I'll give it a go... (Kama Sutra - Vatsyayana)

Member Name: salgirl

Product:	Kama Sutra - Vatsyayana
Date:	15/05/01 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Insightful

Disadvantages: Private Health bills that will surely follow for the seized back

Hmmm... no one has attempted to write about this book, but I'm game for most things, hence the reason for having the manual in the first place.

Manual? Yes. It's a manual.

Not the car-fixing or computer type, but a manual about Love. And I also mean the capital L.

The edition I possess is based on the 1883 translation by Sir Richard Burton (possibly a relative, I don't know..) and I can therefore get away with having it on the bookshelf as a representation of the naive attitude given to a sexually explosive book. Well, that's what I've told my mum and it keeps her happy.

Of course what you're dealing with is a written version of praying at the holy temple that it the human body. The original version was written in sanskrit and it rises (please excuse any puns, they're unavoidable) above gratutious smut because it's roots lie in Indian history, art and culture. All perfectly respectable reasons for rogering your loved one senseless in a frighteningly wide variety of ways.

For those that want to get straight to it in the book, you have to flip to page 95. In order to explain and justify the writings, the first 94 pages are given over to forewords and prefaces, and introduction by K. M. Panikkar and a bibliography. And then you have the actual Kama Sutra which is broken down into seven parts.

Part 1 is introductory. Part 2 - Of Sexual Union. Part 3 - About The Acquisition Of A Wife. Part 4 - About A Wife. Part 5 - About Wives Of Other Men. Part 6 - About Courtesans (i) Translators Introductory remarks (ii) Text. Part 7 - About The Means Of Attracting Others To Yourself.

There are no pictures or diagrams in this book (another Mum-friendly factor), but there are some controversial opinions contained in the texts. For example. Within Chapter 5 of Part 2....

"In the affairs of love a man should do such things as are agreeable to the women of different countries.
>
The women of the central countries (ie between the Ganges and the Jumna) are noble in their character, not accustomed to disgraceful practises and dislike pressing the nail or biting.

The women of the Balhika country are gained over by striking.

The women of Avantika are fond of foul pleasures and have not good manners.

The women of the Maharashtra are fond of practising the sixty-four arts, they utter low and harsh words, and like to be spoken to in the same way, and have an impetuous desire of enjoyment.

The women of Pataliputra ( the modern Patna) are of the same nature as the women of the Maharashastra, but show their likings only in secret.

The women of the Dravida country, though they are rubbed and pressed about at the time of sexual enjoyment, have a slow fall of semen, that is they are very slow in the act of coition. "

And so it goes on, writing down the likes and dislikes of the women of the various countries. This is phenomenal research. Can you imagine the poor bloke having to get it on wid da ladies, and then rushing off to jot down their proclivities? The concept of a little black book is obviously older than I've ever given it credit for.

If you are genuinely looking for something to spice up your sex life, unless it's the version with helpful diagrams, this version is not yer boy.

This is a studied translation of ancient and much revered texts, and it will kill any sexual impulses quicker than a glimpse Chris Evans in a lurex thong.

If you are looking to fulfill your sex life in more profound ways, other than the 10 hour tantric sex marathons, then this could be something that will help with the spiritual side.

Not for feminists (nor overly masculine and selfish men), the attitudes that are contained in this book have to be respected for what they are - Opinions on the world's favourite pasttime at a point in history when everything was m
uch more basic in the first place.

The writing is uninteresting sexually, although it does have a high curiosity value, and you can't help but keep looking and gasping at it's contents. Like this bit... "The following women are not to be enjoyed - A leper, A lunatic, a woman turned out of caste, a woman who reveals secrets, A woman who publicly expresses desire for sexual intercourse, a woman who is extremely white, a woman who is extremely black, a bad smelling woman, a woman who is a near relation, a woman who is a female friend. a woman who leads the life of an ascetic, and lastly, the wife of a relation, of a friend, or a learned Braham, and of the king."

Jeez....pickypickypicky.....

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