The World of Courtesans c8.180

c8.180

In Chapter V. 6, Vatsyayana gives further details about the love intrigues of the palace women. The harem was strictly guarded and it was difficult for the women there to establish contact with other men. But, for the fulfilment of their unsatisfied desires and to establish contact with their lovers, they employed the services of a nurse's daughter, a confidante or a servant girl. These go-betweens carried fruits and tubers to the lovers as symbols of their sexual desire. The lovers disguised themselves as females and entered the palace with the help of the maid. They were already informed about the various ways of entering and leaving the palace, and were acquainted with the spaciousness of the royal establishment, the slackness of the guards etc. These palace maids acted as regular *dūtīs* and were adept in the art of conveying their intention through meaningful glances and signs. The guards were also in league with them. The lovers entered the palace covered in sheets but other subterfuges were also ready at hand. At the time of the Kaumudī festival the lover dressed in female attire joined the maids holding lamps. The lover with a sense of adventure entered the palace through an underground passage or hid himself in waggons carrying wood etc. He also joined the drinking parties of the palace though he was not invited to these parties. He kept close to the maid-servants who carried out their duties in a hurry. The knowledge of the palace plan was helpful to him. After entering the palace he slipped into an apartment whose doors the guards had left open. He also took advantage of the all-round slackness that prevailed in the palace administration when the king was away on a long expedition. In such clandestine love affairs it was necessary for the inmates of the harem to share their secrets with each other.