Homosexuality

Although homosexuality is not
unknown in Indian culture, it has never
had a very prominent presence. The
Kama Sutra contains a brief account of
homosexual oral sex and the classes of
men who performed this, but it is little
more than a passing mention.
In modern times, the male transvestites known as hijras often serve
as homosexual prostitutes, and they
are an accepted if marginal presence
in Indian life.
Although according to the dominant
Hindu ethos the search for pleasure—of
any kind—is an aim of life (purushartha),
other factors have channeled the
expression of sexual desire in other
directions, especially toward traditional
marriage. One of these is the general
desire for progeny, particularly sons;
another is the notion of the family as the
basic unit for social life. In addition, the
traditional male concern with losing
vitality through seminal emission is a
reason to abstain from sexual relations.
Finally, the cultural assumption that
ultimate wisdom comes only when one
has renounced all desires would have
affected sexual desire of all kinds.