Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 236: Shri Catuh sasti kalamayi (OM chatuHShaShTikalAmayyai namaH)

In Namams 199 to 248, the Divine Mother’s  Saguna or infiniteness power and glory are described.

The Divine Mother’ form is an extension of visible or the tangible aspects of the sixty-four arts. 

All the sixty-four arts Kala or splendours are part of the universe, that is, the Divine Mother. When properly used, they become part of the Divine Mother’s worship and lead the devotee to the Supreme Being. 

Kala means ‘a part or a fraction’; it is also means art. Every Kala as art, is part of the splendor of the Self. 

Lord Krishna says in Gita: “whatever is glorious, prosperous or strong, know that to be a manifestation of my Splendor.” (X.41) 

Kala is a superficial ability for display. Whenever there is ease of use or performance, art is involved there. 

Arjuna earned the attribute as characteristic of the ‘Savysacin’, because of his natural ability to shoot the arrows with left hand. It was the symbol of art. 

Vedas say that Indra is a symbol of Atman (eternal, imperishable and beyond time). Arjuna is the son of Indra, art is the creation of Atman. 

Everything that is referred to as art is part of the Divine Mother’s glory. Vamakesvara Tantra mentions that sixty-four books named Kalas. The Divine Mother shines through those Kalas in these books. 

It is found that there are different versions of sixty-four arts. Bhaskararaya had a list of them. According to him, the Divine Mother is embodiment of all sixty-four arts, as shown below. 

 64 KALAS OR 64 ARTS FOUND IN ANCIENT INDIAN CULTURE

1.  Geet vidya—art of Singing.
2. Vadya vidya—art of playing on musical instruments.
3. Nritya vidya—art of Dancing.
4. Natya vidya—art of Theatricals.
5. Alekhya vidya—art of Painting.
6. Aiseshakacchedya vidya—art of painting the face and body with color
7. Tandula-kusuma-bali-vikara—art of preparing offerings from rice and flowers.
8. Pushpastarana—art of making a covering of flowers for a bed.
9. Dasana-Vasananga-raga—art of applying preparations for cleansing the teeth, cloths and painting the body.
10. Mani-Bhumika-Karma—art of making the groundwork of jewels.
11. Sayya-Racana—art of covering the bed.
12. Udaka-Vadya—art of playing on music in water.
13. Udaka-Ghata—art of splashing with water.
14. Citra-Yoga—art of practically applying an admixture of colors.
15. Malya-Grathana-Vikalpa—art of designing a preparation of wreaths.
16. Sekharapida-Yojana—art of practically setting the coronet on the head.
17. Nepathya-Yoga—art of practically dressing in the tiring room.
18. Karnapatra-Bhanga—art of decorating the tragus of the ear.
19. Sugandha-Yukti—art of practical application of aromatics.
20. Bhushana-Yojana—art of applying or setting ornaments.
21. Aindra-Jala—art of juggling.
22. Kaucumara—a kind of art.
23. Hasta-Laghava—art of sleight of hand.
24. Citra-Sakapupa-Bhakshya-Vikara-Kriya—art of preparing varieties of delicious food.
25. Panaka-Rasa-Ragasava-Yojana—art of practically preparing palatable drinks and tinging draughts with red color.
26. Suci-Vaya-Karma—art of needleworks and weaving.
27. Sutra-Krida—art of playing with thread.
28. Vina-Damuraka-Vadya—art of playing on lute and small drum.
29. Prahelika—art of making and solving riddles.
30. Durvacaka-Yoga—art of practicing language difficult to be answered by others.
31. Pustaka-Vacana—art of reciting books.
32. Natikakhyayika-Darsana—art of enacting short plays and anecdotes.
33. Kavya-Samasya-Purana—art of solving enigmatic verses.
34. Pattika-Vetra-Bana-Vikalpa—art of designing preparation of shield, cane and arrows.
35. Tarku-Karma—art of spinning by spindle.
36. Takshana—art of carpentry.
37. Vastu-Vidya—art of engineering.
38. Raupya-Ratna-Pariksha—art of testing silver and jewels.
39. Dhatu-Vada—art of metallurgy.
40. Mani-Raga Jnana—art of tinging jewels.
41. Akara Jnana—art of mineralogy.
42. Vrikshayur-Veda-Yoga—art of practicing medicine or medical treatment, by herbs.
43. Mesha-Kukkuta-Lavaka-Yuddha-Vidhi—art of knowing the mode of fighting of lambs, cocks and birds.
44. Suka-Sarika-Prapalana (Pralapana) -- art of maintaining or knowing conversation between male and female cockatoos.
45. Utsadana—art of healing or cleaning a person with perfumes.
46. Kesa-Marjana-Kausala—art of combing hair.
47. Akshara-Mushtika-Kathana—art of talking with fingers.
48. Dharana-Matrika—art of the use of amulets.
49. Desa-Bhasha-Jnana—art of knowing provincial dialects.
50. Nirmiti-Jnana—art of knowing prediction by heavenly voice
51. Yantra-Matrika—art of mechanics.
52. Mlecchita-Kutarka-Vikalpa—art of fabricating barbarous or foreign sophistry .
53. Samvacya—art of conversation.
54. Manasi Kavya-Kriya—art of composing verse mentally.
55. Kriya-Vikalpa—art of designing a literary work or a medical remedy.
56. Chalitaka-Yoga—art of practicing as a builder of shrines called after him.
57. Abhidhana-Kosha-Cchando-Jnana—art of the use of lexicography and meters.
58. Vastra-Gopana—art of concealment of cloths.
59. Dyuta-Visesha—art of knowing specific gambling.
60. Akarsha-Krida—art of playing with dice or magnet.
61. Balaka-Kridanaka—art of using children's toys.
62. Vainayiki Vidya—art of enforcing discipline.
63. Vaijayiki Vidya—art of gaining victory.
64. Vaitaliki Vidya—art of awakening master with music at dawn.

Saraswathi Devi: The Goddess of Arts, Knowledge and Wisdom

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 15 September 2020.

 

References:

1.       The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, San Ramon, California, USA, with Commentary by T. V Narayana Menon

2.       Shri Lalitha Sahasranama Stostram published in Tamil by N. Ramaswami Iyer charities’ societies, Trichirapalli, India, with Commentary by C. V. Radhakrishna Sastry.

3.       The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai, Trichy District, Tamilnadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Sithbavandar.