#hindu gods

[h0bg0blin-meat]

Okay. So I've already talked about Krishna-Arjun and Athena-Odysseus parallels in very brief.

They both have a mentor God x mortal disciple/best friend relationship (KrishnArjun be a little more *cough* intimate *cough* perhaps) and both Krishna and Athena guide their mortal besties through the war and life in general. Beautiful.

BUT. There is this one similarity YET a difference between these two pairs that I've been dying to talk about, and that is Arjun dreading the Kurukshetra war and Odysseus thinking of whether to kill Polyphemus or not.

You know where I'm going with this.

In both the instances we can see Krishna and Athena scolding them for being a coward, for being indecisive and having second thoughts about such an grave moment of their lives as this. We can clearly see the frustration in both the Gods over the hesitance of their mortal besties.

But here's where the difference comes into play. While Krishna's reprimands on Arjun finally worked after the entire recitation of the Gita and then showing his Vishwaroop, and the archer boih finally proceeded with the war,...... Odysseus didn't listen to Athena, and didn't kill Polyphemus, despite her reprimands, which then, as we know, led to their breakup. THEN Odysseus's act of not killing the cyclops was brought up by Poseidon, about how his mercifulness will one day lead to his doom, and that sometimes, killing is way better than forgiving.

Just thought it was an interesting parallel yet a distinction between these two duos.

PS: I forgot to add this for disclaimer but I am aware that Athena-Odysseus parting ways is only in the Epic musical, and not in the actual epics.

[tum-naam-sochlo-merese-ni-hora]

FIRST CANVAS PAINTING OF 2024!! prettu prettu kanhu

(also yea try to find my initials lol,, easily dikh jaayenge but uh huh)

[rrcraft-and-lore]

In addition to my Monkey Man post from earlier, the always kind & sweet Aparna Verma (author of The Phoenix King, check it out) asked that I do a thread on Hijras, & more of the history around them, South Asia, mythology (because that's my thing), & the positive inclusion of them in Monkey Man which I brought up in my gushing review.

Hijra: They are the transgender, eunuch, or intersex people in India who are officially recognized as the third sex throughout most countries in the Indian subcontinent. The trans community and history in India goes back a long way as being documented and officially recognized - far back as 12th century under the Delhi Sultanate in government records, and further back in our stories in Hinduism. The word itself is a Hindi word that's been roughly translated into English as "eunuch" commonly but it's not exactly accurate.

Hijras have been considered the third sex back in our ancient stories, and by 2014 got official recognition to identify as the third gender (neither male or female) legally. Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and India have accepted: eunuch, trans, intersex people & granted them the proper identification options on passports and other government official documents.

But let's get into some of the history surrounding the Hijra community (which for the longest time has been nomadic, and a part of India's long, rich, and sometimes, sadly, troubled history of nomadic tribes/people who have suffered a lot over the ages. Hijras and intersex people are mentioned as far back as in the Kama Sutra, as well as in the early writings of Manu Smriti in the 1st century CE (Common Era), specifically said that a third sex can exist if possessing equal male and female seed.

This concept of balancing male/female energies, seed, and halves is seen in two places in South Asian mythos/culture and connected to the Hijra history.

First, we have Aravan/Iravan (romanized) - who is also the patron deity of the transgender community. He is most commonly seen as a minor/village deity and is depicted in the Indian epic Mahabharata. Aravan is portrayed as having a heroic in the story and his self-sacrifice to the goddess Kali earns him a boon.

He requests to be married before his death. But because he is doomed to die so shortly after marriage, no one wants to marry him.

No one except Krishna, who adopts his female form Mohini (one of the legendary temptresses in mythology I've written about before) and marries him. It is through this union of male, and male presenting as female in the female form of Mohini that the seed of the Hijras is said to begun, and why the transgender community often worships Aravan and, another name for the community is Aravani - of/from Aravan.

But that's not the only place where a gender non conforming divine representation can be seen. Ardhanarishvara is the half female form of lord Shiva, the destroyer god.

Shiva combines with his consort Parvarti and creates a form that represents the balancing/union between male/female energies and physically as a perfectly split down the middle half-male half-female being. This duality in nature has long been part of South Asian culture, spiritual and philosophical beliefs, and it must be noted the sexuality/gender has often been displayed as fluid in South Asian epics and the stories. It's nothing new.

Many celestial or cosmic level beings have expressed this, and defied modern western limiting beliefs on the ideas of these themes/possibilities/forms of existence.

Ardhanarishvara signifies "totality that lies beyond duality", "bi-unity of male and female in God" and "the bisexuality and therefore the non-duality" of the Supreme Being.

