Erotic literature of Ancient India / by Sandhya Mulchandani

The Netherlands : Roli and Janssen BV, 2006. First Edition. Hardcover. An exceptional copy; fine in an equally fine dw, now mylar-sleeved. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Literally as new.; 192 pages; Physical desc. : 192 p. : ill. Includes bibliographical references (p. 186-188). Subject: Erotic art --Erotic literature, Indic --Religious literature, Hindi --India --Sex - Religious aspects --Hinduism. Summary: The quest for sublime bliss has been an enduring phenomenon. As the world increasingly turns to ancient wisdom in its search for peace and happiness, the recurring theme is the need to banish negativity and excess. Spiritual texts explore the hidden dimensions of the unity between the human and the divine, and acknowledge that any path that leads to understanding and realization of bliss is acceptable - including sexuality. From the erotic works of the Bhakti movement, in which extreme devotion seamlessly merges with sensuality, and Tantrics who used maithuna or intercourse as the preferred means to seek supreme consciousness, from the ascetic Shiva to Krishna, the embodiment of the sringara rasa, sex has always been mystical, for in it lies the mysteries of the universe. Thus rather than denigrating sexuality, the ancients accepted it as a means to seek the divine. Call it love, worship, selfless devotion, service, compassion or Bhakti, Jnana, Karma, Kama, Tantra, all lead to the same divine energy. 'The truth is one, but the wise refer to it by various names'.