LGBTQIA & Faith: Manifestations of God and Beings in Hinduism

When the Indian judiciary & the democratic government denies LGBTQIA rights, do they realise they deny the existence of creations of God?

Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma is considered to be the oldest religion in the world. Though, it’s not a self-proclaimed religion with codified law but is guided by Dharma (morals), Karma (duty/work) and Shastras (education). The gift of Sanatan Dharma, or the Indian civilization to the world are many and one of the most prominent is the understanding and written acknowledgement of tritiya prakriti or, nature of human beings which we call today— the study of Sex and Genders, and Sexuality beyond binaries.

The Vedic Scriptures, Upanishads, and other scriptures related to Sanatan Dharma acknowledge the tritiya prakriti (nature) of beings. First is, pums-prakriti or male; second is stri-prakriti or women; and third is tritiya prakriti or the third sex, it also recognises diverse sexual and romantic orientations irrespective of binaries.

Read: History of LGBTI in Sanatan Dharma or Hinduism (Part 1)

Is LGBTQIA Normal in Hinduism? Does God accept LGBTQ people?

Normal? No. Natural, yes! Normalcy is a mental construct created by humans in societal spheres for their benefit.

This article would emphasize the very fact that the non-binary genders and diverse sexual and romantic orientations are not unnatural or, new phenomena. The Vedas and other scriptures were written by Rishis, Rishikas (female rishis) who were then philosophers, researchers, teachers, and so much more. Naturally, there exist two basic schools of thought— orthodox and unorthodox ideologies, sometimes, the scriptures will self-contradict themselves for a purpose as it is believed that 'no knowledge is absolute’:

Disclaimer: Some translated words of Sanskrit may be regressive.

How many types of genders are described in Hindu scriptures and literature?

By Rami Sivan — Priest, Dharma teacher, counsellor, Gov. Advisor (1998–present)

(The following answer is a direct source copy, all rights belong to the original writer for this section)

Three genders in Sanskrit apply to all words - male, female and third sex. In terms of human sexuality gender or rather sex is based on reproductivity – i.e. the ability and desire to have children.

• puṁ — normative reproductive male.
• strī — normative reproductive female
• napuṁsaka or tritīya prakṛti — the “third sex” or the “neuter”, it also includes five different types of ‘napumsaka’ people:

(1) children (2) the elderly (3) the impotent (4) the celibate and (5) the third sex. The Tritīya Prakṛti encompasses everyone who is not actively engaged in reproduction:

• Anyone who is impotent with the opposite sex for whatever cause - mental or physical. So for example one may be heterosexual but unable to have sexual relations.
• A person of one sex who identifies with the opposite sex but may or may not be homosexual, i.e., Transgenders, Intersex, Non-Binary Genders)
• A true homosexual - is a person who is sexually attracted only to members of the same sex
• While bisexuality is a given in ancient cultures it is not classified as a separate “gender” but as a sexual or romantic partner preference

The “gender” issue from a Hindu perspective is about reproductivity not about sexuality. A person who is a reproductive heterosexual may still enjoy having sex with a member of the same sex - this does not constitute a separate category of gender. Hinduism’s scriptures do not categorise or denounce sexual orientations, it recognises gender as well as fluidity in terms of partner preference, sexually or romantically.

Read: LGBTQ & Faith: Gender Fluidity in Hinduism

The post-modern Western concept of “gender fluidity” makes no sense whatsoever as gender is determined by biology at birth. Children are born either male or female. Transgender folks account for approximately 0.3% of the population – a tiny minority. Gender Fluidity ideology then leads to the ideology that boys and girls are completely equal and their differences are social constructs!! Equality is about access to healthcare, education and opportunity but unfortunately not the biological imperative - that is pre-determined.

In summary, the Hindu scriptures clearly state that people are born in THREE genders according to their Karma.

The scriptural quotes in support of triple-gender theory:–

1. Varaha Purana 142.50

ekacittastato bhūtvā bhūme cendriya-nigrahāt | mama yogeṣṭa saṁnyāsaṁ yadīcchet paramāṁ gatiṁ || evaṁ kurvanti ye nityaṁ striyaḥ puṁso napuṁsakāḥ | jñāne satyapyayogānāṁ mama karmasu karmiṇām ||

Translation: If one desires the highest goal which is communion with me; one should develop a focused mind, subdue the senses and strive to perfect non-attachment.

