Devadasi - Legislative initiatives

Devadasi (in Sanskrit "servant of god") is a religious practice still found in some Hindu communities, especially in southern India, whereby at young girls are "married" to a deity or a temple. Devadasi proper should not be confused with rajadasis and other types of dancers. The institution of devadasi-like professions are also known by various other local terms. Several examples drawn from different regions and languages are: Andhra Pradesh: dogams and sanis Goa and Western India: bhavins ...

Including:

• Devadasi - History
• Devadasi - Ancient and medieval history
• Devadasi - Colonial Era
• Devadasi - Legislative initiatives
• Devadasi - Devadasi practices
• Devadasi - Reasons for dedication in modern times
• Devadasi - Dedication process
• Devadasi - Life after dedication
• Devadasi - Sexual Slavery
• Devadasi - Social Status
• Devadasi - Additional information
• Devadasi - Statistical data

Read more here: » Devadasi: Encyclopedia - Devadasi

Devadasi has a long history, and, like many Hindu practices has evolved into a number of forms. Evidently the first Devadasi were celibate temple dancers, who eventually fell out of favor and some were forced into prostitution. Devadasi - Ancient and medieval history. Originally, devadasis were celibate all their life. Reference to dancing girls in temples is found in Kalidasa's "Meghadhoot". It is said that dancing girls were present at the time of worship in the Mahakal Temple of Ujjain. Some scholars ar ...

See also:

Devadasi, Devadasi - History, Devadasi - Ancient and medieval history, Devadasi - Colonial Era, Devadasi - Legislative initiatives, Devadasi - Devadasi practices, Devadasi - Reasons for dedication in modern times, Devadasi - Dedication process, Devadasi - Life after dedication, Devadasi - Sexual Slavery, Devadasi - Social Status, Devadasi - Additional information, Devadasi - Statistical data

Read more here: » Devadasi: Encyclopedia II - Devadasi - History

The devadasi practices have considerably changed over the last centuries. The account of the contemporary Devadasi practice in Tamilnadu by Amrit Srinivasan is interesting: "Traditionally the young devadasi underwent a ceremony of dedication to the deity of the local temple which resembled in its ritual structure the upper caste Tamil marriage ceremony. Following this ceremony, she was set apart from her non-dedicated sisters in that she was not permitted to marry and her celibate or unmarried status was legal in customary terms. Significant ...

See also:

Devadasi, Devadasi - History, Devadasi - Ancient and medieval history, Devadasi - Colonial Era, Devadasi - Legislative initiatives, Devadasi - Devadasi practices, Devadasi - Reasons for dedication in modern times, Devadasi - Dedication process, Devadasi - Life after dedication, Devadasi - Sexual Slavery, Devadasi - Social Status, Devadasi - Additional information, Devadasi - Statistical data

Read more here: » Devadasi: Encyclopedia II - Devadasi - Devadasi practices