Kála

Kála is a term that appears in multiple languages and contexts, and its meaning can vary with spelling, diacritics, and field of use. In transliterated forms from Sanskrit, the base forms are Kāla and Kalā, with Kāla often rendered as kala in plain text. The diacritic marks (such as the macron or acute accent) can indicate different pronunciations or linguistic origin in different languages.

In Sanskrit and related Indian traditions, Kāla most commonly denotes time. It is a broad concept that encompasses the cycles of creation, preservation, and dissolution, and it is sometimes personified as Kala, a cosmic principle associated with change and the passage of events. Kalā, on the other hand, is a separate term that means art, skill, or craft, and it is widely used in the names of schools, disciplines, and genres of performance and visual arts.

In cultural usage, Kalā and Kāla have influenced religious and philosophical thought, literature, and artistic practice. The idea of time (Kāla) is central to many cosmologies, while Kalā as art reflects the human capacity for creativity and mastery across various disciplines, including music, dance, sculpture, and painting.

As a proper noun, Kala is used as a given name or surname in several cultures, and it also appears as the name of places or localities in different regions. The exact meaning or significance of a specific instance of kála will depend on its linguistic and cultural context.