Nagarvadhu

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Nagarvadhu or Nagar Vadhu ("bride of the city") was a tradition followed in some parts of ancient India.

Women competed to win the title of a Nagarvadhu, and it was not considered a taboo^[1]. The most beautiful woman was chosen as the Nagarvadhu.

A Nagarvadhu was respected like a goddess, but in fact she was only a prostitute; people could buy her time and body^[2]. A Nagarvadhu's price for a single night used be very high, and she was only within the reach of the super-rich -- the king, the princes, the lords.

[edit] Famous Nagarvadhus

• Ambapali, state courtesan and Buddhist disciple, described in Vaishali Ki Nagarvadhu by Acharya Chatursen
• Vasantasena, a character in the classic Sanskrit story of Mricchakatika

[edit] See also

• Devadasi

[edit] References

1. ^ Spectrum lead article, The Sunday Tribune, Dec 24, 2000
2. ^ http://www.phys.uni-sofia.bg/~viktor/wisdom/osho/marriage.html