“Same-Sex Love in India”
Readings from Literature and History
By Ruth Vanita and Saleem Kidwai

“Same-Sex Love in India presents a stunning array of writings on same-sex love from over 2,000 years of Indian literature. Translated from more than a dozen languages and drawn from Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and modern fictional traditions, these writings testify to the presence of same-sex love in various forms since ancient times. An eminent group of scholars have translated writings for the first time and have retranslated well-known texts to correctly make evident previously underplayed homoerotic content. Selections range from religious books, legal and erotic treatises, story cycles, medieval histories, and biographies, to modern novels, short stories, letters, memoirs, plays, and poems. From the Rig Veda to Vikram Seth, this anthology will become a staple in courses on gender and queer studies, Asian studies, and world literature.”

(Same-Sex Love in India, back cover)


“[Arjuna, after being transformed into the beautiful woman Arjuni and worshipping Sri Radhika] saw Krishna whose shiny, curly, fragrant hair was tied with the finest plume of an intoxicated peacock. His ear ornament of flowers attracted swarms of bees, His cheeks shone like mirrors, bright with beelike locks of hair. His expansive forehead was decorated with a lovely auspicious mark. His nose resembled the flower of sesame or the beak of the king of birds. His beautiful smiling lips, red like the bimba fruit, inflamed desire. He was charming on account of His necklace, which resembled a wildflower. His broad shoulders were covered with a garland of the divine tree, and attracted thousands of female bees… His beautiful waist resembled that of a lion, and His navel was very deep. His knees were like a good tree, rounded, and not too far apart. He was adorned with excellent ornaments—bracelets, armlets and anklets. His penis was covered with a part of His yellow garments. His beauty and charm excelled that of a choir of love gods. Enchanting were the charming melodies produced by His flute. He enchanted the three worlds and immersed them in the ocean of happiness. His every limb seemed to be that of the god of love, satiated with the pleasure of rasa.

“On seeing Radhika humbly offering a betel leaf to the One with the charming smile, Who seemed to be to Her left, Arjuniya was overcome with desire. Seeing her in that state, the all-knowing Hrishikesa [Krishna] took her hand and indulged in all the sports in the forest. The Great Lord sported with her secretly, at will. Then putting His arm on her shoulder, and coming to Sharada, He said: ‘Quickly bathe this slender, gently smiling lady, who is exhausted with play, in the western lake.’

“The goddess Sharada took her to the western lake and said: ‘Bathe here,’ and the tired one did as she was told. She who entered the water was transformed once again into Arjuna, and rose at the spot where the Lord of the gods and of Vaikuntha stood. Krishna, seeing that Arjuna was depressed and heartbroken, touched him with His magic hand, so that he became aware of his nature.

“Shri Krishna said: ‘O Dhananjaya, I bless you, my dear [male] friend. There is none equal to you in the three worlds, as you know My secret. O Arjuna, you will curse Me if you talk to anyone about the secret which you wanted to know and have experienced.’”

(Excerpt from Same-Sex Love in India, p. 92-93, quoting the Padma Purana 5.74.60-198)


Same-Sex Love in India is available at Amazon.com and other bookstores.