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Re: Homosexuality
In the article <4b5kor$9mi@babbage.ece.uc.edu>,
of 19 Dec 1995 06:06:19 UTC,
rstaake@bgnet.bgsu.edu (Ryan King Staake) wrote:
> I am interested in finding out what the Hindu view of
> homosexuality is. Could anyone enlighten me on the matter?
> Thank you in advance.
> - rstaake@bgnet.bgsu.edu (Ryan King Staake)
Two articles from elsewhere on the Net are appended below.
Jai Maharaj <jai@mantra.com> *-=Om Shanti=-*
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=== Article 1 ======================================================
[ From: an435808@anon.penet.fi (-Y ) ]
[ Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian ]
[ Date: Wed, 20 Dec 1995 21:54:27 UTC ]
[ Subject: Hindu view of homosexuality ]
: Ryan King Staake asked:
: "I am interested in finding out what the Hindu view of
: homosexuality is. Could anyone enlighten me on the matter?
: Thank you in advance."
Homosexuality, while not unknown in ancient India, received very
little attention. In the subcontinent, during the past several
centuries much of it was generally related to the central asian
tradition, in turn derived from the greek tradition.
Al Beruni has something on it.
This is what Manu has to say about it.
..............................................................
Manusmriti: CHAPTER XI.
175. A twice-born man who commits an unnatural offence with a male,
or has intercourse with a female in a cart drawn by oxen, in water,
or in the day-time, shall bathe, dressed in his clothes.
..................................................................
Y
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=== Article 2 ======================================================
[ From: Shabari Kumar <smk9@columbia.edu> ]
[ Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian ]
[ Subject: Re: Hindu view of homosexuality ]
[ Date: Thu, 21 Dec 1995 10:24:44 -0500 ]
On Wed, 20 Dec 1995, -Y wrote:
> Ryan King Staake asked:
>
> "I am interested in finding out what the Hindu view of
> homosexuality is. Could anyone enlighten me on the matter?
> Thank you in advance."
>
> Homosexuality, while not unknown in ancient India, received very
> little attention. In the subcontinent, during the past several
mmm, i guess we have differing opinions on what "little" attention
is. Off the top of my head, i can think of Jaiminiya brahmina,
mahabharata, ramayana, manu, arthashastra, caraka samhita, susruta,
padma purana, as well as buddhist texts like buddhacarita, vinaya
lit. (eg.bhikkuni and bhikkuvinaya), Saddharmasmrtyupasthanasutra,
buddhaghosa's writings, etc. actually, there are many more in wendy
doniger o'flaherty's book, women, androgynes and other mythical
beasts. in various mythological stories there's a mixed view of
homosexuality, a little nicer than the works above, which were
generally unenthusiastic.
> centuries much of it was generally related to the central asian
> tradition, in turn derived from the greek tradition.
well, i am not sure about this. the wealth of homosexual
references happens in medieval times in the bhakti/tantric
movements, and i'm not sure what their connection is to central
asia or greece!
> Al Beruni has something on it.
>
> This is what Manu has to say about it.
> ..........................................................
> Manusmriti: CHAPTER XI.
>
> 175. A twice-born man who commits an unnatural offence with a
> male, or has intercourse with a female in a cart drawn by oxen,
> in water, or in the day-time, shall bathe, dressed in his
> clothes.
>..............................................................
actually, manu has a lot more to say, and it's a bit more
complicated., The Laws of Manu conflate impotency, homosexuality,
transvestitism and being a eunuch in the word "kliba" (Laws of Manu
1991, 328), marking male homosexuality,by association, as
transgressive primarily because it is non-procreative.
Verses 369 and 370 of Book VIII of The Laws of Manu read: "If a
virgin does it to another virgin, she should be fined 200
(pennies), be made to pay double (the girl's) bride-price, and
receive ten whip (lashes). But if a (mature) woman does it to a
virgin, her head should be shaved immediately or two of her fingers
should be cut off, and she should be made to ride on a donkey"
(Laws of Manu 1991, 191)
not very cheerful.
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