The Man Who Was a Woman and Other Queer Tales From Hindu Lore by Pattanaik, Devdutt -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication About the Author Table of 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

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