11 min readIF SEX POSITIONS are the only things you associate with the Kama Sutra, you might be surprised to learn that the actual scope of the ancient Indian text goes far beyond 69 and reverse cowgirl. It’s not your fault—Western culture and English translations heavily misinterpreted the Kama Sutra’s original teachings and purpose. We’re here to correct that, because while, yes, there are plenty of lessons about sex (and trust, we’ll get into it later), there’s so much more that it teaches about desire, pleasure, and living life to its fullest.
The History of the Kama Sutra
The Kama Sutra is a Sanskrit text written in the second century by Indian philosopher Mallanaga Vātsyāyana, either in northern India or in Patliputra (modern-day Patna). It’s based on an intellectual tradition that predates Vātsyāyana’s text and can be traced back to early texts of Hinduism, “such as the Rig Veda, which relates the idea of ‘Kama’ as part of origin theology,” says Dr. Rabi Prakash, PhD, an assistant professor of Hindi literary culture at Thapar School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. According to Hindu philosophy, “Kama” is one of the four aims of human life (or Purushartha), in addition to Dharma (which relates to moral duty), Artha (which relates to wealth and power), and Moksha (which relates to spiritual freedom and salvation).
But what exactly is Kama? Essentially, it “relates to the idea of desire in human life [beyond] merely having a fulfilling sexual life,” says Prakash. “Kama Sutra, as a text, more broadly conceives the contours of the fine life.”
Simply put: The Kama Sutra is a guidebook on how to achieve a life of maximum pleasure, and that involves way more than just the physical. Vātsyāyana wrote about 64 (!!) types of arts that a person should master to lead a more cultured life, including music, painting, home decor, gastronomy, and caring for their partner, among many others. “The art of lovemaking is not necessarily limited to the acts of sex or performing sexual positions as imagined in the text,” says Prakash. “To be a good lover, one needs to be a highly sophisticated person with a deep cultural, intellectual, and artistic cultivation.”
So how did this comprehensive book of life’s pleasures gain the “sex encyclopedia" reputation it incorrectly has today? The first English translation of the Kama Sutra was written by Sir Richard Francis Burton in 1833, and his version went on to become the standard and most accessible text of the Kama Sutra globally, says Prakash. Unfortunately, it played a decisive early role in the text’s perception as forbidden erotic material.
“The modern reputation (largely emanating from the West) of Kama Sutra as limited to ‘sex positions’ is largely a product of its reading in light of modern Western morality, deeply influenced by Protestantism and embarrassed by the faith of the colonial rulers,” says Prakash. “They found this text abhorrent to their sensibility.” Meaning, they thought it was way too scandalous and essentially labeled it as erotic literature, forsaking all the other teachings it included.
Now, many modern scholars consider Burton’s translation a “mistranslation,” says Prakash, “due to monumental biases and misrepresentation of the original Sanskrit text and its core message.”
What the Kama Sutra Really Says About Sex
As we’ve established, sex is just one of the many pleasures that Vātsyāyana wrote about in the Kama Sutra. And while it’s not the core of the text, “sex and pleasure are important constituents,” says Prakash. Sex is also what the book is known for in the Western world, and a desire to understand the helpful insight it does have about sex is probably why you’re here. Honestly, good—it’s chock-full of value and it was widely controversial because it was so ahead of its time.
“It recognizes women's sexuality as important as men’s, it makes a case for the satisfaction of their pleasure, and it recognizes the third gender and its natural basis,” says Prakash. (“Third gender” means non-hetero sexuality and identity.) In fact, the Kama Sutra’s section on sexuality “was designed to teach a man how to make sure that the woman was fully pleasured,” Seema Anand, an online sex educator and the author of Speak Easy: A Field Guide to Love, Longing and Intimacy, told Women’s Health. “They believed that if the woman was fully pleasured, sex would go on for longer in a marriage.” Beyond that, there was also an entire chapter devoted to same-sex sex acts, positions, and even marriages.
“In a way, the Kama Sutra is progressive in that, unlike conservative texts, such as Dharmashastra texts, which are fundamentally concerned about protecting the status quo of hierarchical social order, and making women subservient to the larger goal of protecting the privilege of men’s status and caste order,” says Prakash. “It fully recognizes the agency of women’s sexuality, their urge, and also freedom to seek pleasure as culturally and intellectually evolved beings.” In short, the Kama Sutra essentially did away with class, gender roles, and hetero-normativity (all societal cornerstones of the era) and presented pleasure as something anyone could participate in.
All in all, the Kama Sutra might not be exclusively about sex, but its sex content was meaningful and advanced in many ways. That’s why we’re highlighting and unpacking just a few of the positions it demonstrates and why you should try them, too. (You might be more familiar with some of these than you think!)
