There are seven different ways of applying the nails, which may be remembered by the Mandalaka or oblong formula on the following page:
1. Churit-nakhadana is setting the nails in such a way upon the cheeks, lower lip and breasts, without leaving any marks, but causing horripilation, till the woman’s body-hair bristles up, and a shudder passes all over the limbs. 11
2. Ardhachandra-nakhadana is effected by impressing with the nails upon the neck and breasts a curved mark, which resembles a half-moon (Ardhachandra).
3. Mandalaka is applying the nails to the face for some time, and indeed until a sign is left upon it.
4. Tarunabhava or Rekha (a line) is the name given by men conversant with the Kamashastra to nail-marks longer than two or three finger-breadths on the woman’s head, thighs and breasts.
5. The Mayurapada (“peacock’s foot” or claw) is made by placing the thumb upon the nipple, and the four fingers upon the breast adjacent, at the same time pressing the nails till the mark resembles the trail of the peacock, which he leaves when walking upon mud.
6. Shasha-pluta, or the “hooping of a hair”, is the mark made upon the darker part of the breast when no other portion is affected.
7. Anvartha-nakhadana is a name applied to the three deep marks or scratches made by the nails of the first three fingers on the back, the breasts and the parts about the Yoni. This Nakhadana or unguiculation is highly proper when going abroad to a distant country, as it serves for a keep-sake and a token of remembrance.
The voluptuary, by applying the nails as above directed with love and affection, and driven wild by the fury of passion, affords the greatest comfort to the sexual desires of the woman; in fact, there is nothing, perhaps, which is more delightful to both husband and wife than the skilful use of unguiculation.
Furthermore, it is advisable to master the proper mode of morsication or biting. It is said by persons who are absorbed in the study of sexual intercourse, that the teeth should be used to the same places where the nails are applied with the exception, however, of the eyes, the upper lip, and the tongue. Moreover, the teeth should be pressed until such time as the woman begins to exclaim, Hu! Hu! 12 after which enough has been done.
The teeth to be preferred in the husband, are those whose colour is somewhat rosy, 13 and not of a dead white; which are bright and clean, strong, pointed and short, and which form close and regular rows. On the other hand, those are bad which are dingy and unclean, narrow, long and projecting forward, as though they would leave the mouth. 14
Like the unguiculations, there are seven different Dashanas or ways of applying the teeth, which may be remembered by the following Mandalaka or oblong formula: 15
1. Gudhaka-dashana, or “secret biting”, is applying the teeth only to the inner or red part 16 of the woman’s lip, leaving no outside mark so as to be seen by the world.
2. Uchun-dashana, the wise tell us, is the word applied to biting any part of a woman’s lips or cheeks.
3. Pravalamani-dashana, or “coral biting”, is that wonderful union of the man’s tooth and the woman’s lips, which converts desire into a burning flame; it cannot be described, and is to be accomplished only by long experience, not by the short practice of a few days.
4. Bindu-dashana (“dot” or “drop-biting”) is the mark left by the husband’s two front teeth upon the woman’s lower lip, or upon the place where the Tilla or brow-mark is worn.
5. Bindu-mala (a “rosary”, or “row of dots” or “drops”), is the same as the preceding, except that A the front teeth are applied, so as to form a regular line of marks.
6. Khandabhrak is the duster or multitude of impressions made by the prints of the husband’s teeth upon the brow and cheek, the neck and breast of the wife. If disposed over the body like the Mandalaka, or Dashanagramandal, the mouth-shaped oblong traced above, it will greatly add to her beauty.
7. Kolacharcha is the name given by the wise to the deep and lasting marks of his teeth which the husband, in the heat of passion, and in the grief of departure when going to a foreign land, leaves upon the body of his wife. After his disappearance, she will look at them, and will frequently remember him with yearning heart.
So far for the styles of morsication. And now it is advisable to study the different fashions of Keshagrahana, or manipulating the hair, which, upon a woman’s head, should be soft, close, thick, black, and wavy, not curled, nor straight.
One of the best ways of kindling hot desire in a woman is, at the time of rising, softly to hold and handle the hair, according to the manner of doing so laid down in the Kamashastra.
The Keshagrahana are of four kinds, which may be remembered by the
1. Samahastakakeshagrahana, or “holding the hair with both hands”, is when the husband encloses it between his two palms behind his wife’s head, at the same time kissing her lower lip.
2. Tarangarangakeshagrahana, or “kissing the hair in wavy (or sinuous) fashion”, is when the husband draws his wife towards him by the back hair, and kisses her at the same time.
3. Bhujangavallika, or the “dragon’s turn”, 17 is when the husband, excited by the approaching prospect of sexual congress, amorously seizes the hind knot of his wife’s hair, at the same time closely embracing her. This is done in a standing position, and the legs should be crossed with one another. It is one of the most exciting of all toyings.
4. Kamavatansakeshagrahana, or “holding the crest hair of love”, 18 is when, during the act of copulation, the husband holds with both hands his wife’s hair above her ears, whilst she does the same thing to him, and both exchange frequent kisses upon the mouth.
Such, then, are the external enjoyments described in the due order according to which they ought to be practised. Those only are mentioned which are well known to, and are highly appreciated by the world. There are many others by no means so popular, and these are omitted, lest this treatise become an unwieldy size. 19 The following may, however, be mentioned:
The blandishments of love are a manner of battle, in which the stronger wins the day. And in order to assist us in the struggle, there are two forms of attack, known as Karatadana and Sitkreutoddesha.
