The Hindu God Of Transgenders | Origin Of Transgender In Hinduism It is widely believed in the Southern India that transgender community originated from a small character in the Mahabharata named Iravan, often also referred as Aravan. Aravan was the child of Arjun and Ulupi, the widowed Naga princess. According to the Tamil version of Mahabharata, before the beginning of the Kurukshetra war a sacrificial rite named Kalappali was performed. Aravan sacrificed himself in the war and was granted three boons by Lord Krishna, which ended up with Lord Krishna marrying him. Krishna as Mohini married Aravan, spending the night with him. It is from Aravan’s lineage after his association with Krishna’s female form that the transgenders are said to have been born. And that is why, trans-genders or Kinnars are also called Aravanis in Tamil. That is why in certain parts of Southern India there is 18-day Aravani festival which is mostly held by the trans-gender community. The Aravanis (Trans-genders) are married to Aravan as his bride and when the sacrifice of Aravan is enacted, the Aravanis become the widow of Aravan and mourn his death by breaking their bangles, beating their chest and discarding their bridal jewelry.
","author_name":"Gautama Buddha"}