The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana: A GR Press Classic

"Ka-ma," one of the four goals of Hindu life, means sensual or sexual pleasure. "Su-tra" means a thread or line that holds things together; metaphorically, an aphorism or a collection of aphorisms in the form of a manual. Thus, the Kama Sutra is literally a manual of sexual pleasure, but also a discussion of virtuous and gracious living, and of love.

This ancient Indian Hindu text is the standard work on human sexual behavior in Sanskrit literature. It was composed between 2,400 and 1,800 years ago, and the compendium was collected into the form presented here in the 2nd century CE.

This, the most popular English translation, was first printed privately in 1883. It is attributed to renowned orientalist and author Sir Richard Francis Burton, although he served chiefly as publisher of the work while providing the footnotes. The bulk of the actual translation work was handled by the pioneering Indian archaeologist, Bhagavanlal Indrajit and his student, Shivaram Parashuram Bhide.

This volume combines some classic illustrations of the work from the 1800s with the complete English text for an eye-opening exploration of the ways of love and pleasure.

Vatsyayana was an ancient Indian philosopher, scholar, and author best known for writing the Kama Sutra, one of the most influential classical texts on love, relationships, intimacy, and human behavior. Believed to have lived between the 3rd and 5th centuries CE, Vatsyayana compiled and synthesized earlier traditions of Indian philosophy concerning kama (pleasure), social customs, marriage, courtship, and emotional life within the broader framework of Hindu thought. Far more than a manual on sexuality, the Kama Sutra explores ethics, aesthetics, partnership, and social dynamics, securing Vatsyayana's place in Indian literature, classical philosophy, cultural history, relationship studies, and ancient Sanskrit scholarship.