1. Of the Four Orders of Women

1.1 Of the Four Orders of Women

First, let it be understood, that women must be divided into four classes of temperament. These are:-

1. Padminí;
2. Chitriní;
3. Shankhiní;
4. Hastiní.

The same correspond with the four different phases of Moksha, or Release from further Transmigration. The first is Sáyujyatá, or absorption into the essence of the Deity; the second is Sámípyatá, nearness to the Deity, the being born in the Divine Presence; the third is Sarúpatá, or resemblance to the Deity in limbs and material body; the fourth and last is Salokatá, or residence in the heaven of some especial god.

For the name of woman is Nárí, which, being interpreted, means ?No A?rí,? or foe; and such is Moksha, or absorption, because all love it and it loves all mankind. Padminí, then means Sáyujyatá, also called Khadginí-Moksha (Sword-release) the absorption of man into the Náráyan (godhead), who lives in the Khshírábdí, or Milksea, one of the Seven Oceans, and from whose navel sprang the Padma, or Lotus-flower. Chitriní is Sámípyatá-Moksha, like those who, having been incarnated as gods, perform manifold and wonderful works. Shankhiní is Sarúpatá-Moksha, even as the man who takes the form of Vishnú, bears upon his body the Shankha (conch-shell), the Chakra or discus, and other emblems of that god. The Hastiní is Salokatá-Moksha, for she is what residence in Vishnú?s heaven is to those of the fourth class who have attributes and properties, shape and form, hands and feet.

1.2 Personal Peculiarities of the Four Classes

And now learn ye by these words to distinguish from one another the four orders of woman-kind.

She in whom the following signs and symptoms appear, is called Padminí, or Lotus-woman. Her face is pleasing as the full moon; her body, well clothed with flesh, is soft as the Shiras? or mustard-flower; her skin is fine, tender and fair as the yellow lotus, never dark-colored, though resembling, in the effervescence and purple light of her youth, the cloud about to burst. Her eyes are bright and beautiful as the orbs of the fawn, well-cut, and with red-dish corners. Her bosom is hard, full and high; her neck is goodly shaped as the conch-shell, so delicate that the saliva can be seen through it; her nose is straight and lovely, and three folds or wrinkles cross her middle, about the umbilical region. Her Yoní? resembles the opening lotus-bud, and her Love-seed (Káma-salila, the water of life)? is perfumed like the lily which has newly burst. She walks with swan-like gait, and her voice is low and musical as the note of the Kokila-bird;? she delights in white raiment, in fine jewels, and in rich dresses. She eats little, sleeps lightly and, being as respectable and religious as she is clever and courteous, she is ever anxious to worship the gods, and to enjoy the conversation of Brahmans. Such, then, is the Padminí, or Lotus-woman.

The lotus woman - the perfection of womanhood. Every sweet and delicate quality belongs to her. Her breasts are small, firm and spherical; her hips narrow but ample; her waist thin; her vulva smooth and tiny, resembling the lotus bud; and her love-water is perfumed like the newly-burst lily.

The Chitriní, or Art-woman, is of middle size, neither short nor tall, with bee-black hair, thin, round, shell-like neck; tender body; waist lean-girthed as the lion?s; hard, full breasts; well-turned thighs and heavily made hips. The hair is thin about the Yoní, the Mons Veneris being soft, raised and round. The Káma-salila (love-seed) is hot, and has the perfume of honey, producing from its abundance a sound during the venereal rite. Her eyes roll, and her walk is coquettish, like the swing of an elephant, whilst her voice is that of the peacock.? She is fond of pleasure and variety; she delights in singing and in every kind of accomplishment, especially the arts manual; her carnal desires are not strong, and she loves her `pets,' parrots, Mainas and other birds. Such is the Chitriní, or Art-woman.

The art woman - the perfection of the courtesan. Her beauty is equal to that of the lotus woman, except that it is not innocent but worldly. Her lips are slightly wider, and her vulva a trifle plumper. The down is thin and the mons is soft, raised and round. Her love-essence is hot, bearing the perfume of honey and producing from its abundance a distinct sound during lovemaking.

The Shankhiní, or Conch-woman, is of bilious temperament, her skin being always hot and tawny, or dark yellow-brown; her body is large, her waist thick, and her breasts small; her head, hands, and feet are thin and long, and she looks out of the corners of her eyes. Her Yoní is ever moist with Káma-salila, which is distinctly salt, and the cleft is covered with thick hair. Her voice is hoarse and harsh, of the bass or contralto type; her gait is precipitate; she eats with moderation and she delights in clothes, flowers and ornaments of red color. She is subject to fits of amorous passion, which makes her head hot and her brain confused, and at the moment of enjoyment, she thrusts her nails into her husband?s flesh.? She is of choleric constitution, hard-hearted, insolent and vicious; irascible, rude and ever addicted to finding fault. Such is the Shankhiní, or Conch-woman.

The shell woman - the common variety. She is the ideal wife for labour and breeding. She is highly sexed, and as capable at love-making as the art woman. Her breasts are fuller and slightly pendulous; her hips wide and waist thicker; and her vulva, ever moist and covered with thick hair, much larger.

The Hastiní is short of stature; she has a stout, coarse body, and her skin, if fair, is of dead white; her hair is tawny, her lips are large; her voice is harsh, choked, and throaty (voix de gorge) and her neck is bent. Her gait is slow, and she walks in a slouching manner: often the toes of one foot are crooked. Her Káma-salila has the savor of the juice which flows in spring from the elephant?s temples. She is tardy in the art of Love, and can be satisfied only by prolonged congress, in fact, the longer the better, but it will never suffice her. She is gluttonous, shameless, and irascible. Such is the Hastiní, or Elephant-woman.?

The elephant woman - the most undesirable of the four types. She is of little value for work, but her sexual capacity is that of a rabid beast in rut. Coarse and indelicate, she is the bodily extreme with thick protruding labia and clitoris; pudendum which suggests the condition of genital elephantiasis. Her vulva is nigh to impenetrable because of hair, and her copious love water bears the savour of the juice that flows in spring from an elephant's temples.

1.3 The Days of Greatest Enjoyment for the Four Classes

Having thus laid down the four classes of woman-kind, Kalyána Malla, the arch-poet, proceeds to give a table of the times in which each order derives the greatest amount of pleasure from the venereal rite. these periods must be learnt by heart, and students will remember that on the other days not specified, no amount of congress will satisfy passions. Read, then, and master the elements.

Table: Days of Greatest Enjoyment For the Four Classes

1.4 Of the Hours Which Give the Highest Enjoyment

Women, be it observed, differ greatly in the seasons which they prefer for enjoyment, according to their classes and temperaments. The Padminí, for instance, takes no satisfaction in night congress; indeed, she is thoroughly averse to it. Like the Súrya Camala (day lotus) which opens its eyes to the sun light, so she is satisfied even by a boy-husband in the bright hours. The Chitriní and the Shankhiní are like the Chandra Kamala, or night-lotus, that expands to the rays of the moon; and the Hastiní, who is the coarsest, ignores all these delicate distinctions.

Table 1: Regulating the Night Hours

Table 2: Regulating the Day Hours

The above tables, then, show the Pahar,? or watch of the night and day, during which the four classes of women derive the greatest pleasure.