However, if this regime is practised without devotion to Me despite knowing, by either, men, women or the third sex it will not yield rewards.

2. Tulsi Rāmāyana — Uttara Kāṇḍā

Puruṣa napuṁsaka nāri vā jīva carācara koi

Sabba bhāva kapaṭa taji mohi prama priya soi

Satya kahau khaga tohi suci sevaka mama prāṇā-priya

Asa bicāri bhaju mohi parihara āsa bharosa saba

“Be it man, woman or napumsaka, or, for the matter of that, any living being whatsoever of the animate or inanimate world – he who adores Me with all his being, giving up all guile, is supremely dear to Me. O bird, I tell you in all sincerity that a guileless servant is dear to Me as life. Realizing this worship Me, abandoning all other hope and reliance. (87 A-B)

3. Srimad Bhagavatam

kvacit pumān kvacicca strī kvacinnobhaya mandhadhīḥ | devo manuṣyas-tiryag vā yathā karma guṇaṁ bhavaḥ ||

The Self which is enveloped by ignorance is sometimes embodied as a man, sometimes as a woman, and sometimes as third sex (ubhaya). According to its deeds and the nature one acquires thereby, one may be born as a god, a human or a beast. (Bhagavatam 4.29.29.)

4. Garuda Purana

cikitsā jāyate tasya garbhavāsa parikṣaye | nāri vātha naro vātha napuṁsatvaṁ vābhijāyate || 29 ||

Translation: Whatever the sexual orientation of the child whether it be male, female or napumsaka it is born in the ninth or the tenth month. (Garuda Purana. 2.32.29)

5. Adhyatma Ramayana

na strī pumānvā ṣaṇḍo vā jīvaḥ sarvagato’vyayaḥ | eka evādvitīyo’yam ākāśavad lepakaḥ | nityo jñānamayaḥ śuddhaḥ sa katham śokam arhati ||

Kishkindha Kanda 3:16

Translation: Rama says: “The jiva is all-pervading and endless. It is neither masculine, feminine nor neuter (ṣaṇḍha). It is one without a second, unaffected by anything, like the sky. It is eternal, pure and of the nature of consciousness.

SANSKRIT WORDS REFERRING TO THE “THIRD GENDER”

The following list is from the Sabda-kalpa-druma Sanskrit-Sanskrit dictionary and describes the twenty types of men known in Sanskrit as sandha. The key criterion of a sandha is that he is sexually impotent with women, whether in terms of desire, performance, or fertility. As evident from this list, a sandha can refer to many different types of men.

Some are impotent with women by nature (tritiya-prakriti) such as the intersexed, homosexuals, and transgenders, while others are ordinary males who have lost their potency due to various physical or psychological afflictions. The term sandha is therefore much more inclusive than widely believed, and any context involving its usage should be carefully considered whenever an interpretation is rendered. Simplistic definitions such as “eunuch,” “neuter,” or “sexless” may not always be accurate and in some cases totally incorrect.

Under the entry ṣaṇḍha, the Sabda-kalpa-druma dictionary quotes the Narada-smriti, which lists fourteen different types of men who are impotent with women. Then it quotes the Kamatantra, which lists twenty different kinds. Then it quotes Vacaspati’s (fourteenth century) Smriti-ratnavali, in which the twenty types of ṣaṇḍha are listed and defined as follows:

