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Women Working Class as Reflected in Buddhist ... : 161
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done by these women slaves is the designated by the word 'däsibhoga 35 which was opposed to 'sunsi-bhoga' e.g. the work accomplished in dancing and music (naccagitavadita). In the age of Buddha, a section of women workers adopted the profession of singing and dancing to earn the livelihood. We learn that the monk Rathapala had abandoned two principal wives and many 'nayakathis'. A spirited description of a woman acrobat occurs in the Dhammapada commentary." Thus women professional workers constituted largely of domestic-slaves, nautch girls and women musician."
Prostitution was also an established industry in the urban life of the age of Buddha drawing a large section of women who depended on it for their livelihood. Capitals like Vaishali, Rajgriha had chief courtesan, they had their own troupes of singers and dancers and were extravagant in spending money. 'Amrapali' and Vaiśālī was an epitome of such class. Wealthy courtesans enjoined honorable titles such as 'Janpada Kalyāṇī' or 'Nagarśobhini- a lady of the land'.3 39 The Sämäjätaka mentions Sāmā, a courtesan of Kāśī who has a retinue of 500 ganika dāsīs. Prostitution industry also provided livelihood to those who indirectly dependent on the prostitution industry like garland makers, dress makers troupe of singers and dancers etc. Life of these women workers dependent on the labour they worked out as peasants, skilled workers, and courtesans.
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There is an impending need to recognize the labour of these women who were self dependent and their share of contribution to the society. What is required is the change in the perception as these women were not getting regular monetary income or may not be regular workers but we need to understand that the ancient economies were not of that nature as that of today, women of Indian society are to be looked as they were, any comparison with the present society would be out of place.
References:
1. R.C.Majumdar, The age of imperial unity, BVBS, 2nd, 1990,pg.565
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