Kamashastra Discourse (Life in Ancient India)
by Nidheesh Kannan B. | 2018 | 52,434 words
This page relates ‘Livelihood in Ancient India’ of the study on Kamashastra representing the discipline of Kama (i.e., ‘sensual pleasure’). The Kamasutra of Vatsyayana from the 4th century is one of the most authoratitive Sanskrit texts belonging this genre. This study focusses on the vision of life of ancient India reflected in Kamashastra.
6.8. Livelihood in Ancient India
[Full title: Ancient Indian Social Life: Excerpts from Kāmaśāstra (8): Construction of House]
People of Kāmaśāstra society were too much concerned about their livelihood and entertainments. Most of the time period of their life was dedicated for their enjoyments. While going through the works one can understand that how the authors of Kāmaśāstra charted a person’s life schedule. This section is a survey of analyzing the livelihood and entertainments of people (nāgaraka) as seen in Kāmasūtra of Vātsyāyana for a better understanding.
Construction of House
Shelter is considered to be an important factor in material livelihood. Everyone has individual preferences about their dream home. Vātsyāyana directs that after finishing the education, a man should acquire wealth by a job, and then he should become a householder by marrying a suitable bride and start to live the life of a citizen. The citizen should live in a house situated in the city, a capital, a market town or in a place inhabited by good people. There he should get a house constructed close to the source of water.
Bedroom Decoration
The house should have rooms proportionately divided and should have two bedrooms. The bedroom outside is known as Krīḍāgṛha. And here the decoration of Krīḍāgṛha is explained by Vātsyāyana in a very detailed style as like an experienced professional home manager.
The Krīḍāgṛa should have a soft bed with two pillows, low in the middle and with a white bed sheet covered on it. The bed should have a couch adjacent to it. Towards the front side of the bed, there should be an altar for placing the left over cream which is used in the night, garlands, wax-candles, the perfume bottle, pomegranate skin, and beetles. On the floor a spittoon should be placed. On the wall a lute should be hanged on the peg of ivory made. A canvas for painting, colours, brushes, books etc has to be placed alongside for the easy use. Nearby on the ground, a seat with round pillow and the board for dice and gambling should be placed on it. And also outdoor decoration is also mentioned here in this section.