Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 250

Sec. V]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SOTRA
225
Women as prostitute
The women appeared also as public prostitute in the society of the period of the BhS, as it is clearly suggested by a pointed reference to the running of brothel (asati posanayā)' by a class of people for earning their livelihood.
It is further stated that in the process of births and rebirths Gośāla daikhaliputra was twice born as prostitute (kharittäe)' due to the consequences of his sinful acts.
These evidences make it clear that prostitution was a public institution existing in the society as depicted in the Bhs.
A critical examination of the above facts clearly determines that the women occupied three positions in the society as known to it; the first one was the exalted position of honour and dignity as maiden, wife, mother, religious student, teacher and nun; the second one was inferior to that of the first one as members of the staff of the inner female apartment belonging to all grades including the female slaves and courtesans; and the third one was the most humiliating status as prostitute in the larger civic life.
As similar account of the position of women is also given by other Jaina texts where they appear as mniden, wife, mother, religious student, members of the palace-staff and public prostitute in different stages and stations of their life.
In some cases a darkest picture of their life has been depicted to reveal the ugly nature of womanhood with a view to warning the lustful monks.
The same injunction of the Manu Smrti regarding the guarding of woman is also echoed in the Brhatkal pa Bhāsya* in which it is laid down that a woman should be under the protection of her father in her childhood, her husband in youth
1 BIS, 8, 5, 330.
16, 15, 1, 560. 3 Manu-Smrti, V, 147, 49.
("Pitā raksati kaumāre bharttā raksati yauvane raksanti
sthavire puträh na stri svātantryamarhati"). * Brhat. K. Bhāsya, 1, 125 f.
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