CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 6 PREPARING FOR LOVE 14 TOUCHING AND CARESSING 24 KissiING AND MoOUTHPLAY 44 KAMA SUTRA POSITIONS 66 ANANGA RANGA POSITIONS 90 PERFUMED GARDEN POSITIONS 108 THE POSITIONS OF THE TAO 136 BEFORE AND AFTER Love 150 InpEx 158 ADDITIONAL READING 160 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1603 ANNE - HOOPER’S AMA UTRA CLASSIC LOVEMAKING TECHNIQUES REINTERPRETED FOR TODAY'S LOVERSA Acrobatic lovemaking 80 After lovemaking 157 Aging, effects on men 96 AIDS 153 Ananga Ranga positions 90 Accomplishing 101 Ascending 107 Crab Embrace 98, Crying Out 105 Encircling 97 Gaping 96 Ineact 95 Inverted Embrace 107 Kama’s Wheel 94 kneclingllying 92 Level Feet 92 Larus 100 Orgasmic Role- Reversal 106 Paired Feet 104 Placid Embrace 95 Position of Equals 102 Raised Feet 93 Refined 93 side-by-side 98 sitting 100 Snake Trap 103 Splitting 97 Transverse Lute 99 woman-on-top 106 Arbuthnot, F. F.9 Arousal enhancing mal massage for 39 oof male desire 30 Avoiding risk 152 B Bathing 17 157 Bites of Lov Biting 54 Broken Cloud 55 of a Boar 54 Blows of love 41 Breasts as erogenous ones 20 caressing TL embrace of 31 INDEX kissing 52 Burton, Sir Richard 9 Butterfly flick 61 Buttocks as erogenous zones 21 massage 38 ¢ Candles 23 Chakras 75 Champagne 23 Clitoris licking 57 stimulation af 57 using vibraroron 144 Condoms 154 choosing 155 mate and female 155 putting on 154 using 155 Congress of a Crow 63 Creating the mood 22 Cunnilingus 56 clitoral stimulation 57 genital kissing 58 Ticking the labia 58. stimulating the perineum 57 stimulating the vagina 58 E nbraces Glimbing a Tree 28 Milk and Water 28 Mixture of Sesamum Seed with Rice 29 of the Breasts 31 of the Forchead 31 of the Jaghana 30 of the Thighs 30 Piercing 27 Pressing 27 Rubbing 27 Touching 26 Twining of a Creeper 29 Embracing 26 and lovemaking 28 Erection problems 96 renewing. 157 Erogenous cones 18 breasts 20 Buttocks 21 feet 19 skin 20 Erotic sculptures 84 FE Feet as erogenous zones 19 massage 37 reflexology 79 Fellatio 60 Flowers 23 G Grooming 32 G-spot 93 H Hair shampooing 33 touching 42 Height difference 85 HIV 153, I Imagination 89 Impotence 96 Andes 71 K Kama Sutra positions 66 Clasping 73 Congress of a Cow 89 Crabs 8 Elephant Posture 88 Fixing of a Nail 81 Half-Pressed 78 Lotus-like 81 Mare’s 76 Pair of Tongs 87 Pressed 79 Pressing 74 Rising Side-by-Side ‘Clasping 72 pliteing of Bamboo 80 Supporced Congress 85 Suspended Congress 84 Swing 87 Top 86 Turning 82 Twining 75 Variant Yawning 69 Widely Opened 69 Wife of Indra 71 woman-on-top 86 Yawning 68 Kegel exercises Kisses Bent 46 Chasping 49 ofa Young Gitl 49 of the Upper Lip 48 Pressed 47 sight 47 That Awakens 50 That Kindles Love 50 That Turns Away 51 Turned 46 Types of 53 Kissing 46 and licking 53 body 52, breasts 52 female genitals 58 male genitals 62 Kissing Game 50 IE Lao Tzu 136 bosly 53, clitoris 57, Ihbia 58 penis 60perineum 57 vagina 58 Lighting 23 Li T'ung Hsiian 138 Lotions 23 Lovemaking positions Ananga Ranga 90 Kama Sutra 66 Perfumed Garden, The 108 Taoist 136 Ananga Ranga 106 tra 86 ‘on-top Malla, Kalyana 9, 90 Man's duty 70 Massage arms 38 back 39 basic strokes 35 buttocks 38 chest 38 feet 37 for sexual arousal 39 head 35 legs37 neck 33 reflexology 79 sensual 34 shonldders 35 torso 35 waist 35 Massage oil additives 37 types of 37 using 36 Masturbation forher 157 forhim 157 using the penis 70 Men duty of 70 praiseworthy 111 Three Orders of 105 Mouth work 63 Movements of love 125, 133 Mutual grooming 32 N Naming the female parts 118 the male parts 128 Nefzawi, Sheikh 10, 108 Nominal Congress 61 Non-penetrative sex 153 © Oils scented 23 Oral sex Congres of a Crow 63 cunnilingus 56 etiquette 62 fellatio 60 Orgasms helping her to teach 157 multiple 103 P Peni biting 61 butterfly flick 61 Kissing 62 licking 60 pressing 61 rubbing 62 sucking 62 swallowing 62 Perfumed Garden positions 108. Alternate Movement of Piercing 124 Belly to Belly 129 Coitus from the Back 127 Driving the eventh Posture L17 First Posture 110 Fifth Posture 113 Fitter-In 133 Fitting on of the Sock 122 Fourth Posture 112 Frog Fashion 118, Gripping with the Toes 120 Interchange in Coition 130 Love's Fusion 128 Ninth Posture 116 One Who Stops at Home 14 Pounding on the Spot 126 Race of the Member 132 Rainbow Arch 125 Reciprocal Sight of the Posteriors 123 econd Posture 110 Seducer 135 Seventh Posture 114 Sixth Posture 113 Stopperage 119 Tail of the Ostrich 121 Tenth Posture 117 Third Posture 111 With Legs in the Perfumming. breath 17 room 23 skin 23 Preparing the body 16 Prolonging the mood 156 Pubocaceygeal muscles exercising 77 using 76 R Reflexology 79 Rekindling excitement 157 S Safer sex 152 Seratehing 40 Setting for love 23 Sexual tension 103 Shampooing 33 Shaving 32 Silk 23 Skin 20 Sustaining harmony 157 120 D Tao Te Ching 136 Taoist language 141 Tavist pillow books 149 Taoist positions 136 Butterflies in Flight 140 Cat and Mice Sharing Hole 149 Cicada ona Bough 144 Dragon Turns 138 Galloping Horse 143 Goat and the Tree 144 ‘Huge Bird Abowe a Dark Sea 146 ing Dos Mandarin Ducks 140 Phoenix Playing in aRed Cave 146 Pine Tree 142 Silkworm Spinning a Cocoon 139 Singing Monkey 147 allows in Love 141 lls on the Wing 143 Two Fishes 139 White Tiger 145 Touch, power of 72 Tung Hsitan Tz 138 Vv Vag licking labia 58 lubrication 59. stimulation 59 tongue insertion 59 Vateyayana 7, 66 Vibrators 144 Ww Women Four Orders of pare 1.99 part 2 101 ideal 127 inspiring affection in 123 praiseworthy 114 SINTRODUCTION When 1 was first asked to write a commentary for a new edition of the Kama Sutra, I was less than enthusiastic, In the ’60s and '70s there seemed to be dozens of versions sex practiced as a style of gymnast of the Kama Sutra. All were removed from my own lifestyle, and 1 didn't feel there was much I could relate to in the text. Although I’m fascinated by human sexual nature, I'm not very interested in -s. | would defend freedom for the aficionado of sophisticated sexual positions, but I've never fele that athletic poses had much ta do with my own sex life. So it was with reluctance that'l sat down and began to vead a copy of the Bureom and Arbuthnot translation, which was first published in 1883 and which I have quoted extensively in this book. To my surprise, | got far more out of the experience than'I'd thought possible. I began to understand the sense of humor behind some of the more exotic poses and realized that many of the poses were not just about sex—they were also about the wnion of body and mind. Some of the sexual pases in the Kama Sutra are yoga positions, and the goal of yoga is to create mental and physical harmony. The Kama Sutra makes sense in our sophisticated world in that we still strive for the e: The Kama Sutra and its associated texts, the Ananga Range, The Perfumed Garden, and the Tao, are not as baldly sexual as we might assume. There is a connection between these ancient writings and life in the 20th century. I's a con nection that centers on feelings. Although it is possible for us to interact sexually with many people, unless we have also cultivated some love ‘perience of ecstasy and warmth toward the person who is atousing us, we won't get near the real goal of kama, The concept of kama involves the “enjoyment of appropriate objects by the five senses of hearing, feeling; seeing, tasting, and smelling, assisted by the mind together with the soul.” As a concept, kama is just as:rélevans-10 us now as it-was-to.the Indians in around ab 400The Kama Sutra may have been produced at any time between AD 100 and Ab 400, and ir was written in an India that no loi In those T exists days, the ideal citizen cultivated an ideal life. He sutrounded himself with friends, made low ifit were an art form, ate and drank well, was interested in painting and music, and regarded himself as a fair lord and master The Kania Sutra was written for the nobility of ancient India, by a nobleman. Vatsyayana ught of life as consisting of dharma, artha, and kama, Dharma was the aequisition of religious merit; artha was the acquisition of wealth; and kama was the acquisition of love or sensual | dissimilar from the codes we live by easure. These ideals are not that today. Although we aren't so focused on religious merit any more, we do pursue self-knowled, ge and personal growth; most of us would like to &, have enough money to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle; and most of us would like to be involved ina loving sexual relationship, The main difference is that the world today is far more alitarian than it was in the time of Vatsyayana The Kama Sutra was intended as a sort of busi- nessman’s texthook—only the subject matternot money, but sex. It was aimed at men because women had very low starus then, That isn’t to say that women’s needs are ignored in the text—they aren’t. Pages of detail are aimed purely at exci ing the female partner. The instructions concern ing female stimulation are explicit. The “work of aman” includes kissing, pressing, stroking, and seratching, and, if a woman should fail to be sat- isfied by the act of intercourse. Vatsyayana stig- gests, “the man should rub the yoni [vulva] of the woman with his hand.” He even advocates specif- ic sexual positions to suit the sexual match of a ple: “High” congress (see The Position of the Wife Of Indra, page 71) permits the maximum penetration when a man with a small lingam or linga (penis) makes love to a woman who has a deep vagina, Low” cangress (see