Ancient Wisdom, Modern Practice
64
Our Philosophy
Rooted in the wisdom of Kautilya's Arthashastra
Kautilya's 64 Arts
Kautilya's Arthashastra (4th century BCE) describes 64 traditional arts (Chatusshashti Kala) — a comprehensive vision of human creative and intellectual capability. IFTRD draws from this ancient wisdom to affirm that art is not a single practice but an expansive universe of human expression.
These arts range from the deeply aesthetic — vocal music, dance, drama — to the practical and scientific — architecture, metallurgy, botany. In this ancient framework, there is no separation between art and knowledge, between creativity and science.
The 64 Traditional Arts
1.Gita (Vocal Music)
2.Vadya (Instrumental Music)
3.Nritya (Dance)
4.Natya (Drama)
5.Alekhya (Painting)
6.Viseshakachedya (Decorative Art)
7.Tandula-Kusuma-Bali-Vikara (Floral Arrangements)
8.Pushpastarana (Flower Decoration)
9.Dasana-Vasananga-Raga (Cosmetics)
10.Mani-Bhumika-Karma (Jewellery Making)
11.Sayana-Rachana (Bed Arrangement)
12.Udaka-Vadya (Water Music)
13.Udaka-Ghata (Water Percussion)
14.Chitraśālikā (Collage Art)
15.Mālyagranthanavikalpāh (Garland Making)
16.Sekharapīdayojana (Crown Making)
17.Nepathyaprayogāh (Costume Design)
18.Karna-Patra-Bhanga (Ornament Crafting)
19.Sugandha-Yukti (Perfumery)
20.Bhusana-Yojana (Jewellery Design)
21.Aindrajala (Magic)
22.Kauchumara (Youth Arts)
23.Hasta-Laghava (Dexterity)
24.Vichitra-Sakapupa-Bhaksha-Vikara (Culinary Art)
25.Pānaka-Rasa-Rāgāsava-Yojana (Beverage Preparation)
26.Suchikarma (Needlework)
27.Sutra-Krida (Puppetry)
28.Vinavadetra (Lute Playing)
29.Prahelika (Riddles)
30.Pratimaala (Counter-verse)
31.Durvachaka-Yoga (Word Games)
32.Pustaka-Vachana (Book Reading)
33.Nataka-Akhyayika-Darsana (Storytelling)
34.Kavya-Samasya-Purana (Poetry)
35.Pattika-Vetra-Bana-Vikalpāh (Weaving)
36.Tarku-Karma (Spinning)
37.Takshana (Carpentry)
38.Vastu-Vidya (Architecture)
39.Raupya-Ratna-Pariksha (Gem Testing)
40.Dhatu-Vada (Metallurgy)
41.Mani-Raga-Jnana (Mineralogy)
42.Vrikshayur-Veda-Yoga (Botany)
43.Mesha-Kukkuta-Lavaka-Yuddha-Vidhih (Animal Sport)
44.Suka-Sarika-Pralapana (Teaching Parrots)
45.Utsadana (Massage)
46.Akara-Jnana (Physiognomy)
47.Vicitraśabda-Vikalpāh (Linguistics)
48.Dharana-Mātrikā (Memory Arts)
49.Sampathya (Recitation)
50.Manasi Kavya-Kriya (Extemporaneous Poetry)
51.Abhidhana-Kosha-Chhandas (Lexicography)
52.Kriyā-Vikalpāh (Creative Crafts)
53.Chalitaka-Yoga (Board Games)
54.Nālikābheda (Puzzle-Solving)
55.Bālikā-Krīdanakāni (Toy Making)
56.Vāichāturī (Eloquence)
57.Vaijayantī-Vidyā (Vedic Arts)
58.Mlechhita-Kutarka-Vikalpa (Logic)
59.Deśa-Bhāshā-Vijnana (Dialectology)
60.Pushpa-Shakatika (Floral Vehicles)
61.Nimitta-Jnana (Omens)
62.Yantra-Matrika (Mechanics)
63.Dharana (Concentration Arts)
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When every human capacity is honoured as art, we move closer to a world where creativity is not a privilege — it is a birthright.
IFTRD Philosophy