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
"Gaṇānāṁ Ganikānāṁ ca vidusă ca jugupsitam'."
The BhS refers to a number of young beautiful ladies employed as courtesan in the service of the royal families, like those of Jamali, the Ksatriya prince and Bala, the king of Hastinapura.3
They had the privilege to hold the royal umbrella, golden water-pitcher, fan, chowrie and golden stick during the pilgrimage of the prince Jamāli to Lord Mahavira at the Bahusalaka Caitya to undertake the state of houselessness."
They also formed the music and dramatic parties of the royal family where they entertained and gladdened its members, particularly the young princes and their wives by the presentation of their songs and performance of dance-drama in the theatre hall, as it is evidenced in the cases of Jamali and Mahabala.
It has already been mentioned in connection with the birth-ceremony of the royal child, Mahabala that it was provided with the best artist-courtesans (ganiyāvara) followed by many classes of actors to entertain the people by their presentation of songs and performance of various kinds of dances and dramas (nānāvidhaprekshaācārusevita).8
[Ch. IV
Besides these courtesans employed in the service of the royal family, there is an incidental reference in the BhS to an actress who exhibited her art of dance-drama before many thousands of the audience in a public theatre hall."
These evidences clearly reveal that the courtesans were highly qualified in the art of music, dance and dramatic performance and they were the essential part of the palace staff.
Thus they occupied a privileged and honoured position, though inferior to that of the royal ladies in the king's court.
1 Manu Smrti, IV, 209. Bhs, 3, 33, 383, 385. 5 Ib, 1, 11, 429.
8 Ib, 11, 11, 429, (Comm.).
3 Ib, 11, 11, 430. 6 Ib, 9, 33, 383.
4
Ib, 9, 33, 385. Ib, 11, 11, 430.
9 Tb, 11, 10, 422.