E-commerce websites from the Indian subcontinent list a curious item often categorized as a “decorative showpiece.” It is usually described as the root of a sacred plant that promises to bring prosperity and treat countless illnesses. In reality, however, it may actually be the genitals of a monitor lizard.
India is home to four monitor lizard species—the Bengal monitor, Asian water monitor, yellow monitor and desert monitor. They are found all over the country, from evergreen forests to deserts and mangrove swamps.
Monitor lizards across the world are in demand to feed various global wildlife trafficking schemes. A field guide by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) notes that hundreds of thousands of these animals are poached annually from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and parts of Africa. Their skins are used to manufacture luxury leather goods for consumers across the globe. More frequently, they are smuggled live for the pet trade.
There are no native monitor lizards in the Americas. However, the Nile monitor has become an invasive species in Florida, according to a July 2016 report in Journal of Heredity. Originally from sub-Saharan Africa, this species is threatening local biodiversity like burrowing owls and gopher tortoises.
Why Are The Genitals Of A Lizard Coveted By Consumers?
Wild monitor lizards are caught and bent backwards or burnt alive to make their genitals protrude. Once the genitals are extracted, the lizards are battered to death or left to bleed. These genitals, which are often marketed as aphrodisiacs or traditional medicines in various parts of the world, are then dried and sold.
While all four species are targeted, it is usually the Bengal monitor, or Varanus bengalensis, that falls victim, being present in the widest range of habitats. In fact, in April 2024, nearly 800 Bengal monitor hemipenes were seized in India. This points to the trade still prevailing unchecked in the subcontinent.
The hemipenis (forked penis) of the monitor lizard is thought to resemble two hands joined in prayer, similar to the root of the devil’s claw plant, or Martynia annua.
According to a December 2018 paper in Biawak, this rare, endangered plant is considered sacred. It has an ancient history of being used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for treating conditions like epilepsy, tuberculosis and inflammation.
Locally known as hatha jodi (joined hands) in India, the root is highly sought after by consumers, who often mark the roots with vermilion and place them near religious idols. Little do they know that the “root” they’re purchasing from most online sources is more likely lizard genitalia, considering the rarity of the plant.
The legend around the lizard genitals is so rampant that many sellers even craft fake hatha jodis out of wheat flour or plastic.
Some indigenous groups in India are noted to be using the hemipenes of monitor lizards in tantric medicines and black magic. Several holy men have even produced videos explaining how to use the genitals. In Pakistan, male babies are marked with powdered genitals that are mixed with oil, a ritual that is believed to bring good fortune.
There are at least 80 species of monitor lizards globally, with 20 being discovered in just the last 20 years. Some are abundant and widespread, while others are highly endangered and restricted to small regions, like the Komodo dragon, which is a type of monitor lizard found only in certain Indonesian islands.
While the rigorous trade and misinformation continue to proliferate, scientific research on the ecology of these reptiles is severely lacking. There is hope though, as in recent years, thanks to stringent investigation, the sale of hatha jodi is steadily dwindling.
Why does misinformation about the natural world persist? Why do we lack concern for the plight of declining biodiversity, on which we are very much dependent for life? In a modernizing world that is moving further and further from nature, take this test to see if you remember your roots: Connectedness to Nature Scale
