[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The World of Courtesans](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973) › c5.26 # The World of Courtesans c5.26 The World of Courtesans c5.26 - **Language:** English ### [c5.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c5.26) Chanana is of the view that \*vannadasi\* was a slave in the establishment of a \*ganika\*, but in certain cases the word stood for a common prostitute. In the \*Jatakas\* her personal status was not always the same. Some \*ganikas\* were rich, others poor. Perhaps the \*vannadasi\*, as a slave woman in the establishment of a \*ganika\*, received less affluent visitors and thus earned money for her mistress. It is also possible that a \*vannadasi\* could attain to the position of a \*ganika\* The professional musicians who accompanied these women were known as \*gandhabbas\*. As a matter of fact a class of prostitutes in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar claims to belong to the \*gandharab\* caste. - [Previous: c5.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c5.25) - [Next: c5.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c5.27) - [Up: c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c5) ## Linked texts (1) - [Jātaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.jataka) — Pāli --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c5.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c5.26) · Pramāṇa