The devadasi

tradition
 • The devadasi tradition started in south
India.
• Devadasi means ‘Servant of god and
goddess’.
• They performed dances, sang, played
instruments as the part of the temple ritual.
• They were called by many names such as
devadasi, rudra dasi, sule etc.
• The devadasi system is a very old system.
 What is devadasi system?
• The devadasi system is a system in which
young girls were dedicated to the goddess or
occasionally to gods.
• The dedicated girls were forbidden to marry.
 Classification of devadasi:
There are 7 types of devadasi.
• Datta: Who would dedicate herself to god.
• Vikruta: Who would sell herself for service in temple.
• Bhrutya: Who became a devadasi in order to support her
family.
• Bhakta: Who came to the temple and became a devadasi
because of her devotion.
• Hrita: Who was kidnapped and given to the temple.
• Alankruta: One presented the temple deco rated with
jewelry.
• Rudraganika: One who is paid regular salary for dancing
in the temple.
 Decline of devadasi system
• The devadasi system decline started when
the madras legislative passed the Anti
devadasi bill.
• The system was banned in 1988.