What is art? Is it singing? Is it drawing? Is it dancing? Is it performing? Is it sculpting? Is it designing? Yes, yes, yes…and yes. Believe it or not, Indian Vedic culture itemized 64 performing arts.

Kala translates to performing arts in Sanskrit. There are 64 such arts collectively known as Chausath Kalas. The mention of these Kalas can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures along with 14 Vidhyas or Sciences.
Lord Krishna, a Reincarnation of god Vishnu, is believed to be well versed with each one of these Kalas. With his brother Balram, the duo learnt these arts and Vidhya within the span of mere 64 days at the ashram or institution of guru sandipani in Avanti, Ujjain, an Indian city. Ideally, it takes upto two or two and half years to grasp one single vidhya.
Indian art forms are renowned for their intricate details and unique patterns. These majorly stem from the 64 Kalas and were spotted in the Harappan, Mohenjo Daro civilization, Ellora, Elephanta caves, to name a few locations in India.
Vatika, the wife of the famous sage Veda Vyasa, was carrying a child for 12 years. She was in immense pain because of the prolonged pregnancy period. Despite various trials, the foetus refused to come out. He further proclaimed his need to acquire as much knowledge as possible while he was still inside the safety of his mother’s womb. His belief was such that he wanted this one to be his last birth and attain Moksha, liberation, as he had already taken birth 84 lakhs of times. He wanted to head towards the path of Yoga and Meditation through his wide wisdom to achieve his goals. Shuk

Chausath Kalas

1. Geet vidya: singing.
2. Vadya vidya: playing on musical instruments.
3. Nritya vidya: dancing.
4. Natya vidya: theatricals.
5. Alekhya vidya: painting.
6. Viseshakacchedya vidya: painting the face and body with colour
7. Tandula-kusuma-bali-vikara: preparing offerings from rice and flowers.
8. Pushpastarana: making a covering of flowers for a bed.
9. Dasana-vasananga-raga: applying preparations for cleansing the teeth, cloths and painting the body.
10. Mani-bhumika-karma: making the groundwork of jewels.
11. Aayya-racana: covering the bed.
12. Udaka-vadya:  playing on music in water.
13. Udaka-ghata: splashing with water.
14. Citra-yoga:  practically applying an admixture of colours.
15. Malya-grathana-vikalpa: designing a preparation of wreaths.
16. Sekharapida-yojana: practically setting the coronet on the head.
17. Nepathya-yoga:  practically dressing in the tiring room.
18. Karnapatra-bhanga: decorating the tragus of the ear.
19. Sugandha-yukti: practical application of aromatics.
20. Bhushana-yojana: applying or setting ornaments.
21. Aindra-jala: juggling.
22. Kaucumara: a kind of art.
23. Hasta-laghava: sleight of hand.
24. Citra-sakapupa-bhakshya-vikara-kriya: preparing varieties of delicious food.
25. Panaka-rasa-ragasava-yojana: practically preparing palpatable drinks and tingling draughts with red colour.
26. Suci-vaya-karma: needleworks and weaving.
27. Sutra-krida: playing with thread.
28. Vina-damuraka-vadya:  playing on flute and small drum.
29. Prahelika: making and solving riddles.
30. Durvacaka-yoga: practising language difficult to be answered by others.
31. Pustaka-vacana: reciting books.
32. Natikakhyayika-darsana: enacting short plays and anecdotes.
33. Kavya-samasya-purana: solving enigmatic verses.
34. Pattika-vetra-bana-vikalpa: designing preparation of shield, cane and arrows.
35. Tarku-karma: spinning by spindle.
36. Takshana: carpentry.
37. Vastu-vidya: engineering.
38. Raupya-ratna-pariksha: testing silver and jewels.
39. Dhatu-vada: metallurgy.
40. Mani-raga jnana:tinging jewels.
41. Akara jnana: mineralogy.
42. Vrikshayur-veda-yoga: practising medicine or medical treatment, by herbs.
43. Mesha-kukkuta-lavaka-yuddha-vidhi: knowing the mode of fighting of lambs, cocks and birds.
44. Suka-sarika-pralapana: maintaining or knowing conversation between male and female cockatoos.
45. Utsadana: healing or cleaning a person with perfumes.
46. Kesa-marjana-kausala: combing hair.
47. Akshara-mushtika-kathana: talking with fingers.
48. Dharana-matrika: the use of amulets.
49. Desa-bhasha-jnana: knowing provincial dialects.
50. Nirmiti-jnana: knowing prediction by heavenly voice.
51. Yantra-matrika: mechanics.
52. Mlecchita-kutarka-vikalpa: fabricating barbarous or foreign sophistry.
53. Samvacya: conversation.
54. Manasi kavya-kriya: composing verse
55. Kriya-vikalpa:designing a literary work or a medical remedy.
56. Chalitaka-yoga: practising as a builder of shrines called after him.
57. Abhidhana-kosha-cchando-jnana: the use of lexicography and metres.
58. Vastra-gopana: concealment of clothes.
59. Dyuta-visesha: knowing specific gambling.
60. Akarsha-krida: playing with dice or magnet.
61. Balaka-kridanaka: using children’s toys.
62. Vainayiki vidya: enforcing discipline.
63. Vaijayiki vidya: gaining victory.
64. Vaitaliki vidya: awakening master with music at dawn.