By Swami Harshananda
Kalā literally means ‘that which increases’. It is a Sanskrit word and has several meanings. It's interpretation depends on the context in which it is used. The word kalā denotes to be a 'part' of anything on a general note, though it has a wide usage with other meanings as well.
Meaning as Arts and Science[edit]
The word kalā is also referred to as art or science. There are 64 types of arts listed. Some of them are:
- Gītam - music
- Nṛtyam - dancing
- Puṣpā- staraṇam - decoration with flowers
- Aindrajāla - magic
- Prahelikā - giving riddles for solving
- Takṣakarma - carpentry
- Vāstuvidyā - architecture
- Nimitta jñāna - futurology with the help of omens
- Dhātuvāda - metallurgy
Meaning in Ayurveda[edit]
In Ayurveda,[1] it refers to the seven human body parts.
Meaning in Upaniṣads[edit]
The Upaniṣads sometimes refer to 16 kalās or parts. Some of them are:
These kalās are associated with a living being and responsible for his bondage.[2]
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore