The World of Courtesans c6.18

c6.18

Jain canonical literature makes occasional references to goshthi. The members of the *goshthi* were connoisseurs of music and the arts and closely associated with courtesans. The *Nishithasutra* gives us some valuable information about the organization of the *goshthis*—information that is not found anywhere else. *Ghada*, the *ghata* of the *Kamasutra*, is equated here with *goshthi*. It was apparently managed by the following officers: *mahattara*, *anumahattara*, *lalitasana*, *kaduga* and *dandapati*. Apparently the *mahattara* was the most respectable member of the *goshthi* and in modern terms could be described as the president of the club. When the *goshthi* met, his seat was placed at the head of the assembly (*jetthamasana dhure*). The *anumahattara*, as his name indicates, was a sort of a vice-president acting as president during his absence. It is specifically mentioned that one of his duties was to answer questions put to him on the arts and on literature. In this respect he acted as the spokesman of the goshthi. The *lalitasaniya* made arrangements for the right kind of food and saw to it that it was served properly, and he was also in charge of the seating arrangements which were in order of precedence for the members of the *goshthi*. The *goshthikas* naturally committed many acts of omission and commission and due notice seems to have been taken of these acts by the authorities. In order to enforce discipline in the organization two officers were employed: the *kaduga* determined the punishment to be meted out to a *goshthika* and the dandapati executed it. Unfortunately the *Nishitha* does not specify the nature of the crimes and the punishment that was meted out, and is silent on the functions of the *goshthi*. But apparently, such acts of omission and commission must have been judged in the light of the proper conduct of the *goshthis* known as *gotthidhamma*.