Following is the questionnaire about Kama-Shashra

1. What is the origin of Kama-shashra in recent and ancient times and what are the wrong interpretations about its origin? Is it part of scriptures or creation of mortal men?
   1. In recent times, there are many books on Kama Sashtra which focuses just on the external sensual part and wrongly represents the purpose of the scripture. One of the theories of origin of Kama Sashtra is that due to Lord Buddha’s teachings people were becoming monks and leaving homes and thus at that time to make men stick to household life and get attracted to sensual pleasures this book was written.
   2. Originally after creation, Lord Brahma gave various scriptures to various personalities. He gave Dharma sashtra to Manu, Artha Sashtra to Brihaspati, Bhakti Sashtra to Narada and likewise Kama Sashtra to Nandi the great follower of Shiva. From Nandi the Kama Sashtra descended in chain of sages to Vatsayana who wrote it for us.
   3. Kama Sashtra is a bonafide scripture and not manufactured by any mortal man.
2. Are current versions of Kama-sutra by sage Vatsayana same as original version or are there partial or incomplete presentation of original text?
   1. The current version of Kama sashtra given by sage Vatsayana does not contain everything that was there in the original version. Sage Vatsayana gives use a partial version which is relevant and applicable for us.
3. What are the purposes of kama-shashra? Explain with reference to Srimad Bhagavatam, pastime of Kardama Muni?
   3. In Srimad Bhagawatam 3.23.11 purport Srila Prabhupada writes in the very first line – “The Vedic literatures are not only full of spiritual instruction but are also instructive in how to prosecute material existence very nicely, with the ultimate aim of spiritual perfection.”
   4. We as human beings have physical, emotional as well as spiritual needs and all these needs need to be taken care with the ultimate goal of pleasing Krishna. So even if we have to satisfy the bodily needs it is best if we do based on directions given in specific sastras. Because scriptures are given by Krishna, if we follow them we will be successful even in material life and Krishna will be pleased and we will be gradually uplifted towards the ultimate goal of life.
   5. In Kardama Muni’s section in bhagawatam we see that mother Devahuti requested her husband Kardama muni to prepare her for sex life according to vedic instructions. Srila Prabhupada in that section tells us the purpose of kama sashtra. He writes in the purport that sex life is meant for having good children. The circumstances required for creating good children is mentioned in kama sastra.
   6. The example discussed in class was, just like we have to read a cook book to learn cooking a particular item ultimately to cook bhoga for the pleasure of Lord Krishna or Lord Gauranga. Similarly, purpose of Kama sashtra in the life of a devotee is to learn the best way to have glorious sex life which is parama-sammataha to beget Krishna conscious children and also to protect women to help them stay chaste to their husband.
4. What are the misuse of kama-shashra against it’s original purpose. Please explain.
   1. In modern times Kama sashtra is misused to just present the sensual sexual poses and erotic details with the goal to sell more and degrade people at large
   2. Also, western philosophers quote only the erotic parts of kama sastra to deride the glory of Indian vedic tradition, telling that india scriptures have such descriptions of sex life which is degrading.
5. With reference to SB 11.3.26, is deriding Kama-Shashra an offence to holy name? Please explain.
   11. SB 11.3.26 clearly mentions that we should have firm faith on bhakti sastras but we should not blaspheme other scriptures on the other hand. Also the 4^th offence in chanting the holy names says that it is an offence to blaspheme the vedic literatures or literatures in pursuance of the vedic version. Which means that defamation of the standard scriptures such as the four Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Brahmasutras, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Geeta, or other literatures which conform to the principles of the above mentioned scriptures is a great offence to the holy name.
   12. Kama sastra being one of the bonafide scriptures should not be derided
6. Is there need of training for men and women in kama-shashra? If yes, what should be proper mindset and under what condition and by whom training should be imparted?
   1. There is dire need for training men and women in kama-sastra.
   2. In the vedic gurukul system, the vanaprasthas who used to be the guru would train their students after a certain age in such sastras as kama sastra so that they can be equipped with knowledge to enter grihastha ashram.
   3. In modern context, we need a brahmana/vanaprastha (or one who is playing the role of a brahmana/vanaprastha) to be involved in the lives of men and their family to give step wise detailed guidance on how to implement kama sastra based on individual situation.
   4. We see Kardama muni arranged all facilities and spent long years enjoying bodily pleasure with Mother Devahuti only for the pleasure of Devahuti as she had her bodily needs. We can understand from bhagawatam that women have particular physical and emotional needs which need to be attended in order to bring them up gradually from platform of kama to artha to dharma. If men know how to keep their wives satisfied physically and emotionally then women will stay chaste and then the varnashrama culture will flourish as good KC children will be born from such husband and wife. Krishna Himself says in Bhagawad gita that He is the sex that is not against religious principles. So with that mindset men and women should get trained in kama sastras.