Ancient
Indians
and Kaam
Do you know why Khajuraho temples are so famous among the young? A generation filled with raging hormones, yet curious enough. I was fascinated by them for the same reason too. Please don’t judge. Anyway, out of my curiosity, I learned something interesting.
In the film Rang Rasiya (which is a beautiful watch, by the way), Khajuraho temples are mentioned for their figurines, which in this day and age are considered peculiar and uncouth.
The temple of Khajuraho, with great
pride, showcases various poses from
the Kama Sutra. Various acts of sexual forms and courtship dances are meticulously and brilliantly carved from stone. These figurines show the practices of twosome, threesomes, polygamy, polyandry, and many more poses that also claim that fellatio was normal in that time and age. Well, guess what, I found these kinds of carvings on the walls of the main chamber of the Sun Temple of Modhera!
Ancient Pagans used to do rituals and practices of reaching or at least finding God through sex.
When I discussed this with my friend, she asked me a question that made me think more about this matter. She asked, ‘Why did people put ‘that’ on a temple?’ As if sex was a dirty thing to portray in a pure place like a temple!
I began to ponder over this too. I assume that perhaps our ancestors held it at a great place of importance for them to put an entire strip of these beautiful carvings circulating the Sanctum Sanctorum (Garbh Griha) of the deity.
From what little knowledge I have about the gurukuls (thanks to all the invaders), kids were taught all the essential life skills. This meant teaching people, especially boys, about Kama Sutra, how to have safe sex with consent that would lead to a
pleasurable experience for both partners. This means, that it has always been a big deal and not something people just do.
The second angle to this came to me
after a little observation. Our ancestors did almost everything as a service and offering to the Devi- Devtas. Be it music, penmanship, carvings, observing the nature around us, or even meditation. Maybe that’s why we grew the way it’s been said about us. Because when it’s associated with a higher purpose, our selfishness limits us, but when we hold something reverential we remove the toxicity from us, or at least we try to. I guess that’s why our scientists were Rishis.
The other angle presented to this was that it is needed that when an individual seeks any deity, he is to leave all of his desires and pleasures
outside the place of worship, which is why the figurines are always present on the exterior.
Some deduce that it represents one of the four fundamentals of living, i.e. Dharm, Arth, Kaam, and Moksh. I wonder if it is also the last step to climb before attaining Moksh (that serves as a metaphor for the deity present in the Garbha Griha).
The following piece of information
below is interesting and adds to my
point of view.
Ancient Pagans used to do rituals and practices of reaching or at least finding God through sex. So how can we know more about this particular part of our past? I’ll let you know when I discover more.
-Janhavi Khandhadia
Fin.