Comments on: Do you believe in Jesus as much as you believe in Ganesh? http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/20/do-you-believe-in-jesus-as-much-as-ganesh/ Dedicated to "Bharat" and "Dharma" Wed, 23 May 2012 07:41:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Khandu Patel http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/20/do-you-believe-in-jesus-as-much-as-ganesh/comment-page-1/#comment-35668 Khandu Patel Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:38:08 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/20/do-you-believe-in-jesus-as-much-as-ganesh/#comment-35668 Amongst the Hindus, and in many ancient socities, sexual relations between men was never the monster it had assumed in modern times. The Kama Sutra openly talks about the matter. Neither was such sexual tastes and profession of love between men not a taboo with the ancient Greeks and Romans. People like Alexandra the Great, Caesar and many more indeed were bisexual. It is not hard to be sure what they would be in the different climate of today. They would have chosen to be men in the hetrosexual sense of the word. But it was essential for their state then that they fathered children and they did not shirk their duty. There is also no doubt that they held their women in great esteem as well. Turning to Hindu society, Arjun in the Mahabharat was cursed to being trangender male for he served as instructor in music and dance to the court of King Virata. See http://www.chakra.org/discussions/GenNov26_02.html Arjun's reluctance to wage war is perhaps understandable because of this. Does that portend a larger message? I think that the condition of the transgender needs to be understood with the sort of kindness and understanding that Krishna displayed to Arjun. The wretched conditions of hijiras in India is blot on our claim as a great civilisation. If their members were not denied the love and protection of their family and society at large just because of an accident of biology, they would not have fallen into their abject condition. The transgender should play as full a part in the life of the nation as their ability allows. The original tolerance of Hinduism did not suffer the transgenders to suffer mutiliation by castration and is a fitter subject for legislation than entering any debate on homosexual rights. India faces serious security threats. That should be the most important consideration in mind before entering any legislation on the subject of homosexuality. The unncessary abuse of the hijiras should stop. The Catholic religion has decreed that surgery cannot cure the condition. Even though it is true that infertility cannot be restored to transwomen by reconstructive surgery, but that is also a condition suffered by women who are infertile for any number of reasons. Happiness should not then stand solely on doctrine. Amongst the Hindus, and in many ancient socities, sexual relations between men was never the monster it had assumed in modern times. The Kama Sutra openly talks about the matter. Neither was such sexual tastes and profession of love between men not a taboo with the ancient Greeks and Romans. People like Alexandra the Great, Caesar and many more indeed were bisexual. It is not hard to be sure what they would be in the different climate of today. They would have chosen to be men in the hetrosexual sense of the word. But it was essential for their state then that they fathered children and they did not shirk their duty. There is also no doubt that they held their women in great esteem as well.

Turning to Hindu society, Arjun in the Mahabharat was cursed to being trangender male for he served as instructor in music and dance to the court of King Virata. See

http://www.chakra.org/discussions/GenNov26_02.html

Arjun’s reluctance to wage war is perhaps understandable because of this. Does that portend a larger message? I think that the condition of the transgender needs to be understood with the sort of kindness and understanding that Krishna displayed to Arjun.

The wretched conditions of hijiras in India is blot on our claim as a great civilisation. If their members were not denied the love and protection of their family and society at large just because of an accident of biology, they would not have fallen into their abject condition. The transgender should play as full a part in the life of the nation as their ability allows. The original tolerance of Hinduism did not suffer the transgenders to suffer mutiliation by castration and is a fitter subject for legislation than entering any debate on homosexual rights.

India faces serious security threats. That should be the most important consideration in mind before entering any legislation on the subject of homosexuality. The unncessary abuse of the hijiras should stop.

The Catholic religion has decreed that surgery cannot cure the condition. Even though it is true that infertility cannot be restored to transwomen by reconstructive surgery, but that is also a condition suffered by women who are infertile for any number of reasons. Happiness should not then stand solely on doctrine.

]]> By: Dirt Digger http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/20/do-you-believe-in-jesus-as-much-as-ganesh/comment-page-1/#comment-35651 Dirt Digger Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:26:30 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/20/do-you-believe-in-jesus-as-much-as-ganesh/#comment-35651 @Shantanu, While my point was made in a humorous vein, I'm sure you have done your research about the way the gospels and other documents are filled with inconsistencies and flaws. Not to mention most being written few hundred years after the incidents occurred. @Shantanu,
While my point was made in a humorous vein, I’m sure you have done your research about the way the gospels and other documents are filled with inconsistencies and flaws. Not to mention most being written few hundred years after the incidents occurred.

]]> By: Kaffir http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/20/do-you-believe-in-jesus-as-much-as-ganesh/comment-page-1/#comment-35642 Kaffir Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:39:21 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/20/do-you-believe-in-jesus-as-much-as-ganesh/#comment-35642 Shantanu, good to know. :) Vedic texts, at best, can help in showing to VHP and other Hindu groups that there was no sanction of discrimination. Hindu philosophy is the only one I know of that has a concept of 'third sex/third gender' explicitly mentioned. The wiki page on 'Hinduism and homosexuality' is quite instructive, actually. Shantanu, good to know. :)
Vedic texts, at best, can help in showing to VHP and other Hindu groups that there was no sanction of discrimination. Hindu philosophy is the only one I know of that has a concept of ‘third sex/third gender’ explicitly mentioned. The wiki page on ‘Hinduism and homosexuality’ is quite instructive, actually.

]]> By: B Shantanu http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/20/do-you-believe-in-jesus-as-much-as-ganesh/comment-page-1/#comment-35621 B Shantanu Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:59:44 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/20/do-you-believe-in-jesus-as-much-as-ganesh/#comment-35621 @ Kaffir: Thanks... Just to be clear: <b>I am totally against ANY discrimination towards gays and lesbians.</b> The proposed amendment/repeal is a welcome and long overdue step. *** @ JM: Thanks. I will have a look at the links. *** @ DD: Good that we all still retain a sense of humour :-) @ Kaffir: Thanks… Just to be clear: I am totally against ANY discrimination towards gays and lesbians. The proposed amendment/repeal is a welcome and long overdue step.

***

@ JM: Thanks. I will have a look at the links.

***

@ DD: Good that we all still retain a sense of humour :-)

]]> By: Dirt Digger http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/20/do-you-believe-in-jesus-as-much-as-ganesh/comment-page-1/#comment-35609 Dirt Digger Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:29:51 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/20/do-you-believe-in-jesus-as-much-as-ganesh/#comment-35609 @Indian, There is very little historical evidence to support most of the current stories behind Jesus :) @Indian,
There is very little historical evidence to support most of the current stories behind Jesus :)

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