The World of Courtesans c11.12

c11.12

The *Kuttanimatam* by Damodara Gupta, the chief minister of Jayapıda (751-782 A.D.) of Kashmir ıs an ambitious work. It throws light on the lıfe of the courtesans ın Kashmir and northern India. The locale of this story ıs Varanasi which was ınhabıted by metaphysıcısts and the worshippers of Shiva. There also lived courtesans (*varastriyah*) who were surrounded by their lovers (*bhujangah*). The flag fluttered from the high pınnacles of the temples. There were schools ın the cıty as well as lofty houses provided wıth balconıes. The cıty was populated wıth sadhus and musıcıans (*gandharvah*). People practısed Yoga and learnt their grammar and prosody. They were exempt from the burden of heavy taxatıon and passed their tıme ın the company of well-educated and soft-spoken women.