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The Haunting State of Courtesans!! INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR LEGAL RESEARCH & ANALYSIS (ISSN 2582 – 6433) VOLUME I ISSUE IV (SEPTEMBER 2020) Email – [email protected] Website – www.ijlra.com 56565656565651 www.ijlra.com Volume IIssue IV|September 2020 ISSN: 2582-6433 DISCLAIMER No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in any form by any means without prior written permission of Managing Editor of IJLRA. The views expressed in this publication are purely personal opinions of the authors and do not reflect the views of the Editorial Team of IJLRA. Though every effort has been made to ensure that the information in Volume I Issue IV is accurate and appropriately cited/referenced, neither the Editorial Board nor IJLRA shall be held liable or responsible in any manner whatsever for any consequences for any action taken by anyone on the basis of information in the Journal. Copyright © International Journal for Legal Research & Analysis 1 www.ijlra.com Volume IIssue IV|September 2020 ISSN: 2582-6433 EDITORIAL TEAM EDITORS Ms. Ezhiloviya S.P. Nalsar Passout Ms. Priya Singh West Bengal National University of Juridical Science Mr. Ritesh Kumar Nalsar Passout Mrs. Pooja Kothari Practicing Advocate Dr. Shweta Dhand Assistant Professor 2 www.ijlra.com Volume IIssue IV|September 2020 ISSN: 2582-6433 ABOUT US INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR LEGAL RESEARCH & ANLAYSIS ISSN 2582-6433 is an Online Journal is Quarterly, Peer Review, Academic Journal, Published online, that seeks to provide an interactive platform for the publication of Short Articles, Long Articles, Book Review, Case Comments, Research Papers, Essay in the field of Law & Multidisciplinary issue. Our aim is to upgrade the level of interaction and discourse about contemporary issues of law. We are eager to become a highly cited academic publication, through quality contributions from students, academics, professionals from the industry, the bar and the bench. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR LEGAL RESEARCH & ANALYSIS ISSN 2582-6433 welcomes contributions from all legal branches, as long as the work is original, unpublished and is in consonance with the submission guidelines. 3 www.ijlra.com Vol ume IIssue IV|September 2020 ISSN: 2582-6433 THE HAUNTING STATE OF COURTESANS!! AUTHORS: 1) Vidhula . V 4th Year, BBA.LLB (Hons) VIT School of Law Chennai 2) Paranthaman.K 4th Year Student, BBA.LLB(Hons) VIT School of Law Chennai 4 www.ijlra.com Vol ume IIssue IV|September 2020 ISSN: 2582-6433 ABSTRACT: Prostitution or Concubine be it Surrogacy was not a sudden arose concept, turning to the past Pre Vedic period was regarded to be the GOLDEN ERA for a WOMEN, which gave equal rights to women and men, The historical term COURTESAN which became more woman-centric in Medieval Period boomed during the Renaissance period, this is the period when WOMEN’s dignity was faded away. Male chauvinism suppressed women’s right and saw them as slaves who give them only pleasure. In spite of suppression, these women cracked the shell and started to rediscover themselves. This paper focuses on the growth of a culture which aged back to the Puranas - Courtesan by analysing different countries during Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and the Modern period. Also how WOMEN gained their status of astonishment in the society INTRODUCTION: Courtesan is one of the oldest and ancient profession of the world to be more precise it was practised since the birth of the organised society. With regard to India, the Vedas and Puranas, known as the pilot literature has abounded references to cite the concept of Courtesan Culture. The exact meaning of a Courtesan is a person who is brought to the court of a monarch more specifically the term was derived from Courtier. As ages passed the term saw a transformation by becoming women-oriented; A courtesan is a glorified prostitute, a paramour to the royal1, high born and moneyed men of society and has the art of etiquette which means drawing attention of wealthy, stalwarts or other influential clients. Due to some specific reasons In Mauryan Dynasty, Chanakya Kautilya the renown author of “Arthasasthra” wanted prostitution to be utilised by public exchequer. The word Mujra which meant prostitution witnessed during the Mughal Empire which took place during the 15th to 18th century. King Jahangir's harem (a separate household in the muslim community reserved for wives, concubines and courtesans) had nearly 6,000 mistresses who were designated with authority, wealth and power. These women once ruled the nation with their seductive glances, now they 1 BLOGS SHU, http://blogs.shu.edu/ecww/project/veronica-ilg/ (last visited 7th Sep,2020) 5 www.ijlra.com Vol ume IIssue IV|September 2020 ISSN: 2582-6433 are mere sex workers ostracised and condemned by society. Predating even to the times of Mahabharata and Ramayana, courtesans have been an integral part of the Indian