Devadasi Pratha

 It is believed that this devadasi practice started in 600 AD. According to this custom, young virgins were married to the gods and given to the temple because of their religion. But Kautilya's 'Arthashastra' mentions this practice, which dates back to around 300 BC, proving that the Devdasi practice predates it. According to many, this practice started from the time of 'Gautam Buddha'. But during the Gupta period most Devadasi were seen in India.

             These types of women who were married to gods were called devadasi. Devdasi used to look after the mass temple, collect worship materials and perform dances and songs in the temple. It is mentioned in the poem Meghdootam by the great poet Kalidasa.

          It is believed that the practice of Devadasi was the cause of extreme adultery. The priests and special guests of the temple are believed to have physically abused the Devadasis. But many historians reject this doctrine of adultery.

According to the ancient Vedic scriptures, there were seven types of Devadasi.

1 / Datta - Those who voluntarily offered themselves in the service of the deity due to devotion in the temple were called Datta. They were given the status of goddesses.

2 / Vikrita - that would sell himself instead of money. They used to clean the temple.

3 / Vritya - The one who used to dance and sing in the temple to support the family.

4 / Bhakta - They used to stay in their own house and go to the temple for work.

5 / Hrita - The kings used to take them from other kingdoms and spend them in temples. They were actually maids.

6 / Alankara - The women who were given gifts in the temple by the kings were called ornaments.

7 / Nagari - Widows and homeless women used to offer themselves in the temple for shelter. These were called cities.