Open AccessDevadasi System and its Caste Dynamics
Author(s) -
S Jeevanandam
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international research journal of tamil
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2582-1113
DOI - 10.34256/irjt21312
Subject(s) - caste , hinduism , indian subcontinent , context (archaeology) , social dynamics , sociology , element (criminal law) , dynamics (music) , girl , history , anthropology , genealogy , gender studies , ancient history , social science , law , political science , religious studies , archaeology , psychology , philosophy , pedagogy , developmental psychology
Caste is an ‘integral component’ of Indian society. Almost all the social groups in Indian subcontinent have their specific rites and rituals. It consolidated them within certain compartmentalized caste category. In this context, there was a custom where girl children were used to dedicate to the ‘Hindu’ temples for the religious service to the deity in the name of devadasi. The system became an important cultural element in the medieval Indian society. The system evolved with its unique functionality in the Indian tradition. The dedicated young girls came from different castes and assigned duties accordingly. However, it was not classified as a separate caste. It became an interesting historical question. This particular paper focused on the devadasi custom and its caste dynamics in the historical past.