The Kāmasūtra by Vātsāyana is a classical Sanskrit treatise on human relationships, love, and sexual behavior composed between the 3rd and 5th centuries CE. It is not merely an erotic manual: the work discusses ethics, social life, courtship, marriage, and the arts of living, framed within the cultural norms of its time.

Most complete Malayalam versions follow the original seven-part structure established by Vatsyayana:

: An acknowledgment of female agency and the importance of a woman's pleasure and satisfaction within a relationship. The Art of Translation

: Examines the role of specialized women in ancient society.