Week 10, Lopamudra Mahapatra

Reading Devadasi Practice through Popular Marathi Literature

Devadasi system was set up, as a result of conspiracy between the feudal class and the priests (Brahmins). The latter, with their ideological and religious hold over the peasants and craftsmen, devised a means that gave prostitution their religious sanction. Devadasi are called as the servant of gods. This paper examines the popular Marathi literary works that are centered ceremonial system of “jogaya” the devadasi practice prevalent in Maharashtra and looks at its day to day practice The women maintained themselves by begging and usually ended up at the brothels. We know that religion is a complex phenomenon, which pervades with a vast range of human activities in the society. It emerged with the belief in power, superior to human being and directs him to destiny and controls the nature. In contrast to the devadasis attached to the temple, those from the lower castes, especially the dalits, neither have any right in the temple nor do they have any space to pursue artistic skills. They are ostracized because of their caste. Hence, inevitably, all of them are either illiterate or have received very little education, with no means for a stable income. Its practical dimensions are expressed through a number of ways in the form of culture of the society. The religious scriptures always play a major role in the development of culture enriching language and literature. In spite of all merits of religion, one cannot overlook number of aberrations, crimes, superstitions and exploitation in the name of religion. In India Devadasi cult is such a religious practice, under which a girl is dedicated to or married not with mortal man but to idol or object of worship or to a temple. The paper attempts to find major reasons behind for persistence and continuity of this cult. The pattern involving these women who operate in the hierarchical division of labour within the village, as determined by caste, in continuities and discontinuities with those selling sexual labour in urban brothels is also explored in the analysis.