In Indian philosophy, kama or sexual desire, has been accorded an important place. There are four kind of 'purushartha' ends of life, & one of them is kama. We know that all beings are born out of kama-sex. What we don't know is that the cosmos itself is a product of kama. How was the world born?
In the very beginning , according to the "Upanishads', was 'sah akamayata'. There was the 'worldstuff' or sad vastu in the begining, & it was seized with kama. It agitated in kama & desired expansion. At the height of this agitation, there was 'bindu visphota' great bang.
The word bindu means both a point & semen. When the guru - teacher advises his disciples to keep to celibacy, he says:" Falling of bindu-semen is death; keeping of bindu-semen is life."
Visphota means bursting out. Therefore bindu visphota denotes the orgasm. The world was born out of 'bindu visphota - semen bursting out - orgasm or the Big Bang that generated the universe. The big bang is the orgasm of kama in the worldstuff.
It is the bindu's kam (energy) that becomes kham (space). From this energy was born matter in the form of 'panchabhutas' 5 elements i.e air, water, sky, earth & fire. these elements are mostly misunderstood. As Vedanta explains it, the panchabhutas include the solid earth, the liquid water, the gaseous air, the energy within matter, fire & the amount of space an object takes up for its shape, called sky. This way, the world was born out of kama.
Since energy is kama, the universe is imbued with kama. Matter in all its states & diversity is kama, & is also an expanse of kama. Kama is the substance of the universe. That is why kama is such an indomitable force in the life of beings. There is no beating it.
In the legend of 'Mahabharata, Kamadeva, the god of kama & love, brags: "If anyone tries to beat me, I grow multifold over his beating." The attempt to seduce or win kama only makes it burst out with greater force. since kama is the origin & quiddity of existence, it has to be accorded its rightful place. Therefore kama has been included as one of the 'pursharthas'.
The ultimate purshartha is 'moksha' - liberation of the soul from the clutches of finite existence.
Generally, kama is regarded as an obstacle to 'moksha' - liberation & 'brahmacharya' - celibacy while celibacy is seen as an essential pre-requisite on the road to salvation - moksha. The reason given as to why kama has to be overcome for the attainment of moksha is that kama is the opening up of cosmic energy while moksha is its opposite - which is shutting energy in all its diversity up in its primordial cause, the world-stuff or sad vastu. So they are deemed natural contraries.
However, anything that belongs to this world can be turned into an instrument for salvation - moksha. But actually doing this needs extraordinary skill. Some sects of 'TANTRA' use kama as an instrument of salvation - moksha. for these, kama is more spiritual & less carnal. Genuine practitioners of tantra achieve an experience of oneness with the Divine at the height of the physical orgasm. For them, kama is a great magnetic pull towards the divine & the orgasm is a perfect communion.
kama as a means for moksha is extremely individualistic, slippery, esoteric & unreliable as far as lay practitioners are concerned, & therefore its use is not advisable for the general public.
For general public sex is an instrument of pleasure, for which we have scripture on 'kama-sutra' different forms & varieties of sex & also most of our ancient temples were full of erotic figures of men & women, demigods, nymphs, demons & animals. :In fact, erotic motifs are found in many temples of India, from the seventh century onwards. Sculptures of couples were considered auspicious. They were carved on entrances along with other sacred motifs,"
One of the lively temple is "Khajuraho" known as one of the 10 predominant seats of tantra that is charged with spiritual energy, enabling the seeker to reach his goal easily. The architect has placed erotic sculptures on the wall portion between the two balconies in the 3 major Hindu sandhara temples using a code language used by esoteric religious practitioners & tantric texts to conceal their doctrines from outsiders. The enigmatic language employs erotic terminology to convey experiences that cannot be expressed in ordinary language. For instance: 'A washer woman clings to the yogi or ascetic on his neck,' would sound erotic if taken literally. But in tantric code language, it means that the washer woman, that is, a 'Dombi' is equal to kundalini or serpent energy, & has ascended to the chakra - subtle center of the neck..."
The fulfillment of kama or destiny & kama or carnal ecstasy were essential to attain moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth & death. Sex was as sacred as other holy rituals. spiritual exercise was 'yoga' & physical exercise was 'bhoga' Together they led to the path to salvation - moksha. Sexual union depicted in sculptures points to the metaphysical - the merging of inner energies, achievable through meditation. In the ultimate union, one sees love overwhelming both body & soul. This is depiction of sublime love.
If the external erotica leaves you bewildered, the inside of the structure are equally intriguing. As one moves inside of the temple sanctum sanctorum, the walls become increasingly bare & simple. The riot of activity on the outer walls is in stark contrast to the plain & serene inner sanctum. This is a reminder that as we approach God-realisation, we move away from the trappings of the material world, that is maya or illusion. "
The temples are a celebration of human body & spirit - the body encases divinity & so is a house of God & only your inner vision can see the truth!.
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