In Hinduism Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha are the four Purusharthas of a Hindu’s life and sex is an integral part of life,which is part of the four Purusharthas.The "Kama" means those activities,which give us pleasure and satisfaction.Sex is also one of those activities which gives great pleasure and satisfation.

Kamasutra is very ancient book about sex,written by the Hindu sage Vatsayana.This book has all those details and descriptions about sex types,sex positions,sex importance and compatibility of partners, eunuchs etc.The ancient Khajuraho Temple in Madhya Pradesh,India is well known for the sculptures on it.Here the statues of men and women are depicted as having sex in different positions.The builders of the Khajuraho temple were Rajputs and were followers of Waam-maarga or left-handed Tantra, an acceptable way of attaining Moksha.

The sculptors created those pieces of arts is only outside the temple because it signifies that all those feelings must be left outside the temple, before entering the inner sanctum.There are no such sculptures inside the temple.The sculptures are also on Konark temple's exterior.It is a metaphysical symbolism.Hinduism recognizes the role of sexual desires in human lives.

The sexual depictions in some of the temples were mean to not only educate the people, but also to help those who were involved in sexual sadhanas for enlightment. There is a difference between Nudity and expression of beauty and pornography.What appears in Hindu puranas and Itihasas are the expressions of genuine beauty and not pornography.

The carving of such bold sculptors denotes the free thinking creative minority existing in India at that time.This also signifies that Scythians, Huns, and Kushans assimilation in Hindu society was complete by then.The freeness of the society towards discussing sex empirically and scientifically reveals about the overall openness of the culture.

According to Kama Sutra,the man should practise Dharma, Artha and Kama at different times and in such a manner that they may harmonize together and not clash in any way.He should acquire learning in his childhood, in his youth and middle age he should attend to Artha and Kama.In his old age he should perform Dharma and thus seek to gain salvation ie liberation.Moksha is a long process which can be achieved only when all material desires are fulfilled

In olden times India,a childless widow was considered to have sex with the appropriate person in order to have a child and it was called as "Niyoga".In Mahabharata, Draupadi is depicted as having five husbands who were Pandavas.Though Hinduism does not support prostitution, you will find prostitutes in all parts of India.

*Sex as Meditation- 

During a conversation between Shiva and Shakti(Vigyan Bhairava Tantra),Devi Asks-

O Shiva, what is your reality ?
What is this wonderful universe ?
What consttutes seed ?
Who controlls the universal wheel ?
What is this life beyond form pervading forms ?
How may we enter it fully,
above space and time,
names and descriptions ?
Let my doubts be cleared !

Shiva then explains her 112 methods of meditation to attain enlightment.

Lord Shiva explains-

At the start of sexual union
Keep attentive on the fire in the beginning,
And so continuing,
Avoid the embers in the end.
When in such embrace your senses are shaken as leaves,
Enter this shaking.
Even remembering union,
Without the embrace.These verses clearly indicate how sexual act can be utilized for achieving enlightment.Enlightment is a state, when all egos vanish.As in a sexual act, the couple leaves behind their ego and unites with each other and achieves sexual ecstasy. This very thing can be utilized to achieve spiritual ecstasy.

*Sex as Yajna-

Yajna or sacrifice is derived from root word "Yaj",which means Worship or offering an oblation.It is an act by which a couple surrenders the ego, in order to gain pleasure,satisfaction and progeny.

"Her lap is a sacrificial altar, her hairs, the sacrificial grass,her skin, the soma-press,the two labia of the vulva are the fire in the middle.So great is the world of his who practises sexual intercourse.These verses from "Upanishad" clearly indicate that, sex is a form of worship and also as an act of sacredness.

*Message-

The Hindu Sage,Vatsayana says, both men and women should learn Kamashastra. In Hindu society sex was always considered to be individual choices.There are many instances in our history and scriptures mentioning pre-marital sex and love marriages.Also the extra marital affairs are personal affairs, we should let individuals to decide about it. Hence it is improper to call them anti-Hindu acts.Gandharva Marriage is the voluntary union of a maiden and her lover, which arises from desire and sexual intercourse for its purpose.

Hinduism has given freedom to its people. In Hindu society sex is neither a taboo nor pornography.Sex is a sacred act,recognized as human desire to be satisfied and which may be used to attain the ultimate goal of enlightment.