Kamasutra 2.0: An Authentic Guide with Description of ALL Postures, Kisses, Embraces from the Sanskrit Original

By Ravi Soni

Kamasutra 2.0 condenses the expertise of the core parts of Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra, the famous two thousand year old Sanskrit treatise which has dominated the erotic love traditions of India, into a simple, essential guide book.

This book describes all the sexual postures and methods -- embraces, kisses, nail marks, bites, strikes, and moans – enumerated in Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra (as well as some added in the later kamasastras) and connects them to classification of women and men.

It elaborates on the principles and philosophy that underlie these postures and methods and, in doing so, offers nothing less than the definitive methods for finding satisfaction in sexual union.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ravi Soni
• Release date: Nov 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301497003

Ravi Soni

Ravi Soni, studied science and philosophy in college, was president of the Delhi University Social Service Union, and a Rhodes Scholar. After a career in the government and the industry, he has spent 20 years in a non-profit, base‐of‐the‐pyramid, telemedicine and healthcare organization.

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Executive Summary

Kamasutra 2.0 condenses the expertise of the core parts of Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra, the famous two thousand year old Sanskrit treatise which has dominated the erotic love traditions of India, into a simple, essential guide book.

It describes all the sexual postures and methods -- embraces, kisses, nail marks, bites, strikes, and moans – enumerated in Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra (as well as some added in the later kamasastras) and connects them to classification of women and men.

It elaborates on the principles and philosophy that underlie these postures and methods and, in doing so, offers nothing less than the definitive methods for finding satisfaction in sexual union.

What is New in this Book?

In a new interpretation of Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra, this book contends that woman’s orgasm and sexual compatibility between partners was the dominant factor in the Kamasutra.

To determine compatibility, the Kamasutra classified men and women and tried to match them. If the lovers did not match, Kamasutra prescribed sexual positions and other methods (like special embraces, kissing and oral sex) to achieve ‘equal coupling’ and simultaneous orgasm.

This book concentrates on the new areas of Kamasutra, not adequately covered so far including (1) how woman comes first in the Kamasutra, and (2) postures and methods suitable for equal coupling.

Core Areas of the Kamasutra

This book focuses on what might be called the ‘core’ areas of the Kamasutra, particularly the following:

1. Sexual union including coital postures, sexual acts and methods, etc.

2. Classification of men and women.

3. Properly matched sexual union.

Sexual Compatibility and Equal Coupling

The very minute divisions of coital positions, kissing, embraces, etc., which Vatsyayana prescribed, may appear to be too hair-splitting. However, they stand on a very sound footing when you look at them as methods for attaining orgasm for the sexually unequal couple, as Vatsyayana did.

Kamasutra gave a lot of importance to ‘equal union’. Compatibility and properly matched sexual relationship between a man and a woman were major concerns.

The first tool for achieving compatibility was the classification of men and women. Men and women needed to evaluate their own abilities and limits -- and their partner’s -- to achieve ‘equal union’. They needed to match each another in terms of genital size, level of passion, or duration.

The second tool to achieve properly matched sexual relationship included the famous sexual positions and sexual methods like foreplay, special embraces, kisses, oral sex, etc. Specific positions and methods helped overcome specific instances of mismatch.

These acts helped women from different typologies reach orgasm and sexual satisfaction, even if the couple was not properly matched.

Based on the Sanskrit Original

This book draws its description of sexual postures and methods from the original Sanskrit Kamasutra and Yasodhara’s thirteenth century commentary, translations of the core parts of which are included.

INTRODUCTION

1. Outline of Kamasutra

History

God Siva, after creating mankind, enunciated the means of pursuing the three ends of human life, Dharma, Artha and Kama, in one hundred thousand chapters.

Nandi, the companion of god Siva separated the treatise on Kama and presented an independent discourse in one thousand chapters. It was edited and condensed by Svetaketu to five hundred chapters and then by Babhravya to one hundred and fifty chapters in seven books: General Principles, Sexual Union, the Maiden, the Wife, the Wives of Others, the Courtesans, and the Esoteric Matters.

Dattaka composed a separate work on Courtesans, the sixth of these books, at the behest of the courtesans of Pataliputra. Charayana expounded the book General Principles; Suvarnanabha composed the book on Sexual Union; Ghotakamukha on the Maiden; Gonardiya on the Wife; Gonikaputra on the Wives of Others; and Kuchumara composed the book on the Esoteric Matters. Vatsyayana, later, completely rewrote these works to produce Kamasutra in one brief volume.

