________________
Social Conditions
261 THE COURTESANS
Courtesans became a special feature of city life during this age, especially in cities like Rājagriha. Champā, Vaiśālī, Mithilā, Sāketa and Srāvastī. People had become wealthy and begun to entertain themselves in different ways. As the courtesans were custodians of such fine arts as singing, dancing, and music, they occupied a respectable position in the society of the period. They were beautiful, graceful and pleasant. As their presence in a royal city was material to its citizens, they were especially installed with honour. They appeared even in royal palaces on festive occasions to give the finest exhibition of their artistic talent.
Sālavati of Rājagriha and Ambapālī of Vaiśāli were two of the most well-known courtesans of this time. When Ambapāli was installed as a courtesan of Vaiśāls, her example was followed by installing Sālavatı as a courtesan of Rājagriha.1 Both were not only superbly charming but also well versed in singing, dancing and music. The fact that the Buddha accepted an invitation extended to him by Ambapäls and went to her residence with the Bhikshu Sangha" and that she dedicated the Ambapāli grove to the Samgha), shows that a courtesan occupied no mean position. The way in which Ambapāli proceeded to see the Buddha at Kotigāma with a number of magnificent vehicles shows that her equipage was almost royal. She was supposed to be "the pride of the city's (Nagarasobhini). King Bimbisāra of Magadha was so much intoxicated by her beauty that he risked even his life to pay a visit to her at a time when a severe fighting was going on between Magadha and Vaiśāli. Hc is said to have stayed with her for some time. And it was Ambapāli who is said to have given birth to prince Abhaya, son of Bimbisāra. That the great physician Jivaka was born of Salavats, the courtcsan of Rājagriha, shows that some of the sons of the couriesans could 1. Vr, VIIl. ). 2. 2. Vr, vi. 30... 3. Ibid, VI, 30. 5. 4. Ibid, VI. 30, 1. 5. W. W. RockmI: The Life of the Buddha, p. 61. 6. Ja, VIII. 1.4.
