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Pleasuring Your Woman in Kamasutra and Kamasastras
Pleasuring Your Woman in Kamasutra and Kamasastras
Pleasuring Your Woman in Kamasutra and Kamasastras
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Pleasuring Your Woman in Kamasutra and Kamasastras

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This book compares eleven kamasastra treatises with the Kamasutra in what might be called the ‘new’ areas of the Indian kamasastric tradition, as they has developed since the Kamasutra, particularly the following: (1) How woman comes first in the Kamasutra and the kamasastras, (2) Bodily pleasures and cunnilingus, (3) Postures and sex methods suitable for woman’s pleasure, and (4) New sex acts and practices in later kamasastras.

This book includes modern translation of the core parts of Kamasutra as well as both major kamasastras. It also includes translation of the core parts of two minor kamasastras, probably for the first time.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherRavi Soni
Release dateFeb 19, 2013
ISBN9781301045648
Pleasuring Your Woman in Kamasutra and Kamasastras
Author

Ravi Soni

Ravi Soni, studied science and philosophy in college, was president of the Delhi University Social Service Union, and a Rhodes Scholar. After a career in the government and the industry, he has spent 20 years in a non-profit, base‐of‐the‐pyramid, telemedicine and healthcare organization.

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    Pleasuring Your Woman in Kamasutra and Kamasastras - Ravi Soni

    Executive Summary

    Kamasutra’s sex practices were designed for genital union and emphasized postponement of male gratification and the importance of female satisfaction.

    While Vatsyayana did not know about the clitoris, he stated that the man can heighten the experience of woman’s orgasm by prolonging the period spent in the preorgasm phase. Even prior to her entering the preorgasm phase, Kamasutra asks the man to consider ‘playing with some light restraint’.

    But, of course, Vatsyayana wanted the man to be confident in his ability to bring the woman to orgasm through equal coupling before he focused on delaying the process.

    The Kamasutra respected the female process of arousal and advised postponement of gratification in the pursuit of mutual pleasure.

    The later kamasastras knew and appreciated the clitoris in all its manifold aspects, and stimulated the clitoris appropriately as one of processes of sexual response.

    The later kamasastras, however, dispensed with Kamasutra’s wisdom that exalted genital penetration as the apogee of sexual pleasure.

    It is important to remember that the Kamasutra and the later kamasastras wanted the man to take an approach that is pleasure-oriented, not goal-oriented; and be patient, respectful, sensitive and tender.

    About this Book

    ‘Pleasuring Your Woman’ condenses the wealth of experience and expertise of Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra and eleven other kamasastras, written in India between the third and the sixteenth centuries, into a simple, essential guide book.

    It elaborates on the principles and philosophy that underlie the famous Kamasutra and other kamasastras and, in doing so, offers nothing less than the definitive methods for pleasuring your woman.

    This book compares eleven kamasastra treatises with the Kamasutra in what might be called the ‘new’ areas of the Indian kamasastric tradition, as they have developed since the Kamasutra, particularly the following:

    1. How woman comes first in the Kamasutra and the kamasastras,

    2. Bodily pleasures and cunnilingus,

    3. Postures and sex methods suitable for woman’s pleasure, and

    4. New sex acts and practices in later kamasastras.

    Texts

    This book includes modern translation of the core parts of the Kamasutra of Vatsyayana including:

    1. Sexual union including coital postures, sexual acts and methods,

    2. Compatibility and properly matched sexual relations,

    3. Classification of men and women to determine ‘equal coupling’, and

    4. Sex and knowledge of the female body.

    Apart from Kamasutra, this book also includes modern translation of the core parts of both major kamasastras, Rati Rahasaya of Kokkoka and Anangaranga of Kalyanamalla, and two minor kamasastras, Rati Ratna Pradipika of Devaraja Maharaja, and Samaradipika of Minanatha.

    INTRODUCTION

    1. Outline of Kamasutra and Kamasastras

    God Siva, through his companion Nandi, composed the original Kamasutra in 1000 chapters. It was edited and condensed by Svetaketu and then Babhravya down to 150 chapters, and later, completely rewritten by Vatsyayana, or for him, in or around, the third century A.D.

