Kanyaka [Sequel to Durga] | ✓

5. Devadasi and Rajdasi

I must talk to Rudra about it when he comes. Rudra! His diary! I must read what is written in that. But before that I must read about devadasi and rajdasi systems again.

She searched for a file where she had done her research on these systems. It all started when she decided to read works of Kalidasa when one sentence hooked her attention. After a few minutes, she found the file and started reading it.

Ancient age system likes to call it devadasi but modern day age knows it as sex slavery bounded by rituals. One doesn't need any books to understand what the word means. A self explanatory word which translates to ‘servant of God’. First reference to this system has been found in Kalidasa’s ‘Meghadhoot’ which states the presence of dancing girls at the Mahakal temple of Ujjain.

A practice that has recorded to be started somewhere around 1100-500 BCE, has destroyed lives of girls of age 8-16 years. The girl was married to the God before she would attain puberty. There were a set of rituals which was introduced once a devadasi was brought to temple.

It is believed that this system has originated from Andhra Pradesh and slowly spread around to neighbouring areas- Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Odisha and Maharashtra. Each region had different names and were devoted to different deities. Jogini was the term used in Andhra Pradesh where girls were dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara. Similarly,  Natavalollu of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to Goddess Yellamma, Devadasi of Maharashtra to Lord Khanoba and Maharhi of Odisha to Lord Jagannath.

According to rules concerning temple worship, dance and music are necessary ingredients of daily puja of deities in temples. Several Puranas recommended that arrangements should be made to enlist the services of singing girls for worship at temples.

By the end of 10th century, the total number of devadasis in many temples was in direct proportion to the wealth and prestige of the temple. During the medieval period, they were regarded as a part of the normal establishment of temples; they occupied a rank next only to priests and their number often reached high proportions.

Despite of having high status, these devadasis weren't spared from the lustful gaze of priests. This was the time when families of upper caste stopped dedicating their daughters to the temple. Shudras or the lower caste families were targeted. There is believed to be a rumour spread amongst them, parents dedicating their daughters to a temple is the belief that they would receive moksha or salvation. Thus began the tale of religious prostitution where many priests started ‘buying’ the Dalit girls to serve as sex slaves in the name of devadasi.

This practice became a substitute for human sacrifice and a rite to ensure fertility of the land, to increase the human and animal population. While a devadasi had to satisfy her own soul and offered herself to the god, but the rajdasi's dance was meant to be an entertainment.

There is always a relation between religion and state, and so, the kings who ruled in ancient South India, would come to the temples, from time to time, to visit, pray, and also to see the dance of the devadasis. Often a king would be so enamored of the dancing damsel, that he would take her back to his palace, for his own private entertainment. These ladies were then called the ‘Rajdasis’– those who served kings. This is how Bharata Natyam left the temple premises and entered the royal palace.

Today, the devadasis have been forced into prostitution and a life of extreme poverty in some cases. A tradition that once thrived and was celebrated, has completely lost its identity. Most of them are either sex slaves or child prostitutes. They can be found in large numbers in parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

She took a deep breath. So this Kanyaka was forced to become a rajdasi. But why? I don't remember reading that these systems were hereditary. Her mother, Netravati was a rajdasi; could this mean their ancestors were also rajdasis? I must not delay reading Rudra's diary.

She opened the page when Ramaiah came inside.

"I am sorry to disturb you Ma'am but I guess you must have seen about the island."

She nodded in agreement.

"There's news stating that this submerged island came up due to testing of nuclear weapons."

"I don't understand this, how does testing of nuclear weapons lead to emergence of an island?"

"The weapons were tested in the Arabian Sea."

She looked at him, shocked. "What!"

"Yes, though they were tested, ASI undertook the mission to completely restore the island. No one knows who did this testing but it is believed to be done by some country from Indian subcontinent."

"What is the name of island?"

He replied, "It's not very sure but they say it is called Sahasyabhumi."

"What! Pardon me."

"I said the name of island is Sahasyabhumi."

"By Devi Shakti!"

***

The article on devadasi and rajdasi is based on information collected by me from various sources. I don't mean to offend or hurt any religious or cultural sentiments.

Thank you for reading.