Title
Symbols of Emancipation? Images of God/dess, Devotees and Trans-sex/gender in Hindu Traditions
Abstract
From Ancient times the imagery and mythology of the most important Hindu gods Visnu and Siva – who are personified as males – comprise well-known and popular representations of transsexual/transgender phenomena. For special purposes, Visnu takes on a female form called Mohinı, whereas the androgynous manifestation of Siva as Ardhanarisvara unites the male god with his female counterpart. The significance of these images does not remain the same throughout history. The varying interpretations change according to different cultural contexts, developments, discourses and interests. Regarding Visnu Mohinı, she may represent the classical stereotype of the temptress, but can also be considered as a transsexual. Pictorial representations act as powerful symbols which legitimate traditional patterns of sex and gender, as well as their dynamic transformations.
Keywords
Religion and transformationgenderHinduismReligious Studiesgod/dess symbolstranssexualitytransgenderandrogynyfluid sex/genderqueer
Object type
Language
English [eng]
Persistent identifier
https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:875490
Appeared in
Title
Interdisciplinary Journal for Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society – J-RaT
Volume
3
Issue
2
From page
235
To page
257
Publisher
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co, KG
Date issued
2017
Access rights
Rights statement
© V&R unipress GmbH

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