Guest guest Posted July 10, 2002 Report Share Posted July 10, 2002 > > The prostitution in Vedic culture was legal.So, who was going to > > them...vaishyas, kshatryas or maybe brahmanas ? Any ideas..? > > Mostly low shudras or the lower chandalas, mlecchas, yavanas etc. Sorry to disagree with Maharaja but with a good reason. We are probably talking about SB 1.11.19 and 9.10.38. The word is "vaaramukhyaaH". They are described as beautiful, well-dressed and decorated, i.e. far from ordinary streetwalkers who were not to be tolerated by the ruler. (Manu 9.253-253) MMW: vaaramukhya m. (prob.) a singer , dancer MarkP. ({A}), f. the chief of a number of harlots , a royal courtezan MBh. R. &c. This suggests that they were of the same kind as Roman haeteras, Japanese geishas or heavenly apsaras - classy ladies providing not just sex but cultured companionship and entertainment (drama, dance, music, conversation, serving food and drinks, etc.) to ksatriyas and possibly wealthy vaisyas. Brahmanas were beyond it and sudras and lower ones couldn't afford them. Comments welcome. ys bh. Jan www.veda.harekrsna.cz (Bhakti-yoga Vedic Encyclopedia Vedic Library) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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