At Men’s Health, we aim to describe sexual experiences as inclusively as possible. While the positions on this list have traditionally been associated with penis-in-vagina sex, they can be adapted by couples of all genders and sexual orientations and identities. We encourage readers to modify any position to suit their bodies, preferences, and needs. To avoid making assumptions about gender or anatomy, we use non-gendered language throughout this article. The “giving partner” or “giver” refers to the partner doing the penetrating, whether with a penis, a strap-on, or even fingers. The “receiving partner” or “receiver” refers to the partner being penetrated vaginally or anally.
Kama Sutra Sex Position #1: Sammukha
How to: From a standing position, the receiving partner leans back against a wall and spreads their legs as wide as they can. Then, the penetrating partner enters them. This position does require the giver to bend their knees a bit, so if the receiver is shorter, they may need to stand on something stable, like an ottoman.
Benefits: Although Sammukha might seem a little awkward at first, it's actually an incredibly passionate and romantic position thanks to all the eye contact and deep penetration. “It allows you both to caress each other since you're so close together, which can be very romantic,” says Suzannah Weiss, AMFT, a marriage and family therapist, sexologist for sex toy company Erojoy, and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject.
Kama Sutra Sex Position #2: Janukurpara
How to: The giving partner lifts up the receiving partner, entering them. To maintain this position, the giver should lock their elbows under the receiver's knees and grip their butt with their hands. Meanwhile, the receiving partner places their arms around the standing partner's neck for support.
Benefits: Beyond the extra-deep penetration and eye contact, this position is an exercise in trust and letting go, says Weiss, since the receiver is being fully held up by the penetrating partner.
Kama Sutra Sex Position #3: Virsha
How to: You probably know the Virsha by another name: Reverse Cowgirl. In this position, the penetrating partner lies flat on their back while the receiver sits or kneels on top of them, facing their feet. The receiver then lowers themselves onto their partner and leans forward, gripping their ankles.
Benefits: Some people find this position ideal for G-spot stimulation (the extra-sensitive area on the front wall of the vaginal canal), says Weiss, especially if the penis is pointed downward. “It also gives the [receiver] full control over the depth and speed of penetration,” she adds.
Kama Sutra Sex Position #4: Tripadam
How to: Both partners stand facing each other. Then, the receiver lifts one leg off the floor, while the giver places their hand under the receiver's knee for support and enters them. With three legs on the ground, partners form a “tripadam,” or tripod, hence the name. (One note: This position works best if both of you are around the same height—if you’re not, try these standing positions instead.)
Benefits: Tripadam is the perfect position for a quickie: It doesn't allow for deep penetration, but it does allow for “short and fast” fun, says Eric M. Garrison, a sex counselor and author of Mastering Multiple Position Sex.
Kama Sutra Sex Position #5: The Milk and Water Embrace
How to: The penetrating partner sits down on the bed, a chair, or any surface (even stairs, as shown above). Then the receiver sits down on the giver’s lap, with their back to their partner's chest.
Benefits: “This is perfect for people of all body sizes,” says Garrison. Plus, it’s a position that offers multiple pathways to pleasure. If you're having P-in-V sex, for example, “there is the potential benefit of four-hand stimulation for her (clit, breasts, inner thighs), and lots of leg intertwining for you both,” Garrison says.
Kama Sutra Sex Position #6: Indrani
How to: The receiver lies on their back and pulls their knees into their chest. The giver then enters them from a kneeling position, with their hands free to stimulate other parts of the receiver’s body, including the nipples and/or clitoris.
Benefits: This position is also great for G-spot stimulation, says Weiss, “especially if the person on top makes an upward thrusting motion.”
Pro tip: “One of my caveats for any [penetrating partner]-on-top positions is that communication is key,” says Garrison. Because the giver will be able to penetrate quite deeply, it may cause the receiver pain. Therefore, “the two must communicate openly and honestly, before, during, and after the Indrani,” he says.
Kama Sutra Sex Position #7: Uttana Samputa, or Closed Box
How to: In the Kama Sutra, “box position” means doing it face-to-face. Here, the receiving partner lies on their back and the penetrating partner lies on top of them, face-to-face.
Benefits: You might also know this position as good ol' fashioned missionary. Yeah, it gets a bad rap for being “basic” but can actually be an incredible opportunity for skin-to-skin contact and passionate eye-gazing. “Missionary has been found to be one of the best positions for female orgasm, as the penis and/or pubic bone can rub against the clitoris, especially if the man shifts upward toward his partner's head,” says Weiss. “The woman can also try putting a pillow underneath her, or using a couples’ toy like Fleshy's Clip or Ring.”
Kama Sutra Sex Position #8: Parshva Samputa, or Lateral Box
How to: In this variation of “closed box,” both partners lie on their sides, facing each other.
Benefits: Like uttana samputa, parshva samputa is an intimate position with lots of opportunities for making out and gazing into each other's eyes, especially since your faces are perfectly aligned, says Weiss. Plus, both partners can use their upper hand to caress each other's bodies, or even reach around for some booty play, to enhance the position.
