Trans Lore In Scriptures

The mention of trans-people in various mythologies is proof that ancient people had a refined understanding of gender and sexuality

- Devdutt Pattanaik

IN the US, there is a cultural war going on involving transpeople. There is an argument that trans-women are women.

That trans-women must be allowed to compete in women’s sports and get access to women’s bathrooms. Not much talk about trans-men in men’s sports though.

Those who oppose this trend, from Martina Navratilova to J K Rowling, are called TERF (Trans-exclusionary Radical Feminists) who are even abused by trolls online as ‘milk-oozing bleeders with a bonus hole.’

There is a general dismissal of biological differences and greater value is placed on social constructs. This trend emerges from academicians in the gender studies department, who, tired of the hegemony of scientists, are now arguing that feelings matter more than measurement.

In India, however, the trans-world has always been acknowledged as a third category, the Tritiya Prakriti (TP). We find this in ancient literature, from Panini to Kamasutra. This category bundles every variant related to gender (trans, intersex) and sexuality (gay, lesbian, bi, asexual). It has been so for hundreds of years.

Ancient Indian Gender Studies

Gender studies are neither western nor modern. It was very much a part of ancient India. Words such as kliba (impotent, sterile), napunsaka (not male) and kinnara (not quite male) occur in Sanskrit literature as do pedi (cross dresser) in Tamil, and pandaka (effeminate homosexual) in Pali. The meanings are unclear. Are they referring to biology (genitalia), psychology (sexual feelings), behaviour (sexual act) or social expression (clothing and public behaviour)?

In Patanjali’s