    While the Kamasutra has received pre-eminent status in the history of the kamasastras, the subsequent treatises, particularly the Rati Rahasaya and Anangaranga, once constituted the standard configuration of knowledge on the erotic.

    By the end of the nineteenth century, Rati Rahasaya appears to have been circulated very widely and held great influence. Some of the later kamasastra texts were also translated into various Indian languages. Often associated with the name ‘Koka’, they appeared in popular print editions and pamphlets in the early twentieth century.

    The authorship of Kokkoka or ‘Koka’ was so popular that the term ‘Kokasastra’ came to denote the genre of kamasastra itself.

    Treatises like the Rati Rahasaya exerted considerable influence throughout the second millennium both within and beyond the kamasastra tradition. Literary commentaries routinely cite these texts rather than the Kamasutra when referring to technical aspects in kamasastra.

    The major and minor treatises in the kamasastra tradition after Kamasutra include (chronologically):

    Early Medieval Kamasastras

    1. Nagarasarvasva of Padmasri (900 - 1000 AD)

    2. Rati Rahasaya of Kokkoka (1100 - 1200 AD)

    Medieval Kamasastras

    3. Jayamangala of Yasodhara (after 1200 A.D.)

    4. Pancasayaka of Jyotirisvara (1200 - 1300 A.D.)

    5. Samaradipika of Minanatha (1300 - 1400 A.D.)

    Later Medieval Kamasastras

    6. Rati Ratna Pradipika of Devaraja Maharaja (1422 - 1446 A.D.)

    7. Ratimanjari of Jayadeva (1400 - 1500 A.D.)

    8. Anangaranga of Kalyanamalla (1500 - 1600 A.D.)

    9. Kandarapa Cudamani of Virabhadra (1577 A.D.)

    Major Satellite Works

    10. Kuttanimata of Damodaragupta (875 - 925 A.D.)

    11. Kama Samuha of Sri Ananta Kavi (1400 - 1500 A.D.)

    There are some other kamasastra texts with uncertain chronology, authorship and provenance. These include Babhravya Karika, Sringararasaprabandhadipika, Kamatantrakavya, Virasimhacarita, Ratikallolini, and Kelikutuhalam, among others. There are also references to numerous other Kamasastra texts, many of which may have been lost.

    There are plenty of ‘street’ kamasastra texts – vulgar or even puritanical renditions of an earlier classical tradition – which pundits in Varanasi, for example, will produce from sealed folders for adequate compensation.

    1.1 Kamasutra of Vatsyayana

    Vatsyayana divided Kamasutra in seven books (or parts), each further subdivided in sections (or chapters) and topics.

    The whole text is composed in the style of aphorism (sutra) and commentary. According to Vatsyayana’s own calculation, the seven books have 36 chapters and 64 topics dealt in 1250 aphorisms (these numbers may not be accurate).

    Kamasutra is predominantly in prose with occasional verse citations. Subsequent kamasastras are written in verse. Vatsyayana followed the pattern of the contemporary works like Arthasastra and Natyasastra.

    Verses were introduced to sum up or supplement the discussion in prose portion.

    Kamasutra is sastra (lit., a scientific work) in the Indian tradition. It serves two-fold purpose -- narration and regulation.

    It presents analytical and descriptive account of the practices, models and standards related to sex; it establishes norms and evolves a set of rules and regulations; and it is descriptive as well as prescriptive.

    Vatsyayana adopts the following methodology: (1) He studies current and past practices, norms and orders, (2) he gives diverse views of experts on the problem, including views of imagined opponents, (3) Vatsyayana gives his own views and rebuts opponent’s arguments, and (4) he draws appropriate conclusions.

    Yasodhara says Kamasutra has two parts: technique and means. Technique deals with the methodology of love and sex. Means unite the lovers: marriage, messengers, social relationships, etc.

    Out of Kamasutra’s seven parts, only one deals with technique (book 2), and four parts deal with means (books 3-7). Book 1 deals with general topics and the book 7 covers the topics which could not be dealt under technique or means.

