The Ananga Ranga (Stage of Love)

Translated by Sir Richard F. Burton [1885]

The Ananga Ranga is an Indian sex manual written in the 15th century by Kalyana Malla.  Building upon the Kama Sutra, the poet aimed to educate specifically at preventing the separation of a husband and wife.

 

"Men, it is true, marry for the sake of undisturbed congress, as well as for love and comfort, and often they obtain handsome and attractive wives. But they do not give them plenary contentment, nor do they themselves thoroughly enjoy their charms. The reason of which is, that they are purely ignorant of the Scripture of Cupid, the Kama Shastra; and, despising the difference between the several kinds of women, they regard them only in an animal point of view. Such men must be looked upon as foolish and unintelligent; and this book is composed with the object of preventing lives and loves being wasted in similar manner, and the benefits to be derived from its study "

 

CHAPTER II

 

OF THE VARIOUS SEATS OF PASSION IN WOMEN

And, further, let men know that passion resides in different parts and members of the woman's person, and that by applying to these the necessary Chandrakala 1 or preparatory attouchements, great comfort and pleasure are experienced by both husband and wife. On the other hand, if the process placed in the table opposite the respective days of the lunar fortnight be not performed, neither sex will be thoroughly satisfied; indeed, both will be disposed to lust after strange embraces, and thus they will be led by adultery into quarrels, murders, and other deadly sins, all of which may be avoided by studying and bearing in mind the Chandrakala.

Passion resides in the woman's right side during the Shuklapaksha, the first or light fortnight of the lunar month, from new moon to full, including the fifteenth day. The reverse is the case on the dark fortnight, including its first day, and lasting from the full to the new moon. The shifting is supposed to take place by the action of light and darkness, otherwise the site of passion would be one and the same.

Now from generals, Kalyana Malla, the poet, proceeds to particulars, and supplies details concerning the four different classes of women. He begins with the Padmini, and shows, firstly, in what limb or member passion resides; and, secondly, by what process it can be satisfied. The husband must continue his action till. he sees the body-hair bristle, and hears the Sitkara 2--the inarticulate sound produced by drawing in the air between the closed teeth. Thus he will know that the paroxysm has taken place, and the beloved one is thoroughly satisfied.

 

General Table III

 

Table IV - Showing the Manipulations of the Padmini

 

Table V - Showing the manipulations of the Chitrini

 

Table VI - Showing the manipulations of the Shankhini

 

Here end the tables of the Chandrakala, by the proper study of which men may satisfy women, and thereby subject even the most strong-minded to their will.

 

Footnotes

1 Chandrakala is properly a digit, or one-sixteenth of the lunar orb.

2 Called Sitkara from the sound "S't! s't! s't! s't!" as a person breathing hard or drawing in cold air between the teeth, thus making an inarticulate sound. Full particulars concerning it will be found in Chapter IX.

3 In the original Sanskrit and in all the translations there is an allusion to the practice described by Juvenal (IX. 4): Ravola dum Rhodopes uda terit inguina barba.

4 Alluding to what Shakespeare calls "kissing with th' inner lip."

 

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