The World of Courtesans c9.70

c9.70

Ujjain in that period was a great centre of learning where all kinds of sciences and arts were taught. One of the sciences which received attention was called *gandharva-kala* (var. *Gandharvashastra*) It was placed immediately after the art of gambling. Dr. Agrawala's suggestion that this art also included all kinds of information on courtesans appears to be correct because in this period the quarters where the courtesans lived had their own importance. The intimate contact between the dancing girls and temples and the courts gave rise to different sorts of rules and regulations which governed and regulated their relationship with these institutions. As a matter of fact the rich men of Ujjain had by this time become great worshippers at the temple of Kama with which courtesans were intimately connected. This is supported by Bana's observation that the rich and licentious men of Ujjain worshipped Kama.