Queer Discourse in Indic Myths: ‘Other’ Stories from a Gender-Fluid World

Abstract

Gender and sexuality in the Indic myths have long been a subject of academic research (Brodbeck and Black, 2007; Smith, 1985; Dumezil, 1988; Hiltebeital, 1980). Asexual reproduction has been referred to several times over in The Mahabharata. The celebrated Guru Dronacharya proudly proclaimed that he was born ‘ayonija, i.e. not out of a womb (1:61). The fabled Guru of the Pandavas was born out of a ‘water pot’ (1.120). Guru Kripacharya took birth from a clump of reed (1.120). The commander-in chief of the army of the Devas, Kartikeyan, also called Skanda, was born when Fire met Fire, i.e. from the union of Lord Shiva and God Agni (1.60). The Epic recounts the haunting story of Shikhandi, the trans-gender, who was presented as Shikhandini the princess. In yet another instance of gender-bending The Mahabharata cites the example of King Yuvanashwa who drank the sacred water meant for his wife and gave birth to Mandhata, who in turn was wetnursed by Lord Indra (3:126). Vashishtha, the great sage, was born of two Vedic Gods, Mitra and Varuna (1.59). The Epic makes Arjuna take up the role of Brihannala, the eunuch, who as a warrior saves the fortunes of the Matsya Empire (4: 2). The Epic casts Vishnu as Mohini, the enchantress, who saved the Devas by killing Rahu and Ketu (1:16). It reiterates the Upanishadic rendition of Shiva as the primal ‘Purusha’ who was one with Prakriti, lauding him as ‘Ardhanarishwara’.