Back to the Hijra community.

They have a complex and long history. Throughout time, and as commented on in the movie, Monkey Man, the Hijra community has faced ostracization, but also been incorporated into mainstream society there. During the time of the Dehli Sultanate and then later the Mughal Empire, Hijras actually served in the military and as military commanders in some records, they were also servants for wealthy households, manual laborers, political guardians, and it was seen as wise to put women under the protection of Hijras -- they often specifically served as the bodyguards and overseers of harems. A princess might be appointed a Hijra warrior to guard her.

But by the time of British colonialism, anti-Hijra laws began to come in place folded into laws against the many nomadic tribes of India (also shown in part in Monkey Man with Kid (portrayed by Dev Patel) and his family, who are possibly

one of those nomadic tribes that participated in early theater - sadly by caste often treated horribly and relegated to only the performing arts to make money (this is a guess based on the village play they were performing as no other details were given about his family).

Hijras were criminalized in 1861 by the Indian Penal Code enforced by the British and were labeled specifically as "The Hijra Problem" -- leading to an anti-Hijra campaign across the subcontinent with following laws being enacted: punishing the practices of the Hijra community, and outlawing castration (something many Hijra did to themselves). Though, it should be noted many of the laws were rarely enforced by local Indian officials/officers. But, the British made a point to further the laws against them by later adding the Criminal Tribes Act in 1871, which targeted the Hijra community along with the other nomadic Indian tribes - it subjected them to registration, tracking/monitoring, stripping them of children, and their ability to sequester themselves in their nomadic lifestyle away from the British Colonial Rule.

Today, things have changed and Hijras are being seen once again in a more positive light (though not always and this is something Monkey Man balances by what's happened to the community in a few scenes, and the heroic return/scene with Dev and his warriors). All-hijra communities exist and sort of mirror the western concept of "found families" where they are safe haven/welcoming place trans folks and those identifying as intersex.

These communities also have their own secret language known as Hijra Farsi, which is loosely based on Hindi, but consists of a unique vocabulary of at least 1,000 words.

As noted above, in 2014, the trans community received more legal rights.

Specifically: In April 2014, Justice K. S. Radhakrishnan declared transgender to be the third gender in Indian law in National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India.

Hijras, Eunuchs, apart from binary gender, be treated as "third gender" for the purpose of safeguarding their rights under Part III of our Constitution and the laws made by the Parliament and the State Legislature. Transgender persons' right to decide their self-identified gender is also upheld and the Centre and State Governments are directed to grant legal recognition of their gender identity such as male, female or as third gender.

I've included some screenshots of (some, not all, and certainly not the only/definitive reads) books people can check out about SOME of the history. Not all again. This goes back ages and even our celestial beings/creatures have/do display gender non conforming ways.

There are also films that touch on Hijra history and life. But in regards to Monkey Man, which is what started this thread particularly and being asked to comment - it is a film that positively portrayed India's third sex and normalized it in its depiction. Kid the protagonist encounters a found family of Hijras at one point in the story (no spoilers for plot) and his interactions/acceptance, living with them is just normal. There's no explaining, justifying, anything to/for the audience. It simply is. And, it's a beautiful arc of the story of Kid finding himself in their care/company.

[ms-potato]

Hindu gods as students in school ; a modern(ish) au (because I can)

starting with

> Vishnu

• rich guy™

• very calm, the main participant in conflict resolution ✌

• always treats his friends and pays for everything

• middle bencher, not fully interested in class but also not uninterested.

> Shiva

• ANGER ISSUES

• he looks really intimidating at first but once you get to know him, he is goofy

• is usually chill until he is not 💀

• backbencher for sure

> Brahma

• topper of the class

• that respected, parent friend™

• the oldest in class

• he is rarely seen because he is always studying

• obviously a front bencher

> Rama

• class president ™

• literally the kindest, most calm guy ever seen

• helps everyone in the class with everything

• he is literally good at everything

• a front bencher

> Krishna

• troublemaker ™

• always interrupts the teacher to ask funny questions

• but really smart, always gets A+ grades

• he invented backbencher culture.

• the ultimate rizzler

> Venkateshwara

• Some guy™

• he's always there, but you probably will never notice him

• representative emoji: 🧍‍♂️

• he's probably just an introvert

Bonus -

> Ganesha

• he's that adorable junior everyone loves

• really loves food, so he always has snacks

• loves to sleep in class

• totally street smart 😎

[brownglitter]

THIS IS A NEED!!! <3

[ssj2hindudude]

"How extra are you when it comes to your loved ones?"

