Fox - Kama Sutra Sex Positions The Sex Guide For Beginners To Discover The World Of Kamasutra. All The Positions You Want To Try, Including Oral And Anal Sex

It is unlikely that you have never heard of the Kama Sutra before, but you may be unfamiliar with what exactly it is. Some may think of it as merely a book of sex positions, while others may know a bit more of the history and how it came to be. We will look at the history behind the Kama Sutra, discussing the literal meaning of the words, as well as what it teaches us, and how it is meant to be used. Since the Kama Sutra originated in India, there are also many terms and words used throughout that you may not be familiar with, so we will make sure to breakdown some of the most commonly seen ones and provide their definitions.

Meaning behind the Name

The word Kama is one that means pleasure but can also be translated as desire or longing. There is a sexual connotation associated with the word, meaning it is more to do with sexual pleasure and desire than with the pleasures of life or desire for material goods, but that doesnt mean that the Kama Sutra as a whole is limited to only sexual pleasure. Sutra, on the other hand, translates to verse or scripture. When you put these words together, you get the translation of Scripture of Pleasure, but there are many variations on how you can literally translate this.

Delving deeper into the meaning behind the name, the pleasure that is Kama is one that is of all five senses, and this is very important. While many thinks of the Kama Sutra as a sex book, it is actually a book that focuses on pleasing all of the senses and is meant to be a guide on how to live a good life and enjoy yourself. From the physical enjoyment of sex to the pleasure that is derived from being in love, the Kama Sutra is filled with different verses that cover a wide range of different activities and pleasures.

While we did mention that Kama often has a sexual connotation, like with all translations there are different meanings depending on how it is being used. Kama can also be used when referencing love or affection, and in this sense, it is used in a non-sexual way. This is why the Kama Sutra needs to be viewed as a whole, since it was not intended to be a sexual book simply, but more so an erotic manual on life.

We know that the Kama Sutra extends beyond just the physical pleasures, as the book touches on the four different virtues of life. Those four are:

Dharma How to live a virtuous life

Kama How to enjoy the pleasures of the senses

Moksha How to be liberated from the cycle of reincarnation

Artha How to gain material wealth

These four virtues are tenants of Hinduism, which is applicable since the Kama Sutra originates in India where Hinduism is one of the predominant religions. This historical context allows us to understand the book better, as we need to approach it from the mindset of the author, who would have most likely been a practicing Hindu. The author saw sexual pleasure as one of the chief virtues of life, and it was both a necessary and spiritual pursuit that was important both from a non-sexual and sexual avenue. These virtues are almost instructions on how a person should live in order to be fulfilled both in this life as well as in the afterlife. Regardless of what your personal religion is, all the points are still applicable, as essential human nature dictates that we are all attempting to be the best version of ourselves and to accomplish everything we set out to gain.

Some other words that you may encounter within the Kama Sutra, and their translations, are:

Devi Goddess

Gandharva A form of marriage in which everyone is consenting to it

Lingam Penis

Nayika A woman who is desired by someone

Prahanana Striking or slapping someone during sex

Raja King

Vatsala A married woman who has children

Vikrant A brave and beloved man

Yoni Vagina

We will try and use as much of the original language as possible, so having a glossary of terms will be beneficial. With that said, however, there will always be translations available throughout so that you can follow along with ease.

So why does the literal meaning of the name even matter?

If you come into the Kama Sutra thinking it should only include some sex positions and nothing more, then you miss out on the richness that is contained within. Likewise, if you ignore the historical significance behind the text, you fail to grasp many of the concepts located within. In order to gain as much as you can from the Kama Sutra, you need to know what the author intended with it, and why they felt the need to create this work of literature.

History of the Kama Sutra

The exact date that the Kama Sutra was written is not known, but estimates place it anywhere between 400 BCE and 300 CE. What we do know, however, is that it was officially compiled and turned into the book that we know today in the 2nd century, otherwise known as 2 CE. This does not mean though that the book has not undergone revisions since then, and some scholars believe that the version we have is actually closely linked to the 3rd century, as some of the references throughout would not have been applicable to the 2nd century. With the text being so old, exact dating is virtually impossible, nevertheless, there is a lot of information we do know about it.

We do know that the text originates from India, although the exact location is unknown. Historians have been able to narrow down the location to somewhere within the north, or northwest, region but beyond that, it is a guess as to where the author was from. As for the author himself, we do know it was written by a man named Vatsyayana Mallanaga, as his name is engraved into the beginning of the text. Who this man was is unclear, but we do have information as to why he wrote the Kama Sutra?

Since its compilation in the 2nd-3rd century, the Kama Sutra has undergone numerous translations and there are versions in almost every language. It was originally written in Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language, and this is the language that many Hindu scriptures were written in. While some translations are entirely accurate, it is essential to note that some translators did place their own bias into their work and that can be seen in the discrepancies that were later found. One of the critical examples of this was in the 19th century, when the Kama Sutra was translated into English. The translator at that time wanted to ensure that the role of women in the sexual realm was not as prominent, as that was not the culture of the times. In order to maintain that societal understanding of sex and women, the Kama Sutra was altered so that women were significantly downplayed throughout. This has since been corrected, but it is essential to be aware of this if you ever decide to pick up a copy for yourself as you want to be sure you are getting a purer translation.

The foundations of the Kama Sutra are rooted within the Vedic Era of literature, which is based on the word Vedas. Vedas were historical texts written in India around this time that dealt with lifestyle and how one should conduct them on a daily basis. All works of this time period were verbally passed down, and traditions were later adapted into many of the Hindu beliefs that are now practiced today. In the Vedic Era, there were distinct classes and castes within society, and a lot of that is reflected within the Kama Sutra. Many references are made to those who are in differing classes, and how relationships between individuals of different castes cannot work out. While this type of information is not apparently meaningful in todays culture, it does cross over when we look at socio-economic statuses and how the rich and poor interact even today.