The Spiritual Aspect Of Kama Sutra

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The topic of sex has been a bone of contention among many religious groups. Major religions around the world preach that sensuality and lovemaking is a distraction for those who seek the spiritual world. On the other hand, there are certain groups within these religions which see it as the most important way to realise the Ultimate Being.

When we speak of sex in the Indian context, the first thing that comes to our mind is the Kama Sutra. Most people interpret it as only a book demonstrating sexual positions or pornography. But Kama Sutra is not by any means, a book of porn. The true meaning of this text is beyond all physical interpretations.

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Sex is a sacred act of regeneration and creation. It is the union of the masculine and feminine cosmic principles. Kama Sutra guides a civilised individual regarding the art of love, eroticism and pleasures of life. Its 64 arts is not merely a guidance for a good wife but to guide a civilised woman to be refined, skillful, understanding, beautiful and intelligent.

CONCEPT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF ARDHANARISHWARA

In animals, the sexual energy is directed towards biological creativity. However, in humans, the sexual energy can be creative at all levels: biological, emotional and physical. So, whatever we feel in any situation whether attraction, arousal, awakening, passion, interest, enthusiasm or even creativity, is due to the sexual energy at work. Kama Sutra teaches the act of nourishing this energy with attention, feeling it with joy and using it for a greater purpose.

It is believed that the Kama Sutra was composed on the basis of the Vedas. The first formulation of the Kama Shastra (rule book of love) is attributed to Nandi, Lord Shiva's companion. Later, it was written down and preserved in the form of Kama Sutra by sage Vatsyayana between the first and sixth century AD.

An interesting thing to note here is that Kama Shastra is one of the three ancient texts which is concerned with human life. The first two being the Dharma Shastra that deals with morality and way of life and the other being Artha Shastra that concerns material wealth. Kama is described as the third goal of life. Kama is defined as the enjoyment of appropriate objects by the five senses of hearing, feeling, seeing, tasting and smelling, assisted by the mind together with the soul (Kama Sutra, 1883).

During sexual union, there is an amalgamation of the flesh and the spirit. Therefore, the desire is sacred and chaste. Kama Sutra guides individuals to attain the spiritual bliss through the act of playfulness. When there is playfulness instead of need, the sexual act leads to ecstasy. Therefore, if one supresses his/her sexual needs, it leads to a lot of mental conflicts in the human being which eventually leads to dissatisfaction from life.

As the spiritual guru Deepak Chopra puts it, "All problems related to sex, neurosis, deviancy, sexual misbehaviour, violence, abuse, can be traced to resistance, suppression and repression -- not to the sexual urges themselves. If we are allowed to discover our urges, desires and emotions, without outside inhibition, they won't go to extremes. Extremism, in any form, is a reaction to repression, inhibition and suppression. Aggression and violence are the shadow energies of fear and impotence."

As we dig further into this amazing text of all times, we find every sex position has a powerful spiritual rendering. Therefore, Kama Sutra is something very different from what we have interpreted all this while. You just need to see a different perspective of pleasure and experience it. That is how you will finally experience the spirituality.