An introduction to the series of articles on 64 art forms enumerated by Vatsyayana
Date : 18/05/2024
Our revered Nation is called Bhaaratam. Bhaaratam literally means “to rejoice in light”. Ours is the land that rejoices in light- Bhaasi ramate iti bhaaratam (भासि रमतॆ इति भारतम्) ! In the Indian Ethos, ‘light’ is symbolic of ‘wisdom’. The name Bharatam suggests ‘the land that rejoices in wisdom’. Since ancient times, Indians have been keen observers of nature. Probing into every small and big feature of nature, they always explored the secrets of nature within and without. Knowledge was never focused on materialistic career oriented degrees or skills, but was rather a path of exploring oneself and the creation around. Exploring nature was a facilitator to express and boost the inherent potentials in individuals and groups.
The quest of ages has brought to the Bhaarateeyas the realization that a passionate journey into any knowledge domain, not only fetches material benefits, but eventually culminates in universal wisdom. The Rtaprajnaa is the awakening that generates the infinite capacity to comprehend higher and subtler truths. Therefore in the Indian ethos, every shastra (branch of study) claims that its ultimate prayojanam (outcome) is moksha / apavarga (liberation- a state of perfect wisdom, tranquillity, and bliss)
Vidya
The word Vidya is derived from the sanskrt dhaatu (root) ‘Vid’ which means ‘to know/ to comprehend/ to be aware of”. Vidya is therefore a pursuit of knowledge. Every vidya is verily a path towards realizing one self and the truths of creation.
In nature’s scheme, every soul has some inherent unique potential. Education or training is only a means to unfold that potential in individuals and groups. Aptitude, taste and orientation express forth in individuals and groups in the formative stages. When recognized and channelized methodically, these potentials manifest as skills and knowledge. Thus emerges a systematic branch of knowledge or ‘vidyaa’.
Paraa-vidyaa and aparaa-vidyaa.
Vidyaa is classified into paraavidyaa and aparaavidyaa.
The paraa-vidyaa is the journey towards self-realization, a probe into the inner world, the path of transcending one’s own self and its mortal bonds and identities, the experience of the biggest and sublimation into one’s highest identity, ie the brahma.
The aparaa-vidyaa refers to all the knowledge pursuits which make us self-aware, self-reliant, enterprising and resourceful in this world. The various occupations, skills, intellectual pursuits, probes, experiments, artistic ventures, and their related customs, practices and schools that preserve these for posterity… all are off-springs of aparaa-vidyaa. These promote economic stability, job opportunities, social networking and prosperity for the communities. Being dynamic, progressive and open to endless introspection, innovations, debate and modifications and exchanges, they set up platforms for methodical nurturing of skills, and utility of material and human resources. These bring wealth, joy, harmony, pride and build prosperous societies and glorious cultural heritages.
Bharat is proud to have excelled in both the paravidya and aparavidya domains.
Every domain of knowledge, the vedas, Upanishads, vedangas, the great epics, puranas, poetic works or the shastras expounding of physical sciences, medicine etc., or the various occupations and schools of thought, the numerous customs and practices, attribute to the message of paraa-vidyaa as the highest goal of human life. It is revered as the highest wisdom, by obtaining which everything else is obtained- कस्मिन् नु भगवॊ विज्ञातॆ सर्वम् इदं विज्ञातं भवति i.e by knowing which everything else gets known. (Mundakopanishad, I, 1 ,2)
Nourished by such a profound perspective, the various vidyas developed in Bharatam. Many developed scholarly shastras, gave birth to highly evolved schools of thought and promoted flourishing occupations and trades.
But interestingly, despite sharing similarities, never have any of the vidyas been identical all across India at all times. Though well rooted in the elementary idea of ‘saa vidya yaa vimuktaye’ (vidya is for liberation), they have retained their originality and substance with pride. The region, geography, family lines, occupational needs, personal choice and modes of expression of individuals and communities have all contributed to make each of these vidyas diverse and unique in their own right. Profuse innovation and exchange of ideas, enabled these vidyas to branch out into many more categories. To this day, the conventional vidyas uphold their unique regional flavour, geographical identity, spirit of inclusiveness and encourage profuse exchanges with neighbouring ethnicities.
Amongst the aparaa-vidyas, the 64 vidyas list comprises the most colourful, multifaceted and popular knowledge domains/ arts, which interest scholars and commoners alike. These evolved and blossomed into popular occupations, trades and fine art systems as well. Let us have a glance over the names and nature of these 64 vidyas.
In the kannada dictionary (vol 3) published by kannada sahitya parishad in 1977, the chatusshashtikalas (64 arts) mentioned by Vatsyayana list these:
