Valentine’s Day evokes strong reaction. Amongst lovers greeting cards are exchanged, festivities are taken part in, to uphold the concept of love existing between male and female. Is it to be confined only to the to-be-married male and female? Why should it not be extended to the married? Is love a concept that is existing only before marriage and which disappears thereafter, or to be abandoned thereafter?

On the other side, we have strong protests that the concept of celebrating love is West originated and should not be aped in our country. Is there justification in their protest? The truth lies somewhere in-between.
The Hindu scriptures have identified the scheme of things, that there exists a demi-god, kama, whose function is to generate desire in persons - male, female or trans-sexual. This keeps the world going. Desire is the cause of all activity. It is as fundamental as breathing. If we delve further into the scriptures, we find that there are eternal entities called souls and these souls exist in pairs.  There is no odd man or odd woman out. The trans-sexuals have ultimate biological status of either male or female in them. Sustenance of this biological status eternally in souls is the greatest kindness of God.

Coming back to Valentine’s Day, love produces enjoyment. So love is to be celebrated. Do scriptures stand in the way? No. The Mahapurana Bhagavata gives description of the enjoyment of the liberated pair in heaven. Valentine day is not the prerogative of to-be married lovers. Let us give institution of marriage, the pride of place, as it is a universally accepted institution. Love thy partner.

In the scheme of God, eternal pairs of male and female exist. Love and sex are not denied among eternal partners in liberation. The whole process of lives is a journey to join the eternal partner.  
Do you change TV channels by putting off TV every time. This is all what we want. Is it not folks? Kids? Everybody is God’s kid. Where is the question of having a separate kid? Double enjoyment. No kids. Scriptures are not grim. They have happiness concealed. Lead a restrained (not necessarily monastic) life, aiming for liberation. All the best lovers (of life).