society2. Unfortunately, from ‘devadasis’ or ‘courtesans’ to ‘nautch girls’ to ‘prostitutes’, these women seem to have come a long way, battered down at each stage with might. Presently, it is abnormal to have the words ‘courtesan’ and ‘prostitute’ having used interchangeably. This is regarded as the greatest error that has been continuously done, the cause of this was the prestige of these women. The men pursuing these types of arts were appreciated as “Ustads” (Masters) while the women pursuing the same arts became “Nautch Girls” (Dancing Girls) from Courtesans, this was based on the gender inequality and gender biased records of the past. The current generations of erstwhile male court dancers proudly speak about their family lineage extolling the greatness of their forefathers as dancers in royal courts during when the women were shining. At the same time, the generations of women who were court dancers presently live with a sense of shame and never disclosing their lineage or any connection with erstwhile courts because they have faced humiliation.3 The modern usage of the term courtesans means a sugar baby (a person who supports the courtesans financially), concubine, mistress or prostitute. These Courtesans formed a great part during war times, there were several incidents were courtesans were sent to the enemy country to capture their kingdom. They saw a downfall during the British regime thus, this culture is fading away during the 21st century. These women with a memorising glances and look ruled over several nation, unfortunately now they are mere sex workers degraded by the society. VEDIC PERIOD: Indian Mythology has many references of high-class courtesans in the form of celestial demigods, they were mainly entertainers, to name a few Rambhai, Menaka, 2 DESIBLITZ, https://www.desiblitz.com/content/rise-fall-indias-courtesans (last visited on 4th Sep.2020) 3 SUFI KATHAK FOUNDATION, http://sufikathakfoundation.com/causes/respect-for-the-courtesan/ (last accessed on 4th Sep.2020) 6 www.ijlra.com Vol ume IIssue IV|September 2020 ISSN: 2582-6433 Thilothamma and Urvashi. Text like Rig Veda mentions a term called as Sadbarani, a women who offers entertainment or sex for payment. Mostly these women in Vedic period are seen wearing red coloured dresses and decked up with lots of jewellery. Rig Veda also mentions a part of courtesans to be prostitutes and illegitimate children. Vagabond priests and their female companion have been described in ‘‘Atharvana Veda’’ as sacred prostitutes. Nagarvadhus is a Devanagari term which means city bride (groom) who are actually courtesans. A women to win the title of a Nagarvadhu, was not a taboo as they have to fight over others with superiority. The most gorgeous and highly talented women in various dance forms were conferred with the title of the Nagarvadhu. The Nagarvadhu was given respect equivalent like a queen or Goddess; in fact she was a courtesan where people could watch her dance, perform various other arts and sing. A Nagarvadhu's honorarium for a night's performance was very high, by which she was only within the reach of the very rich like the king, the princes, and the lord. Famous Nagarvadhus as per scriptures are Amrapali, a state courtesan in a plot by Acharya Chatursen and Vasantasena, a state courtesan character who is the lover of an impoverished young Brahmin in the famous Mṛcchakatika, a Sanskrit drama written by Sudraka (This play was translated in English as The Little Clay Cart). There is another class of women who were regarded as The Apsaras these women are celestial minor goddesses who are an exemplary embodiment of beauty and feminine charms. They are masters in music and dance. These Apsaras only entertain the divinities in their court, for inference the court of Lord Indra. These Apsaras are sent to break severe penance undertaken by great saints. Once such instance which occurred in Ramayana, is where an Apsaras name Menaka was sent down by Lord Indra to break the penance of a most respected and revered Sage Vishwamithrar, and she became a prey to his curse. There is another story in Ramayana where a Sage named Rishyasringa son of Sage Vibhandaka to resolve a dire famine in a city called Anga, the King of Anga sent the mist charming courtesans of the city to bring Rishyasringa to his kingdom. Another citation from Ramayana is when Hanuman visited Ravana’s palace he saw many courtesans consuming liquor and lying in an awkward position around him. So it can be proved 7 www.ijlra.com Vol ume IIssue IV|September 2020 ISSN: 2582-6433 that courtesan culture for such an ancient concept, having incites from Mahabharatham too. It was very predominant during the reign of Pandavs and Kauravas. Having concubine is common among the aristocracy. In Mahabharatha courtesans of Indra Puri (the kingdom of Pandavas) have been vividly depicted under various series. There was a record of forty-two Apsaras and the stars among them are Urvashi, Menaka, Rambhai, Thilottamma and Ghritachee.
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