    Book 1: General Topics: The first book forms an introduction to the Sastra. After presenting a synopsis of the whole treatise Vatsyayana goes to discuss the three ends of life. He defines Kama, and refutes all the objections raised by the opponents against the study of the science of love. He discusses the importance of learning the sixty-four arts, lists them, and advises even the women to study them. His description of nagaraka -- cosmopolitan gentleman, for whom his book is actually written -- indicates the social conditions of that time.

    Book 2: Sexual Union: The first section of the lengthiest part of Kamasutra deals with the kinds of sexual union and types of the males and the females. Vatsyayana divides males and females on the basis of the length and the depth of their organ. He discusses various types of sexual union on the basis of dimension, passion and time. The second section discusses the embrace. The third section depicts the kiss on lips, on eyes, on cheeks, on forehead, on throat, on bosom, on breasts, on thighs and interior of the mouth. In the fourth section we see the description of many types of nail-scratches on throat, on breasts, on hips, on thighs etc. The fifth section deals with the act of biting. The sixth section narrates various types of coition. The seventh section explains various modes of striking and moaning. Squeezing the limbs and striking the body are described here in detail. Eight types of moaning as well as other words uttered due to tenderness are stated. The eighth section depicts the importance and necessity of reverse posture. The part further narrates the signs of satisfaction of a woman in love-sport. Mouth congress or fellatio, though it is prohibited by Hindu religion, is discussed by Vatsyayana in the ninth section in detail with the category of people who will do it. The tenth, and the last section, discusses how to begin and how to end the sex-sport. Vatsyayana does not go into it in detail since he discusses it in later part. This part also deals with love-quarrels.

    Book 3: Acquiring a Wife: This part deals with the qualities and the behavior of a girl. The first section gives many characteristics of a girl who is fit for marriage. Vatsyayana believes in love at first sight. Kamasutra lauds the marriage which takes place between equals. In the second section, Vatsyayana says women are like flowers; hence they should be handled with maximum care. Otherwise they will start hating men and discard sex-sport. Vatsyayana instructs the bridegroom about his duties and what should be done after the marriage ceremony. Vatsyayana also gives suggestions to a virgin about her behavior. He says that a virgin should not exhibit her love; she should express her bashfulness, fear etc., to her lover at the first meet. She should obstruct her lover’s activity. She should object it and prohibit it in a dignified style. The third section talks about the gestures of a girl who wants to express her love to her lover. Vatsyayana suggests various ways to show their love. The fourth section contains how a man can attract and enjoy his beloved who is expressing her love too. Vatsyayana remarks that a girl should be inactive in the first meeting, and she should not allow her lover any liberties unless she has full confidence in him. The fifth and the last section gives forms of marriage. Though the Kamasutra describes many types of marriage, it praises the Gandharva type of marriage, as it is easy and as it increases the love between the male and female.

    Book 4: Duties and Privileges of the Wife: This part covers topics like why wife must love none but her husband, living in his place of residence, respect for the chief wife; behavior toward younger wives, accepting the arrival of a new wife, the husband’s behavior toward many wives.

    Book 5: Relations with Other Men’s Wives: The first section deals with ten stages of love for those who are love-sick for other’s wives. It also gives a list of women who can easily be won by a man. The second section of this part discusses how to create acquaintance with other’s wife. The next section discusses how to know the mind of a woman. The behavior of lady in love is shown in the section. Importance of female messengers is shown in the fourth section. Vatsyayana says that no lover succeeds in his love-affairs without a go-between. Hence most of the heroes and heroines have taken the help of the dutis to fulfill their desire. Vatsyayana has narrated the duties of a duti in detail. In the last two sections, the author has given social customs of his days, which throw light on the social conditions. He has mentioned the lust of the rulers and behavior of amorous women of royal harem. He has warned the king to control his mind, because he is constantly watched and observed and imitated by the people. Further he admonishes a nagaraka not to enter royal harem because it is full of danger.

    Book 6: About Courtesans: The first section narrates the behavior of a general courtesan and discusses who she should make friendship with. The second section gives a graphic picture of a harlot who lives like a wife. It tells a courtesan how to show her love as real love. The last four sections explain in detail the different means of gaining money from a lover; different ways to get rid of the poor lover; different plans for re-union with former lover and different types of courtesans.

