Why Eunuchs marry on Sri Rama Navami?

Hindus across the world are celebrating the auspicious occasion of Sri Rama Navami with great devotion. For those who wonder why they are celebrating Rama Navami, here are nine important reasons. People hail the noble qualities of Rama. His popularity, bravery, kindness, justice, obedience, intelligence, patience, being dutiful, universal love are appreciated by one and all.

Even as entire India is reverberating with Lord Rama name with people chanting in devotion, a more shocking news is coming out. It is revealed eunuchs do get married on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami. This may shock hard core hindus but eunuchs apparently got married in various Shiva temples across India. Even in Andhra Pradesh in Vemulavada Rajanna temple at Karimnagar, many eunuchs or hijras, when Lord Rama and Sita's marriage is performed, came in new dresses and poured 'talambralu' on themselves thinking Lord Shiva as their husband!

After the marriage, speaking to scribes they said since Lord Shiva is considered as Arthanaareswara (shiva-parvathi), they considered Shiva as their husband. They say every Sri Rama Navami they come dressed as brides and be happy to become wives of Shiva. Many from other states like Gujarat etc visited Vemulavada and participated in the ritual of joginis.

This is not the only festival where eunuchs marry themselves. Known as Hirja's in North India and Thiru Nangai in South, they celebrate Koothandavar Thiruvizha, the weirdest festival in the month of Chaitra (April/May) every year in a village called ‘Koovagam’ in the district of Villupuram in the state of Tamilnadu. On the full moon day of the Chaitra month of the Hindu lunar calendar every year, Eunuchs from all over India gather at the Koothandavar temple in Koovagam village to celebrate their marriage to the temple’s God Koothandavar widely known as Aravan. The marriage lasts only for a day and the next day the new brides mourn their groom’s death. Aravani is another name given to Eunuchs, as they are wives of Aravan.

Aravan, according to Hindu mythology, Mahabharata was one of the sons of Pandavas. Krishna advices Pandavas that they have to sacrifice a great warrior to win the war. They decide to sacrifice him to Goddess Kali but before his death, Aravan wish to get married. With no girl coming forward, Krishna himself turns Mohini to marry Aravan. Though this was merely a myth, the Eunuchs in India consider themselves to be Mohini, the female form of Lord Vishnu and every year they celebrate the ‘Koothandavar Festival’ to recall this incident. The festival is celebrated for 16days and on 17th day special pooja will be performed.