Gender Diversity in Hindu Deities & Interpretations
In certain Hindu sects, many deities are considered androgynous.
Some Hindu deities are described as:
Intersex (both male and female)
Manifesting in three genders
Switching from male to female or female to male
Male deities with feminine qualities
Female deities with masculine qualities
Deities who avoid the opposite sex
Deities with principal companions of the same sex
However, these interpretations are not accepted by the majority of Hindus.
Those who accept these beliefs justify them by stating that both God and nature are infinitely diverse.
Historical Recognition of Third Gender & Same-Sex References in Hinduism
- A "third gender" has been acknowledged in Hinduism since Vedic times.
- Hindu texts such as the Manu Smriti and Sushruta Samhita mention that some people are born with mixed male and female natures or are sexually neuter.
- These texts also reference roles such as masseurs and prostitutes.
- Today, many third-gender individuals (Hijras) live across India, often on the margins of society.
- Many earn their livelihood through prostitution or begging.
- The Kama Sutra (4th century AD) includes passages describing eunuchs or "third-sex" males performing oral sex on men.
- The Kama Sutra (4th century AD) includes passages describing eunuchs or "third-sex" males performing oral sex on men.
- However, historian Devdutt Pattanaik notes that the author was not supportive of homosexual activities and treated such individuals with disdain.
- Some medieval Hindu temples, such as those at Khajuraho, depict male homosexuality and lesbianism in their carvings.
- These depictions suggest that Hindu society and religion may have previously been more open to variations in human sexuality than they are today.