Me:

[melontoyo]

🌌 Ananta Shesha - Primordial Eminence 🪐

• Watch Vessel of Gods on Youtube • Art book, prints, stickers • Free digital art book

[yoga-onion]

Legends of the humanoids

Reptilian humanoids (8)

Naga – Half-human, half-serpent divinities living in the underworld (Patala)

Name of a Hindu deity. Translated from Chinese as 'dragon', but originally refers to a snake, especially a cobra, as opposed to a Chinese dragon. It is assumed that snake worship already existed in the Indus civilisation. The Aryans gradually accepted the ancient worship of the snake-god and came to regard it as one of the demigods.

In Hindu literature, the Nagas, or snake people, are said to dwell in the subterranean world called Pātāla. Vāsuki and other dragon kings rule that world. At the lowest level of Pātāla dwells the primordial serpent (Shesha) Ananta, whose head supports the weight of the whole world. Nagas often appear in literary works in human form, and the dragon's daughter was described as having a very beautiful appearance.

Nagas are often mentioned in Buddhist scriptures and are one of the Eight Divisions of the Heavenly Dragon. Mahoraga, also belonging to the Eight Divisions, refers to giant serpents, but seems to refer to pythons and other serpents. In Nagaland, near the Myanmar border, there is a tribe called the Naga people, who claim to be descendants of the Naga and have preserved their own customs.

The Naga is worshipped in various Asian religious traditions and rituals dedicated to this supernatural being have been practised throughout South Asia for at least 2,000 years. They are principally depicted in three forms: as entirely human with snakes on the heads and necks, as common serpents, or as half-human, half-snake beings in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

伝説のヒューマノイドたち

ヒト型爬虫類 (8)

ナーガ 〜 冥界 (ﾊﾟｰﾀｰﾗ) に住む半人半蛇の神々 

ヒンドゥー教の神名。「竜」と漢訳されたが，本来は中国の竜とは異なり，蛇，とくにコブラのことである。蛇神崇拝はすでにインダス文明において存在したと推測される。アーリヤ人は古来より行われた蛇神崇拝をしだいに受け入れ，半神の一つとみなすようになった。 

ヒンドゥー教の文献では，ナーガすなわち蛇族は，パーターラと呼ばれる地底界に住むとされる。ヴァースキ (和修吉) その他の竜王がその世界を統治している。パーターラの最下層に原初の蛇 (梵: ｼｪｰｼｬ: 難陀竜王) アナンタが住み，その頭で全世界の重みを支えている。ナーガはしばしば人間の姿で文学作品に登場し，竜の娘は非常に美しい容姿をしているとされた。

ナーガは仏典においてもよく言及され，天竜八部衆の一つである。同じく八部衆に属する摩睺羅伽 (ﾏﾎｰﾗｶﾞ) は大蛇のことであるが，ニシキヘビなどの大蛇を指すようである。ミャンマー国境に近いナガランドには，ナガ族という種族が住んでいて，ナーガの末裔と称し，独自の習俗を維持している。

アジアのさまざまな宗教伝統においてナーガは崇拝され、この超自然的な存在に捧げる儀式は、少なくとも2,000年前から南アジア全域で行われてきた。ヒンドゥー教、仏教、ジャイナ教では、頭と首に蛇を持つ完全な人間、一般的な蛇、あるいは半人半蛇の存在として描かれている。

[buttercupspotify]

could you make an mb on my name and theme (modern day Sita) ?

❝pov : you're modern day sita ❞

💌 request by : @janaknandini-singh999

─── ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ───

note :- thank you sm for the request, this is most probably my first request ever 😭!! and the theme you chose was pretty too <3 . p.s. i imagine the two girls here as urmila and sita (yes they're sister goals 🥺)

───────── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆─────────

some ppl who might like this 💌 :-

🌼@white-poppie @nokhushionlygam @bipdf @swayamev @kiss-the-ring-and-bow-down @shyampyari @astrocatfizziks @nerdreader @readerghxst @bishh-kanya @jukti-torko-golpo @ji-jii-visha @suvarnarekha @ramayayi @a-really-hot-caterpillar @shanti-ashant-hai @melancholicmonody @oyeevarnika @nainawithspecs @lil-stark @dam-bluecookies @azure-cherie @this-barbie-is-the-problem @themistypoet @pistas-stuff

[janaknandini-singh999]

Being a king was a lovely business.

But it was also a lonely business.

How can that be? If you are surrounded by all people chanting your name from the top of their lungs like a war cry?

But what if you never wanted a war?

Any of that separation, agony and a cycle encompassing all of that just going on?

"Dharma" Ram told himself, closing his eyes

When Kaikeyi exiled him, he had looked at the dawn raising his hand to the sun, as if to reach out to the new life awaiting him now.

