Kama Sutra: The Art of Love
The Kamasutra is ultimately about wisdom and our creative cultivation. It covers the three aims of life, virtue (dharma), prosperity (artha), and love (kama).
18th century tantric wooden carvings, depicting various erotic postures, known in Europe as Kama Sutra, including illustrations on silk cloth and parchment from the 19th century, references to Hindi and tantric concepts on the practice of sex and various sculptures of Hindi erotic deities.
The Hindu philosophy on eroticism and love: The soul or karma of the human being is an immortal force which reincarnates in every physical life.
The level at which the reincarnation is produced depends on the composure with which the owner of the karma has lived his last life.
The goal is to reach the superior level to liberate oneself from this cycle and to be born again in the idyllic paradise of the “Eternal Nothing”, for this is based on the “Three great Hindu goals”.
The most important goal is “Dharma”, which is to improve one’s own spiritual goodness by living a life according to the religious, social and moral laws, dictated by society. Also “Artha” (material security) and “Kama”, the simulation and satisfaction of the senses by activities such as the arts, food, drink and sex.
In short, Hinduism not only recognises sexual activity as an important part of the human being, but it also considers it to be one of the roads leading to a fulfilling spiritual life.
The Kama Sutra is the most recognised text on Hindu eroticism and sexuality.
Its origin dates from in-between the I Century and the IV Century BC; although it is attributed to the Guru Vatsyayana, it has quotations in its writings from various authors before his time, (like the Brahman scholar Svetaketu or the wise Babhravya).
The Kamasutra was translated to the English language in the XIV Century, under the auspices of the “Kama Shastra Society”, being supervised by Sir Richard Burton and by F.F.Arbuthnot.
The Mallanaga Vatsyayana’s Kama Sutra has 1250 verses, distributed in 36 chapters, which are further organized into 7 parts. According to both the Burton and Doniger translations, the contents of the book are structured into 7 parts like the following:
Part I: Introductory
Chapter I. Preface
Chapter II. Observations on the Three Worldly Attainments of Virtue, Wealth, and Love
Chapter III. On the Study of the Sixty-Four Arts
Chapter IV. On the Arrangements of a House, and Household Furniture; and About the Daily Life of a Citizen, His Companions, Amusements, Etc.
Chapter V. About Classes of Women Fit and Unfit for Congress with the Citizen, and of Friends, and Messengers
Part II: On Sexual Union
Chapter I. Kinds of Union According to Dimensions, Force of Desire, and Time; and on the Different Kinds of Love – Kamasutra positions I
Chapter II. Of the Embrace – Kamasutra positions II
Chapter III. How to kiss
Chapter IV. On Pressing or Marking with the Nails
Chapter V. On Biting, and the Ways of Love to be Employed with Regard to Women of Different Countries
Chapter VI. On the Various Ways of Lying Down, and the Different Kinds of Congress – Kamasutra positions III
Chapter VII. On the Various Ways of Striking, and of The Sounds Appropriate to Them
Chapter VIII. About Females Acting the Part of Males
Chapter IX. On Holding the Lingam in the Mouth – Kamasutra positions IV
Chapter X. How to Begin and How to End the Congress. Different Kinds of Congress, and Love Quarrels
Chapter XI. Different Sex Positions
Part III: About the Acquisition of a Wife
Chapter I. Observations on Betrothal and Marriage
Chaper II. About Creating Confidence In the Girl
Chapter III. Courtship, and the Manifestation of the Feelings by Outward Signs and Deeds
Chapter IV. On Things to be Done Only by the Man, and the Acquisition of the Girl Thereby. Also What is to be Done by a Girl to Gain Over a Man and Subject Him to Her
Chapter V. On the Different Forms of Marriage
Part IV: About a Wife
Chapter I. On the Manner of Living of a Virtuous Woman, and of Her Behaviour During the Absence of Her Husband
Chapter II. On the Conduct of the Eldest Wife Towards the Other Wives of her Husband, and of the Younger Wife Towards the Elder Ones…
Part V: About the Wives of Other People
Chapter I. On the Characteristics of Men And Women
Chapter II. About Making Acquaintance with the Woman, and of the Efforts to Gain Her Over
Chapter III. Examination of the State of a Woman’s Mind
Chapter IV. The Business of a Go-Between
Chapter V. On the Love of Persons in Authority with the Wives of Other People
Chapter VI. About the Women of the Royal Harem, and of the Keeping of One’s Own Wife
Part VI: About Courtesans
Introductory Remarks
Chapter I. Of the Causes of a Courtesan Resorting to Men
Chapter II. Of a Courtesan Living With a Man as His Wife
Chapter III. Of the Means of getting Money
Chapter IV. About a Reunion with a Former Lover
Chapter V. Of Different Kinds of Gain
Chapter VI. Of Gains and Losses, Attendant Gains and Losses, and Doubts; and Lastly, the Different Kinds of Courtesans
Part VII: On The Means of Attracting Others to One’s Self
Chapter I. On Personal Adornment, Subjugating the Hearts of Others, and of Tonic Medicines
Chapter II. Of The Means of Exciting Desire, and of the Ways of Enlarging the Lingam. Miscellaneous Experiments and Receipts
Concluding Remarks
