Erotic literature of ancient India

193 Pages·2007·75.858 MB·English

by  Sandhya Mulchandani

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SANDHYA MULCHANDANI
enotic litenatuW
Erotic Lilera
of ancient mdia
KAMA SUTRA . KOKA SHASTRA
GITA GOVINDAM . ANANGA RANGA
epotic liteRAtupe
of Ancient indiA

eROtic litenatuRe
of Ancient india
KAMA SUTRA . KOKA SHASTRA
GITA GOVINDAM . ANANGA RANGA
$
Sandhya Mulchandani
Lustre Press
Roli Books

contents
Introduction
Sublimo beatitude
9
The Pathway of Bhakti
29
The Bliss of Krishna
57
The Kama Texts
103
Tantra
139
Conclusion
167
Bibliography
186

dedication
*
To the wise men of ancient India who considered
satisfaction in every sphere of life to be a characteristic
of civilized society. Unburdened by hypocrisy or
duplicity, they believed that sensual indulgence was a
sacred duty and that all human emotions should be
tastefully expressed and gracefully experienced.

introduction.-
Sublimo beatitudo
ivilization is at a stage of development ultimate goal in life. Indians too viewed
C
where the quest for happiness can happiness as a prerequisite for existence, and
surely not be overlooked or under­ the pursuit and understanding of pleasure
estimated. The perceived sense of happineasnsd happiness known as sukha became a
and contentment that material goods can subject of rigorous inquiry.
bring, have sustained politics and economies According to the claims of most religions,
and can even justifiably be the rationale creation has a meaning and purpose, and
behind why empires developed and at its core equates God with love. We get
kingdoms flourished. The satisfaction glimpses of the sublime nature of beauty,
resulting from the acquisition of lands and truth and goodness at rare moments in,
armies, gold and goods or even women has perhaps, art or nature or when we love or are
been the cause of confrontations since time loved by others. But just what is it about
immemorial. The elusive and illusionary happiness that holds out such value? Why
quest for happiness that acquisitions are was the pursuit of happiness considered to be
supposed to ensure occupies so much of almost a revered duty? Ancient philosophers
our ambitions and waking thoughts that purported to have an answer: they believed
they have been the subject of serious study that since no man deliberately chose to be
from the earliest of times. Religion and unhappy it was an unnatural state of being
science have striven to understand and gain and had been forced on mankind because of
control over all that is mysterious and his separateness from the Primal Being—ever
incomprehensible. since he was symbolically thrown out of the
According to ancient wisdom this quest Garden of Eden. The search for happiness
for pleasure and happiness, albeit meta­ and bliss was thus considered to be a return
physical rather than merely physical, was to ones natural state. According to the
the springboard for all human action. The Upanishads, creation was suffused with sukha
Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC.) or joy as both a reflection and attribute of the
described happiness as the active fulfilment Infinite. The Chandogya Upanishad says:
of natural capacities. Epicurus too believed ‘Where there is joy, there is creation. Where
that happiness was the highest ideal, and the there is no joy, there is no creation: know this
to be the nature of joy.' And again in the
$ Facing page: ‘Where there is joy there is creation.... Know Taittiriya Upanishad, the seeker of truth finally
this to be the nature of joy.' understands the mystery of Brahman: .and