Third gender in Hinduism

Third gender in Hinduism

JUN 13 -

Whenever I talk to people in a private circle, most of them don’t seem to think much of them. However, when it comes to giving one’s opinion publicly, these same people say that the government and society must accept the third gender. I’m always surprised by this ambivalence. Surprisingly, scholars have found evidence of the third gender in the theologies of

different religions. I cannot say with certainty about other religions, but as a person who has an interest in Hindu philosophy and has studied the Hindu scriptures, I can say loudly that there are many evidences of the third gender in Hinduism. Ancient scholars have designated the Hindu epic Mahabharata as the gist of Hindu religion and philosophy. Even if Hindus counter this statement, they will certainly agree that the Mahabharata is one of the much loved scriptures in Hinduism. Stories from the Mahabharata are well known among Hindus. In the Mahabharata, there are two third-gender characters: Brihanla and Sikhandi. Brihanla is the third gender form of Arjuna, and Sikhandi was a third gender by birth. They are both major characters in the Mahabharata.

During the one year Arjuna spent in hiding in the kingdom of the Birata, he changed into a third gender form. The Mahabharata says it was because of a curse given by a heavenly nymph named Urbasi. The Mahabharata does say that Arjuna dressed as a woman to hide his identity, and emphasised that he turned into a third gender. Brihanla is worshiped as a deity by people of the third gender in India. There is a temple dedicated to Brihanla somewhere in Chennai in south India.

Sikhandi was a brother (or perhaps sister) of Draupadi. Because of the androgynous features, Sikhandi is mentioned both as a man and a woman. Sikhandi assisted Arjuna in killing Bhishma.

There is even a hermaphrodite deity in Hinduism. Ardhanarishwor, a unique deity who is half male and half female, is also one of many interesting features and characters of Shiva. Ardhanarishwor is an androgynous form of Shiva and Shakti. Ardhanarishwor is neither Shiva nor Parvati, however, the god and goddess have combined into one. The next time you see someone with androgynous features, remember that this person has been blessed by Lord Ardhanarishwor.

Hindus worship Shiva and Vishnu in a combined form as Hari-Har, where Hari is Vishnu and Har is Shiva. The iconography of Hari-Hari depicts Shiva and Vishnu standing close together. The prayers dedicated to Hari-Har refer to these deities as a male couple. The Vedas mention a male couple called Ashwini-Kumar. According to the Vedas, Ashwini-Kumar were twins and the doctors of the gods. Hindu theologies always refer to Ashwini-Kumar as a couple. Those people who think that the LGBT

(lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community is anti-Hindu should look deep into the religious scriptures.