The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana

This is indeed Adult literature but it is also very educational for the young if emotionally mature-say >16 years of age. It is not porn but has been treated as such by those who don't understand it or are of narrow outlook as to the healthful and emotional benefits of classical sexual techniques. Most modern literature on sexual techniques and mutual respect of participants, one for the other, the proper state of mind so to speak for getting the most out of the sexual experience, can trace its roots to this one book. I highly recommend it to all whose interest goes beyond the prurient, those who want to sustain their sexual experience, and to achieve the fullest enjoyment from it.

Seeing as how this is a 5k+ old text, I can't be to disgusted with it, but you NEED to read it as a historical document, and nothing more. This is not a book on sexual acts, it's a book on the rules of love, marriage, and dating. Unfortunately, it also condones rape, pretty blatantly. So be warned. It is a historical document, but it absolutely will go against anyone's grain, unless you've zero respect for women...

I like three resources the book delivered of Indian sub continent men and women - because the argument at the end is defamatory

This is a SOFT cover reading book. No beautiful pictures, illustrations, or artwork. Disappointed. I was hoping for the hard cover book with beautiful illustrations along with the text.

I have been curious about what this was all about for years. It's been one of those things that's been on the back of my mind for a while. I ended up buying this on a whim. I was actually really impressed by the whole thing. It wasn't all about sexual position and things like that. It had a lot of sound advice for living. As with a lot of old things, this didn't seem to hold all of its original value. I don't think I understood all of some of the lengthy passage but parts of it were absolutely fascinating. It was a fun thing to read after all I've heard about this kind of thing. I recommend checking it out.

Pretty neat book to read through. I ordered as more of a gag gift for someone but kept it instead. It's not the "dirty" picture kind of book I first thought it was, it's more techniques on 'wooing' and being sincere with your partner.

"When the wheel of love is once set in motion there is then no Shastra and no order." - but there are still some sketchy rules and it creates a poor, shallow vision of what `love' really is. Translated from the Sanskrit work of Vatsyayana this `Aphorisms on Love' is a severely dated and in many instances, hopefully, out of practice ways and means to acquire women, pleasure them / gain pleasure for oneself and have success in all things. Dharma (virtue / religious merit), Artha (worldly wealth) and Kama (pleasure / sensual gratification) are meant to be preserved after they have burgeoned. Vatsyayana believes the Hindu holy writ should be followed as it regards the three above aspects of life. An understanding, even minutely, assists with comprehension of the material. There are various parts concerning sexually: types of men, women, when and how women can be used, how courtesans should act, the duration of the act, etc. It's essentially a `how to' guide if you're not reading the philosophy behind it and just practicing the '64 ways'. But if you engage the philosophy, it's one that's quite demeaning to women, especially toward women, the disabled and humanity as a whole. Types of men: Pithmarda - a man alone without any wealth. Vita - a man who is successful both socially and economically. Vidushaka - something like the village joker, but trusted. Nayika: a woman resorted to on some `special' occasion. Vatsyayana then offers a series of justifications for the circumstances which these type of women may be used. These include reasons to bolster oneself or harm someone else, to put oneself in position to achieve wealth or to use the woman as a proxy to some affiliation which leads to fame and greatness, etc. There are 8 kinds of Nayika, all to be `enjoyed' unless they exhibit characteristics from a list that advises which ones not to be `enjoyed' (e.g. gossips, an exhibitionist, female friends, a leper, extremely white or black women, near relations, etc.) Many of these things are pretty commonsensical, other's bigoted. Aside from Nayika's and courtesans, no other memorable types of women were mentioned. Male sex categories (based upon Lingham size): Smallest: Hare, Bull, Largest: Horse. Female sex categories (based upon Yoni size): Deer, Mare, Elephant. Matches of Lingham & Yoni sizes are the best , anything else creates a dissatisfaction for one party or the other depending upon the 'union'. Related to this is intercourse duration and passion levels: short-timed, moderate time, long-timed; Small passion, Middling passion, High passion. Women prefer `long-timed' with high passion. Types of love: 1. By habit - it's what you're used to. 2. Imagination - thinking of someone else. 3. Through belief - awesome how vague and open ended this one is. 4. Perception of external objects - basically as you see the world and consider it's things lovely, and 5. Belief by the learned - taking heed of what your elders say. The practice of the Shastra (64 acts) is alluded to multiple times, through these positions and acts a man can prove his prowess in the bedroom. This article here is what most people mean when they even hint that the Kama Sutra is 'awesome'. Other terms of interest: United Congress - a threesome. Lower Congress - anal. Auparishtaka - oral. Objectionable or interesting positions / practices, (xxxx) = Kindle `Location': it's okay to pretend your lover is someone else (1022), it's okay to beat your spouse (1033), wives are to be selected before puberty (1074) if later than puberty they are to be used for `special occasions', blackmail is permissible (1132), advocating date rape (1294), and kidnapping (1298) also being charged with false crimes is encouraged to take a woman from another man. Courtesans are mainly in the business to fulfill two purposes: giving pleasure to her clients, and making money. Also mentioned are medicinal powders and tinctures used to elongate the Lingham, also advocated is the practice of piercing the Lingham. All of this and it seems that Vatsyayana has pretty well described even modern women on a broad scale, some accuracies, many inaccuracies. Despite it's datedness the work still bears a little relevance, but not much. I know I'll never recommend it to anyone.

The Kama Sutra was never meant to be pornographic in nature. I believe that was a result of Western translation. To my understanding, the Kama Sutra is sort of a guide on how to conduct oneself in relationships among others (i.e., a lover, marriage, etc.) This book in particular is a great translation of the original Kama Sutra by Vatsyayana. This is a great addition to any library or to be read purely for leisure.

Good

Interesting book

This is the Sir Richard Francis Burton 19th century translation for the serious reader. It is not one of the "interesting" versions. The only picture that appears in the books is the one on the cover. So if you are interested in exotic pictures or positions, look else where. This book has the crisp straightforward translation faithful to the Sanskrit original. I received a "Green Edition" version printed in the USA.

Molto spartano ma fatto bene, sicuramente poteva essere messo giù meglio, per esempio qualche figura, ecc. Nonostante sia molto "essenziale" come aspetto è fatto bene relativamente ai contenuti, che poi è la cosa più importante

The book is really poor quality, published without proper editing. There are no names of publisher, editor, pictures are SD, without comments. It seems like someone decided to download a pdf out of the internet and just print it. Do not recommend whatsoever.