by Police - Bureau of Police Research and Development
by Police - Bureau of Police Research and Development
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The Indian <strong>Police</strong> JournalAgain in the Rigveda 57 , a woman is described as giving birth in secretto a child <strong>and</strong>, thereafter, throwing it aside. Similarly, the word 'jar'appears several times in the Rigveda in the sense <strong>of</strong> a “secret lover”.Also, Jatadhara in SabdakalpadrumaGanika with a hastini(Ad Ganika) <strong>and</strong> sasvata with a karini. 58 And, the bans <strong>of</strong> Rigveda 59<strong>and</strong> the Atharvaveda 60 that brotherless girls were reduced to becomeprostitutes; through such notions. Some historians held the view <strong>and</strong>inferred, a yet requirement corroborative evidence. 61 In the Rigveda 62<strong>and</strong> Atharvaveda 63 , references are found <strong>of</strong> becoming prostitutes <strong>of</strong>brotherless girls. 64 In Vetalapancavimsati 65 , the prostitute (Vesya)Rupavati narrated that in one <strong>of</strong> her rebirths, she had been taken <strong>by</strong>the enemy in battle. 66In the Ramayana <strong>and</strong> the Mahabharata, Ganika <strong>and</strong> Vesyas wereused for the designation <strong>of</strong> prostitutes. Ganikas, in the epic period,were in high esteem. The Ganikas or women <strong>of</strong> pleasure had theirrecognized places <strong>and</strong> were ornaments, not only for the festive partiesor occasions, but also for the civil life. They were occasionally sent asvaluable presents <strong>by</strong> one King to the other for pleasing <strong>and</strong> delightingpurposes.In the Ramayana, princes are found to be in delight in horses, elephants<strong>and</strong> harlots. 67 King, the Priest Vasistha directed the people to give the city a festivegarb <strong>and</strong> on that occasion, a b<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> well-adorned Ganikas (ganikahsvalangtah) are seen to be collected in a room <strong>of</strong> the palace. 68 Vasisthainformed Dasratha including multitude <strong>of</strong> musical instruments <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> the well-deckedharlots. 69 (Sarve vaditrasanghascha vesyaxhalangcritah striyah). Onreturn <strong>of</strong> Ram to Ayodhaya after killing Ravan, he is seen to have beenwelcomed <strong>by</strong> people <strong>of</strong> various pr<strong>of</strong>essions, including the Ganikas,well trained in musical instruments 70 (Vaditraknshala ganikashaha).In the Ramayana 71 , Dasratha gives orders for a splendid army to beRama, <strong>and</strong> then he says, “Women that live <strong>by</strong>their beauty, those skilled in words <strong>and</strong> rich merchants shall adorn thewell-drawn up troops <strong>of</strong> the prince.” 72 The things were set up in a waythat bring good forture, the temple <strong>of</strong> the gods <strong>and</strong> holy places to beput in order, <strong>and</strong> all other preparations to be made <strong>and</strong> among these, isa b<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> fair-dight daughters <strong>of</strong> pleasure drawn up within the secondwall <strong>of</strong> the royal palace. 73January - March, 2013191
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