Patna. The controversy regarding the ‘Tales of Kama Sutra Festival’ to be organized in Goa has once again brought the world’s most famous book Kama Sutra and its creator Maharishi Vatsyayana into the limelight. The program may have been cancelled, but the questions raised by it have once again increased the curiosity to know who wrote Kama Sutra, at what time and what was the purpose behind it. In this background, it becomes even more important to know the life of Maharishi Vatsyayan.
According to historians, the lifetime of Maharishi Vatsyayan is believed to be between the second to third century AD. There is no concrete evidence of the year in which he was born, but researchers estimate that he lived during the Gupta period, when India was going through a golden age of art, literature, philosophy and science. This period was also the time of creation of many scriptures regarding society, family and marital relations.
Where was Vatsyayana born? Different opinions and reasons
There are different opinions regarding the birthplace of Vatsyayana. According to many opinions, he was also associated with the Patliputra (Patna) region, while many scholars believe that he was born in Kanyakubja (today’s Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh). Although there is no final proof, it is certain that he lived in the intellectual and cultural centers of North India, where there was an environment of education and scripture writing.
Connection with Nalanda, Takshashila and the intellectual centers of North India
Know the historical background of Maharishi Vatsyayana and Kama Sutra amid Goa’s ‘Tales of Kama Sutra Festival’ controversy
Life of knowledge and asceticism, stay in Varanasi and Pataliputra
Why was Kama Sutra written? attempt to free from misconceptions
Balance of three efforts of life in Kama Sutra
Many people associate the Kamasutra text only with ‘sex education’, but Vatsyayana’s objective was much broader than this. He has written in the beginning of Kama Sutra that this book teaches the balance of the three efforts of Dharma, Artha and Kama. In Kama Sutra, there is a detailed discussion on love, marriage, family, social conduct, attitudes of men and women, limits of relationships and rules of household life.
Kama Sutra has 7 parts and 1,250 verses
There are a total of 1,250 verses in Kama Sutra which are divided into seven chapters. The first chapter explains the general rules of life, the second chapter mentions 64 arts of sexual intercourse, while the remaining chapters deal with marriage, duties of husband and wife, inter-female relations, prostitution and even aphrodisiacs. Vatsyayan himself writes – This book is for the civilized people of the city who want to balance work with religion and money.
The place of birth of Maharishi Vatsyayana and the composition of the Kama Sutra are not known with certainty, but it is believed that he was from ancient India and probably composed the Kama Sutra in an urban center such as Pataliputra (modern Patna) or Varanasi.
Vatsyayana’s philosophy of life: morality and restraint
Experts say that he wrote this book because at that time there were many misconceptions on the science of sex in the society. People either considered it a sin or secretly adopted wrong methods. Vatsyayana explained it from both scientific and religious point of view. He condensed the texts of earlier Acharyas – Babhravya, Dattak, Suvarnabha, Ghotakmukh etc. and brought them together at one place.
Message of balanced family life in Kama Sutra
Experts say that the basic reason behind the creation of Kamasutra was the misconceptions spreading in the society. Vatsyayana compiled old texts and folk behavior and presented it in a systematic form, so that people could understand relationships, maintain balance in relationships and avoid excessive conduct that destroys life. Maharishi Vatsyayan himself has written that this book teaches ‘restrained and moral life’.
Maharishi Vatsyayan was celibate in personal life
Vatsyayana himself has said that the basic nature of Kamasutra is moral, philosophical and social, and not limited only to physical activity. Vatsyayana dedicated his life to knowledge, study and writing scriptures. Kama Sutra is considered to be his only work, but it is a work which gave recognition to the Indian knowledge tradition throughout the world.
Vatsyayana’s solitary practice, focusing only on studies and writing
Very little is recorded about the family life of Maharishi Vatsyayan. There is no concrete historical information available about his parents or lineage. It is believed that he practiced celibacy and used to study and write in solitude. He himself has admitted that he prepared this book in a ‘state of meditation’ and not on the basis of personal experiences.
Vatsyayan himself writes in his book Kamasutra that he was a Brahmin of Vatsyayan gotra and composed this book while living in Pataliputra. Kama Sutra is believed to have been composed around the third century AD, at the time of the rise of the Gupta Empire.
Yashodhar’s commentary ‘Jayamangala’ increased the popularity of Kama Sutra
In the last days of his life, Vatsyayan remained in Banaras and attained samadhi while doing penance. They had no children. It was his disciples who took Kama Sutra forward. Later, in the 11th century, a scholar named Yashodhar wrote ‘Jayamangala’ commentary on it, which is considered the most authentic today. Today, when misconceptions are created in the name of Kama Sutra, then it becomes even more important to understand the real identity of Maharishi Vatsyayana.
