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Love, companionship, and the joys of lovemaking form an integral part of "Thirukural", a widely esteemed Tamil Classic written by the sage philosopher Thiruvalluvar about 2000 years ago. The sage belonged to the first century BC, a period when people lived a more open life with regard to sex and eroticism.
Thirukural contains 133 chapters on different aspects of life, and is broadly divided into three parts. Each of these 133 chapters contains 10 couplets each. The couplets are called "kurals'" meaning poems. The first section of the Thirukural deals with Aram (VIRTUE) and the second with Porul (WEALTH). The third part dwells exclusively on Kamam (LOVE) and talks about psychological values. Here Thiruvalluvar waxes eloquent on the fascinating pleasure of lovers, and defines the principles of a fulfilling life.
Here are 3 selected verses from the third part of the Thirukural with a brief explanation on each of them:
Kural - 1087
This verse describes the body language of a sexually aroused woman as one for whom the cloth covering her breast is as ineffective at masking her feelings as it would be covering the eyes of an elephant in heat.
Kural - 1110
This verse explains that just like one's knowledge increases as one learns more and more, similarly intercourse with a well-endowed woman will increase one's sexual desires.
Kural - 1138
In this verse, a woman who is filled with lustful thoughts is described as one who cannot keep such thoughts as private even though she is expected to appear chaste and demure in public. The lustful thoughts, inspite of her efforts, will be visible for all to see.
Eroticism as Art
The Oxford dictionary defines Eroticism as 'the fact of expressing or describing sexual feelings and desire, especially in art, literature'.
This definition holds true in the medieval monuments of Indian temples, which are not only grand and lavish but also remarkable in their architecture. Erotic images are perceived differently by different people. To the artist, the female nude is looked upon as an art form. In ancient Indian art and literature, it's not uncommon to find temples with sculptures of men and women in various erotic positions. This doesn't mean to say these images are labeled as pornography and demean the sanctity of the temple.
In the Hindu tradition, the practice of Tantra regards sexual energy as a path to spiritual wisdom and progress, a method of attainment to gain physical and mental health, to discover how to celebrate love as an ecstatic expression of life's spirit and beauty. Most images found in temples depict a way of life and these erotic postures aren't some sort of 'sex manuals'. In fact, these works of Indian art are a tribute to the monumental labor of those craftsmen responsible for continuous cultural activity of a bygone era. The temples at Khajuraho in Central India, built in the tenth century A.D. are a classical example of scintillating sculptures depicting erotic imagery.
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Also Check out: What is 'Love'?
