LGBT themes in Hindu mythology

Aravanis (right), the intersex brides of god Aravan (left), mourn his death.

In Hindu mythology, there are deities or heroes whose attributes or behavior can be interpreted as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) or have elements of gender variance and non-heterosexual sexuality.^[1] Traditional Hindu literary sources do not speak of homosexuality directly,^[1] but changes of sex, homoerotic encounters, and intersex or third gender characters are often found both in traditional religious narratives such as the Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas as well as in regional folklore.

Hindu mythology has many examples of deities changing gender, manifesting as different genders at different times, or combining to form androgynous or hermaphroditic beings. Gods change sex or manifest as an avatar of the opposite sex in order to facilitate sexual congress.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] Non-divine beings also undergo sex-changes through the actions of the gods, as the result of curses or blessings, or as the natural outcome of reincarnation.

Hindu mythology contains numerous incidents where sexual interactions can serve a sacred religious purpose; in some cases, these are same-sex interactions. Sometimes the gods condemn these interactions but at other times they occur with their blessing.^[6]^[7]

In addition to stories of gender and sexual variance that are generally accepted by mainstream Hinduism, modern scholars and queer activists have highlighted LGBT themes in lesser-known texts, or inferred them from stories that traditionally are considered to have no homoerotic subtext. Such analyses have caused disagreements about the true meaning of the ancient stories.^[8]^[9]

^ ^a ^b Morgan, Peggy; Lawton, Clive (2006). Ethical issues in six religious traditions. Edinburgh University Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-7486-2330-3.
^ Conner & Sparks (1998), p. 305, "Shiva"
^ Conner & Sparks (1998), p. 67, "Ardhanarishvara "
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[morgan15-1] Morgan, Peggy; Lawton, Clive (2006). Ethical issues in six religious traditions. Edinburgh University Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-7486-2330-3.

[conner305-2] Conner & Sparks (1998), p. 305, "Shiva"

[conner67-3] Conner & Sparks (1998), p. 67, "Ardhanarishvara "

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