When Krishna Became Mohini: A Divine Marraige Story. #Happy Pride

The gods and goddesses in Hindu mythology take many forms—sometimes to teach a moral lesson and other times just to be homewreckers. I'm looking at you, Indra. But did you know that one time, Krishna turned into a woman to give his dying, virgin friend a chance at romance?

Who is the Lucky Guy?

You may not have heard of Aravan, but he was indeed mentioned in the Tamil version of Mahabharat. Aravan, also known as Iravan, was Arjuna’s son with one of his wives, Ulupi.

How did the Ulupi and Arjuna Became a thing?

She was a Naga princess who saw him on the banks of the Ganga and, in a display somewhere between a caveman’s bonk and a kidnapping, pulled him into her underwater world. There, Ulupi offered him a chance to marry her. Arjuna, ignoring all the red flags, agreed and spent one night with her. His pullout game was weak, and it resulted in the birth of their son, Aravan.

Why Did Krishna Marry Him?

Before the Mahabharata even starts, among many complicated rituals, there was one that outclassed them all—human sacrifice, of course. Goddess Kali demanded a goody two-shoes with 32 moral qualities. Obviously, Arjuna and Krishna had them, but since they were the main characters (duh, you can’t kill the leads), a side character had to die to push the narrative. Who else but Aravan, who came looking for some fatherly affection? Instead of affection he got the chance to die for kingdom and glory! And oh, for character development. 

Aravan accepts this with much enthusiasm on one condition: he needs to get laid before death. Arjuna and Krishna set out matchmaking, searching for the fairest of them all who would fulfill the young lad’s fiery desire.

However, no woman wanted to become a widow as soon as she married, so it fell to Krishna to satisfy the lad’s final desire. Krishna took the form of Mohini, as Vishnu did, married Aravan, and consummated the marriage. When he was beheaded, Mohini mourned him like no wife would do for her husband.

The Legacy

The Koovagam festival happens at Koothandavar Temple in Tamil Nadu. It’s the only festival for transgender and transvestites, lasting fifteen days in the Hindu month of Chaitra (April and May). During this event, trans participants marry Lord Koothandavar (Aravan) to reenact the Mahabharata story of Mohini marrying Aravan.