1. Nisarga – one born without genitals (intersexed).

2. Baddha – one without testicles.

3. Paksa – one who is periodically impotent with women (every other fortnight, month, etc.).

4. Kilaka – due to impotence, enjoys the woman after first watching her having sex with another man.

5. Sapadi – one who is unable to enjoy sex due to the power of a curse.

6. Stabdha – cannot get an erection, or has no sperm.

7. Irsyaka – aroused only by the jealous feelings of seeing others in the act of sexual union.

8. Sevyaka – one who is potency is lost because of too much sex with women.

9. Aksipta – one who’s semen does not discharge properly.

10. Moghabija –becomes impotent when he attempts to unite with the woman.

11. Salina – too shy or inhibited to even approach women.

12. Anyapati – copulates with things or beings other than women.

13. Mukhebhaga – performs oral sex on men.

14. Vataretas – has no discharge of semen.

15. Kumbhika – takes the passive role in anal sex.

16. Panda – does not become aroused by (the woman’s) touch.

17. Nasta – no sperm due to disease.

18. Asekya – aroused only by swallowing a man’s semen.

19. Saugandhika – aroused only by sniffing the (male or female) genitals.

20. ṣaṇḍha – he has the qualities of a woman. Behaving and talking as they do, he may castrate himself.

Prominent Tritiya Prakriti (nature) Instances in Hinduism:

Shiva and Parvati

The supreme god of Shaivism, Shiva has often been held as the ultimate embodiment of masculinity, but as far back as the Kushan era, there have also been depictions of Shiva in the Ardhanarishvara form, an androgynous composite of Shiva and his wife, Parvati. The form originated when Parvati, desiring to share Shiva’s experiences, asked for their forms to be joined literally. "What is being said is that if the inner masculine and feminine meet, you are in a perpetual state of ecstasy," explains Hindu scholar Sadhguru. Most often, the Ardhanarishvara is depicted with the female form of Parvati on the left and the masculine attributes of Shiva on the right.

Vishnu/Mohini

The Sustainer and protector of the world, Vishnu is clearly depicted in the faith as gender-fluid. This primary Hindu deity frequently took on the female avatar of Mohini. Vishnu even procreated with Shiva in the Mohini form, resulting in the birth of Ayyappa, a major figure still worshipped by millions who make pilgrimages to shrines in India. The avatar Mohini frequently gets described as an enchantress who maddens lovers.

Krishna

An incarnation of Vishnu, the popular deity Krishna also took the form of Mohini to marry Aravan to satisfy one of the hero’s last requests, according to the Mahabharata. After Aravan’s passing, Krishna stayed in the form of the hero’s widow for a significant period of mourning.

Shikhandi

This warrior in the Kurukshetra war in most tellings of the Mahabharata was female at birth but changed gender later in life. Born Shikhandini, the girl in one version of the story was raised as a male by King Drupada, the girl’s father. The king even had her married to the princess of Dasharna. Upon complaints from the new bride, Shikhandini fled into the forest and met a Yaksha and exchanged genders. Taking the name Shikhandi, he remained a man until his death at the battle of Mahabharat.

Bahuchara Mata

Bahuchara Mata was travelling with her sisters and was threatened by the marauder Bapiya. After she and her sisters self-immolated their own breasts, Bapiya was cursed with impotence until he began to dress and act as a woman. Today, the Hindu goddess is worshipped as the originator and patron of the hijras, trans and intersex Bangladeshis considered in the faith to be of a "third gender."

Rama & Transgender Ayodhyavasi:

Another origin story for the hijras comes from the Ramayana, which tells the tale of Rama gathering his subjects in the forest before his 14-year adventure. He tells the men and women to return to their appropriate places in Ayodhya, but upon his return from his epic journey, Rama finds some have not left the place of that speech and instead merge together in an intersex fashion. He grants hijras the ability to confer certain blessings, the beginning of the badhai tradition.

The Khajuraho Temples

These medieval temples famously include depictions of people in sexual congress, a demonstration of the importance of sexual interaction within the Hindu faith. Included in the carvings are a number of depictions of gay sex, sometimes in orgy situations where several women are involved in intercourse with a single man, but there also are images of men having sex and engaging in fellatio with one another. It is the living proof of sexual preference partners, pleasures and bisexuality.

Agni

The god of fire, creativity, and wealth is depicted in the Hindu faith as married both to the goddess and Svaha and with the male moon god Soma. Connor and Sparks relate that Agni importantly received Soma’s semen orally. British scholar Phil Hine says Agni gave a divine blow job to Shiva as well, resulting in the birth of Skanda, the god of war.

