"KINNARS"
The Third gender or the third sex is a concept in which we individuals are categorized either by themselves or by the society.Its said that the Apsaras(female),Gandharvas(male) and Kinnars(neuter) were honored in the Devlok. The word "Kinnar" is has been referred in a wide range since ancient Hindu,Buddhist and Jain texts,and resources say Buddhist Jataka tales,Sanskrit Literature,Jain theology,and sculptures such as in Ajanta Caves show Kinnars as a species of people.
As far as i remember this term through some mythological lines heard since childhood and me understanding was that Kinnars are a group of people,a mythological construct,who love to sing and dance,are patronized by the royal elites and live somewhere up in the the Himalayas.Among the world wide nation India has been one of the nations that recognized the presence of "Third Gender" but never recognized their human rights,until very recently India court recognized transgender people as third gender,,
Kinnars in India have had only one option as source of livelihood "to sing and dance" in certain happy occasions,such as,when a child is born,in weddings........or as begging for money in traffic signals,trains,and buses.Another option of livelihood would be sex work,with no protection from the police when sex workers would be physically abused.The sexual identity of the Third sex was used to outline the segregated areas they could inhabit,as well as chart out occupations from which they were allowed to earn their livelihood.
Though official declared Kinnars to the third sex, they are segregated from any mainstream areas,such as schools,office,malls,etc,because they are different from the gender category people.
The Third gender or the third sex is a concept in which we individuals are categorized either by themselves or by the society.Its said that the Apsaras(female),Gandharvas(male) and Kinnars(neuter) were honored in the Devlok. The word "Kinnar" is has been referred in a wide range since ancient Hindu,Buddhist and Jain texts,and resources say Buddhist Jataka tales,Sanskrit Literature,Jain theology,and sculptures such as in Ajanta Caves show Kinnars as a species of people.
As far as i remember this term through some mythological lines heard since childhood and me understanding was that Kinnars are a group of people,a mythological construct,who love to sing and dance,are patronized by the royal elites and live somewhere up in the the Himalayas.Among the world wide nation India has been one of the nations that recognized the presence of "Third Gender" but never recognized their human rights,until very recently India court recognized transgender people as third gender,,
Kinnars in India have had only one option as source of livelihood "to sing and dance" in certain happy occasions,such as,when a child is born,in weddings........or as begging for money in traffic signals,trains,and buses.Another option of livelihood would be sex work,with no protection from the police when sex workers would be physically abused.The sexual identity of the Third sex was used to outline the segregated areas they could inhabit,as well as chart out occupations from which they were allowed to earn their livelihood.
Though official declared Kinnars to the third sex, they are segregated from any mainstream areas,such as schools,office,malls,etc,because they are different from the gender category people.
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