Revisiting Queerness in Indian Mythology

The many stories, gods, and folk traditions that make up Indian mythology provide a fertile ground for investigating how gender non-conformity and non-traditional sexualities are portrayed. Concepts of gender and sexuality have always been varied, intricate, and culturally rooted; nonetheless, contemporary discussions of queerness tend to center on Western theoretical frameworks. Stories and characters in ancient texts like the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Puranas, as well as in regional oral traditions, question traditional gender roles and heteronormativity. Examples include Shikhandi's gender transition, Arjuna's embodiment as Brihannala, and Ardhanarishvara's synthesis of feminine and masculine traits. These stories show how spiritual, social, and cultural frameworks ritualized and normalized queerness while also highlighting the acceptance of multiple identities. In order to highlight their significance in modern LGBT discourse, this article returns to such legendary depictions. Following these portrayals, the research places queerness inside India's indigenous knowledge systems, disproving the idea that it is an alien or contemporary concept. A more inclusive view of gender and sexuality in both historical and present contexts can be achieved by engaging with mythological texts via a queer lens, according to the research. This approach also helps to recover marginalized narratives.