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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 306.7
EAN: 9780892814923
Format: Unabridged
ISBN: 0892814926
Label: Park Street Press
Manufacturer: Park Street Press
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 564
Publication Date: 1994-01-01
Publisher: Park Street Press
Product Release Date: 1994-01-01
Studio: Park Street Press

This definitive volume is the first modern translation of Vatsyayana's Kama Sutra to include two essential commentaries: the Jayamangala of Yashodhara and the modern Hindi commentary by Devadatta Shastri. Alain Danilou spent four years comparing versions of the Kama Sutra in Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali, and English, drawing on his intimate experience of India, to preserve the full explicitness of the original. I wanted to demystify India, he writes, to show that a period of great civilization, of high culture, is forcibly a period of great liberty. 

Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Outstanding translation of a classic text
Review: I don't doubt that many people buy this work because of the Kama Sutra's racy reputation. Despite the fact that Danielou is not shy about translating issues of same-sex intercourse, seduction of other men's wives, and such, the overall work here is of immense historical value.

First Dalielou provides a remarkably straight-forward translation to the text itself, preserving is structure to a large degree. This changes the feel of the work to more closely match the original.

More significantly, however, Danielou includes the two most important commentaries on the text, providing more information as to how the thought evolved and how different scholars interpreted it. This is significant as well.

All in all, the work appears to me to be one which aimed at happy married life (despite the sections which seem counterproductive to that). A great deal of time is spent on questions of courtship, marriage, duties in marriage and the like.

For those interested in Tantra, this book is also a useful starting point.

Overall, I would highly recommend this work.

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: WARNING!
Review: I purchased this book after it being recommended by a friend of mine. While reading it, my husband comments "there sure aren't a lot of pictures. So if you're buying this book for "pictures" you will be disappointed. However if you have an actual interest in the history and meaning behind the Sutra, this books fer you!

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Great Book
Review: This is a great book my husband is actually reading it with me and he hates to read. It has also improved our marrige and love life

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: My Favorite...Sorry Sir Richard
Review: I have read both Sir Richard Burton's translation and this one, and I'm sorry to say that I like this one best (sorry because I have enormous admiration for Burton). It seems as though Danielou's version is much more accessible to modern readers, while Burton's translation is handicapped by the Victorian mindset under which he toiled.

I'd hasten to point out, however, that some of the ideas in this book are no longer viable. For example, biting and scratching are probably not the best means of expressing your appreciation for your partner.

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The Complete Kama Sutra
Review: An excellent informative book.
Must be approached as a religion and not a list of sexual positions.
otherwise you will be disappointed.

D

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