History: Devadasi and their roles
- Thread starter pps309
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...wat is it ?-
The Devadasi parampara is legitimised prostitution in Hinduism. Was introduced as
a part of Tantrik beliefs and methods of worship in some Temples of India to provide
regular female attendants. Hinduism does not condemn prostitutes. There is a real
reason why prostitution is still not considered as a punishable offense in Indian Law.
Although the original devadasis were brahmacharinis their entire life, the
contemporary sexual aspects of the rituals that accompany dedication are now
considered by many Hindus to be exploitative and not mandatory. Nevertheless
this practice continues unabated in some places where a devadasi would usually
acquire a "patron" after her "deflowering ceremony". Patronship in a majority of
cases is achieved at the time of the dedication ceremony itself. The patron who
secures this right of spending the first night with the girl can pay a fixed sum of
money to maintain a permanent liaison with the devadasi, pay to maintain a
relationship for a fixed amount of time, or terminate the liaison after the deflowering
ceremony. A permanent liaison with a patron does not bar the girl from entertaining
other clients, unless he specifies otherwise. In case the girl entertains, other men
have to leave the girl’s house when her patron comes.
Traditionally, no stigma was attached to the devadasi or to her children, and other
members of their caste received them on terms of equality. The children of a devadasi
enjoyed legitimacy and devadasis themselves were outwardly indistinguishable from
married women of their own community.
Furthermore, a devadasi was believed to be immune from widowhood and was called
akhanda saubhagyavati. Since she was wedded to a divine deity, she was supposed
to be one of the especially welcome guests at weddings, and was regarded as bearer
of fortune. At weddings, people would get a string of the tali (wedding lock) prepared
by her and she threaded on it a few beads from her own necklace. The presence of a
devadasi on any religious occasion in the house was regarded as sacred and she was
treated with due respect and was presented with gifts.
Hinduism accepts peoples wisdom as well as their ignorance without passing snobbish
judgements. The diversity of the world and all the people in the various stages of
ignorance or spiritual progress are accepted as an integral part of universal reality.
Thanks
-
The Devadasi parampara is legitimised prostitution in Hinduism. Was introduced as
a part of Tantrik beliefs and methods of worship in some Temples of India to provide
regular female attendants. Hinduism does not condemn prostitutes. There is a real
reason why prostitution is still not considered as a punishable offense in Indian Law.
Although the original devadasis were brahmacharinis their entire life, the
contemporary sexual aspects of the rituals that accompany dedication are now
considered by many Hindus to be exploitative and not mandatory. Nevertheless
this practice continues unabated in some places where a devadasi would usually
acquire a "patron" after her "deflowering ceremony". Patronship in a majority of
cases is achieved at the time of the dedication ceremony itself. The patron who
secures this right of spending the first night with the girl can pay a fixed sum of
money to maintain a permanent liaison with the devadasi, pay to maintain a
relationship for a fixed amount of time, or terminate the liaison after the deflowering
ceremony. A permanent liaison with a patron does not bar the girl from entertaining
other clients, unless he specifies otherwise. In case the girl entertains, other men
have to leave the girl’s house when her patron comes.
Traditionally, no stigma was attached to the devadasi or to her children, and other
members of their caste received them on terms of equality. The children of a devadasi
enjoyed legitimacy and devadasis themselves were outwardly indistinguishable from
married women of their own community.
Furthermore, a devadasi was believed to be immune from widowhood and was called
akhanda saubhagyavati. Since she was wedded to a divine deity, she was supposed
to be one of the especially welcome guests at weddings, and was regarded as bearer
of fortune. At weddings, people would get a string of the tali (wedding lock) prepared
by her and she threaded on it a few beads from her own necklace. The presence of a
devadasi on any religious occasion in the house was regarded as sacred and she was
treated with due respect and was presented with gifts.
Hinduism accepts peoples wisdom as well as their ignorance without passing snobbish
judgements. The diversity of the world and all the people in the various stages of
ignorance or spiritual progress are accepted as an integral part of universal reality.
Thanks
-
pps309
Prime VIP
Yeah, kind of but not exactly same.
I guess Nun's do not involve in sexual activities. Do they?
Why I asked, Coz on the net I got very mixed responses. I mean the name "Devadasi" itself reflects purity but it seems only girls from low casts are pushed into this.
If it is so pure why not Brahmins involve their girls in it. It seems to me that it was something which was very noble in the begining but later on kalyugi brahminisation screwed it down to the level of prostitution.
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I don't think so because I believe it was supposed to be that way. It was later with the
arrival of the British Christian missionaries, doctors, journalists, administrators and
social workers— strongly influenced by Christian morality and religion, began to see
the features of the devadasi institution as reprehensible in the utmost.
Originally Hinduism never damned prostitution as an evil. It never mattered to Hinduism
that its followers also indulge in prostitution as a profession and tolerated them as
ignorant(not evil) souls without crushing them under the weight if its scriptural morality.
Thanks
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I don't think so because I believe it was supposed to be that way. It was later with the
arrival of the British Christian missionaries, doctors, journalists, administrators and
social workers— strongly influenced by Christian morality and religion, began to see
the features of the devadasi institution as reprehensible in the utmost.
Originally Hinduism never damned prostitution as an evil. It never mattered to Hinduism
that its followers also indulge in prostitution as a profession and tolerated them as
ignorant(not evil) souls without crushing them under the weight if its scriptural morality.
Thanks
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No, certainly not, I wasn't fully aware about devdasi concept.
kudi_patole_wargi
Ki Zor Gareeba Da
parnali movie dekhi lagdi aa j@tti ne 
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The law doesn't say anything that makes prostitution illegal. Soliciting is illegal.
Running a racket is illegal. Prostitution is not. It is protected under the right to
choose a profession act.
Thanks
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The law doesn't say anything that makes prostitution illegal. Soliciting is illegal.
Running a racket is illegal. Prostitution is not. It is protected under the right to
choose a profession act.
Thanks
-
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We have a clear crisp law regarding sex workers. No sex worker was ever prosecuted
for being a sex worker.
But by 'clear-crisp-laws' you don't mean making prostitution illegal, do you ?
Thanks
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We have a clear crisp law regarding sex workers. No sex worker was ever prosecuted
for being a sex worker.
But by 'clear-crisp-laws' you don't mean making prostitution illegal, do you ?
Thanks
-
pps309
Prime VIP
No, I never meant that.
I mean to say law says prostitution is not illegal but solicitation and running it is illegal. I could not get the logic behind this.
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Advertising through Tv, Radio, newspapers is illegal. Institutionalising it is also illegal.
An adult women willingly providing her services in return for money is not illegal,
provided she is workinh on her own and is not a part of a racket..
What the idea behind it is is something no one knows. But prostitutes in Bengal
have unionized themselves and have been running their own a cooperative bank
which also provides insurance policies to them.
Thanks
-
Advertising through Tv, Radio, newspapers is illegal. Institutionalising it is also illegal.
An adult women willingly providing her services in return for money is not illegal,
provided she is workinh on her own and is not a part of a racket..
What the idea behind it is is something no one knows. But prostitutes in Bengal
have unionized themselves and have been running their own a cooperative bank
which also provides insurance policies to them.
Thanks
-
