The World of Courtesans c9.37

c9.37

Not only were designs cut from lotus flowers but picking the lotus flowers was a favourite form of amusement of the women of eastern India and was known as *padmabhanjika*. It appears that the fountains in the public gardens of Kaushambi were especially equipped for that kind of game. In one place, the *Vasudeva Hīndī* (tr. p. 45) paints a fine picture of the *ashoka bhanjika*. The adventurer Agadadatta saw a red *ashoka* tree in a garden which was laden with red flowers. Swarms of black bees were humming close to it. Under the tree appeared a girl holding a branch with the right hand and her one leg rested on the tree trunk.