The Ratirahasya is a medieval Sanskrit textbook on love and sex. ‘Rati’ is the spouse of the love God and thus Ratirahasya means “Secrets of Rati.” Also known as the Koka Shastra, it was written in the 11th or 12th century A.D., and was not as well known as the Kamasutra. Indeed, it was written for a different time. Medieval era India was far less open to sexuality than its ancient predecessors. The Ratirahasya as a manual was written to adapt to these changing times.
It was a far more conservative time, and women were not encouraged to roam outside or be alone in the company of a man. Premarital and extra-marital sex was off-limits.
It’s 15 chapter titles tell the tale:
- Of the Physical Types and Their Seasons
- Of The Lunar Calendar
- Of Physical Types By Their Genital Characteristics
- Of Women By Their Ages, Temperaments, and Dispositions
- Of Women by Custom and Place
- Of Embraces
- Of Kisses
- Of Love-marks
- Of Coition and the Various Coital Postures,
- Of Love-blows and Love-cries,
- The Wooing of a Bride
- Concerning Wives
- Concerning Relations With Strange omen
- Concerning Love-spells
- Concerning Recipes
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