【 🧵 】A thread of just a bit of India's transgender culture °⋆🪷.ೃ🪞✨࿔*:･ In light of recent events, it is important…

【 🧵 】A thread of just a bit of India's transgender culture °⋆🪷.ೃ🪞✨࿔*:･ In light of recent events, it is important to remember queer people are deeply within our culture and its erasure should not be tolerated.

°⋆🪷. 》According to the 2011 Census of India, the transgender population is approximately 4.88 lakh, however it has been argued that the number is much higher. Employment is low and many have no choice but to go into sex work, begging or giving blessings for cash.

#1 𝗔𝗿𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗮 °⋆🪷. 》An androgynous deity in Hinduism representing the inseparable union of Lord Shiva (masculine, right side) and Goddess Parvati/Shakti (feminine, left side)

#2 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶 °⋆🪷. 》An important character in the Mahabharata, was born female (as Shikhandini, princess of Kashi) but later transformed and lived on his live as a male. Shikhandi also was married to the daughter of King Hiranyavarna of Dasharna.

#3 𝗠𝗼𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶 °⋆🪷. 》She is a female avatar of the god Vishnu, representing the enchantress who embodies divine illusion. Hindu gods and deities are frequently known to switch or manifest as different genders, or appear as androgynous forms in mythology, scriptures, and more.

#4 𝗕𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗮 °⋆🪷. 》She is a Hindu goddess of fertility, chastity, and protection, primarily worshipped in Gujarat. As a form of Shakti and patroness of the transgender (hijra) community, she is widely known for blessings, curing illnesses, and fertility.

#5 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘆𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶 °⋆🪷. 》A traditional Vedic term referring to people of the third sex, including homosexuals, transgenders, and intersex individuals—existing outside the binary of male and female. (1/4)

°⋆🪷. 》It was recognized in Hindu scripture and Ayurveda, it covers over 20 subcategories, emphasizing that these identities are inherent from conception, not a later choice. It translates to "third nature", lesbian (svairini), gay (napumsaka), and trans individuals. (2/4)

°⋆🪷. 》Mentions appear in the Kama Sutra, Manusmriti, and various Puranas, where third-gender individuals were often considered part of a "neutral gender" class. (3/4)

°⋆🪷. 》They were recognized as a distinct, respected third sex. They played significant roles, including as royal attendants, keepers of the harem, artists, performers, and bestowers of blessings during auspicious occasions like births and weddings. (4/4)

# 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 °⋆🪷. 》British colonial rule in India (19th-20th century) actively criminalized and sought to erase the hijra community, transforming them from accepted, often politically involved individuals into a stigmatized minority. (1/2)

°⋆🪷. 》The British used laws, such as the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, to register, survey, and forbid hijras from wearing female clothing, performing in public, or passing on their traditions. (2/2)

Transgenderism is not a new western concept. There have been trans people since the start of humanity and with a culture as rich, diverse and accepting as India's, this community was more than welcome. Do not let these bigoted old creatures tell you otherwise. °⋆🪷.ೃ🪞✨࿔*:･

《 𝙀𝙉𝘿 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿 °⋆🪷. 》 #RejectTransBill2026 #NoGoingBack

Before you QRT my tweet and start talking about the bill. This tweet was done in light of all the indian transphobes on here *celebrating* the passing of the bill. The bill has not been mentioned once in this whole thread, I have used the hashtags at the end for reach thats it.