The World of Courtesans c7.14

c7.14

According to Kautilya any woman who was beautiful and had acquired knowledge of the prescribed arts could take up the profession of a *ganika*. The *Arthashastra* has classified the *ganika* into the first, the middle and the highest rank, depending on the beauty and the jewelry they possessed, and in some cases the king allowed some of them the privilege of waiting upon him. They held the royal umbrella, the golden pitcher and the fan when he was seated in the royal litter, the throne and chariot.