The 64 Kalās (Arts) of Ancient India

The Art of Living Fully, Creatively & Spiritually is the way of knowing the truth

In ancient India, education wasn’t just about reading books or chanting shlokas—it was about developing the whole being. The 64 Kalās, or traditional arts, were tools to refine human expression, sharpen creativity, and deepen spiritual living. These arts span everything from music and dance to ethics, warfare, disguise, and even architecture!

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Importance of Kalās?

They were taught in Gurukulas and royal courts, forming the core of education. Masters weren’t just scholars—they were whole beings. This training was especially given to kings, sages, dancers, and spiritual seekers to prepare them for leadership and inner mastery.

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The 64 Kalās and its brief meaning

1. Gīta – Singing
2. Vadya – Playing musical instruments
3. Nritya – Dancing
4. Nāṭya – Drama and acting
5. Ālekhya – Painting and drawing
6. Viśeṣaka-cchedya – Decoration with colored powders
7. Tāla – Rhythmic timing
8. Ādyā-racana – Making floral arrangements
9. Piṭaka-viccheda – Weaving or crafting mats and textiles
10. Prahelikā – Riddle making and solving
11. Durvacaka-yoga – Tongue twisters or coded speech
12. Kuśalī – Craftsmanship
13. Akṣara-muṣṭikā-kathana – Finger-based letter coding
14. Dhāraṇa-mātṛkā – Mnemonics/memory sciences
15. Samvācya – Speaking/reciting with intonation
16. Manasī-kāvya – Creating poetry mentally
17. Kriyākalpa – Ritual arts
18. Chalitaka-yoga – Puppetry
19. Ābhijñāna – Disguise and makeup
20. Citrayoga – Making magic diagrams
21. Mālya-grathana – Garland weaving
22. Keśa-mārjana – Hairdressing
23. Akṣa-kriyā – Gambling/dice
24. Citrasya-lekhana – Sketching from memory
25. Vīṇā-ḍama-tyaktāla – Playing string instruments
26. Prekṣaṇikā – Creating illusionary shows
27. Nartana-kauśala – Dance acrobatics
28. Vastu-vidyā – Architecture
29. Rūpa-racanā – Sculpting or figure design
30. Dhvani-jñāna – Mimicking sounds
31. Sammitā – Metric science
32. Yugmāgama – Pairing arts
33. Vyañjana-jñāna – Sign language or gestures
34. Kāvya-samasyā-pūraṇa – Completing poetry
35. Paṭṭikā-vetra-bāṇa-vikalpa – Arrow making and archery
36. Taralā-mātra – Using weapons with agility
37. Vyāyāma – Physical exercises
38. Vāhana-yoga – Riding skills
39. Dūtya – Diplomacy and message sending
40. Kāvya – Poetry writing
41. Vaiṇāyikī vidyā – Science of elephants
42. Vīraka-vidyā – Heroic science or warfare
43. Bhautika-vidyā – Science of spirits or alchemy
44. Khaṭṭaka-vākya-vidhi – Culinary artistry
45. Mlecchita-kutarka-vidyā – Debating foreign philosophies
46. Deśa-bhāṣā-jñāna – Learning regional dialects
47. Puṣpa-śakaṭikā-nirmiti-jñāna – Making flower chariots
48. Yantra-mātṛkā – Mechanical instruments
49. Dhūpa-vidyā – Perfume and incense preparation
50. Puratāna – Knowledge of ancient history
51. Ratna-parīkṣā – Gemology
52. Dhātu-vāda – Metallurgy
53. Maṇi-bhaṅga – Testing precious stones
54. Vṛkṣāyurveda – Plant medicine
55. Meṣa-kukkuṭa-lāvaka-yuddha-vidhi – Animal training (cockfighting, rams, etc.)
56. Śuka-śārikā-pralāpana – Training birds to talk
57. Utsādana – Cleaning and beautifying things
58. Keśa-śekhara-pīṭha-bandhana – Decorating hair
59. Nartaka-bandha – Choreographing group dances
60. Gandha-yukti – Creating perfumes
61. Bhūṣaṇa-yojana – Ornament design
62. Indrajāla – Magic and illusion
63. Kauśala – General skill mastery
64. Maṇi-rāga-jñāna – Color harmonics with gems

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As per scriptures who have attained what level of Kalās

Personality	Number of Kalās	Notes
Lord Krishna	64	The perfect Pūrṇa-avatāra, master of every art.
Sage Narada	60	Celestial musician, expert in music, drama, and divine arts.
Goddess Saraswati	All	Embodiment of wisdom, speech, and creative energy.
Ravana	36+	Master of music, rituals, and Vedic arts (but ego got in the way).
Gandharvas	Varying	Celestial beings skilled in music, dance, and performance.
Princesses of Ancient India	16–32	Trained in essential Kalās as part of royal grooming.

