2. Shibari - 縛り

If you have ever been part of, or looked into, the BDSM (bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism) community then you have most likely come across Shibari, the art of rope tying. Although it is now used in consensual sexual encounters, it’s historical roots are quite dark. 

Shibari originated from Hojo-jutsu, a rope-tying method used in 17th century Japan to restrain and torture captives. It then morphed into an erotic artform known as Kinbaku which translates to “the beauty of tight binding” in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Eventually the word Shibari, meaning binding or tying in Japanese, was used by Westerners to describe the practice. 

A specific type of hemp rope, known as asanawa, is used by one person to intricately tie up another in an aesthetically pleasing way. Essentially, Shibari is an assertion of power, a dynamic that is at the root of modern BDSM practices. And although Shibari is derived from an act of torture, make sure you always ask/give consent before devling into it!

4. Tantra - तन्त्र

Althought Tantra is a very popular word used in the Western world to describe the practie of intense, long, and “spiritual” sex, this conception is actually very modern and not tied to its original meaning. 

In fact, tantra is based on a collection of religious Sanskrit texts from the 7th century, which aren’t focused on sex. The tantra saw things different from traditional religion and actually sought to question normative beliefs and focus on exploring magic, spells, and mantras.  

The link to tantra and sex most likely comes from the tantra placing importance on a heightened state of consciousness via yoga, breathwork, or gratification. Sexual gratification is written as one of the ways to enhance one's spiritual self but it is rarely mentioned in the texts and is by no means the focus. Sex is rarely mentioned in the tantra but when it does come up it is focused on those engaging with it embodying being the gods they worship as a way to get closer to their spirituality. 

So the next time you hear about a celebrity having a “tantric” marathon sex session know that there is a lot more to it than just the physical act. 

1.Kama Sutra - कामसूत्र

Many etymological definitions of Kama Sutra place it as meaning “threads of pleasure”, based on the original, Kamasutram. Another definition  breaks down the two words; Kama means “love” and “desire”, whilst Sutra a “series of aphorisms'' or,  concise statements of principles, which can be surmised to mean love/desire based on one's principles, which is quite a sexually empowering statement. 

The term Kama Sutra is largely attributed to Vatsyayana, an Indian philosopher and was first written over 2000 years ago. However, opposed to Western belief, Kama Sutra was not actually created by Vatsyayana as a sex-manuel. In fact, the first time it was used was in Vatsyayana’s text wherein a sacred bull is ascribed “the discipleain of Kama” and was moved to pray for the betterment of mankind after hearing the god Shiva and his wife Parvati having sex. Here, Vatsyayana was trying to discuss the three aims of Hindu life- dharma, atha, and kama. 

It wasn’t until the 19th century when “woke” Victorians translated The Kamasutra of Vatsyayana as tales of sexual exploration. Therefore, it’s important that we don’t fall into the trap of cultural appropriation and instead find other ways to research and explore our sexual desires.

3. Antarvasna - अन्तर्वासना 

Originally translating in English to mean “physical” or “internal desires” Antarvasna is originally a Sanskrit word which is now understood in contemporary Hindi language as “sexual desire”. Antarvasna isn’t a word many non- Hindi’s would come across in their sexual adventures as it specifically pertains to Hindi pornography and sex.

Although there is not a lot of information regarding the origin and history of the word, typing it into a search bar reveals the most largely read Hindi sex story website titled “Antarvasna” which contains stories that many might find familiar but also those that are unique to Hindi culture.

We hope you’ve learned a bit about the ancient sexual terms Kama Sutra, Shibari, Antarvasna, and Tantra. Reflecting on their histories proves that they have been taken out of their original context and appropriated by the Western world. But by educating oneself and respecting the practices for what they truly are we can hope to become more culturally sensitive and respectful.