When Dashratha wept rivers, Ram had never seen his father this vulnerable. He wanted to console him, to cry with him, but he was bound to go away for his sake.

When Kaushalya, despite being the mother and the pain she'd face by her son's separation, she had blessed Ram to go, to do what he was meant to do.

When Shurpanakha's nose was cut off by his brother, Ram had closed his eyes tighter and sighed, knowing a war was inevitable now.

Before that, however, during the exile he was quite happy. Braiding his wife's hair by the river, pausing to look at her with loving eyes as he smiled.

"What is it?" Sita asked him, smiling back "Don't worry, swami. We will be back at our home before you know it. This exile is just by default."

"My love, for me any place with you is a honeymoon. Who cares about any exile?" He paused again to tug a stray hair behind Sita's ear "Just let me cherish this moment. Who knows when it will come to pass again?"

Sita cupped Ram's face which made him tear up a little bit "Nothing can separate us. Even if the world does, you shall be the only king and God to rule my heart forever."

"A king's duty is to serve. So, let me serve you, not rule." He whispered and kissed her hands

"As a king?" Sita raised her eyebrows in amusement, grabbing an opportunity to tease her ever solemn husband.

Ram shook his head, laughing "As your righteous and rightful darling lil husband, of course" and tickled her as the sounds of their laughter blended in with the gurgling of water and singing of the birds.

"What must it feel like to be the king, dada?" Bharat had asked him with dreamy eyes once when they were kids. Only if they knew.

"Everything ever." Ram would answer in the future

"Everything one would think they'd want.

In the end only to be a martyr,

Deemed by all as a God."

"Dada, please don't leave us alone!" Bharat cried and cried, finally taking his big brother's sandals to be placed on the throne.

The heart that breaks to keep everyone else's from breaking. Did the people love the king because of who he really was or just because of the sacrifices he made for them?

But there was one who loved him for who he really was.

Hanuman

He was moved by his devotion so that the warrior monkey soon became his family

He looked up now at the fireworks that burst in the sky

Fire

He had a strange relation with it

Fire, that ran in Lakshan's veins like rage. The fire of poison that almost took him away. Ram's world would've been long gone into darkness if he had lost his brother. But Hanuman rescued him, because of which Ram would forever be indebted to him.

Fire, that danced on Hanuman's tail. With which he set ablaze the whole kingdom of gold to ashes. The arrogance of a vast emperor defeated by the piety of "Jai Shri Ram"

Fire, that devoured Raavan's body with the flaming arrow launched by Ram. A festival that would be celebrated for eons to come.

And finally, fire that Sita had to enter for the agnipariksha. Ram knew nothing could touch her wife but for a brief second, he recalled Sati's trial and the grief Mahadev went through. He gripped his heart as a tear lingered by his eye, burning as intensely as the agni Sita was so calmly going into. But she emerged unscathed and Ram finally breathed relief.

What does it feel like to finally come home?

Ram looked around

Diyas lit up houses as far as the eyes could see

An inviting, slow flame of love, not violent fire

Rangoli adorning every doorstep in welcome

He could finally see his family, his brothers as they used to be when they were young, his parents desperate to see their son back, his people longing to touch his feet, Hanuman hugging him fiercely in between sobs and lastly, his wife's eyes numb with the happiness of reunion.

"Swami" she breathed as tears rolled down her cheeks

If he had cried earlier, they would've seen him as a weak king. Hanuman would've set the world ablaze if he saw his Ram upset. So would Lakshman. And Sita would even set herself on fire, all over again, a million times in a million births if that would ensure his happiness

But now Ram let go, all the tears he was holding back since what felt like forever

So? How does it feel?

"Prem" Ram told himself, closing his teary eyes and smiling, swaying his head silently to the tune which was on everyone's lips

Ram aayenge toh angnaa sajaungi

Deep jalaake diwali main manaungi

Meri jhopdi ke bhaag

Aaj khul jaayenge

Ram aayenge

[h0bg0blin-meat]

Nandi

[tum-naam-sochlo-merese-ni-hora]

Little kanhu I found in one of my old sketchbooks🥹

[ms-potato]

Hindu goddess as students in school ; another modern(ish) au

disclaimer: there are as many as thousand avataras of lakshmi devi and I can definitely not add all of them <\3

✿ Lakshmi

• rich girl™

• she loves to take care of her friends

• "wanna go out girls? My treat!"

• her love language is obv giving gifts to her girls

• she and vishnu are the IT couple of the school.