1. Geetam – Vocal music
2. Vaadyam- Instrumental music
3. Nrtyam- Dance
4. Aalekhyam- Painting
5. Vishesakacchedya- Sketching ornate designs on the forehead
6. Tandula-kusuma-bali-vikaara- Ornate (rangavalli) arrangements with rice grains and flowers for rituals
7. Puspa-astaranam- Decorating the house or room with flowers
8. Dashana-vasana-angaraga- Colouring of clothes, body or teeth (tattoo like)
9. Mani-bhumika-karma- Construction of jewel-embedded flooring; Mosaic work, Doll-making etc.
10. Sayana-racana- Making / arranging beds in patterns
11. Udaka-vaadya- The art of drumming on water, to give the sounds of the muraja vadya, etc
12. Udaka-aaghata- Splashing water on each other with the hands during water games
13. Chitra-yoga- Causing thinness or madness, early greying of hair, etc (with certain diet and drugs)
14. Malyagranthana-vikalpa- Various types of making flowers garlands
15. Shekharaka-aapida-yojana- Arranging shekharaka and aapida (ornaments on hair or head)
16. Nepathya-prayoga- Costume maker/ costume specialist
17. Karna-patrabhanga: Making earrings using natural material like ivory, etc
18. Gandhayukti- Perfume making industry
19. Bhushana-yojana- Jewelry designing and gold smith profession
20. Aindrajalayoga- The art of Magic and Enchantment (creating hallucinating visions of Gods, snakes, armies, etc,)
21. Kouchumaara-yoga: Treatment for making persons extraordinarily strong and potent as prescribed by kouchumaara.
22. Hasta-laghava- Handi-work and skills implemented any and every kind of task, including skilled theft right in public, etc.,
23. Vichitra-shaakha-yoosha/ Bhaksya-vikaarakriyaa- All kinds of Cooking and culinary skills- Preparing different types of curries, rasams, sambar, savouries fires, etc.
24. Paanaka-rasa-raaga-aasava-yojana- Preparing varieties of drinks like paanaka, rasa etc
25. Soochi-vaana-karma- Tailoring (stitching, weaving, embroidery and even artistic styles of folding clothes)
26. Sutra-kreeda- Playing and Manufacturing of stringed instruments. Designing instruments in the shape of shapes of temples, houses, etc., Moving objects with the help of strings.
27. Veenaa-Damaruka vadya- Playing instruments like Veena, Damaruka and others.
28. Prahelikaa- composing and posing riddles or puzzles.
29. Pratimaalaa- Verbal games wherein players recite verses in succession picking up the last letter of the previous verse. This game became more popular as Antakshari in later times, wherein instead of verses, songs are used.
30. Durvaachaka-yoga: A verbal game where in contestants are required to recite difficult and confusing verses flawlessly.
31. Pustakavacanam- Reading aloud (involves effective intonation styles)
32. Naataka-aakhyayikaa-darsana-The knowledge of drama theatre and stories.
33. Kaavya-samasyaa-pooranam- Composing poetry around a given phrase to make it sound sensible.
34. Pattika-vetra-vaana-vikalpa- Cane furniture and bamboo objects maufacturings
35. Taksha-karma- The art of caving on metals like gold and iron and wood.
36. Takshana- Carpentry and Blacksmith’s profession.
37. Vaastu-vidya- Civil and architecture engineering and related resource management (Involves the study of the various methods of building houses, mansions, towers, choosing the right land terrain and material for constructing)
38. Rupya-ratna-pareeksa- Examining and recognizing gems and coins.
39. Dhaatu-vada- Purification of alloys and ores
40. Mani-raaga-karajnanam- Colouring gems and precious stone, a general knowledge of mines.
41. Vrkshaayurveda- Botany (The knowledge of growing plants and trees, protecting flora and fauna from diseases, making them specially grow very tall or very short or in unusual shapes and sizes).
42. Mesha-kukkuta-lavaka-yuddha-vidhi- Arranging ram-cock fights, etc.
43. Shuka-saarikaa-pralaapana- Teaching male and female parrots to speak human languages.
44. Utsaadana-samvahana-keshamardana-kousala - The art massaging the body and head using on’es hands and legs.
45. Akshara-mushtikaa-kathana- Recognizing the words listening to the prime letters.
46. Mlecchita-vikalpa- Composing and using various code languages; the art of speaking in such a way that except the concerned person, no others can understand.
47. Desha-bhaashaa-vijnaanam- knowledge of various regional languages.
48. Pushpa-shakatikaa- Constructing flower carts i.e. models of carts, horses, elephant and pallaquains are constructed with flowers to carry love-letters.
49. Nimitta-jnanam- The knowledge of auspicious and inauspicious omens.
50. Yantramatruka- Manufacturing machines to be used in wars or for travelling on water, etc.
51. Dharanamatruka-The skill of remembering. It also means the art of holding clothes or other articles in the hand.
52. Sampathya- Repeating flawlessly, unfamiliar verses, heard for the first time.
53. Manasi- A game wherein a verse is written without revealing the actual letters, but only revealing the visarga, anuswaras or their vowel-suffixes. With this hint, one must complete the verse.
54. Kavyakriya- Composing poetry.
55. Abhidanakosachandovijnanam- Vocabulary and knowing prosody.
56. Kriyakalpa- Poetry and aesthetics.
57. Chalitakayoga- The skill of cheating i.e. To possess mastery over voice and looks so as to mislead everyone.
58. Vastragopanam- Creating illusions with costumes. i. e very minimal clothing is made to appear like long robes.
59. Dyutavisesa- Varieties of gambling. Skill in cunning art forms like-Durodara, etc.
60. Akarsakreeda- A special type of dice game.
61. Balakreeda- Games for children; Playing with dolls, ball, etc.
62. Vainayikiya vidya- The skill of educating people in in arts and sciences.
63. Vaijayikiya vidya- The technique of gaining victory.
64. Vyayamikiyavidya- Physical exercise or body-building.
These vidyas will be explored as we proceed. We will explore richness of each vidyas’ in its contents, resourcefulness and sub-divisions of these 64 vidyas in the coming episodes.
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