The Twining Position, page 75) allows easy penetra tion for a man with a large penis and a woman with a small vagina Although the Kama Sutra tends to be thought of asa book about sex, it is also a book about manners, conduct, and the arts that a cultivated individual was meant to practice. Although some of the things'in the original manusctipt would he thought of as peculiar in modern times (the art of teaching parrots and starlings to speak, for instance), there are many sensual arts, such as the use of perfumes, music, and foods, which all translate well into modern sexual practice. In this version of the Kama Sutra I have not only selected the parts of the original text that are still relevant; | have also kept some chunks of 2,000-year-old information because they are in fascinating contrast to the lives we lead today have made a point of commenting on aspects of age-old sexual positions, now that we know exactly why we find some of them more stimu lating than others. I have also placed special emphasis on the pressure points most likely ro give us plea sure. In the past 40 years, we have carried out a great deal of research into human sexuality, Many researchers Indian painting, fare 15th century.and sexologists, such as Masters and Johnson, Kinsey, and Shere Hite, have documented a wide range of sexual activity, from masturbation to foreplay and intercourse, One of the ma y tragedies of Hitler's Third Reich was that it resulted in the destruction of decades of sexual research, which American researchers only truly cauight up with in the 1970s. On a more personal level, can you in ne anyone in your family handing down the small print of sexual experi- ence from one generation to another? I would be very surprised if yout parents told you the inti mate details of their own sexual experiences. We don’t talk openly about these things. Texts abour love and sex, such as the Kama Sutra, are few and far between, but they provide us witha valuable historical and cultural perspec- tive on sex OtHeR Love Texts Thad been pleased and surprised to discover new items of sexual information from reading this ancient text, so | decided to take a look at some of the other early sex manuals. The Kama Sutra was just one of the many Eastern love’ texts to be translated and printed in the Western world, and for this we must thank Sir Rich: zgerald Arbuthnot ard Burton the famous Victorian explorer and his colleague Forster Fi The Ananga Ranga, The Perfumed Garden, and the Tao—which are also featured and quoted in this book—have a lot to offer as well Detail from Persian illustration, showing lovers embracing and deinki THE Two years after the publication of the Kama Sutra ANANGA RANGA in the West, Burton and Arbuthnot brought out the Ananga Ranga. This text was aimed specially at preventing the separation of husband and wife As the author, Kalyana Malla, says, “The chief reason for the separation between the married couple and the cause, which drives the husband to the embraces of strange women, and the wife to the arnis of strange men, is the want of varied pleasures, and the monotony which follows pos- session.” Written around aD 1172, the Ananga Ranga is a collection of erotic works, including details from the Kama Sutra, Its title translates into “Stage of the Bodiless One,” a reference to the story of how Kama, the Hindu god of love, became bodiless spirit when his physical body was burned to a pile of ashes by a stare from the third eye of the god Shiva The book appeared shottly before the start of the Crusades—a time of great cultural exchange between East and West. The returning Crusaders brought many new practices back ro Europe with them, including some concerned with sex. The tough warlords of the Crusades who survived theyears of fighting had enjoyed the education they subsequently experienced in Arabian, North African, and Syrian harems. Skilled lov making was one gain; so, too, were some of the niceties Indian painting, late 17th century of erotic refinement, such as cleanliness and sexual foreplay. It is thanks to these imported Arabi Crusades, we in the West learned the secrets of nideas that, in the period after the how to make love well. THe PERFUMED GARDEN It wasn't until Victorian times, however, that any written volume reflecting the ancient and highly imaginative Arabian erotic culture peared in the West. The Perfumed Garden is a translation of an old Arabic manuscript found around the mid- 1800s in Algeria by a French off cer stationed thete. The authot of the original manuscript, Sheikh Nefzawi, probably lived in 16th-centuty Tunis. When, on later pages, you read some of the details from The Perfumed Garden, you will be aware that Sheikh Nefzawi was a man who possessed far greater knowledge of human anatomy and sexual response than did the early Hindus. Perhaps this isn’t surprising considering thar the Arabs were famed as doctors and could be found at work in many outposts of the Old World Nefzawi's advice is well grounded and based on In practical terms, much of Sheikh common sense, although it is not always aceu- rate—for example, he recommends that some sex- ual positions be avoided in that they “predispose for rheumatic pains and sciatica.” Although he may not actually have identified the atea we now call the G-spot, hé still had a good idea that certain sex positions produced par- ticularly pleasurable sensations in women. It soon becomes clear that Sheikh Nefzawi himself must have been very sexually experienced The Perfumed Garden, like the Kama Sutra, deals with more than just the mechanics of sex. Sheikh Nefzawi also writes about sensual foods, aphrodisiacs, and the types of men and women he perceives as sexually desirable The Perfumed Garden was the third of Sir Richard Burron’s publications for the Kama Shastra Society (shastra means “scripture” or “doctrines,” and the Kama Shastra Society existed to translate rare and important texts concerned with love and sex) The original text of The Perfumed Garden includes a large section on homosexual practices, which Burton diligently translated. He had just completed this chapter on homosexuality when he died (on October 20, 1890), and his wife, who was opposed to the project, threw the new translation into the fireAll was not lost, however, because Burton’s colleague, Dr. Grenfell Baker, managed to repro- duce much of the material from conversations that he had had with Burton before his death THe Tao The Tao, which makes up the last part of this hook, is a collection of ancient Chinese wisdom. It predates the previous three books, in that this scienice of life was developed so early as.to precede the traditions of ancient Egypt, India, (eS “forgotten food” diet, healing TA. and success. Taaist sexology ? promotes the use of sex and ee sexual energy t improve Y health, harmonize and Greece. The Tuo is a wisdom that consists of eight pillars: philosophy; revitalization, balanced diet, tual realization relationships, and increase spi You can find some Tao training programs for increasing your sexual energy in my previous book, The Ultimate Sex Book. Taoist thinkers believe thar sexual stimulation should be protracted in order to teach the highest levels of arousal. In the last pages of this volume, I have included a selection of the classic Tao sexual positions, so that we can see them in contrast with the others. Many varied sex posi- tions are recommended within the Tao, and their purpose is mainly to promote the flow of sexual health and energy. A lot of them differ from the Hindu and Arabic poses, and this reflects differ- ences in the way the Chinese actually viewed sex. Think, for example, about the names of some of the sex positions. There's The Galloping Horse, Butterflies in Flight, Swallows in Love, Silkworm Spinaing a Cocoon. These are intensely visual descriptions and it is clear that the ancient Chinese perceived lovemaking as an art form. By under tanding this perception, we ean begin to feel beautiful about ourselves as sexual people and positive about loving our partnets. Details from an Indian. pointing, late 18th century.USING MY KAMA SUTRA The original Kama Sutra text dealt with a lot more than just sex, but in this book, | have concentrated on the information that relates specifically to sexual foreplay and lovemaking and, where necessary, I have supplemented tt with suggestions of my own. For example, | was rather surprised to see that the att of masage wasn't mentioned in the original Kama Sutra, and I have included a section on sensual massage (see pages 34-39) on the grounds that it is always a wonderful way to begin lovemaking. Moreover, in the final chapter of the book, I discuss another subject that the Kama Sutra never tackled: safer sex. Using a condom is an essential part of moder sex, but rather than viewing it as a chore, | have described ways to make it an integral and erotic part of lovemaking (see pages 154-5). On the pages based on the Kama Sutra and other ancient love books, the text set in italics is an interpretation of the original texts, and my accompanying text, set in a plain typeface, isa commentary that aims to place that interpretation in a modern context. Any additional information that I think complements the text is set in boxes. The first chapter of this book provides an insight into the ancient Indian attitudes about courtship and foreplay, and I have written my own versions of these rituals and the way that we use them today. In the next two