[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) › c6.15 # The World of Courtesans c6.15 The World of Courtesans c6.15 - **Language:** English ### [c6.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c6.15) The necessary corollaries of prostitution in ancient India were musical soirees, clubs and pleasure trips or even religious festivals in which prostitutes and other malefactors formed a part of the crowd. One such important occasion was \*samkhadi\*, which is equivalent to the \*samajjas\* of Buddhist literature. It is mentioned in one of the sutras of \*B.K.S.B.\*, which shows that it was a fairly ancient institution. The word is derived from \*sam\*, "in large groups", and \*khada\*, "killing", i.e. the festival in which animals were slaughtered in large numbers. The \*samkhadi\* was held in the early part of the day or after sunset. It is said that a \*samkhadi\* was held near the tank Rishi Tadaga situated at Tosali (Orissa). During a pilgrimage to Kundalamentha (situated in a deep forest) the people living in the neighbourhood of Bharukachchha performed a \*samkhadi\*, and it formed a part of the ceremonies of the pilgrimage to Arbuda (Abu) or Prabhasa. The people of the Anandapura performed \*samkhadi\* every winter at a spot called Prachinavaha where the direction of the river Saraswati changed to the east. The \*samkhadi\* was not confined to only a particular religion or sect since the Buddhist, Shaiva and Bhagavata monks are said to have also participated in it and held regular disputations. - [Previous: c6.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c6.14) - [Next: c6.16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c6.16) - [Up: c6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c6) ## Cites (1) - [Bṛhatkalpalaghubhāṣya](https://indike.org/pramana/in.jaina.sveta.cheda.2!bhasya) — Saṅghadāsagaṇi Kṣamāśramaṇa, Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c6.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c6.15) · Pramāṇa