Hindu society, like every ancient civilization, wasn’t one-dimensional. It carried within it a rich, contradictory, and layered understanding of human existence. While much of modern discourse attempts to sanitize or sensationalize its past, history itself refuses to fit into neat moral boxes. Among the most misunderstood aspects of Hindu society are two institutions: brothels and the devadasisystem.
Devadasis: Dancers of the Divine
The word devadasi literally means “servant of god.” These women were dedicated to temple service, particularly in South India. But they weren’t just spiritual aides. They were torchbearers of classical dance, music, and ritual traditions. They performed the bharatanatyam before it was ever taught in dance academies. They sang verses from sacred texts before Sanskrit was reduced to a classroom subject.
Far from being marginalized, early devadasis enjoyed a high status. Many came from influential families and were supported by temple grants and royal patronage. They weren’t married in the conventional sense, because they were believed to be married to the deity of the temple. Their role was not sexual, but ceremonial.
But like most systems, this one too eroded over time.
As colonial moralities crept in and temple economies declined, the once-honored devadasis found themselves slipping into exploitation. Their association with temples was used to mask their commodification. By the 19th century, what began as sacred devotion had devolved into a system of institutionalized sexual servitude. Society, which once revered them, now labeled them immoral.
Brothels in the Mahajanapadas
On the other hand, brothels were not hidden or condemned in early Indian society. Ancient cities like Varanasi, Ujjain, and Pataliputra had brothels that operated openly. The Kamasutra, written not as pornography but as a sophisticated treatise on human relationships, dedicates chapters to the lives of courtesans. These women, called vesyas, were educated, articulate, and skilled in fine arts. They often attended royal courts and sometimes even influenced political decisions.
Far from being pariahs, they were seen as necessary — even respected — members of society. The Arthashastra, India’s ancient manual on statecraft, recommends regulating brothels and even taxes them as part of urban revenue.
Sex work wasn’t necessarily a moral issue — it was a social reality.
Why This Matters Today
In today’s cultural climate, we often whitewash the past — either by sanitizing it into pure spiritualism or condemning it through modern lenses of morality. But Hindu society was vast enough to hold paradoxes. It had room for sages and courtesans, for renunciation and pleasure, for moksha and kama.
By acknowledging the roles of devadasis and courtesans, we’re not glorifying everything they endured — but we are refusing to let their stories be erased. We are remembering that these women were once artists, teachers, companions, and citizens. They lived within systems far more complex than modern hashtags can capture.
History doesn’t need to be either/or. Sometimes, it just is.