The World of Courtesans c7.26

c7.26

The *Arthashastra* has also prescribed a set of rules governing the conduct and relationship of *ganikas* among themselves For defamation the fine was 24 *panas*, for assault 48 *panas*, for cutting ears 51-3/4 *panas*, and for forced confinement, abduction and disfigurement 1,000 *panas*. According to J. J Meyer the above mentioned acts refer to criminal injuries to the character and person of a *ganika*, while others take them to mean acts carried out by a *ganika* Sternbach, however, is right when he holds that defamation, assault, cutting of ears etc., refer not to *ganikas* but to their clients. Apparently the rules were framed to ensure the safety of the people who visited the courtesans The law, however, was not one-sided. While ensuring the safety of the clients who visited the courtesans, Kautilya prescribed a set of rules which also gave the courtesans a greater amount of protection against the misdeeds of their paramours. Offences committed against a ganika were very severely punished because they flagrantly violated the king's interests. If a ganika was put under forced confinement, the perpetrator of the crime was fined 1,000 *panas*. However, in case she was a willing party, the fine amounted to her monthly pay in addition to a fine of 1-1/4 *panas*. If she was forcibly abducted, the offender had to pay a fine of 1,000 *panas*. The amount of the fine for violating a ganika has not been mentioned, but for violating a rupajiva the fine was 12 *panas*. In the case of the violation of a sexually immature daughter of a ganika, the highest amercement was inflicted on the offender; but if she was sexually mature and willing the fine was reduced.