Sacred Narratives and Gender: A Comparative Study of Mary Magdalene in the Lucan Gospel and Antal in Thiruppāvai

Abstract

While sacred texts convey religious history and ethics, they also provide rich material for interdisciplinary studies within public theology. This paper explores the gendered dimensions of prominent female figures through a comparative study of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of Luke and Antal in the 9th-century CE Tamil Vaishnavite text, Thiruppavai. Utilizing qualitative textual, inter- textual, and intra-textual analysis alongside a historical-critical approach, this study investigates how both figures challenge patriarchal structures and traditional gender norms within Christian and Hindu traditions. The analysis illustrates how Antāl's intense devotional longing toward Lord Krishna and Mary Magdalene's deeply personal attachment to Jesus transcend conventional human love, transforming intimate emotion into a pathway toward mystical, divine union. Guided by the hermeneutics of gender and cultural sensitivity, the paper examines how these narratives subvert societal expectations and align personal devotion with cosmic purpose. The central hypothesis is that Mary Magdalene and Āntāl emerge as powerful personalities exemplifying spiritual authority and dignity. This carries profound relevance for Asia's multicultural and pluralistic context, where women's roles are frequently marginalized. By reshaping intimate human love into a vehicle for divine encounter, both figures offer essential frameworks for integrating gender-inclusive perspectives into contemporary Asian public theology. Ultimately, the study concludes that this comparative analysis inspires greater gender equality, mutual interfaith respect, and a robust theological foundation to resist marginalization, envisioning a more just and equitable society.