6.5. The Courtesan in Ancient India

[Full title: Ancient Indian Social Life: Excerpts from Kāmaśāstra (5): The Courtesan]

Gaṇikā is the term used in Kāmasūtra to address the women sex worker. For gaṇikas also, Vātsyāyana dedicates a whole book (6^th) in Kāmasūtra named Vaiśika. While going through the history, one can understand that in a period gaṇikas were enjoyed a better position in the society and they were honoured. It is because of the reason that they paid a huge amount of tax to the treasury by selling their fleshy body to the rich people.

In the first chapter of Vaiśika it has been stated that a courtesan is always well dressed as she looks out on the main street, easily seen but not too much exposed, because she is just like something for sale^[1]. Here, femininity whether it is in the form of a virgin, wife or courtesan has marketed as a costly product that can be used for the sensual fulfilment of someone who is rich. Gaṇikas arranged goṣṭis and other socio-cultural programmes at their house for attracting socially, economically and politically rich citizens.