Shikhandi

“Vikrati evam Prakriti” translates into anything that is different should be included into nature or is nature. Shikhandi is a book that focuses on queerness seen or observed in Hindu Mythology.
Contemporary world is facing issues to adjust with queerness but when we turn the pages of past there are multiple instances proving so.
A character in Mahabharat, Shikhandi was said to be queer in nature. Though being in a man’s body, inhabited a woman’s soul.
A good start to commence questioning whether queer is really something to be ashamed of or not.

क्रोधाद्भवति संमोह: संमोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रम:।स्मृतिभ्रंशाद्बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति॥

Mahabharata is one of the Indian epics. The basic plot is that brothers fight over the right to rule as they belong to clans of kings.
To be honest this epic is considered to be a myth but archeologists in India have found places where this whole battle of Mahabharata happened. Just the thought of it gives me goosebumps.

Meaning of the title:
Anger leads to clouding of judgment, which results in bewilderment of the memory. When the memory is bewildered, the intellect gets destroyed; and when the intellect is destroyed, one is ruined.

Pointing out as to why this epic is considered to be the greatest:

1. This is equivalent to a guide that informs us on how to live one’s life, or in other words imparting us with the guidelines for life.
2. Guidelines such as respecting elders, considering the thoughts of younger people too. It provides us with instances which tells that disrespecting women can lead to the destruction of a whole clan. It talks about how important it is to keep promises made to others and when promises are broken a lot of devastation follows.
3. There is one more important thing that occurs through out this epic; adjusting one’s actions according to the situations especially when you have to do something good. For instance Sri Krishna who is a God has changed his righteous actions into not-so righteous one’s especially when he had to uphold the morality.
4. Only during the ongoing battles, Sri Krishna gave mankind the not so easy version of living one’s life; Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta. Not so easy version basically means in a different language that is Sanskrit and in a twisted and complicated way which definitely needs simplification.
   

The ultimate take from it is that if followed properly one will definitely experience happiness, content and peace.