chapters, we move on to such details as embracing, mutual grooming, and kissing the lips, ForErLay Stimulation of the erogenous zones heightens desire,INTRODUCTION <> LOVEMAKING POSITIONS Varying the position you use— whether you are fying down (teft), standing (below), or ir any other posture—influences the emotional as well as the physi aspects of lovemaking, Leaving marks on each other’s skin is not a practice we endorse today, yet the idea that pleasure can sometimes be close to the experience of pain is not so alien to us. Try to keep an open mind when reading the section on seratching (see pages 40-41). All the practices described in the Kama Sutra are open to interpretation, and we can often modify them to meet our own needs Who would have thought there are so many differ- ent types of kisses? And does really matter? I think it does. Different types of kisses have different mean- ings. Light, sensitive kisses are provocative and can set the scene for lovemaking; deep tongue kisses can be as efotic as sex itself, The pages on kissing and mouthplay (see pages 46-63) should help you assess and adapt your own techniques. Most of this book is, however, devoted to sex positions (see pages 66-149). Because the Kama Sutra offers a limited choice, [ have supplemented those it describes with positions from other ancient love texts, including the Ananga Ranga, The Perfumed Garden, and the Tao. If the positions are very athletic, or seem difficult, I don't hesitate to say so! I just hope they will inspire you to achieve new heights of ecstasy with your partner.PREPARING | 0 FOR i 6s LOVE 6) ®) 66 In all these things connected with love, N SSeS ae ee everybody should act according SSSSSSSS to his own inelination. 99 SSSSSOOS SS Loom ewe aE eee,PREPARING THE BODY In the Hindu tradition that produced the Kama Sutra, the human. body is seen as a vehicle for expressing spirituality—not, as in the West for many centuries since, as a sinful thing. Sex is celebrated as a sacrament, and the erotic statues and wall carvings seen in Hindu temples throughout India pay testimony to this ancient belief. The Hindu tradition regards the body as deserving of being treated with reverence, and in the section describing the “Life of a citizen,” the Kama Sutra details the care it should receive: “Now the householder, having got up in the morning and performed his necessary duties, should wash his teeth, apply a limited quantity of ointments and perfumes to his body, pat some ornaments on his person and collyrium [a medicated eye lotion] on his eyelids and below his eyes, color his lips with alacktaka [a dye], and look at himself in the glass. Having then caten betel leaves, with other things that give fragrance co the mouth, he should perform his usual business. He should bathe daily, anoint his body with oil every other day, apply a lathering substance to his body every three days, get his head (including face) shaved every four days, and the other parts of his body every five or ten days. All these things should be done without fail, and the sweat of the armpits should also be removed.” Cultural preferences change, and the details are not as important as the principle. Two thousand years later, cleanliness remains a priority for neatly all lovers, and for many the use of fra- grances enhances lovemaking. Be sure that what you use on your hair and body appeals not just to you but to your partner, too. Whether you are male or female, a fragrance that does not suit you will probably curn your lover off—whereas one that enhances your essence can only make good sex better still.PERFUMING THE BREATH dor alone dampens sexual passion, uit when itis combined with bad breath it oes the Kam: nothing improving the breath, Fortunately, there isa wid breath fresheners on the market, and they are probe effective than the betel leaves suggested by Varsyaycina THOSE WHO SUFFER from had breath are often unaware of the problem—somietimes hecause their partner does not want to mention it: If you suspect you may be suffering from it, ask your partner to be honest with you. Howeyer, when bad breath is serious and constant, the sufferer should seek medical advice rather than simply disguising the problem. BATHING TOGETHER \ = = Talinig shower together, or sharing thé bathtub, riot only ia removes the grime of the day but also gets'youin the mood for love, Iecan be an exciting place 10 make love (but be careful not to sip), or may be a prelude to bed.THE EROGENOUS ZONES It is said that the most potent sexual organ is the brain. The most obvious meaning of this wise dictum is that, without the free play of the imagination,,sex can become a soulless and mechanical activity. Male or female, what good lovers have in common is a sensitive and imaginative appreciation of those parts of the body that are rather clinically referred to as the erogenous zones. Perhaps we should call these the pleasure zones, for it is by tapping their crotic potential that you can complement the more extreme joys of which the body is capable. No one who is sexually active would deny that the genitals are one of the primary erogenous zones, along with the brain and the skin, But to concentrate on them to the exclusion of the body's myriad other pleasure zones is like eating part of a well- balanced meal and leaving the rest The classic books on Eastern sexual practice share an awareness of the pleasure zones. They speak of these in terms of kissing and touching. OF the kiss, for example, the Kama Sutva says that the places where it should be applied include the lips, the inside of the mouth, the forehead, the cheeks, the throat, and the breasts. Most Breasts. of us also appreciate the potential for pleasure in the cand nipples nipples, rhe buttocks, the earlobes, and the feet. The list is as long Cian as you and your partner want it to be. Some people are turned on | sensitte; and gen fondling, sacezing je of their arm. For oth- and kissing can be ers, it is anywhere they have skin! Wahyierbestig by having their calves touched, or the in: Lips, neck, and throat Lightly touching, licking, oF kissing ches cam be spirie-tingtingly arousingAnkles and calves Sem if some pa the a BEST FOOT FOR d they not only gene s within chemselues but ailso 0 IN SOME PEC between sex and the feet is f > tions with the vest of th all over the body and limbs, and even the head. E's MINDS, the only link ¢ fetishism. However, a clue ro the porential of the feet asa source of pleasure lies in their significance in massage and Easter medicine, The noes are particularly sensitiveTHE SENSUAL SKIN The skin is the largest organ of the human body, richly endowed with sensitive nerve endings that respond to the lightest touch and the smallest changes in temperature or pressure, For example, on average there are about 1,500 sensory receptors, including touch-sensitive nerve endings, in every square inch of a woman's | . The skin's sensitivity to stimuli varies from one part of the body co another, and the erogenous zones are among the areas that are especially sensitive to touch. 66 He should always make a point of pressing those parts of her body on which she turns her eyes. 99 Kissing and licking The nipples are very sensitive, endl ising, licking, and sucking them ently can be highly arousing — THE BREASTS = ee A woman's breasts play a major role in sexual aztraction, Woman is the only prime female who has swollen mammary glands when she is not producing milk, which highlights the role of the breasts as being more than simply a means of feeding hey you Jn addition to serving w ateract the male, the breasts are undeniably one of the mo. significant pleasure zones. ‘THE NIPPLES AND THE surrounding areas (the areolae) are highly sensitive te touch, and some women can reach orgasm by manual or oral stimulation of | nipples alone. Having their nipples nibbed and kissed and their breasts gentl squeezed is more important to most women than many men realize, Even those men who are aware that breast stimolation has great potential for giving pleasure often devote less time tw the breasts than their partners. would like,THE BUTTOCKS ss Some men find « woman's behind more arousing than her breasts, especially when the buttocks are accentuased by tight clothing. Like the breasts,’ female buttocks are usually more pro: nounced than male ones, and with bath breasts and buttocks at is their roundness—for most men preferably coupled wich firm- ness—that lies at the heart of their appeal. Although women are less tuted on visually than men, some do find the shape of men’s buttocks attractive and even sexually arowsing. Those who express preference tend to favor a firm, compact bottom La | a woman's buttocks act both as an actor, encasing the genitals as they do, and as a source of HER BREAS a pleasure. Irean be miitually stimulating if the man squeezes, rubs, and lightly slaps then, as well as kising and biting them gently. The woman may find it enjoyable to do the same for het partner ANAL SENSITIVITY Ifyou think of « clockfaee centered on your partner's anus, with 12 o'slock being the poine nearest che vagina (or the Jes), the most sensitive and sexually responsive points are at the 10 o’elock and 2 o'elock positions, THE EROGENOUS ZONES <=> > Variations | Use igs swvokes and asses, and form but gentle squeezing and | needinga Nt _ j no CREATING THE Moop Just as it is important to prepare the body for love, so you should pay careful attention to the room where you and your