Iravan also known as Iravat [ 1 ] and Iravant , is a minor character from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The son of Pandava prince Arjuna one of the main heroes of the Mahabharata and the Naga princess Ulupi , Iravan is the central deity of the cult of Kuttantavar Kuttandavar which is also the name commonly given to him in that traditionβand plays a major role in the sect of Draupadi.
Both these sects are of Tamil origin, from a region of the country where he is worshipped as a village deity and is known as Aravan. He is also a patron god of well-known transgender communities called Ali s also Aravani in Tamil, and Hijra throughout South Asia.
The Mahabharata portrays Iravan as dying a heroic death on the 8th day of the day Kurukshetra War Mahabharata war , the epic's main subject. However, the South Indian traditions have a supplementary practice of honouring Aravan's self-sacrifice to the goddess Kali to ensure her favour and the victory of the Pandavas in the war.
The Kuttantavar tradition focuses on one of the three boons granted to Aravan by the god Krishna in honour of this self-sacrifice. Aravan requested that he be married before his death. Krishna satisfied this boon in his female form, Mohini. In Koovagam , Tamil Nadu , this incident is re-enacted in an day festival, first by a ceremonial marriage of Aravan to Alis hijra and male villagers who have taken vows to Aravan and then by their widowhood after ritual re-enactment of Aravan's sacrifice.
The Draupadi tradition emphasises another boon: Krishna allows Aravan to witness the entire duration of the Mahabharata war through the eyes of his severed head.
