What Does Hinduism Say About Homosexuality?
Last Updated on February 1, 2023
Summary: Intimate connections between people of the same sex are depicted in the Puranas, and unlike in other religions or beliefs, Hinduism does not view homosexuality as a sin.
It is very obvious that the freedom to choose one’s sexual orientation is at danger in India due to the fact that those who identify as homosexuals are viewed as being from another planet.
People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) are often met with discrimination in India. However, Indian Mythology has various stories that can undermine such moral policing.
There are many people around me and my locality or sometimes even my friends who condemn Homosexuality. I don’t see anything wrong with it and I have never heard a story in any Hindu scripture that labels homosexuality as a sin or something alien.
Let’s discuss what Hinduism says about homosexuality in this article. I hope you’ll get a new perspective.
Hinduism On Homosexuality
According to Hindu mythology, gods and goddesses might appear in a variety of incarnations, but they are all comprised of the same encompassing energy known as Brahman. Contrary to the monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Hinduism emphasizes reincarnation as a means to liberate the soul from the confines of the physical body and the ego.
This process involves a release from sensuous experiences, including sexuality, and it may also involve other forms of sensuality. However, the sacred writings of Hinduism do not differentiate between heterosexual and gay acts of sexuality. In addition, there are both female and male deities who exhibit masculine and feminine characteristics, respectively.
Stories often depict Krishna with braided hair, red-dyed palms, a nose ring, and a supple, bending figure. Because of this, when depicted as Krishna, he is hailed as the ideal human being and the consummate man (Purushottam) (purna-purusha).
It would appear that the ancients did not view the amplification of the feminine as having a negative impact on masculinity. In the Indian epic known as the Mahabharata, there are a number of characters that don’t fit the typical mold, such as Brihanalla, a man who temporarily loses his manhood.
Later in life, Shikhandi gets male genitalia. Bhagashavana alternates between being a man, husband, and father and a woman, wife, and mother. Yuvanashva falls pregnant after ingesting a magical elixir and gives birth to a son via his thigh.
There are stories in the Puranas about people of the same gender engaging in sexually intimate relationships with one another, such as the story of Somavat and Sumedha, who marry after one of them transforms into a woman.
To sum up, unlike modern so-called Hindu organizations and society, which condones the reality of LGBTQ to be an incarnation of asuras and whatever, hijras (people of the third sex) were accepted by Vedic culture and allowed to live openly according to their gender identification.
The Hindu religion, also known as Sanatan Dharma, allows its adherents complete freedom to conduct their lives as they see fit, to pray to any deity they choose, as long as they fulfill their obligations and avoid engaging in deviant or immoral behavior that could put Dharma in risk.
Also Read:
