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Editing Vātsyāyana
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{{short description|Indian logician}} | {{short description|Indian logician}} | ||
{{Ref-improve|date=June 2010}} | {{Ref-improve|date=June 2010}} | ||
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| occupation = [[Ancient Indian philosophy|Philosopher]] | | occupation = [[Ancient Indian philosophy|Philosopher]] | ||
| nationality = Indian | | nationality = Indian | ||
| subject = Aspects of Hindu philosophy pertaining to [[Kama|pleasure-oriented faculties of human life]] | | genre = essay | ||
| notableworks = | | subject = Aspects of Hindu philosophy pertaining to [[Kama|pleasure-oriented faculties of human life ]] | ||
| notableworks = [[Kama Sutra]] | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Vātsyāyana''' was an ancient [[Indian philosopher]], known for authoring the ''[[Kama Sutra]]''. | '''Vātsyāyana''' was an ancient [[Indian philosopher]], known for authoring the ''[[Kama Sutra]]''. He lived in India during the second or third century CE, probably in Pataliputra (modern day Patna).<ref>{{cite book |author=A.N.D.Haskar|title=Kama Sutra |year=2011|publisher=Penguin Classics |isbn=978-0-14-310659-3|pages=17 and 22 (of the introduction)}}</ref> | ||
He is not to be confused with [[Pakṣilasvāmin Vātsyāyana]], the author of ''Nyāya Sutra Bhāshya'', the first preserved commentary on [[Akṣapāda Gotama|Gotama]]'s ''[[Nyaya Sutras|Nyāya Sutras]]''.<ref | He is not to be confused with [[Pakṣilasvāmin Vātsyāyana]], the author of ''Nyāya Sutra Bhāshya'', the first preserved commentary on [[Akṣapāda Gotama|Gotama]]'s ''[[Nyaya Sutras|Nyāya Sutras]]''.<ref>Sures Chandra Banerji. A Companion to Sanskrit Literature. Motilal Banarsidass Pub., 1990, p. 104-105.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=JkOAEdIsdUsC&lpg=PP1&vq=paksilisa&pg=PA104#v=onepage&q=kamasutra&f=false A Companion to Sanskrit Literature]{{pn|date=February 2018}}</ref> His name is sometimes erroneously confused with Mallanaga, the seer of the [[Asura]]s, to whom the origin of erotic science is attributed.<ref>Alain Daniélou, p.4. Quote: "The attribution of the first name Mallanaga to Vatsyayana is due to the confusion of his role as editor of the ''Kama Sutra'' with that of the mythical creator of erotic science."</ref> | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2018}} | {{Unreferenced section|date=September 2018}} | ||
Hardly anything is known about Vātsyāyana from sources outside the ''Kāmasūtra'' itself. Vātsyāyana's interest in refined human, including sexual, behavior as a means of fulfilment | Hardly anything is known about Vātsyāyana from sources outside the ''Kāmasūtra'' itself. Some believe that his disciples went at his instructions, at the request of the Hindu Kings in the Himalayan range, to influence the hill tribals to give up the pagan cult of sacrifices<sup>''[source?]''</sup>. Others have said that he created the legend of Tara among the hill tribes as a tantric goddess''<sup>[source?]</sup>''. Later as Tara worship spread to the east Garo hills, someone created the goddess manifest of a 'yoni' goddess Kamakhya''<sup>[source?]</sup>''. Vātsyāyana's interest in refined human, including sexual, behavior as a means of fulfilment was recorded in his treatise [[Kama Sutra]]. | ||
At the close of the ''Kama Sutra'' this is what he writes about himself: | At the close of the ''Kama Sutra'' this is what he writes about himself: | ||
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<blockquote>After reading and considering the works of Babhravya and other ancient authors, and thinking over the meaning of the rules given by them, this treatise was composed, according to the precepts of the Holy Writ, for the benefit of the world, by Vatsyayana, while leading the life of a religious student at Benares, and wholly engaged in the contemplation of the Deity. This work is not to be used merely as an instrument for satisfying our desires. A person acquainted with the true principles of this science, who preserves his Dharma (virtue or religious merit), his Artha (worldly wealth) and his Kama (pleasure or sensual gratification), and who has regard to the customs of the people, is sure to obtain the mastery over his senses. In short, an intelligent and knowing person attending to Dharma and Artha and also to Kama, without becoming the slave of his passions, will obtain success in everything that he may do.</blockquote> | <blockquote>After reading and considering the works of Babhravya and other ancient authors, and thinking over the meaning of the rules given by them, this treatise was composed, according to the precepts of the Holy Writ, for the benefit of the world, by Vatsyayana, while leading the life of a religious student at Benares, and wholly engaged in the contemplation of the Deity. This work is not to be used merely as an instrument for satisfying our desires. A person acquainted with the true principles of this science, who preserves his Dharma (virtue or religious merit), his Artha (worldly wealth) and his Kama (pleasure or sensual gratification), and who has regard to the customs of the people, is sure to obtain the mastery over his senses. In short, an intelligent and knowing person attending to Dharma and Artha and also to Kama, without becoming the slave of his passions, will obtain success in everything that he may do.</blockquote> | ||
Some believe that he must have lived between the 1st and 6th century CE, on the following grounds: He mentions that [[Satakarni]] [[Satavahana]], a king of Kuntal, killed Malayevati his wife with an instrument called | Some believe that he must have lived between the 1st and 6th century CE, on the following grounds: He mentions that [[Satakarni]] [[Satavahana]], a king of Kuntal, killed Malayevati his wife with an instrument called Katamari by striking her in the passion of love. Vatsyayana quotes this case to warn people of the danger arising from some old customs of striking women when under the influence of sexual passion. This king of Kuntal is believed to have lived and reigned, consequently Vatsyayana must have lived after him. On the other hand, another author, [[Varahamihira]], in the eighteenth chapter of his "Brihatsanhita", discusses of the science of love, and appears to have borrowed largely from Vatsyayana on the subject. Some believe that Varahamihira lived during the 6th century and therefore Vatsyayana must have written his works before the 6th century. | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{wikisource author}} | |||
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* {{Gutenberg author | id=5593}} | * {{Gutenberg author | id=5593}} | ||
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Vātsyāyana |sopt=w}} | * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Vātsyāyana |sopt=w}} | ||
* {{Librivox author |id=1248}} | * {{Librivox author |id=1248}} | ||
* [http://www.bharatadesam.com/literature/vatsyayana_kamasutras/vatsyayana_kamasutra_index.php Vatsyayana Kamasutra | * [http://www.bharatadesam.com/literature/vatsyayana_kamasutras/vatsyayana_kamasutra_index.php Vatsyayana Kamasutra - Complete translation in english] | ||
* [http://www.yogavidya.com/Yoga/Unedited%20Kamasutra%20Intro.pdf Original introduction to Lars Martin Fosse's translation of the Kamasutra] | * [http://www.yogavidya.com/Yoga/Unedited%20Kamasutra%20Intro.pdf Original introduction to Lars Martin Fosse's translation of the Kamasutra] | ||