The Kamasutra
Daisy Quevedo
Professor Bonaparte
English 1020
February 8, 2011
The Reality of the Kama Sutra The Kama Sutra was written in 2nd century C.E. by Mallanaga Vatsyayana. It is believed to be the primary text written on human sexual behavior, spirituality, love, and marriage. Most people perceive the Kama Sutra as a solely sexual book with a million different sexual positions, but it is so much more than that. The Kama Sutra combines sex, love, and spirituality all in one and explains how one cannot be in balance without the other. It states that humans are sexual beings from birth until death and that we should embrace our natural instincts together with our religion (preferably with a loved one), and understand how important our sexuality plays a huge role in marriage [among other things as well]. In the introductory, it states what man should practice in harmony; Dharma, Artha, and Kama. “Dharma is the acquisition of religious merit, Artha is the acquisition of wealth and property, and Kama is love, pleasure, and sensual gratification.” If all these virtues are practiced in their right time, the Man “enjoys happiness both in this world and in the next world to come.” Although Indian society frowns upon allowing females to study and learn what men learn, the Kama Sutra says they “should study the arts and sciences contained in Dharma and Artha before marriage, and after it they should continue to do so with the consent of their husbands.” Vatsyayana’s reason for this belief was due to the fact that women know the practice and science of Kama itself (natural instincts). “A female, therefore, should learn the Kama Shastra (traditional works on Kama; attaining enjoyment and fulfillment), or at least part of it, by studying its practice from some confidential friend.” Part two of the Kama Sutra discusses and argues the kinds of sexual union according to dimensions, force of desire or passion, and time. There are certain unions between men and women that aren’t
Professor Bonaparte
English 1020
February 8, 2011
The Reality of the Kama Sutra The Kama Sutra was written in 2nd century C.E. by Mallanaga Vatsyayana. It is believed to be the primary text written on human sexual behavior, spirituality, love, and marriage. Most people perceive the Kama Sutra as a solely sexual book with a million different sexual positions, but it is so much more than that. The Kama Sutra combines sex, love, and spirituality all in one and explains how one cannot be in balance without the other. It states that humans are sexual beings from birth until death and that we should embrace our natural instincts together with our religion (preferably with a loved one), and understand how important our sexuality plays a huge role in marriage [among other things as well]. In the introductory, it states what man should practice in harmony; Dharma, Artha, and Kama. “Dharma is the acquisition of religious merit, Artha is the acquisition of wealth and property, and Kama is love, pleasure, and sensual gratification.” If all these virtues are practiced in their right time, the Man “enjoys happiness both in this world and in the next world to come.” Although Indian society frowns upon allowing females to study and learn what men learn, the Kama Sutra says they “should study the arts and sciences contained in Dharma and Artha before marriage, and after it they should continue to do so with the consent of their husbands.” Vatsyayana’s reason for this belief was due to the fact that women know the practice and science of Kama itself (natural instincts). “A female, therefore, should learn the Kama Shastra (traditional works on Kama; attaining enjoyment and fulfillment), or at least part of it, by studying its practice from some confidential friend.” Part two of the Kama Sutra discusses and argues the kinds of sexual union according to dimensions, force of desire or passion, and time. There are certain unions between men and women that aren’t