In the modern world too 64 Kalās work for the Modern Yogi & Creative Soul

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No.	Kalā (Traditional Art)	Modern Equivalent / Yogic Practice	Soul Skill Developed
1	Gīta (Singing)	Vocal training, Bhakti Kīrtan	Voice activation, heart expression
2	Vadya (Instrumental music)	Learning instruments, Nāda Yoga	Sound healing, inner rhythm
3	Nritya (Dancing)	Classical dance, Ecstatic movement	Joyful embodiment, sacral chakra awakening
4	Nātaka (Drama)	Theatre arts, storytelling, Navarasa sādhanā	Emotional intelligence, role detachment
5	Ālekhya (Painting)	Visual art, sacred geometry (yantra art)	Visioning, focus, meditation
6	Viśeṣakacchedya (Decorative carving)	Sculpture, pottery, crafts	Patience, grounding, creation from stillness
7	Tālavidya (Rhythm & Time-keeping)	Percussion, rhythm training, breath cycles	Time awareness, prāṇāyāma anchoring
8	Vāstuvidyā (Architecture)	Sacred architecture, space energy alignment (Vaastu)	Environmental harmony, spatial awareness
9	Prahelika (Riddles)	Puzzles, wordplay, cryptic meditations	Lateral thinking, mantra koans
10	Durvacaka-yogya (Skill in tongue-twisters)	Diction exercises, breath control	Clear speech, vāk shuddhi
11	Pāṭhaka (Recitation)	Veda chanting, script reading	Memory, resonance, dhvani śakti
12	Nāṭyavidyā (Theatrical science)	Stage direction, performance studies	Stage presence, svabhāva realization
13	Āyurveda (Health science)	Naturopathy, herbalism, dosha balancing	Healing intuition, lifestyle sattva
14	Vāstu (Design science)	Interior design, feng shui, mandala layouts	Harmony in living and energy
15	Chitra-karmāṇi (Drawing skills)	Sketching, visual journaling	Observation, creative flow
16	Kāyacikitsā (Body healing)	Massage therapy, marma therapy	Physical nurturing, energy flow awareness
17	Mantra-vidyā (Chanting/mantra science)	Japa, mantra sādhanā	Mental focus, vibration mastery
18	Dhātu-vidyā (Metallurgy)	Jewelry-making, alchemy	Transformation, purification
19	Ratna-parīkṣā (Gemology)	Crystal healing, gemstone astrology	Earth connection, intuitive resonance
20	Puṣpa-śāstra (Floral arrangement)	Ikebana, altar setting, garland making	Beauty worship, bhakti
21	Gāndharva-vidyā (Celestial music)	Nāda Brahma practice, raga therapy	Subtle sound tuning, emotional purification
22	Arthaśāstra (Economics)	Conscious finance, resource dharma	Balance of give and take, Lakshmi path
23	Jalayantra (Water mechanics)	Water conservation, sustainable tech	Earth dharma, flow alignment
24	Yantra-vidyā (Machine science)	Sacred technology, Tantric Yantra work	Tech as a spiritual tool
25	Pustaka-vācana (Book knowledge)	Studying scriptures, sacred text commentary	Intellect refinement, vichāra
26	Nāḍi-parīkṣā (Pulse reading)	Subtle diagnostics, energy reading	Sensory expansion, intuition
27	Rasa-vidyā (Alchemy / taste science)	Ayurvedic rasāyana, fermentation	Regeneration, longevity, taste intuition
28	Dāna-vidyā (Gift science)	Philanthropy, seva, appropriate giving	Non-attachment, grace offering
29	Vastra-grahaṇa (Costume knowledge)	Fabric design, spiritual clothing	Aesthetic sense, color energy
30	Bhūṣaṇa-yoga (Adornment)	Jewelry styling, personal aura design	Self-worth, aura expression
31	Yantra-grahaṇa (Mechanical device use)	Sacred tech, DIY tools, kinetic mandalas	Skill in movement and invention
32	Pratimā-kalā (Sculpture)	Murti making, deity shaping	Devotional crafting, form embodiment

