Devadasi, Deva-dasi, Devadāsī: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Devadasi means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Devadāsī (देवदासी) or ‘maid-servants to gods’ seem to have been not only dancers, but also actresses assuming male roles also.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Devadāsī (देवदासी) refers to “ladies” (carrying the Dīpa-pots from the kitchen to the shrine), as discussed in chapter 5 (Caryāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [nityotsava-samārādhanakāla-vidhāna]: [...] Pūjā-offerings may be attended to several times each day, depending on the resources of the temple-either 4, 5, 6 or 12 times a day (54b-60). The preferable kind of pūjā is with utsava-processions; but it may also be done more simply with homa-offerings only, or even merely with dhūpa, dīpa, etc. ( 6l-62a ). The durations of certain parts of the daily routines—snāna, flower offerings, homa, etc—are suggested ( 62b-69 ). The chapter ends with miscellaneous rules for how dīpa-pots may be carried from the side of the kitchen to the front of the shrine by ladies (devadāsīs) forming into a row accompanied by music and dance; how midnight and morning pūjās are to be done, etc. (70-83a).
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
India history and geography
Deva-dāsī.—(EI 22, 33; LL), a dancing girl attached to a temple; a female temple-servant. See vilāsinī, gaṇikā, mahārī. Note: deva-dāsī is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
dēvadāsī (देवदासी).—f (S) A female dancer and courtesan attached to a temple.
dēvadāsī (देवदासी).—f A female dancer and court- ezan attached to a temple.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Devadāsī (देवदासी).—f. (-sī) A courtezan, especially one employed as a dancer, &c. in a temple. E. deva a deity, and dāsī a female slave.
1) Devadāsī (देवदासी):—[=deva-dāsī] [from deva-dāsa > deva] f. a temple Nāch-girl, [Religious Thought and Life in India 451]
2) [v.s. ...] the wild citron tree, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Devadāsī (देवदासी):—[deva-dāsī] (sī) 3. f. A courtezan.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Dēvadāsi (ದೇವದಾಸಿ):—[noun] a prostitute attached to a temple as a dancer.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Devadasipaddhati, Devadasisampradaya.
Full-text: Devadasisampradaya, Devadasipaddhati, Vilasini, Bhavini, Mahari, Rudraganika, Ganika, Kandalamuliya, Madhavi, Kalavidhana, Samaradhanakala, Temple, Bhramanalakshanavidhi, Nityotsavasamaradhanakalavidhana.
Relevant text
Search found 39 books and stories containing Devadasi, Deva-dasi, Deva-dāsī, Dēva-dāsī, Dēva-dāsi, Deva-dasis, Devadāsī, Dēvadāsī, Dēvadāsi; (plurals include: Devadasis, dasis, dāsīs, dāsis, dasises, Devadāsīs, Dēvadāsīs, Dēvadāsis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
The Sculptures of Madan-Kamdev (Study) (by Kamal Nayan Patowary)
Part 5.3 - Sculptures of Dance and Music < [Chapter 4 - Erotic Sculptures of Madan-Kamdeva]
Part 2.6 - Aesthetic Explanation of Tantric Ideal at Madan-Kamdev < [Chapter 5 - Sculpture: The true reflector of the Society]
Part 1.2 - Socio-Economic Condition: Position of Women < [Chapter 5 - Sculpture: The true reflector of the Society]
Prayogamanjari and Saivagamanibandhana (Study) (by R. Suthashi)
The Devadasi system < [Iconography in Prayogamanjari and Saivagamanibandhana]
Notes for chapter 5 < [Iconography in Prayogamanjari and Saivagamanibandhana]
Mohiniyattam < [January 1970]
Sittannavasal Frescoes-III < [January-February 1931]
Dance Traditions of South India < [May-June 1935]
Good Queen, Bad Queen < [Volume 14, Issue 8 (2023)]
Doing Dialogue Differently: Queer Interfaith Perspective < [Volume 14, Issue 5 (2023)]
Viṣṇu the Saviour < [Volume 13, Issue 8 (2022)]
Expiatory Rites in Keralite Tantra (by T. S. Syamkumar)
4. Ritual Gift as a Mode of Expiation < [Chapter 4 - Socio-Cultural aspects of Expiatory Rites]
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