This is not a book about sex positions, but it's also likely not as "interesting" as you think it is: even the second book for which this work is famous for. It all gets a bit repetitive. Ananga Ranga was composed by the poet Kalyanamalla, for the amusement of Ladkhan, the son of Ahmed Lidi. Ladkhan was also known as Ladana Mull and Ladanaballa. He was supposedly a relation of or had a connection with the house of Lodi, which reigned in India from A.D. 1450 to 1526. The work would, therefore, have been written in the fifteenth or sixteenth century. Containing ten chapters, it was translated into English but only six copies were printed for private circulation. Popularly believed to be the latest of the Sanskrit works on the subject, the ideas in it were evidently taken from previous writings of the same nature.

Varahamihira, who is believed to have lived during the sixth century, wrote Brihatsamhita, the Science of Love. In the eighteenth chapter he appears to have borrowed largely from Vatsyayana on the subject. Therefore Vatsyayana must have written his works earlier, though not earlier than the first century A.D., and not later than the sixth century. Shiva, is one of the major gods of the Hindu pantheon and forms with Brahma and Vishnu the great triad of Hindu deities. These two kinds of embraces take place only between persons who have not, as yet, started speaking freely to each other. When one of the two lovers presses one or both thighs of the other between his or her own forcibly, this is the embrace of thighs. The Kama Sutra stands uniquely as a work of psychology, sociology, Hindu dogma, and sexology. It has been a celebrated classic of Indian literature for 1,700 years and a window for the West into the culture and mysticism of the East.That man over there . . . is a lover who fell madly in love with you at first sight. He has never been afflicted like this before, by anyone else, he is suffering terribly, burning up. It is quite possible that he will even die of this today.

Instead of a "sex manual" it is more of an insight to the sexuality of middle-ages India - there are entire chapters on biting, scratching, sexual positions, courting, seduction, quarrels and fights, "emergency cures and potions," as well as whole sections on homosexual behavior. The commentary (which was originally written a century or so after the original text) gives further advice, stating that certain behavior is not "suitable" for people of certain castes, or that women of certain regions prefer certain behaviors but shun others, etc. Parvati, Shiva's consort seduced him and broke his long trance. She put on enticing clothes, a delightful wreath of gems, lined her crimson eyes with collyrium. Her attractive nipples were covered with lines of painting with cosmetics. Her navel was deep and bright. Her belly was circular and graceful and her thighs put to shame the plantain tree. The man is aroused by the thought, ‘I am taking her’, the young woman by the thought, ‘I am being taken by him.’ The embrace which indicates the mutual love of a man and woman who have come together is of four varieties, and the action is denoted by the word which describes it.Shalabhanjika, the celestial nymph – a Kushana sculpture, 1st-2nd century, Govt. Museum, Mathura. Apsaras or celestial nymphs descended from heaven to fulfil preordained purposes.