The World of Courtesans c8.209

c8.209

The writers before Vatsyayana maintained that prostitutes were divided into three classes viz., *ganika*, *rupajiva* and *kumbhadasi* on the basis of their incomes. But Vatsyayana was of the opinion that a prostitute's wealth did not depend on her status, but on various factors such as the place where she lived, the financial resources of the lover, her own skill and the position of the clients visiting her. There were many clever courtesans who did not mind making smaller profits. This was not due to any large-heartedness on their part but because of other considerations. Sometimes this was done to prevent a lover from going to another courtesan; it was done to snatch another courtesan's lover and above all it was done to deprive a rival of financial advantage. The courtesan was clever enough to weigh the position both from a financial and physical point of view before deciding to attach herself to a particular lover.