partner make love. Now, as in the time of the Kama Suera, the way a couple feels about the setting for lovemaking is of prime importance, and in addition to decorating the room with flowers and using fragrances, as Vatsyayana suggests, there are a number of other things you can do to create the right a ospher ae First, make sure that in cold weather i the réom is warm enough (but not Wy stuffy), and that in het weather it is refreshingly cool. It is a good idea to provide background music that enhances the mood—neither too taucous or agitated, as this will hot be conducive to a tender exchange, ner too soporific, which will make you feel sleepy. Tastes in music vary widely, but it is important ic to choose something that makes you and your partner feel relaxed and at the same time alert and attentive to each other. Naturally you will not want to be disturbed, so if you do not have an answering machine, it may be best to unplug the phone oF leave it off the hook Finally, sexual passion and overindulgence in food and drink may be linked in the popular image of the complete sensualist, but in practice the combination seldom works. While it is often tempting to preface your lovemaking witha lavish meal, or even worse, with a surfeit of alcohol, neither will do anything for you and your part- ner whether just one or both of you have indulged. Lovemaking is usually best on a satisfied but not overfull stomach, and certainly witha clear headTHE SETTING FOR LOVE Despite the differences between the modern world and the India of the Kama Sutra, when we are preparing for lovemaking we would do welll to follow the advice of Vatsyayana, who tells us that the room, “balmy with rich perfumes, should contain a bed, soft, agreeable to the sight, covered with a clean white cloth, low in the middle part, having garlands and * = bunches of flowers upon it, and a we ‘canopy above it, and two pillows, one at the top, another at the ScENTING THE ROOM ‘bottom. There should also be a sort Give your bedroom a seductive scent by ‘of couch besides, and at the head of ‘wing incense, heated essential oils, or this a sore of stool, on which should scented — be placed the fragrant ointments for the night, as well as flowers, pots containing collyrium and other fragrant substances, things used for perfuming the mouth, and the bark of the common citron tree.” ee & fen teramenearenecu > & 4 e both decorate and perfume your room. PERFUMING THE SKIN When you bathe, use delicately scented bath coils to perfume and Otts AND Lorions Moke your foreplay more seductive by smoothing scented masage oils and lotions into each other's skin. For —/ maximum effect, ry giving each other a sensual massage (see pages 34-39). (CHAMPAGNE AND SILK A well-chilled bottle of vintage champagne and seductive silk lingerie or nightwear are two of the traditional ingredients for a romantic evening, whether at home or in a hotel. Sort uicHT The gentle, flickering glow of candlelight is much more romantic than electric light but, for safety, keep the candles well away from your bedding and other flammable materials. Scented candles will ‘perfume your room as well as casting a soft, seductive light.a a % 0) "TOUCHING AND CARESSING 66 Women, being of eon a tender nature, want tender beginnings. 9? —MWSSSSSSSSsSSsSssessesesesseseseseeses OSS ms SS ES OES OES OE LEE ESE SS eeeEMBRACING In discussing the embrace, the Kama Sutra begins by dividing it into eight kinds, which form two groups of four The fisst group, which “indicate the mutual love of a man and woman who have come together,” are the Touching Embrace, the Piercing Embrace, the Rubbing Embrace, and the Pressing Embrace. The second group, embraces that occur “at the time of the meeting,” are the Twining of a Creeper Qataveshtitaka), Climbing a Tree (Vrikshadhirudhaka), the Mixture of Sesamum [sesame] Seed with Rice (Tila- Tandulaka), and the Milk and Water Embrace (Kshiraniraka). In addition to these eight embraces, Vatsyayana lists “four ways of embracing simple members of the body”—these “simple members" being the thighs, the jaghana (the mid dle part of the body), the breasts, and the forehead, In describing these embraces, Vatsyayana was probably just categorizing observed behavior rather THE TOUCHING EMBRACE The Kama Sutra, in describing this move, says that “when a main tinder some’ pretext oy other goes in front of or alongside a woman and wuches her body with his own, it is called the ik touching embr type, initiated by either partner, are a playfully BETWEEN LOVERS, contrived “accidental” contacts of this erotic way of shTHE PRESSING EMBRACE jiom [of the Rubbing Embr rcibly ugetinst a wall or pil ‘When on the aboue occ them presses the othe ff public reso rich their bodies h other, it is ealled a called a pressing embrace embr SLY LUSTFUL behavior of this sort is, like the Bei MiscHievc Embrace, common among young This is A FAMILIAR form of physical contact between lovers, Rubb wmething few people ther often. pinned against a wall by a lover especially younger oftes, who when wal put an arm tightly around their partner's waist would object to. THE PIERCING EMBRACE = mn, asifto p ‘When a wornan in at lonely place bends di it were, a man sitting and pierces, a the man in return takes hold of chem, itis wuith herb called a piercing eri HERE, THE WORD “pierces” is clearly a figure of speech rather ind probably means simply that than a liretal description, che brushes her breasts against the man as she bends,EMBRACING AND LOVEMAKING Vatsyayana divides the four embraces that are given at “the time of the meeting” into two groups. The Twining of a Creeper and Climbing a Tree are used when the lovers are standing bur not in sexual union, while the Mixture of Sesamum Seed with Rice and the Milk and Water Embrace are adopted during congress. THE MILK AND WATER EMBRACE _ aa ee “When a man and a woman are very much in love with each other, and, nat thinking of any pain or hiert, embrace each other as if they were entering into each other's bodies either while the woman is sitting on the lap of the man, or in front of him, ov ona bed, then it is called an embrace like a mixture of milk and water.” This EMBRACE has a name evocative of a roral mangling, and it graphically describes how lovers try ta lose themselves in each other, especially carly in their physical relarionship, ' CLIMBING A TREE ‘When a woran, having placed one of her feet on the foot of her lover, and the other on ce of his thighs, presses one of her arm round his back, and the ather on his shoulders, makes slightly the sounds of singing and cooing, and wishes, as it were, ta climb up to him im order to havea kiss, itis called an embrace lie’ the climbing of a treeTHE MIXTURE OF SESAMUM SEED WITH RICE ° s lie ona bed, and embrace each other so closely that the arms and thighs of the one ave en icled by the arms and hs e other, and are, as it we rubbing up against n, this is called an embrace like the mixture of sesamum seed with rice," THE NAME OF TES embrace poetically evokes the toral intermingling of bodies and litnbs, maxim: ng skins-to-skin contact, that is described here. THE TWIN CREEP o The Kama Sutra describes this as “whe a wonian, clinging to a reeper twines round a tree , bends his head down to hers with the de: of kissing him and slighaly makes the sound of st sue, embraces him, end looks lovingly i him, i is called an embrace like the twining of a creeper.” FROM THI DESCRIPTION, it appears that Vatsy: the woman would be shorter th a assun the man, which was s it is today. The sue sut to which he refers is his way of trying to put probably as. common in his time inarticulate sounds into words, ANN<=} TOUCHING AND CARESSING THE AROUSAL OF MALE DESIRE “The whole subject of embracing,” says the Kama Sura (quoting "some verses on the subject”), “is of such a nature that men who ask questions about it, or who hear about it, or who ralk-about ar, acquire thercly.a'desire for enjoyment, Even those embraces that are not mentioned in the Kama ‘Shastea [the Holy Writ of Kamal, should be practiced at the time of sexual enjoyment, if they are in any ‘way conducive to the increase of love THE EMBRACE OF THE or passion. The rules of the Shastra Br IEN | ae tas pes JAGHANA middling. but when the wheel of love —— bshelnrlgntvey oe tel “When a-man presses the jaghana, oF mide pare ofthe woman’ baal, agaist his om, and monnte pon her to practice, either sovatching with the nail or fiager, ov bieing, or steiking, or THE EMBRACE OF THE Kassin, th hair of the woinam being loose and floutog, i i alle THIGHS the endef the paghan” "The wo jaghana is the term the Kama Sura uses to “When: eve aft toners presses feat neon bot ofthe thighs th aoe eee tive sae ail te had. Th of the other between his or her own, it is called the embrace of the thighs.” embrace is clear prelude to intercourse, but most lovers today would dispense of the ritualized serarching, biting, an, striking thar Vatsyayana recommends. IN ADDITION TO BRINGING the thighs together intimately, this move can also bring the lovers into contact with: each other's genitals, helping to increase arousal and desire. Full arousal From this position, lavers mave natvcally on uw tutercourse omce both | ave fully. arousedanal up hd THE EMBRACE OF THE FOREHEAD - “When either of the lovers touches the mouth, the eyes, and the r forehead of the other with his or her owm, it is called the embrace of the forehead.” AFFECTIONATE NUZELING, especially when combined