Mitra and Varuna

These sons of Aditi from Vedic literature are depicted frequently as icons for brotherly affection and intimate friendship between men, according to the Gay and Lesbian Vaishnava Association. Ancient texts of the Brahmana in fact depict the two as alternate phases of the moon who join in same-sex relations. On nights of the new moon, Mitra injects his semen into Varuna to start the moon cycle, with the favour returned upon the full moon.

Budha Graha

In addition to providing a pivotal role in Hindu astrology as one of the planets, specifically Mercury, Budh Graha also represented a huge blow to the paradigm of gender roles millennia before the current vogue. Raised as the child of Sage Brihaspati and Tara, Budha was actually the product of adultery between Tara and the moon god Chandra. Sage Brihaspati, angered at this revelation during Tara’s pregnancy, cursed that the child would be born neither male nor female, and established the tradition that the husband of a child’s mother would be considered its father.

Ila

The chief progenitor of the lunar dynasty, Ila appears in many stories alternately as female or male. In the Ramayana, a meeting with Shiva and Parvati results in Ila alternating between genders every month. Ila ultimately marries Budha, producing the offspring Pururavas during one of the months when anatomy is allowed, thus producing a lunar dynasty. In the Vishnu Parana, it is said Ila’s manhood was ultimately made permanent, upon which he took the name Sudyumma.

Narada

A Vedic sage and a Job-like figure in Hindu myth, this devotee of Vishnu once boasted he was above being a victim of Maya. Vishnu encouraged Narada then to take a dip in a pool, which erased the sage’s memories and turned him into a woman. In that state, Narada would marry a king and produce several sons and grandsons doomed to die in war. While Narada was in mourning, the sage’s gender was restored to male, and he had a greater understanding of the power of Maya.

Nammallvar

One of the 12 alwar saints of Tamil Nadu, this mystic poet often expressed as female and wrote as many as 1,000 devotional songs in the persona of a woman pining for her lover, Lord Vishnu. Indeed, at an annual festival, an icon of Nammallvar in drag is brought into the sanctum of Vishnu to unite the literary lover with her lord.

Radha & Krishna as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

The Radha Krishna are collectively known within the Hindu faith as the aspects of the male and female facets of God. Radha is regarded as the supreme goddess in control of the god Krishna, and members of a Vaishnava sahajiya sect of the faith that identified with Radha dressed and lived as women as a way of perfecting their love of Krishna, according to Vedan literature. In fact, a 15th-century leader, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, claimed to be a manifestation of Krishna in union with Radha. As in, "I am Chait"? OK, maybe that’s a stretch.

The Kama Sutra

Kama or pleasure is one of the basic needs of human life. The Kama Sutra is an ancient Indian book variously concerning courtship, marriage, and love-making, popularly referenced for its sexual positions. Chapter 9 of KamaSutra, which in addition to offering instruction on fellatio makes clear that this skill can also be used acceptably in homosexual interactions. It’s even been cited by the Human Rights Campaign. Of note, the Kama Sutra existed as a text celebrating the union of individuals in sexual interaction.

Arjuna as Urvashi

A protagonist in the Mahabharata, Arjuna spent a year in exile, cursed by a rejected Urvashi to live as a eunuch. But on the request of King Indra, that sentence was reduced and Arjuna lived just a year as a woman, taking the name Brihannala and teaching princesses to dance.

Samba

The son of Krishna today is considered the patron of eunuchs and transgender people, but his history sounds like modern myths about Target bathrooms. Connor and Sparks write that Samba, or Shamba, would dress in women’s clothes to more easily sneak into the company of women in order to seduce them.

The Mothers of Bhagiratha

The Hindu king Bhagiratha was credited with bringing the Ganges River to Earth, but his arrival on Earth originated in the sapphic and the divine. Historians Ruth Vanita and Saleem Kiswai note the king’s name indicates he was born of two vulvas, and discovered a story of Maharaja Dilipa, the king of the Sun Dynasty, dying with no heir. Shiva declared the king’s two widows could make love to one another to produce a true offspring, and Bhagiratha was conceived.

Bhagavati-devi

Bhagavati-devi is considered today to be the goddess of cross-dressing, and more than 5,000 male worshippers dress as women each year for the ritual Chamayavilakku festival in Kollam. Temple leaders say the tradition has been in place for hundreds of years.

