ALAPPUZHA: Debunking the commonly-held notion among the devout that sex is anathema to spirituality and serves only a procreative purpose, an article in the Christmas edition of a church-run magazine explicitly encourages eroticism among spouses.“Sex is a celebration of body and mind. Love without physical relationship and the erotic is like pooram (festival) without fireworks. If two bodies need to have proper union, their minds too should merge correspondingly,” says a four-page article titled ‘Rethiyum Ayurvedavum’ (Sex and Ayurveda) by Dr Santhosh Thomas in the December issue of ‘Mukharekha, Alappuzha diocese’s monthly magazine.“This is the first time we are publishing an article about `kamashastram', on sex and life. This article aims to ensure a healthy life and this doctor is a regular contributor to our magazine,” Father Xavier Kudiyamssery, editor of the magazine, told TOI.Dr Thomas’s article describes the ideal woman and quotes Vagbhata ’s classical Ayurveda text Ashtanga Hridyam : “women can be classified under four types — ‘Padmini’, ‘Chithrini’, ‘Sanghini’ and ‘Hasthini’ — according to their body structure and the size and shape of their breasts. The relation of Kamasasthra with Ayurveda is to show how a man can have healthy sex with these four types of women as per their nature and body”.Given the male-centric perspective, feminists are bound to frown but the article certainly seems a welcome departure from prudish church sermons that normally consider any talk of erotic love beyond the elementary birds-and-bees template as taboo. P V Varghese, a government official in Alappuzha and regular churchgoer, who read this article said "there is nothing wrong in it; it is informative. Sex is an indispensable part of our life and it is a must for leading a good life”.Dr Thomas describes food, sleep, exercise and sex as cornerstones of a happy human life and quotes Ashtanga Hridyam to say that “all types of sex should be followed in tune with seasons, place, power and capacity without violating the principles of medical science”.