T he K ama S utra

1. The Kama Sutra Sarah Varney Lauren Solmonson Rebecca Havener

2. “Pleasures are as necessary for the well-being of the body as food.” -Kama Sutra

3. Background • It was originally written in 1000 chapters, but Vatsyayana condensed it into 7 sections. • It was written as a life manual for people of the Hindu culture.

4. The Purusarthas • Dharma – the acquisition of religious merit • Artha – the acquisition of wealth and property • Kama – love, pleasure, and sexual gratification

5. Kama and the Aspects of Art • 64 arts to be studied along with the Kama Sutra • Examples: • Singing • Playing musical instruments • Dancing • Teaching parrots to speak

6. Sexual Union • Penis divided into different classes of size • Hare man • Bull Man • Horse Man • Vagina divided into different classes of length • Female Deer • Mare • Female Elephant

7. These dimensions used to predict intensity of sex • Can range from middling passion to an intense passion • There were 9 kinds of union according to how passion a couple has and what their desires are.

8. Learning about sexual union people learn how to • Embrace • Kiss • Mark with nails • Bite • Lie down • Strike • Make appropriate sounds • Have the woman act as the man • Engage in mouth congress (oral sex) • Begin and end sexual union Click me

9. Acquisition of a Wife • Woman must be from a highly respectable family that’s wealthy and has many relatives. • She should also be beautiful, have a good disposition, lucky marks on her body, and have good hair, nails, teeth, ears, eyes, and breasts. • Avoid marriage with a woman who is already engaged.

10. The Wife • Should have affection for her husband and act in a way that he would desire if he were divine • Has the responsibility of taking care of his family, the house, having a garden, and behaving towards his relatives. • Should not use harsh language and never scold her husband.

11. Should always keep herself clean and tidy • Never tells a stranger how wealthy she is • Should dress conservatively and not wear many ornaments when her husband is away • She should also sleep near the elder women of the household and keep up the housework and projects

12. There are 5 reasons why a man would take another woman as his wife • The wife is ill tempered • He no longer likes her • He wants offspring • If she continues to give birth to female offspring • If he is incontinent

13. The Wives of Other Men • A man has the authority to go after another man’s wife if it is to save his own life. • Acquaintance • Arrangement of meeting • Man should attract attention to himself • Start conversation • Have a go-between

14. Courtesans • The profession of the courtesan is to have intercourse with men to obtain sexual pleasure. • Types of men: • Men with independent incomes • Men who think themselves handsome • Men who are brave • Can only obtain money only after praising his intelligence, performing household chores, and contracting debts for the sake of her lover. • Should never limit themselves to one lover

15. Attracting Others to Yourself • Natural ways • Good looks • Good qualities • Youth • Liberty • Unnatural ways • Oil of hogwood • Sarina plant • Yellow amaranth • Jewels and ornaments • Men can “enlarge” his penis with devices made of copper, gold, wood, tin, or silver that fit into his penis which excite and please the woman.

16. “In short, an intelligent and prudent person, attending to Dharma and Arha, and attending to Kama also, without becoming the slave of his passions, obtains success in every thing that he may undertake.” -Kama Sutra