The language, style and the structure of Vatsyayana's Kamasutra reveal its proximity to Kautalya's Arthasastra. Vatsyayana explicitly cites Arthasastra and says he is indebted to it for terms and concepts.

Vatsyayana's Kamasutra came to be held as the standard work on kamasastra by the fourth or the fifth century A.D. making all earlier works obsolete. Study of this work was supposed to be essential for courtesans -- and many others -- as is evident from references to Kamasutra by a large number of authors during and after the fifth century.

Division of Knowledge

Vatsyayana divided Kamasutra in seven books (limbs or parts), each further subdivided in sections (or chapters) and topics.

The whole text is composed in the style of sutra (aphorism) and bhasya (commentary). According to Vatsyayana’s own calculation, the seven books have 36 chapters and 64 topics dealt in 1250 aphorisms (these numbers may vary according to the edition).

Kamasutra is predominantly in prose with occasional verse citations. Vatsyayana followed the pattern of the contemporary works like Arthasastra and Natyasastra.

Verses were introduced to sum up or supplement the discussion in prose portion. Kamasutra is a sastra (lit., a scientific work) in the Indian tradition. It serves two-fold purpose -- narration and regulation.

It presents analytical and descriptive account of the practices, models and standards related to sex; it establishes norms and evolves a set of rules and regulations; and it is descriptive as well as prescriptive.

Vatsyayana adopted the following methodology:

1. Study of current and past practices, norms and orders

2. Diverse views of experts on the problem, including views of imagined opponent

3. Vatsyayana’s views and rebuttal of opponent’s arguments

4. Conclusions

Kamasutra’s Seven Limbs/Parts/Books

Yasodhara, an important thirteenth century commentator on Vatsyayana, says Kamasutra has two parts: technique and means. Technique deals with the methodology of love and sex. Means unite the lovers: marriage, messengers, social relationships, etc.

Out of Kamasutra’s seven books, the most important book deals with technique (book 2), and four books deal with means (books 3-7). Book 1 deals with general topics and the book 7 covers the topics which could not be dealt under technique or means.

Book 1: General Topics

The first book forms an introduction to the Sastra.

After presenting a synopsis of the whole treatise Vatsyayana goes to discuss the three ends of life. He defines Kama, and refutes all the objections raised by the opponents against the study of the science of love.

He discusses the importance of learning the sixty-four arts, lists them, and advises even the women to study them.

His description of Nagaraka (cosmopolitan gentleman) -- for whom his book is actually written -- indicates the social conditions of that time.

Book 2: Sexual Union

The first section of the lengthiest part of Kamasutra deals with the kinds of sexual union and types of the men and women.

Vatsyayana divides men and women on the basis of the length and the depth of their organ. He discusses various types of sexual union on the basis of dimension, passion and time.

The second section discusses the embrace.

The third section depicts the kiss on lips, on eyes, on cheeks, on forehead, on throat, on bosom, on breasts, on thighs and interior of the mouth.

In the fourth section we see the description of many types of nail-scratches on throat, on breasts, on hips, on thighs etc.

The fifth section deals with the act of biting.

The sixth section narrates various types of coition.

The seventh section explains various modes of striking and moaning. Squeezing the limbs and striking the body are described here in detail. Eight types of moaning as well as other words uttered due to tenderness are stated.

The eighth section depicts the importance and necessity of reverse posture. The part further narrates the signs of satisfaction of a woman in love-sport.

Mouth congress or fellatio, though it is prohibited by Hindu religion, is discussed by Vatsyayana in the ninth section in detail. He also specifies the category of people who do it.

The tenth and the last section discusses how to begin and how to end the sex-sport. Vatsyayana does not go into it in detail since he discusses it in a later book. This part also deals with love-quarrels.

Book 3: Acquiring a Wife

This part deals with the qualities and the behavior of a girl.

The first section gives many characteristics of a girl who is fit for marriage. Vatsyayana believes in love at first sight. Kamasutra lauds the marriage which takes place between equals.

In the second section, Vatsyayana says women are like flowers; hence they should be handled with maximum care. Otherwise they will start hating men and discard sex-sport.

Vatsyayana instructs the bridegroom about his duties and what should be done after the marriage ceremony.

