Kamasutra Book Chapter 2.6. On the Various Ways of Lying Down, and the Different Kinds
of Congress
On the occasion of a ‘high congress’ the Mrigi (Deer)
woman should lie down in such a way as to widen her yoni, while in a ‘low
congress’ the Hastini (Elephant) woman should lie down so as to contract hers.
But in an ‘equal congress’ they should lie down in the natural position. What
is said above concerning the Mrigi and the Hastini applies also to the Vadawa
(Mare) woman. In a ‘low congress the woman should particularly make use of
medicine, to cause her desires to be satisfied quickly.
The Deer-woman has the following three ways of lying down :
·
The
widely opened position. When she lowers her
head and raises her middle parts, it is called the ‘widely opened position’. At
such a time the man should apply some unguent, so as to make the entrance easy.
·
The
yawning position. When she raises her thighs and keeps
them wide apart and engages in congress, it is called the ‘yawning position’.
·
The
position of the wife of Indra.
When she places her thighs with her legs doubled on them upon her sides, and
thus engages in congress, it is called the position of Indrani and this is
learnt only by practice. The position is also useful in the case of the
‘highest congress’.
·
Clasping
position. The ‘clasping position’ is used in ‘low
congress’, and in the ‘lowest congress’, together with the ‘pressing position’,
the ‘twining position’, and the ‘mare’s position’.
·
Clasping
position 2. When the legs of both the male and the
female are stretched straight out over each other, it is called the ‘clasping
position’. It is of two kinds, the side position and the supine position,
according to the way in which they lie down. In the side position the male
should invariably lie on his left side, and cause the woman to lie on her right
side, and this rule is to be observed in lying down with all kinds of women.
·
Pressing
position. When, after congress has begun in the
clasping position, the woman presses her lover with her thighs, it is called
the ‘pressing position’.
·
Twining
position. When the woman places one of her thighs
across the thigh of her lover it is called the ‘twining position’.
·
Mare’s
position. When a woman forcibly holds in her yoni
the lingam after it is in, it is called the ‘mare’s position’. This is learnt
by practice only, and is chiefly found among the women of the Andhra country.
The above are the different ways of lying down, mentioned by Babhravya. Suvarnanabha, however,
gives the following in addition :
·
Rising
position. When the female raises both of her
thighs straight up, it is called the ‘rising position’.
·
Yawning
position. When she raises both of her legs, and
places them on her lover’s shoulders, it is called the ‘yawning position’.
·
Pressed
position. When the legs are contracted, and thus
held by the lover before his bosom, it is called the ‘pressed position’.
·
Half
pressed position. When only one of her legs is stretched
out, it is called the ‘half pressed position’.
·
Splitting
of a bamboo. When the woman places one of her legs on
her lover’s shoulder, and stretches the other out, and then places the latter
on his shoulder, and stretches out the other, and continues to do so
alternately, it is called the ‘splitting of a bamboo’.
·
Fixing
of a nail. When one of her legs is placed on the
head, and the other is stretched out, it is called the ‘fixing of a nail’. This is learnt by practice
only.
·
Crab’s
position. When both the legs of the woman are
contracted, and placed on her stomach, it is called the ‘crab’s position’.
·
Packed
position. When the thighs are raised and placed
one upon the other, it is called the ‘packed position’.
·
Lotus-like
position. When the shanks are placed one upon the
other, it is called the ‘lotus-like position’.
·
Turning
position. When a man, during congress, turns round,
and enjoys the woman without leaving her, while she embraces him round the back
all the time, it is called the ‘turning position’, and is learnt only by
practice.
Thus, says Suvarnanabha, these different ways of lying
down, sitting, and standing should be practised in water, because it is easy to
do so therein. But Vatsyayana is of opinion that congress in water is improper,
because it is prohibited by the religious law.
·
Supported
congress. When a man and a woman support
themselves on each other’s bodies, or on a wall, or pillar, and thus while
standing engage in congress, it is called the ‘supported congress’.
·
Suspended
congress. When a man supports himself against a
wall, and the woman, sitting on his hands joined together and held underneath
her, throws her arms round his neck, and putting her thighs alongside his
waist, moves herself by her feet, which are touching the wall against which the
man is leaning, it is called the ‘suspended congress’.
·
Congress
of a cow. When a woman stands on her hands and
feet like a quadruped, and her lover mounts her like a bull, it is called the
‘congress of a cow’. At this time everything that is ordinarily done on the
bosom should be done on the back.
In the same way can be carried on the congress of a
dog, the congress of a goat, the congress of a deer, the forcible mounting of
an ass, the congress of a cat, the jump of a tiger, the pressing of an
elephant, the rubbing of a boar, and the mounting of a horse. And in all these
cases the characteristics of these different animals should be manifested by
acting like them.
·
United
congress. When a man enjoys two women at the same
time, both of whom love him equally, it is called the ‘united congress’.
·
Congress
of a herd of cows. When a man enjoys
many women altogether, it is called the ‘congress of a herd of cows’.
The following kinds of congress-sporting in water, or
the congress of an elephant with many female elephants which is said to take
place only in the water, the congress of a collection of goats, the congress of
a collection of deer take place in imitation of these animals.
In Gramaneri many young men enjoy a woman that may be
married to one of them, either one after the other, or at the same time. Thus one
of them holds her, another enjoys her, a third uses her mouth, a fourth holds
her middle part, and in this way they go on enjoying her several parts
alternately.
The same things can be done when several men are
sitting in company with one courtesan, or when one courtesan is alone with many
men. In the same way this can be done by the women of the king’s harem when
they accidentally get hold of a man.
·
Lower
congress. The people in the Southern countries
have also a congress in the anus, that is called the ‘lower congress’.
Thus ends the various kinds of congress. There are
also two verses on the subject as follows:
‘An ingenious person should multiply the kinds of
congress after the fashion of the different kinds of beasts and of birds. For
these different kinds of congress, performed according to the usage of each
country, and the liking of each individual, generate love, friendship, and
respect in the hearts of women.