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href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maithuna" title="Maithuna – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Maithuna" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithuna" title="Mithuna – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Mithuna" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maithuna" title="Maithuna – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Maithuna" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maithuna" title="Maithuna – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Maithuna" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi mw-list-item"><a href="https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A8_(%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0)" title="मैथुन (तंत्र) – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi" data-title="मैथुन (तंत्र)" data-language-autonym="हिन्दी" data-language-local-name="Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>हिन्दी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maithuna" title="Maithuna – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Maithuna" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%88%E3%82%A5%E3%83%8A" title="ミトゥナ – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="ミトゥナ" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uz mw-list-item"><a href="https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maithuna" title="Maithuna – Uzbek" lang="uz" hreflang="uz" data-title="Maithuna" data-language-autonym="Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча" data-language-local-name="Uzbek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithuna" title="Mithuna – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Mithuna" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maithuna" 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class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Sanskrit term used in Tantra most often translated as "sexual union"</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"Mithuna" redirects here. For the genus of moth, see <a href="/wiki/Mithuna_(moth)" title="Mithuna (moth)">Mithuna (moth)</a>. For the month, see <a href="/wiki/Mithuna_(month)" title="Mithuna (month)">Mithuna (month)</a>.</div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MET_Asian_Wing.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/MET_Asian_Wing.jpg/220px-MET_Asian_Wing.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="293" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/MET_Asian_Wing.jpg/330px-MET_Asian_Wing.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/MET_Asian_Wing.jpg/440px-MET_Asian_Wing.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1536" data-file-height="2048" /></a><figcaption>Loving Couple, Maithuna, Eastern Ganga dynasty, 13th century Orissa, India</figcaption></figure> <p><i><b>Maithuna</b></i> (<a href="/wiki/Devanagari" title="Devanagari">Devanagari</a>: मैथुन) is a <a href="/wiki/Sanskrit" title="Sanskrit">Sanskrit</a> term for <a href="/wiki/Sexual_intercourse" title="Sexual intercourse">sexual intercourse</a> within <a href="/wiki/Tantra" title="Tantra">Tantra</a> (<a href="/wiki/Tantric_sex" title="Tantric sex">Tantric sex</a>), or alternatively for the sexual fluids generated or the couple participating in the ritual.<sup id="cite_ref-Kiss_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kiss-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Cush_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Cush-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is the most important of the <a href="/wiki/Panchamakara" title="Panchamakara">Panchamakara</a> and constitutes the main part of the grand ritual of Tantra also known as Tattva Chakra.<sup id="cite_ref-Elia_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Elia-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Maithuna means the union of opposing forces, underlining the <a href="/wiki/Nondualism_(spirituality)" class="mw-redirect" title="Nondualism (spirituality)">nonduality</a> between human and divine,<sup id="cite_ref-Elia_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Elia-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> as well as worldly enjoyment (<i><a href="/wiki/Kama" title="Kama">kama</a></i>) and spiritual liberation (<i><a href="/wiki/Moksha" title="Moksha">moksha</a></i>).<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Maithuna is a popular icon in <a href="/wiki/Hindu_art" title="Hindu art">ancient Hindu art</a>, portrayed as a couple engaged in physical loving.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Concept">Concept</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Maithuna&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Concept"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Maithuna entails male-female couples and their union in the physical, sexual sense as synonymous with <a href="/wiki/Kriya" class="mw-redirect" title="Kriya">kriya</a> nishpatti (mature cleansing).<sup id="cite_ref-Devi_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Devi-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Just as neither spirit nor matter by itself is effective but both working together bring harmony so is maithuna effective only then when the union is <a href="/wiki/Consecrated" class="mw-redirect" title="Consecrated">consecrated</a>. The couple become for the time being divine: she is <a href="/wiki/Shakti" title="Shakti">Shakti</a> and he is <a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Shiva</a>, and they confront ultimate reality and experiences <a href="/wiki/%C4%80nanda_(Hindu_philosophy)" title="Ānanda (Hindu philosophy)">bliss</a> through union. The scriptures warn that unless this spiritual transformation occurs, the union is incomplete.