Ratiramana

The ratiramana (joys of conjugal love) was written by Siddha Nagarjuna in AD 17. The work deals with the aspects of conjugal love in 11 chapters. Literally, Rati means (love by) copulating and Ramana means husband .

The work

The Ratiramana follows the style of Ratishastra . The work compiles information for the coexistence of spouses and for a fulfilling family life according to the aspects of Indian traditions. This information comes from the four traditional Indian teachings Kamashastra , Samudrikashastra , Dharmashastra and Vaidyakashastra . It is difficult for young people to find information on partner choice, family life, etc. in these various teachings.

The classic Kamashastra works such as B. the Kama Sutra and Ananga Ranga focus on the instructions and techniques for achieving sexual fulfillment. The Ratiramana also describes z. B. on seducing women, the different types of men and women, techniques for satisfying the different types of women, which men and women fit together, how to recognize these men and women by their physiognomy , which types of children from which couples be conceived, the fertility of women and the health and constitution of pregnant women.

In Ratiramana as in Ratishastra , a woman is not only a source of sensual pleasure for the man, but also the mother of children and the provider of the husband and the family. The introductory verses in Ratiramana refer to the god Shiva . Then the seer Garga conveys the essence of Shiva's teaching and writes the basic instruction in conjugal love. The teachings of Shiva and Garga are then merged into a guide to the perfect joys of sincere love.

expenditure

• Kenneth G. Zysk: Conjugal Love in India: Ratisastra and Ratiramana. Text, Translation, and Notes . Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden [et. a.] 2004, ISBN 90-04-12598-1 (English and Sanskrit).