The Power of Sex in the Indian Civilization

Sex has been a vital force in every civilization. It has played an important role in toppling governments and starting new dynasties. Here is a short note on the history of sex in the Indian civilization. Sex has been the deciding force in many periods of Indian history. From the Vedic era which starts our historic calculations to the present times, sex has been treated in different ways. Ancient Tamil literatures which are said to be earlier than the Vedic era support the equality of sexes. Here is an account of sex in FIVE different eras of the Indian civilization. 1) The Vedic era Let us start with the Vedic era, the beginning of the known history, when sex is thought to be a sacred duty. Sex was integral to the creation theory of the Vedic period and Vedas ascribed the very origin of creation to desire. The Supreme Being, which was the ultimate concept of the Singular Creator, was the divine figure who first experienced desire. This desire, personified as a single spark, or a ‘seed of fire’, was placed in the Golden Womb of the Creator, the Only Supreme Being. Then follow the creations and the power of sex. This is followed by the era of Buddhism. 2) The era of Buddhism The Buddhist way of life takes root over most parts of India. The nature of sexual morality undergoes a vast change during this period. Since Buddha insisted that desire is the root cause for all the problems in life, sex was looked upon as something leading to evil. The sculptures of this era point out the degeneration of sex. This also leads to the lowering social status of women. Women were projected as inferior and lustful; men were supposed to be weak as women were flirtatious and seducing men exploiting their weakness. 3) Post-Buddhist era This period in the Indian history is considered to be the golden era during which Hinduism was also revived. During this period, the Buddhist system fades away from India, paving way for a new liberal clime to take root. This trend eventually becomes a fountainhead for numerous cave temples adorned with erotic art. The Gupta period can be an example for this. 4) The colonial era This can be said to start with the invasions of the Huns and the Persians. Invaders from all over the then world targeted India. During this period sexuality became secondary and weak. During this era, especially during the Mogul era and the British era, the socially accepted themes of sexual behavior had to undergo another round of revolution. Sex becomes a cause for shame during this era. 5) The contemporary democratic era The contemporary era of democracy is witnessing revolutionary changes in sexual behavior. Many progressive revolutionists have been fighting for gender equality and India has seen a lot of changes in sex morality. Subramania Bharathi, the National poet of South India, called all the women of India to come forward to fight for the dignity of their sex.