The Kama Sutra is one of the oldest treatises on intercourse and sexual positions. It is written by Vatsyayana and some of the sexual positions mentioned in the Kama Sutra are world famous when it comes to pleasure. The ancient guide is classified into various positions depending on the position of the man and woman in relation to each other and can be divided into several main categories:
Sitting Positions
As the name suggests, both the male and female are seated during intercourse. The most popular sitting position described in the Kama Sutra is the Kshudgaga position. It is a position in which the woman sits with her thighs raised and her legs on either side of the man’s waist. The Kshudgaga position offers limited penetration, but is believed to offer extreme pleasure and is considered one of the most sensual positions mentioned in this guide.
Another sitting position that requires considerable dexterity is the Padma position. Instead of wrapping her legs around the man’s waist, the woman wraps her ankles around the man’s neck and the man holds her thighs for better penetration. The penetration achieved is greater in this position but requires considerably more stamina and energy.
standing positions
Standing positions involve one or both partners standing during intercourse. One of the most popular and “demanding” standing positions in the Kama Sutra is the Avalambitaka position. The position requires the man to stand while the woman wraps her legs around the man’s waist and the man supports the woman’s weight with her hands while the woman wraps her hands around the man’s neck for additional support. Due to the demanding nature of the position, the Avalambitaka position is considered extremely strenuous but also extremely sensual and satisfying.
Another sensual position is the Sammukha position. The female stands against a wall and spreads her legs, while the male penetrates her, they are both facing each other (hence the name Sammukha which means facing each other).
rear entry positions
Although the most popular rear entry position worldwide is the ‘doggy style’, the Kama Sutra has several rear entry positions. The most pleasurable and also exciting is the position of Svanaka. In this position, the male stands while the female crouches and supports the body by supporting it with her palms touching the ground. Since the man penetrates the woman from behind, the height and agility of the woman play a vital role in this sensual style.
Other positions in the Kama Sutra
In addition to the positions mentioned above, there are several ‘woman on top’ and ‘man on top’ positions described in the Kama Sutra. One of the most popular is the Vadavaka position, in which the woman is on top while the man is on his back.
