The Real Truth Behind The Devadasi Practice In India – Servant Of God, Whore Of The Entire Town

India has been notorious for its evil practices of female foeticide and infanticide. However, somewhere in a southern state in India, a group of people is rejoicing at the birth of a girl. The proud mother lifts the newbie in her arms and proclaims, “She will also be a Devadasi”.

Who is a Devadasi?

A Devadasi is a female whose virginity is for sale. Literally, Devadasi means God’s (Dev) female servant (Dasi). She is a young, immature, pre – pubertal girl, who is married off to the local deity, Yellamma. She serves, or rather, allows herself to be sexually exploited by priests and inmates of the temple, the zamindars and the other rich and powerful men in the village or town.

Devdasi
Via – dsource.in

When did all this start?

Some claim that the Devadasi system dates back to the 9th century, while others believe it has been prevalent since 2500 BC. The status of the Devadasis has changed over the years. In the golden era, between the 13th and 16th centuries, they were rather high caste, educated and sometimes, royal women. They danced for the deity and were prohibited from marrying mortals. By the end of the 16th century, the Devadasis became sex objects and were considered as classy mistresses.

Read Also – Everything You Need To Know About Premenstrual syndrome

The Government put a ban on it once in 1982 under the Prohibition of Dedication Act and again in 2004 when the Maharashtra Government passed an Anti – Devadasi bill. In spite of this, it is still prevalent in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tami Nadu and Karnataka, where there are an estimated 50,000 Devadasis.

What is their lifestyle?

Once you are a Devadasi, you cannot lead the life of a normal girl. Being as young as six, you cannot go out, make friends or share a laugh.

Devdasi
Via – static.dnaindia.com

A Devadasi cannot marry a mortal. On Tuesdays and Fridays, you must go out begging with a bowl in your hand and visit at least five upper – caste houses. If you are beaten or abused, you shall not protest. If you try to escape, you shall face social boycott along with a grievous punishment.

When the girls attain puberty, they are sold off to the highest bidder. Many Devadasis have one partner who is usually already married and regards the Devadasi as his “second woman” but not a legal wife. She is hailed fortunate if he keeps her with him for his entire life. Other Devadasis have multiple partners.

Via – thenewsminute.com

Some landlords consider it a matter of prestige to deflower as many young girls as possible. In Mumbai, Virgin Devadasis fetch a high price.

What drives them to lead such a life?

Poverty, the root of all evil. The birth of a girl child is an added responsibility, especially according to the poor families. Introducing them to the flesh trade means some extra income. The Dalits usually form an integral part of this system due to their social status and sometimes, illiteracy.

Perhaps, THIS is the incredible India we live in. I, being a girl, shudder on imagining my fate had I been born to a Devadasi. The demonic system of serving God is eating the young girls. It is necessary to put an end to such condemning practices.  If THIS is not hypocrisy,  then I am not me!!

Read Also – Modern Brassiere Was Introduced To The World By This Remarkable Woman!

image source

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube & Telegram

Random Post

10 Fruits And Nuts That Were Bred By Humans

“Health is wealth”, an age-old phrase that has been closely related to eating healthy food and staying fit every day. And when we speak...

8 Most Fascinating Events You Can Only See Once A Year

Trekking, camping, tours, long rides, whenever you see these words, what’s the most common term that pops up in your head? Actually, there are...

Dreams – Why You Remember And Why You Forget

It’s the 3rd time your Mom called you and you’ve finally realized the seriousness of the situation. The 1st call could be royally ignored;...

Latest article

10 Unhealthy Foods That Are Actually Good For You

Whenever we hear this word, all that comes to our mind are veggies, fish, zero cholesterol, or zero fat foods. From the day we...

5 Tips to Make Your Devices More Efficient to Streamline Your Work life

Technology has become an integral part of our lives. From smartphones to laptops, we are constantly using devices to communicate, work, and entertain ourselves....

Five Reasons Why You Need a Skincare Routine

With so much to do in a day, it's hard to find time to do self-care. But if you keep on neglecting skincare now,...

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.