The system of Devadasis began in medieval India. It was acknowledged that if a woman is married to a deity and pleases him the entire family will be blessed. These women were trained classical dancers and could generally speak multiple language, as they learned dance from so many different cultures and states of India. They would live Inside the Temple in captivity their entire lives. They would take care of the temple, perform dances in order to please the deity.
These women once had very high social status as they were considered goddesses and very holy. People would touch their feet and ask them to bless children. This was one of the reasons why people from economically weak families would send young girls to these temples to practice this system to that their families would be blessed. These girls were generally teenagers when they were sent away.
This system mainly prevailed in southern India , but in some proportion also existed in lot other parts – Only the gods and maybe the dance forms would change .
However, the system did not remain this holy for a long time.
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Prostitutes Of God
Non-FictionA short book to explain who Devadasis were , how it all began and the kind of lives they lived within patriarchal and castiest India .