#queer Hindu

[chelledoggo]

there's too much animosity towards queer people who want to practice their faith/spirituality, both within their respective religions and within the LGBTQIA+ community.

we need to protect and lift up our queer siblings of faith.

our queer Christians.

our queer Jews.

our queer Muslims.

our queer Hindus.

our queer Buddhists.

our queer Sikhs.

our queer Baháʼís.

our queer Wiccans/Pagans.

our queer Shintos.

our queer siblings of indigenous/folk faiths.

our queer SBNR siblings.

our queer siblings of whatever religion/spiritual systems they observe.

you're all beautiful and valid and loved and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. 💖

[jewishboricua]

every time i see someone exclude, mock or ignore queer religious people's existence (whether from bigoted religious people or bigoted queer people) i think it should be perfectly acceptable for us to punch them in the face for that

[diaday333]

Hello everyone! So I’ve noticed a somewhat lack of safe spaces online for queer, religious people. So I wanted to fill that void! Here’s a server for queer religious people ! It’s for people of all kinds of faiths. Enjoy ❤️

[thebisexualwreckoning]

PSA!!!!!

This is for the people who didn't know they were gay or bi or pan or ace or aro in their childhood.

This is for the people who had crushes which could be deemed straight and then came out as gay later in their lives.

This is for the trans or genderqueer or fluid or nonbinary people who did not experience dysphoria in their agab.

This one is for the people who don't want to take T or E or have gender-affirming surgery but are still trans.

This one is for the sex-positive or sex-neutral aces who are told that they aren't ace because they aren't disgusted by sex.

This one is for anyone who has been told, "You just need to find the right girl/guy!"

This one is for all the queer people who have been told that they cannot be queer because of their religion, race, ethnicity, etc.

This one is for all the queer people who were told that they weren't queer just because they didn't fit into somebody else's idea of what being queer is like.

Nobody can tell you how to be queer. The only one who gets to decide that is YOU. Queer people do not need to bend themselves over backwards to make others comfortable.

We have always been here and we will continue to be here, and everyone else will just have to learn to accept that.

[url0cal-weird0]

I know there's a lot of people who feel kinda intimidated or uncomfortable with religious queer people at pride, especially Christians, and that's okay! I understand! but even if it makes you uncomfortable, remember that not all religious people are the same, and you can't judge one person because of things other people have done. but if you aren't comfortable being around queer religious people, just dont go. either that, or just ignore them (obviously unless they're directly interacting with you and not trying to start anything or cause problems) bc like, I have mild religious trauma, so I get it, but if its not directly affecting you, just let them be happy? dont attack them, this should be obvious

sorry for rambling I hope this makes sense

im here for all the religious queer people, and non religious queer people <3

everyone is welcome at pride. except bigots

[queerism1969]

[srkgirlblogger]

by @/vimoh on ig

[janaknandini-singh999]

When the non binary planet fell in love with a gender fluid deity <3

part 1

part 2 here

Ila/Sudyumna: she/him

Budh: they/them

source: the Hindu mythology tales according to which Ila gave birth to Chandravanshis (the lunar dynasty) and Budh was the Mercury planet

"Do I know you?" the prince batted his long eyelashes, furrowing his eyebrows

Budh sighed. Their heart broke every time their lover didn't even recognize them.

Budh had been cursed by their maharishi (sage) father to be born as a gender neuter when he had come to know that Budh was an illegitimate child.

"You have betrayed me!" He had shouted at his wife "May your child be born neither as male or female. Be it be outside just as you're neither here nor there!"

Budh had been often made fun of because of that. It used to hurt them all the time but their mother used to say "Don't worry, child. You will find your purpose, too." gently patting and kissing their forehead

They weren't as convinced of that, though

Not until they met Sudyumna

As soon as they laid eyes on him, they knew their destiny had come walking right to them. As soon as he had entered that forest, Budh had hid behind a tree, biting their lips and frantically thinking of calling out to Sudyumna to warn him that this was no ordinary forest but a magical one woven by Shiva himself called Shravana. Any being who'd enter this forest of Shravana would be turned into a female. It was a special place where Shiva and Parvati made love but Parvati was furious one day when males used to enter and intrude them so Shiva granted the forest the ability to turn anyone who'd enter it, to a female

"Prince- !" Budh started

Too late

Sudyumna had already started transforming into a woman. He looked around at his body slowly changing but before he could react, it was done

Budh's eyes had widened. Sudyumna had turned into the most beautiful woman they had ever seen. The jewels and clothes were still the same but now a female body inhabited the prince's attire.

"Who am I?" Sudyumna had been confused after having forgotten everything about when he was a male

Suddenly Sudyumna's gaze had fallen upon Budh

She had blinked her long eyelashes "Please help me. I think I'm lost" she had whispered in broken tones, afraid that she was all alone in this vast forest and she didn't even remember who she was "I know it sounds absurd but I- I don't.. Do you know who I am?"

Budh had been so pained to see Sudyumna this way but they still couldn't just help but fall for Sudyumna even more

"Ila" Budh said the first name that came to them

"Ila" she echoed, relishing the sound of the name, making it settle in her heart.

