Kalā means

performing art The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which are the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. Perfor ...

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

. In

Hindu scripture Hindu texts are manuscripts and voluminous historical literature which are related to any of the diverse traditions within Hinduism. A few of these texts are shared across these traditions and they are broadly considered Hindu scriptures. These ...

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...

is the master of Kalā.

64 Arts

The mastery of over 64 kinds of skills is called ''chatushashti Kalas''. They are: # ''Geeta vidya'':

singing Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

. # ''Vadya vidya'': playing on

musical instrument A musical instrument is a device created or adapted to make musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can be considered a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. A person who pl ...

s. # ''Nritya vidya'':

dancing Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoire ...

. # ''Natya vidya'': theatricals. # ''alekhya vidya'':

painting Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ...

. # ''viseshakacchedya vidya'': painting the face and body with color # ''tandula-kusuma-bali-vikara'': preparing offerings from

rice Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima ''Oryza glaberrima'', commonly known as African rice, is one of the two domesticated rice species. It was first domesticated and grown i ...

and

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s. # ''pushpastarana'': making a covering of flowers for a

bed A bed is an item of furniture that is used as a place to sleep, rest, and relax. Most modern beds consist of a soft, cushioned mattress on a bed frame. The mattress rests either on a solid base, often wood slats, or a sprung base. Many beds ...

. # ''dasana-vasananga-raga'': applying preparations for cleansing the teeth, cloths and painting the body. # ''mani-bhumika-karma'': making the groundwork of jewels. # ''sayya-racana'': covering the bed. # ''

udaka vadya Udaka Vadya is an Indian musical instrument. It is assumed either this musical instruments was jal tarang or similar to it. This percussion instrument was categorized in medieval musical treatises under ghana vadya ( idiophonic instruments where t ...

'': playing on

music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...

in water. # ''udaka-ghata'': splashing with water. # ''citra-yoga'': practically applying an admixture of colors. # ''malya-grathana-vikalpa'': designing a preparation of

wreath A wreath () is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs, or various materials that is constructed to form a circle . In English-speaking countries, wreaths are used typically as household ornaments, most commonly as an Advent and Chri ...

s. # ''sekharapida-yojana'': practically setting the

coronet A coronet is a small crown consisting of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. A coronet differs from other kinds of crowns in that a coronet never has arches, and from a tiara in that a coronet completely encircles the head, while a tiara does ...

on the head. # ''nepathya-yoga'': practically dressing in the tiring room. # ''karnapatra-bhanga'': decorating the tragus of the ear. # ''sugandha-yukti'': practical application of

aromatics Aromatic compounds, also known as "mono- and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons", are organic compounds containing one or more aromatic rings. The parent member of aromatic compounds is benzene. The word "aromatic" originates from the past grouping ...

. # ''bhushana-yojana'': applying or setting ornaments. # ''aindra-jala'':

juggling Juggling is a physical skill, performed by a juggler, involving the manipulation of objects for recreation, entertainment, art or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling. Juggling can be the manipulation of one object o ...

. # ''kaucumara'': a kind of art. # ''hasta-laghava'':

sleight of hand Sleight of hand (also known as prestidigitation or ''legerdemain'' ()) refers to fine motor skills when used by performing artists in different art forms to entertain or manipulate. It is closely associated with close-up magic, card magic, card ...

. # ''citra-sakapupa-bhakshya-vikara-kriya'': preparing varieties of delicious

food Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is inge ...

. # ''panaka-rasa-ragasava-yojana'': practically preparing palatable

drink A drink or beverage is a liquid intended for human consumption. In addition to their basic function of satisfying thirst, drinks play important roles in human culture. Common types of drinks include plain drinking water, milk, juice, smoothies a ...

s and tinging draughts with red color. # ''suci-vaya-karma'':

needlework Needlework is decorative sewing and textile arts handicrafts. Anything that uses a needle for construction can be called needlework. Needlework may include related textile crafts such as crochet, worked with a hook, or tatting, worked with a ...

s and

weaving Weaving is a method of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. Other methods are knitting, crocheting, felting, and braiding or plaiting. The longitudinal th ...

. # ''sutra-krida'': playing with thread. # ''vina-damuraka-vadya'': playing on vina- a stringed instrument and small two headed drum. # ''prahelika'': making and solving

riddle A riddle is a statement, question or phrase having a double or veiled meaning, put forth as a puzzle to be solved. Riddles are of two types: ''enigmas'', which are problems generally expressed in metaphorical or allegorical language that requir ...

s. # ''durvacaka-yoga'': practicing language difficult to be answered by others. # ''pustaka-vacana'': reciting books. # ''natikakhyayika-darsana'': enacting short plays and

anecdote An anecdote is "a story with a point", such as to communicate an abstract idea about a person, place, or thing through the concrete details of a short narrative or to characterize by delineating a specific quirk or trait. Occasionally humorous ...

s. # ''kavya-samasya-purana'': solving enigmatic verses. # ''pattika-vetra-bana-vikalpa'': designing preparation of shield, cane and arrows. # ''tarku-karma'': spinning by

spindle Spindle may refer to: Textiles and manufacturing * Spindle (textiles), a straight spike to spin fibers into yarn * Spindle (tool), a rotating axis of a machine tool Biology * Common spindle and other species of shrubs and trees in genus ''Euony ...

