Prostitution in Ancient India

There are evidences of a culture of prostitution in ancient India.

In ancient India there was certainly a class of women to whom rules and restriction that need to be adhered to by the high-caste ladies did not apply. According to Vatsyayana’s Kama Sutra, a class of courtesans (vesya, ganika) was held in high social esteem because of their graces of form and cultural accomplishments.

Prostitutes were famous for their beauty and other cultural accomplishments, as well as their wealth and luxury. In fact, the honour bestowed on them is comparable to the Aspasias and Phrynes of classical Greece. She was honoured by the king and praised by the learned. Ambapali, the famous hetaera in ancient India, was treated by the Buddha with consideration .

A typical prostitute was educated. The authors of erotics in ancient India suggest that she must study “the sixty- four arts”. Among the arts in which the prostitute should be thoroughly trained included dancing, music, singing, acting, the composition of poetry, flower –arrangement and garland making and many more. However, studying all the sixty arts was not possible.

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