In many conversations about sex, you might hear the term "Kama Sutra." But do you really know what it is and what it means? Some people consider it just a "dirty book" full of sexual positions, and while it definitely can teach you a thing or two about mixing it up in the bedroom, the Kama Sutra is much more. Historians believe the ancient Indian Hindu text was written in Sanskrit sometime around 400 BC. The most widely known translation is that of Sir Richard Francis Burton, who had it printed in 1883. There is another complete text by Alain Danielou, published in 1994, and a "digest" of the positions was published in 1980. This text is assumed to be the complete Kama Sutra, but it is not. For ancient Hindus, sexual pleasure was not remotely taboo - in fact, it was considered one of the four main goals of life.
The tome is more than just sex positions - it's meant to serve as a lesson to Hindus on gracious and virtuous living. It includes sections about life's priorities, how to acquire knowledge, acquiring a wife, duties of a wife, courtesan (a servant or prostitute) behavior, and yes, all of the aspects of sex you can think of. Nothing is a taboo topic in this one - types of embraces, biting, slapping, kissing, homosexuality, transsexuals - and of course, the ubiquitous positions. If you're looking to incorporate some of the lessons of the Kama Sutra into your own sex life, then it's a fun way to spice things up. There are games, flip books and numerous articles out there that can help you and your partner use the lessons of the Kama Sutra.