Tantra: A Pillow Book

by Indra Sinha

This spiritually charged little book of erotic wisdom reveals the amorous teaching of Tantra through quotes from a wealth of literature, accompanied by exquisitely sensous and sexually symbolic artwork--an intimate gift and must-have for every bedroom. 60 color images.

Genres: Religion

64 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1993

About the author

Indra Sinha (born in 1950 in Colaba, which is part of Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra, India) is a British writer of English and Indian descent. Formerly a copywriter for Collett Dickenson Pearce & Partners, Sinha has the distinction of having been voted one of the top ten British copywriters of all time.

Indra Sinha's books, in addition to his translations of ancient Sanskrit texts into English, include a non-fiction memoir of the pre-internet generation (Cybergypsies), and novels based on the case of K. M. Nanavati vs. State of Maharashtra (The Death of Mr. Love), and the Bhopal disaster (Animal's People). Animal's People, his most recent book, was shortlisted for the 2007 Man Booker Prize and a regional winner of the 2008 Commonwealth Writers' Prize.

Sinha is the son of an Indian naval officer and an English writer. He was educated at Mayo College, Ajmer, Rajasthan in India; Oakham School, Rutland, England and Pembroke College, Cambridge in England, where he studied English literature. After living in England for four decades, he and his wife currently live in southern France. They have three adult children.

Reviews

[Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is one of my best-loved books regarding Hinduism and mythology.

There are a lot of exquisite photos, paintings, and illustrations in this book. It is already worths it just by looking at those illustrations and ancient artwork.

I wouldn't be so bold as to say I can know everything about Tantra, its history, mythology, practices and belief after reading this book, but my reading experience is pleasant and this book is really educational and inspirational.

PS: though I found it hard to go on board with ancient practices such as temple prostitutes and child goddesses, etc. At the very least, these practices are problematic when (1) the underage girls who are involved have no free choice and (2) these practices are put into the context of the modern/Westernized social system in which these practices are no longer being supported.

[Binod Kumar]

download the book

[Chuck Chaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sinha draws some pretty radical parallels between Greek Pagan,Christian, Hindu and tribal Tantric belief systems. Some of it is whimsical and wishful, but that doesn't stand in the way of some curiosity-inducing meanderings.
The book is definitely worth a read, but be mindful that you must scratch through some banal filler-chaff for those moments of genuinely interesting and sexy wheat.
Oh, and the art is gorgeous.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book dives deep into the human condition with a raw honesty that’s hard to ignore. I really appreciated how the narrative balances emotional weight with subtle insight. For anyone interested in making literature accessible across languages, especially for regional audiences, I recently came across this helpful service: https://www.translation.pk/book-hindi... — it could be a great tool for expanding a book’s reach to Hindi readers.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Niceeeeeeee

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the scholarship in here is definitely reaching when it comes to prehistoric international connections, but as an art book with images you wont find in most other places its very good.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

fast read and fun too very insightful . mostly images a good bathtub read