Kamashastra

In Indian literature, Kamashastra refers to the tradition of works on Kama. It therefore has a practical orientation, similar to that of Arthashastra, the tradition of texts on politics, government etc. Just as the former instructs kings and ministers about government, Kamashastra aims at instructing the townsman (nāgarika) the way to attain enjoyment and fulfillment.

The earliest text of the Kama Shastra tradition, said to have contained a vast amount of information, is attributed to Nandi the sacred bull, Shiva's doorkeeper, who was moved to sacred utterance by overhearing the lovemaking of the god Shiva and his wife Parvati. During the 8th century BC, Shvetaketu, son of Uddalaka, produced a summary of Nandi's work, but this "summary" was still too vast to be accessible. A scholar called Babhravya, together with a group of his disciples, produced a summary of Shvetaketu's summary which remained a huge and encyclopaedic tome. Between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC, several authors reproduced different parts of the Babhravya group's work in various specialist treatises. Among the authors, those whose names are known are Charayana, Ghotakamukha, Gonardiya, Gonikaputra, Suvarnanabha, and Dattaka.

However, the oldest available text on this subject is the "Kama Sutra" ascribed to Vatsyayana who is often erroneously called as "Mallanaga Vatsyayana". Yashodhara, in his commentary of "Kama Sutra", attributes the origin of erotic science to Mallanaga, the "prophet of the Asuras", meaning it originated in prehistoric times. The attribution of the name "Mallanaga" to Vatsyayana is due to the confusion of his role as editor of the "Kama Sutra" with that of the mythical creator of erotic science. Vatsyayana's birth date is not accurately known but he must have lived earlier than the 7th century since he is referred to by Subandhu in his poem Vāsavadattā. On the other hand Vātsyāyana must have been familiar with the Arthashastra of Kautilya. On the other hand Vātsyāyana refers to and quotes a number of texts on this subject, which unfortunately have been lost.

Following Vātsyāyana, a number of authors wrote on Kāmashastra, some writing independent manuals of erotics, while others commenting on Vātsyāyana. Of later works well known are Kokkaka's "Ratirahasya" (13th century) and "Anangaranga" of Kalyanamalla (16th century). Of commentators on Vatsyayana the most well known is Jayamangala (13th century).

Etymology

Kama ( _sa. काम IAST|kāma) is a Sanskrit word that has the general meanings of "wish", "desire", and "intention" in addition to the specific meanings of "pleasure" and "(sexual) love". [Arthur Anthony Macdonell. "A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary". p. 66.] Used as a proper name it refers to Kamadeva, the Hindu god of Love.

List of Kamashastra works

Lost works

* Kâmashâstra of Nandi or Nandikeshvara. (1000 chapters)
* Kâmashâstra of Auddalaki Shvetaketu (500 chapters)
* Kâmashâstra or Bâbhravyakârikâ
* Kâmashâstra of Chârâyana
* Kâmashâstra of Ghotakamukha
* Kâmashâstra of Gonardîya
* Kâmashâstra of Gonikâputra
* Kâmashâstra of Dattaka. According to the legend, the author Dattaka was transformed into a woman during a certain time.
* Kâmashâstra or Ratinirnaya of Suvarnanâbha

Medieval and modern texts

*Kalyanmalla's Anangaranga
* Dattakasûtra by king Mâdhava II of the Ganga dynasty of Mysore
* Janavashya by Kallarasa, Based on the "Ratirahasya" of Kakkoka.
*Jayamangala, (Jayamangla), by Yashodhara, important commentary on the Kama Sutra
* Jaya by Devadatta Shâstrî Hindi commentary on the Kama Sutra, 20th century.
* Kâmasamuha by Ananta (15th century)
*Kama Sutra
* Kandarpacudamani
* Kuchopanishad or Kuchumâra Tantra of Kuchumâra
*Kuchumara's Kuchopanisad (10th century)
* Kuttînimata of Damodara Gupta, written by a Kashmiri poet (8th century) (Kuttanimata)
* Mânasollâsa or Abhilashitartha Chintâmani by king Someshvara or Somadeva III of the Châlukya dynasty by Kalyâni A part of this encyclopedia, the "Yoshidupabhoga", is devoted to the Kamashastra. (Manasolasa or Abhilashitachintamani) [http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/erotica/manas.htm] [http://www.kamat.com/database/books/sociallife/note.htm]
* Nagarasarvasva by Bhikshu Padmashrî (buddhist) (Nagarsarvasva) (10th/11th century)
* Panchashâyaka by Jyotirîshvara Kavishekhara (Panchasakya, Panchsayaka) (14th century)
* Rasamanjari (Rasmanjari) by poet Bhânudatta
* Ratikallolini by Dikshita Samaraja.
*Kokkoka's Ratirahasya
* Ratimanjari by poet Jayadeva Synthesis of the "Smaradîpika" by Minanatha
* Ratiratnapradîpika by Praudha Devarâja, Maharaja of Vijayanagara (15th century)
* Shringararasaprabandhadîpika by Kumara Harihara
* Smaradîpika by Minanatha
*Ksemendra's Samayamatrka
*Harihar's Shrngaradipika
* Smarapradîpika by Gunâkara, son of Vachaspati (Smara Pradipa)
* Sûtravritti by Naringha Shastri 18th century, commentary on the Kama Sutra
* Vâtsyâyanasûtrasara by Kshemendra, Kashmiri author, commentary on the Kama Sutra (11th century)

Kamashastra and Kāvya poetry

One of the reasons for interest in these ancient manuals is their intimate connection with Sanskrit ornate poetry (Kāvya). The poets were supposed to be proficient in the Kamashastra. The entire approach to love and sex in Kāvya poetry is governed by the Kamashastra.

References

*"The Complete Kama Sutra", Translated by Daniélou, Alain. ISBN 0-89281-492-6