In Hinduism

Arthashastra (politics and welfare)

Source: Google Books: Way of Life: King, Householder, Renouncer

Vāramukhyā (वारमुख्या) refers to the “chief of the women taken in turn”, according to the Kāmaśāstra.—The Indian concept of ‘king of kings’ is intimately connected with the theme of the ‘good life’ as realised through the pursuit of puruṣārtha in Hindu traditions. [...] It was only through a concerted programme of personal pleasures, ‘royal entertainments’ (rājakrīḍā), that a king could hope to consume his merit by the end of his life and insure his rebirth in an even higher realm in the Hindu chain of being. Sexual enjoyment was probably the foremost of personal pleasures. As is well-known, the body of instructions devoted to desire, the kāmaśāstra is largely concerned with the sexual pleasures a man might enjoy in the company of a properly trained courtesan or prostitute (veśyā, gaṇikā, or vāramukhyā, “chief of the women taken in turn”). Any man of means in a kingdom might be the “master” or paramour (pati) of a courtesan, but it was only the king who could command the services of the best of courtesans of his kingdom on a regular basis as a form of taxation; and only he could claim exclusive enjoyment of their sexual services in numbers.

context information

Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्र, arthaśāstra) literature concerns itself with the teachings (shastra) of economic prosperity (artha) statecraft, politics and military tactics. The term arthashastra refers to both the name of these scientific teachings, as well as the name of a Sanskrit work included in such literature. This book was written (3rd century BCE) by by Kautilya, who flourished in the 4th century BCE.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Vāramukhyā (वारमुख्या).—the chief of a number of harlots.

Vāramukhyā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms vāra and mukhyā (मुख्या).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Vāramukhyā (वारमुख्या).—f.

(-khyā) The head of a set of harlots. E. vāra a troop, mukhyā a chief.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Vāramukhya (वारमुख्य).—[masculine] dancer, singer; [feminine] ā = [preceding]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Vāramukhya (वारमुख्य):—[=vāra-mukhya] [from vāra] m. ([probably]) a singer, dancer, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]

2) Vāramukhyā (वारमुख्या):—[=vāra-mukhyā] [from vāra-mukhya > vāra] f. the chief of a number of harlots, a royal courtezan, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Vāramukhyā (वारमुख्या):—[vāra-mukhyā] (khyā) 1. f. The head of a set of harlots.

[Sanskrit to German]

Varamukhya in German

context information

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Mukhya, Vara.

Full-text: Varayoshit, Varavadhu, Mukhya.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Varamukhya, Vāramukhyā, Vara-mukhya, Vāra-mukhyā, Vāramukhya, Vāra-mukhya; (plurals include: Varamukhyas, Vāramukhyās, mukhyas, mukhyās, Vāramukhyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)

Drama and the Elements of a Dramatic play < [Chapter 4 - Cultural Aspects]

Position of Women < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]

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