The
Kamasutra in context
The
literature of ancient India deals with a
great number of scientific questions.
Treatises and discourses on the themes
of Astronomy, Geometry, Phonetics,
Metrics, Grammar, Medicine, Politics,
Morals and Eros were written under the
motto: if a thing is worth doing, it's
worth doing well.
According
to ancient Indian Hindu-Wisdom, the life
of a human serves a three-pronged goal (trivarga):
The striving for
-
a
good dharma (the
complete collection of virtuous,
religious works as a basis for
Families, Civilrights, Codex of
Behaviour, Dharmashastra,
written by Manu).
-
the
useful artha (material
possessions, earthly well-being, Arthashastra,
written by Kautilya).
-
the
pleasant kama (love
and all its associated pleasures of
the senses, Kamasutra,
written by Vatsyayana).
According
to the Kamasutra, all of these aspects
of the life of a human being, should be
of equal importance, without any of
these spheres taking precedence over the
others. In order to attain a fulfilled
and meaningful life, the striving after
one goal shouldn't hamper the striving
after the others. Neglecting one of
these areas leads to a diminished
stability and to a dangerous imbalance
in man. Practising dharma, artha
and kama makes it possible to
lead a meaningful and joyous life in
this world and the next.
Sexuality
and Erotic are seen as being important,
integrated elements of the human
existence - the same as eating - and
apart from serving the sensual pleasures
, also help mankind to propagate , just
as eating keeps the body alive. The
sensual pleasures of erotic and
sexuality not only serve to increase the
joy of life and maintain psychological
balance, but aid the further development
of the mental-spiritual spheres. The
senses are perceived as being a
refinement of the physical on a higher
plane of consciousness whereby, in
conclusion, sexuality and erotic contain
the secret of life within them.
The
Origin of the Kamasutra
According
to old Indian sources, the ten thousand
chapters of the Kamasutra were announced
by Prjapati, an abstract deity who, for
a long time, was regarded as the god of
creation.
Mahadeva
(the High-Deity Shiva) compiled the ten
thousand chapters which in turn were
compressed into five hundred chapters by
Shvetaketu, a teacher of philosophy and
the son of Udalaka. The Kamasutra was
transcribed by Vatsyayana in the form of
Sutras written in Sanskrit, the ancient
Indian tongue, which even today is a
living, academic language.
Sutras
are directives or memory-jogs for
adepts, which because they take the form
of short, maxims in prose, which are
difficult to understand without a
commentary. We are dealing here most
probably with predecessor of the
teaching-books , which was handed down
by word of mouth.
The
treatises of Shvetaketu on which the
Kamasutra was based, have been lost.
The
translations from the Sanskrit which we
have today, refer to recognized
commentaries made in later centuries.
Comments
to the Author
Little
is known about the life of the author,
Mallanaga Vatsyayana. It is presumed
that the Kamasutra was written by him
around the year 250 ad.
The
author himself states at the end of the
Kamasutra, that it was written in a
state of mental concentration and
chastity.
The
Readers of the Kamasutra
The
Kamasutra is directed at young,
learned city-dwellers - Nagaraka
– to whose lifestyle a whole chapter
is devoted in the first main part.
Recommendations are also made as to the
role of women and their behaviour
towards each other.
In
the Kamasutra itself, Ganikas
(courtesan), Princesses and the
daughters of high civil-servants are
addressed – although the exercises
which belong to the 64 Arts should be
practised alone or with the aid of a
(female) teacher.
The
modern reader will find a book which is
highly informative regarding sexuality
and erotic. A book which free from moral
judgement, presents exercises in sexual
Lust and satisfaction as well as giving
an interesting insight into the daily
life of people who lived many centuries
ago in a culture very different to our
own.
After
reading the lectures, many readers will
certainly come to the conclusion that
not few writers, doctors, and
researchers were inspired by the Kamasutra.
Structure
and Contents of the Kamasutra
The
Kamasutra is divided into seven main
parts, each with between five and ten
chapters:
First
main part: General
-
First
Chapter: Summary of the Book
-
Second
Chapter: Achievement of the three
Qualities (dharma, artha, kama)
-
Third
Chapter: Presentation of the
Sciences
-
Fourth
Chapter: The Lifestyle of the
Nagaraka
-
Fifth
Chapter: Treatise on the mistresses
of the lover and the Office of
(Love-) messengers
Second
main part: Concerning sexual intercourse
-
First
Chapter: The different types of
sexual intercourse, depending on the
size of the sexual organs, time and
duration, varieties of love
-
Second
Chapter: Embracing
-
Third
Chapter: The different possibilities
when kissing
-
Fourth
Chapter: Types of finger-nail
scratch
-
Fifth
Chapter: The variety of bite-marks,
the different natures of women from
the provinces, the different types
of intercourse practiced there
-
Sixth
Chapter: Different positions for
sexual intercourse
-
Seventh
Chapter: Different types of beating
and the making of sounds associated
therewith
-
Eighth
Chapter: Sexual advances, where the
woman takes over the role of the
man; the behavior of the man
-
Ninth
Chapter: Oral sex
-
Tenth
Chapter: The beginning and end of
sexual intercourse; types of
intercourse; flirtatious arguing
Third
main part: Concerning the relationship
with a girl
-
First
Chapter: How to choose a bride;
decisions to be made over the
relationship
-
Second
Chapter: Winning the trust of the
bride
-
Third
Chapter: Approaching the girl;
description of gestures and gestures
of the face
-
Fourth
Chapter: Endeavouring to be the only
suitor for the girl; how the girl
can attain the man she wishes; how
the man can attain the girl he
wishes through his endeavours
-
Fifth
Chapter: The Wedding Ceremony
Fourth
main part: The Role of the Wife
Fifth
main part: Concerning the wives of
others
-
First
Chapter: The mark of the character
of man and wife
-
Second
Chapter: Ways to get to know a woman
-
Third
Chapter: Knowing the inclinations of
a woman
-
Fourth
Chapter: The duties of a
love-messenger
-
Fifth
Chapter: The being in love of Rulers
-
Sixth
Chapter: Concerning the Harem and
the protection of ones wife
Sixth
main part: Prostitution
-
First
Chapter: Thoughts about a suitable
man; how to find ways to get to him;
methods of winning him
-
Second
Chapter: Surrendering to the lover
-
Third
Chapter: Ways of getting money;
showing the man indifference; ways
of getting rid of the lover
-
Fourth
Chapter: Renewing the bonds of a
relationship which have loosened
-
Fifth
Chapter: Types of gains
-
Sixth
Chapter: Thoughts on gains and
losses; different types of
prostitutes
Seventh
main part: Concerning Secrecy
Sources:
-
Vatsyanyana,
Das Kamasutra, Reclam,
Leipzig 1987, translated into german
language by K. Mylius
-
Kamasutra
of Vatsyayana,
Jaico Publishing House, Bombay
1976 – 1986
Swami Veet Chintan T'Zorba-Krsna
Jyotish
Shastracharya
& Vedic Astrologer of India
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