Prostitution And Hinduism

As I am penning down the title of this post, I am going through a mixed feeling. While in one hand there's a feeling of fulfillment which I go through after each of my posts for being able to express myself, on the other hand, I am afraid that I will be judged and criticized for this post. This feeling finds its root to the two juxtaposing words "Prostitution" and "Hinduism" used together.

What if I tell you that our religion if not warmly accepted had considered their timeless existence and laid down ways for them to live a righteous life while carrying out their profession?

No, I am not kidding. Neither am from some NGO.

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As per Padma Purana, after the battle of KurukshetraDwarka turned to ashes. Krishna died. Eight of his principle wives immolated themselves in his funeral pyre. The whole Yadava clan was decimated. What happened to his remaining 16100 wives?

According to Padma Purana, Krishna had cursed his 16100 wives (except the 8 principal ones) that after his death they will be abducted by bandits and will have to serve as prostitutes for 100 million years.A noble sage named Dalbya Caitanya will come to show them their duty then.

As the story follows that those 16100 wives were cursed because all of them were driven by passion when they set their eyes on young Samba,Krishna's son through Jambavati. Krishna was so furious to find traces of love in the heart of his wife( no serious infidelity) for Samba, that he cursed them.

It was through the mouth of this sage Dalbya that those 16100 women get to hear the set of protocols they should observe to live a righteous life without refusing any man who comes with a fee. Perhaps this tale suggests that prostitution, one of the oldest profession on this planet was not always criminalized instead considered imposed.(To know about the protocols go to the links mentioned at the end of this post)

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She stood their firm and frozen waiting for her son to behead her. She could not still realize her crime. Was her chastity soiled by just observing someone making love?Are desires born intentionally? Am I not a human of blood, flesh, and desires? While shadows of self-doubt crossed her, the mighty Parashurama raised his ax and chopped off her head.

This lady is Yellalama the wife of sage Jamadagni and mother of sixth Vishnu Avatar, Parashurama(Rama with an axe). Yellama went to fetch water or in some version bathe in the river. There she saw two water nymphs making love. At that time Jagmandi was following a penance that objected in touching any women. Thus Yellalama had a voyeuristic experience.

Due to the same penance, Jagmadagni could not kill his wife so ordered his sons to decapitate Yellalama. His fifth son, Parashurama executed his orders. In return, Parashurama was asked for a boon to restore Yellalama's life.(In some versions Yellalama is named Renuka).

Yellalama is still today revered and worshipped by the devdasis and prostitutes. They believe it is the Yellalama who was misunderstood and wrongly blamed, to be the only of the 33 crore Gods to understand and protect the prostitutes.

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In both of the stories, the prostitutes or the God of prostitutes are not associated with any demon or evil beings they are close ones of Vishnu. There's no serious adultery acted but just accidental emotions born. This reflects that prostitution is considered more as a curse than crime, prostitutes are considered more as a victim than a sinner.

In Bengal, it is believed that the idol of Goddess Durga( ten-armed Goddess) cannot be made without the soil collected from a prostitute's back yard. The date of the emergence of this custom is unknown and unnecessary. However, it is evident that the Goddess cannot be worshipped without the existence of the prostitutes. It may be an attempt to remind us about those sequestered women while we celebrate the victory of a woman.

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Just after the churning of ocean ended, a variety of objects emerge. One among them was a set of juvenile enchanting voluptuous women called Apsaras. These Apsaras were heavenly beings who time to time had to seduce the dedicated sages. Even after being

triumphant in their attempt they were cursed by those sages. For complying to Indra the king or the pimp,all they incurred was a curse.

One thing which is evident from all this is that there's not much hush related to this topic in our scripture as it is now. Such characters keep on coming and bring in a surge of new philosophies. Perhaps our ancestors did not marginalize them as strictly as we did.

Sources :
Hindu Mythologyby W.J.wikkins
Nine Lives: William Dalrymple
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhavishya_Purana
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skanda_Purana
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varaha_Purana
https://saveconstitution.wordpress.com/2018/12/24/how-lord-krishna-died-and-why-he-cursed-his-wives-to-be-kidnapped-by-dacohis death.)