Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c7.497

c7.497

Cases of sexual immorality are much more frequent than polyandry, but of course they can hardly be regarded as survivals of the ancient hetaerism. Adulterous connections frequently come into play in Vedic rituals. Besides the passages discussed by Delbrück,¹ we should take into consideration also those Mantras which, according to Caland's plausible interpretation, were recited by the illegitimate son (*anyatrakaraṇa*) at the sacrifice to the dead, in order to cut himself off from his natural father and remain the son of his legal father, i. e., the husband of his mother.² Prostitution is frequently referred to in the Vedas,³ and in the Smṛtis it is a legalised institution protected by law.⁴ Already the Veśyās or Dāsīs clearly form therein a distinct class, the Devadāsī⁵ corresponds to the modern temple-servants and Basivis; the Svairiṇī occupied a higher place (Nār. 12,49 ff.). The ideal character of Vasantasenā in the sphere of the dramas and the free treatment of amorous intrigues in the literature of fables and fictions should be remembered in this connection.⁶