ABOUT KAMSUTRA

WHY WAS KAMASUTRA CREATED

At the beginning of the Kamasutra, Vatsyayan clearly says that the earlier matter on this delicate topic was available in pieces and the compilation if Babhrav was too huge to be understood by common people. Hence, he compiled this abridged version so that everybody could understand this subject comprehensively.

SUBSTANTIVE MATTER OF KAMASUTRA

A substantive collection of matterl has been covered in the first part of Kamasutra. This matter includes Dharma (religion), Arth (wealth) and Kama (Carnal pleasures). The first part also discusses the ways to achieve this substantive matter. The matter of Kamasutra also includes the time of studying Kamasutra, sixty-four postures, singing and playing instruments the agents of men and women folk proficient in this arts, and the partners in intercourse.

AUTHENTICITY OF KAMA SHASTRA

Maharshi Vatsyayan regards the Kamashastra as authentic as other religious scriptures. He says: ‘After creating the subjects, Lord Brahma first of all preached Trivarga (Dharma, Artha and Kama). Dharma or religion leads to fortune in this world and in the other. Arth or wealth helps a man to collect the means of comforts and live a religious life. With Kama or Carnal pleasure, a person makes his life happy. Moreover, without a woman and children, a man has no reputation in society.

Without abandoning Adharma, no one can achieve Dharma. Hence in the one lakh chapters of the Vedas, Brahmaji dictates the means of attaining Dharma, Arth and Kama. Later on, Manu separated and compiled the measures to attain Dharma, while Brihaspati separated and compiled the measures to attain Arth. Measures to attain Kama were separated and compiled by Nandi. These one thousand chapters that comprise the Kamasutra  were separated and compiled by Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva, and were later on abridged to  five hundred chapters by Shvetketu, the son of Maharshi Uchhalaka. Later on, Panchal, the son of sage Vabhru (also referred to as Babhrav by the preceptor) reduced the five hundred chapters into one hundred and fifty.

KAMASUTRA IS NOT OBSCENE

Many accuse the Kamasutra of rendering the whole literature obscene. Refuting these accusations, it can be said that there are two ways of expressing anything – sober and slang. Intricate and intimate relations between a man and a woman will be said to be obscene if expressed in slang terms before noble ladies. In sober term s,however, this relationship will not appear obscene at all. A sober language presents even the most obscene subject in a decorous manner. Such a description does not induce shame. Instead, it incites the curiosity of the reader in a piquant way. Hence, it is a common belief among litterateurs that the infrequent use of words, which may appear obscene otherwise to describe a romantic scene, must not be mistaken with regularity. Such terms should be regard more as merit than demerit of literature. Moreover, currently films are the main carriers of spreading vulgarity.

While reading a book, one has to strain his mind as well as eyes. But to watch a movie, you have nothing to do except see. More than often after watching a movie, one is compelled to ask whether a censor board exists in India. Besides, there are so called educative films that cross all the boundaries of sobriety. Nonetheless, Kamasutra is such a substantive subject that it was  also presented as a feature film with few dissenters if any.

PARTS OF KAMASUTRA

There are seven parts in the Kamasutra. These are: 1) Sadharana (general), Samprayogik, 3) Kanya Samprayuktaka, 4) Bharya dhikarik, 5) Paridarik, 6) Vaishik and 7) Aapamshadik.

1) Sadharna (General): It is basically an introduction to the Kamasutra. It contains a brief discussion of all the other parts.

2) Samprayogik: It deals with the methodology of Kamasutra. All the matters related to intercourse have been discussed in this part. A knowledge of this part quenches beastly tendencies in a man desirous of intercourse.

3) Kanya Samprayuktak: This part describes the act of intercourse within marriage. Tradition and several types of Swayamvar have also been discussed.

4) Bharyadhikarik: This part describes how married women should behave with their husband, and how a married man should behave with his wife and children.

5) Pardarik: Unfortunately, even married women are not immune to the leers of other men. This part describes the ways man adopt in order to establish illicit connection with married women. This knowledge is a must for all married men because only they will be able to guard their wives.
6) Vaishik: Behaviour of prostitutes. This part expose the craftiness prostitutes apply to trap their customers. A proper knowledge of prostitutes behaviour will help gullible people to shun the company of such women.

7) Aupanishadik: This part contains beneficial discussion about mysterious topics. Measures to correct impotency have been discussed.