Unveiling Mythology's Queer Narratives
Disclaimer- The following piece is based on a mix of opinions and facts derived from various sources. We do not intend to offend the sentiments of any individual or community.
The term queer is considered to be a modern concept, so is the system of homosexuality. But when traced back to the mythological period, one can find that all those deities we believe in were the ones to reveal to the world the natural existence of queer people and defy the binary system. Has society ever looked into this context in a mythological perspective?
This article explores the instances in hindu mythology which emphasize the fluidity of gender and sexuality.
• Vishnu as Mohini
One of the major deities in Hinduism, Lord Vishnu, often assumed a female avatar namely Mohini and have even procreated with Lord Shiva and bore Ayyappa, one of the revered figures in the contemporary times. This avatar of Lord Vishnu who is considered to be the protector of the world underscores gender-fluidity.
• Shiva and Parvati
Lord Shiva, upon Goddess Parvati's desire to share his experiences, has literally embraced the femininity of Parvati into his ultimate masculine form and emerged as “Ardhanarishvara” which is a queer form. As both of their forms are literally joined, the left side of Ardhanarishvara is depicted as a female, Parvati’s form, and the right side as a male, the supreme god Shiva’s form. This representation challenges conventional gender norms by portraying a deity embodying both male and female characteristics.
• Hijras recognition by Rama
The Ramayana offers another genesis narrative for the hijras. It describes how Lord Rama gathered his followers in the jungle prior to his fourteen-year journey. He instructs the men and women to return to their proper locations in Ayodhya, but when Rama returns from his heroic quest, he discovers that some of them have not left the location but have instead blended together in an intersex manner. The badhai tradition originated when he bestows special benefits upon hijras, thus acknowledging their unique identity within society.
• Shikhandini
In one version of the story, Shikhandini, born as a girl, was raised by her father, King Drupada, as a male and has also had her married to a princess of Dasharna. Later, Shikhandini fled from the house to a forest where she met Yaksha and changed her gender. Since then, Shikhandini remained as a man until his death at the battle of the Mahabharata. As the history says, Shikhandi - a Kinnar - a person neither man nor woman - became the cause of Bhishma's death.
Moreover, the book Kamasutra, one of the oldest Hindu textbook authored by vatsyayana, explicitly mention the existence of gay sex and homosexuality in the ancient history dated back to 400 BCE - 200 CE. The book finds its relevance even in the contemporary world signifying its longstanding acceptance of diverse sexual orientations.
The evidence for the existence of queer community isn't just limited to deities or old hindu texts, but also the temples which are the most sacred spaces in Hinduism. One such example is the Khajuraho temple located in Madhya Pradesh renowned for its sculptural intrications on homosexuality and tangible evidence which showcases that gender and sexuality fluidity are well documented in Indian mythology. The depictions in Khajuraho portray men and women engaged in various erotic activities which majorly highlights gay sex and homosexuality.
Rig Veda has also its own mention of homosexuality in one of its verse “Vikruti evam Prakrati” which means “what seems unnatural is also natural”. While hindu mythology historically demonstrates that it is a lot more advanced and sophisticated in terms of thought processes and ideologies, it is the later influence of few orthodox views, the concept of queer is often stigmatized and perceived as sinful.
The disparity and disconnect between the ancient hindu mythology and contemporary times in accepting different sexual orientations proves that the latter views on LGBTQ are lacking behind and have a long way to go to achieve the phase of the former. It is important to foster the accurate and authentic understandings of various such narratives on the concept of queer to challenge binary notions and emphasize the acceptance of diverse gender identities.
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By- Nishita Sinha
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