Hot Hindu Hardcore Temple Action

Taking a good, hard look at India’s erotic, temple carvings.

Many would imagine that liberated sexual attitudes are much of a modern creation but Hindu history has a bit to say about that. While contemporary India is known for relatively conservative values, this is more a result of the preceding 500 or so years of Muslim and British colonial rule, that were much more squeamish about any public reference to the possibility of sex actually being something enjoyable. Muslim artistic prohibitions on lifelike depictions no doubt struggled with the bevvies of busty beauties so prevalent in Hindu art. English translators of ancient Hindu scriptures felt obliged to edit out all the racier elements of gods and mortals getting down and dirty. The official, prudish approach was not necessarily shared by the masses though: Richard Burton’s translation of the Kama Sutra in 1883 soon became one of the most pirated books of its time, despite censoring parts deemed too hardcore for the public.

The proof of Hinduism’s not just relaxed but often outright celebratory views on sex are literally carved in stone in many temples around the country. And we’re not just talking about a discrete fumble with a ladies boobs behind the bike shed kind of stuff, some would test even the editors of Pornhub’s dedication to freedom of expression. Admittedly my familiarity with the more experimental recesses of Pornhub’s offerings is somewhat limited but: three way buggery with a horse and a dog anyone?

So, what are all these rock hard cocks and firm bosoms doing on temple walls?

In Hinduism, sex is seen as very much a natural part of life and so the guidance of religious principles is provided for it as part of a healthy spiritual existence. This takes the form of the four Purusharthas, the inherent values of the Universe: Artha (economic values), Kama (pleasure), Dharma (righteousness), and Moksha (liberation). Obviously sex falls under the category of pleasure but Kama, as known in the title Kama Sutra, understands this in the broadest of terms, including art, beauty, love, friendship, kindness and more. Achieving spiritual satisfaction in life demands balancing all the Purusharthas, so if you were hoping to achieve enlightenment solely through frenzied rutting the gods will not be smiling upon you.

The carvings fall into two basic categories: religious instruction and depictions of everyday life.

Some of the religious instruction set in stone concerns tantric sex, which aims at attaining a sustained level of pleasure, not just two minutes of grunting and thrusting. Below we see an illustration of the three levels of tantric enlightenment, which get less physical as they ascend.  Sadly I am unable to explain the significance of the figures in the upper tableau as I was somewhat distracted by the more base, physical pleasures on offer when the guide was explaining it. Evidently I’m not made of the right kind of material to progress to a higher form through reincarnation in this life.

Give that these are all matters for the way to salvation, not the end in itself, erotic carvings are only found on the exterior of the temples. The interiors are reserved for more sublime subjects. The carvings which depict everyday life are given less prominence then those offering religious insight, either in outer columns or the base of the temple structure, such as this one below.

There’s certainly a bit of something for everyone here but there does seem to be a predilection for back door action among the wealth of material on offer at Khajuraho and Hampi where most of these images come from. Although a bit of a helping hand around the front doesn’t go amiss either.

Perhaps more troubling, at least by our standards, are the frequent displays of bestiality. We shouldn’t be too surprised though as there was plenty of it going on in the Vedas. Here we see a frustrated soldier denied conjugal relations with his wife during a long campaign away at war, gaining blissful relief with his trusty steed. A complimentary frieze depicted the presumed soldiers lonely wife at home, getting rogered senseless by the well endowed family dog. Alas my photo was a bit too fuzzy to merit display here.

The ancients obviously had a sense of humour as you can see in the image above. The figure behind the horse is covering her eyes in shock at the raunchy behaviour but is in fact taking a sneaky peak. This is a motif that often crops up in the carvings.

Another example is the elephant below, who is failing to locate the arse chakra of the damsel he’s molesting, whilst enjoying the neighbouring couple indulging in yet more back door action.

I’ve seen conflicting information on just how acceptable gay relations were viewed but given this nice bit of boob fondling seen in this image from a Buddhist temple at Elora caves, not everything was frowned upon.

There’s no doubt that hijra (intersex/transgender people) have long had a role to play in Hindu society, as is evidenced in the epics such as the Vedas, however I didn’t see any evidence of this in the temple carvings.

Both physical and mental well-being is a key part of the ancient teachings, of which yoga has played a part. The practitioners of the past clearly displayed an enviable level of suppleness.

Pleasuring yourself didn’t come with any of the shame or risks to mental health that Catholic guilt and Victorian values would later bring.

In fact you could all have a go together.

And if someone wanted to give a helping hand so much the better.

I could show you more but I wouldn’t want you to get too excited. Besides, it would only be variations on the themes above and it’s best not to give the impression that I’m in any way motivated by more purirent gratifications, rather than purely artistic and cultural ones. God forbid!

Hopefully this has left you a little wiser, if somewhat soiled.