________________
112
A CULTURAL STUDY OF THE NISITHA CURNI
Public Women--The ancient texts clearly differentiate between the ganika and the veśya. Ganika was socially respected by the kings and the nobles because of her accomplishments in various fine arts, while vesya earned her livelihood by selling her body for the physical satisfaction of the people, Both the terms later came to be used almost as synonyms, ' as the chief amongst the veśyās came to be known as ganika. 8 In the NC. the various terms like ganika,* vesya,, vesitthis and veśastri? have been used almost as synonyms.
The Kamasutra defines the gaņikā as a veśya who is accomplished in sixty-four arts.8 In the NC., however, youth, beauty and other coquetish charms are mentioned as the only requirements for a gaạikā.. The gaņikās were supposed to be very beautiful and their company could only be enjoyed by persons capable of paying the suitable price.10 Thus, she could be approached by the rich people, but it was difficult for a man to leave her company as she excited the passions of a man by her youth and beauty.li The residences of the courtisans were known as ganiyathana (ganikā sthāna—a brothel). 11 The persons like Vița and Ceça and even the prostitutes who could not carry on with their professions because of their old age did often indulge in search of beautiful orphan girls to turn them . into prostitutes. The Jaina nuns were restricted from accepting
1. For the Buddhist and Jaina information regarding the origin and
growth of the institution of ganjkās see-JainK.C., Bauddha
aura Jaina Agamom meň Nāri-Jivana, pp. 145-66. 2. arcraft fort arata tal-Amarakoša, 2. 6. 19; Paiya Sadda Mahan.
nava, p. 286. 3. Jain, K. C., op. cit., p. 158. 4. NO. 1, pp. 3, 50; NC. 4, p. 19. 5. NC. 3, p. 399. 6. NC. 2, p. 466; NC. 3, p. 586. 7. NC. 2, p. 31. 8. Kamasutra, 1, p. 20. 9. NC. 4, p. 19. 10. NO. 1, p. 50. 11. NC. 4, p. 19. 12. NO. 3, p. 586.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
