A Woman with Three Breasts, the Ultra Feminine and the Warrior

Every inch of women has been objectified of pre-framed conventions by society. Sexual objectification, marginalization and humiliation are the routine in the life of women. In a chauvinistic society, women are typically seen as irrational, weak, and subservient. There is always an invisible war between the male and female to the opposition between body and spirit.

Patriarchal politics revolves around the woman's breast in terms of eroticising at the free will of men.

Breasts become a symbol in various cultures and societies. In historical, religious, psychological, and socio-cultural factors, breasts are interpreted in many ways—breast, not just a symbol of feminity but sexuality, motherhood, and societal taboo.

There's a trace in ancient civilization where we could find the breast is a symbol of fertility and nourishment.

Breast is portrayed in a highly predominant way in the artwork of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Mesopotamian civilizations. 

In the 19th century, we explore the story of Nangeli, a Dalit woman who lived in Travancore, Kerala. At that time, the king of Travancore imposed a tax to cover the breasts of the lower caste women. Nangeli refused to pay the tax to cover her breasts. The authorities caught her at home to pay the tax. She cut off one of her breasts and kept a plantain leaf to present to the tax collector. By the fearless action of Nangeli, the breast tax came to be concluded.

The Silapadikaram, one of the epics in Tamil literature. Kannagi, a chaste wife but her husband Kovalan had an affair with a courtesan, Matavi. Inorder to fulfill the demands of Matavi, he sold his wife's diamond-studded anklet. Unfortunately he was accused of stealing the queen's anklet and the soldiers killed him. The widowed Kannagi became furious and out of wrath she cut off one of her breasts in the king's court and cursed Madurai to get fired. Here breast portrayed as the unfulfilled sexuality and chastity.

Another tale from Tamil Nadu is about three breasted princess.

Madurai was once ruled by a king Malayadwaja Pandian. His wife was Kaanchanamalai. They were childless for long time. They were bothering about their dynasty would come to an end after them.

By the guidance of the Guru(Mentor), they planned to perform the yagya, called Putra Kameshti Yagam. They were hoping to get boy child to take up the dynasty.

Unexpectedly, a three year old girl baby raised from the fire. The king and queen were stunned. Immediately king picked her with ecstasy. He shocked by spotting the three nipples on her chest. They become speechless with the abnormal feature of the child.

Suddenly they heard a voice from the above. They got a message as she is not a normal girl child, raise as a male child and make her queen. When she will find her king , one of her breasts will be disappeared.

The king and queen named her as Meenakshi (her eyes resembles as fish) and raised with love and care. She learned all the war essentials like horse riding, sword fighting, shooting with bow and arrow. She was taught the art of war 

When Meenakshi reached the adulthood, she joined her father in the battlefield. She ruled Madurai and took up Dik Vijaya. Her parents planned for Swayamvar to get the suitor. But Meenakshi was scheduled with Dik Vijaya like prince.

During Dik Vijaya, she reached Mount Kailash to battle with Shiva. When she faced Shiva, she felt shy and her third breast was disappeared. Shiva came to Madurai as Somasundara to marry Meenakshi.

The phenomenon of having an extra breast is called polymastia and Darwin believed it to be a form of atavism Other such atavistic phenomena include additional nipples (polythelia) vestigal tails (coccygeal projection) or even prominent canines. A more thorough understanding of this phenomenon can be found here, including mentions of the goddess Artemis who is depicted with many breasts.

The 16th century artists made the sculpture of goddess with extra breast called the Polymastia, the evidence of the artistic greatness. In the 19th century only, Darwin was clearly aware of the existence of polymastia. Through this, the futuristic sense of an artist has been witnessed.  

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