The World of Courtesans c8.138

c8.138

The *nayaka* was the pivot round which the wheel of the *goshthi* moved. He was, however, expected to observe a certain propriety in his sex relations. For instance, union with the following was totally forbidden: with a leper, a maniac, with a morally depraved person, a divulger of secrets, a flirt, a middle aged person, a very dark or a very fair or a foul smelling woman, a near relative, a friend, with the wife of a friend or of a Brahman or with a queen. Of course to gain his heart's desires the *nayaka* or *nagaraka* had to depend on his friends including childhood friends, school fellows, and he had often to seek the help of a nurse. True friendship was based on instinct and depended upon a congenial temperament, respect for truth, obedience, constancy, open-heartedness, firmness and respect for the secrets of friends.