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

Devdutt Pattanaik

Contents



Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Placing Stories in Context
Universality of Queer Narratives
Differences in Queer Narratives
Hindu versus Biblical Paradigm
Structured Society Within Fluid Philosophy
The Hindu Way of Life
Hindu Response to Queer Sexuality
Adoption of the Colonial Discourse
The Third Sex and Gender in India
An Ancient Legacy
What About the Women?
Representation in Narratives
Interpretation of Narratives
Structure and Aim of the Book
Chapter 1. Women Who Become Men
Bhisma: The Son Who Swore Celibacy
Avikshita: The Prince Who Believed He Was a Woman
Amba's Quest for Manhood
Children of the Man with Queer Virility
Shikhandini Gets a Male Body
The Raja's Daughter Who Became His Son
The Girls Who Got Married
The Inseparable Girls
Man Who Was a Woman
The Woman Who Became a Man and Then a Woman
Sariputra's Sex Change
Malli Who Became Malli-Natha
Chapter 2. Pregnant Kings
Bhangashvana: The Man Who Was Father and Mother
Somavat: The Male Wife
Son of a Eunuch
The Forest Where Men Became Women
The Dawn-God Becomes a Woman
Riksharaja's Dip into Womanhood
Narada Becomes a Woman
Yuvanashva: The Pregnant King
Ravana's Pregnancy
Shiva Gives Birth to Shukra
Kavya Gives Birth to Kacha
Birth of Kartikeya
Kartikeya Turns Away from Women
Chapter 3. Cross-Dressing Tricksters
Mohini Tricks Bhasma
Mohini Fools the Asuras
Mohini Kills Virochana
Mohini Enchants the Sages
Vishnu Arouses Shiva
Death of Adi
The Son of Shiva and Vishnu
Kali Becomes Krishna
Shiva, The Milkmaid
Krishna Wears Radha's Clothes
Krishna Kills Araka
Krishna and Arjuna As Mother and Daughter
Ghatotkacha in Women's Clothes
Bhima in Women's Clothes
Santoshi and Her Brother
Krishna Becomes Aravan's Wife
Samba's Pregnancy
Ravana's Harem
Past Lives of the Milkmaids
Chapter 4. Castrated Men and Women
Brihanalla: The Eunuch Dancer
Urvashi Castrates Arjuna
Bahuchara Emasculates Her Husband
Bahuchara Cuts Her Breasts
Kannagi Plucks Out Her Breast
Shiva Castrates Himself
Sages Castrate Shiva
Indra Loses His Manhood
Laxmana Mutilates Surpanakha
Emasculation of Jamadagni's Sons
Chelliamman's Female Companion
The Man Who Had Never Seen a Woman
Chapter 5. Neither This nor That
Narasimha
Creation of Ganesha
Two Queens Conceive a Child
Ganesha Remains Single
The Separation of the Three Worlds
Rama's Return
Purusha Splits into Two
Brahma Sees the Half-Woman God
Shiva Makes Parvati His Left Half
Shiva Fuses with Parvati
Shiva Cursed to Become an Androgyne
Bhrungi Tries to Separate the Androgyne
Shiva-Linga
The Prince Who Married His Left Half
Afterword
Notes
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
Reference Notes Included