कामसूत्र is a fascinating book that must be read by as many people as possible. People generally have a certain impression about the book without reading it. While the topic of physical intimacy is a key part of this book taking about 30% of the space, there are many other aspects hidden there that are equally interesting. One will get a small glimpse into the lifestyle and mindset of people in ancient India that offers an insight that one does not get from reading history books by any author. There is no joy other than making your own assumptions by reading the original book. This blog brings out a small aspect in this book – a list of 64 arts. Kama means entertainment and or pleasure and represents one of the Purushartha or goals of human life (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha). There are indeed various means by which a human being experiences pleasure of living life. All of us eundertake various actions to enjoy life (we undertake tours, play games, etc). Ancient India also tabulated a list of 64 arts that is given below. It is interesting to note that what gave joy to people over the past 2000 years (at least) remains broadly the same even today. I am sure you will find this list interesting, surprising as well as informative. Enjoy
1. गीतम् – Singing
2. वाद्यम् – Playing a musical instrument
3. नृत्यम् – Dancing
4. आलेख्यम्- Painting
5. विशेषेकच्छेद्यम् – Cutting the leaves of Bhojapatra in the shape of a Tilaka
6. तण्डुलकुसुमबलिविकारा – Making beautiful shapes from rice and flowers (Rangoli)
7. पुष्पास्तरणम् – Decorating the house and room with flowers
8. दशनवसनांगराग: – Colouring the body, garments or teeth
9. मणिभूमिकाकर्म – Making jewelled floors
10. शयनरचनम् – Arranging the bed
11. उदकवाद्यम् – Producing music by striking glasses of water
12. उदकाघात: – Sprinkling water at the time of water sport
13. चित्राश्च योगा: – Various practices of herbs, Mantras and Tantra
14. माल्यग्रथनविकल्पा: – Making special types of garlands
15. शेखरकापीडयोजनम् – arranging the diadems (शेखरक) and headbands (आपीडक)
16. नेपथ्यप्रयोगा: – make up with costumes and other things
17. कर्णपत्रभंगा: – making ornaments out of ivory & conch
18. गन्धयुक्ति: – The art of making perfumes
19. भूषणयोजनम् – Putting on jewellery
20. ऐद्रजाला: – Various devices of Magic
21. कौचुमाराश्च योगा: Various prescriptions for rejuvenation and beautification as elaborated by कौचुमारा तंत्र
22. हस्तलाघवम् – Sleight of hands
23. विचित्रशाकयूषभक्ष्यविकार क्रिया – skill in preparing various recipes from vegetables and food
24. पानकरसरागासवयोजनम् – Skill in preparing drinks and wines
25. सूचीवानकर्माणि – needlework and weaving
26. सूत्रक्रीडा – Making handicrafts e.g.– parrots, flowers, houses, etc. from hand spun thread
27. वीणाडमरूक वाद्यानि – playing musical instruments like Veena & drums
28. प्रहेलिका – Skills to solve riddles, puzzles and covert speeches
29. प्रतिमाला – The skill of Antakshari (a singing game were one must start with the letter with which other person’s song ended)
30. दुर्वाचकयोगा: reciting stanzas difficult in pronunciation & meaning
31. पुस्तकवाचनम् – Reading a text
32. नाटकाख्यायिका दर्शनम् – knowledge of drama & legends
33. काव्यसमस्या पूरणम् – Completing an incomplete poem or completing an incomplete stanza
34. पट्टिकावानवेत्रविकल्पा: – Making various articles out of cloth, wood and cane
३५. तक्षककर्माणि – the enamel and mosaic work on precious metals
36. तक्षणम् – Woodwork and carving on wood
३७. वास्तुविद्या – knowledge of architecture
38. रूप्यपरीक्षा – Knowledge about gold, silver and gems
39. धातुवाद: – Chemistry or metallurgy
40. मणिरागाकरज्ञानम् – The art of colouring jewels or beads & Knowledge of mines
४१. वृक्षायुर्वेदयोगा: treatment of plants and nurturing trees
42. मेषकुक्कुटलावक युद्धविधि: – The art of cock fighting (getting cocks, quail or rams to fight)
43. शुकसारिकाप्रलापनम् – Teaching parrots or मैना birds to talk
४४. उत्सादने संवाहने केशमर्दने च कौशलम् – Anointing, massaging and hair dressing
45. अक्षरमुष्टिकाकथनम् – decoding of code words
46. म्लेच्छितविकल्पा: – deciphering the code language
47. देशभाषाज्ञानम् -Knowledge of languages of other regions or countries
48. पुष्पशकटिका – Knowledge of making flower carts
४९. निमित्तज्ञानम् – Knowledge of making mystical graphics, spells and charms and ways to avoid spells
५०. यंत्रमातृका – making of यंत्र or machines
51. धारणमातृका – techniques of increasing memory
52. सम्पाठ्यम् – capability to repeat a stanza verbatim immediately after hearing it
53. मानसीकाव्य क्रिया – Making a stanza out of unconnected words
५४ अभिधानकोश: Knowledge of dictionaries and vocabulary
५५. छन्दोज्ञानम् – prosody
56. क्रियाकल्प: – Knowledge of poetics
57. छलितकयोगा: – The art of pantomime or mimicry
५८. वस्त्रगोपनानि – disguise by putting on different attires
59. द्यूतविशेष: – skill in playing special forms of gambling
६०. आकर्षक्रीडा: – Attracting people or objects who are far away
61. बालक्रीडनकानि – Skill in games or toys for kids
62. वैनयिकीनाम् – The art of social conduct, paying respect and sending compliments
६३. वैजयिकीनाम् – Knowledge of war, arms and army deployment
64. व्यायामिकीनाम् च विद्यानाम् ज्ञानम् – skill in athletics
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