Nagesh D. Sonde

Men of wisdom declare that there is not much difference between human beings and animlals, the only attribute that distinguishes men from animals is Viveka, the sense of discrimination which the former has and the latter does not. The clamour for abolishing Section  of the Indian Penal Code is aimed by people who are influenced more by the form than by the essence within the form, more by the senses than by the soul.

On this band wagon have climbed some 

intellectuals who define the term Kama - desire in the manner which justifies their intellectual understanding, some others interpret Rama's embracing the trans-gender human beings as acceptance of homosexuality and surprise of surprises is that even one religious leader saying that homosexuality is acceptable in Hinduism Sind Lord Ayyappa  was born of union between Vishnu and Shiva.

A little circumspection and searching the internal  within the external form they would have realised that not the form but the essence, not the word but the meaning concealed within the word that reveals the truth behind every expression. Kama -desire is the generic word being distinguished as the desirable and undesirable ones. Religion does not detest desires but rejects the undesirable ones. Buddha says that desires which become transformed as intense craving end up in suffering. Upanishads say that when one desires the Self within  and satisfied with the Self within then he has nothing more to be desired.  Kamasutra when read with understanding narrates how and in which manner senses are used gives intense physical satisfaction, often akin to to the spiritual satisfaction thareby becoming the stepping stone to seek spiritual bliss which gives more superior and lasting spiritual satisfaction tham the temporary pleasure which physical union provides. 

The erotic sculpture on the temple walls is not to justify or inculcate sexual pleasure but to indicate that the desire for sex is only external manifestation of human desire but the desire for spiritual bliss comes to be derived only when one enters within the temple. Therefore when Rama embraces the transgender human beings it is to show them that their external form is irrelevant when compared to the self within their form, which yearns for Devine revelation from divine Rama. Shankar has dramatically portrays this human dilemma in his Stotra wherein Shive disguised as Untouchable Shudras remonstrated him whom he is asking to step aside, his body or the Self within.

Therefore the problem of transgender acceptance needs higher thinking than emotional reaction. This much is enough, since word to wise is more than enough.