Devadasi, Devadāsī, Deva-dasi: 8 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)
Source: archive.org: Natya ShastraDevadāsī (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).
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryDeva-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
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarydēvadāsī (देवदासी).—f (S) A female dancer and courtesan attached to a temple.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishdēvadāsī (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
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryDevadāsī (देवदासी).—f. (-sī) A courtezan, especially one employed as a dancer, &c. in a temple. E. deva a deity, and dāsī a female slave.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) 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.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryDevadāsī (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
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusDēvadāsi (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: Ganika, Vilasini, Bhavini, Mahari, Rudraganika, Madhavi, Kandalamuliya, Temple.
Relevant text
Search found 16 books and stories containing Devadasi, Devadāsī, Deva-dasi, Deva-dāsī, Dēvadāsī, Dēva-dāsī, Dēvadāsi, Dēva-dāsi; (plurals include: Devadasis, Devadāsīs, dasis, dāsīs, Dēvadāsīs, Dēvadāsis, dāsis). 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)
Mohiniyattam < [January 1970]
Sittannavasal Frescoes-III < [January-February 1931]
The Thousand Hoods < [April - June 1977]
Temples of Munnur (Historical Study) (by R. Muthuraman)
Temples as Centers of Art and Culture < [Chapter 2]
Devaradiyars < [Chapter 7]
Ammaiyappan Sri Pallavandon Rajanarayana Sambuvarayan < [Chapter 1]
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]
Temples in and around Madurantakam (by B. Mekala)
Temple as Consumer < [Chapter 2 - Temples: Role and Influence]
Economic Activities < [Chapter 6 - Social and Economic Activities]
Kautilya Arthashastra (by R. Shamasastry)
Chapter 23 - The Superintendent of Weaving < [Book 2 - The duties of Government Superintendents]
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