At last, she had smiled

And Budh had smiled back

A month went by and both had grown deeper in love with each other, living happily in the forest together

Budh had told Ila about what happened to Sudyumna, about who she really was. They didn't want to hide anything from her. And Ila listened in awe. It was hard to believe at first but as soon as Budh showed her other male creatures entering the forest instantly turning into females, she was dumbfounded

On the last day before the next month, Budh told Ila that now she'd change again into the male body as Sudyumna, losing memories of everything during when she was Ila. And this is how it would go on. One month as Ila, one as Sudyumna and so on.

That is the law of Shivshakti's Shravana

Ila closed her eyes and nodded slowly. When she opened them again, there were tears in them

"I will forget you, too?"

Budh nodded, unable to form any words because of the grief. Grief of losing the only one who had understood them, who felt so connected to them. Gender had rolled a dice and played a game with both of them so they were similar but Budh didn't fall for their lover just because of that. Gender was never the determinant because Budh loved regardless of when their lover's body was of a man's or woman's, whether it was this birth or any other

They loved Sudyumna/Ila. Always

"I don't want to," Ila continued, lowering her eyes, averting them away from Budh. Suddenly, she looked up, a wistful glint in her eyes "Make me remember again. Like you did. Please, I can't afford to forget you" she held Budh's hands tightly, as if clutching an anchor of her memories with them. She caressed Budh's face, as if to memorize each atom of their skin, their soul. So reverently, praying that nothing would be ever able to forget her of this. "Make me remember us. Every time. Promise me, please."

"I do" Budh kissed her eyes

Ila smiled and dissolved into a light as her body started transforming again. Budh stood back

And there he was

Sudyumna

Budh turned around and started walking away, seeking shelter behind the trees as he did before Sudyumna came in their life. They will always keep a protective eye over their lover from there

"Hey!"

Budh stopped in their tracks, heart banging against the chest. Maybe Sudyumna did still remember them, after all! Budh turned around

"Do I know you?" The prince batted his long eyelashes, furrowing his eyebrows

Budh sighed now "I am Budh"

"Nice to meet you, Budh!" Sudyumna held out his hand

Budh smiled politely and shook it, their eyes falling on the scar visible on his palm

"Oh, that's just another battle mark. Badges of honour, ya know? I have many!" Sudyumna beamed

Budh nodded "I know"

They remembered tracing and kissing all scars on Ila's body. There were actually a lot of them. And Budh knew exactly where each one was

"Maybe someday as Sudyumna I could tell you the stories behind each one of them" Ila had whispered, kissing Budh back

"You know about my scars?" Sudyumna said now "Isn't it the first time of us meeting.. umm? OH, where are my manners!? I didn't even introduce myself. My name is Sudyumna and-" He suddenly looked around at the forest "Wait, how much time exactly have I been HERE? I'm sorry but I really need to rush back to my kingdom right now. Again, it was a pleasure to meet you, Budh."

Budh looked at his silhouette going away

Neither here nor there

So, somewhere in the midst of it all

Meet me again?

[artcinemas]

idc if it was not there in the "og" version draupadi washing her hair with dushasan's blood was some real hot girl shit. rip draupadi you would have loved bottoms 2023.

[evolvingmonkey]

Shikhandi: The Gender-Defying Hero of the Mahabharata

Hindu philosophy holds a simple yet profound belief: within each person resides an everlasting atman (spirit or soul) that exists independently from the physical body, surpassing characteristics such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. Stemming from a common divine origin, every atman forms a spiritual kinship, deserving of love, reverence, and fair treatment.

In the epic Mahabharata, there is a captivating tale that revolves around Bhishma's commitment to celibacy, which leads to a grand swayamvara (a ceremony or event where a bride chooses her husband from a gathering of suitors). This ceremony is where Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika are given the opportunity to choose their life partners. However, Bhishma's interference in Amba's love life sets off a series of events that ultimately culminate in her tragic destiny.

Amba's heartbreak is twofold - first, her intended husband Shalva rejects her, and then Bhishma, bound by his vow of celibacy, refuses to marry her. This leaves Amba in a state of despair, fueling her desire for revenge against Bhishma. Determined to seek justice, she pleads to the mighty god Shiva for assistance in her quest to end Bhishma's life. Miraculously, Shiva grants her wish, but tragically, Amba chooses to take her own life to expedite her ultimate goal.

There are various versions of the next part of the tale. According to certain narratives, Amba is born as the daughter of King Drupada. Upon learning from Shiva that she will eventually undergo a transformation into a man, Drupada names her Shikhandi and raises her as a boy. In this particular version, a formidable entity residing in the forest indeed bestows upon her the transformation into a man. However, in alternative accounts, Shikhandi is born as a male but develops a trans-identity due to Shiva granting them the ability to recollect their previous life.

As the Mahabharata unfolds, Shikhandi emerges as a formidable warrior who defies societal expectations of gender. Their participation in the battle of Kurukshetra serves as a powerful symbol of authenticity, challenging the conventional gender roles imposed on individuals. Shikhandi's strength goes beyond mere physical abilities; it stands as a testament to the immense power that comes from embracing one's true identity.

