The Art of Love: The Kama Sutra

Following on from my article the art of love more commonly known as sex, I thought I would take a brief and erotic ride (pardon the pun) back in time to the people who really did know the art of love.

art of love…more commonly known as sex. Brings you the Kama Sutra.

Let me introduce the ‘Kama Sutra.’ Now I was introduced by the way of a book to the Kama Sutra at a very early age, around 10 years old I think. I found it in our Welsh dresser cupboard in the living room. It was a beautiful book with the most graphical Indian artwork in the most earthly tones you could ever imagine, it was so beautiful to look at and I can still see the pictures in my mind now.

Although as I got older and started having sexual relations of my own, still with some of the blurry images rattling around in my head, I knew I was probably never going to get loved in that way. Although I have practiced the art of yoga, I am still not up to standing on my head for long periods of time and I am not a gymnast.

However the Kama Sutra, no mater what people now days might think was not just about sex. It has been translated into thousands of different texts and along with the lovemaking it explains the courtship, manners and how to successfully relate to your sexual partner so you can experience a very deep and meaningful relationship. On more than just one level, spiritual.

The Kama Sutra was not just a book illustrating contortionist sexual positions; it was all about living a fruitful life and was a manual for good living. The illustrations are around 1500 years old and between 100-500 AD the works were created to present the sensual awareness and respect for the sacredness of sexual relations. 

Young women were taught all the Kama Sutra positions before marriage as part of their education and men were expected to live by the lifestyle laws.

Although the first English written book of Kama Sutra was made in 1883 lots of other versions have been published before that time 100 AD and after that time.

Vatsyayana  Mallanaga the author of the 400AD Kama Sutra written in Sanskrit contains a total of 64 positions for sexual relief, 8 ways of making love, multiplied by 8 positions within each way. 

In January 1971 a motion picture was made and seen by millions of men and women, I haven’t seen this film so I can not comment on the content or how much of the film portrayed the real Indian Kama Sutra.

I think the most exciting thing that the Kama Sutra has brought with it, is the reality that we live in as society where people have a high tolerance to sexuality and behaviour and have been aware of this for many, many years.

The book although it looks a little like a manual is very easy to follow. It discusses lover’s arguments, problems, courtship and how to read different peoples reactions to know what they are liking or not! It takes all the forms of love making, kissing, fore play as well as the sexual positions, which are designed to enhance pleasure. I wonder how many people they studied and whether those first few were choreographed? I would have loved to be a fly on the wall all those years ago! Probably would have ended up in someone dinner though.

Psychologists have studied the book and have decided it sends very positive messages in terms of creating a very real, very equal and loving relationship, using sex as a way to show love.

Love is all around us if we just give it a chance!!! I say high five for the erotic texts.

The Kama Sutra ladies and gentlemen.