Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
Sangha that she had the privilege to initiate Devānandā, the Brāhmani and to teach her the prescribed religious texts, various acts of austerities and meditation.
Next, the BKS gives an account of the participation of the women in the public life as the members of the household staff in the royal and rich aristocratic families in different capacities, such as, chamber-lain', nurses', attendants, maid. servants, slaves& etc., courtesans, musicians', dancers and actresses and as prostitutes in the larger society.
It has already been discussed in connection with the topic Personal and Palace-staff in the third chapter and 'Family servants' in the third section of this chapter respectively that a large number of the female members formed the rank of the contingent of the staff of the inner female apartment in the royal house as well as in the aristocratic family,
Female servants and slaves also appeared in the domestic service of the wealthy merchants, as they are found serving the families of the well-to-do bankers of Tungikālo.
A clear distinction has been made between the female slaves and servants of all categories by using the term Dasz'll in the Bhs.
The fact of the employment of the female slaves in the household service is also corroborated by the Uttaradhyayana commentary in which a reference is made to "a festival of the female slaves" (dāsīmaba)!S.
The Bhs thus clearly shows that there was the existence of slavery of the women, but it makes no reference to the maltreatment meted out to them by their masters. On the other hand there are instances to show that the female slaves along
1 Bhs, 11, 11, 430. ? 16, 9, 33, 385; 11, 11, 429.430. 3 Ib, 9, 33, 382; 11, 11, 428, 430 ; 12, 2, 441-42. 4 Ib, 9, 33, 383; 9, 33, 385, 11, 11, 429. 6_7 16, 9, 33, 383; 11, 11, 429, 430.
8 Ib, 11, 11, 430. 9 10, 9, 33, 382. 10 16, 2, 5, 107. 11 Ib. 2. 5. 107. 13 Uttarādhyayana commentary, 3, p. 124.