THE DEVADASIS

RELIGION CAN NEVER REFORM MANKIND BECAUSE RELIGION IS SLAVERY 

- ROBERT GREEN IGNERSOLL 

To begin with, her mother was a Devadasi…

She never knew the meaning of this word, and her mother wouldn’t break words about it. She would always ask who was her father but all she would get as a reply was silence. 

She was always bullied in the village and none of her peers would mingle with her, even her mother never spent time with her. It was as though the whole village had outcast her. Sometimes she used to sit in the field all alone with tears brooking down and there was only one question running in her thoughts.

Why?

She did get her answer eventually when she attained her puberty.It was her time to become a Devadasi.

The Devadasi System

Devadasis are women who are given or offered to the temple at a very young age, to the service of god, but they are actually enslaved in the name of tradition and religion. Even though it is a social evil, the olden days were indeed golden days for the Devadasi community, as they at least held a high status in the society.

They were considered as holy and auspicious women, who were dedicated and devoted to the temple. They were regarded as highly respectable people since they were always in contact with the God and helped others reach the divine through dance, art and through the act of sex.

During the British colonization, they started projecting Devadasis as mere prostitutes, for political and religious reasons. Laws and acts were introduced to abolish the Devadasi system. It was completely outlawed in 1988, but even till date this system of Devadasi and its practices have never ceased to exist. 

The Dirty Business 

Young girls are given away to the temple, to satisfy the sexual needs of the priests and the attendees of the temple, this is called as a scared service to the God, but there isn’t any sacredness in this tradition, it’s nothing but an exploitation of women and her rights. It is simply quoted as “Temple Prostitution”

This tradition has been followed in many parts of our country, but its majorly practised in Maharashtra and North Karnataka which is famously called as the Devadasi Belt. There are at least 450,000 Devadasis in India who are subjected to temple prostitution. In which Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh contributes to 22,941 and 16,624 respectively.

The girls are pushed into this temple prostitution for various reasons, some are subjected to this tradition due to the typical stereotype that tending to their needs is a tedious task and also dowry would put an extra burden upon their expenditure. 

This is mostly practised with a belief that offering girls to the service would make them and their family to be born in a so called upper caste family in the next life. This shows the level of influence caste has inflicted at the hearts of our society. 

Devadasis are used as public property and they are supposed to have sex with the devotees. These devotees abuse them in every possible way, and the Devadasis can't even raise voice against them. 

Once the Devadasis are completely used and drained of their life, they are no more wanted, such Devadasis move into the red light areas of Mumbai and Kolkata, as they know nothing else than offering their body for exploitation. 

Even though different acts were amended to prevent this tradition, it never came in hand, it's as though no one cares about things such as laws and rules. The only thing that happened after the criminalization of this tradition is that it went underground and it only made things worse.

Conclusion: Enough is Enough

Religion has always been choking women and their basic rights. Even after centuries of development, religion and caste is still dominating the society, women are still taken advantage and only identified in terms of flesh. With women already being subjected to constant cruelty, this temple prostitution adds up to the pile of injustice against them. 

These social evils can be put to an end only by providing awareness and education which would rationalize the thought process of the people, also the government should not be only passing acts and laws, instead they should get down to the roots of the issue and take necessary actions.Severe punishments could help the situation. 

'we are leaving this place' her mother said kneeling down ' I'm leaving you at safe hands, they will take care of you' 

'aren't you coming?' the girl asked.

She gave a warm smile 

'I am going to a place where all you can see is darkness, and I have no other choice' 

The girl's eyes moistened with tears and after a beat of seconds it rolled down her cheeks. 

'do you remember, you used to ask me about your father and I would stand without an answer ? ' 

The girl gave a nod as reply 

'I wouldn't want you to stand in the same situation. Enough is enough, let this end with me' 

One day women will raise from the dusts of darkness and will walk towards glory. 

Let us just hope, that day will come soon...