{"product_id":"2940013320758","title":"The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana","description":"The Kama Sutra is an ancient Indian Hindu text widely considered to be the standard work on human sexual behavior in Sanskrit literature written by Vātsyāyana. A portion of the work consists of practical advice on sexual intercourse.It is largely in prose, with many inserted anustubh poetry verses. \"Kāma\" which is one of the three goals of Hindu life, means sensual or sexual pleasure, and \"sūtra\" literally means a thread or line that holds things together, and more metaphorically refers to an aphorism (or line, rule, formula), or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Contrary to popular perception, especially in the western world, Kama sutra is not an exclusive sex manual; it presents itself as a guide to a virtuous and gracious living that discusses the nature of love, family life and other aspects pertaining to pleasure oriented faculties of human life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVatsyayana's Kama Sutra has 1250 verses, distributed in 36 chapters, which are further organized into 7 parts.According to both the Burton and Doniger translations, the contents of the book are structured into 7 parts like the following:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. General remarks\u003cbr\u003eChapters on contents of the book, three aims and priorities of life, the acquisition of knowledge, conduct of the well-bred townsman, reflections on intermediaries who assist the lover in his enterprises (5 chapters).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e2. Amorous advances\/Sexual union\u003cbr\u003eChapters on stimulation of desire, types of embraces, caressing and kisses, marking with nails, biting and marking with teeth, on copulation (positions), slapping by hand and corresponding moaning, virile behavior in women, superior coition and oral sex, preludes and conclusions to the game of love. It describes 64 types of sexual acts (10 chapters). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e3. Acquiring a wife\u003cbr\u003eChapters on forms of marriage, relaxing the girl, obtaining the girl, managing alone, union by marriage (5 chapters).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e4. Duties and privileges of the wife\u003cbr\u003eChapters on conduct of the only wife and conduct of the chief wife and other wives (2 chapters).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e5. Other men's wives\u003cbr\u003eChapters on behavior of woman and man, how to get acquainted, examination of sentiments, the task of go-between, the king's pleasures, behavior in the women's quarters (6 chapters).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e6. About courtesans\u003cbr\u003eChapters on advice of the assistants on the choice of lovers, looking for a steady lover, ways of making money, renewing friendship with a former lover, occasional \u003cbr\u003eprofits, profits and losses (6 chapters).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e7. Occult practices\u003cbr\u003eChapters on improving physical attractions, arousing a weakened sexual power (2 chapters)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the literature of all countries there will be found a certain number of works treating especially of love. Everywhere the subject is dealt with differently, and from various points of view. In the present publication it is proposed to give a complete translation of what is considered the standard work on love in Sanscrit literature, and which is called the 'Vatsyayana Kama Sutra,' or Aphorisms on Love, by Vatsyayana.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhile the introduction will bear with the evidence concerning the date of the writing, and the commentaries written upon it, the chapters following the introduction will give a translation of the work itself. It is, however, advisable to furnish here a brief analysis of works of the same nature, prepared by authors who lived and wrote years after Vatsya had passed away, but who still considered him as a great authority, and always quoted him as the chief guide to Hindoo erotic literature.","brand":"British Public","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47163924775152,"sku":"2940013320758","price":1.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013320758_p0.jpg?v=1763579834","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013320758","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}