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The word Devdasi is a frequently heard word in Indian society. However, most people do not know what a Devadasi actually is.
When you hear the word Devdasi, you might think that it means maid of the gods. This tradition is thousands of years old, its form keeps changing from time to time, but this tradition is corrupt.
Who is Devdasi?
Devadasi was a practice in which people donated their young girls to temples as per their wish or belief. Their purpose was to please the gods and goddesses and the girls were donated for temple service.
Parents used to marry their daughter to some temple or deity. When a woman was married to a deity, she was called a Devdasi. The victims of this practice were mostly Dalit or tribal women, for which there was no fixed age, even girls as young as five or ten were made Devadasis.
According to historians, described in the Puranas
The Devdasi system started in the sixth century. After independence, the Indian government banned this practice. However, the Devadasi tradition is still found in many temples in South India. It is said that the Devadasi practice is also mentioned in the Padma Purana, Matsya Purana, Vishnu Purana and Kautilya Arthashastra.
In ancient times, Devadasis were very important and were viewed with respect. At that time there were two types of Devadasis, one who served in temples and the other who danced.
gradually turned into evil
Devdasi gradually turned into a bad custom. Initially, virgin girls were married to gods. In such a situation, a priest was also appointed for the Devdasis in every temple.
It is said that those priests used to have physical relations with the Devadasis in the name of connecting them with the gods. Gradually rich people also started exploiting the Devadasis and when they became pregnant they were abandoned. Due to which this practice turned into a crime.