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Kamashastra Discourse (Life in Ancient India)

by Nidheesh Kannan B. | 2018 | 52,434 words

This page relates ‘Scope� of the study on Kamashastra representing the discipline of Kama (i.e., ‘sensual pleasure�). The Kamasutra of Vatsyayana from the 4th century is one of the most authoratitive Sanskrit texts belonging this genre. This study focusses on the vision of life of ancient India reflected in Kamashastra.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

“T 峾ūٰ of ٲⲹԲ, as its very title indicates, deals with , the third end of life in the traditional list of four ends, viz. Dharma, Artha, 峾 and Ѵǰṣa. The very aim and attitude of the work appear to be plebian; it has nothing to do with the subtle philosophical doctrines and dogmas. It may be argued that the work does not reflect the life of the common people but that of the epicure who wants to drink life to the less. But, the secular and earthy atmosphere of the work cannot be associated with people having a high purpose of life or a mission to achieve. That the work betrays carnal carving, and a desire to indulge in the gross sensual pleasures will be evident from the account that follows. So, it may be said to represent human aspirations of the commonest kind, if not those of the common people� (Sures Chandra Banerji, 1993: 188).

One of the aspirations behind the configuration of a text like 峾ūٰ may to divert people from the hands of priesthood and reroute them from the path of renunciation to love life. It is to be noted here that there never heard about a tuned life structure both in normal and sexual existed as prescribed in 峾ūٰ or allied texts, because they are only technical treatises.

ٲⲹԲ quotes;

“T purview of Śٰ prevails only till the people are lacking in passion. When the cycle of pleasure starts, there is neither Śٰ nor any order�[1].

This means, for an inclination like 峾, only auto-created theories according to mind and occasion are practical and effective. Other textually prescribed theories are useful only in intellectual level. In short, 峾ūٰ is one of the textual productions which designed during the leisure hobbies of a rich community. Foredooming chapters are designed by footing upon this basic thought also.

Discussion on the role and status of the text 峾ūٰ of ٲⲹԲ among the other available documents in this genre is imoprtant. It is understood from the short descriptions provided on the post 峾ūٰ literature in the second chapter of this thesis that how the authors dealt the subject in its seriousness. There is nothing new in the subjects discussed in those works; only imitations and retellings of ٲⲹԲ’s text can be seen. The topics usually discussed in almost all the post�峾ūٰ literature are the wide descriptions about male and female types according to the size of sexual organs, medicinal applications for sexual treatments and mesmerism, different mantras and various types of complicated postures of intercourse.

In this context Sushil Kumar De argues:

“It can be undoubtedly said that accepting all the internal contradictions, 峾ūٰ of ٲⲹԲ is an exclusive text dealing almost all the aspects on sexuality. It approaches the subject with much seriousness, justice. In course of time 峾ūٰ became such a definitive treatise that it not only eclipsed all previous works but also diminished the value of later imitative attempts. We can dismiss these later works with just a mention here; for they present no features of essential interest. They are bound to follow authority and fail to evolve independence. They are, in effect, convenient manuals for the rouê, being metrical amplifications mostly of the sex-topics, but, curiously enough, they omit with rare exception the subject of the ձś� (1969: 104-105).

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

śāstrāṇi viṣayastāvad yāvanmandarasā Բ� | raticakre pravṛtte tu naiva śٰ� na vā || (kāmasūtra, 2. 2. 31)

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