64 Kalās work with the Chakra and Elements too

#	Kalā (Art)		Modern Equivalent / Skill		Yogic Practice	Chakra		Element (Mahabhūta)
1	Gītam (Singing)		Voice training, vocal arts		Nāda Yoga	Vishuddha (Throat)		Ākāśa (Space)
2	Vādyam (Instrumental Music)		Playing instruments		Nāda Yoga, Bhakti	Anāhata (Heart)		Vāyu (Air)
3	Nr̥tyam (Dance)		Performing arts		Rasa Abhinaya, Bhakti	Svādhiṣṭhāna (Sacral)		Jala (Water)
4	Nāṭakam (Drama)		Theatre, acting		Līlā, Rasa Yoga	Manipūra (Navel)		Agni (Fire)
5	Ālekhyam (Drawing)		Visual arts, painting		Dhyāna with visualization	Ājñā (Third Eye)		Ākāśa
6	Viśeṣaka-cchedyaṁ (Decorative arts)		Design, makeup, styling		Rūpa-Dhyāna	Svādhiṣṭhāna		Jala
7	Taṇḍula-kusuma-balivikāraḥ		Culinary art with rice & flowers		Conscious cooking, ritual prep	Manipūra		Agni
8	Puṣpa-śayana		Floral decoration, aromatherapy		Sensory Sādhanā	Anāhata		Vāyu
9	Daśana-vasanāṅga-rāga		Cosmetic art, fashion		Self-care as sādhana	Svādhiṣṭhāna		Jala
10	Maṇi-bhūmikā-karma		Gemology, crystal healing		Ratna Śāstra + Chakra balancing	Multiple		Prithvī (Earth)
11	Śayyā-racana		Interior design, sacred space setup		Vāstu Yoga	Mūlādhāra		Prithvī
12	Udaka-vādya		Water instrument art		Sound healing	Vishuddha		Jala
13	Udaka-ghāta		Hydrotherapy		Jalābhyanga	Svādhiṣṭhāna		Jala
14	Citrakarma		Advanced painting, sacred geometry		Yantra creation	Ājñā		Ākāśa
15	Mālā-karma		Garland-making, flower weaving		Devotional offering	Anāhata		Vāyu
16	Keśa-śekhara-yojana		Hairstyling		Self-expression, Rasa-sādhana	Svādhiṣṭhāna		Jala
17	Akṣara-muṣṭikā-kathanam	Sign language, secret codes		Mudrā practice			Vishuddha	Ākāśa
18	Dhūpa-racana	Incense making, aromatics		Gandha Sādhanā			Mūlādhāra	Prithvī
19	Kāraṇa-pāṭha	Vedic recitation, phonetics		Japa, Mantra Yoga			Ājñā	Ākāśa
20	Hastalāghava	Handcrafts, sleight of hand		Mudra Karma			Manipūra	Agni
21	Citrayojanam	Rangoli, floor art		Mandala meditation			Svādhiṣṭhāna	Prithvī
22	Mālyagrathana-vikalpa	Garland composition		Devotional act			Anāhata	Vāyu
23	Keśa-śekhara-yojana	Hair ornamentation		Śṛṅgāra Sādhana			Svādhiṣṭhāna	Jala
24	Nīpānaka-yoga	Herbal elixirs, drink making		Rasa-vidyā			Manipūra	Jala
25	Dūryākhyāna	Riddle-crafting		Bṛhad-jñāna, Buddhi sharpening			Ājñā	Vāyu
26	Kavitā	Poetry composition		Bhakti & Rasa Yoga			Anāhata	Vāyu
27	Vṛttākṣara	Prosody, metrical patterns		Nāda Yoga			Vishuddha	Ākāśa
28	Pratimā-lakṣaṇa	Sculpture, idol-making		Mūrti Sādhanā			Mūlādhāra	Prithvī
29	Durvācaka-yoga	Tongue twisters, linguistic play		Buddhi-Vikāsa			Vishuddha	Ākāśa
30	Pustaka-vācana	Reading, literacy		Jñāna Yoga			Ājñā	Vāyu
31	Nāṭya-śāstra-jñāna	Dramaturgy study		Abhinaya Yoga			Manipūra	Agni
32	Āveśaka	Mimicry, trance channeling		Bhāva Yoga			Svādhiṣṭhāna	Vāyu
33	Roopa-bheda	Morphology, aesthetics		Rūpa Darśana			Ājñā	Ākāśa
34	Dyūta-vidyā	Strategic games (chess)		Strategy, Mind Yoga			Ājñā	Vāyu