. # ''takshana'':

carpentry Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. Carpenters tr ...

. # ''vastu-vidya'': Architecture. # ''raupya-ratna-pariksha'': testing silver and jewels. # ''dhatu-vada'':

metallurgy Metallurgy is a domain of materials science and engineering that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their inter-metallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are known as alloys. Metallurgy encompasses both the sc ...

. # ''mani-raga jnana'': tinging jewels. # ''akara jnana'':

mineralogy Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts. Specific studies within mineralogy include the proces ...

. # ''vrikshayur-veda-yoga'': practicing

medicine Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pract ...

medical treatment A therapy or medical treatment (often abbreviated tx, Tx, or Tx) is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually following a medical diagnosis. As a rule, each therapy has indications and contraindications. There are many different ...

, by herbs. # ''mesha-kukkuta-lavaka-yuddha-vidhi'': knowing the mode of fighting of lambs, cocks and birds. # ''suka-sarika-prapalana (pralapana)'': maintaining or knowing conversation between male and female

cockatoo A cockatoo is any of the 21 parrot species belonging to the family Cacatuidae, the only family in the superfamily Cacatuoidea. Along with the Psittacoidea (true parrots) and the Strigopoidea (large New Zealand parrots), they make up the ord ...

s. # ''utsadana'': healing or cleaning a person with

perfume Perfume (, ; french: parfum) is a mixture of fragrant essential oils or aroma compounds (fragrances), fixatives and solvents, usually in liquid form, used to give the human body, animals, food, objects, and living-spaces an agreeable scent. Th ...

s. # ''kesa-marjana-kausala'': combing hair. # ''akshara-mushtika-kathana'': talking with fingers. # ''dharana-matrika'': the use of

amulet An amulet, also known as a good luck charm or phylactery, is an object believed to confer protection upon its possessor. The word "amulet" comes from the Latin word amuletum, which Pliny's ''Natural History'' describes as "an object that protects ...

s. # ''desa-bhasha-jnana'': knowing provincial

dialect The term dialect (from Latin , , from the Ancient Greek word , 'discourse', from , 'through' and , 'I speak') can refer to either of two distinctly different types of Linguistics, linguistic phenomena: One usage refers to a variety (linguisti ...

s. # ''nirmiti-jnana'': knowing

predictions A prediction (Latin ''præ-'', "before," and ''dicere'', "to say"), or forecast, is a statement about a future event or data. They are often, but not always, based upon experience or knowledge. There is no universal agreement about the exact ...

by heavenly voice # ''yantra-matrika'':

mechanics Mechanics (from Ancient Greek: μηχανική, ''mēkhanikḗ'', "of machines") is the area of mathematics and physics concerned with the relationships between force, matter, and motion among physical objects. Forces applied to objects r ...

. # ''mlecchita-kutarka-vikalpa'': fabricating barbarous or foreign

sophistry A sophist ( el, σοφιστής, sophistes) was a teacher in ancient Greece in the fifth and fourth centuries BC. Sophists specialized in one or more subject areas, such as philosophy, rhetoric, music, athletics, and mathematics. They taught ' ...

. # ''samvacya'':

conversation Conversation is interactive communication between two or more people. The development of conversational skills and etiquette is an important part of socialization. The development of conversational skills in a new language is a frequent focus ...

. # ''manasi kavya-kriya'': flyting. # ''kriya-vikalpa'': designing a literary work or a medical remedy. # ''chalitaka-yoga'': practicing as a builder of shrines called after him. # ''abhidhana-kosha-cchando-jnana'': the use of

lexicography Lexicography is the study of lexicons, and is divided into two separate academic disciplines. It is the art of compiling dictionaries. * Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries. * Theoretica ...

and meters. # ''vastra-gopana'': concealment of cloths. # ''dyuta-visesha'': knowing specific

gambling Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of value ("the stakes") on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted. Gambling thus requires three el ...

. # ''akarsha-krida'': playing with dice or magnet. # ''balaka-kridanaka'': using children's toys. # ''vainayiki vidya'': enforcing discipline. # ''vaijayiki vidya'': gaining

victory The term victory (from Latin ''victoria'') originally applied to warfare, and denotes success achieved in personal Duel, combat, after military operations in general or, by extension, in any competition. Success in a military campaign constitu ...

. # ''vaitaliki vidya'': awakening master with music at dawn.

External links

*http://www.pudhucherry.com/pages/kalai.html *http://www.chennaiiq.com/general_knowledge/tamil/aaya_kalaigal_64_art.asp {{DEFAULTSORT:Kala Krishna

64 Arts

See also

External links