Erotic Sculptures of Ancient India

Sex is a normal and integral part of everyone’s life. The mysteries of sex, passion and procreation were perhaps the most primitive expressions of early man. During the ancient period in India, sex also came to be related with religion. Erotic motifs on the walls of ancient Indian temples establish this relationship. Mankind’s association with animals in respect of sex is also found in these sculptures. The present study is an attempt to suggest the circumstances in which these sexual depictions sprang up and to explain the social background and implications of these portrayals. Varied types of sexual practices are fundamentally divided into three main categories, viz., Normal, Abnormal eroticism and Zoophilia, and are studied with scientific reasoning. The basic connection is reflected in the religious setting of the Hindu temple, specially in its rites, festivals and Devadasi institution. The practice of Zoophilia has been studied for the first time with emphasis on the Psychological view that it acts either as an aphrodisiac or as remedy for venereal disease. The study is supported by many informative charts and illustrations from the well known sites of Puri, Bhubaneswar, Khajuraho and Konarak as also from the lesser known sites of Mandsaur, Ashapuri, Runija and Jhar inj Madhya Pradesh, Alampur and Palampet in Andhra Pradesh, Badami in Karnataka and Modhera in Gujarat. The book would be of great interest to the students of Archaeology, Philosophy and Art, besides interesting those who have interest in Religion and History.