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, some writers, sects and schools like <a href="/wiki/Paramahansa_Yogananda" title="Paramahansa Yogananda">Yogananda</a> consider this to be a purely mental and symbolic act, without actual intercourse.<sup id="cite_ref-Devi_6-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Devi-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Yet it is possible to experience a form of maithuna not solely just through the physical union. The act can exist on a metaphysical plane with sexual energy penetration, in which the shakti and shakta transfer energy through their <a href="/wiki/Three_Bodies_Doctrine#Sukshma_sarira_-_subtle_body" class="mw-redirect" title="Three Bodies Doctrine">subtle bodies</a> as well. It is when this transfer of energy occurs that the couple, incarnated as goddess and god via diminished <a href="/wiki/Ahamkara" title="Ahamkara">egos</a>, confronts ultimate reality and experiences bliss through sexual union of the subtle bodies.<sup id="cite_ref-Elia_3-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Elia-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Maithuna&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Khajuraho10.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Khajuraho10.jpg/220px-Khajuraho10.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Khajuraho10.jpg/330px-Khajuraho10.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Khajuraho10.jpg/440px-Khajuraho10.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1792" data-file-height="1200" /></a><figcaption>Maithuna at <a href="/wiki/Khajuraho_Group_of_Monuments" title="Khajuraho Group of Monuments">Khajuraho</a></figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:38.Khajuraho_Laksmana_south_wall_mithuna.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/38.Khajuraho_Laksmana_south_wall_mithuna.jpg/220px-38.Khajuraho_Laksmana_south_wall_mithuna.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="138" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/38.Khajuraho_Laksmana_south_wall_mithuna.jpg/330px-38.Khajuraho_Laksmana_south_wall_mithuna.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/38.Khajuraho_Laksmana_south_wall_mithuna.jpg/440px-38.Khajuraho_Laksmana_south_wall_mithuna.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1021" data-file-height="642" /></a><figcaption>Maithuna, Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho</figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Tantra#History" title="Tantra">Tantra § History</a></div> <p>Maithuna intercourse has been traditionally interpreted to be performed with <a href="/wiki/Semen_retention" class="mw-redirect" title="Semen retention">semen retention</a> by the male practitioner,<sup id="cite_ref-Elia_3-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Elia-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> although other writers consider it optional, possibly relegated only to late Tantra.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Early maithuna might have insisted on generating sexual fluids (<i>maithunam dravyam</i>, or solely <i>maithuna</i> by <a href="/wiki/Metonymy" title="Metonymy">metonymy</a>) in order to be ritually ingested, in a similar way to the other four edible Panchamakara.<sup id="cite_ref-Kiss_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kiss-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Cush_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Cush-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The shedding of semen is also compared to water-offering (<i><a href="/wiki/Tarpana" title="Tarpana">tarpana</a></i>).<sup id="cite_ref-Kiss_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kiss-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Ascetics of the <a href="/wiki/Shaivism" title="Shaivism">Shaivite</a> school of <a href="/wiki/Mantra_marga" title="Mantra marga">Mantramarga</a>, in order to gain supernatural power, reenacted the penance of <a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Shiva</a> after cutting off one of <a href="/wiki/Brahma" title="Brahma">Brahma</a>'s heads (<a href="/wiki/Bhikshatana" title="Bhikshatana">Bhikshatana</a>). They worshipped Shiva with impure substances like alcohol, blood and sexual fluids generated in orgiastic rites with their consorts.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEnglish201340_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEEnglish201340-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As part of tantric inversion of social regulations, sexual yoga often recommends the usage of consorts from the most taboo groups available, such as close relatives or people from the lowest sections of society. They must be young and beautiful, as well as initiates in tantra.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEnglish201341_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEEnglish201341-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><a href="/wiki/Jayanta_Bhatta" title="Jayanta Bhatta">Jayanta Bhatta</a>, the 9th-century scholar of the <a href="/wiki/Nyaya" title="Nyaya">Nyaya</a> school of <a href="/wiki/Hindu_philosophy" title="Hindu philosophy">Hindu philosophy</a> and who commented on Tantra literature, stated that the Tantric ideas and spiritual practices are mostly well placed, but it also has "immoral teachings" such as by the so-called "Nilambara" sect where its practitioners "wear simply one blue garment, and then as a group engage in unconstrained public sex" on festivals. He wrote that this practice is unnecessary and it threatens fundamental values of society.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFlood200648–49_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEFlood200648–49-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Later sources like <a href="/wiki/Abhinavagupta" title="Abhinavagupta">Abhinavagupta</a> in the tenth century warn that results of maithuna are not meant to be consumed like the rest of Panchamakara, calling those who do so "brutes" (<i>pasus</i>).