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 3 - Kamasutra part 2 (Samprayogika)鈥擟ritical study
28 (of 155)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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107
When we go through the literature we are surprised
to find that poets have not taken much interest in depict-
ing the physical charms of males. The reason may be
according to Indian convention, a man, who had knowledge,
virtues and who had done heroic deeds, was glorified.
Therefore, poets gave much importance to those matters
and not to the physical beauty. All the heroes of the
dramas or of the kavyas were depicted as virtuous, learned,
brave, liberal etc. Yet, we see a little description of
the physical charms of males here and there. Kalidasa
describes Dilipa's physique in a verse- "He possessed a
broad chest, bull-like shoulders and long arms. He was
tall like sala tree. He was a though Dharma of Ksatriyas
55 resorting to a body fit for its work. Here the poet
has given the physical description only in a line, but
he describes the fame, virtues, bravery etc. in many
verses.
B膩峁嘺 describes at length Dadhici in the Harsa Carita;
罢腻谤腻辫墨岣峚,
Tarapida,
Candrapida and Vaisampayana in the Kadambar1.
55. 啶掂啶啶⑧啶班じ啷嵿啷� 啶掂啶粪じ啷嵿啶ㄠ啶о 啶多ぞ啶侧お啷嵿ぐ啶距啶多啶す啶距き啷佮啶� 啷�
[vy奴岣峢orasko v峁涐梗askandha岣� 艣膩lapr膩峁兣泆mah膩bhuja岣� |
] 1 啶嗋い啷嵿ぎ啶曕ぐ啷嵿ぎ啶曕啶粪ぎ啶� 啶︵啶灌 啶曕啶粪ぞ啶む啶班 啶оぐ啷嵿ぎ 啶囙さ啶距ざ啷嵿ぐ啶苦い啶� 啷� 啶班啷�. [膩tmakarmak峁ma峁� deha峁� k峁Ｄ乼ro dharma iv膩艣rita岣� || raghu. ] 1.13.
Raghuvamsa of K膩lid膩sa.
Ed.G. R.Nandargikar,
Motilala Banarasid膩sa, Delhi.
