The World of Courtesans c7.43

c7.43

As we have pointed out in earlier Chapters, the institution of *samaja* and *vihara yatras* was closely connected with the courtesans and their activities. According to Kautilya even the rulers seem to have been regular visitors to the *yatra* (pleasure trips), *samaja* (festivals with animal sacrifice), *utsava* (feast) and *pravahanas* (processions). They used to be heavily guarded by selected soldiers. That the *samaja* was an important part of the Mauryan social life is proved by a reference on Rock Edict I of Asoka. As has been pointed out by M. M. Bose, the commentators have mostly discussed what is meant by *samaja*, the nature of the *samajas* disapproved by the king and those approved by him. The word *samaja* in Rock Edict I particularly refers to a sort of festive gathering usually held in connection with an animal sacrifice, the same as the *sankhadi* of the Jain literature. The aim of Asoka was to prohibit any gathering of this kind and he found many shortcomings in it (*bahukam hi dosam samajshmi pasati*). There was, however, a kind of *samaja* of Priyadarshin which is considered excellent (*asti pi chu ekatiya samaja sadhumata devanam priyasa*).