<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (October 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> The 11th century <i><a href="/wiki/To%E1%B8%8Dala_tantra" class="mw-redirect" title="Toḍala tantra">Toḍala tantra</a></i> places maithuna as the last of its <i>pañcamakāra</i> or "set of 5 M-words", namely <i>madya</i> (wine), <i>māṃsa</i> (meat), <i>matsya</i> (fish), <i>mudrā</i> (grain), and <i>maithuna</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-Kiss_1-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kiss-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Around the 12th century, practices seemed to turn towards the absorption of sexual fluids into the body of the practitioner, like that of <i><a href="/wiki/Vajroli_mudra" title="Vajroli mudra">vajroli mudra</a></i>.<sup id="cite_ref-Kiss_1-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kiss-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This is related to similar practices like <i>rajapana</i>, the drinking of female discharge found in <a href="/wiki/Kaula_(Hinduism)" title="Kaula (Hinduism)">Kaula</a> Tantra, and the mixing of all five ingredients into nectar (<i><a href="/wiki/Amrita" title="Amrita">amrita</a></i>) in the <a href="/wiki/Jagannatha" class="mw-redirect" title="Jagannatha">Jagannatha</a> temple of <a href="/wiki/Puri" title="Puri">Puri</a>, as described by <a href="/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9rique_Apffel-Marglin" title="Frédérique Apffel-Marglin">Frédérique Apffel-Marglin</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Kiss_1-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Kiss-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Douglas Renfrew Brooks states that the antinomian elements such as the use of intoxicating substances and sex were not <a href="/wiki/Animistic" class="mw-redirect" title="Animistic">animistic</a>, but were adopted in some Kaula traditions to challenge the Tantric devotee to break down the "distinctions between the ultimate reality of Brahman and the mundane physical and mundane world". By combining erotic and ascetic techniques, states Brooks, the Tantric broke down all social and internal assumptions, became Shiva-like.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrooks199069–71_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBrooks199069–71-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In Kashmir Shaivism, states David Gray, the antinomian transgressive ideas were internalized, for meditation and reflection, and as a means to "realize a transcendent subjectivity".<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGray201611_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGray201611-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Maithuna&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Kiss-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Kiss_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Kiss_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Kiss_1-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Kiss_1-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Kiss_1-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Kiss_1-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFWhite2006" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/David_Gordon_White" title="David Gordon White">White, David Gordon</a> (2006) [2003]. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=5RwARVMg2_4C"><i>Kiss of the Yogini: 'Tantric Sex' in its South Asian Contexts</i></a> (paperback ed.). University of Chicago Press. pp. 81–85. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-226-02783-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-226-02783-8"><bdi>978-0-226-02783-8</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Kiss+of+the+Yogini%3A+%27Tantric+Sex%27+in+its+South+Asian+Contexts&rft.pages=81-85&rft.edition=paperback&rft.pub=University+of+Chicago+Press&rft.date=2006&rft.isbn=978-0-226-02783-8&rft.aulast=White&rft.aufirst=David+Gordon&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D5RwARVMg2_4C&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaithuna" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Cush-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Cush_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Cush_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCushRobinsonYork2012" class="citation book cs1">Cush, Denise; Robinson, Catherine; York, Michael (2012). <i>Encyclopedia of Hinduism</i>. Routledge. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1135189785" title="Special:BookSources/978-1135189785"><bdi>978-1135189785</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Encyclopedia+of+Hinduism&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=2012&rft.isbn=978-1135189785&rft.aulast=Cush&rft.aufirst=Denise&rft.au=Robinson%2C+Catherine&rft.au=York%2C+Michael&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaithuna" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Elia-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Elia_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Elia_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Elia_3-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Elia_3-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFEliade1969" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Mircea_Eliade" title="Mircea Eliade">Eliade, Mircea</a> (1969). <i>Yoga: Immortality and Freedom</i>. Princeton University Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0691017648" title="Special:BookSources/978-0691017648"><bdi>978-0691017648</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Yoga%3A+Immortality+and+Freedom&rft.pub=Princeton+University+Press&rft.date=1969&rft.isbn=978-0691017648&rft.aulast=Eliade&rft.aufirst=Mircea&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaithuna" class="Z3988"></span><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources"><span title="This citation requires a reference to the specific page or range of pages in which the material appears. (January 2021)">page needed</span></a></i>]</sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFThomas1960" class="citation book cs1">Thomas, Paul (1960). <i>Kāma Kalpa, Or, The Hindu Ritual of Love</i>. Bombay [Mumbai]: D.B. Taraporevala. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/762156601">762156601</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=K%C4%81ma+Kalpa%2C+Or%2C+The+Hindu+Ritual+of+Love&rft.place=Bombay+%5BMumbai%5D&rft.pub=D.B.+Taraporevala&rft.date=1960&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F762156601&rft.aulast=Thomas&rft.aufirst=Paul&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaithuna" class="Z3988"></span><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources"><span title="This citation requires a reference to the specific page or range of pages in which the material appears. (January 2021)">page needed</span></a></i>]</sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMenzies2006" class="citation book cs1">Menzies, Jackie (2006). <i>Goddess: Divine Energy</i>. Art Gallery of New South Wales. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0734763969" title="Special:BookSources/978-0734763969"><bdi>978-0734763969</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Goddess%3A+Divine+Energy&rft.pub=Art+Gallery+of+New+South+Wales&rft.date=2006&rft.isbn=978-0734763969&rft.aulast=Menzies&rft.aufirst=Jackie&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaithuna" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Devi-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Devi_6-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Devi_6-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDevi1977" class="citation book cs1">Devi, Kamala (1977). <i>The Eastern Way of Love</i>. <a href="/wiki/Simon_%26_Schuster" title="Simon & Schuster">Simon & Schuster</a>. pp. 19–27. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-671-22448-4" title="Special:BookSources/0-671-22448-4"><bdi>0-671-22448-4</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Eastern+Way+of+Love&rft.pages=19-27&rft.pub=Simon+%26+Schuster&rft.date=1977&rft.isbn=0-671-22448-4&rft.aulast=Devi&rft.aufirst=Kamala&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaithuna" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGarrison1964" class="citation book cs1">Garrison, Omar (1964). <i>Tantra: the Yoga of Sex</i>. Causeway Books. p. 103. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-88356-015-1" title="Special:BookSources/0-88356-015-1"><bdi>0-88356-015-1</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Tantra%3A+the+Yoga+of+Sex&rft.pages=103&rft.pub=Causeway+Books&rft.date=1964&rft.isbn=0-88356-015-1&rft.aulast=Garrison&rft.aufirst=Omar&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaithuna" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBalabanErev1995" class="citation book cs1">Balaban, Oded; Erev, Anan (1995). <i>The Bounds of Freedom: About the Eastern and Western Approaches to Freedom</i>. P. Lang. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0820425146" title="Special:BookSources/978-0820425146"><bdi>978-0820425146</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Bounds+of+Freedom%3A+About+the+Eastern+and+Western+Approaches+to+Freedom&rft.pub=P.+Lang&rft.date=1995&rft.isbn=978-0820425146&rft.aulast=Balaban&rft.aufirst=Oded&rft.au=Erev%2C+Anan&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaithuna" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEEnglish201340-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEnglish201340_9-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFEnglish2013">English 2013</a>, p. 40.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEEnglish201341-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEnglish201341_10-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFEnglish2013">English 2013</a>, p. 41.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEFlood200648–49-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFlood200648–49_11-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFFlood2006">Flood 2006</a>, pp. 48–49.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEBrooks199069–71-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrooks199069–71_12-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFBrooks1990">Brooks 1990</a>, pp. 69–71.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGray201611-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGray201611_13-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGray2016">Gray 2016</a>, p. 11.</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Works_cited">Works cited</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Maithuna&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Works cited"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239549316">.mw-parser-output .refbegin{margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul{margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{margin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul li{list-style:none}@media(max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{padding-left:1.6em;text-indent:-1.6em}}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .refbegin{font-size:90%}}</style><div class="refbegin refbegin-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em"> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBrooks1990" class="citation book cs1">Brooks, Douglas Renfrew (1990). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=f22pAqKz3zsC"><i>The Secret of the Three Cities: An Introduction to Hindu Sakta Tantrism</i></a>. University of Chicago Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-226-07569-3" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-226-07569-3"><bdi>978-0-226-07569-3</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Secret+of+the+Three+Cities%3A+An+Introduction+to+Hindu+Sakta+Tantrism&rft.pub=University+of+Chicago+Press&rft.date=1990&rft.isbn=978-0-226-07569-3&rft.aulast=Brooks&rft.aufirst=Douglas+Renfrew&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Df22pAqKz3zsC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaithuna" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFEnglish2013" class="citation book cs1">English, Elizabeth (2013). <i>Vajrayogini: Her Visualization, Rituals, and Forms</i>. Simon and Schuster. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-861-71657-9" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-861-71657-9"><bdi>978-0-861-71657-9</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Vajrayogini%3A+Her+Visualization%2C+Rituals%2C+and+Forms&rft.pub=Simon+and+Schuster&rft.date=2013&rft.isbn=978-0-861-71657-9&rft.aulast=English&rft.aufirst=Elizabeth&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaithuna" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFlood2006" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Gavin_Flood" title="Gavin Flood">Flood, Gavin D.</a> (2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=1Uer8W670IoC"><i>The Tantric Body, The Secret Tradition of Hindu Religion</i></a>. I.B Taurus. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84511-011-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-84511-011-6"><bdi>978-1-84511-011-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Tantric+Body%2C+The+Secret+Tradition+of+Hindu+Religion&rft.pub=I.B+Taurus&rft.date=2006&rft.isbn=978-1-84511-011-6&rft.aulast=Flood&rft.aufirst=Gavin+D.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D1Uer8W670IoC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaithuna" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGray2016" class="citation book cs1">Gray, David B. (2016). "Tantra and the Tantric Traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism". <i>Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion</i>. Oxford University Press. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Facrefore%2F9780199340378.013.59">10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.013.59</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780199340378" title="Special:BookSources/9780199340378"><bdi>9780199340378</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Tantra+and+the+Tantric+Traditions+of+Hinduism+and+Buddhism&rft.btitle=Oxford+Research+Encyclopedia+of+Religion&rft.pub=Oxford+University+Press&rft.date=2016&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1093%2Facrefore%2F9780199340378.013.59&rft.isbn=9780199340378&rft.aulast=Gray&rft.aufirst=David+B.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMaithuna" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Maithuna&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/12px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/18px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/24px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></a></span> Media related to <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mithuna" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Mithuna">Mithuna</a> at Wikimedia Commons </p> <div 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style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Apsara" title="Apsara">Apsara</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bhairavi" title="Bhairavi">Bhairavi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dakini" title="Dakini">Dakini</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Matrika" class="mw-redirect" title="Matrika">Matrika</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vajrayogini" title="Vajrayogini">Vajrayogini</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yakshini" title="Yakshini">Yakshini</a></li></ul> </div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="3" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:SAMA_Yogini.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/SAMA_Yogini.jpg/40px-SAMA_Yogini.jpg" decoding="async" width="40" height="68" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/SAMA_Yogini.jpg/60px-SAMA_Yogini.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/SAMA_Yogini.jpg/80px-SAMA_Yogini.jpg 2x" data-file-width="658" data-file-height="1120" /></a></span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Yogini_temples" title="Yogini temples">Yogini temples</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Gadarmal_Devi_temple" class="mw-redirect" title="Gadarmal Devi temple">Badoh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chausath_Yogini_Temple,_Bhedaghat" title="Chausath Yogini Temple, Bhedaghat">Bhedaghat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chausath_Yogini_Temple,_Hirapur" title="Chausath Yogini Temple, Hirapur">Hirapur</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chausath_Yogini_Temple,_Ranipur_Jharial" title="Chausath Yogini Temple, Ranipur Jharial">Ranipur Jharial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chausath_Yogini_temple,_Khajuraho" class="mw-redirect" title="Chausath Yogini temple, Khajuraho">Khajuraho</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chausath_Yogini_Temple,_Mitaoli" title="Chausath Yogini Temple, Mitaoli">Mitaoli</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Maithuna</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Women_in_Hinduism" title="Women in Hinduism">Women in Hinduism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yoga_for_women" title="Yoga for women">Yoga for women</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3"><div> <ul><li><b><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" 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