with kis g; is a useful way to foster intimacy and confidence as well as to enhance arousal, laa Pelvic movement pelvis againse hers, using ivcalar THE EMBRACE OF THE BREASTS ° ‘When a man places his breast between the breasts of a woman and presses her with it, itis called the embrace of the breasts.” Urrin-nopy CONTACT like this provides both partners with nipple stimulation, and makes an interesting change from the more usual manual or oral caresses.MUTUAL GROOMING Although the Kama Sutra indicates that bodily cleanliness should not be overlooked by lovers, it says nothing of mutual grooming Cultural differences probably account for what many today would regard as an omission: lovers can enjoy a great deal of shared pleasure in preparing for lovemaking, This preparation can include taking a bath or shower together, shaving the man’s face, and washing, drying, and brushing each other’s hair. Mutual grooming is by flo means an indispensable ritual, but by delaying the con- summation of love, and focusing the couple's attention on each other's attractions, it can heighten the anticipation of pleasure. It also encourages feelings of tenderness, trust, and Lather well coring, ehabling eséh partner to feel peotncenee toward the Apply a getons aero ot other. This can help break down secabaleaneey ) shave with mo cuts inhibitions in a new relationship, and will reinforce the bonds of an established one. SHAVING HIS BEARD an The Kama Sutra, surprisingly, recommends that a aii shave no more often than every fouer days, But today, even if a worman thinks a few days’ stubble makes her partner laok more rugged, she will most likely prefer not to be grated by his growth swhen he kisses her. As an altemative to asking him to shave before making lave, shé could try shaiving his herself. SHAVING IS NOT JUST for men, because many women shave their legs and armpits and some Shave off their pubic hair; some people find a hairless pudendum very erotic. If woman shaves her pubic hair, she will need to shave it regularly, because new growth will soon be strong enough to ieritate her partner's skin.SHAMPOOING HER HAIR > Vatsyayana says that some people sce shampooing as a form of embrace, but he disagrees with this view because shampooing is snot performed during lovemking, nor is it dome for the same reasons as an embrace. As a prelude tat lovemaking session however, itis a sensiaons form of mutual grooming. Whether it is athe hair that és washed ov, as it the original meaning of the word “shampoo,” the body is washed! and massage itcan be avery Nuek Massacre Befoce shampooing your Laver aiv intimate experience when shar hair, help her relax by g hera gentle neck mt Love $ OFTEN ENJOY soaping, bathing, and then drying each other before going to bed, although this can simply be an affectionate part of a shared life, and may not always lead to 8s the situation recalls childhood feelings of being cared for—it is certainly both reassuring and expressive cof tenderness.SENSUAL MASSAGE Massage is not described in the Kama Sutra, but for thousands of years it has been valued as a means of soothing away tiredness and tension. And yet, because we link touch with sex, we tend to steer clear of touching each other for fear of being misunderstood. This habit can even extend, inappropriately, to our partners, so that we concentrate on purely sexual expression, avoiding any systematic sensual touching. By ignoring the power of massage, many lovers miss out on a source of great pleasure as well as a means of making the body much more receptive and relaxed for lovemaking. Whether or not it is intended a prelude to making love, the aim of sensual ge is maximum relaxation, and so land setting. A large bed with mas it is important to create a ped comfortable firm ma tress, or even a sheet on the floor, will be suitable. Place pillows or cushions under your partner's neck, small of the back, and ankles. Make sure that the room is warm and softly lit, and try to ensure that you will not be interrupted. You can use these massage moves individually, combine two or more of wad them, or build them all into a full sequence, starting at the feet and working up to the head. wtSHOULDERS AND HEAD as aaa Massage the front of the shoulders, che sides of the neck, the cheeks and the jaw, and then the temples arid forehead. Ram sour fingers lightly over the chin and around and over the lips, eyes, and nose, all of which by now should be pleasantly sensitized, Many people also like to have the top of the head massaged, with ‘an action similar to that wsed in washing hair. BACK AND SPINE es When massaging the hack, use gentle, erotic presstire and work upward fim the buttocks, keeping your hands autsprecad and level with each other ani your thumbs pushing inward along the spine. Work up to the base of the neck and then out ao the shoulders before bringing your hands slowly down the sides to the buetovks. Repeat chis massage abrut-ten times, or more if your partner wishes it THE Basic MASSAGE STROKES You can learn the essent ERFLEURAGE Glide your palms across the ski putting your body weight movement. This action should be used first and Last om each area Kxrapinc With your hands gently curved, knead the flesh with a smooth, regular movement Pernissace Move the balls of your fingers or thumbs in a circ soothe away any muscular tension along the spine. Do not, however, massage the spine itsel de motion to HACKING Giving a series of brisk chops with the side of the hand, as in karate but gentler, s known as hacking, Keep your fingers relaxed rather than stiff, TAPOTEMENT AND CUPPING ‘Tapotement involves drumming with alight capping action, Cupping is pounding the body with alternate hands that age cupped with fingers together and thumbs folded in. symmetrical, and follow each one through where appropriate. Always use a suitable oil (see page 37), and agree with your partner on the amount of pressure to be wed, since this should always be a matter of pleasure for you both, Also, you should leaen to forgo your own needs temporatily and concentrate instead ‘on your partner's enjoyiment. By doing &, you will attain the pri goal of being able to give and receive pleasare fully. dUSING MASSAGE OIL All massage oils work best when they have been prewarmed by rubbing them fora few seconds between the hands. Used cold, they come as a shock to the skin. Oil each area befo hod} first: apply a small amount to the part you intend — < attend to it rather than oiling the whol to massage, and rub it into the skin with smooth but firm strokes. After the massage, the oil can be left to soak into the skin. Alternatively, it can be removed by wiping gently with a towel or, more effectively, with rubbing alcohol, altho s this must be used cold it can break the spell W-do not ' }Dowswann Les staoKes Draw your hand smoothly down Upwarp Leo stRowes Using the same sort of action as when making a downward sttoke, draw your hand back up the leg from kitee to ankle from ankle to knee, and suveze che calf musel your fingertips gencly with FEET AND LEGS o Witk your pewener lying facedoun, start by massaging the toes—sireaching, kneading and bending each one upuard—before softly rubbing the areas between them. Next, vio the palms of youty hands firmly over the soles uf the feet and them along the taps. Raise cach leg in-turms and gently rotate each foot a few tines wntil it feels loose and retaxeel Gradually move up the leg, paying special azcention 20 the ankles, calves, anal backs of the knees and the thighs Position. Massagin, jour partner's calves 1s easier if she ankles, and ies facedo MASSAGE OILS AND ADDITIVES You can massage your partner with dry hands, but your movements will be smoothe new to it, IF yoN use a massag especially if you are sil or an eil-free massage lotion, There is a wide variety oF suitable oils, many derived from nuts (particiiladly coconut) or vegetables, Plain 0) such as almond, olive, grapeseed, and sutflower carvbe applied straight to the skin, or used as bases for perfumed essential oils such as patchouli, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, jasmine, and rose. Make up en scented oil for one session by addin up toa dozen drops of essential oil T flo: (30 ml) of base oil Booades of massage olTOUCHING AND CARESSING RX BUTTOCKS a motion over sour paermer's Biatocks Move you hands in a decisive circu le exjoy downwetrd pressuere here—ind pressing firmly at firse—mose ther increasingly lightly rail yoner hands ae jest brushing the skin, Then ke sad cand squeeze each buttock in turn, ARMS AND CHEST Starting at the front of the shoulders, work your way down the chest to the abdomen, and lightly massage the breasts and nipples. Then massuge the ams, using a genile kneading action and again working downward. After this, work your way ip from the thighs using cixculay movements of your hands (the right hand clockwise, the left hand counterclockwise). Knead the Inavel, where che groin aind move’ slowly eo the paibic cn cr the ribs, then trace the shape of sure is very pleasurable, Pass o the breasts or pectorals with your fingertips and massage them genily ‘Hand action When you up foo the hi wlas fashion& MASSAGE FOR SEXUAL AROUSAL You can make love better when your body is loosened up by a massage, but if you want to use massage to arouse, rather than just to relax each other, switch from the more vigorous tech very gentle actions. For tracing a line with the fir gertips back and forth across the