Symbols of emancipation? Images of god/dess, devotees and trans-sex/gender in hindu traditions

Autor(en)

Birgit Heller

Abstrakt

From Ancient times the imagery and mythology of the most important Hindu gods Visnu and Śiva - who are personified as males - comprise well-known and popular representations of transsexual/transgender phenomena. For special purposes, Visn u takes on a female form called Mohinī, whereas the androgynous manifestation of Śiva as Ardhanārīśvara unites the male god with his female counterpart. The significance of these images does not remain the same throughout history. The varying interpretations change according to different cultural contexts, developments, discourses and interests. Regarding Visnu Mohinī, she may represent the classical stereotype of the temptress, but can also be considered as a transsexual. Pictorial representations act as powerful symbols which legitimate traditional patterns of sex and gender, as well as their dynamic transformations.

Organisation(en)

Institut für Religionswissenschaft

Journal

Interdisciplinary Journal for Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society

Band

5

Seiten

235 - 257

Anzahl der Seiten

23

ISSN

2365-3140

DOI

https://doi.org/10.14220/jrat.2017.3.2.235

Publikationsdatum

10-2017

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

603904 Hinduismus, 603909 Religionswissenschaft

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Religious studies, Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

Link zum Portal

https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/de/publications/symbols-of-emancipation-images-of-goddess-devotees-and-transsexgender-in-hindu-traditions(8bb0c541-bac7-4f78-83d2-cf10917373d1).html