A Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism
author: Swami Harshananda
edition: 2008, Ramakrishna Math
pages: 2084
ISBN-13: 9788179070574
Topic: Hinduism
Encyclopaedia of Hinduism - Devadasis
This page describes Devadasis which is located on page 480 of the first volume in the book: A Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism by Swami Harshananda. This book, known as “a concise encyclopaedia of hinduism”, includes a vast amount of topics covering general aspects on Hinduism, but also contains important aspects regarding Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism This page contains an online preview of the full text and summarizes technical terms, as well as information if you want to buy this book.
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To read the full text of A Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism, you can buy Swami Harshananda’s book from Exotic India
You can look up the meaning of the phrase “Devadasis” according to 7 books dealing with Hinduism. The following list shows a short preview of potential definitions.
Expiatory Rites in Keralite Tantra [by T. S. Syamkumar]
In recent years interest in the study of the Devadasi traditions of India has increased. Literally Devadasi means “slave woman of Gods”, but in usage the term refers rather than the temple courtesans. ” Cited in Shaiva Rites of Expiation, Introduction by Goodall, p. 42, fn. 58. The South Indian Shaiva Agama, Uttarakamika gives some valuable evidence of the term Ganika in the sense of a courtesan....
Read full contents: 4. Ritual Gift as a Mode of Expiation
Kautilya Arthashastra [by R. Shamasastry]
Widows, cripple women, girls, mendicant or ascetic women (pravrajita), women compelled to work in default of paying fines (dandapratikarini), mothers of prostitutes, old women-servants of the king, and prostitutes (devadasi) who have ceased to attend temples on service shall be employed to cut wool, fibre, cotton, panicle (tula), hemp, and flax....
Read full contents: Chapter 23 - The Superintendent of Weaving
The backdrop of the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa [by Dhrubajit Sarma]
The devadasi like practice of offering female dancer to Lord Shiva was observed. There are also instances of religious co-existence during that time of Kashmir, as there were references of Amitabha (Lord Buddha), goddess Tara and Manjughosha in the Shrikanthacarita. The religious beliefs of that time were–people believed that there were thirty three crores of gods, gods and goddesses did not wink, gods eat nothing but nectar, people believed in the existence of hell....
Read full contents: Part 9 - Religious data (found in the Shrikanthacarita)
Total 7 books found: See all results here.
Summary:
You can return to the book Index to buy or shop for other books, or you can read the available online pages below:
[A Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism: index]
[About The Author (Swami Harshananda)]
[Preface]