Answer

In Jain tradition, Bhagwan Rushabhdev (Rishabhdev / Adinath Bhagwan) taught 64 kalās to mankind as part of establishing civilized human life.

The commonly accepted list of 64 kalās is:

1. Gīt — singing
2. Vāditra — playing musical instruments
3. Nṛtya — dancing
4. Nāṭya — drama / acting
5. Ālekhya — drawing and painting
6. Viśeṣaka-cchedya — decorative designs and patterns
7. Taṇḍula-kusuma-bali-vikāra — artistic arrangements using rice, flowers, and offerings
8. Puṣpāstaraṇa — making flower beds or floral decorations
9. Daśana-vasanāṅga-rāga — colouring and decorating teeth, clothes, and body
10. Maṇi-bhūmikā-karma — decorating floors with gems or ornamental designs
11. Śayyā-racana — arranging beds and seats
12. Udaka-vādya — making music with water
13. Udaka-ghāta — water games / water play
14. Citra-yoga — creating varied artistic forms
15. Mālya-grathana-vikalpa — making garlands and flower ornaments
16. Śekharāpīḍa-yojana — arranging crowns, head ornaments, and hair decorations
17. Nepathya-yoga — costume, dressing, and stage decoration
18. Karṇapatra-bhaṅga — making ear ornaments
19. Gandha-yukti — preparing perfumes and fragrant substances
20. Bhūṣaṇa-yojana — ornamentation and jewellery arrangement
21. Aindra-jāla — magic / illusionary arts
22. Kaucumāra-yoga — skill in graceful appearance and refinement
23. Hasta-lāghava — sleight of hand / hand skill
24. Citra-śākāpūpa-bhakṣya-vikāra-kriyā — preparing artistic varieties of food, vegetables, cakes, and eatables
25. Pānaka-rasa-rāgāsava-yojana — preparing drinks, syrups, juices, and beverages
26. Sūcī-vāya-karma — needlework and sewing
27. Sūtra-krīḍā — thread games and string work
28. Vīṇā-ḍamaruka-vādya — playing instruments such as vīṇā and ḍamaru
29. Prahelikā — riddles
30. Pratimālā — completing verses or poetic chains
31. Durvācaka-yoga — difficult pronunciation and reading
32. Pustaka-vācana — reading books and manuscripts
33. Nāṭikākhyāyikā-darśana — composing or presenting short plays and stories
34. Kāvya-samasyā-pūraṇa — completing poetic problems
35. Paṭṭikā-vetra-bāṇa-vikalpa — making mats, cane articles, and arrows
36. Tarku-karma — spinning
37. Takṣaṇa — carpentry
38. Vāstu-vidyā — architecture and construction
39. Rūpya-ratna-parīkṣā — testing silver and precious stones
40. Dhātu-vāda — knowledge of metals and metallurgy
41. Maṇi-rāga-jñāna — knowledge of colouring gems
42. Ākara-jñāna — knowledge of mines and minerals
43. Vṛkṣāyurveda-yoga — knowledge of trees and plant life
44. Meṣa-kukkuṭa-lāvaka-yuddha-vidhi — training rams, cocks, and birds for contests
45. Śuka-sārikā-pralāpana — teaching parrots and mynas to speak
46. Utsādana — massage and body care
47. Keśa-mārjana-kauśala — hair care and grooming
48. Akṣara-muṣṭikā-kathana — communicating by letters and hand signs
49. Mlecchita-vikalpa — secret writing / coded language
50. Deśa-bhāṣā-jñāna — knowledge of regional languages
51. Puṣpa-śakaṭikā-nimitta-jñāna — knowledge of omens through flowers and signs
52. Yantra-mātṛkā — knowledge of machines and mechanical devices
53. Dhāraṇa-mātṛkā — art of memory and retention
54. Saṃpāṭhya — collective recitation
55. Mānasī-kāvya-kriyā — composing poetry mentally
56. Abhidhāna-kośa-cchando-jñāna — knowledge of dictionaries, vocabulary, and metres
57. Kriyā-vikalpa — knowledge of rituals and procedures
58. Chalitaka-yoga — disguise and movement skills
59. Vastra-gopana — concealing or transforming cloth
60. Dyūta-viśeṣa — games of dice and gambling arts
61. Ākarṣa-krīḍā — games of attraction / strategic play
62. Bālaka-krīḍanaka — making children’s toys
63. Vaināyikī-vidyā — etiquette, discipline, and manners
64. Vaijayikī-vidyā — art of victory and success

Explanation

Bhagwan Rushabhdev is regarded in Jain Dharma as the first Tirthankar of the present Avasarpiṇī. Before his time, human beings lived in a very simple natural state. As conditions changed, Bhagwan Rushabhdev taught people the basic arts, skills, professions, and systems needed for organized society.

These 64 kalās represent refined arts and practical skills such as:

• Music, dance, and drama
• Painting and decoration
• Crafts, sewing, carpentry, and architecture
• Knowledge of metals, gems, plants, and languages
• Etiquette, memory, poetry, and communication

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, Bhagwan Rushabhdev’s teaching of the kalās shows that a Tirthankar does not only guide souls toward moksha, but also establishes dharma, order, discipline, and right conduct in society.

However, the ultimate message is that worldly skills are useful for orderly living, while spiritual progress comes through:

• Samyak Darshan — right faith
• Samyak Jnan — right knowledge
• Samyak Charitra — right conduct
• Ahimsa, restraint, and detachment

Takeaway

The 64 kalās taught by Bhagwan Rushabhdev represent the foundation of cultured human civilization, while his highest teaching remains the path of liberation through Jain Dharma.