nip- ples and chest, or the lower an be far more exciting than the more forceful movements of conventional massage Many other areas respond to an insistent, “feathering” touch; these include the earlobes, the sides and nape of the neck; the insides of the arms and thighs, the navel, the but cocks, the calves, and the toes. You need not restrict yourself to using your hands: lie on your partner and rub your body against his or hers, or use your feet and foes to explote hid den crevices and provide each of you with novel sensations. Ifthe right chemistry exists berween a couple, almost every area of the body is lgh- Iy sensitive to the erstie touch of the lover and can be stimulated so as to give pleasure and heighten anricipation THE UPPER BACK ‘When you massage the upper back, work on the muscles between the shoulder blades and at the base of the neck. Then bring your hands back down, massaging your partner's sides with your fingertips. Knead the shoulders and, reducing the pressure, the back of the neck.SCRATCHING While acknowledging that lovers often use their fingernails ro express passion on parting or meeting, or on reconciliation after a quattel, the Kaina Sutva says that pressing and ratching with them during lovemaking are techniques restricted to those who find them pleasurable. In the India of the Kama Sutra, as in other cultures before and since, marks of passion on « young woman's breast or throat served to tell the world that she was spoken for. Such marks exeite admiration, Vatsyayana explains, so that “even when a stranger sees at a distance a young woman with the marks of nails on her breast, he is filled with love and respect for hier.” The same goes for a man bearing nail marks, Marks are also exchanged, says the Kama Sutra, to remind lovers of each other when they are apart: “If there be no marks of nails to remind a person of the passages of love, then love is lessened in the same way as when no union takes place for a long time.” Wives, however, Nail pressure should not be seen bearing such mementoes of love, although it is peeahead sou acceptable for a married woman to have them on her private parts. bce all so hard as 0 “In short,” Vatsyayana concludes, “nothing tends to increase love the skin so much as the effects of marking with the nails and biting.”SCRATCHING a = While it dows nor suggest that sing the fingernails ito csteryone's taste, it is clear that the Kama Sutra regards them as a useful. weapon in a lover's armory Ir Leavin love marks is hased on passion rather than anger oremuelty, bork partners may find it fun from time to time. pS Tue RITU LIZED BLOWS oF Love The Kama Sutra discusses various ways in which harm less ritual striking can be used by hoch express their feelings and hei en excitement before luring intercourse. Four Kinds of blows are described, the back of the hand: . slightly con- and the palm of the hand. The blows are most effective on the shoulders, the head, the space hetween the breasts the hack, the midriff, and un the sides. on lowers mighe swell twse light blows on each other spontaneously, bxct violence is avery ta society—pe' it, and with good r although the Kin 2 Sutra sug gests that the woman should eter the rman's blows, many With che hack of the hand women are frightened and tepuded by such Beha Those who enjoy bute of many jokes. Bus the aficionados of spanking. for example, will tll you thar a Ue, with the flat of the light spa hand, doesn’t actualy hurt. It provides a brief, arousing tiv sensation, and if you get enough of the spanks becomes very your body: becomes a ee 100. Because the ng someone, hinw al dimensi act of ti is an aggressive one, many people find that artificial sive act provocative enough tae the that yote reta late and this ring abot a mock fi raises your adrenaline love and when these are heighten you become toned on With che pal of the handHAIR PLAY The Kama Sutra acknowledges the eternal fascination that a womiin’s hair has for a man, stating that among the arts she should learn is that of “dressing the hair with unguents and perfumes and braiding it." The power that her hair exerts is reciprocated when by praising and fondling it, her partner arouses feelings of desire in her, which he then undertakes to satisfy. In Vatsyayana’s time, long hair would have graced women and men alike, Now as then, itlis.a valuable asset in love play, Pubic hair can also feature in the preliminaries to lovemaking, and for lovers, the sight and feel of each other's pubic hair heralds the imminent joys of intercourse But fondling the pubic hair need not be confined to foreplay, for after lovemaking it can reciprocate tenderness just as eloquently as it can signal the desire to make love again: It should be touched gently —the hairs being stroked rather than pulled Controlled touch, Hll-your bod clear of is 50 that onky your hair ts roxching A LIGHT TOUCH acl : = at When itis long, a woman’s hair falls beguilingly over her face or breasts and breshes senstually against her purtner's naked body. If it is long enough, she can st with it, And if she és on top, she ean position herself so as to steep it even enfold his shoulders and teasingly over his while body, including his penis, s heightening his desive for herREVEALING THE NECK Clean, lustrous:hair can be a powerful aphrodisiac, inviting nl lovers to with it and bury their hands in it. Tis textuere but when the hai is lift reveal a soft, delicate neck, the joy is even greater sheen are attractive in themsele SOMETIMES A MAN will choose this way to make his desire known to a woman, and the animal connotations of an approach from behind ustially provide additional excitement for bot parmers TACTILE PLEASURE Loving touch is one of the Most important parts af an intimate relationship, ema by running her fingers throngh her partner's hair while he plays with hers, woman can increase the tactile pleastire for both of them. Lovers CAN TAKE this a step further by brushing each other's hair or by gi ing cach other a gentle scalp massage.AND MOUTHPLAy Men and women, being of the same nature, feel the same kind of pleasure. Fe — ee = | iss SosKISSING The mouth is among the most sensitive parts of the body, and the most vetsatile—you can use yout lips or tongue to Kiss, lick, suck, nuzzle, or nibble any area of your partner's body. Kissing is an art in itself, and the Kama Sutra recognizes its power of expression by describing in detail the different forms of kissing and when each type of kiss is appropriate. Whatever its intensity, a kiss on the lips combines the three senses of touch, taste, and smell, each of which can produce a strong emotional response. Kisses range from fleeting contact to a deep penetration with the tongue, when the rhythm of the penetration can be matched to that of simultaneous intercourse. In between lie many variations, and perhaps the Kama Surva describes types of kisses in great detail because the skill was as often overlooked then as it is now: THe BENT Kiss cs ‘The Kama Sutra ‘s Bent Kiss is what occurs when “the heads of two lovers are bent coward each o 7, and when so bent, Kissing takes place ONE OF THE MOST NATURAL ways to kiss your Lover is with your head angled slightly to.one side, which pertnits maximum lip contact and deep tongue penetration. Isa superb means of expressing passion during foreplay anda great way co heighten the excitement of intercourse Tue TURNED Kiss = : ‘When one of them tums agp the face of the other by holding th head and ch andl then kissing,” says the Kama Sutra, “itis called a werned kiss.” GENTLENESS AND LOVING tenderness are the principal emotions evoked by a kiss of this type, which is a good om to use at the beginning of foreplay or when you are making love wery slowly in a face-te face sitting or standing positionTHE STRAIGHT Kiss > This is the name that the Kama Sutra gives to a kiss in which libs of two loners are brought into dinect contact with Whe Lovers kiss like this, with theiz heads angled only slightly to each side, tongue penetration is impractical Because of this, rhe straight kiss is nota means of expressing intense passion, bur it is a gentle way of showing fection and expressing the initial stages of desire kind of kiss that new lovers often use in the earliest, most tentative moments of their physical relationship, Use your hands When kissing, ws THE PRESSED Kiss Theve are two versions of this kiss, the firse being then “the lower lip ix pressed with much force.” The second, shoun here, is “the greatly pressed kiss Which one of the lovers holds ehe other's lower li then, after toneching it with the congue, kisses it with “great fore ‘THESE ARE NOT really kisses, more an. erotic prelude to kissing, rsthe x 4 *Increasing sensuality Yoru can male this fass F by kissing your parener’s upper and lower lips in eum THE Kiss OF THE Upper Lip According to Varsyayana, when a man “Kisses the upper li ‘woman, while she in retum kisses his lower tip, itis called th of the upper lip IN HIS DESCRIPTION of this kiss, Ve the woman returning che man’s kiss—he takes tHe initiative—and the name refers to his upper lip wb ir could just as easily have referred to her lowe! Larer on in his discussion of kissing, howeveh| makes it clear that kisses can be initiated women as well as by men. This prine4 should apply'to all areas of lavemal women should not he afraid to mak first move. = Positions Like mse kisses, this be given fiom 4 siting iying pos&& Whatever things may be done by one of