Hinduism’s Approach to Sexuality
Dr Asavari Herwadkar MD
Date: 23.07.2014
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Hinduism’s approach to sexuality
1. What is Hinduism ?
2. References from Hindu text with relevance
to present times – inclusivity
3. Way forward
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The Hindu notion of the divine is
unique. Its given form and not
restricted to a singular idea – there
are gods and goddesses who are
individually pieces of a puzzle called
God
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Hinduism is…
• “Oldest religion“ and third largest in the world…
• But it is not exactly a religion!
• Supreme Court of India :
“ Unlike other religions in the World, the Hindu religion does not claim any one
Prophet, it does not worship any one God, it does not believe in any one
philosophic concept, it does not follow any one act of religious rites or
performances; in fact, it does not satisfy the traditional features of a religion or
creed…
… it is a way of life and nothing more”
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Hinduism is (cont’d)…
• Subjective… allowing for individual perspective & interpretation
Basic essence of Hinduism is… every individual atma (soul)
should realize and find the ultimate truth (Parmatma/ Source/
God) in their own unique way… across different rebirths… the
physical life and the individual atma (soul) realize ultimate
truth… circle of life and death gets over as soul becomes one with
source
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…tradition of many bodies
Sphere of life & existence in Hinduism
Unfulfilled desires/aspirations of previous life…
Sthula Sharira
GROSS BODY
(Physical Body)
Linga Sharira
Karana Sharira
SUBTLE BODY
CAUSAL BODY
Atma
(Mind and
(Samskara –
SOUL
emotions)
Karma)
… carried forward in next birth
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Ultimate source
remains constant
Features of Hinduism
• Hindu mythology uses gender as a vehicle to
communicate metaphysics
• In Hinduism, love is regarded as an eternal force. It is
seen as devotion between two people, whether romantic
or platonic. Hindus believe love and devotion are
important in attaining Moksha or Liberation from the
cycle of rebirths.
• Erotic desire or Kama in Hinduism was deemed as one
of the most legitimate pleasures on earth (thus
accounting for the vast numbers of erotic treatises, poetry
and sensuous sculptures of ancient India
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Hinduism and women …
Trinity – Divine in feminine form
• Brahma Creator –Saraswati knowledge
• Vishnu-sustainer – Laxmi wealth
• Shiva destroyer – Shakti power
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Ardhanari- eshwar – the half women God
• Shiva is incomplete without the Goddess –meaning the spiritual reality (Shiva)
is incomplete without material reality (Shakti)
• It is only through material reality that we can realize spiritual reality…
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Present times – Ardhanari is worshipped
Ardhanari is especially worshipped by Hindus
and has special significance as a patron of
hijras, who identify with the gender ambiguity
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Mohini – female form of Vishnu/ Krishna
• Mohini is the female for of Lord Vishnu but male
in essence.
• Mohini enchants to draw humanity’s attention to
spirituality reality in material reality
• Material and spiritual world are interdependent
• Mohini is the spiritual reality soaked in material
world and needs to enchant Shiva to the material
world
• And Shiva knowing Mohini is Vishnu gets
enchanted by her
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Chamundi Chotila
•
No one knows why the goddesses appear in the
image
•
Some say she that Chotila is Chamunda’s sister
while other say she is her companion
•
Both have no male attendent or consort because
marriage is suppose to domesticate . These two
goddeses are warriors
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Homosexuality
Rigveda, one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism says Vikriti
Evam Prakriti (Sanskrit: विकृत िः एिम ् प्रकृत िः। meaning what seems unnatural is also natural),[13] which some scholars believe recognizes
homosexual/transsexual dimensions of human life, like all forms of
universal diversities
• The famous Kama Sutra states that
homosexual sex is to be engaged in and
enjoyed for its own sake as one of the arts
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Bahuchara Mata …
Bahuchara Mata is considered patroness of—and worshipped by hijra
community in India.
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The Hindu festival of Bahuchara Mata was celebrated at Shiv
Mandir Karachi, in which both Hindu elders and children
participated …
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Role to play in society
• Loard Rama grants hijras the boon to confer
blessings on people during auspicious inaugural
occasions like childbirth and weddings. This
boon is the origin of badhai in which hijras sing,
dance, and give blessings
• Today believe that Hijras are the messenger of
Gods and their blessing brings good fortune
• Picture of a hijra blessing a baby at a birthing
ceremony
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Lord Aravan
• Each year in Tamil Nadu, during April and May,
hijras celebrate an eighteen-day religious festival
devoted to the deity Koothandavar, who is
identified with Aravan.
• During the festival, the Aravanis reenact a story of
the wedding of Lord Krishna and Lord Aravan,
followed by Aravan's subsequent sacrifice. They
then mourn Aravan's death through ritualistic
dances and by breaking their bangles.
• An annual beauty pageant is also held, as well as
various health and HIV or AIDS seminars
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In ancient India
•
Prostitution, has been a theme in Indian literature and arts for centuries
•
In Southern India, devadasi and in Nepal Deuki is the practice involves dedicating
pre-pubescent and young adolescent girls from villages in a ritual marriage to a deity
or a temple, who then work in the temple and function as spiritual guides, dancers,
and prostitutes servicing male devotees in the temple.
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Law pertaining to sex workers
•
Various state governments in India have enacted laws to ban Devadasi practice prior
to India's independence and since.
•
The primary law dealing with the status of sex workers is the 1956 law referred to as
The Immoral Traffic (Suppression) Act (SITA). According to this law, prostitutes can
practise their trade privately but cannot legally solicit or 'seduce' customers in public
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Role of Media – glorified courtesans
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Role of Media – Transgender
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Role of Media – Homosexual relations
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377
•
Chapter XVI, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code dating back to 1861,[1] introduced
during the British rule of India, criminalises sexual activities "against the order of
nature".
•
The section was declared unconstitutional with respect to sex between consenting
adults by the High Court of Delhi on 2 July 2009.
•
That judgement was overturned by the Supreme Court of India on 12 December 2013,
with the Court holding that amending or repealing Section 377 should be a matter left
to Parliament, not the judiciary
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Agitation
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Third gender -Minority status
• On 15th April 2014 the Supreme Court of India ruled that transgender
people would be recognised on official documents under a separate "third
gender" category. The change follows similar legislation in Nepal, Pakistan
and Bangladesh.
• This means that now, for the first time, there are quotas of government jobs
and college places for hijras. The decision has been cheered by activists, who
say that, despite its distinguished history, the community too often faces
violence and harassment.
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Present times
• Gay parades across major cities like Mumbai
Delhi Bangalore Pune of India since late 1990s
• The parades have grown such as Calcutta 11th
Rainbow Pride festival in 2013 had more than
1500 people compared to 15 in 1999
• Kashish Mumbai Queer Festival 2012
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Dialogue of faith leaders with key population
• Asia pacific level
• National levels
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Dialogue
Faith leaders signed their commitment to more dialogues
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Save workshops
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Faith against Homophobia May 2014
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Thank you
Dr Asavari Herwadkar , MD
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