Dear Editor,
Vidyaratha Kissoon wrote about the term ‘napumsak’ in a letter to the newspapers (‘Minister Rohee made no reference to homophobic lyrics’ SN, 1.5.08). He was referring to a declaration by Sri Rama describing how dear His Devotees are to Him. The Blessed Lord said: “be it man, woman or one lacking the characteristic of both, or for the matter of that, any living being whatsoever, of the animate or the inanimate world, he who adores Me with all his being, giving up all guile is supremely dear to Me.”
Napumsak means one who does not have the characteristics of either man or woman. A gay person is often referred to as a man trapped in a woman’s body or a woman trapped in a man’s body. Either way – it is a person who has both male and female characteristics – not lacking in either – Napumsak.
What Vidyaratha should have mentioned if he is so keen on showing how impartial Bhagwaan is with regards to those who are devoted to Him (Her), is that in Sanatan Dharma, anyone has the right and freedom to worship Bhagwaan. That there are various paths towards union with the Supreme – Jynana – Knowledge, Karma – action – Bhakti – devotion.
In His Avataras as Lord Rama and Lord Krsna, Bhagwaan has shown that the easiest path to union with Him is through Bhakti. And as Lord Rama expressed in the above-mentioned verse in The Sri Ramcharitra Manas and Sri Krsna also expressed in The Srimad Bhagwad Gita – all that is needed is pure and unadulterated devotion/love for Him. In other words, in Sanatana Dharma, it does not matter who you are, what you are, how you look, etc; all that matters is your innermost love and devotion. This means that Sanatana Dharma does not prevent anyone from union with God. That animals, humans, etc, are all free to be devoted to God in Sanatana Dharma.
Yours faithfully,
N. Sahadeo
