The World of Courtesans c5.28

c5.28

*Vesiya* seems to have been different from *ganika* as is evident from such references as *vesi cha ganikayo cha*. One gets the impression from Pali literature that the *vesiya* plied her trade alone and lived by selling her charms. As a matter of fact Buddhaghosa equates *vesiya* with *rupajiva* i.e., a seller of charm. She did not possess the artistic talents of the *ganika*. She pandered to the common people and, at times, even stooped to steal. She was no doubt a much poorer creature, who, it is mentioned, was forced because of her poverty to proceed to the river for her bath and could not afford servants to fetch water for her toilet.