✿ Parvati

• Feminist™

• a girl's girl

• a great dancer

• really kind and nice but everyone is scared to talk to her because that shiva dude is always following her 🙄

• power couple tbh.

✿ Saraswati

• epitome of studious™

• always shares her notes and explains topics if someone needs help (our savior fr)

• she plays veena. beautifully.

• she and brahma are the parent friends.

• every one calls for her one day before the exam 😃

✿ Sita

• Girl boss™

• done with everyone. she is just wants to go home 😭

• she reminds everyone to stay hydrated and eat properly everyday, she even shares her lunch with everyone

• she somehow became the class representative btw.

• so she hangs out with Rama a lot because of their work.

✿ Padmavati

• cottage core girly™

• really really shy

• spends most of the time in the school garden taking care of the plants and trees.

• likes to wear flowers (mostly lotus) and tulsi on her braid

• venkat once accidentally confessed to her and then ran away.

✿ Durga

• fierce™

• "is someone bothering you Padma? 🤨"

• she loves the color red

• cat person (she wanted a lion/tiger but due to legal reasons, she got a cat)

• please don't piss her off

[lilithism1848]

[bishh-kanya]

Maa kamakhya mood board

With the start of Ambubachi may the mother goddess bless all of us , while we remember that a bleeding woman is celebrated in all forms , a goddess , a woman, while the shame associated with menstruation eradicates , as we remember the power of yoni , the giver of life.

[hum-suffer]

"You're my god." Said Kans, looking at the pregnant belly of his sister, looking at the future that was predicted to kill him. How bad must the child be, if it had the potential of killing him. A murderer. A god.

"You're my god." Whispered Vasudev as he kissed the forehead of an infant, who was covered in blood from his mother's womb still and yet smiled prettily at his father. He had saved him from rain and flood. A rescuer. A god.

"You're my god." Said Yashoda, cradling him in her arms, laughing and kissing his dusky cheeks. She held him close to her chest and somehow, she felt her heart align with every giggle he let out. An enchanter. A god.

"You're my god." Said Nand, as he ruffled his son's hair that curled in ringlets that shined even in darkness. Yashoda had told him of their son's miracles. Universe in his mouth. Somehow, beyond his love for her, Nand believed her. His played with his fingers. A hope. A god.

"You're my god." Said Radha, laughing as he bowed in front of her with flowers of different colours and scents. Tears dried whenever he appeared. She flourished with him, her becoming simply more. A flash of mischievous smiles, and she was his. A melody. A god.

"You're my god." Said Ugrasen. Bones and frail flesh scarring, hands shaking as he was held. Dusky and smooth skin contrasted every silver scar he had and blood returned to his fingers once more. He stained his grandson's yellow clothes with his blood. A healer. A god.

"You're my god." Smiled Rukmini, an open secret between the two of them, eyes shining with love that none could see but him. His hands held her feet and helped her up. He led her, homeward bound once more. Home wasn't a palace, home was at his side. A love. A god.

"You're my god." Said Sudama, tears glistening in his eyes as he gazed at the shredded skin of his friend's feet. Blood that rewrote everything that Sudama ever had been, blood that bled when words failed. A shelter. A god.

"You're my god." Said Arjun, meeting a cousin he never wished to part from, recently married and aching raw. Morals broken, vow forsaken. A hand held him up, a shoulder to lean on. A saviour. A god.

"You're my god." Said Yudhisthir as he knelt before a throne of his own, blood on his hands of those who lived before him. Blood stained hands washed the feet of the man who was the reason the throne was built. A kingmaker. A god.

"You're my god." Draupadi sobbed in his arms, bruises littering her face and arms, lip burst and forehead cut. At his feet, reverently cursing all and blessing him all the same. Lonely, inviting death with every word. A protector. A god.

"You're my god." Gandhari wailed, an accusation on her lips and tears coming to her throat. Blood dripped down her knuckles from where she had hit him fruitlessly. Her words, punctured and breaths shallow, all but dead. A killer. A god.

"You're my god." Balram tells him, calm and serene. So unlike everything they saw in their mortal lives. His clothes suffocate his skin almost beautifully and the sunset is something to watch. He's not watched the sunset since he was six, he thinks. He's not properly felt the sunset in this lifetime.

He smiles at his younger brother. The brother he was supposed to protect. The accusations still make ugly scars on his skin and Balram wants to accuse them all back for a moment. They never knew his god. None of them, except his Mata, knew his god. So serene, so calm, so wise, so innocent. His god is everything and anything and nothing at once.

They don't know what godhood is.

And as Balram leaves his body to return to his abode once more, he wishes they knew better. He wishes they didn't claim to know godhood or his god.

He waits to be reunited with his god and goddess again.