Homosexuality and the Vedas

Vedas predate all the other texts in the world and vedic culture is the basis of spiritual wealth of Bharatvarsh. This culture is as ancient as it is modern and scientific. No aspect of creation was left out by the vedic seers, who advocated shanti and equality among all beings. The differences and disparities came in later, as did discrimination and exploitation, all of which are a direct consequence of us forgetting our culture, our roots.

It comes as no surprise then that while the 21st century world and modern religions are still shying away from the subject of homosexuality, the vedic Indians 3,000 years ago recognised the third sex or tritiya prakriti which was very much a part of the vedic society. Arjun as Brihannala in the court of King Virat and Shikhandi as the prince of Panchala kingdom are examples from the previous yug of Dwapar.

Sushruta Samhita (Sharira Sthana, chapter 3, verse 4) states that the preponderance of semen over ovum begets a male child; that of ovum over semen begets a female child; and equal potency of both results in a neuter child.

Sushruta Samhita (Sharira Sthana, chapter 2, verse 38-42) and Charaka Samhita (Sharira Sthana, chapter 2, verse 17-21) further detail the symptoms as well as reasons for various kinds of sexual behaviours. Without getting into the specifics of each text, some general terms to describe sexual behaviour of an individual included puns prakriti (male), stri prakriti (female), tritiya prakriti (has both male and female qualities), napumsa (deficient in manhood), nastriya (deficient in womanhood), kliba (impotent with women by nature), panda (impotent with women for various reasons), shandha (he who has qualities and behaviour of a woman), svairini (she who engages in sex with women), stripumsa (she who has qualities and behaviour of a man). The deviations from male and female characteristics were attributed to inadequacies of the parental sperm or ova, cohabitation process or the thoughts of the parents. In all cases, the body was described as a function of the karmas and desires of the soul.

Vedas never termed homosexuality as a crime or an offence. It is the loss of vedic culture which is being exploited by certain lawyers to fill their pockets as they drag the issue of homosexuality in courts for decades. Vedas perceived all beings as equal and the laws of nature are applicable to all across the board universally.

Yogi Ashwini, the guiding light of Dhyan Foundation, is an authority on yoga, tantra and the Vedic sciences. His recent book is Sanatan Kriya, The Ageless Dimension. Contact him at dhyan@dhyanfoundation.com