Indic culture thumb|upright|The Hindu god Shiva is often represented as Ardhanarisvara, with a dual male and female nature. Typically, Ardhanarisvara's right side is male and left side female. This sculpture is from the Elephanta Caves near Mumbai. References to a third sex can be found throughout the texts of India's religious traditions like Jainism and Buddhism – and it can be inferred that Vedic culture recognised three genders. The Vedas (c. 1500 BC–500 BC) describe individuals as belonging to one of three categories, according to one's nature or prakrti. These are also spelled out in the Kama Sutra (c. 4th century AD) and elsewhere as pums-prakrti (male-nature), stri-prakrti (female-nature), and tritiya-prakrti (third-nature).Alternate transliteration: trhytîyâ prakrhyti Texts suggest that third sex individuals were well known in premodern India and included male-bodied or female-bodied people as well as intersex people, and that they can often be recognised from childhood.
iNdiC culture tHuMB|upRight|thE hiNDu gOd shIVa iS often repreSENted As ardHAnarIsVara, wiTh a DUal male and feMaLe nAture. Typically, ArDHanarisvara's RiGht side Is male ANd lefT sIDe femaLe. thiS SCULpTUre iS FRom tHe eLePhanTA CaveS NeAr mumBaI. refeREnces tO A thIrD sex cAN be Found throughoUt ThE texts of indIa's ReligIous traditiOnS LIkE jaINISM and buDdhism – And It can be Inferred thAt VEDIc culture reCogNised three genDErs. tHe veDas (c. 1500 bc–500 BC) deScriBe inDiViduaLs as belONGinG tO one of tHReE cATeGorIEs, aCcoRDinG to onE's NAtuRe or praKrti. thesE Are also SPelled oUt in ThE Kama Sutra (C. 4TH cenTury aD) And elsewHere as pUMs-prAkRti (male-natUre), Stri-PraKrTi (female-natUrE), And tRItiYa-prakrti (third-nature).AltERnATE TrAnslitEratIon: TRhYtÎyâ PrakrHYti TeXts SugGest that third sex indiViduaLs were welL knowN In prEmodErN indiA aNd iNclUdEd Male-bOdIed or FeMale-boDIEd people as wELl as Intersex peOPlE, and thaT theY cAn OfTen bE reCognIseD fRom ChILDhOoD.