In Indian literature, Kamashastra refers to the tradition of works on erotics. 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 sexual pleasure and fulfillment. Indian literature is generally acknowledged, but not wholly established, as the oldest in the world. ... Arthashastra (also spelt Arthasastra) or the Handbook of Profit is an ancient Indian treatise on economics and politics written sometime between the 4th century BC and 150 AD by the kingmaker Chanakya (also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta) during the early years of the Mauryan Empire. ...

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 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. Lord Åšiva. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

However, the oldest available test 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. Modern translated version of the original Sanskrit. ... Vatsyayana is a scholar (Rishi) from India. ... // In Hinduism In Hindu mythology, the Asura (Sanskrit: असुर) are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes misleadingly referred to as demons. ... // Overview Events The Roman-Persian Wars end. ...

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). (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ...

Kamashastra and Kāvya poetry

One of the reasons for interest in these ancient sex 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. Sanskrit ( संस्कृतम्) is an Indo-European classical language of India and a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. ...

References

• The Complete Kama Sutra, Translated by Daniélou, Alain. ISBN 0892814926

External links

• Sex Positions From The Kamashastra