Research Catalog

Title

Shikhandi and other tales they don't tell you / Devdut Pattanaik, illustrations by the author.

Author

Pattanaik, Devdutt

Publication

New Delhi : Zubaan and Penguin Books India, 2014.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

179 pages : illustrations; 20 cm

Summary

The author explains that queerness isn't only modern, Western, or sexual. Rather, by looking at the traditions of Hinduism, he finds many overlooked tales with queerness at their center, some over two thousand years old. There's Shikhandi, who became a man to satisfy her wife; Mahadeva, who became a woman to deliver her devotee's child; Chudala, who became a man to enlighten her husband Samavan, who became the wife of his male friend--and more.

Subjects

• India
• Contes > Inde
• Tales > India

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages 177-179).

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Part I -- Appreciating queerness -- The discovery or invention of queerness -- Part II. -- 1. Shikhandi, who became a man to satisfy her wife -- 2. Mahadeva, who became a woman to deliver his devotee's child -- 3. Chudala, who became a man to enlighten her husband -- 4. Vishnu, who became a woman to enchant gods, demons and a hermit -- 5. Kali, who became a man to enchant milkmaids -- 6. Gopeshwar, who became a woman to dance -- 7. Savavan, who became the wife of his male friend -- 8. Ratnavali, who became the companion of her female friend -- 9. Mandhata, whose mother was a man -- 10. Bhangashavana, who was a mother, and a man -- 11. Urvashi, who was born of no woman -- 12. Bhagirath, who was born of two women -- 13. Skanda, whose mothers were not all women -- 14. Aravan, whose wife was the complete man -- 15. Bahuchara, whose husband was an incomplete man -- 16. Arjuna, who was temporarily castrated for showing restraint -- 17. Indra, who was temporarily castrated for not showing restraint -- 18. Aruna, who became a woman when the sun paused -- 19. Ila, who became a man when the moon waned -- 20. Bhima, who wore women's clothes to punish -- 21. Vijaya, who wore women's clothes to conquer -- 22. Krishna, who wore women's clothes in love -- 23. Samba, who wore women's clothes as a prank -- 24. Alli, the queen who did not want a man in her bed -- 25. Kopperumcholan, the king who wanted a man in the adjacent tomb -- 26. Narada, who forgot he was a man -- 27. Pramila, who knew no man -- 28. Rishyashringa, who knew no woman -- 29. Shiva, who included the female in his male body -- 30. Ram, who included all in his kingdom.

ISBN

• 9789383074846
• 9383074841

LCCN

• 2014356907
• 99966893132

OCLC

• 889577945
• SCSB-11905841

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library