Vatsyayana also gives suggestions to a virgin about her behavior. He says that a virgin should not exhibit her love; she should express her bashfulness, fear etc., to her lover at the first meet. She should obstruct her lover’s activity. She should object it and prohibit it in a dignified style.

The third section talks about the gestures of a girl who wants to express her love to her lover. Vatsyayana suggests various ways to show their love.

The fourth section contains how a man can attract and enjoy his beloved who is expressing her love too. Vatsyayana remarks that a girl should be inactive in the first meeting, and she should not allow her lover any liberties unless she has full confidence in him.

The fifth and the last section gives forms of marriage. Though the Kamasutra describes many types of marriage, it praises the Gandharva type of marriage, as it is easy and as it increases the love between the male and female.

Book 4: Duties and Privileges of the Wife

This part covers topics like why wife must love none but her husband, living in his place of residence, respect for the chief wife; behavior toward younger wives, accepting the arrival of a new wife, the husband’s behavior toward many wives.

Book 5: Relations with Other Men’s Wives

The first section deals with ten stages of love for those who are love-sick for other’s wives. It also gives a list of women who can easily be won by a man.

The second section of this part discusses how to create acquaintance with other’s wife.

The next section discusses how to know the mind of a woman. The behavior of lady in love is shown in the section.

Importance of female messengers is shown in the fourth section. Vatsyayana says that no lover succeeds in his love-affairs without a go-between.

Hence most of the heroes and heroines have taken the help of the dutis to fulfill their desire. Vatsyayana has narrated the duties of a duti in detail.

In the last two sections, the author has given social customs of his days, which throw light on the social conditions.

He has mentioned the lust of the rulers and behavior of amorous women of royal harem.

He has warned the king to control his mind, because he is constantly watched and observed and imitated by the people.

Further he admonishes a nagaraka not to enter royal harem because it is full of danger.

Book 6: About Courtesans

The first section narrates the behavior of a general courtesan and discusses who she should make friendship with.

The second section gives a graphic picture of a harlot who lives like a wife. It tells a courtesan how to show her love as real love.

The last four sections explain in detail the different means of gaining money from a lover; different ways to get rid of the poor lover; different plans for re-union with former lover and different types of courtesans.

Book 7: The Esoteric

The last book contains tips for attracting ladies and use of aphrodisiacs.

The prescriptions given in this book have been derived from Ayurveda and Tantra and many of them are yet to be confirmed by a scientific inquiry.

Yasodhara’s Commentary on Kamasutra

A thirteenth century commentary, Jayamangala of Yasodhara, remains to this date a most scholastic work on Kamasutra, providing valuable references and filling the lacunae in the text. It is also a Kamasastra in its own right. It explores several different angles of interpretation.

The Present Edition

The first English translation of Kamasutra by Sir Richard Burton (and Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot) was published privately in 1883, in view of the prevailing censorship standards (it was published formally in only in 1962). It did not present a faithful rendering of Kamasutra.

Most of the subsequent translations were based mainly on Burton's rendering, including two translations in French (1883, 1891). The German translation by Richard Schmidt (1897) was accurate to a large extant.

Burton’s translation has had several editions in English with introductions by various authors. A new English rendering of the French translation by Alain Denielou was published in 1994. But both the English and the French versions take a lot of liberty with Vatsyayana’s text. Other notable translations include S.C. Upadhyaya (1963), and Wendy Doniger & Sudhir Kakar (2003).

An authentic translation, particularly of the core parts (the second book on sexual union), has been needed for the past two centuries. In the present translation, the text has been edited on the basis of Nirnaya Sagar edition. Renderings at a number of places have been corrected and the text accepted by Yasodhara, Shastri and others have been kept in view.

The English translation has been kept as faithful as possible. The second book of Kamasutra is written with a certain perspective, and this translation attempts to present Vatsyayana's perspective. Straightforward explanations have been preferred to ambiguity. Sub-headings have been inserted for better reading.

A translation of Yasodhara’s commentary on Kamasutra’s second book, which can be considered to be a later kamasastra in its own right, has also been included.

2. The Importance of Woman’s Pleasure

Vatsyayana states that women are charmed by a man who can continue for long. They dislike the one who finishes quickly, as they are unable to reach their climax.

Vatsyayana spends a lot of time examining whether women feel the same pleasure as men (he establishes after a long debate that they do), he states that since men