Two new lists of Kalās
By Chintaharan Chakravarti
Summary
The writer surveys two recently discovered lists of kalās, the arts or accomplishments traditionally enumerated in Indian literature. Beginning with the well-known sixty‑four arts listed in Vātsyāyana’s Kāmasūtra, the article compares this canonical enumeration with two alternative lists found in lesser known treatises. The first list, attributed to a medieval Jain text, groups the arts into categories relating to music, dance, recitation, painting, magic, crafts and domestic skills. The second, drawn from a Smṛti commentary, includes unusual accomplishments such as the ability to solve riddles, to perform sleight of hand and to compose impromptu poetry. The author analyses how these lists reflect changing social values: some arts emphasise courtly refinement, while others suggest skills useful for merchants and householders. Differences between Brahmanical and Jain perspectives are noted. By examining these texts alongside the Kāmasūtra and Amaruśataka, the author argues that the concept of kalā evolved over time and that local authors adapted the list to suit regional tastes.
Conclusion
The discovery of alternative enumerations of the kalās shows that the traditional sixty‑four arts were neither fixed nor universally accepted. Instead the list served as a flexible template that authors adjusted to their cultural milieu. Recognising this diversity helps historians appreciate regional variations in aesthetic education and broadens our view of what constituted polite learning in premodern India.