Kama Sutra Sex Position #9: Utphallaka
How to: If you've ever done a glute bridge at the gym and thought it could totally be a sex position, Utphallaka is the move for you! In this position, the receiving partner lies on their back with their knees bent and hips elevated. The giver then enters from a kneeling position between the receiver's legs. (Pro tip: If the receiver needs some extra support to hold themselves up in a bridge, a sex pillow may come in handy.)
Benefits: Thanks to the receiver’s spread and elevated legs, this position exposes the clitoris and gives the penetrating partner easy access to stimulate it. “Either person can reach their hand down and rub it or use a toy on it,” says Weiss.
Kama Sutra Sex Position #10: Lotus
How to: The giving partner sits down with their legs crossed. Then, the receiving partner lowers themselves onto the penetrating partner's penis or dildo, wrapping their legs around the giver’s back. In-and-out thrusting might be a challenge in this position, but the receiver can grind and/or rock back and forth against their partner.
Benefits: “This is a classic tantric position, as your bodies are so intertwined, you can feel each other breathing,” says Weiss. “To make it even more intimate, sync the rise and fall of your breath with your partner's.”
Kama Sutra Sex Position #11: Veshititaka, or Envelopment
How to: This one is less of a position and more a technique. Essentially, the receiving partner crosses their legs (either at the ankles or knees) during any penetrative position to squeeze the penis even tighter.
Benefits: This technique increases the intensity of stimulation and pleasure for both partners, says Weiss, and can be done lying down side-by-side, with the giving partner on top, or in reverse.
Kama Sutra Sex Position #12: Dhenuka
How to: "Dhenuka" is basically what we know as doggy style. In this position, the receiver gets on their hands and knees, and the giver enters them from behind.
Benefits: “Many people feel less self-conscious in doggy because they’re not making eye contact with their partner,” says Weiss. “They have the freedom to get lost in the sensations and make whatever faces, noises, or movements feel good to them without worrying about how it looks.” This one is also great for deep penetration and for the Veshititaka/Envelopment technique described above.
Kama Sutra Sex Position #13: Jrimbhitaka
How to: Also known as “the yawn,” in this position, the receiving partner lies on their back and rests their legs on the penetrating partner’s shoulders. Meanwhile, the giver enters the receiver from a kneeling position, propping themselves up on their hands.
Benefits: Tara Suwinyattichaiporn, PhD, an associate professor of relational and sexual communication at California State University and author of How Do You Like It?, likes this position because it should feel familiar: It’s very similar to missionary. It also offers the opportunity for lots of sexy eye contact and physical closeness.
Kama Sutra Sex Position #14: The Curled Angel
How to: Both partners lie on their sides with the penetrating partner directly behind the receiver. Each person curls their legs up, bringing their knees toward their chest. This allows the giver in back to enter the receiver from behind. The penetrating partner can also reach their hands around to caress their partner’s nipples or clitoris.
Benefits: Looking for another position that targets the G-spot? Clinical sexologist and couples counselor Ness Cooper says this one fits the bill. Think of it like a more sexual version of spooning—or a more relaxing alternative to doggy style where you both get to lie down while still enjoying rear penetration.
Kama Sutra Sex Position #15: Nirvana
How to: The receiver lies down flat, with their legs stretched out in front of them and close together—leaving only enough room for penetration. The giving partner climbs on top of them and enters them, with their weight supported by their forearms and their legs stretched out behind them. Traditionally, the receiver reaches their arms straight overhead to grab onto the bedposts or headboard, but they can also grab the giver’s butt (as shown here). The penetrating partner then rocks back an forth motion, rather than just thrusting in and out, to stimulate the clitoris.
Benefits: There’s a reason why this position is named after the ultimate state of perfect bliss (although these days, it’s known as the Coital Alignment Technique). It provides intense friction for the clitoris, says Cooper, which can lead to quite a powerful orgasm. It’s also a great position for people who prefer more shallow penetration, or who find deep penetration painful.
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Rabi Prakash, PhD, is an assistant professor of Hindi literary culture at Thapar School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
- Suzannah Weiss, AMFT, is a marriage and family therapist, resident sexologist for sex toy company Erojoy, and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject.
- Eric M. Garrison is an AASECT-certified sex counselor and author of Mastering Multiple Position Sex.
- Tara Suwinyattichaiporn, PhD, is an associate professor of relational and sexual communication at California State University and author of How Do You Like It?.
- Ness Cooper is an integrative counselling psychotherapist, couples counsellor, and clinical sexologist in Aylsham, Norfolk.
Veronica Lopez is a freelance writer, editor, and content strategist based in Jersey City, covering lifestyle, wellness, travel, pop culture, and relationships across the internet. She was previously the Love and Relationships Editor at Cosmopolitan and the Dating Editor at Elite Daily. She earned her BSc in Communications from the University of Miami, where she majored in Journalism with a concentration in magazines. Find her on Instagram @veee_low.
