Kama Sutra Study Guide

Kama Sutra Image 3

Anonymous artist from Rajasthan, nineteenth century. Prelude to lovemaking between a husband and wife; man attempting to gain the confidence of a woman.

The Kama Sutra encourages at least ten days of abstinence between marriage and the first sexual advances so that a woman can begin to trust her husband. During this time, he will begin to make sexual advances, but these will mainly take the form of soft, spoken enticements. He may even communicate to her the 64 positions of the Kama Sutra, thus preparing her for what's to come. One day he will begin to kiss her, then initiate foreplay, and finally, on the twelfth day, initiate intercourse.