To be honest, my first reaction to seeing the book "Kama Sutra" was one of mild shock. An ancient tome describing and displaying various sexual positions, some of which appear to be awkward or seemingly impossible? Really? However, by the time I finished reading the book (in the process giving the illustrations lesser importance), I realized the volume portrayed more than just graphic images. Rather, it conveys the ways in which it is possible to gain personal nirvana in all areas of one's life, not just in achieving sexual pleasure.

Or, as original author Vātsyāyana scribed: "This work (Kama Sutra) is not to be used merely as an instrument for satisfying our desires."

"Kama Sutra" is comprised of seven parts, with thirty-six chapters, a preface, introduction and appendix. The seven parts include:

1. Salutation to Dharma, Artha and Kama
2. On Sexual Union
3. About the Acquisition of a Wife
4. About a Wife
5. About the Wives of Other People
6. About Courtesans
7. On the Means of Attracting Others to One's Self

The most well-known English edition of the book was translated in 1883 from the Sanskrit by Sir Richard Francis Burton in collaboration with Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot and Shivaram Parashuram Bhide.  The version used for this review also contained translations by Bhagavanlal Indrajit.

The English translation of "Kama Sutra" is well-written, an easy read which maintains a smooth flow from start to finish.

Four terms used in "Kama Sutra" (describing the various stages of life) come from the "Laws of Manu." They are defined as follows:

Dharma (gaining religious merit; re: virtue), Artha (acquiring wealth and property; re: security), Kama (love and sensual gratification; re: pleasure), and Moksha (liberation from the cycle of re-birth; re: truth and knowledge).

The sexual (Kama) content in the book is provocative, without a doubt. However, the various sexual positions and their descriptions are conveyed in clear, almost clinical terms. At the same time, the reader is made to feel the detailed graphics and explanations are completely natural, part of the basic human desire to strive for and achieve mutual sexual pleasure.

Some of the points include different forms of kissing (nominal, bent, straight, turned, throbbing, touching); embracing (touching, piercing, rubbing, pressing); marking with nails (half-moon, circle, tigers nail or claw), biting (hidden, swollen, line of jewels); laying down (also known as congress, such as widely opened, yawning, half-pressed, splitting of a bamboo, lotus-like); mouth congress (oral sex), striking (on special places on the body with passion, i.e. shoulders, middle, sides), and the sexual act itself (according to dimensions or force of desire).

The seven types of "congress" are loving (following a quarrel or long separation), subsequent (new love), artificial (two people who belong to others), transferred (fantasizing of another during the union), eunuchs (with a person of lesser class), deceitful (with a courtesan) and spontaneous (between two people who love each other).

While the general focus in my specific edition of "Kama Sutra" was on the sexual aspects of human evolvement, the book also gives nod to the other facets that are meant to take one on a journey of inclusive self-discovery.

For example, Dharma ("cosmic law and order") can be attained by keeping to the tenets of one's religious beliefs. In essence, Dharma is striving for virtue and doing no harm to others. Artha (purpose of life or security) reflects the desire to obtain economic stability. And finally Moksha is a self-realization of sorts, an understanding and liberation from the human cycle of death and re-birth by acquiring the knowledge to do so. Achieving a harmonious balance in the stages of life is important to all human beings.

To conclude, "Kama Sutra" describes the various stages of life in easy to understand terms. The writing (or the English translation thereof) links one chapter to the next with a natural flow, and is nearly flawless in its enactment and interpretations.

As Vātsyāyana reflected:

A person acquainted with the true principles of this science, who preserves his Dharma, his Artha and his Kama, and who has regard to the customs of the people, is sure to obtain the mastery over his senses. In short, an intelligent and knowing person attending to Dharma and Artha and also to Kama, without becoming the slave of his passions, will obtain success in everything that he may do.

From Ken Davies: Awesome review. The book is widely seen as "taboo" by people who have never held a copy in their lives. Your review does two things for me: accurately describes the content, and encourages people to keep their minds open to things they may not know about. Good job!

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