Chapter 1.1 - Preface and History of Erotic Science

The Kamasutra of Vatsyayana commences with salutations to Dharma, Artha and Kama. The author Vatsyayana gives a brief history of erotic science in the first part of the first chapter, i.e. Sadharanadhikarana. He says: 1 "In the beginning, the Lord of beings (Prajapati) created men and women. Then, he wrote the rules for regulating their existence with regard to Dharma, Artha and Kama in a hundred thousand chapters. Vatsyayana adds sanctity to this science by declaring that the propounder of this science was the Lord Brahman. Nandi, the follower of Mahadeva composed one thousand chapters regarding Kama only. This work of NandI was abbreviated by Svetaketu, the son of Uddalaka, in five hundred chapters. abridged once again by Baghravya, a dweller of Pancala country, in hundred and fifty chapters. Vatsyayana gives here the names of his predecessors Carayana, Suvarnanabha, Ghotakamukha, Gonardiya, Gonikaputra, Dattaka and Kucamara, who were renowned as the tops of the trees of Sadharana, It was prajapatirhi prajah srstva tasam sthiti - nibandhanam trivargasya sadhanamadhyayanam satasahastrenagre provaca | ka . su . 1.1.5. Kama-sutra, Ed. Gosvami Damodara Sastri, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series, Benaras, 1929.

Satprayogika, Kanyasamprayuktaka, Bharya, Paradarika, Vaisika and Aupanisadika adhikaranas respectively. 33 Many poets being influenced by Vatsyayana, who salutes Kama in the beginning of his work, commence their kavyas with salutations to the God of Love. Rajasekhara starts his Viddhasalabhanjika as "Cupid, who is the teacher of females at the time of coition, who is the fast friend of the moon, who defeats the God of gods and who is the 2 " stage-manager of coition-drama, conquers. Kasipatt, in his Mukundanandabhana praises the God of Love, bows down to Ananga in his Srhgarasataka. 2. kulagururabalanam kelidiksa-pradane paramasuhrda namge rohinivallabhasya | adhikasuma - prsatkairdevadevasya jeta 3 Bhartrhari Damodaragupta jayati surata - lila - natika-sutradharah || fq. T. 1.1. Ed. Ramakanta Tripati, Chowkhamba Vidya Bhavan, Benaras, 1965. 3. candre sitalayatya - likanayanam sambho sudhasikarai- visvagvyakulayatsu samyamadhanat kantadrgantesu ca | lilayai paramevam dhanurinvimatprasunatmanah • svacchanda rativallabho vijayate trailokya-virah smarah || mukunda 1.1. Ed. Pandita Durgaprasada and K.P.Parab, Nirnayasagar Press, Bombay, 1926. 4. sambhum svayambhuharayo harineksananam yenakriyanta satatam grhakarmadasah | vacamagocara-caritravicitritaya tasmai namo bhagavate kusumayudhaya || su . trisati . 2.1. Ed.K. P. Paraba, Nirnayasagar Press, Bombay, 1902.

34 prostrates and wishes: "May the mind-born be victorious, who is like the bee kissing the lotus-like mouth of Rati 5 and who resides in the side-glances of women in love. Hence the later erotic writers are compelled to pay homage to the God of Love. Therefore having neglected other Gods, Kokkoka in his Ratirahasya," Kalyanamalla in the Anahgaranga," Jyotisvara in his Pancasayaka, Padmasri in his 9 6 8 Nagara sarvasva not only bend their knees but also show respect to the Love God. Virabhadradeva, in the Kandarpacudamani which is a matrical commentary on the Kamasutras, 5. sa jayati samkalpabhavo ratimukhatapatracumbana-bhramarah | yasyanurakta-lalananayananta-vilokanam vasatih || kuttani |. Ed. & Pub. T.S. Tripathi, Bombay, 1924. 6. anamgenabalasamga jjita yena jagatrayi | sacitra caritah kamah sarvakamaprado'stu vah || rati . 1.1. Ed.Sridevidatta Parajuli, Nirnayasagara Press, Bombay, 1912. 7. atilalitavilasam visvacetovilasam samarakrtavikasam sambarakhyapranasam | ratinayanaviramam samtatam cabhiramam pratabhavijitavamam sarmadam naumi kamam || anamga 1.1 • Ed. Ramacandra Jha, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series, Benaras, 1973. 8. ratiparimalasindhuh kaminike libandhuh vihitabhuvanamodah sevyamanapramodah | jayati makaraketurmohanasyaikaheturviramcita - bahutevah kamibhih kamadevah || pam .sa . || Ed. Vaidya Jadavaji Trikramaji Acharya, Bombay, 1925. 9. muhurtamapi yam smarannabhimatam manoharinim labheta madavivalam jhatiti kaminim kamukah | tamullasitadambaram suruciramgaraganam namami sumanah saram satatamarya - mamjusriyam || nagara . 1.1. Ed.& Pub,T.S.Tripathi, Bombay, 1921. • i 1

having praised Siva and Krsna shows respect to Kama.