35	Ākarṣaṇa-vidyā	Hypnosis, attraction science		Mantra, Laya Yoga			Ājñā	Ākāśa
36	Bhūta-vidyā	Spirit knowledge		Śakti Tantra			Svādhiṣṭhāna	Ākāśa
37	Śilpa	Architecture, construction		Vāstu Yoga			Mūlādhāra	Prithvī
38	Vaijayantikā	Jewelry crafting		Devī Sṛṣṭi			Anāhata	Prithvī
39	Tilaka-krama	Marking sacred symbols		Tilaka Sādhanā			Ājñā	Agni
40	Vāstu-vidyā	Sacred space science		Yogic Living Spaces			Mūlādhāra	Prithvī
41	Vyākaraṇa	Grammar & syntax		Śabda Yoga			Vishuddha	Ākāśa
42	Vākyārcana	Composition of sentences		Rhetoric, Communication			Vishuddha	Vāyu
43	Dhāraṇa-mātra	Memory training		Dharana in meditation			Ājñā	Ākāśa
44	Samvit	Awareness training		Jñāna Yoga, Svāsthya			Sahasrāra	Ākāśa
45	Kriyā-vidhi	Action protocols		Karma Yoga			Manipūra	Agni
46	Citta-saṁyojana	Mind unification		Rāja Yoga			Ājñā	Vāyu
47	Samādhāna	Mental stability		Dhyāna, Samādhi			Sahasrāra	Ākāśa
48	Saṅkhyā	Numerology, counting		Cosmic math, Jñāna			Ājñā	Ākāśa
49	Vṛkṣāyurveda	Herbalism, botany		Āyurveda, Dravya Guna			Mūlādhāra	Prithvī
50	Gāndharva-vidyā	Sound science, harmonics		Nāda Yoga			Vishuddha	Ākāśa
51	Lakṣaṇa	Omens, signs		Nimitta Śāstra			Ājñā	Vāyu
52	Mantra-śāstra	Sacred sound science		Mantra Yoga			Ājñā	Ākāśa
53	Tantravidyā	Ritual science, yantra		Tantra Yoga			Svādhiṣṭhāna	Ākāśa
54	Rasāyana	Alchemy, rejuvenation		Rasāyana Yoga			Manipūra	Agni
55	Yantra-vidyā	Sacred geometry		Yantra Sādhanā			Ājñā	Ākāśa
56	Devatā-pratipatti	Deity invocation		Bhakti Yoga, Upāsanā			Anāhata	Ākāśa
57	Rāśi-vidyā	Astrology		Jyotiṣa			Ājñā	Ākāśa
58	Parakāya-praveśa	Astral projection		Laya, Śakti-pāta			Sahasrāra	Ākāśa
59	Kaivarta-vidyā	Navigation, sailing		Directional Yoga			Svādhiṣṭhāna	Jala
60	Aindra-jāla	Magic & illusion		Māyā Tantra			Svādhiṣṭhāna	Ākāśa
61	Antarikṣa-vidyā	Space science		Akāśa-bhāvanā			Sahasrāra	Ākāśa
62	Saṅgīta-vidyā	Comprehensive musicology		Nāda Yoga			Vishuddha	Ākāśa
63	Saṁsāra-vidyā	Human behavior science		Karma + Dharma			Anāhata	Vāyu
64	Brahma-vidyā	Knowledge of the Absolute		Advaita, Nirvikalpa Samādhi			Sahasrāra	Ākāśa

A balanced human being isn’t just a professional or spiritual person—they’re rasika, a connoisseur of life. The kalās remind us: Life is not a chore; it’s a canvas.

~ Sri Adi Maitreya Rudrabhayananda ji (Sri AMaRa ji)

Soul Searchers intends to raise the consciousness of 20 million people. It aims to help create a turning point on this planet. It envisions a world where people are in tune with their inner selves. They will live healthy and creative lives. They will no longer be swayed by religious dogma or politics. The purpose is to restore the state of righteousness (dharma). This is crucial in the current state of political turmoil. It also addresses selfishly motivated people. We believe the truth can be known and realized through guided and workable ways.

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