    Book 7: The Esoteric: The last book contains tips for attracting ladies and use of aphrodisiacs. The prescriptions given in this book have been derived from Ayurveda and Tantra and many of them are yet to be confirmed by a scientific inquiry.

    1.2 Later Kamasastra Works

    Later kamasastras rarely replicate the thematic structure of the Kamasutra.

    The great majority of later treatises like the Rati Rahasya, Pancasayaka, and Samaradipika dispense with Vatsyayana’s section on general topics altogether, beginning instead with the enumeration of male and female types, the foundation of the book on ‘sex’ in the Kamasutra.

    Only the Nagarasarvasva contains a series of chapters on topics broadly related to themes covered in the opening book of the Kamasutra on the lifestyle of the nagaraka.

    Nagarasarvasva of Padmasri

    Composed entirely in verse, sometime between 900 and 1000 A.D. by an apparently Nepalese Buddhist author, Padmasri, it bears a greater similarity in outlook to the Kamasutra than any later kamasastra.

    In the last chapter Padmasri says that Nagarasarvasva was written by him at the behest of Vasudeva, a renowned pundit of his times. He begins the text with laudatory verse for Aryamanjusri, offerings of worship for the goddess Tara, both Buddhist deities.

    Its 38 chapters incorporated highly innovative thinking.

    The chapters 1 and 2 cover the three aims of life and the nagaraka and his home. Padmasri discusses gemology and cosmetics in chapters 3 and 4. The chapters 5 to 11 chapters discuss costumes and behavior of the lovers. Of these, lover’s code language is most significant. It has not been treated by any other kamasastra.

    The topics taken up in subsequent chapters include: aphrodisiacs (chapter 12), classification of women (chapter 13), classification of men and women (chapter 14), means for attaining another man’s wife and for protecting one’s own (chapter 15), typology of women by age and the means of conquering them (chapter 16), sites of pleasure on a woman’s body and their order (chapter 17), nadis (chapters 18-19), women of different regions (chapter 20), sexual union (chapters 21-36), the conduct of women (chapter 37); and procreation (chapter 38).

    Rati Rahasaya of Kokkoka

    Rati Rahasaya, alternatively referred to as the Kokasastra, was composed by Kokkoka between 1100 and 1200 A.D. Kokkoka is one of the most celebrated authors after Vatsyayana. Rati Rahasaya remains one of the most popular works.

    Kokkoka has introduced new themes and made innovations. The treatment of erogenous zones and congenial days for sexual union are among the topics not dealt by Vatsyayana.

    In its 15 chapters, Rati Rahasaya covers:

    Four-fold classification of females and their characteristics, the days congenial for the four groups of women and the ways of winning over them. (Chapter 1)

    Erogenous zones, and days according to lunar calendar on which ladies belonging to a particular group can be sexually excited. (Chapter 2)

    Classification of males and females as per the size of their organs and, nine types of sexual union on their basis, nine as per duration of time in sexual union and another nine types on the basis of sexual energy. (Chapter 3)

    Classification of females on the basis of age, nature, mental attitude and region. (Chapters 4-5)

    Varieties of embrace, kiss, scratching by nails, bites, postures for sexual union, strokes and inarticulate sounds. (Chapters 6-10)

    Selection of a bride and winning her confidence, and conduct of a house-wife, behavior of co-wives, stages of love, extra-marital relations, characteristics of ladies who can be easily seduced, use of agents for enticing women. (Chapters 11-13)

    Mantras or rites to be used for laying a charm on the beloved, and aphrodisiacs and special appliances for heightening enjoyment. (Chapter 14-15)

    Jayamangala of Yasodhara

    A thirteenth century commentary on the Kamasutra, Jayamangala remains to this date a most scholastic work on Kamasutra, providing valuable references and filling the lacunae in the text. It is also a Kamasastra in its own right. It explores several different angles of interpretation.

    Pancasayaka of Jyotirisvara

    Pancasayaka literally means five arrows of the god of love (Kamadeva). Composed in the thirteenth century by Jyotirisvara, this how-to-do manual comprises of five chapters or seven chapters depending upon the edition.

    Jyotirisa’s work seems to depend entirely on Kamasutra except for his treatment of erogenous zones and suitable dates of lunar calendar for which he appears to be indebted to Kokkoka.

