HINDUISM UNPREJUDICED STAKE ON THE THIRD GENDER

The approval of homosexuality as a gender through the lens of Hinduism is often a debated issue, Hindus claim that Hinduism condemns homosexuality, and it is voluntary in nature and unnatural. This research paper aims to critically analyze the available ancient texts of Hindu religion and the instances of the third gender in the same to prove Hinduism’s neutral voice on the third gender. It collates arguments as to whether homosexuality affects ethics, morals, society, religion, spirituality, sexual, physical and pleasures of love in general. It stresses on work done by John Cornivo, Michael Ruse, Michael Levin, and Arvind Sharma on the same. This paper substantiates that the four magnificent pillars of Hinduism that are ‘The Vedas’, and also the ‘Dharmashastras’ specifically ‘Manav Dharma’ Shastra neither condemn nor condone homosexuality. It also scrutinizes the Hindu texts and scriptures on the main principle of Dharma (righteous act), which also labels any sexual activity (homosexual or heterosexual) which specifically causes harm to someone, as adharmic or sinful. Lastly, it presents the lack of consonance of homosexuality with the ‘Natural Law’ or the ‘Law of Reason’. It also presents the philosophical viewpoints of the legal jurists and philosophers. The paper at the end affirms Hinduism’s impartial stake on homosexuality or the third gender as an identity.