The World of Courtesans c7.15

c7.15

Apparently only a few outsiders chose the profession of a *ganika*, even though superficially it appeared a glamorous one. Therefore, the vast majority of them must have come up from the profession itself. According to the *Arthashastra* they were either born in the family of *ganikas* or were selected by the *ganikadhyaksha*. Then there must also have been people who were apparently attracted by the lucrativeness of the job, and offered their daughters to the Superintendent of Prostitutes for employment. After gaining employment, the *ganika* of the first rank received a salary of 1,000 panas per annum; the *ganika* of middle rank 2,000 per annum and the *ganika* of the highest rank 3,000 per annum.