Lord Ayappa

Lord Ayyappa is the son of Vishnu and Shiva. Ayyappa = Ayya (Shiva) + Appa( Lord Vishnu as Mohini)

Lord Ayyappa is a very popular Hindu deity, who is mainly worshipped in South India. Ayyappa was born out of the union between God Shiva and Mohini, an avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Ayyappa’s birth story: Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasur, and his sister, Mahishi set out to avenge her brother’s death. Mahishi had a boon from Lord Brahma that only a child born of Lord Vishnu and Shiva could slay her, so She was indestructible. To save the world from annihilation, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Mohini and wed Shiva, and thus Lord Ayyappa was born. After the birth of Ayyappa, Shiva and Mohini left the child on the banks of the Pampa River. Then, the ruler of the dynasty, King Rajashekhara, the childless monarch adopted Ayyappa.

After the King adopted Ayyappa, the King couple were blessed with a son named Raja Rajan. Though both the boys grew up as princes, Ayyappa excelled in martial arts and was very Knowledgeable in all Shastras. Upon completing his training and studies, it was time to name the heir to the throne. King Rajashekhara wanted Ayyappa to become king, but the Queen wanted her son to be named the King. So, she created all troubles for Ayyappa.

Lord Ayyappa tricked by the Queen, goes to the forest for getting milk from a tigress (to save the Queen from a mysterious health issue). On his way, he realized the purpose of his incarnation on Earth was to kill the demoness, Mahishi. Lord Ayyappa and Mahishi had a fierce battle, and she died in Ayyappa’s hands and received moksha. Later, King Rajashekhara and Queen realise that Lord Ayyappa is no ordinary child, and request him to accept the throne. But Ayyappa refuses and goes to the heavenly abode.

King Rajashekhara constructed a temple for Ayyappa at Sabarimala. The temple was designed by the great Architect of Gods, Vishvakarma. The Ayyappa idol was carved by Sage Parasuram and installed on the day of Makara Sankranthi.

Iravan or Aravan

Aravan or Iravan is the son of Arjuna and Ulupi, the Naga Princess. There are two stories of Aravan in vogue.

In the Mahabharata, he dies in the Kurukshetra war. In South Indian folklore, he agrees to be sacrificed for Pandava's victory in the Kurukshetra war. He is also the deity worshipped by the transgender or eunuchs.
In the Mahabharata War, Iravan fights on the side of the Pandavas. Iravan fights the Kauravas along with his Naga warriors. On the eighth day of the war, Iravan finds Shakuni Mama killing Pandava soldiers by shooting arrows at their backs.
For this trickery, the entire legion that Shakuni commanded was killed by Iravan and Naga warriors. Duryodhana who witnessed the destruction of a large part of his army ordered Alambusa, a demon with magical power, to kill Iravan. Alambusa flies through the air and chops off the head of an unsuspecting Iravan who was engaged in combat with Shakuni. He was killed through trickery. Alambusa was later killed by Ghatotkacha, son of Bhima.

Different Story in South India
Aravan story in Tamil Nadu is entirely different. Aravan agrees to do self-sacrifice before Goddess Kali for the victory of the Pandavas. His only wish was to get married before the sacrifice. But no woman was ready to get married for a day.

Sri Krishna then takes the form of Mohini and marries Aravan. This single-day marriage is celebrated during the Koovagam Transgender Festival at Koovagam village in Tamil Nadu. Aravan is here known as Koothandavara.

Interesting, right?

However, in modern India, the status of the tritiya prakriti has been choked by the Judiciary, which is holding up the Anglo-Indian law, inspired by the British model, based on the morals of Christianity. India, once the home of pluralism, oneness, and multi-ideology tolerance, personally protected rights under Sanatan Dharma, is now failing to recognise its people, and curbing their existence, who are native to this land.

Learn about similar topics:

Read: The Suffrage Of Transgenders & The Hijra Community

To Note: Acknowledgement of Information Sources is attached as embedded links. The topic deals with vedic scriptures, histories, and constitutional laws, therefore, some sections are direct copies. I acknowledge the direct copies belong to the original writers.