्रिया || Gajashvavrshbhoshtranam palyanadi krya (Preparation of saddles for horses, elephants, bulls and camels) | |
| 61 | बालकक्रीडनकानि ॥ Balaka kreedanaka (Playing childrens' games) | शिशोः संरक्षणे धारणे क्रीडने ज्ञानम् || Shisho samrakshane dharane kreedane jnana (Maintenance, entertainment and nursing of children) | |
| 62 | वैनायिकीनां विद्यानां ज्ञानम् ॥ Vainaayiki vidya jnana (The Practice of charms) | अपराधिजने मुयुक्ताताडनज्ञानम् || Aparadhijane muyuktatadana jnana (Punishment of offenders) | |
| 63 | वैजयिकीनां विद्यानां ज्ञानम् ॥ Vaijayiki vidya jnana (Fore knowledge of the party going to win in a debate) | नानादेशीयवर्णानां सुसम्यग् लेखने || Nanadeseeyavarnanam susamyag lekhane (Writing characters of various languages) | |
| 64 | वैतालिकीनां विद्यानां ज्ञानम् ॥ Vaitaliki vidya jnana (Keeping goblins and vampires under one's control) | ताम्बूलरक्षादिकृतिविज्ञानम् || Tambularakshadi krti vijnana (Making and preservation of betels) |
*The शब्दकल्पद्रुमः ॥ Shabdakalpadruma mentions प्रतिमाला ॥ Pratimala (Capping verses) instead of प्रतिमा ॥ Pratima (Sculpture)
References
- ↑ Kapoor Kapil and Singh Avadhesh Kumar, Indian Knowledge Systems, Vol.1, NewDelhi: D.K.Printworld, Pg.no.11
- ↑ Kapoor Kapil and Singh Avadhesh Kumar, Indian Knowledge Systems, Vol.1, NewDelhi: D.K.Printworld, Pg.no.18
- ↑ Vachaspatyam
- ↑ Shabdakalpadruma
- ↑ Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana (Part II), English redition: C.L.Goswami, Gorakhpur: Gita Press, Fourth Edition (1997), Pg.no.294 (annotation)