Sex and romance have been around since the dawn of time, so it is no surprise that our ancestors have written a number of guides on the subject. The Kama Sutra -- perhaps one of the best known books about love and lovemaking -- is an ancient Indian Hindu text that was written sometime between 400 BC and 200 AD. Don't let its age fool you; the Kama Sutra has plenty of tricks and techniques to spice up your modern-day relationship.

Origins of the Kama Sutra

Scholars believe that the Kama Sutra originated from oral stories that were originally passed down from generation to generation in verse form. Eventually, these stories were compiled by Vātsyāyana into a single book. The title comes from Kama, meaning sensual desire or pleasure, and Sutra, which is a short book or collection of verses.

{relatedarticles}

The Kama Sutra was first translated from ancient Sanskrit into English by Sir Richard Burton in the mid-1800s. This was the height of the Victorian age, so you can imagine the reaction it must have received in England during this time; in fact, Sir Burton's wife burned many of the translations following his death.

Today, there are a number of translations available for readers who are interested in learning more about this ancient practice. While you can purchase the complete book, there are several editions that are focused exclusively on the sexual positions from the original text, along with illustrations.