Page 17 - Seniorstoday July 2024 Issue

understand the complexities of love and the ancient wisdom that has enriched the
intimacy and the Kamasutra provided a
guide for navigating these realms. The
sage takes a holistic approach to love
making and enhancing emotional bonds
and understanding of love, relationships
and human connections. At its core, the
Kamasutra seeks to provide guidance on
how to lead a virtuous and fulfilling life.
It emphasises the importance of a balance
and harmony in relationships, recognising
that love and desire are natural aspects
of human existence. The text explores a
different aspect of love from passionate and
erotic to compassionate and selfless.
Image courtesy: jagran.com Image Courtesy: Ananga Ranga of Kalayana malla (firstpost.com)
The Kamasutra has had a profound
influence on Indian art and literature
throughout history. One of the key
teachings of the Kamasutra’s is the concept
of “Kama” (desire), which is so extensive
in theory and broad in practice, that a very
thin line divides the erotic from the esoteric.
This 4th century text became the mother of
all subsequent erotic texts – The Ananga
Ranga of Kalayana Malla and Rati Rahasya
of Pandit Koka. We must acknowledge
that as a civilisation we were intellectually
far superior to any other civilisation of
that time. Not only did we understand sex
and the intricacies of human desires, we
provided a guide to love, relationships and
the art of living a fulfilling life. Delve into
the pages of the Kamasutra and uncover
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #61 | JULY 2024
lives of countless individuals throughout
history. Immerse yourself in a world where
passion meets spirituality and discover how
this revered text continues to shape our
understanding of love, relationships and
the human connections. The Kamasutra
remains an important cultural artifact
that offers valuable insights into the
historical context of Indian civilization. The
Kamasutra will remain relevant till the end
of time (Human race).
Ancient India was never shy or in
the Ajanta Caves, the sensuous women,
the temples of Khajuraho and Konark
denial of sex, look at the paintings of
showcasing the Kamasutra’s impact on
artistic representation of sex, love and
desire. Indian society has significantly
evolved since the time of Kamasutra and
suddenly in the last hundred years we took
a complete “U” turn to sex and became
a very prudish society. Any mention
of the word sex, Boyfriend, Girlfriend
was a taboo. Women were subject to
unending restrictions in their daily life.
Every society, religion had customs and
traditions and a complex tapestry of
beliefs, deeply conservative values, right
from menstruation to marriage to child
birth to widowhood and to death, strict
rules were laid down that could not be
transgressed. Marriages and the emphasis
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