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Paradox of eroticism and sexual abstinence in Hindu culture

1995; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 8; Issue: 1-3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/11287462.1995.10800921

1591-7398

Moni Nag,

Marriage and Sexual Relationships

The belief in the virtue of abstinence from sex is pervasive in Hindu culture, as exemplified in literature—both ancient and contemporary. At the same time, there is plenty of evidence of eroticism—sometimes quite explicit—in Hindu literature, arts and religious rituals. This paper describes and analyses the erotic elements in Kama Sutra, in sculptures on ancient Hindu temples like Khajuraho and in the religious rituals of two Hindu schools (Tantrism and Sahajiya Vaishnavism) and then attempts to explain the apparent paradox between eroticism and sexual abstinence in Hind culture.Ancient Hindu literature in Sanskrit—religious texts, epics, novels and dramas—is a storehouse of sexual symbolism and eroticism. Highly analytical as well as practical discourses on sexuality and sexual techniques in the well-known treatise, Kama Sutra, composed by Vatsayana over 1500 years ago reflect the importance of sex in ancient Hindu life. Some Hindu temples have erotic sculptures carved on their stone walls. Tantrism and Sahajiya Vaishnavism, two offshoots of Hinduism, include sexual intercourse in their rituals for attaining salvation from wordly life.At the same time, abstinence from sex as a virtue, constitutes an all-pervading theme in Hindu religious belief systems. The belief that semen is a source of physical and spiritual strength and that it should be preserved as far as possible through sexual abstinence has spread widely through Hindu literature and folklores. There seems to be a paradox or apparent contradiction between elaborate expressions of eroticism and emphasis on sexual abstinence as a virtue in Hindu culture.The main objective of this paper is to contribute toward an explanation of this paradox by describing and analysing some available evidence of eroticism and sexual abstinence in Hindu literature, art and religious belief systems.