Srngaramanjari Katha

SR No.: 002914
Original Sutra Author: Bhojdev
Author: Kalpalata K Munshi
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1959
Total Pages: 312
Language: Sanskrit, Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 21 MB

Page 108

A PICTURE OF THE TIMES
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amorous adventures. But the company most desired by them was that of the hetaira. In order to be worthy of their interests and accomplishments the hetaria also had to be educated. And gradually, as the respectable members of society took more and more interests in them their position and status improved considerably and they came to be regarded as the most advanced, cultured and wel. come members of society.35
The SMK is concerned mainly with this important section of society.
These women are to be distinguished on the one hand from the gay and beautiful ladies of the town, and on the other from the ordinary veśyās or prostitutes, the common women. About the former, we come to know, from stray references, only this that they were dressed and adorned in the fashions of the day; their hair was long and was braided or knotted and was always decorated with seasonal flowers. Tādanka, danta-patra and kundala were their ear-ornaments; be-jewelled necklaces and flower garlands adorned their necks; valaya, kankana and keyūra were their armlets, and their feet constantly resounded with the tinkling of the nūpuras. Fragrant sandal, camphor, kumkum and rodhra pollen were applied to their bosoms, and their palms and feet were painted with the alaktaka dye. Besides the accomplishment of music (sangita) or tauryatrika- the triple harmony of singing, dancing and instrumental music-we hear of no other accomplishment of theirs. This is be. cause the whole work is devoted to the lives of courtesans.
The gaṇikā is enumerated along with the veśyā, but there is a vast difference between the two. A few technical points may be noted here. The Kamasutra mentions nine types of common women, namely, kumbhadāsi, paricărikā, kulaţā, svairiņā, națī, silpakārikā, prakāśavinastā, rūpājīvā and the ganikā.36 Bharata calls her bähyä, 37 dhanikā, sādhārani, 38 and Rudrata simūnyā.39 Bhoja also calls the common woman sāmānya, and further gives three divisions: ganikā, rūpājīvā and valāsini.40 The SMK uses the words vesyjā,
35. From this it is not proper to infer that other women in society were absolutely
ignorant and unaccomplished as is done in the following remark of Dubois "The courtesans are the only women in India who enjoy the privilege of learn
ing to read, to dance, to sing' (Hindu manners, customs and ceremonies, p. 586). 36. TET-oharrail- F T-raftuti-aci-fcqfiffirst TCUT-
Erfra- foto fa autfastat: (VI, 6, 54). 37. Nātyaśāstra, 22, 146 b. ATEIT STETTA 38. Dasarūpaka, II, 15 ff. Fir2T FOTOTE Tifa aTur arferat frei 39. śrngāratilaka, I, 62, 65. zafirat dut a faüt qfhafai 40. SKA, V, 113 a. TRITTET TfUft Erat fatfuil