Agonising aerobics. (Kama Sutra - Vatsyayana)

Member Name: babajane32

Product:	Kama Sutra - Vatsyayana
Date:	24/11/03 (290 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fun, new ideas, historic representation

Disadvantages: contortional positions

Introduction -

2000 years ago in the City of Benares on the Ganges the Hindu Sage,Vatsyayana,scribed a work that has remained famed throughout the world today.This work was a guide to relationships of the time,a courtesans handbook,dealing with marraige,courtship,maintaining love and variety in a marraige,courtships and a social guide.It dealt with rituals and traditions,the life of a wife and acts of love.
The Karma Sutra was far more than a collection of sexual positions,although that is what has carried it's fame through the centuries.It does deal with such matters and include the famous 64 doctrines of pleasure,and most modern day translations support these with erotic Indian works of art,although I believe the origonal did not have these added until much later.

Many translations have been made over the years,and there is much controversy as to how well each one is translated,although most good modern translations still are clearly much more than an acrobatic guide to the bedroom,with the text being translated into modern day language.
Having basically introduced you to a breif history of the book,I'll get on with telling you about the version I purchased....

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Off to make a purchse -

Having been happily married for a number of years,hubby and I decided it might be fun to "spice" our relationship up a little,and maybe buy a couple of books with some suggestions in.Well,ok..I fess up...I decided a few good books might give him some more adventerous ideas!!
So off I toddled to scour a few local bookshops.
I soon found myself in Waterstone's,browsing appropriate catagories,amazed by the variety of books available.I was just starting to get overwhelmed by the massive choice of boks,when a very nice and descreet assistant approached me.Over comming my intial embarressment,I got brave and told her what sort of thing I was looking for and why(cheeks blushing).
>She soon narrowed my search dowm,and suggested an assortment of guides and books.I soon realised that many of them were going to look very obvious and out of place on my bookshelf,although a couple stood out as being much subtler.The kama sutra was one.
The assistant informed me that there were many translations and versions,although a couple might be quite suitable.She soon found me the one's that might be better suited to my needs,and informed me that there was yet another,much better translation that they did not stock,but they would gladly order in for me to look at.
Trusting the sound judgement she had thus far displayed,I happily let her proceed to order it in.She informed me it would be arriving in a few days,and they would let me know when it had arrived.I set off home again.

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The arrival -

Three days later,the assistant rang to let me know it was in stock,and that I was welcome to go and take a look,if it wasn't suitable then they could send it back.
I think it took me less than an hour to get to the bookshop.Eager to see this guide to sucess,I galloped into town.Tonight was going to be a night to remember!!!

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The book -

The assistant produced a hard backed book,measuring little more than 18" by 12".It was Hamlyn's "The concise Kama Sutra",based on the origonal translation by Sir Richard Burton.
Opening the pages I noticed alot of writting,but each page of words was matched by an apropriate illustration of indian art,depicting scenes or acts.I was immediately convinced it would fit onto my bookshelf,no worries,but would it spice up my life??...I'd have to suck it and see!!
I handed over my £16.99,and sprinted home with my brown paper package clutched under my arm.Tonight was going to be a night to remember!!!

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Hi,honey I'm home -

Seductively sa
t,scantily dressed,upstairs...I called down for my hubby to join me...
We sat for a while,musing at the illustrations,wondering how we were actually going to get into some of those positions!!
Not to be defeated,we cuddled and kissed and passion took over.(No,I'm not going to tell the details!!)
Soon we were limbering up,and cavorting round the bed..time to try a few ideas out.
We were on our third,or was it forth? position,and we found ourselves wrything on the floor....in extacy??? I don't think so!! We were in agony,several contusions,strains and pulls,later,we had fallen off the bed,landed squarely on our backs,and were in pain!!

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The nitty gritty -

We soon realised these illustraions did two things...one,depicted a few positions we knew,and had used for years.Two,depicted positions that are not humanly possible without great risk of injury,pain and a trip to A and E!!
My husbands back was so bad that indeed a trip to A and E was needed (such shame!!).It was during this trip we discovered that sexual antics follows closely behind DIY,and drunkedn brawls for the most common causes of injury!!

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Irony -

During the coming weeks and months,the book was occasionaly removed from the bookcase for a breif reading.It was during these reads,that I discovered the books true value,lies not in the nice,yet impossible illustrations,but in the words and advice offerend in the text.Whilst much information was irrelevent to our situation,there were gems to be gleamed all over the place.Wise advice,helpful hints,and impressive methods for pleasurable enhancement.
It also became apparent that 20000 years ago this society that had brought about the books creation,were up to all sorts of tricks,and were highly enlightened and practicing sex,at a rate and style any woman or man of our liberated eara would be proud of!!

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Conclusion -

If you want a lovers manual to new positions,forget this book,most of them are impossible!!
If you want to spice up your bedroom antics,either carefully read the text in this book,else go to you fridge,grab a can of whipped cream,some yogurt and a cucumber!!!
If you want to enhance you relationship then this book is definately a great read,as it is if you simply want to have a greater understanding of times gone by.

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Summary -

It was indeed a night to remember,and not to repeat!!
The book has many social,practicle and historical values,but is not a guide to fun and frollics.

** Update ** Hubby's back is now much better,thankyou for the concern in this area.


~ ~ ~ Thankyou for reading ~ ~ ~

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