Devadasi
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Devadasi is a Hindu temple priestess who performs ritualistic dance and sings, primarily to please the gods in Sanctum Sanctorum, but, later, to help the temple worshippers to elevate their consciousness. (compare with the Greek catharsis)
The modern form of sadir (the devadasis' art) is Bharata Natyam and Odissi.
Although it has largely degraded so far as to resemble worldly entertainment like ballet, still some of the contemporary virtuosos like Medha Hari present it as a sacred worship that is more entrancing rather than merely entertaining.
Devadasis practised in South India. Their colleagues in the Indian state of Orissa were called maharis.
Devadasi system and religious prostitution
The Devadasi system of South India is one of the Religious prostitution.
Caste and devadasis
In Devadasi system, women belongs to certain lower caste will be called/labelled as Devadasis. When the girl attains puberty, she will be offered to the Hindu temple. In the temple, she will work as a prostitute to earn money for the temple (this is also called service to god). Offering girls to the temple will usually accompanies with ceremonies in which the girl will be asked to wear white/trasparent cloths, will be asked to take holy bath and she will be offered in wet to the god.
Usually, the temple priest will first use the girl and then she will be used for prostitution. When the girl grows, in some cases she will lead her life as concubine/servant/slave to some man who take her in bid.
Since 1988, the practice is illegal according to government law. Anyhow, it is still practiced in few villages especially in Andhra Pradesh.
