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devadasi
Sign in to saveIn India, a devadasi is a female artist who is dedicated to the worship and service of a deity or a temple for the rest of her life. The dedication takes place in a ceremony that is somewhat similar to a marriage ceremony. In addition to taking care of the temple and performing rituals, these women also learn and practice classical Indian dances such as Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, and Odissi. Their status as dancers, musicians, and consorts was an essential part of temple worship.
Key facts
- Organization.name
- Devadasi
- Organization.native_name
- Female servant of a god
- Organization.image
- Tanjore sadir temple dancer Gnyana seated - L’Ancien musee des colonies, Fedor Jagor, ca. 1850.jpg
- Organization.image_size
- 175px
- Organization.caption
- Devadasi named Gnyana of Tanjore, 19th century
- Organization.formation
- around Gupta period
- Organization.type
- Temple priestess
- Organization.headquarters
- no central authority
- Organization.region_served
- Indian Subcontinent
- Organization.num_members
- 44,000 to 250,000 (2006)
- Organization.leader_title
- Ministry
- Organization.leader_name
- Temple services (including rituals, music, dance)
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
20 sectionsContents
- History
- Ancient and medieval period
- Devdasis in South India and the Chola Empire and Vijayanagara Empire
- Natavalollu
- Mahari Devadasi of Odisha
- Yellamma Cult of Karnataka in South India
- Colonial era
- Reformists and abolitionists
- Evolution of Bharatanatyam
- Legislative Initiatives
- Devadasi practices
- Odisha
- Social status
- Notable members from the Devadasi community
- Contemporary statistical data
- In popular culture
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
In India, a devadasi is a female artist who is dedicated to the worship and service of a deity or a temple for the rest of her life. The dedication takes place in a ceremony that is somewhat similar to a marriage ceremony. In addition to taking care of the temple and performing rituals, these women also learn and practice classical Indian dances such as Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, and Odissi. Their status as dancers, musicians, and consorts was an essential part of temple worship.
Between the sixth and thirteenth centuries, Devadasis had a high rank and dignity in society and were exceptionally affluent as they were seen as the protectors of the arts. During this period, royal patrons provided them with gifts of land, property, and jewellery. After becoming Devadasis, the women would spend their time learning religious rites, rituals and dances. Devadasis were expected to live a life of celibacy.