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POSITION OF WOMEN
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of the lovers. When a visitor approached her she took him to the picturegallery and asked what pictures he liked most From the answer of the man she understood his caste, his artistic taste and the weakness and the strength of his nature 87
The courtesans in ancient days were not morally degraded, but they were the women of high character whose company was sought by respectable citizens. 88 Jain texts mention various courtesans of fame and character who did not like to flirt with many, but yearned to have a man of their choice and to live happily with him. Kosa and Upakosā are mentioned two courtesans of Padaliputta The former loved Sthūlabhadra and the latter Vararuci.89 Kosā lived with Sthūlabhadra for twelve years and loved him so much that she did not like the company of any other person after Sthūlabhadra retired from the world. In course of time, the monk Sthūlabhadra returned to Padaliputta and visited Kosā. She listened to his religious sermons and became a śrãurkā. She took a vow of celibacy that she would not show favour to anyone excepting when forced by the king.90 Devadattā was another "public-woman" of Ujjeni, who was proud of her beauty, grace and accomplishments. She was devoted to prince Müladeva of Padaliputta and wanted to get rid of Ayala, a rich merchant of the town and her lover. Once her mother asked her not to love Müladeva because he was penniless, but Devadattā replied that she was fond of his virtues, and not of his wealth Later on, she visited the king and requested him not to force upon her any other man except Müladeva.91
87
88
80
90 01
P1. 262 Cf. the picture gallery of Amrapali of Vaisāli (Vinayalastu of the Mülasarva
stivāda, p 19) See also Damodaragupta's Kultınīmata, Bombay, 1924, which describes various cunning arts, wiles and devices which were resorted to by courtcsans to decoy and lead to ruin guileless but weak-minded young men Cf the character of Cārudatta in Africhakatiha According to the Kothasaritsagara (Vol I, ch IV, pp 32-6) Upakosa was the chaste wife of Varar ucı Once when Vararucı had gonc to the Himalayas, Upakosa went to takc bath in the Ganges. There she was seen by the royal minister, priest and the judge who became enamoured of her She made an appointment with them and asked each of them to come at different times Later on, she shut them in a box which was carried to the king's court. Ullarā. Ti. 2 20 If bed, 3, pp. 59-65 Cf other ganıkās of high character in Buddhist and Brāhmanic Iterature. The courtesan Bundumati made the great Ganges Now backwards by her act of truth Asked by king Asoka as to what caused this wonder, she replied that whosoever gave her gold, whether a nobleman or a Brālunana or a tradesman or a servant she regarded them all alıke (Milindapanha, p 1211) The Kurudhamma Jätaha (II, No 276), D 380 tells another story about a rightcous courtesan who icclived one thousand pieces from a man who never ruturned for three years The coui lesan for honour's gake did not take cven a piece of betcl from another man When she became poor, she went to thc court and got the peiinission of the judges to earn wages as before. In the Kathāsarılsägara (Vol III, ch XXXVIII, pp. 207-217) we noticc a courtcsan making a vow that, if in six months her lover would not return, she would give away all her property and enter into fire. She passed her time by, giving charities to the Brāhmanas. For Ambapālıkä scc Digha. II, pp. 96-8 ;- Tharigatha, 252-70, Mahāxagga VI, 30 p. 231-3.
