Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c13.98

v2.c13.98

¹ Cp. Hemavijaya’s Kathāratnākara, 118th Tale; Hertel, *Wiener Zeitschr. f. d. Kunde d. Morgenl.*, xxv, p. 168 ff.; Crooke, Pop. Rel., ii, 7; and on change of sex in general *Isoldes Gottesurteil*, note 200 (p. 282 f.); Weinhold, *Zeitschr. d. Ver. f. Volksk.*, Bd. 5, p. 126 ff. K., i, 109.66, has much that is not found in B., and brings out still more strongly how holy the girl’s inclination and her secret promise of marriage were, at least for the warrior caste. Ambā here for six years is sent to and fro between the Ҫālva and Bhīshma. One of them must marry her. Then she gives herself up to the sternest penance. The god Kumāra brings her a wreath; whoever wears it, he says, can slay Bhīshma. She now makes a round of the kings with her wreath and prayer for revenge. But none dares. [For spirits with changing sex in Melanesia, see G. C. Whecler, *Mono-Alu Folklore*, pp. 21, 62 (Translator).]