Mahabharata

was thinking about Mahabharata as I went through some pieces of of the great epic on the net. One thing is the 'libido' of women shown in the epic. Sample this:

When Hidimba saw Bhima in the forest , she was enchanted by his leonine shoulders , broad chest and mighty arms. Thus taking the form of a beautiful female she approached Bhima and said.

"O great and mighty man! , I have been struck by Kamadeva's arrow when I saw you , although my brother the Mighty Hidimb has sent me to kill you and your brothers , killing you would give me temporary pleasure; marrying you would ensure that pleasure would be mine for time eternal."

Hmmm--- one thing is for sure the females in the epic were not shy of demanding sexual satisfaction , even if by the use of grandiloquent dialogue as written by Jai Arjun Singh in his popular Blog Jabberwock. One thing is for sure , the epic is far ahead of its times and ironically should show are feminists that ancient vedic culture was not only tolerant of female sexuality but seemed to encourage it.

Another Sample: Ulupi the queen of the Nagas , took Arjuna to the bottom of the Ganges and asked him this:

"O great warrior , you of the deep chest and resonating voice , you of the dark complexion and sensual eyes . Accept me as your wife and spend the next three days with me in my palace underwater".

After this another sexually charged dialogue , Arjuna accepts Ulupi and according to the epic "knows her as a husband " for three days.

Brilliant, isn't it , when women were so free to choose their husbands and were also well versed in the art of mesmerising poetry the "O warrior" , "O Bheema," being used everywhere.

The Mahabharata is not only brilliant as an epic but is also good for an exercise in high camp on lighter days.