The ''Ananga Ranga'' ( hi, अनंगरंग, lit=Stage of Love) or ''Kamaledhiplava'' ( hi, link=no, कमलेधिप्लव, lit=Boat in the Sea of Love) is an Indian
sex manual
Sex is the trait that determines whether a sexually reproducing animal or plant produces male or female gametes. Male plants and animals produce smaller mobile gametes (spermatozoa, sperm, pollen), while females produce larger ones ( ova, of ...
written by
Kalyana malla in the 15th or 16th century.
The poet wrote the work in honor of
Lad Khan, son of
Ahmed Khan Lodi. He was related to the
Lodi dynasty
The Lodi dynasty ( ps, لودي سلسله; fa, سلسله لودی) was an Afghan dynasty that ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1451 to 1526. It was the fifth and final dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, and was founded by Bahlul Khan Lodi when he ...
, which from 1451 to 1526 ruled
from Delhi.
''Introduction to the History of Sex Manuals'' by Kamashastra
Later commentators have said it is aimed specifically at preventing the separation of a husband and wife. This work is often compared to the ''Kama Sutra
The ''Kama Sutra'' (; sa, कामसूत्र, , ; ) is an ancient Indian Sanskrit text on sexuality, eroticism and emotional fulfillment in life. Attributed to Vātsyāyana, the ''Kama Sutra'' is neither exclusively nor predominantly ...
'', on which it draws.
Overview
It was translated into English in the year 1885, under the editorship of Sir Richard Francis Burton
Sir Richard Francis Burton (; 19 March 1821 – 20 October 1890) was a British explorer, writer, orientalist scholar,and soldier. He was famed for his travels and explorations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, as well as his extraordinary kn ...
and subsequently burnt by his wife Isabel Burton
Isabel Burton (née Arundell; 20 March 1831 – 22 March 1896), later known as Lady Burton, was an English writer, explorer and adventurer. She was the wife and partner of explorer, adventurer, and writer Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821–189 ...
in the weeks following his death.
"Satisfaction and enjoyment comes for a man with possession of a beautiful woman. Men marry because of the peaceful gathering, love, and comfort and they often get nice and attractive women. But the men do not give the women full satisfaction. The reason is due to the ignorance of the writings of the Kamashastra
In Indian literature, Kāmashastra refers to the tradition of works on Kāma: Desire (love, erotic, sensual and sexual desire in this case). It therefore has a practical orientation, similar to that of Arthashastra, the tradition of texts on poli ...
and the disdain of the different types of women. These men view women only from the perspective of an animal. They are foolish and spiritless".wife
A wife (plural, : wives) is a female in a marital relationship. A woman who has separated from her partner continues to be a wife until the marriage is legally Dissolution (law), dissolved with a divorce judgement. On the death of her partner, ...
through sexual pleasure. The husband can so greatly enjoy living with his wife, that it is as if he had lived with 32 different women. The increasingly varied sexual pleasures are able to produce harmony, thus preventing the married couple from getting tired of one another. In addition to the extensive catalogue of sexual positions
A sex position is a position of the body that people use for sexual intercourse or other sexual activities. Sexual acts are generally described by the positions the participants adopt in order to perform those acts. Though sexual intercourse ge ...
for both partners, there are details regarding foreplay
Foreplay is a set of emotionally and physically intimate acts between one or more people meant to create sexual arousal and desire for sexual activity. Although foreplay is typically understood as physical sexual activity, nonphysical activiti ...
and lure.
The contents of the chapters of Burton's translation of the ''Ananga Ranga'' are as follows:
* Chapter I: considers the four classes of women
* Chapter II: Of the Various Seats of Passion in Women
* Chapter III: Of the Different Kinds of Men and Women
* Chapter IV: Description of the General Qualities, Characteristics, Temperaments, Etc., of Women.
* Chapter V: Characteristics of the Women of Various Lands
* Chapter VI: Treating of Vashikarana
* Chapter VII: Of Different Signs in Men and Women
* Chapter VIII: Treating of External Enjoyments
* Chapter IX: Treating of Internal Enjoyments in Its Various Forms
* Appendix I: Astrology in Connection With Marriage
* Appendix II: ''(considers a variety of alchemical recipes, which are either potentially lethal, or completely ineffective as a remedy, or both)''
References
External links
Text of the Burton translation of the ''Ananga Ranga''
Burton's translation of the ''Ananga Ranga'' in pdf format
{{Sex manuals
Kamashastra
Sex manuals
Sexuality in India
15th-century books
16th-century books
Indian non-fiction books
Delhi Sultanate