    Pancasayaka covers:

    Characteristics of the heroes and heroines with their classification, suitable dates for getting them excited, erogenous zones and other applications for leading them to orgasm. (Chapter 1)

    Classification of males and females as per the size of their organs, their characteristics and the types of sexual union. Characteristics of women according to their age and regions. (Chapter 2)

    Cosmetics, aphrodisiacs, ointments, powders and sacred incantations or Mantras along with the iconography of the goddesses to be meditated upon for attracting and inciting the female partner. Medicines for lifting up sagging breasts or stiffening the loose ones, contracting vagina, menstruation, impregnation, sterility, depilation (removing the hair of private parts, etc.) and also growing hair. (Chapter 3)

    Description of young ladies, forming marriages with them, eight types of marriages, extra-marital relations, female messengers, ladies who can be seduced easily and proper places and timings for happy union. Embraces, kisses, nail scratching, biting by teeth, catching of locks and other activities preceding sexual union. (Chapter 4)

    The final chapter takes up postures for sexual union and then the reverse pose (Purusayita), strokes and beatings and ends with the eight-fold classification of heroines. (Chapter 5)

    Samaradipika of Minanatha

    Believed to have been composed in southern India between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, it stresses the virtues of foreplay and suggests ways of making foreplay an integral part of any sexual experience.

    Oral sex, dismissed by the Kamasutra as a lower form of sexual union, is also included and discussed with ease.

    Sensitivity towards one’s partner and the need to put the woman’s needs before the man’s are its highlights.

    Ratimanjari of Jayadeva

    A short and limited composition of only 60 verses by sage Jayadeva, it was composed sometime between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

    The following topics are briefly treated by him: classification of heroines, classification of heroes in relation to them, erogenous zones and suitable lunar dates connected to them, limbs of the female body fit for kissing, the method of performing sexual union, scratching and biting, squeezing and sucking, catching hold of locks, and characteristics of male and female organs with their qualities and defects. It ends his treatise with the description of 16 coital postures.

    Anangaranga of Kalyanamalla

    Composed in the sixteenth century by Kalyanamalla for a Muslim nobleman, this verse kamasastra is an important contribution to the study of the erotica. Its ten chapters cover:

    Classification of hero and heroine, days and times most congenial for sexual excitement, classification of men and women according to the size of their organs, different types of sexual unions, characteristics of three types of men, characteristics of women as per their age, humor etc., different types of female organs and characteristics of ladies of belonging to different provinces. (Chapters 1-5)

    Ways and means to lead a woman to orgasm, aphrodisiacs, depilatory powders, hair-growing oils and the ways for stiffening loose and sagging breasts. (Chapter 6)

    Ways for laying charms on women by making marks and use of powders, pills, incense, sacred incantations, use of cosmetics and deodorants. (Chapter 7)

    Selection of bride and bride-groom, ladies with whom sexual relations are prohibited, female messengers, ladies difficult to be seduced, places and times for union. (Chapter 8)

    Various types of embraces, kisses, scratching with nails, biting by teeth, catching the locks. (Chapter 9)

    Different coital postures, description of eight types of heroines. (Chapter 10)

    Kandarapacudamani of Virabhadradeva

    This is a verse rendition of the Kamasutra, composed by one Virabhadradeva in the sixteenth century. It offers almost nothing in the way of new content, except for an alternative, fivefold physiological classification of sex actors.

    Rati Ratna Pradipika of Devaraja Maharaja

    Composed probably in the fifteenth century by Devaraja Maharaja, a member of the Mysore (South India) royal family, Rati Ratna Pradipika contains very little that is new except on oral sex particularly cunnilingus.

    The work closely follows Kokkoka in its scheme. Devaraja, however, exhibits his versatility in classifications and evolving new categories.

    It is divided in seven chapters: influence of moon on women (1), classification of women (2), outer love (3), inner love (4), postures (5), oral sex (6), and other matters (7).

    Kuttanimata of Damodaragupta

    Written in more than a thousand Sanskrit verses during 875-925 A.D., by Damodaragupta, an aged ‘procuress’ gives advice, drawn extensively from Kamasutra, to a young courtesan. It is a practical

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