Shikhandi's character is truly captivating because of their personal quest for self-discovery. They challenge societal expectations of gender and proudly embrace a non-binary identity. This exploration of identity is a key theme, showcasing the intricate and ever-changing nature of being human.

As we come to the end of our journey through Shikhandi's story in the Mahabharata, we honor a figure whose legacy surpasses time, defies conventions, and forever marks the intricate fabric of mythology. Shikhandi, the ageless fighter, still instills bravery and self-exploration in the souls of those who come across their legend.

[h0bg0blin-meat]

Krishna: Respect my queer homies or we're gonna have a problem.

[meerawrites]

Hello, I’m Ameera a 23 years old Muslim lesbian who is trying to come out, I’ve been in the closet with my girlfriend for way too long, because of how dangerous and hard it is to come out as a lesbian to a religious Muslim family, but me and my girlfriend have decided to do whatever it takes and risk it all to come out, do you mind supporting and encouraging us?, we have the plan to go away which is why I have my donation campaign pinned on my profile, if I raise at least that goal I can start the process with my savings, I can’t come out until I’d gotten my apartment and I’m away from family, so please support by donating if you can and help reblog though I know we all have what we dealing with, so I’m not imposing we just need all the support and encouragement we can get, check my pinned post for more information on how you can support, if you are a Muslim queer and you are out, please help with tips on how to make it less complicated, any word of advice is also really needed, we really wanna come out but we need y’all 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ pride please come through for us, I believe pride is for all

Hi there! Ameera, @deepeagletimetravel lovely name by the way. Fun fact from an almost linguist (Hindi, Latin, French, Sanskrit, & working on music theory and Haitian Creole) and history nerd. Ameera/Amira means "Princess" in Arabic. (source), I wasn't initially sure how to reply to this besides signal boosting and donating what I can (as a broke brown & queer college student). But it's lovely to meet more brown people who also like girls. Since you introduced yourself I'll briefly introduce myself, I am Meera, after the Hindu Bhakti Poet and saint, I use they/them pronouns, I am culturally Hindu and follow some Hindu religious thinking and I am brown, bi, genderqueer, and mostly a writer. I am 20, and I say this most affectionately, I'd be cowardly facing this entire thing. You are incredibly brave for following your girlfriend and sticking to your intentions and love for one another. I know for many it isn't easy, coming was not easy for me and I've come out four times now. Of course, you should never coerce anyone out of the closet, but, we are incredibly brave for loving who we love and not letting our parents and grandparent's generation dictate how we should live. There is a long history of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and brown sapphicism in general. I don't mind helping or encouraging you at all.

Below are some flags I think you'd appreciate. Best of luck to you and your girlfriend, have an excellent timezone.

South Asia’s ancient queer history.

brown wlw playlist.

[vizthedatum]

The scene: My partner and I squealing while we watch Maja Ma (a 2022 Bollywood movie starring Madhuri Dixit)

Meanwhile, inside me: Sapphic panic seeps perilously through me as I embody the sheer desi pain of being so out that I could potentially faint at the thought of my entire family and society ostracizing me for being just as queer and gay as the whole Hindu pantheon

[url0cal-weird0]

Allah? (SWT) God? Aphrodite? Moon? Universe? Mother Earth? Lucifer? someone? I need someone to talk to. my thoughts are getting loud and blurry and scary. I need these thoughts gone. I dont want to go back to a time thats in the past

[queerism1969]

[desi-yearning]

Queer was always here.

@desi-lgbt-fest: Day-2 - Legacy

Legacy/n/: the long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life.

Content warning: I’m going to talk about Hindu Mythology looked at from a queer perspective, so if you’re not comfortable with that feel free to scroll ahead!

The first thought that came to my mind when I heard legacy was mythology. The rich legacy that our ancient tales have left behind for us is often forgotten when looked at from a queer context. Hindu mythology is very patriarchal in nature but it does include a lot lesser known queer subtext. In the great epics we find ideas of men turning into women and women turning into men for various purposes to be fulfilled. If you really think about it, they aren’t just eunuchs or confirmed to a single gender/sexuality like what they are portrayed to as, they were transgender people and even transsexual, men loving men, women loving women, non-binary individuals.

Those who are familiar with the Hindu Mythology already know the tales of Vishnu as Mohini who has sons with Shiva as the father, Shikhandini who becomes Shikhandi, Ila whose gender is changed to be Sudyumna but can switch genders monthly, Bhagiratha who was born from two mothers. Tell me you don’t see a queer connotation in all these tales, I’ll wait. Though times were very different back then, people who didn’t fall under the rigid gender and sexual orientations also existed. Ideas in mythology are quite distinct from the views that we all share today, queer people weren’t looked at in the same way as us now. But they were there. (And still some people have the audacity to say that being queer is an elitist and modern concept.) You are not alone in your experiences. Queer people have existed even in the ancient times. Queer was always here.

Title inspired from "Queer was always here" t-shirts by Sebastian Croft. Content inspired from Shikhandi: And Other Queer Tales They Don't Tell You by Devdutt Pattanaik.