by Police - Bureau of Police Research and Development

The Indian Police JournalGanika or on her going abroad (nispatita pretayor duhita bhagini vakutumbam bharata 137 , Vats quoted Ghotakamukha when enumeratingwomen, who should be visited 138 and Vas explained clearly that theGanika-duhitr was a prostitute. 139 Vas further says, “Ganikaduhitaparicarika ca sukhakryatvad vesyayam.” 140 Some foreign travellers 141described about daughters of prostitutes, becoming prostitutes;primarily temple-prostitutes (Devadasi). 142 Only the young girls mostlyprostitutes” daughters, given by parents to the Ganikadhyaksa, wererecruited as prostitutes. Ganikas were described as the heroin of theplays and the Treatises of Indian Dramaturgy furnishes clear picture ofthe high position of prostitution in Indian life. The Bhartiya Matyasastramentioned as heroin the dirya, nrpapatni, kulastri and ganika (34.7),and stated that they were of a very high character. 143 Besides the abovefacts, the accomplished young beauty could name her price, sometimesat an apparently exorbitant rate, because she was in great demand.The Kurudhamma Jataka says that the lowest of the counties was thedoor-keeper, the dvaraka, who occupied the last place but one, forshe was above the public woman, the Ganika. Each city had a chiefcourtesan, who was an ornament of the city. “(Mrchakatikam, wherethe heroine is a beautiful courtesan, accomplished in the various arts;she is described as an ornament to the city.)”The Janapadakalyani or the sudharani of the non-monarchial state ofthe Lichavi’s were in great demand and were after them because of theirbeauty and culture in great demands and they might ask for any pricefor their beauty. Janapadakalyani meant the most beautiful women inDighanikaya 144the Majjima Nikaya 145 and Samyutta Nikaya 146 refer to. Ambapali ofVaisalee, who is depicted as giving a big feast to the Lord Buddha andhis hundred thousand followers and had given big mango grove tothe order. 147 Fees of Salavati’s daughter Sirima was 1000 Kahapanasper night. 148 It is also known about a banker’s daughter, who choseto become a prostitute. Her father set too high a price that very fewcustomers came, she reduced it to half and was called ardhakasi. 149Salary of GanikasJust after her commitments as ganika by the ganikadhyaksa, a girlwas entiled to a salary amounting to 1000 pana per annum. 150 and ganika ganikasdepended largely on their beauty, wealth and jewellery. The salary ofJanuary - March, 2013199