the lovers to the other, the same should be returned by the other. THE CLASPING Kiss - - When either the man or woman “takes both the lips of the other between his or her own, it is called a clasping kiss. A woman, however, only takes this kind of kiss from cr man whe has no mustache. And on the occasion of this kiss, if one of them touches che ceeth, the tongue, and the palate af the other with his ox her congue, itis called the fighting of the congue. In the same way, the pressing of the teeth of the one against the mouth of the other is to be practiced.” HERE, WE HAVE the Kama Sutra describing what we would nowadays refer to as French kissing, and the author makes it clear that the initiative can come from the woman just as easily as from: the man. In this type of kissing, scrupulous oral hygiene is, af course, essential. A Youna Girt’s Kisses In his chapter on kissing, Varsyayana says that when a couple makes love for the first time, kissing should be done moderately, and not continued for a long time. He later lists the places thae should be kissed, then describes three kinds of kisses that a young girl might sive her The places ta be kissed are, he says, “che farchead, the eyes, the cheeks, the theoat, the bosom, the breasts the lips, and the interior of the mouth. Moreover the people of the Lat country kiss also on the following places, vie. the joints of the thighs, the army, and the navel.” However, he seems to bi reservations about the kissing habits of the people of the Lat country, because he then goes on to say, “But Vatsyayana thinks that though kissing is practiced by these people in the above places on account of the intensity of their fove, and the customs of their country, itis not fit to be practiced by all.” He names the young girl's kisse the Nominal Kiss, the Throbbi Kiss, and the Touching Kiss, and describes then as follows: THE NOMINAL Kiss “When a girl only touches the mouth of her lover with her own, bur does not herself de anything, itis called the nominal kiss.” 138 en a girl, setting aside her alittle, wishes to touch is pressed into! her mouth, and with that object moves her lower lip, but not the upper one, it is called the throbbing kiss. ” Tee ToucHine Kiss “When a gitl rouches her lover's Jip with her rongue, and having shut her eyes, places her hands om those of her lover, itis called the roxiching kiss,”THE KISS THAT KINDLES LOVE 2 As its name suggests, this is a kiss that a woman can use to douse her parmer when he is asleep and she is feeling amonc ‘When a woman looks at the face of her lover while he is asleep, cand kisses it to show her intention or desive, itis called a kiss tha: kindles love.” FROM HIS DESCRIPTION of this kiss and Gf the Kiss That ‘Turns Away, it is cle that Vatsyayana had no problem with the idea of a woman initiating sexual activiry. Nearly 2,000 years later, however, many men still find it difficult t accept the woman taking the lead in lov king, Bur using seductive kisses is often a very effective way of awakening your lover and tuming him on, especially in the morning. Whether or not it will work if he has fallen asl p after making love is another question THE Kiss THAT AWAKENS ° PLAYING THE This version of the Kiss That Kindles Love is for a man to use on KIssING GAME ‘The Kama Sutra describes a kissing game for lovers to play: “As regards kissing, a eager may be laid as to which will get hold of the lips of the other first: Ifthe woman leses, she should pretend to cry, should keep her lover off by shaking her hands, and turn away from him and dispute with him saving, ‘Let another wager be laid.’ If she loses this a second time, she should appear doubly distressed, and when her lover is off his guard or asleep, she should get hold of his lower lip, and hold it in her teeth, so that it should not slip away, and then she should laugh, © 8 loud noise, deride him, danee about, and say whatever she likes i joking way, moving b rolling her eyes. Such are as far as kissing is cox same may be applied to pressing ching, biting, and striking, his partner: “When a lover coining home late at night kisses his beloved, who is asleep on her bed, in order to show her his desire, itis called a kiss that awakens. On such an occasion the woman may pretend to be asleep at the time of her lover’s arrival, so that she may know his iention and obtain vespect from him.”| strokes and ¢ Use your hands Supplement yous kis kissina = THE Kiss THAT TURNS AWAY According to the Karna Sutra, “When a woman kisses her lover Jin business, or while he is quarreling with while he is engage or while he is loking’ae something else, so that his minel her may be rumed away, itis called a kiss thee turns away.” A|WARM, LINGERING kiss (oF kisses) can take your lover's mind off other things and, like the Kiss Thar Kindles Love, direct it toward thoughts of lovemaking. If your patter is one of those men who thinks that his sexual role is to be mply to relax and let you sive active, and finds it difficult hits pleasure, you can overcome his resistance by following your kisses with a sensual body massage: Move on from this sexual form of activiry, such as ma: roa more directl his genitals or even oral sex, and any reluctance en his part will soon evaporate. Where to kiss Gonuly hiss her necks, back, cheeks,KISSING THE BODY Although the lips and breasts are especially sensitive ro the touch of the mouth, most parts ts of the body, including the limbs, respond to kissing; in general, the closer to the genitals, the more intense and irtesistible the pleasure. There is no need for either partner to remain passive, because body kisses can be enjoyed by both partners at the same time, especially if they lie together head to foot. The Kama Surra—without giving any details—says that, according to where onthe body it is given, the intensity of a kiss should vary: it should be moderate, contracted, pressed, or soft BREAST KISSING The most effective kisses ate those that ave applied ‘ bi, lightly co the fullness of the breast, while the nipples ) may be sucked or nibbled gently. ‘The nipples deserve i, special attention, because for many avomen, nipple rf a> 4 stimulation. is powerfully arousing THE ATEENTIVE LOVER devotes cons to kissing and fondling his partner's bre; hecatise for most women this produces a response that is as emotionally satisfying as it is physically exciting. Often, if her breasts ate ignored in favor of her genitals, a woman feels cheated. Thighs Kissing the thi Back amd spine tly hase o lick of yoter partner's spine on the LengthMore Types OF KISSES Among the Kamu Sutra’s many called the Demonstrative Kiss. Ie is given when descriptions of kisses is on arnight at a theater, or in an assem- bly of caste men, a man coming up co awonan ki her hand if shamnpociing her lover's body, places her fave on his thigh (as if she twas sleepy) sos to inflame his pasion, KissING AND LICKING Another kiss described is the ci Transferred Kiss, which is when a Pay special attention to sensitive areas lke the breasts and the petéon “kisses a child sitting on his nipples, the insides of the thighs, and the backs of the knees. The lap, ot a picture, of an image, or figure, in the pr beloved by him.” A third type, the rewards when ie does occur. Kiss Showi ‘person “kisses the reflection of the person he loves in a mirror, in waten, oron a wall or exploring it all over with your tongue ("tongue bathing”), esr RetpSitent greater your self-control in delaying penetratian the richer the he Intention, is when COVERING YOUR PARTNER'S body systemarically with kisses, iain sone goleseora isan excellent way to heighten anticipation. possible, in Lone with souself-— mirror or elsewhere is ju Stroking and kissing Enhance the effect of sour kisses by them with unless yor you end up hissing your own reflectionBITING In the Indian erotic tradition, biting is an important part of the lover's repertoire, and the Kama Swira catalogs the different kinds of bites in detail. Bites can be given almost anywhere on the body and range from a playful nip, more teasing than erotic, or sustained ucking that leaves a pronounced mark (today probably the most common definition of a love bite), to a forceful grip with the teeth at the height of passion. Most couples find no place in their lovemaking for this last kind of biting, and are sensible not to, because at orgasm the jaws often go into spasm and clamp shut, and can inflict a serious wound. THe BITING OF A BOAR = For marking the shoulder, the Kama Sutra suggests this bite, which it describes as consisting of “metry broad rows of marks near to one another, and with ved intervals. .. This is impressed on the breasts and the woulders; and these two last modes of biting are peculiar to persons of antense passion, RESEARCH HAS REVEALED that women are given to biting during lovemaking, while many men feel somewhat ambivalent about it and even more so about being bitten. It has been suggested bby way of explanition, thar because men are generally more muscular than women, it comes more naturally to them to express their passion through forceful bodily - gestures rather than by biting.THE BROKEN CLOUD The Kama Sutra describes this as the “biting which consists of unequal risings th a civcle, and which comes from the space between the teeth,” and specifies that these marks are to be impressed upon the breasts. MOST COUPLES WHO ENJOY breaking the skin, preferring to suck their partner's flesh, 1g love bites draw the line at