Thunder Bay, Ontario
The Sex Change
At the quaint Vedic Cultural Centre, a cozy group of us reflected on the story of Vishnu taking on a gender-change as Mohini Murti. Canto Eight of the Bhagavatam relays the story of what is now a popular topic. To allure the demons and distract them from snatching the immortal elixir called amrta,Vishnu assumed the form of a Divine female. The staunch yogi, Shiva, was also wooed by this avatar.
Additional stories of gender adjustment appear in the epic, The Mahabharat, when in the thirteenth year of the Pandava's exile, Arjuna, the warrior friend of Krishna, became a eunuch who taught dance. We also read about Ambha, the princess, who became an effeminate male warrior by the name of Shikandi, and who ultimately posed as grandsire Bhisma's arch enemy in a role of vengeance.
The question I sometimes get asked is, "In your movement do you accept people of different orientations?" This is mostly referring to same-sex individuals. The answer is that all persons are welcome to participate in devotional activities. Emphasis goes to encouraging acts of devotion and reducing acts of sensuality. May we be reminded that we are not these bodies. We are spirits.
The discussion was brief enough, while clarifying our stance on people of various natures. Ananda and I then went on a journey, on foot, to explore newer trails, one of which was a branch of "The Great Trail," that runs right across the country. We also delighted in the wildlife tracks we discovered on the snow-laden forest floor. One small creature, it must have been a mole or a mouse, left mini prints and then tunnelled his way through the snow, leaving a furrow and then a tunnel. Sweet!
May the Source be with you!
8 km
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