The Man Who Was a Woman and Other Queer Tales from Hindu Lore

by Pattanaik; Devdutt

• ISBN13: 9781560231806
• ISBN10: 1560231807
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-01-08
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Nonfiction. "Only a writer who is intimately familiar with the many thousands of Hindu legends could compile this book. Devdutt Pattanaik not only quotes the legends themselves, but also offers his own extensive commentary to place the stories in proper context. Hindu ideas of divine androgyny offer a basis for greater acceptance of gender diversity in the future" -Walter L. Williams, PhD, Professor of Anthropology and Gender Studies, University of Southern California; Editor, International Gay and Lesbian Review.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Acknowledgments	xiii
Introduction: Placing Stories in Context	1	(1)
Universality of Queer Narratives	1	(1)
Differences in Queer Narratives	2	(2)
Hindu versus Biblical Paradigm	4	(1)
Structured Society Within Fluid Philosophy	5	(1)
The Hindu Way of Life	6	(2)
Hindu Response to Queer Sexuality	8	(2)
Adoption of the Colonial Discourse	10	(1)
The Third Sex and Gender in India	10	(2)
An Ancient Legacy	12	(1)
What About the Women?	13	(2)
Representation in Narratives	15	(1)
Interpretation of Narratives	16	(1)
Structure and Aim of the Book	17	(2)
Women Who Become Men	19	(22)
Bhisma: The Son Who Swore Celibacy	21	(1)
Avikshita: The Prince Who Believed He Was a Woman	22	(1)
Amba's Quest for Manhood	23	(2)
Children of the Man with Queer Virility	25	(1)
Shikhandini Gets a Male Body	26	(2)
The Raja's Daughter Who Became His Son	28	(1)
The Girls Who Got Married	29	(2)
The Inseparable Girls	31	(2)
Man Who Was a Woman	33	(2)
The Woman Who Became a Man and Then a Woman	35	(3)
Sariputra's Sex Change	38	(1)
Malli Who Became Malli-Natha	39	(2)
Pregnant Kings	41	(24)
Bhangashvana: The Man Who Was Father and Mother	41	(2)
Somavat: The Male Wife	43	(1)
Son of a Eunuch	44	(1)
The Forest Where Men Became Women	45	(4)
The Dawn-God Becomes a Woman	49	(1)
Riksharaja's Dip into Womanhood	49	(2)
Narada Becomes a Woman	51	(3)
Yuvanashva: The Pregnant King	54	(2)
Ravana's Pregnancy	56	(1)
Shiva Gives Birth to Shukra	57	(1)
Kavya Gives Birth to Kacha	58	(3)
Birth of Kartikeya	61	(2)
Kartikeya Turns Away from Women	63	(2)
Cross-Dressing Tricksters	65	(30)
Mohini Tricks Bhasma	66	(2)
Mohini Fools the Asuras	68	(3)
Mohini Kills Virochana	71	(1)
Mohini Enchants the Sages	71	(1)
Vishnu Arouses Shiva	72	(1)
Death of Adi	73	(2)
The Son of Shiva and Vishnu	75	(2)
Kali Becomes Krishna	77	(1)
Shiva, the Milkmaid	78	(3)
Krishna Wears Radha's Clothes	81	(2)
Krishna Kills Araka	83	(1)
Krishna and Arjuna As Mother and Daughter	84	(1)
Ghatotkacha in Women's Clothes	84	(1)
Bhima in Women's Clothes	85	(1)
Santoshi and Her Brother	86	(1)
Krishna Becomes Aravan's Wife	87	(1)
Samba's Pregnancy	88	(3)
Ravana's Harem	91	(1)
Past Lives of the Milkmaids	92	(3)
Castrated Men and Women	95	(18)
Brihanalla: The Eunuch Dancer	95	(3)
Urvashi Castrates Arjuna	98	(1)
Bahuchara Emasculates Her Husband	99	(2)
Bahuchara Cuts Her Breasts	101	(1)
Kannagi Plucks Out Her Breast	102	(1)
Shiva Castrates Himself	103	(1)
Sages Castrate Shiva	104	(1)
Indra Loses His Manhood	105	(1)
Laxmana Mutilates Surpanakha	106	(1)
Emasculation of Jamadagni's Sons	107	(2)
Chelliamman's Female Companion	109	(2)
The Man Who Had Never Seen a Woman	111	(2)
Neither This nor That	113	(20)
Narasimha	113	(2)
Creation of Ganesha	115	(1)
Two Queens Conceive a Child	116	(2)
Ganesha Remains Single	118	(2)
The Separation of the Three Worlds	120	(1)
Rama's Return	121	(1)
Purusha Splits into Two	122	(1)
Brahma Sees the Half-Woman God	123	(2)
Shiva Makes Parvati His Left Half	125	(1)
Shiva Fuses with Parvati	125	(3)
Shiva Cursed to Become an Androgyne	128	(1)
Bhrungi Tries to Separate the Androgyne	128	(1)
Shiva-Linga	129	(1)
The Prince Who Married His Left Half	130	(3)
Afterword	133	(2)
Notes	135	(6)
Glossary	141	(12)
Bibliography	153	(4)
Index	157