often with the intention of leaving a mark as a taken of possession. This type of ritual biting, intended to raise the skin into the spaces between the teeth, rather than to pierce the skin, serves a similar purpose THE BITES OF Love The Kama Suera lists eight different types of ritualized biting for use in lovemaking. In addition to the Broken Cloud and the Biting of a Boar, these are: Tue Hipp Bre “The hiting that is shown only by the excessive redness of the skin that is bitten, is called the hididen bite.” ‘Tue SWOLLEN BITE “When the skin is pressecl down on both sides, it is called the swollen bite THE Pownt “When a small portion of the skin is bitten with ewo teeth only, called the point.” ‘Tue Line oF Posts “When such small portions of the skin are bitten with all the teeth, itis called the line of points.” Tue Corat AND THE JEWEL “The biting thae is done by bringing together the teeth and the lips ts ealled the coral and the jewel. ‘The lip is the caral, and che teeth the jewel.” Tue Line oF Jewens “When biting is done by all the teeth, itis called the line of jewels.” Varsyayana also specifies where on the face and body these various bites are to be used: "The lower lip is the place on which the hidden bite, the swallen bite, and the point are made; again the swollen bite, and the coral and the jewel bite are done on the flefé] cheek.Both the line of points and the line of jewels are to be impressed on the throat, the arm pir, and the joints of the thighs; bur the line of points alone is tw be impressed on the forchead andCUNNILINGUS It is perhaps not surprising that the author of the Kama Sutra expresses an ambivalent, even coy, attitude to oral-genital contact. For even now, although oral sex is widely enjoyed and more freely discuss l than ever before, there are people of all ages (including some who are otherwise sexually active) who disapprove of cunnilingus and fellatio, or who at least never practice them, In addition, while there are these who condemn both, there are many others who disapprove of cunnilingus but are so not so dismissive of fellatio. Their view echoes that of Vatsyayana, who concentrates on the pleasure the man derives from fellatio and covers cunnilingus very summarily. We cannot be sure what his reservations about cunnilingus were, but it is likely that the priority historically placed on the man’s pleastire and the question of hygiene both played a part. Nevertheless, many people nowadays have no such inhibitions and enjoy the sensations and special feeling of intimacy provided by oral sex. Inner thighs iss an Hick ep inner thighs av as her perinestCUNNILINGUS = CLITORAL STIMULATION ~ Self-stimulation ‘Caress your breasts and The clitoris is probably the most sensitive part of a woman's body, and it responds best nipples to give sourself an genie stimvalation fren the'lips endl congue: Position yourself so. that you can stroke eae eee your tongue uupward over the shaft and head of her clitoris. Your parmer ean be suandng, sting, or king on her backs if she is one of the many women eho enjoy provacted crmilingys and can experience @ series of orgasms fram it, she will usually be mere comfortable tying down. Stimulate each side of the clitoris in tom, always from der cath. Use featherlight strokes on the head of the eluoris, and try flicking the CLITORIS AND underside of the shaft from side wo side with the tip of your tongue. PERINEUM - STIMULATING THE PERINEUM When she opens her legs wide, you can get between them tp lick her perineum. The perineum is the area between the vagina amd the anus, and in most women itis rich in ed. Stimulation of nerve endings ancl so is very sensitive to being touched, stvoked, or lic the perimevom can be highly arousing LicKING tHE CLITORIS Lick upwind, anid abvays be gentle because the clitonis is Lickine THe renntUM _ Using the tip of your tongue, strokes up down her perineunGENITAL KIssING =. _5 When you give your lover oral sex, « good wery to create a stow but highly erotic crescendo of arousal is to kiss and lick her abdomen, her dower belly, and the insides of her thighs, slowly working in toward her genitals. Move on from this 10 kissing and licking her pubie mound, the outer lips of her vagina, and then her clitoris. A geadual approach'such as this, perhaps even, starting at her breasts aiid wipples and then working doaimevard, | helps build sexual tension, cind is also useful if she isa liztle smstere abour indulging in oral sex and needs a gentle introduction to genital kissing. LABIA AND VAGINA iy De | si a | LICKING ‘THE LABIA PENETRATING STROKES Run your tongue along and Use both deep and shallow between the labia (large lips} strokes, moving your tongue up ‘of her vagina, and kiss them. and down as well as in. and out,STIMULATION AND VAGINAL LUBRICATION A.woman's vagina produces a natural lubricating fluid when she is sexually stimulaced, and cunnilingus is one of the best ways of stimulating her. This lubrication, besides allowing the sagina to re fully erect penis without discomfort, actually changes the way im which genital touch i experienced, making it pleasurable and full of sensuality. The act stimulation doesn't have to be focused exclusively on the vagina itself, although it is usually: more sifective when itis. The sexiest and rmost erotic methed of getting a ‘woman to lubricate is through, foreplay and by just turning her on, Those women who do not produce very much natural lubricant should use orie of the many wateresoluble reams and jellies that are specially formulated for use as vaginal lubricants. These are inexpensive, and available fron any pharmacy. TONGUE INSERTION ‘After arousing your lover by kissing and licking her clitoris and perinewm (see page 57), imerease the stimulation by also darting your tongue in and out of her waigina. Stare off by using jus the tip of your tongue, thon use the blade, and later alternate between shellow strokes with the tip and deep strokes with the blade. One of the secrets of giving good cunnilingus is to vary the strokes to give her an ever-changing range of sensations. Don't continue for too long with the same stroke unless she asks you to, Relax Lie back, relax, and enjoy the pleastre he is giving yot Hand action Use your hands to sive her extra StimulationFELLATIO While the Kama Suera devotes far more attention to fellatio than it does to cunnilingus, its coverage of the former is nevertheless strange from a modern point of view. Vatsyayana describes Auparishiaka, or “mouth congress,” as an activity predominantly practiced by eunuchs on their masters. He tells how eunuchs disguised as females” led the life of courtesans, whose duties included fellatio, while “eunuchs disguised as males keep their desires secret, and when they wish to do anything they lead the life of shampooers.” Vatsyayana goes on to explain how, under the pretense of shampooing (washing and massaging the body), the eunuch fondles and excites his master, eventually pleasuiring him with eight kinds of fellatio, one after the other. Master and servant play a tantalizing game in which “at the end of é =] each of these, the euntich expresses his wish to stop, but when one of them is finished, the man desires him to do another, and after that is done, then the one that follows it, and so on.” Nowadays, gay men continue to share the pleasures of fellatio, buc ar the same time it is a highly satisfying complement to cunnilingus in a heterosexual relationship. Put her in charge Try to relax and let yore LICKING THE PENIS ae ete pra re Es Yo Stave your fellatio by licking his penis as though it were an ice creamn cone. Hold its base in one hand and then, ssing che blade of your congue, repeatedly lick upward, first on one side and then.on the other=< THE BUTTERFLY FLICK ‘This highly effective fellatio technique consists of flicking your tongue lightly alemg the ridge on the underside of his penis. At first, you may need to hold the base of his penis when you perform this move, but when you are adept at it, you sill be able to perform it without wsing your hands, leaving them free to caress and fondle hin FELLATIO <> USING YOUR LIPS ‘Tre NOMINAL CONGRESS BITING THE SIDES Take his penis m your hand, Cover the end of his penis with your fingers, then kiss and gen tly nibble the sides, PRESSING OUTSIDE Press your lips against the endl of his penis, and kiss it as if drawing it out. ‘Take his penis into your mouth, ‘press it wath your lips, and then take it outORAL SEX ETIQUETTE If your partner is going to give you fellatio, make [iy sure that your penis is scrupulously clean, During i not want you to ejaculate | { in her mouth. RUBBIN After kissing bi all over ary over its end. SUCKING THE PENIS Some women want to share this intimate pleasure with their parmer, but are nervous about gagging during fellatio, particularly when he becomes excited and wants to thrust You cam overcome this co both or bath hands before Kissing, licking, or sucking the end. In this-way you will be in control of the depth to which it goes into ar by enctreling the penis with one pur mouth. There is no need to take in the whole penis in give your perme intense pleas re, becatise the glans {¢he' bulbous end) is the most sensitive part. a fellatio, always let your partner know if you feel es that you are about to climax, so that she can a / fee withdraw your penis before you do so if she does i ir - | y \ LICKS AND KIS§ = ! renis, lick it Kissing Holding i leis it a ing his lo sig flow hal