Essay name: Kamashastra and Classical Sanskrit literature (study)
Author:
Vishwanath K. Hampiholi
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
This essay in English studies the influence of Kamashastra on classical Sanskrit literature by exploring the significance of Kama (sexual desire) within Indian philosophy and literature. It is highlighted tat ancient Indians valued both spiritual and worldly aspects of life. The treatise "Kamasutra" by Vatsyayana is highlighted as a pioneering erotic text, addressing sexual pleasure as an art form.
Chapter 2 - Kamasutra part 1 (Sadharana-adhikarana)—Critical study
18 (of 48)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Goddess Parvati, which was full of smoke due to the conti- 42 nuous burning of resin. Danḍ� also similarly describes
the bed-room of Kalpasundari as following- "In it there
were well-spread couches of flowers, caskets of lotus
leaves filled with materials of amorous enjoyment, an
43 ivory fan and vase filled with fragrant water. Bana
as well as DaṇḍI have used the word 'Svastirṇa' which is
used by the Kamasutra. Mankhaka says: In the bed-room
the smoke due to the burning of incense became a curtain
to the deer-eyed females whose clothes were dragged by
44 their lovers. The above examples show that the fragrance
in the home or in the bed-chamber was common at that time.
After describing the house, Kamasutra narrates the
diary of Nagaraka. He should get up early in the morning
and complete his morning duties. Having taken bath he
s
42. अनवर� - दद्दयमानगुग्गुलु - बहुल-धूमान्धकारितेष� चण्डिकागृहेष� [anavarata - daddayamānaguggulu - bahula-dhūmāndhakāriteṣu caṇḍikāgṛheṣu ] 1 कादं पृ. [kāda� p�. ] 108
...
43. तत्र वासीत् स्वास्तीर्� कुसुमशयन� सुरतोपकरणवस्तुगर्भाश्च
कमलिनीपलाशसंपुटा� दन्तमयस्तालवृन्त� सुरभिसलि�-भरितश्�
भंगारः � दश. पृ. [tatra vāsīt svāstīrṇa kusumaśayana� suratopakaraṇavastugarbhāśca
kamalinīpalāśasaṃpuṭāḥ dantamayastālavṛnta� surabhisalila-bharitaśca
bhaṃgāra� | daśa. p�. ] 113.
Ed.M.R.Kale, Motilal Banarasidasa, Delhi, 1979.
44. प्रक्रान्त - चै� - हरणेषु यदृच्छयै�-जज्ञ� कुरंगकदृशा� रतिमंदिरेष� �
निर्दह्यमा� - बहुल� गुरु- धूमपुंजैस्तत्रासितांशु� - तिरस्करिणी-निवेशः �
।। श्रीकण्ठ. [prakrānta - caila - haraṇeṣu yadṛcchayaiva-jajñe kuraṃgakadṛśāṃ ratimaṃdireṣu |
nirdahyamāna - bahulā guru- dhūmapuṃjaistatrāsitāṃśuka - tiraskariṇ�-niveśa� ||
|| śrīkaṇṭha. ] 15.4.
Ed. Durgaprasada and K.P.Parab, Nirṇayasagara Press, Bombay,
�
1887.
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